Victoria Leung

It felt so weird waking up this morning and knowing that I’ll never have to go high school again.  It’s now hitting me that it will never be the same.  I’ll never see the same faces wandering down the halls and I’ll probably only keep contact to those that I’m the closest with.  That being said, I’m so convinced that I’ll keep in contact with almost every Fijian in our class.  I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to really get to know the amazing personalities and wonderful people of Global Perspectives.  We are truly a family… A really really big and loving family.

Botswanians, I’m so excited (and extremely jealous) for all of you.  The family that you are now a part of will always and forever be here for you.  If you have any questions at all, or just want to talk, we are all here and ready to share our experiences.

Today, I have my final dance recital of my life.  I can feel the unsuppressable tears that will be running down our faces tonight as the last curtain closes.  It is unreal that 14 years of dancing is now coming to an end.  I’ll never forget the people that I’ve danced with for so long.  It will be so different knowing that I won’t be seeing their beautiful faces every other day of the year.  We have definitely seen each other at our best, and at the lowest of lows.  I love them all to pieces.  Come September, all of my dance friends are going to a different universities.  I’m sad to admit that we won’t be nearly as close to one another as we are now.  But I guess that’s how life works.  People come, and people go.  But if you’ve chosen your friends wisely, no matter the distance or inconvenience, you will always have someone to fall back on.  I know I’ll be there for them.

With all this change that is going on in our lives, one thing remains constant. Our everlasting and unconditional love of our families.  I love my family with all my heart.

Well, I really hope that this isn’t the last blog that I’ll ever write.  To be honest, I was scared as I typed in my user name and password.  I was scared that my account would just shut down as Global Perspectives 2011 is now over.

Until next time, whenever that may be,

Victoria Leung

Today was the Colts to Botswana car wash!  Even though I didn’t have a car, I thought that I would stop by for a while and support the class.  But what I intended to be a few minutes turned into four hours.  We Fijians never had a chance to do a car wash, so it was fun to be a part of this one.  At first, it was kind of sad because it felt like the Botswana class was taking over the Fijians.  As I walked around with Valerie to collect donations, I could no longer say “Hi, I’m going to Fiji to build a storm shelter this March and I was wondering if you would like to donate!”.  Instead, I had to stand back and let her make the speech.  After a a bit, I began washing cars with the Botswanians.  It was fun because I had a chance to work with a different global class for a day.  As we were washing cars, I noticed that a few past graduates came to get their car washed.  It’s cool to see that this program has impacted so many people.  I remember seeing  a girl in a blue car drive out of the car wash.  She was the same graduate that came to talk to us in one of our Global classes, and the same girl that we asked for donations from while collecting bottles.  Its great to see that past Global students are still so connected to the program and continue to support it.  Today, I’ve discovered that there are definitely some awesome personalities in this year’s class!  I’m pretty sure Diana and I scared some of them with our craziness.  I apologize.  I’m glad I went to the car wash today because I got to talk each and every Botswanian.  One of the Botswanians remind me a lot of myself.  As we were talking, she said something that I would have said one year ago.  It wasn’t anything big, it was just something little that triggered a thought of myself before the Global trip to Fiji.  I wonder if she will change in the same way that I did in that respect.  I’m sure she will.

Today was a great day.  The sun was out, the carwash was great, and the nine people that I spent with tonight are all amazing.

I love my parents to death.  I really do. But sometimes, their spending habits drive me absolutely crazy.  I can’t justify the amount of money they spend on things that I think are unnecessary.  Sometimes when we go out for dinner with my parent’s friends, I think that we spend way too much on a meal that we probably could have made at home.  I’m the kind of person that likes to spend as little money as possible.  I mean, I’m not opposed to treating yourself to little things every so often, but I’m not the type to splurge on a meal or an expensive item.  Usually when I find out that my parents are about to spend money, I try and talk them out of their big purchase.  My mom really doesn’t like the fact that I’m so stingy all the time, and now, I finally see what she’s talking about.  Although the money that we spend could probably go to a better cause, it’s okay to spend money on yourself if you work hard for it.  I understand that my mother and I are in two completely different situations.  I’m saving up money to pay for university and travels.  But my mom makes money herself and it’s only fair that she can do what she wants with it.  Now that I look at it, the money that my family spends actually brings us closer together.  We spend money on various things like espresso makers, clothing steamers, random gardening tools, and meals.  But with every big purchase, I can remember a great memory with the item and both of my parents.  I understand that money is not something that we should spend recklessly, but it’s also okay to spend your money when you have worked hard for it.  So mom, congratulations.  While it took a few years, your lesson has finally gotten through to me.

