An Overall Summary

It's finally here! One week left, then my exchange will be over! I really can't wait to leave which is saying a lot considering when I leave I'm going back to see my friends at York.

For poetry class I wrote a poem about some of my time here. Its mostly about my time on hall. Its called "No you, No me, BUT WE!", as I'm sure you all remember is the Hall Motto. It goes:

In the beginning,
There was yelling and screaming.
What was an ordinary meeting,
Turned to grubbing.

“FRESHERS! WHO ARE WE?”
“Worrellights”
“WHAT IS OUR MOTTO?”
“No You, No Me, But We!”
“I CAN’T HEAR YOU FRESHERS,
WHAT ARE YOU, A LION OR A PUSSY…
CAT?
THEN LET ME HEAR YOU ROAR!
WHO ARE WE?”
“WORRELLIGHTS!”
“WHAT IS OUR MOTTO?”
“NO YOU, NO ME, BUT WE!”

Human dignity stripped,
No longer I but ‘it’.
Drills at 9 after the sun has set,
Then at 4 before it rose again.

"Freshet Casino sound off!"
"It am freshet Casino"
"Why Freshet?"
"Because it has many slots."

“It am Freshman helmet, because it likes sucking head.”
“It am Freshman stab, because it always leaves its mark.”
“It am Freshet bicycle, because it am always ready for a ride.”
“It am Freshman sun, for when the night comes it loves to go down.”
“It am Freshman toilet paper, because it am white, soft and disposable.”
“It am Freshman nipples, because it am tired of my playing with my own.”
“It am …”
“It am …”
“It am …”

Sleep deprives and stressed out,
Class a much needed reprieve,
Only to find out, mandatory participation
In Unity Week

“All we do is win, win, win, no matter what!
Nubian Queens, you can never get enough!
When we walk onto the Halls, all the other blocks bow down!”

Like all things, sisterhood dwindles and
After a time there were only angry voices
As frustration rises from work and Exams

“Where is the curry I made?”
“I need to do laundry, anyone have tokens?”
“Shit man, Ya forget ya food on de stove again!
I swear allya wan bun dis place down!”
“Have you seen my plate? I need my plate!”
“Who took my curry?”
“Can you please be quiet, I’m trying to study.”
"Would you please wash your dishes?"
“If de price of yogurt go up, people will buy ice-cream. Its basic economics.”
"Man come on! Got put on some clothes!"
“How do you distinguish criminal wrong from wrongs in the civil law?”
"Where's my chocolate?"
“Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Cockroach.”
“I’m not feeling well…”
“It’s 4am, I want to sleep, SHUT UP!”
“I’m hungry, I want my curry back”
“The drier didn’t dry my clothes”
“Hi, this is security, we’ve gotten some noise complaints.”
“Gato, STOP BARKING!”

At the end of it all
There was only the sound of the plane propellers
That took me far away from that horror.
Only the soft hum of peace returning
As I was finally able to find my center
On heading back to Canada.

That pretty much covers it all unfortunately. The Teaching is really really good over here but I would watch out living on hall!

Like the Nike add campaign, my best advice to students who want to go on exchange is to “JUST DO IT!” There are no words I can use to describe the experience you will have. Each exchange is different but there is a common element of individual growth and understanding that helps you to become a more global citizen. That is what I have strived towards, global citizenship and a deeper understanding of cultural tolerance and acceptance.

An exchange to Barbados will give you a greater appreciation for other Caribbean cultures as well as that of your own, and yes, it’s a very different culture. Also, it will teach you about your home country as well. I learnt a lot about what I did not know about Trinidad and Tobago while travelling and answering questions from others.

Each country has a lot to offer. Each exchange opportunity has a lot to offer. Each experience will open your mind to a world of possibilities that would never have occurred to you ordinarily. The world is a really big place that has a lot of cool thing in it but it’s your choice to step out of your comfort zone and experience it. You cannot be an apathetic learner if you want to go on exchange. You need to take charge and take what you want.

The International Office at St. Augustine is an extremely good facilitator at making things happen and allowing you every opportunity possible. From information about schools, to financial support, from scholarships and even aiding with course approval and any other problems you may have along the way, they will help.