The possibilities are endless !

Time now to tell you about our free days!! Two weekends ago was the first weekend we had to truly relax! On Saturday, we welcomed Theressa to our group. Because we are missing 2 Canadians, Jess was in charge of finding two more Canadians awesome enough to prepare and get here before it gets too late. Theressa had only 2 weeks to prepare! I cant imagine preparing, especially mentally, for a trip like this in a mere 14 days! The minute Theressa met us all (after we basically jumped on her all 16 of us) she fit right in, and after a few hours it was like she had been there since day one! Fits right into the group, and at this point I think everybody loves everybody:)


Later that night Charles and Ben came over so we could all work on our portfolios! Although, not much work got done. Charles had this weird thing about wanting us to paint his nails! He had been bugging us since the first day at Tatamagouche to do it ( who knows why) anyway, so we did, and what a fine job we did do!

Sunday, Mary and Priscilla were feeling pretty worn out so they stayed in most of the day to relax and watch TV. Kayla and I decided instead that we were going to go for a little bike ride around town. With our Canadian weather stress setting in, because it was a beautiful day outside we did not want to miss being outside, knowing the weather that is on its way. We only planned on a short ride to the library, but after arriving there and it being closed (for the third time) we looked at each other and realized, with our bikes, the possibilities are endless; and so our adventure began! We went to the mall, around to the park, all over Riverview, to coldstone... mmmm so good. It was such a wonderful day!!

Its hard to remember what happened when so now I think ill just list a few things I've done that I want to share :)

1. Kayla and I's first attempt at cookies!! After putting in all the ingredients for peanut butter cookies, we realized we had no baking soda, so we compensated for such with baking powder!! And continued on. Next , Kayla pulled out the oats and we were ready to put them in when I realized there are no oats in peanut butter cookies... and that we had been reading the wrong recipe the whole time!! SO we compensated again, this time with a little extra flower. After baking cookies for 45 minutes ( 20 minutes with the oven turned off), we had our cookies. Even though they were horrible , we had such fun making them neither of us cared much!
2. Charles, Kayla and I decided to go swimming one day after work ! It was all fine until we got there, where they told us we needed to wear bathing caps in the pool. After laughing for about 10 minutes about them ( on the floor laughing) we marched into the change room with our lost and found bathing caps ready for the swim!    Not only did we look DAMN fine, we got to do water aerobics led by, yours truly, finished off with a beautiful  synchronised swimming routine to mambo number 5.
3. Mary braided my hair!! took a very long time, but i must say, corn rows suit me quite well :)
4. KATIMAVIK HOUSE PARTY. Lucky for us, there was a Katimavik group right here in Moncton! After a long day with the group talking about group norms and such, we walked to join the volunteers of Katimavik  for a Ghanaian meal and dance! Katimavik is a program much like CWY, although it is across Canada only and instead of living in host families, the whole group lives together in one house. It took a while for the group to warm up to the Ghanaian's way of dancing (intense grinding on each other but with no sexual intention), but it took only a few minutes before everyone was up and dancing together! We danced and danced, then ate peanut soup and rice balls!! Then danced quite a bit more. It was SUCH a fun night.

Its hard to believe its only been a month that I've been in this crazy program. I feel like I've known everyone my whole life. We all get along so well and I cant imagine what it will be like to say goodbye after these six months. They have become my family. Its hard, everyone tells you not to anticipate the end, not to think about it but rather enjoy each day as it happens. Its hard, practically impossible but I'm doing my best to live in these moments. I remember the day I got accepted to CWY and it seems like so long ago! Times flies, so friggin fast.

It is now 11 o'clock, Ill attach some pictures this time, and then ill be off to bed so that I'm ready to take on my day  tomorrow! Its a busy one.

Pumpkin juice and love!!

Jillian xo

 Our more successful attempt at cookie making!

 Kayla, Charles and I looking DAMN fine in our bathing caps :)

 Moncton :)

 Working in our country groups to identify the difference between Moncton culture and our own 

Katimavik and CWY salad :)

C.O.W - Moncton

Community orientation week. WOW what a way to discover a community. It all began at tatamagoosh center early Friday morning. After a a delicious breakfast and quick goodbyes to our Saint Johns- Saltpond exchange group, every one in my exchange group went back to pack up our things in Campbell house. This was a sad morning.We all grew so close living together for a whole week, and knowing that that night we were to go home to our separate families that night was a little depressing to everyone. Every time I think about the fact that we've only been together for 3 weeks i get a little freaked out. I feel like Ive known everyone here for ever, and being that were all in this together, experiencing the good and the bad as one unit, they really are becoming my family.