I finally finished my time capsule letter to myself!  At first, i thought that it would be super hard to write to the 27 year old me, but when I started to write, I couldn’t stop!  There is so much of my life now that i didn’t ever want to forget.  I mentioned the key lessons that I’ve learned from my last year of high school, my friends, my favorite music, and where I’d life to see myself in ten years.  It’s strange to think that it’ll be a whole 10 years before I can read that letter again!  But then again, ten years will probably fly by.  In my letter to myself I wrote a lot about my friends and family.  I took the time to illustrate how wonderful they are.  I hope that I never ever take them for granted!  When I was finished writing the letter, I realized how much I’ve grown up in the past five years.  If I told my grade 8 self to write a letter to future me, It would probably be a whole less meaningful.  I can’t wait to re-read my letter in ten years! It will be exciting.

On a side note, It would be kind of embarrassing… okay REALLY embarrassing if Matheny read our letters. I hope he doesn’t plan on it.. I might have included some things that are rather strange.

Yesterday, I saw a colt to Botswana walking in the halls after school holding a bunch of poster paper.  I asked her what she was up to and she told me that her classmates were making posters for their carwash.  Immediately, I asked her if Erin and I could sit in on the meeting and poster making session.  As Erin and I were listening in on their meeting, we noticed some differences between our class and theirs.  It was very interesting to see how they cooperated with one another and how different some of the personalities in the class were.  It’s hard to believe that just one year ago, we were doing the exact same thing.  Throughout the meeting, I found it difficult to keep my mouth shut.  I knew that it wasn’t our fundraiser and we shouldn’t intervene with their planning too much.  So, Erin and I just sat in the corner and listened as we knew that some of their plans might not work out.  But they will learn on their own as it is a big part of the Global experience.  Now, I know how Matheny feels when he has to stand back and let us figure things out on our own.  It’s hard!  It was also nice getting to know the Botswana’s more yesterday.  We chatted about hockey, school, and other things as well.  By the end of it, I was comfortable enough to let someone know that their fly was undone.  Goes to show that I’ll treat any global member just like family!  In all seriousness though, I think that the Global class of 2012 are a great bunch of people that I’m sure that they will make us Fijians proud!

Victoria.

WOW. That was the BEST (and only) game I’ve ever been to.  When Kesler scored that goal right before the game was supposed to end, the enitre stadium went absulotely crazy.  It was that very moment that I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and unity.  I turned around, hugged Fiona, and smiled at everyone around me.  Everyone was estatic.  And of course, when Bieksa scored the final goal of the game, the level of happiness in our nation only rose.  The sounds of people roaring and cheering downtown was unbelievable.  I can’t even count how many random high-fives and hugs I got from strangers!  It’s just like what we talked about today in class. Something like a sport can bring so many people toegether for a common cause.  When I got home, I started made a connection about tonights game and Fiji.  I felt the exact feeling tonight that I did in the village of Wavuwavu.  That sense of togetherness and unity.  But aside from the similar emotions, the cause of the emotions were different.  I was happy for the Canucks for the chance to win the Stanley Cup and, I somehow  felt connected to everyone in Vancouver.  In Wavuwavu, I felt united with the new friends I made in the village and happiness for the completion of a humanitarian project.  If we can put so much emotion and pride into a sport like hockey why can’t the world be just as excited to help others in need?  If the world spent an equal amount of money on sports and poverty in the world, I’m sure the world would be a better place.

But nonetheless, I’m super happy that we won tonight!

GO CANUCKS!

Take a look outside today!  It is nothing short of beautiful.  It’s days like these that remind me of how lucky I am to be me.

Today after school, a few of my good friends and I walked over to Minoru Park and chatted with one another for a couple hours. It was just one of those days where everyone was happy and content with their lives.  We chatted about memories of high school, university, and the future.  But the best moments of the conversation were not found in the words, but rather in the silences.  All of us sat there and reflected within ourselves.  The silences were not moments of awkwardness but they were moments of appreciation.

Although I’m not in IB, the past few weeks have been difficult as we are trying to fit the last bit of curriculum into the school year.  I admit, there have been moments in the past few weeks where I’ve complained about how much work I had to get done and how much stress is put upon us from things like university.  But really, what is there to complain about? I have it good.  I have it REALLY good.  Sometimes for a second, It slips my mind that most people in this world have it a lot worse than I do.  In the moment of stress or anger, I have to inst deal with my problems as there are many problems that are greater than my own. 

