My fingers are itching to write this next piece. Let's start with the setting. I am sitting in my comfortable white sheet hotel bed in the middle of Montreal Canada listing to the soothing Ben Platt (if you haven't given his new album “Sing to Me Instead” a listen you are definitely missing out.) This blog is going to be a special one to me because it will be written in different pieces. So, part one:
I am the 18 year old girl taking a leap and a jump as I tackle on my 2019/2020 Gap Year. I chose to take this year off for many reasons, although the main one being that I have two incredible passions and I need more time with both. I am an actress and I’m an advocate for social justice and intercultural competence. My mother has definitely inspired a lot throughout the years as her main career is built up of Global Citizenship and what it means to be an intercultural Global Citizen. AFS International was hosting their annual world conference and with the help of my mother I got my foot in the door. It’s all about the connections and luckily for me I just lived with one. I knew that this conference would be a pivoting moment for me and my Gap Year. I am mostly through the sessions and I can already feel the inspiration and ambition creep back into my blood system. In perfect timing too because I have never felt more hopeless. As I work through my mental health I have given my all to this conference. The beginning of it was me planning business outfits and packing, but now that I’m here and I have experienced so much of it I realize I have so so SO much to share.
I arrived in Montreal on Monday Oct 7th at 12am. After getting in the wrong Uber the first time I was determined to learn about the city through the knowledge of its citizens. My second Uber was from the Domicnan Republic and so so kind. He shared with me his love for Canada and how he is just years away from his retirement and he hopes to take a trip out to the Ocean. I learned about the immigration in Canada and how Monteral welcomes immigrants and refugees with open arms, a gesture that we are lacking a lot in the United States. Once he dropped me off at the hotel it wasn't soon until I realized I had put the wrong Marriott in the directions. I soon found myself walking the streets of Montreal alone at 1am looking for my correct hotel, knowing that my mother was probably worried out of her mind but... asleep. After two more taxis and a lucky $10 bill in my purse I arrived.
Day 1 was mostly calm as I met some coworkers of my mother and took selfies on my hotel poarch. I took a nice warm shower with hotel shampoo and got ready for my day. I spent most of it organizing and labeling name tags for the participants in the world conference that would be starting within the next couple of days. Around 5pm I was dizzy and hungry so I decided to order the most delicious room service known to mankind..... French fries and a Creme Brule. Pleasure food that I was craving so much. I also challenged myself and went to a grocery store nearby and bought snacks that I have never seen before. I figured my friends would like to try out the Canadian version of a Kit Kat with me back home. I challenge you to find the local grocery stores when visiting another country and trying out their famous “go to” snacks. That's the beginning of an intercultural experience just by being brave and willing to pay for your stuff with a forgien language on the screen. Had no idea what I was paying for but the universal smile put me at ease. I explored the city Tuesday night and I believe that will be the most of Montreal that I will see as the rest of my time is scheduled out for sleeping and networking (in a convention building may I add.) Late Tuesday night as I Ubered “home” I did see a cross all lit up on the top of Mount Royal . I learned that no building can be built taller than Mount Royal and for some reason that fact felt spiritual to me. Then it was a Wednesday and that was the whirlwind of a day that brought me pages of notes in my new Journal that I bought at Patina a couple days before my trip. These pages consist of part 2, 3, and maybe even 4 of this blog post. I made friends, drank a beer (I’m legal dont worry) and wore a furry white coat. Under the fun of being in a different country and city, I learned that I have a lot of questions about the universal question “where are you from?”
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Okay thats the end of Part 1! Brb!