Dear Readers,
I thought that I would take some time to write about how my preparation is going.
First, I am really excited to go! I am nervous of course, but I cannot wait to go to one of the most culturally rich places in the world. I am really excited to see the cities of Lviv and Kyiv. I am also looking forward to working with the children at the Faith and Light workshops. Since the workshops are located at a l'Arche community, I will probably work with some of the adults there as well.
A fellow Intercordian from the University of Waterloo who is going Ternopil, Ukraine this summer found this great video on Ukraine. It is definitely worth a look.
As for actual preparation, I now have a Ukrainian tutor. I cannot believe how it happened! Divine providence was definitely at work. He is teaching me some basic spoken Ukrainian which will basically help me get a head start. While I am in Ukraine I will have some formal language training, although I do not know the details of it yet.
Next week a bunch of us are going to Mountain Equipment Co-op to go shopping to prepare for our coming trip. I feel somewhat guilty though since I do not have to worry about buying a mosquito net or other things those going to Africa and South America have to worry about.
Before I forget, I got my shots last week. And by 'shots', I mean 'shot'. I only had to get a Hep A vaccine. The others have to get vaccines or prescriptions for at least some of the following: malaria, typhoid, yellow fever, traveller's diarrhea, whooping caugh, etc.... One girl last year who went to Ecuador elected against getting vaccinated for whooping caugh, and sure enough she got it!
As for the academic bit, we have finished our final seminar. Now we all have to write our research paper, due April 16th. I haven't had to write a paper like this since first year, so I am a bit nervous. However, I'm sure it will all work out in the end.
That's all for now.
Until next time,
Michael
About Me
- Michael Hayes
- I am a third year student at the University of Toronto-St. Michael's College doing a double major in philosophy and Christianity and culture. This summer I will go to Ukraine for three months to work with Faith and Light--an international community bringing together people with disabilities. This is an integral part of the Intercordia program in which I am enrolled. I will use this blog to record my progress. Intercordia is a registered charity. BN# 833547870RR0001
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Fourth, and final, all day preparation seminar
Yesterday we completed a very significant part of the Intercordia program: the preparation seminars. We have come together so much as a group since our first seminar way back on October 18th, 2008. I am so priviledged to have been able to work with such a fantastic group of people, and I am going to miss these seminars. But, we must move on. We still have one last academic session together, and a going away dinner. Then, we're off! Of the eight of us, only two will be in the same country, and even they have different placements. I'm going to miss the group, but I must move on.
The actual seminar was very good. I think it was the best one of the four. In the first session, we discussed culture shock. We discussed the stages of culture shock, its symptoms, and what to do to minimize the negative effects. This session was very helpful since it dealt with what will be the core of our experience when we are abroad.
I won't go into too much detail, but Clara told us about the U curve pattern of culture shock. When we first arrive, we will probably be at the top left part of the U. This is the euphoric stage. We are in a new place, we are excited, we are really set for an adventure. She likened it to falling in love. However, this will not last. Eventually we will begin to be disillusioned with the culture. We will begin to realize some things that we think are strange or maybe even wrong, and we will not like it. We will also start to feel homesick. Then we will hit the stage where we are hostile to the culture. This is the bottom of the U. At this point we may even be angry with our new culture and we may want to get together with the other foreigners and complain, complain, complain. I took this stage to be the make or break stage. If we don't get through it, we will end up just frustrated and we will miss out on a lot of great stuff. For instance, some people had just stopped going to their placements and stayed home and watched movies. They later really regretting it. However, if we are able to get through this, we will begin to adapt. We will by now have a decent grasp of the language so we can communicate more effectively. Добрий! Good! We will also be more able to pick up social cues, which are ever so important. We may even hit the top of the right part of the U and assimilate into the culture. I doubt we will be able to get to that point since our stay is only three months, but hopefully we will be headed in that direction.
That was just a brief sketch of the U curve analysis of culture shock. We looked at it in much greater detail yesterday, but I won't bore you by going through every little thing.
After this session, two members of l'Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill visited us. There was one core member (a disabled person) and her assistant. I feel awful because I cannot remember either of their names, but they were a great. They talked about what it was like to live at l'Arche. They talked about the community life, how new assistant members (non-disabled) react when they first join. It was an interesting session. After it we had lunch.
After lunch and an icebreaker game (the human knot!), we discussed some emergency protocols. These deal with what to do when we do not know what to do. For instance, who should we contact if we do not feel safe, or if civil unrest is a problem. Do not worry, the supports Intercordia has in place are solid! If anything happens, we will be well taken care of.
We did some other things, such as brainstorm recruiting strategies for the next cohort of U of T Intercordians, and of course the last two told their life stories. And like always, the contents of those stories have no place on this blog.
That was our day. Like I said, we are all sad because it was our last one. But this is just a part of the program, and a part of life really. Now we can set our eyes on actually leaving! The fact that I am leaving for three months has really started to sink in for me. This Friday will be my last shift at work before I leave! I have worked at the local pool for three and a half years now and I have worked there the last three summers. I am going to miss working there! But I know everything will work out in the end. As for actual departure dates, we should know it very soon.
So, that's all for now. I don't really have anything else to say.
Until next time,
Michael
The actual seminar was very good. I think it was the best one of the four. In the first session, we discussed culture shock. We discussed the stages of culture shock, its symptoms, and what to do to minimize the negative effects. This session was very helpful since it dealt with what will be the core of our experience when we are abroad.
