We were told that coming back to Canada would be different and for some of us, it would be hard to transition back to normal life. So we had that at the back of our minds while coming back, I just didn’t know it would be that hard. I am back in Canada and I’m happy no doubt, seeing my parents, brother, cousin, and friends. I missed them dearly, but now I miss everyone and everything in Mongolia.
Coming back has made me appreciate and realize so much here in Canada. My bed, a toilet, and my parents = love. The moment I came home I ran up to my room and jumped on my bed, said hello to my teddy bears… and fell asleep.
I’m just going to start blabbing about what kinds of things were on my mind for the past couple of days since we’ve been back.
I feel I have been calmer and less angry and more positive with certain problems or little pet peeves I use to have, don’t bother me anymore. I come home listening to my cousin and my brother arguing with each other about who should wash the dishes and many other little things around the house. I just realize that arguing and complain will lead me nowhere, because the problem will still be there no matter how much complaining or arguing I do. I use to complain about the smallest things, I use to be a brat at home; I use to be a picky eater. My parents since I was a little girl, to appreciate everything in life because they use to live in Vietnam and when my parents were little they don’t have the things we have today. I always said ok and I thought I understood, but I coming back from Mongolia, I realise that I never did understand how to appreciate anything. But now I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND. And it is weird how that works, considering I had to go half way around the world to understand. I guess it’s because we see things on TV and we feel bad. But that is it. We see things but we THINK we understand when we really don’t understand fully what is going on. We see it through the view of a camera lens. We don’t understand the smell of the environment. We don’t feel the different weather conditions (extremely hot/ extremely cold) that other countries deal with everyday of their lives. Just one point of view through a single lens doesn’t show you the real meaning behind what really goes on in other parts of the world, it is just a glimpse of it for just a second.
The question all 30 of us have been asked throughout this week was: “How was Mongolia?” It got a little irritating getting asked so many times. But for the first 4 times I was asked I explained in depth, but I found out that when people ask that question they usually expect a one word answer. It is frustrating to explain such an amazing trip in just one word. But I guess that is what Matheny was trying to explain to us. People won’t get it, just like all 30 of us before the trip. We never understood why the group in the past trip to Paraguay were so upset and so attached to this class before. But now we all understand. We have been emotionally and physically attached to this wonderful program. It made us individually realize so much in just 2 weeks. And as a class we have been so connected to one another. In the halls we can’t help but stop suddenly to say “hi” and a run to each other for a quick hug.
I was speaking to Mr. Gill about my experiences in Mongolia and the odd transition back home. And I was telling him about in one of my classes a couple students were “ew-ing” about a story the teacher was telling us about. The teacher didn’t make the story clear in the beginning so the students obviously use their imagination and thought of the worst scenario. And they started to “ew” about washing their hair in a water fountain and they found that disgusting. In my mind I kept it to myself, but I thought… some people don’t shower ever in their life because they don’t have water. They don’t have clean water in other parts of the world. But I later realise that I can see where they can find it disgusting. We live in a society were other’s consider our country “high-class” so going to wash your hair at a water fountain may not be proper. But at the same time, we do need to keep in mind that we are lucky to even have a water fountain with clean water. They might say ok, but there could be a way of explaining it in a way they can understand. Mr. Gill understood and agreed. He also said to me, “You might have this feeling right now because you JUST got back and your having your difficult transition moment, but in a few months from now you will get caught up with life again and possibly be thinking like them again.” It may be easy to forget certain things and get caught up with life, but I hope my perspectives won’t change as I gradually move on with my life.
I may be addicted to the song “Fusion”, it is really catchy and it brings back so much memories. The friendships that we have made in Mongolia and even with our group, the late night meetings, the smiles our Mongolian friends have given us every day at the worksite, the sudden dances in public, the spectacular cultural nights, the food, the crowded & bumpy bus rides, our tears, our jokes, and our laughs. Mongolia was amazing and I KNOW I will never forget the people, great memories, and what I have learned in just one country.
To all the teachers: Matheny, Ms. Kippan, Thomsing, and McCallum, thank you so much for an amazing journey. Thank you for the opportunity, I really appreciate it. You guys have helped us survive through thick and thin.
To all the Mongols: You have been an amazing bunch of 30 students. I’ve gotten to know a lot of you so much better. And I hope our friendships continue for the next 5 years, 10 years, … 100 years!
Mongolia I miss you. <3
Ps. I realize my thoughts are all over the place… and I’m sorry. :s Hope you can follow along 
HAHAHHA Best wishes from me to you. Hope you have a super duper good one.
