I was recently asked by Odyssey, which is the Canadian work exchange program I did last year to write an article about my experience for the newsletter. So this is what I whipped up:

Last year in September 2012, I embarked on a crazy adventure to live and work in Alma, Quebec. This is a small city with a population of only 30,000 people and it is a Francophone sovereign region. When I arrived, I knew close to no French. I had only learned French for 5 weeks prior in the Explore program in Montreal, but when it came to getting around and surviving in a small town; it was both a cultural and language shock.

Odyssey was my first full-time job out of university and it was very challenging. Coming from Toronto and an active person, living in a small town was very challenging. Despite how difficult my nine-months were in Alma, these were the lessons I have learned and have taken away from the experience:

1. Canada’s Diversity: Odyssey is a Canadian program and recruits people from across the nation. At orientation, I met people from all over Canada, from West to East, and this was the first time I met people from Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and even Yellowknife! Ever thought Canada was one united nation that has the same lifestyle? Think again. Each person I met was shaped from their natural surroundings and so, my roommate from Vancouver was the most sportive outdoor person I know!
2. Quebec is Big! Like most people around the world, I am only familiar with only the two biggest cities in Quebec: Quebec City and Montreal. These two cities are tourists areas and most popular. Through the Odyssey program, I now know all the little towns and cities in Quebec, and understand much more of its geography and the landscape. There’s over 100 assistants spread out over the province so you will hear many different stories of their unique experience and all these cities you have never heard of before in your life. I lived in Alma, which was 6 hours drive north of Montreal, and I used to consider Northern Quebec. Turns out, Quebec was so large that I wasn’t even located halfway through the province yet and my teacher was from a city 7 hours north of Alma!
3. The Real Winter: I knew Canada was cold. I’ve lived and experienced -25 degrees in Toronto but I never knew how cold Canada really can be. While my friends at home were complaining about -30 degrees weather, I was in Alma experiencing temperatures as low as -50 degrees. It was so cold to the point where your hair can freeze, and I looked like an old lady with white frozen icicles in my hair, and other days where my driveway was filled with ice that it was dangerous to walk and not have slipped. What does that call for? A Snow Day – where schools close because of the freezing temperatures!

Odyssey was one of the most interesting experiences I have encountered in my life. It definitely gave me stories to tell for a lifetime! My name is Charmaine Yip and I am a survivor of the 9-month Odyssey program in Alma.

Everyone has a story

This is mine.