I won't go into too much detail, but Clara told us about the U curve pattern of culture shock. When we first arrive, we will probably be at the top left part of the U. This is the euphoric stage. We are in a new place, we are excited, we are really set for an adventure. She likened it to falling in love. However, this will not last. Eventually we will begin to be disillusioned with the culture. We will begin to realize some things that we think are strange or maybe even wrong, and we will not like it. We will also start to feel homesick. Then we will hit the stage where we are hostile to the culture. This is the bottom of the U. At this point we may even be angry with our new culture and we may want to get together with the other foreigners and complain, complain, complain. I took this stage to be the make or break stage. If we don't get through it, we will end up just frustrated and we will miss out on a lot of great stuff. For instance, some people had just stopped going to their placements and stayed home and watched movies. They later really regretting it. However, if we are able to get through this, we will begin to adapt. We will by now have a decent grasp of the language so we can communicate more effectively. Добрий! Good! We will also be more able to pick up social cues, which are ever so important. We may even hit the top of the right part of the U and assimilate into the culture. I doubt we will be able to get to that point since our stay is only three months, but hopefully we will be headed in that direction.
That was just a brief sketch of the U curve analysis of culture shock. We looked at it in much greater detail yesterday, but I won't bore you by going through every little thing.
After this session, two members of l'Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill visited us. There was one core member (a disabled person) and her assistant. I feel awful because I cannot remember either of their names, but they were a great. They talked about what it was like to live at l'Arche. They talked about the community life, how new assistant members (non-disabled) react when they first join. It was an interesting session. After it we had lunch.
After lunch and an icebreaker game (the human knot!), we discussed some emergency protocols. These deal with what to do when we do not know what to do. For instance, who should we contact if we do not feel safe, or if civil unrest is a problem. Do not worry, the supports Intercordia has in place are solid! If anything happens, we will be well taken care of.
We did some other things, such as brainstorm recruiting strategies for the next cohort of U of T Intercordians, and of course the last two told their life stories. And like always, the contents of those stories have no place on this blog.
That was our day. Like I said, we are all sad because it was our last one. But this is just a part of the program, and a part of life really. Now we can set our eyes on actually leaving! The fact that I am leaving for three months has really started to sink in for me. This Friday will be my last shift at work before I leave! I have worked at the local pool for three and a half years now and I have worked there the last three summers. I am going to miss working there! But I know everything will work out in the end. As for actual departure dates, we should know it very soon.
So, that's all for now. I don't really have anything else to say.
Until next time,
Michael
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Almost there!
Hey everyone,
This morning I passed the $2,000 mark and actually reached $2,125. That means I have only $375 to go! Thank you all so much.
Again, our final all day preparation seminar is this Saturday. It is sure to be a good one.
Until next time,
Michael
This morning I passed the $2,000 mark and actually reached $2,125. That means I have only $375 to go! Thank you all so much.
Again, our final all day preparation seminar is this Saturday. It is sure to be a good one.
Until next time,
Michael
Monday, March 2, 2009
Two months...or so
Remember this post? That was just one month ago. Now, I have just over two months before I leave!
Things are starting to shape up a bit more now. I now know that I will be with an Intercordia participant from the University of Western Ontario while in Lviv. Her name is Kim. I also know that I will be at a L'Arche community, and so I will probably be working with adults moreso than children. I also know that we're in the second half of the semester, and so the crunch to finish papers and to write tests for all of my classes is on!!!
By the way, I never told you what my classes are:
SMC359H - Mediaeval Theology
SMC362Y - Intercordia
PHL245H - Modern Symbolic Logic
PHL414H - Seminar in Philosophy of Religion
I am particularly concerned about my fourth year philosophy course. I have to write a 3000 to 5000 word essay that's worth 65% of the final grade. 3000 to 5000 I know isn't really that much, but this is philosophy! It's different than anything else!
But, back to Intercordia. Our fourth and final all day preparation seminar is this Saturday. I will write about that on Sunday. You can see what I wrote about the previous two seminars here and here.
Our final academic class before we leave will be on Monday, March 16th. For that class we will read and discuss Jean Vanier's Becoming Human.
I find it hard to believe that there are only two months before I leave. Still, I haven't had too much time to think about all of this, with school and all. But, the whole things is starting to seem more and more real.
And, I must note, I still have $700 to raise. If you can donate, please do by clicking here. Thank you so much!
Until next time,
Michael
Things are starting to shape up a bit more now. I now know that I will be with an Intercordia participant from the University of Western Ontario while in Lviv. Her name is Kim. I also know that I will be at a L'Arche community, and so I will probably be working with adults moreso than children. I also know that we're in the second half of the semester, and so the crunch to finish papers and to write tests for all of my classes is on!!!
By the way, I never told you what my classes are:
SMC359H - Mediaeval Theology
SMC362Y - Intercordia
PHL245H - Modern Symbolic Logic
PHL414H - Seminar in Philosophy of Religion
I am particularly concerned about my fourth year philosophy course. I have to write a 3000 to 5000 word essay that's worth 65% of the final grade. 3000 to 5000 I know isn't really that much, but this is philosophy! It's different than anything else!
But, back to Intercordia. Our fourth and final all day preparation seminar is this Saturday. I will write about that on Sunday. You can see what I wrote about the previous two seminars here and here.
Our final academic class before we leave will be on Monday, March 16th. For that class we will read and discuss Jean Vanier's Becoming Human.
I find it hard to believe that there are only two months before I leave. Still, I haven't had too much time to think about all of this, with school and all. But, the whole things is starting to seem more and more real.
And, I must note, I still have $700 to raise. If you can donate, please do by clicking here. Thank you so much!
Until next time,
Michael
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