Sasha Tiemer

I literally looked at this quote and stared at it for a good 10 minutes. Here come the grade 11′s. So new, so unaware of what they’re getting themselves into, unaware of the greatness they’re about to experience. Unaware of their new beginning…

Dear Grade 11′s:

I would give ANYTHING to be in your position. I would give anything to get another interview, another chance to get this experience. So just a warning, if some of us are seeming a little unfriendly it’s nothing personal!! =P We have loved this project as if it were our baby and it’s sad to think there’s already new students coming in. So we really do like you, it’s just difficult. Don’t take this for granted, NOW is your chance to step up. Take this opportunity and cherish every single moment. Don’t let a second pass you by, whether it’s with a fundraiser, in the class room or on the trip, soak it all in. *Sigh* I’m already getting jealous just thinking about it =p  Remember to work hard, have fun, and don’t forget about school!!

I look at this quote and yes, our beginning has ended. But our middle has just begun.

Since I have been back from this journey, millions of things daily remind me of Mongolia…whether it’s a dog barking at 1am or more pictures being posted up or having a little talk with someone every time they say “Man, it’s freezing out here!” With the exception of still being sick, the main reason I feel I haven’t posted (just realizing this now) is because it makes me sad. Sad that I am posting at home in this office instead of in that van, typing as fast on the cold keyboard so my fingers don’t feel like falling off. Seriously. I honestly, truly, miss that with all my heart. I remember looking up every so sentence and just looking around, soaking it all in. Not blogging for the whole week has given me the time to put Mongolia in the back of my mind because it’s easier to not think about those amazing times. It easier to not have to think about the people I will most likely never see again. And I do agree with the Dr. Seuss quote that I should be smiling because it happened, not crying because it’s over. But as Nicole wrote, it’s way easier said than done.

Ever since this trip to Mongolia I’ve been wondering who I was, what kind of person I was. The day of the closing ceremony was when I finally knew who I was. I’ve never been the type of person who cries infront of people or to show how I’m truly feeling, it’s uncomfortable and a sign of vulnerability to me. That day was extremely hard. Saying goodbye to those people was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my entire life and I felt like I couldn’t hold it in any longer, this bundle of emotion had exploded into these tears that I could no longer control. What made it even harder was when Caitlyn started crying too! We were crying buddies Then when we were in the circle and everyone was sharing it was like nothing I’ve experienced before. We were all connected. Connected by this unbreakable bond of experience. We were all experiencing the same feelings and sharing them aloud. I would’ve loved to share how I felt but the uncontrollable tears were already enough for the day. One of the parts that got to me the most was when Mr. Matheny started to talk about his daughter, when he told us that he hopes his daughter will grow up to be like us… That was the moment. We are in this program for a reason, each and everyone one of us IS special. WE are special. I am special. I kept failing to realize that not every teenager wants to build a school in a less than fortunate country. Not every teenager wants to help the world in general. Our group made a change in someones life, in peoples lives. I’m sure the people in that village will remember us forever, just like we’ll remember them and maybe, just maybe there was a child we inspired and they will go on and be motivated to do great things. They’ll look at the school we built and WANT to make a change as well, they’ll want to be as much as they can be. That was the moment I knew who I was and I knew who I wanted to become more of. If I was given the opportunity to share my feelings in that circle on that day I would say:

Thank you to everyone. I can’t say thank you enough. You all have changed my life, every single person in this room has changed my life. To Mr. Matheny, the most humble man I know, without you (and the 3 other amazing teachers) accepting me into this program I would most likely be lost right now. I feel almost a completion of myself after this experience. Without being a part of this journey, it would’ve taken me a lot longer to figure out who I am, maybe I would’ve never known. I thank you with my heart and soul. To all 41 of you who took part in this trip (Hammer included  you might not have taken part in body but you took part in spirit) you all are the most amazing people I have ever met, every single one of you. I am very honoured to have been a part of something so incredible. Thank you.

