Assignment 1 - Set the Scene

Are you there yet? I think just about everyone has boarded a plane and made their way to their internship. Congratulations! You are now in the trusted arms of our partner organizations. I am very much looking forward to hearing how it is going.

Your first blog assignment is just that. Paint a picture of the scene for us. Where are you? What are you doing? What does it look like? How do you feel? Start with the basics and go from there.

I have been loving the blogs that people have been writing. Natasha and I live vicariously through them for the summer. I have noticed some trends as you express your first impressions around people, food and traffic.

Part two of first assignment - think about the differences or similarities between where you are and back in Toronto. If the traffic is different, how is it different? Easy enough. Now, what does that difference mean? How does something as simple as traffic impact how society functions and/or culture interacts with transportation. How do the line ups for the bus or subway differ? Is there a bus or subway? Are the roads paved? If no, what does that mean in a wider relation to the society you are visiting? Compare and contrast this to Toronto.

How does the food taste? Better or worse than Toronto? Are the fruits and vegetables more fresh and flavorful? Why is that? Do you have access to the same variety of foodstuffs and restaurants as you do in Toronto? If no, what does that mean? How is food a reflection of the society you are visiting? How do locals interact with food? Is it fuel or do you dine for hours on end? Is there tradition or habit attached to eating? Think about food in your host culture and again, compare and contrast to what you know in Toronto.

Finally, I am so happy to hear that generally people are SO NICE! I love that. Children love you, parents trust you, co-workers welcome you, friends are easily made and deep, intimate friendships develop quickly. Is it different than Toronto? Are you different or are the people different? What is the difference and how does it manifest? Do people look you in the eye when you pass on the street? Are you greeted with a good morning from complete strangers? How does that feel coming from the Toronto "keep you head down and move" context? If they are so friendly, why? Does that mean we aren't? Dig around in there and see what you come up with.

I am so looking forward to you blogs. Remember, you are to take a look at five other blogs of your colleagues in the program and make comment. This is a global conversation.