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