After we made our final goodbyes to the camp, we loaded onto the bus to make our way to Moncton, New Brunswick!! Although it was a 2 hour bus ride, the time passed so quickly! I sat with Charles, one of the Canadian boys, and we spoke french the whole way there, my sister doubted that I would get any practicing done, but opportunities are constantly showing up and I can see an improvement in my french everyday as the weeks pass.When we arrived in Moncton, I was so excited!! In a matter of minutes I was going to meet my host family of 3 months! The minute I saw them, I knew I was going to love them, and I do! After staying up for a bit and getting to know our new family, we all headed to bed, it had been such a long day. Now if I were to describe the weekend that followed, you would probably see it as pretty boring, but to us it was wonderful! From the day we met the team to the day we met our families, we were non stop, on the go, up late, and woke up early... Saturday and Sunday we RELAXED. It was so great.


Monday came along with tired faces but rested minds. Everyone was fully ready to take on the days ahead. The week was super packed with alot of informational sessions, but also a lot of breaks and free time! We organised different committees, group norms, work placements and E.A.D subjects and partners. I forget what E.A.D stands for but they are educational days ran on Mondays, where a group of two teaches the rest of the group about his or her subject. I was paired with Ben which is really going to be alot of fun, but Charles and Mary deviously stole our subject of religion (for which I was very excited to research) so we got stuck with transportation.


During our free time throughout the week we meta few challenges. Miscommunication led to people getting separated and frustrated. Its very difficult for us Canadians to work and live with those from another culture as different as Ghana's, but it is no less difficult for the Ghanaians to work with us Canadians. This cultural difference is the root of many of our groups issues. We meet many challenges, but as we overcome each one, it makes us stronger as one. Things like the different concepts of time are forcing the Ghanaians to adapt to our Canadian ways for this portion of the exchange. They have it hard, being that our exchange has the Canadian phase first, but each day were learning as a group and before long I know we will be able to tackle whatever comes our way with ease, despite our cultural differences.


On our free time during community orientation week, we were able to explore the town, walk the beautiful boardwalk along the river, see the parks, and alot more! It also entailed many trips to the mall where I was forced to invest in some jeans from American eagle. After being told by Eddie that people would point and laugh at me in Ghana for my boy pants and overall appearance, I thought it wise to have at least one pair of girl pants. Was I insulted? Not at all :) I love wearing boy clothes, they are SO comfortably, they're never too tight and they fit the way I like... But I had been missing my style from back home a little bit. I hardly brought any nice clothes with me so I thought what the heck, i deserve a cute pair of jeans :) Most Canadians have a very hard time saying what is on there mind. Whether its telling someone off when they hurt your feelings, telling someone there's something wrong with their appearance, or doing anything that might in any way ever hurt somebodies feelings. The Ghanaian culture Ive found is very different. Of course they don't want to hurt anybodies feelings, but they are not afraid to speak their mind. I truly admire them for that! The other day I was having a conversation with Ben and after it had finished, he turned to me and said "now go get some lip stuff, your lips are chapped and dry". I laughed so hard! No one but my mother or sisters would  have been able to say something like that to me, Ben was simply stating something he noticed with the thought that I would probably like to know. I love it.


Today we are having a picnic in the park with the group, after which I think we are going apple picking, so I must leave you with this. Stay tuned for my next post, I have so much more to say!


I love and miss everyone !!


Pumpkin juice and love!!


Jillian xo

The First of Many

It might take a while for me to get in the habit of updating this blog as often as i would like too, but I thought tonight I would at least begin my attempt. Hello! I am currently sitting in the kitchen of my new host home, wishing I had one of Kayla and I's delicious baking soda free cookies. I'm thinking its going to be almost impossible to remember everything that has happened so far, but for you, my friends, and my family, I owe it to you at least to try :)! So lets go like this...