I feel as though I can conquer anything. Being in Mongolia has made me realize that there’s so much more to life than worrying or complaining about the little things. For example, the toilets we’re using in the dormitory, yeah they’re disgusting and smelly and we have to use them for a week, but the people who live in the dormitory have to use it for the rest of their lives.  That has opened up my eyes a lot more.

Most of the time I’ve been here I’ve been constantly thinking about how we are going to say bye to these amazing wonderful people in this village, saying goodbye to people that we want to get to know even more. Tonight is our closing ceremony meaning we will most likely never see these people again but as I thought of it more and more all I could think  is that when we say goodbye, we’re not leaving someone behind, we’re taking a part of them with us and leaving a part of us with them  =’)

I wish I could put into words the experience and the feelings that I’m feeling. But I can’t. There is nothing in the English language that could explain to you readers what this is like. I wish everyone could share these moments and happenings with us. I’m even having a hard time right now thinking about how to blog and what to blog about. Where do I even start? My whole life I’ve been cared for and looked after, not only when I’m sick but all the time. Now being here in this foreign country, being sick, I can do nothing but take care of myself. I appreciate my mom so much more…she’s ALWAYS there for me taking care of me. I never knew what it was like to have to completely fend for myself. And like I said in my first blog, the best and the hardest experience of my life. Building the school has been so amazingly intense and I’ve loved every minute of it. 5 minutes ago about 6 of us girls had built a fire, a large fire. By ourselves. The feeling of accomplishment is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world. Last night we had another cultural night and it was heartwarming just like the rest, by now most of us have made not only friends but best friends, yet all I could think about was how am I going to say goodbye to these amazing people? In the mean time I’ll just soak everything in because these are the moments in our lives where we shape who we are, and I get the feeling I’m starting to know who I really am.

Through this journey I’ve come to the conclusion that this trip is going to be the best trip I’ve ever taken and also the hardest. I’ve had to do things I’ve never even imagined doing in my life. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been homesick about every hour, but seeing the smiles on the Mongolian childrens faces is worth it, being tired and sick and cold is worth it. Yesterday was our first day of work, everyone had worked so hard that by the end of the day all we anted to do was sleep but we had a cultural event to go to at a high school. I think a lot of us had the feeling that we just wanted to get to bed, I know I did. BUT when we got there, it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced, all they wanted to do was be our friend. They worked so hard to welcome us, performing to Micheal Jackson music, having information about Canada and even Richmond on their screen. The part that hit me the most was when they played Micheal Jackson’s song ìWe are the Worldî and all of us, the 30 students, and the Mongolian students stood in a circle, held hands and sang. Just to think that here we are half way across the world and it was like we had known each other for years. Language wasn’t a barrier and it didn’t matter hat we looked like. By far the best experience of my life. Even through all the crappy stuff thats happened (Contacts freezing, getting real sick, and the middle of my jacket getting burned ñ Sorry dad!) I know this trip will be worth it in the end. We’re going to accomplish a school for the kids, they’ll always remember us and we’ll always remember them.
Hello mommy, I hope your reading this, I love you sooo much and I miss you =( give Chai puppy kisses for me please and thank you for buying me the chocolate covered almonds, they’re making this trip a lot easier =D Keep watching the site and i’ll see you before you know it!

4 more days….seems like yesterday we were doing our first bottle drive and asking our family and friends if they want to buy meat. Why am I having such a hard time thinking about leaving? A goodbye shouldn’t be painful unless there will never be a hello again. I think this thought is unbelievable because I have been anticipating it for almost a year now, ever since getting accepted into the program, actually more than a year. For years!! I have thought about being a part of Global Perspectives ever since I had heard about the program. Now that the trip is here it’s exciting to think everything has built up to now. Time goes by so fast…and unfortunately the trip will go by fast, the only thing I can do is soak it in day by day, not take for granted any time and do everything and anything I can on this trip. I won’t be caring about the way I look or the way my hair is done, the thought of sleeping in will fly out the window, and for the first time I can tell my friends and family, I’ll bring you back a souvenir!

