From now on

It has been 7 weeks now since I've been back from Guatemala. But despite the uncommon character of this trip, I haven't felt different or changed at my return like I thought I would. One big reason for this must have been the intense situation that I was going through here with my personal life and this must have take over my recent experience of doing volunteer work in this third world country. In fact, it was so intense that it has even tinted my entire trip while I was there.

So when André, one of my trip companion, called to invite me to a post-trip gathering in Québec city, I hesitated and said that I would call him back. First, to go there I would have to make a three hour drive and that just for a lunch! I also knew that the organism that brought us there organize every year in Spring an official reunion for all the members who I've done the trip so why go there now if we will see each other again in 7 months.

There was also the fact that 90% of my trip companions were over 55 and retired. And even if I had a lot of fun with them and have created great friendships during the trip, I wondered if it was more due to the fact that we were all in a completely different environment and if the North American reality would transform these special bonds in simple respectful relationships.

But nevertheless, I had an inexplicable feeling inside that was pushing me to go. Maybe it came from the great response I have received after posting my first photo albums by almost everyone of them. So I called back my 71 years old friend André and told him that I would be there.

I woke up early yesterday morning knowing that the road would be difficult with the snow storm hitting Québec during the last 12 hours. I left at 7:00 to be sure to be there on time. After a few miles rolling at 30 km/h max. on an icy and dangerous highway, I told myself that it was completely stupid to go on and the wise thing to do would be to turn around and get back home. But I kept on rolling. 2 hours later with only the third of the road done, a big van pass me in the left lane creating a huge cloud of blowing snow. I lost complete visibility instantly and had no choice but to release the gas pedal and hope to stay in my line and that the cars following me would do the same. After the second identical experience I really thought that I should turn around. But I had already made 1/3 of the road and it could have been as much dangerous to drive back. The only encouraging point was that I was going to sleep at my sister's house 15 minutes away from where the meeting was taking place so I didn't have to drive all the way back on the same day.

After 5 ½ hours of hell, I finally safely parked my car in front of the restaurant where the reunion was held. Being the only guest not living in the Quebec city region, I was of course the last to arrive. But when I entered the dinning room and heard everyone's reaction when they saw me, I understood why I have made all this horrible road. One after another got up to give me a warm and sincere embrace and I realized that I have missed everyone of them as sincerely. We all talked during lunch about each others lives, how the return home went, what was their next projects, etc. and a the end of the meal, André the one who has organized the reunion, got up and said: “the reason why I've organized this reunion was to find a way to come back to Canada because my body is here but my head is still there and I thought that if we all talked about our experience, we could all come back home entirely. So without any particular order, everyone began to speak about how they felt while they were there, what has stroke them the most, What they feel they have accomplished and how they are feeling now.


I was surprised to hear the long improvised speeches from each one. Even the shiest people had a long story to tell and while I was waiting to speak, I realized that I have buried many emotions inside since my return. And like every one of them I still had a part of my mind left in Guatemala. And the 20 persons in the room were more than trip buddies, we have lived through a very special human experience together and yes, I realized it at this moment, we all have changed a little after it. A few of them explained how they have start to cry just by looking at my photo albums that I have sent them by email. 4 of them have contributed to buy me a bottle of Porto just to thank me! François one of the man with whom I have spent a lot of time with in Guatemala present me to his wife by saying this is Louis the exceptional man I talked you about. She told me that he always talks about me.

And I could start to tell you(and maybe I will in future posts) how it was wonderful to see Andre reach the Pacaya summit at his age, how François who had all kinds of diseases has managed to go to work each day, how Herman a 70 years old man father of 16 children felt through the ceiling of a convent and broke his pelvis while doing volunteer work for a third world country and after having spent a month at the hospital he was there at the meeting and still smiling!!

I don't know if it's that kind of trip who creates such nice people or it's nice people who do that kind of trips but I can tell that the group I went with were very special and even if I must sound less credible, I think we were a special group among all the groups who go to Guatemala with this organization because we are the only one who has organized this kind of intimate debriefing meeting after. and André even had the courtesy to invite the Guatemalan who gave us our pre-departure orientation. It was amazing to see him speak after we all did our speeches. Even if he has not made the trip with us, he had tears in his eyes just by hearing our stories.

I didn't thought I would put a link to my second photo album on the OC because it's only composed of photos of the people who has travelled with me but after this meeting, I have changed my mind. So if you want to take a look at all those wonderful persons who have shared this great experience with me you can by clicking here.

Oh and BTW, I'm back!

This weekend, I had to go to the small town of Thetford Mines for a pre-trip orientation weekend for my upcoming 5 weeks humanitarian work-trip to Guatemala. I gave a lift to two other participants(two women around 60) and on our way there, we were talking about this upcoming orientation and we all wonder what it would be about because non of us had any clue. But now that I've done it, I realize that it should have been obvious...

One of the big part of this formation was about the Guatemala reality. Their history, the Spanish conquest of the Mayas, the 1960-1996 civil war, etc. We also learned about the 21st century Mayas who still today form the majority of the population with the Ladinos(Mixed aborigine). What I retained the most about this civilization, was the fact that the are a proud population loving their country who prefer to live as refugees in their own land or beg in the street than leaving their birthplace.

