5th day of V.O.C, Halifax, my first meeting with my host family

October 10th 2012, the last day of Volunteer Orientation Camp of Canada World Youth - Indonesia youth exchange program.

Just like previous days, I did my morning business, and then had breakfast in Tatamagouche centre, then we had our last session. Every counterpart pair got a candle, we have to keep the flame in the windy area. The flame of our candle (Me and Yen) is die out couple of times, but in the end we can keep the flame blazed. too bad we were too busy to keep our flame so that we forgot to take a single picture. I still kept the candle until now, somehow, it represent the feeling that we have to keep in order to make the relationship works. Here's the picture..

here's the example of how we keep the flame, lol. their flame also out.

Then Daphne made a "thank you" sign for Canada World Youth before we leave the Volunteer Orientation Camp to start our real program in our new community.

Daphne's so creative.

I wrote my journal, shared my business card, and souvenirs for Canadian Participants.

I remember my roommate, Emma, gave me the saltwater chewy candy, I forgot what it's called, it could be salt water taffy, and Emma also gave me a Truro pin. We exchanged our souvenirs. Some Indonesians gave 'kopiko', a thick coffee candy from Indonesia to the Canadian Participants, and also some hand made key chain from Indonesia. Then I remember that Daphne, one of the Canadian participant in Halifax-Depok group gave me the best souvenir in that day, a hypoallergenic-hand made earring, which is really adorable. She asked me whether I have piercing or not, because I wear hijab and she's not sure if I can wear the earring. So I said, "I'll keep the earring, and I'll wear it in front of my husband one day", hahahhaha.

Then, Tadaaa! The host family revealed. Evelyn and Rob, here we come !!

In the mid day, before we departed to Halifax, we were gathered in the small chapel inside Tatamagouche centre building. We prayed dzuhur in the chapel. Yes, in the chapel. 

Well, I do not really like goodbye. I felt butterflies in my stomach, because I don't know when will I come back to this place, such a beautiful places. Bye Tatamagouche, I'm gonna miss the scenery from the window, Stevens House, my room, the kitchen, the Bridge, the houses, the dock, the grass, the trees, the wind, everything.

Then before we enter the bus to go to Halifax, Brad gave each one of us the map of Halifax, and some bus ticket. We also took a lot of picture before we went to our own host community.

The Charlottetown-Cikandang group had to leave by plane to get to Charlottetown, so the Halifax-Depok group were in the same bus with Truro-Sei Go Hong group, that time, I was sitting next to Robin in the bus. When the bus stopped in Truro to drop the Truro-Sei Go Hong group, we said 'see you again' to our friends.

see you again, guys!

Then we're heading to HA HA HA HALIFAX!!!

We arrived in Halifax in the afternoon. We waited for our host family in Citadel High School. I was soooo nervous, because I did not have any idea, is my host family friendly? kind? or.. My head was filled with those question. One by one, the counterpart pair was picked up by their host family. I was wondering, is it what the adopted children felt when they waiting for their 'new' parent? It feels, uncomfortable. 

heavy suitcases

me and yen 

Then, Evelyn picked us (me and my counterpart) up. My first impression was, "Oh my god, she's tall". I thought Evelyn was forty something, but in fact (I knew it in the middle of the program) that she's older than that, and so is my host father, Rob, they are ageless. 

Evelyn took us to the Superstore in Quinpool street, to buy some food that Yen and I prefer. When we arrived in the house, Rob, our host father already in the kitchen, cooking for our dinner. Somehow, I think this house is wonderful, because it feels like 'home' when you entered the house and go directly to the kitchen. They offered us to choose our own room, I prefer the smaller room (our host brother's room), because bigger room freaked me out sometimes. So Yen had Ellen's room (our host sister), and I got James's room. Evelyn gave us a quick tour before we had dinner. The dinner was lovely, Rob tried to make me feel closer to home, so he cooked rice and Asian food, it was sauted chicken and vegetables. After we had dinner, Yen and I prepare our lunch for tomorrow and put it in the fridge. Before we go to sleep, I gave Evelyn the souvenirs from my hometown that I brought (Kalamasi syrup and Batik Fabric). 

It was night already. I was so tired, then I go to sleep, hopefully tomorrow will be a great day :)