Day 1


4 o'clock start, Weston Hotel, one of the most challenging days of my life. I remember it so perfectly, how it felt showing up to the airport and realizing that the day i'd been waiting for had finally begun! I walked through the doors, with Dad and Lexi by my side, and put my suitcase on the scale. 50 pounds on the dot, I definitely own the title of ultimate packer ! Then it was time to go to my gate, B22! Oh wait, customs first. Anyone who had been with me for the month before knew that I was an emotional wreck, but all it took for me to not cry that day was a look from my big sister and a "oh Jillian, don't start!". Getting through the customs was scary, then finding my gate all on my own then sitting down it was all scary. Then the plane , omg the plane. I do NOT like take offs, but once I was up everything was wonderful, I snuggled down with my iPod and read my letters. I started bawling which resulted in a few weird looks from my neighbors, along with a sympathetic one from the lady in front of me.
10 minutes until land, it was like some strange feeling swept over me, that was the moment i realized i was truly on my own, I looked for my dad, but he wasn't there to tell me where to go pick up my luggage, that's when panic set it. Its like the big signs in front of my face with an arrow pointing to a bag, didn't even exist. Cut to the chase, I found my bag, along with Kayla and Quin, holding a sign for CWY. Once everyone was together, we got on a bus to Tatamagoosh, Nova Scotia. Oh wait, we met the Ghanaians in there somewhere!  On the way there I was on a bus with the boys from my exchange and a few girls from the Salt pond- Saint Johns exchange. Once we arrived at the center we dispersed into the two exchange groups and went into our own houses. We were a family already! Everyone was laughing, Eddie (one of our new Ghanaian friends) put on a CD and they all started dancing! It took a while for us Canadians to bust a move, I've never seen anyone dance better than each of the Ghanaians. But finally, with a lot of laughing from everyone, we started dancing with them. Our style of dancing is a lot different which is probably why they found it so funny, Canadians have a tendency to bounce around a lot and use a lot of energy whereas the Ghanaians move their hips (more than I've ever seen anyone do ).


.......I cant remember how each of the days went after that. We were at Tatamagoosh center for a week and everyday was filled with team building, good eating, soccer games, dancing and culture classes. It wouldn't be any exaggeration if I were to say it was one of the best weeks of my life. It would take forever for me to explain every bit of the Ghanaian culture that Ive learned so far, so here are a few of my favorite aspects:


Ghana Man Time: As Eddie would say "Time no be problem", which is just the definition of GMT. 2 o'clock means 4 o'clock. 6 o'clock means 8 o'clock! They never rush to get anywhere. In Canada, if you tell someone you are picking them up at a certain time and they arn't ready, its considered rude and disrespectful. In Ghana, if you show up at the time you decided on, you could be waiting up to as much as 2 or 3 hours before they are ready. Something Ill have to get used to!!

Dating : If a boy walks down the street and sees a girl he thinks is pretty, he simply stops her, complements her on her beauty and asks for her phone number. He would then follow up later that night asking her for a date. If she likes him, she says yes, if she doesn't, she says no. Simple as that! No texting first ( to them that makes you look desperate) no hesitation, they simple recognize their feelings and act on them!


Personal space: There is none! I don't go a single day here without walking hand in hand with one of the boys. Everyone simple loves to be around each other. There is no "creepy", its simply sincere affection.


Respect: This one is huge, I could go on for days and days ! Respect is SUCH an important aspect of their culture.Just one example: we were sitting eating dinner when one of the older ladies running the camp, Heather, came around to clear all of our plates. Everything was fine until she came to Mercy, one of the Ghanaian project leaders, who refused to let Heather take her plate from her. The reason for this was that Heather was older, and in their culture it is extremely disrespectful to let someone older that yourself do what you can do for yourself.


Now, before I move on to C.O.W (community orientation week) Id just like to make note of a few things that I experienced or liked at the beautiful Tatamagoosh centre!


1. The apples!! There were apple trees in our backyard bigger than Ive ever seen, with the most delicious apples:)
2. The view . We were right on the ocean, and the tide that came in and out every nine hours.. wow! Ive never seen anything like it , it was so beautiful.
3. The stars at night
4. Kayla and I taught B.B (our supervisor) a song on the piano.
5. Dance party whenever music was heard, even from the speakers on Eddies phone
fufu. A Ghanaian food, hard to explain, but resembled a raw ball of bread dough, that you swallow without chewing.
7. Me do wo : I love you in Twi (pronounce ch-wee)
8. Playing spin the bottle on the last night ( I only watched)


Those are only a few of the things that made my week as amazing as it was. Every day I'd wake up and its like I wanted to pinch myself, to make sure I wasn't waking up to a dream. CWY is such a unique program with its way of completely immersing you in another culture while making lasting friendships and lifelong memories. I'm just so lucky, everyday I tell myself, I'm just so so lucky:)


I think this is all I can do for now, I start work tomorrow at Saint Patricks Family Center. Stay tuned for chapter 2 of my journey : Moncton !


Pumpkin juice and love !


Jillian xo