Days like today just emphasize how lucky we truly are.  What’s to complain about?

Change is easier said than done.

Ever since our trip to Fiji, I feel like I’ve learned so much about life and I have a new appreciation for everything that I have. But when I got home, things became fuzzy again.  I’m finding that it’s difficult to apply everything that I’ve learned into my life.  It’s hard to explain but every so often, I make a wrong choice or say the wrong thing. While I know that it’s wrong, I do it anyways.  I’m aware that I’m doing these things, but it’s still difficult to stop. I don’t want to lose everything that I’ve learned, and I don’t want to change back to the person I was before Fiji.

For the entire day today, my mind was on the big reveal.  No matter what class I was in or what I was doing at the time, I had a little voice inside of me saying “I can’t wait, I can’t wait.”  I didn’t expect to be this excited and enthusiastic about the next year’s location, but I was.  All throughout lunch, my friends and I were guessing all the places they could go.  Every so often, Fiona would yell “YEMEN”.  It was pretty funny.

After school, we all ran to Matheny’s room and waited excitedly for everyone to show up.  It was nice to see all of us so ecstatic about the next location, even the teachers had the biggest smiles on their faces.  When I looked at the grade 11′s, it took me back to the time when I was in their position.  I remembered how happy and honoured I was to be a part of Global Perspectives.  I also remembered watching the Mongolians and noticing how close they were.  I noticed right away that they had a special bond and connection.  Just from that, I knew that I was in for a journey of a life time. 

When Matheny turned over the plaque that said “Botswana”, I honestly didn’t know where it was at first.  It was only until a Fijian said “AFRICA” that I knew.  It surprised me that we were just as excited for the Botswana reveal than we were for our own.  It just shows how attached we are to Global Perspectives.  Now, I will join all of the past grads in stalking the Batswana (apparently that’s the word for people that come from Botswana).

Grade 11′s, you are so lucky to be in your positions right now.  Like any other Global Perspectives grad, I would do anything to go through the experience all over again.  I’m still sad that our own trip and journey is over, but I’m also genuinely happy for each and every one of you.  Please never take this opportunity for granted.  There is so so much to take from this program and I am confident that all of you will be changed people by the end.  Welcome to the family!

Home feels strange.  It feels foreign and confusing.

When we arrived at Richmond, I was actually extremely sad that we were home.  But when I saw my dad waiting there for me, that was when I realized that I had missed my parents more than I thought I did.  It made me realize how important they are and how much I depended on them for many aspects of my life.  It felt so strange being at home.  Everything I saw or did reminded me of different memories in Fiji, and it still does.  Some of my friends have been asking me about the trip and how it was.  I respond with generic answers like “It was amazing” or “Best spring break ever”.  I tell them the outline of what we were doing in Fiji, but I never go into detail about how it has changed me.  I feel like if I tell them how important this trip is to me, they may not understand.

When I got home, I started questioning many aspects of my life.  University is a big part of that.  I know that it is probably in my best interest to go to university and get my undergraduate degree.  But now, I have this new urge and desire to travel.  Perhaps it is still possible to travel and go to school at the same time?  I really hope so.  I also question the actions and words of some of my friends.  Some of the things that they are saying feel so insignificant in relation to the rest of this world.  All the materialistic views and complaining all seem so useless.  I know that it is completely unfair of me to judge them for who they are now because just two weeks ago, I did the exact same.  I complained a lot more two weeks ago than I ever will now.

I miss my Fijians so much.  The night that we came home, I went to sleep on a bed that felt like it was way too big for one person.  I missed sleeping to a choir of snores, moans, and sleep talkers.  I woke up kind of feeling alone.  It was so weird not getting a wake up call and waking up with 27 other students.  I miss our usual breakfasts together and our unusual jokes.  I miss having a jam packed day of activities and fun.

On the trip, I realized how much I liked my alone time.  It gives me time to think/reflect about my day and sometimes, it’s even nice to clear my mind of all thoughts.  These are the times that made understand what I had learned from the trip.  I’ve learned that I am able to be an independent person.  This trip has showed me that I don’t always need the help of others to get me through the day.  Suddenly, the future seems a little less scary than before.

Although it has been a tough few days, I’m starting to realize that I should be happy for the amazing experience that we’ve shared.  It’s a new beginning, not an end.