The other big part of this weekend, maybe the biggest, was about social relation and respect. Social relation and respect among our group and social relation and respect with other cultures. During opening minds workshops and games we have created bonds among the group and began to understand what will wait us in this trip. But it all began when we were asked to put our luggage in the dormitory. 32 persons, men and women sleeping in the same room, beds 1 meter apart, no privacy, only basic facilities. The morning after the first night everyone said that they didn't sleep but let me tell you that with all the loud snoring that have kept me awake all night some of us must have slept! Lesson #1: bring my earplugs to Guatemala

After, they made us participate to a fake spiritual celebration provoking many reactions among the group. They putted us in many other uncontrollable situations where our values, our judgements, our team work was challenged. For example, they separated us in small groups with playing cards. We had 5 minutes to individually read this new game playing instructions and rules. They took back the instructions and ask us to play in complete silence. Of course, there were some differences among the group members' comprehension of the game but that wasn't so bad but when they said that the nominated winner and loser of each table had to move to another table, the real trouble began! The migrating players didn't had the same already agreed rules of their host table and the impossibility to communicate with words created all kind of reactions. After the game we have learned that no group has received the same game instructions and rules at the beginning so while everyone thought they were right, no one had the truth. A good analogy for someone who has to live and work in a different country who has a different culture...

The rest of the weekend was used to talk about the practical aspects of the trip: The humanitarian projects, A typical day of work, The security precautions we need to take while working in the most criminal part of the capitol, etc.

At the end of the last day, it was amazing to already see the complicity of the group. Not everyone of us will travel at the same time of the year, only 6 of the people who were there will travel on the same dates as me. There are several pre-trip weekends organized so I haven't met all my future workmates. But among the people I have met, I discovered many interesting individuals even if I'm 15-20 years younger than the age average of the group. The most touching moment of this weekend happened during the last activity where we were asked to explain in front of the group, using a pool drawing on a board, how much deep we were willing to plunge in this venture. Since most of the member's reserve toward the group was now disappeared, there were many emotional, hand and voice shaking testimonies heard from many different persons who were about to fulfill a long awaited dream, a big personal challenge or new life resolution. Me, I said that I was choosing the highest dive board to jump in the deepest part of the pool because I plan to plunge in this experience as deep as I can.

To conclude this short weekend report I would like to talk about one of the trainer who was there: Hugo, a Guatemalan political refugee. This authentic aboriginal really gave me the taste of Guatemala with his amazing knowledge about the politics, culture and history of his country and with his interesting and funny way of explaining it. He became even more funnier Saturday night when a few of us sat around a camp fire to talk and have a couple of beers. Nothing beats a half drunk Guatemalan telling Newfie jokes!

Although, later that night the conversation took a more serious but interesting turn when we talked about men and women respect and relationships. First, the different cultural realities appeared between our two countries but soon after, many different perceptions about love and respect appeared among the Quebecois group itself...

No consensus was found when I went to bed that night, but on my way to the dormitory, I saw a shooting star and I made a wish.

I guess some of you might be wondering what I'm up to this days because I wrote only a single post so far in July and I haven't comment on anyone's blog either.

Well the major reason is that my “real” life has kept me quite occupied.

First my job, or should I say my ex-job because since July 11, I'm a pre-retired man! (not exactly but it's the running gag among my friends ). But what's true is that I have finished working at the park. It was my 8th years there and it was more than the time for me to move along and do something else. Some of the employees(many of them or more friends than ex-colleagues) has organized a little party for the occasion and gave me a nice card. They even collect a good amount of money to give me as a departure gift. I didn't felt comfortable receiving it since many of the people who has contributed can't hardly make ends meet. So what I decided is to bring this money with me in my upcoming trip to Guatemala so it could profit to people in real need..

And what I will do next?

For the moment, I take a break. I spend my accumulated vacations and I have managed to have unemployment insurance benefits after. So financially, I will be okay for a while. Anyway I can't really find a job right now because I'm leaving for the Guatemala in around 50 days(check my sidebar countdown ) and I don't think any employer would accept to give a 5 weeks vacation after 1 month of work! Maybe I will find a little job on the side or do some volunteer work but nothing serious...


Ok next: Guatemala!

I already have my plane ticket in hand:

Departure: Montreal Dorval Pierre Elliot Trudeau - September 17, 06H05
Connect in Atlanta 08H54 – 09H50
Arrival: Guatemala City 11H19

I'll be there 5 weeks and I haven't decided yet what job I will do (working in a school, in a farm, in a convalescence home, etc.) but I'm sure it will be a great experience.
I have a pre-departure formation weekend on August 22, but I don't know what exactly they will teach us. Until then, I have begun a Spanish course with my 16 years old niece who prove to be a great teacher. She prepares her course with great care and seriousness, creating some interesting exercises, and games to help me learn faster. I'm really proud of her.

The only down side to my trip to Guatemala and also what occupied my mind most of the time right now, is the fragile relationship I have just begun with a wonderful woman who unfortunately has to go through a difficult moment before being really free and abandon herself to this promising new life that is waiting in front of her. So the trip for me comes unexpectedly at a bad time but then again, maybe it will be at the perfect time and when I will come back, the return will be sweeter.

Until then I might be more or less present on the OC. To be frank, I go with the flow. But nevertheless, I've heard some interesting rumours:

Seems like the co-writers of Barney & Amélie have begun talking about the overdue final episode. Does anyone where the story was left off?

And seems that the Canadian football season has begun and the first game between my implacable Alouettes and San's asthenic Lions will take place next Friday and normally those games give some amusing repercussion on some blogs...