My name is Canh, 26 years old, I’m from Vietnam. I’m a participant in the Canada – Vietnam Volunteer Exchange Program with Canada World Youth (CWY) with Ana Maria, 25 years of age, from Columbia and now living in Montreal, Quebec. We came to Powell River for three months with my group. Prior to Powell River we spent three months in Vietnam.
In Vietnam, we lived in a small village in May Ba, and we stayed with 10 host families during that time. One Vietnamese and one Canadian in each family. Each week we had one day for EADs (educational activity day), every week was a different Presentation on history, economy, belief, art, women …, one day to practice dancing, singing, juggling, teaching English in middle school to local youth, and we did a Presentation about safe sex, HIV/AIDS, and other STDs in different high schools in Hoa Binh. We also had some Community activities in the village: soccer tournaments with local youth, May Ba Idol, salsa class, and movies for children.
Now Ana and me are volunteers in the Powell River Brain Injury Society three days per week. This is a place for people of any age living with a brain injury to come and have fun with friends. We do some work, finding Keynote Speaker, translating to Spanish, connecting with others to participate in the “Powell River Brain Injury 101 – A Marathon For Awareness”. We have a lot of exciting activities here, every Wednesday is Art Day, so we draw or paint. Josh, Jimmy, Mellisa are all members and we enjoy our time with them. I’m really excited with drawing for the first time in my life (I can’t believe I can draw)! On Friday, we talk, play games, watch movies, and say “Have a nice weekend to everybody”. With me this is the wonderful place i’ve been.
I and Brendon, my counterpart in this program, live with the Bird familly, Peter and Helena, they are really nice, kind and friendly. They have a huge organic farm with tomato, potato, onion, garlic, cow, chicken, pig and goat, and the babies goats are so cute. Most of foods in my host family are from our farm, so it’s very good, safety and healty. We always play game and talk together after dinner.
Powell River is a beautiful town with fresh air, a lot of forests with trails and beautiful view. There are some helpful Society Centre which not much city have. All the people who i met are really nice and friendly, and i got a lot of helping from local peoples. I feel lucky when i could try the Polar Bear Swim in January First, painting in Youth Centre, talking with Mr.Michael and Ms.Thanh – the Vietnamese family. I love this Town and the people here!!!