Caitlyn McCullough

Dear Colts to Figi 2011 students, 

                 I firstly want to congratulate all of you into making it in the program. Also on getting your deposits in so fast, WOW! I know our class has been very territorial towards this program because yes it is our baby, you have to understand that we hate having to be “pushed” out of the way and let you guys have your moment. I have to admit that I hated the whole process of the interviews seeing everyone sign up, and you guys getting all excited made me sick to my stomach to think that you guys will be taking our place. Today, I had a change of heart. Seeing you all of you guys sitting together getting all excited to find out where your going made me so happy. I could picture every single one of us Mongol’s sitting in your places having the same look on our faces. I guess we all forgot to realise that this is one of the most exciting parts of the year for you guys and I would hate to think that we are ruining it for you. We want you guys to enjoy this time because it is special for all of you.  I know I can speak on behalf of all of the Mongol’s and say that we are honoured to pass down the torch to you guys, you seem like a great bunch of kids. I say seem because I don’t know most of you, but I want to get to know all of you!! I’m happy for every single one of you. Make us proud =)

Love ,
Caitlyn

I know I am not the only one going through with withdrawl. It seems as if I don’t want to do anything, I just don’t have the energy. All I want to do is look at pictures and think of the memories we all shared in Mongolia.  Looking through all those pictures makes all those memories transform into tears : ( . I miss everything about Mongolia, I miss waking up early morning and eating breakfast with everyone. I miss walking to the worksite in the cold all bundeled up. I miss chinggiss being at the worksite every morning warming up next to our back packs. I miss the POOH CREW, the orginial of course. I miss making the fire to soften the ground. I miss McCallum’s bright ideas to hammer the frozen ground =P. I miss lunch and dinner. I miss our talks, blogs, and heart to hearts =(. I miss everything and everyone. To the Mongolian people even though your out of my sight you will never be out of my heart. I miss all of you dearly and something that always brings a smile to my face is knowing that a good-bye is never truely a good-bye when you know there will be a hello again. I  know I want to go back to Zuunkharaa, and I won’t be alone.  We will all meet again, one day.

I take back what I said about my birthday being the best day here, today was the best day of my life. Today was the day I realized so many things about myself and my classmates. Today I realized that when your giving a chance to do something good for the world, it would make your whole life turn around. I can honestly say that my whole outlook on life is now changed. I can only thank one person and that is Mr.Matheny for giving me this opportunity to come to Mongolia. I know that for a fact I don’t have the best grades in the school, and I am not the captain of any sport teams or anything like that, but Mr.Matheny still had faith in me. He saw the passion in my eyes and that truly means a lot to me. Just by looking at me he could see that I needed this opportunity, that I needed this “ little-kick-in the-butt”. Mr. Matheny thank you for never giving up on me and always having faith in me. Your a great role model, and I know Ella is so lucky to have a father like you. She will grow  up to be the same person you are, smart, wise, kind, and helpful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    I also want to say a few words to my Mom and Dad and brother. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you. Mom your always there with your arms wide open for me and your always looking out for me. Your not only my mother your my friend. I know you are so proud of me, but I will assure you when I come home you will be even more proud. Thank you for raising me to who I am today. I love you Mommie. I’ll always be your baby girl. Dad, thank you for always telling me right from wrong. I never under estimate what you say, your always telling me the right thing to do. Without you and Mom in my life, I don’t know where I would be today. I love you Daddy. To my brother, Thank you for being a role model. Everything you do I look up to you. In my eyes you are one of the most important people in my life. Even when I am in the wrong your always there to be the best big brother anyone could ever have. I can come and talk to you about anything. I want you to know that I cherish the relationship we have. I love you Bobo. I miss all of you. I’ll see you soon. Xoxoxox

I have become so close with the people here that I don’t want to leave. I wish we could stay here in Zuunkharaa for a bit longer. I wish we could not do the tour and just stay here =(. I can’t believe how much this city loves being around us, they take care of us so well. We have our own personal police officer that comes with us everywhere. We also have cooks who prepare our meals for us 3 times a day. Mom, Dad I want to truly thank you for everything you do for me, I’m sorry I had to come half way across the world to realize it, but I really do appreciate you. I love you. I guess I never realized how little some people have until actually seeing it with my own eyes. I think that is what makes this course so special, we come half way across the world to realize the very simple things that we should have known in the first place, and we think to ourselves why didn’t we realize this, it makes so much sense. The reason is because we can look at pictures and we can watch movies on third world countries but until the day you live in a third world country and live their lifestyle you can never say you understand how it is to be in poverty. I am so happy that I got this opportunity to be here in Mongolia. I can already tell you that the way I live at home is going to change. Yes, Mom and Dad my room will be clean.

