Hi everyone - We have passed the halfway mark in the semester, which is crazy! It has been an interesting and busy first 7 weeks, but pretty amazing nonetheless. In particular, its been wonderful getting to know the diverse and kind group of people that are in my cohort. I think one of the biggest things I was worried about was meeting new people, especially leaving many lifelong friendships at home. Our cohort is one of the most diverse group of people I've ever met. In the main group I spend time with there are lovely ladies/gents from Mexico, Bangladesh, India, Colombia, Australia, and (me). Of our larger cohort there are people from Russia, Africa, Brazil, China and Sri Lanka - bringing many unique perspectives and conversations to our everyday classes/lives. Recently I was asked what the best part of the program was, and I would definitely have to say the people! Embrace the diversity of the group around you during your time at uni! It is a unique opportunity to be able to further understand different cultures, and global views! Gratitude I would also say, learning about my cohort's cities, socioeconomic aspects of their culture, and opportunities that did or did not exist in their home countries, brought me to a huge realization of how lucky we are as Canadians. Often, I am filled with gratitude regarding where I grew up. This is not to say Canada is the best country, as all countries of the world are unique, special and hold amazing culture and people. But our daily lives are much different from many countries. My home was safe, we had clean drinking water, my parents had jobs to support our family, I had access to health care, our air was clean, and nature was prominent and easy to access. It is a good reminder to all of us, that many people around the world do not have access to the things we take for granted everyday. So whether you are hiking of Terrace Mountain, fishing in our beautiful Skeena River, or safely and freely travelling around our province, and country; take a moment to reflect on your privilege to experience these things. I know I am looking forward to doing all of these things on my visit home this summer. xx Kathryn
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHi everyone! I'm Kathryn, a Master's student at Monash University in Melbourne. This blog outlines the experiences and transition of my life in small town Terrace, BC to the sites and sounds of Melbourne, Australia! Archives
July 2017
Categories |