Northern Youth Abroad

Cheryl Aglak from Igloolik hosted in Winnipeg, MB

Hello Everyone, my name is Cheryl Aglak and I live in Hall-Beach, Nunavut and I've been placed in Manitoba, Winnipeg. I've been having so much fun and a blast so far. My Host family's names are Linda Adolphe Reutlinger which is my host mom, Chris Reutlinger which is my host dad and Jenessa Adolphe host sister. So far we've been going for sight-seeing and some shopping. Sheila which is Linda's friend, she took us to the Zoo and we saw lots, which was pretty awesome and cool. I saw some animals that I've never seen in my real life. When we were on our way to the Zoo, I asked Sheila, are the animals friendly there? She said I don't know, but you'll see when we get there. I have met my host family's, family members and they are so nice and friendly. I knew that I was gonna my enjoying my time in Winnipeg, plus this is my first time in Southern Canada. I know that I've been having a hard time and I've been missing my family back home, especially my mom. once I heard that she was at the Hospital, I just ended up crying and got so worried about her, so I ask my sister, is she going to be alright? is she gonna be ok? she said, she's alright and she's ok. and now that I know she's ok I was so happier then I can be and now I have a little sister now and her name is Lydia, named after my late sister and she's a new born, once I heard that I got so homesick and couldn't wait until I get to meet her and now I can't stop thinking about her. Anyways back to the workplacement, I love working at Story Book Day Care, love working with kids sometimes I missed work for being sick.
Here in Winnipeg, there are lots of things to see and it's a very big city and lot's of traffic here. The first day I went to work it was pretty good, but on my way to work I got lost so I had it come back to the house and called work that I'll be late, this time Jenessa had to walk me all the way to work.
Two weeks ago we went to the Splash Island and I had so much fun, where we can relax and cool down, we we're also swimming there. We were at Splash Island for about 6 to 7 hours. we all had a sunburn and few of us had blisters and they were about 480 people who were there. Anyways I am very happy to stay in Winnipeg, Thanks to Northern Youth Abroad Staff to accept me, I have learned everything and thanks again for this great experience and this opportunity. I want to thank my Host Family for everything and for making me feel important, special, loving me and Rahabi, and making us  stronger people. I'm sure we enjoyed living with you guys and I have learned everything from them, THANKS A BUNCH. Most of all thanks to the NYA Staff for everything, making me realize for who I am. I miss you all. I hope all of you enjoyed your host community and yuour workplacement, have a great summer everyone. live your life to the fullest everyday.

Making positive changes in my life may not be easy. But I am worth it. my life - my happiness and my growth is worth the time and effort. I will work at expressing myself. I know it may be hard at first, but I can be better at expressing myself with the time and practice. I will be patient with myself. I will take it one thing and one day at a time. I accept my limitations and will continue on, work through the hard times so that I may find pleasure in life. I know that I may go through some difficult times in the future. Luckily for me, I also know that I can get through these difficult times. I believe in myself and will work at having a positive attitude. I refuse to let the test of life get me down. I will see the dificult times as an opportunity to learn about what I can do to get back on track.

Sincerely,
Cheryl Aglak.

Tylie Arnatsiaq from Igloolik hosted in Moncton, NB

Hello, My name is Tylie Arnatsiaq, I have been placed in a small community / city called Moncton and it is in New Brunswick. There's a bit of things to do here in Moncton. Last week, myself, Scott and Napoleon went to the Magic Mountain water park and they have all these amazing water slides and a big wave pool. Two weeks ago we went to one of the National parks here in New Brunswick and it's called Funday National Park which was a amazing trip. My host parent's name are Ted and Sigrid Olsen. My volunteer placement is at the Habitat for Humanaity and I volunteer by building, picking up stuff and re stocking the "re - store" storage, where all the people buy the items we picked up. All the $$ goes to the materials needed to build houses. Can't remember the actual date but my host family went to Prince Edward Island for the day to go fishing and visit the other participants in P.E.I. It was fun. Hopefully I can get picked to go on the international part of the program since Im having alot of fun here. I love Northern Youth Abroad. See you soon.

Dina Koonoo from Pond Inlet hosted in Bowser, B.C.

I have been going shopping with Delainy and we went to the beach on Saturday and it rained.  It was a big beach on the other side of the island and it took along time to get there and then it rained.

We had smoothies and breakfast sandwiches and they were good.

Today we played mini golf and it was fun.  Then we went on the bumper boats and I got very wet!

We are going to Vancouver this weekend and I can’t wait for it.  We are going to go on a ferry and ride the bus and skytrain.  We will go to a baseball game and see fireworks.  We will also go shopping!

I am having fun at my work but sometimes not, I have not gone swimming in about a week but I am going swimming for sure this week.  I want to go for swimming alot before I go back home. I love being in Bowser it is really fun and I am having fun with Delainy.  She made a mask last week and she finished it today, it is awesome.  When we were in mini golf she went into my photo booth and I was embarrassed.  I told her to take it off, I was laughing and embarrassed at the same time.  People were looking at her and laughing.  I am just looking forward to seeing everyone again and I cannot wait. I am so glad that I am almost finished. I like my work placement because I get to talk to kids and make friends. I am having fun because we do lots of things.

Last week I had a tongue piercing and Delainy had a lip piercing called snake bites.  It was pretty cool but the other day I barely talk and eat for like two days but I feel better now and can talk very well.  I am having fun here, I wish I could move here, I love the trees.   We are shopping in the malls and swimming almost every weekend, it is really fun.  Delainy and I went to beach couple times and it’s really cool because we can see eagles flying around and sometimes they are on the top of the trees. We also went to Butterfly World and it’s AWSOME! When we go to Vancouver we are going to Amusement Park, and SHOPPING!, and going to see baseball game can’t wait hehe. Ever since when Delainy and I got here we have been going to shopping, swimming, and go eat our lunch or breakfast etc. I can’t wait to see you guys take care.

 
Dina posing with her work placement supervisors.

Napolean Kenny from Tulita hosted in Amherst, Nova Scotia

Hey I'm Napolean Kenny I'm from a small community in the Northwest Territories. I'm a participat in Northern Youth Abroad and i've been placed in Amherst Nova Scotia, Its a nice place about 9000 people live in Amherst. I am a volunteer at the YMCA. The staff are nice people to be working with and the kids are fun to play activities with. Some of the kids had some funny questions like do you live where santa lives. What we do during the day we go swimming, play at the park, play activities, play with toys, and dance haha which is very fun. My host family is Robin Read he is a funny man can make me laugh and takes me all over to the nice views of Nova Scotia and tells me a lot of the history about Nova Scotia. I got to meet his nice family and he takes me to Moncton every weekend and do some awesome things there like go to Magic mountain and to the mall for some shopping. Nova Scotia is nice, have some nice sunny days and some rain. Tried a lot of different food down this way. Happy that I joined this program because I made a lot of new friends and can experience all the different things that go on in Nova Scotia. I can't wait to go back to RE-oreintation to see all the participats and the staff again and then back home in my community and tell all the people what a great time I had in the progrem.