P.S To my Mother, Father, Brother and friends who are reading this, I love you and I miss you all very much. xoxo

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Everyone!!!  WOW, first blog since being here in Mongolia. The past 4 days have been absolutely insane, I never imagined Mongolia to be like this at all. Everyone here is so friendly and welcoming it is so touching to see how everyone is so excited to just say hi to you. Even though we had a few minor adjustments to be made in the past 4 days we have worked everything out and I am certain everyone is just as happy as I am. I can honestly say that I will never forget my 18^th birthday which was yesterday here in Mongolia but is today in Richmond, March 16^th .We went to a cultural event that a school here in Zuunkharaa held for us. They  prepared a slide show and also a bunch of western songs for us all to dance to and get to know each other. It was BY FAR the best night. After a hard working day and going to the cultural event everyone just wanted to eat dinner and go to bed, but since it was my birthday we had a cake and everyone sang to me. I couldn’t help but tear up, it was the best birthday I have ever had.  Being here in Mongolia has really opened my eyes to a lot of things, everyone here is so happy and proud to be who they are. The whole time we were thinking that we are coming to Mongolia to help others, but really they are helping us. They are helping us to understand to be happy with everything you have.  I can honestly say that most of the families here are happier than the families in Vancouver because everyone is so thankful and appreciative of what they have. I have already made a handful of friends here that I know is going to be so hard to say bye to when the time comes to leave. I can’t wait to see the end product of our school, but enough about the end it is still the beginning of a huge project and there is still so much to learn. I miss you Mommie, Daddy, and Bobo, don’t worry I am warm enough and the food here is really good. I love you guys, see you soon!

WE ARE LEAVING TODAY! I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT IN AN HOUR I WILL BE AT THE AIRPORT WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS <3 I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT TODAY IS WHEN OUR JOURNEY OFFICALLY BEGINS. ALL OF OUR HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF AND I AM SO EXCITIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This whole week my emotions have been all over the map!!!, Monday I was nervous and scared. Tuesday I was biting my nails and double checking my back pack 5000 times. Wednesday, I was so happy and ready to go. Yesterday I was sad to leave =( saying goodbye to everybody and TODAY ……. I JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MONGOLIA HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW, I can’t believe there is 3 days until we are leaving ! It seems that the whole month of February just flew by ! I got all my last minute items today at the mall and the suspense to leave is just killing me I can’t wait till Friday morning when we board the plane. I know everyone is going to be so tired on the flight but I guarantee NOONE is going to be sleeping we are all going to be way to excited! Today is also 1 week till my birthday =) I’m excited to be celebrating my 18th birthday in Mongolia =D I will never forget it. I’m worried about the flight because the longest I have been on a plane is 2 hours !  I know I can occupy myself with all the movies their playing I want to watch about 3 of them =D. Today in class we learned about the Mongolian currency Tugrugs or in our words “tuggies” ! =P  I’m pleased to say that we are all going to be RICH !! I can’t wait to go shopping there to see all the different things they offer and also to bargain down the prices (yes I’ve been practicing). I just can’t wait to leave. FRIDAY COME FASTER.

Today’s surprise was very special, our class got to meet the ambassador from Mongolia to Canada. It was such a honour to know that our school and our classroom was the first he has ever been to in B.C. I found it very interesting everything the ambassador said to us. He talked about all different areas regarding Mongolia. When we were able to ask questions our class had a lot of different questions to ask the ambassador. My favourite question was about the food, we all found out that were going to be eating a lot of dried beef. Another very interesting question was when the secretary told us that the “middle finger” in their country is not offensive whatsoever in Mongolia. Holding the pinkie up is considered very bad in Mongolia. I found this very interesting and such a memorable honourable experience. Thank you to everyone =) <3

WOW, today’s surprise was really moving and inspirational listening to Daniel’s journey really had an effect on me. It was so touching and I was so proud of him, even though I just met him today. I know that down the road a lot of the stories and words of wisdom he shared with us today are going to stick in my head. It was really neat how we got to try on his gold medal and hold the torch but the best thing about today’s surprise was just being able to sit and listen to Daniel’s story. The most shocking part of his speech is when he told us that his teacher told him that the Olympics is not for someone like you. The Olympics is for someone who lives in the city and has opportunities. I couldn’t help to think that to this very day children in Nigeria are brought up thinking that. It really upsets me, but knowing that Daniel didn’t listen to her and just kept on pursuing his dream shows that ANYONE is capable of ANYTHING if you really want it.  It gave me a warm feeling inside knowing that he did it, he accomplished his one and only dream. I was so happy for him =). I’m really glad we got the chance for him to come and talk to our class, he is an inspiration. He said that when he was a little boy he would look up to the Canadian Athletes and think of them as role models, he said he wanted to be just like them. And now to this day, children all over the world are looking up to him as a role model.  I really hope he comes back to our school and talks to the students because I would love to hear it again, and also if it had this much of an effect on me I know it will on many of the other students. Thank you Daniel =)

P.S I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT TOMORROWS SUPRISE IS !!!!

The other day Matheny gave us an very interesting assignment for over the weekend, he said to contact ( via email, phone, text, even facebook) another person in the class who you don’t really know that well and get to know them. I thought this was going to be a very cool assignment! Even though the assignment was given right before I went away to Edmonton for the weekend I still managed to talk to this one person. =) The day I came back I saw on my facebook page and in my email inbox messages for Joyce =). I was very pleased that she chose me to be that one person to get to know, I didn’t really know much about her to start and she looks like such a nice girl. We chatted back and forth for a little bit and I found out a couple cool things about her. We also have something in common that I had no idea about. We both would love to go traveling around Europe, especially Greece! I found this very cool when Joyce told me she loves Greece, she even said she would love to go on her honeymoon there ( boys take notes! ). I also would love to go to Greece it is what one of the things I plan to do before I start my post-secondary. Also I found out that Joyce wants to be a teacher when she gets older, I thought this job would be a very great choice for her. She is such a strong leader, and she is a great person to talk to. She will be a great teacher =). Joyce if your reading this, I’m glad I found out some stuff about you, but……  I want to know more! =D