In other words: Bon Voyage!

To begin with, the most intense thing happened a few weeks ago. Was it Olympic Medalists? Arnold Schwarzenegger?? Barack Obama???

None of the above actually (I honestly didn’t know how Arnold would tie into global perspectives) we had the honour of meeting the MONGOLIAN AMBASSADOR! Of course he’d had come with a little entourage of more Mongolians and I think this was the first time where the trip felt EXTREMELEY real to me. I thought to myself we will be encountering people like this, they will be talking this language, looking this way and it was very surreal. We were able to ask them questions about what Mongolia is like, about the traditions like traditional dance and clothing and they also told us some easy words! Overall, I think it was the PERFECT surprise visit for us, it was almost like a taste of who and what we’re going to encounter when we are in Mongolia.

Okay so I remember a few classes ago Mr. M asked everyone briefly “who’s getting a little nervous about the trip?” and a few people raised their hands but I remember clearly not raising mine. I can recall thinking to myself nervous? Ha-ha tis not I who is nervous. Okay I didn’t think it exactly like that but something along the lines. If he asked me the same question now I think I might not only raise both my arms but my legs too. I have been so nervous and almost in this state of shock, I cannot believe there is 8 days left…yesterday my mom and I went shopping for everything else I needed such as a sleeping bag compressor, power bars,thermal underwear..hehe…yeah anyways I just couldn’t believe that here is a trip that Ive been waiting pretty much a year to go on and it is almost a week away. I had a hard time wrapping my mind around it. I also think it’s because I am a plane noob. This will be my first time being on a plane ever. That may play a role in my nervousness because I just do not know what to expect, and I’m just hopin’ that this isn’t gonna be my first and last plane ride *knock on wood* because as much as I would not like to admit it, everything runs through your mind, all the possibilities and outcomes. But after going to the parent meeting today I honestly feel so much more comfortable knowing that there are 4 amazing teachers who are going to be here for us, watching us like hawks and being like our parents for these 2 weeks. It makes the first time experience process a lot more easier to digest

Our global perspectives class had the amazing privilege to have an inspirational Olympic Champion, Daniel Igali, speak to us during class. He told us of his dreams, his struggles and how he was able to succeed in his life. It is amazing to think he was a mere boy in a village of Nigeria, and now he is representing Canada in the world Olympics. Truly amazing, I don’t even know if there is words for it. Listening to him speak was so motivational and I used to think to myself it is going to be heartbreaking when the Mongolia trip is over and the new students for the program start rolling in. BUT after yesterday I realized it will not be the end. Mongolia is going to be the start of something great, something fantastic. I don’t want my humanitarian work to end there, I want to help people everywhere, all over Africa, travel to India, build schools for children around Asia and so much more. It may not be much but it will make a difference in some people lives. Maybe it will inspire a child, JUST like how Daniel Igali was inspired, his mind was fully set of becoming an Olympic champion because he was inspired and look where he is now. And like Madison, I was also trying to fight back tears. Not only because of the inspiration but because after becoming this huge Olympic icon, he remembered where he came from and chose to go back to build an academy in Nigeria. It was amazing to meet the warrior with the story.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Okay so I realize it is 12:42 am, I realize I’ve been sick for the past 3 days, I realize that there is school tomorrow and yes I realize that I am lying in bed typing this on my iPhone which will probably take me a million years. But that’s OKAY because i can’t stop thinking about what I’m going to type for my blog!! There is just so much and I don’t want to forget it. Okee dokee.

So me and the Katreensters (just made that one up and I’m liking it) had this amazing little biography trade which was actually part of an assignment! I think it mightve been a Thursday or Friday, right before the weekend,so the bell rings and mr matheny says “Your assignment for this weekend!….” and of course everyone starts doing this loud Oh No moan BUT he carries on to say something along the lines of find a classmate and get to know them this weekend, give them a call, send ‘em a message, show up at their house (okay well he didn’t say the latter part) so pretty much get to know a little bit about someone you don’t know and do I have to say one of the best assignments EVER.

