November 21st

Well, it’s been a good two weeks since I’ve sat down at my computer and written about my time here in Bolivia. I guess there are many reasons for that. The most prominent being that this has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life, I have absolutely nothing similar in my life that I can compare this too. I think that it takes a somewhat emotionally disconnected person to live so far away for extended periods of time. This experience has taught me that I am much connected to my loved ones at this point in my life to travel alone, for long periods of time. I do believe there are friends to be made everywhere, but it has proven difficult in a country where very few can speak my language. Don’t get me wrong there have been aspects of this trip that have been incredible, and lesson I’ve learned that I will value for the rest of my life.  Though Canada is not exactly the model for a perfect country right now (Harper, Duffy, Ford....) I am so humbled and grateful that I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in a developed country, with opportunity and a chance to have a wonderful life. People do not choose to be poor and they do not choose to go hungry as I’ve learned living in a developing country. The circumstances they are born into are beyond their control.  I have also discovered that while I do have a desire to travel and see this world, living and working in a foreign country is an entirely different thing than backpacking, which is more so like one long holiday. I believe this experience has made me a much stronger person, and no one can take that away from me. When I first arrived in Cochabamba, I was miserable. I fought my parents everyday to let me come home, until eventually I realized that this was something I NEEDED to finish, not only because of the work I would be doing, but for myself. To prove to myself that I am capable of being removed from my comfort zone and thrown into a completely foreign country that has 37 official languages, none of which are English and I can adapt. As I mentioned before, absolutely no one can take that away from me and it is an experience that will stay with me until I die.

I’m constantly bombarded with the “make the best of it” and “you can do it” affirmations of encouragement, which while I do appreciate them, are sometimes unwarranted as no one can truly understand unless they have been here and lived this occurrence themselves. People experience things different and I feel I’ve done my best for the situation I was put in. I am making the best out of each day that I am here, but my heart really just can’t wait to be home, back in Canada, with all my family and friends. With a newfound appreciation towards being a Canadian citizen, I have also had the realization that I am so lucky to be blessed with the friends and family I have in my life. Without needing to name names, countless people in my life have given me nothing but support, including the friends who stayed on Skype with me into the wee hours of the morning listening to me vent, cry, yell and basically express every emotion that can exist within a person. Someone important to me once said that it’s the people in your life who make you who you are, and I have to say I have come to fully understand this statement. I’ll spare you the grotesque amount of sap going through my mind right now, and just sum it up by saying I would not be here today, finishing a 90 day internship in a developing country in just a few weeks without the amazing people who love and support me no matter what. Much love, you all know who you are! xo