It seemed like just yesterday I was sitting in the airplane thinking about my new adventure. There were so many things on my mind, so many questions. I was excited, of course, but there were so many emotions going on at the same time. I must confess I was a little insecure. Leaving everything behind to go to another part of the world looked tough. It could be hard being far from the comfort of my home and the security of my culture where you know how things work and the things you can or can’t do. But I was excited and with my heart open for new experiences.
All my insecurity was gone when I met the family I would stay with. From that moment on I knew I would have a great time here. Staying at Pierson with Darcy, Jocelyn, Linkn, Rori and Rixn Jacobson and attending school at Pierson, made sure of that.
I did lots of different things in Canada. Staring from the moment I left the airport and saw the snow for the first time. I was totally amazed by that. The winter is wonderful here, despite the very cold, especially for me who came from Brazil, a tropical country in South America.
In March, The spring came bringing the green grass, the sun and the flowers. Canada is such a beautiful country. I couldn’t have chosen a better place to go. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The peace here makes me feel great.
I will miss so many things: Canada’s natural beauty, the snow, poutine, my host mom’s cookies, Tim Hortons, all the amazing things you can do during the winter, even the school. Not to mention the lovely people I met and the friends I made.
Going for an exchange program was certainly the best choice I made. Travelling to another country changes your way to see the world. When you are travelling without your family, friends or people you know, you learn a lot about yourself. You learn that you are stronger than you thought you were and that you can handle much more than you thought you were able to. You meet people who will like you or hate you for what you are from that moment on. They won’t compare you with the things you have done or the people you walk with. It’s just you, like a blank slate ready to be written.
All this experience makes you grow a lot as a person. I feel much more mature and independent.
Thanks everybody who made this experience more than I have ever imagined. Thank you, Canada, I will miss you so much.