I had the honor of getting to know Katrina! Twas awesome, she sent me an essay (yes I’m exaggerating) on pretty much her likes/dislikes as well as her life up until now such as places she’s been and what schools she went to and so on. Like I said in class, in grade 8 and 9 and some of 10 me and katreens LOVED prison break and of course drama class and we’d always have these crazy intense coversations about what’s going on (TRAIN SCENE FOR THE WIN) but tragically they ended the season and tragically me and katrinas relationship ended, well….sizzled down a bit. SO now that we have rekindled our friendship we not only have our Prison Break in common but we gave a little more to talk about

Alrighty so next subjecto, immunizations! Thursday me and mr. sackett went to go get the shots, we saw Job and Darren there as well! Just briefly though, so let me say, I can handle piercings but shots us just another story, I think it’s the fact that something is injecting into you that just creeps me out, I think at one point bentley was sitting there waving the tiger puppet infront of me hahaha! Ohmygoodness yes I was a wimp. But it was definatley worth it for Mongolia. After that we went to London Drugs and picked up the prescriptions and some other random stuff. Bentley also got his passport photo taken by Seamus the London Drugs photographer, complete with his two-hander camera and turtle hoodie that he made Bento wear. Good times. Even though I was exhausted from the week and my arm was feelin all weird, it was a fun, hilarious time and nice because I hadn’t hung out with Beto for quite some time.

Anyways so it’s really just my luck that I get these massive side effects from the shots. Lame. I ended up with a fever and nausenous for the past 3ish days but hey I’m not complaining, merely explaining. And why am I rhyming? This can’t be good timing, for I am currently bloggin’ it’s quite late to be using my noggin’. Maybe it’s time to stop blogging and sleep, thankfully this blog will be complete, I will turn off my phone and finish my tea, and dream about the take off to mongolia, we’ll be gone in 33!

Wow I am so weird at night. (sleep tight!)

I’m not gonna lie, not a blog for a month and a half…..it doesn’t feel so good. I think the reason why it has come to this is mainly 2 reasons. Every time I bring it up and stare at this little white box my mind goes blank and instead of really thinking about something to write I do the stupid thing and close the window saying to myself “oh I’ll just blog tomorrow”. That obviously then does not happen. The second reason is after postponing the blogging I think, how am supposed to start up again? “hey haven’t blogged in a while…” So that is mainly why my subject title is “Ashamed.” Because that is truly what I’m feeling. I’m deciding to be vulnerable, put my feelings through this and say that I’m not proud of myself for deciding not to blog for such a long period of time. I mean, wake up Sasha. If everyone can do it. So can you. And no excuses. I feel like I’ve not only disappointed Mr. Matheny and classmates….but myself. To end on a positive-ish note, today is a new day and this is a new blog.

Last class I feel as though we all connected, thoughts were shared and everyone seemed to come to a good understanding. Not to mention the amazing email that Nicole sent to everyone, she literally just put all of her feelings and emotions on the line. I really appreciated that and took it to heart. With the trip being only a month and a few days away…high school almost being over….and having deadlines for colleges/universities I think things have been the busiest ever, for everyone, which causes stress which causes tension and so forth.

 BUT like I said, last class was good, excellent in fact and the more classes we have, of all of us connecting it’s going to make us more of a family. Then the Mongolia trip will seal the deal and we’ll not only be closer but we’ll have millions of memories and experiences from this trip. This is the opportunity of a life time, to not only help others but truly to help ourselves. 30 years from now we probably won’t remember what we learned in Chemistry 12 or Socials 11. What we will remember is the time we sat around a campfire in Mongolia, sharing stories, experiences, reflecting on a days work. We’ll remember the smiling faces on the Mongolians who’ve we’ve helped and who have helped us. We’ll remember the tears on each others faces the day we have to depart. So when we come back to Richmond High, or even 30 years from now we may not be best friends, or be friends for life, but we will all have a bond that no one else could understand or break. And that is, what I feel, the meaning of Global Perspectives.