On Friday September 24, 2009 all the CYW students from Loyalist College gathered together. The guest speaker that day was Gary Warren. He works with an organization called Quest International. He didn't talk too much about the organization. He focused on the trip that he organizes for Loyalist College Students to visit Mexico. CYW students also had a time to gather together and participate in some team building activities.

I was actually quite excited beforehand to hear about Quest International. I have many friends that have travelled to third world countries and their experiences blew me away. I know that I want to be involved in a trip like that that at some point in my life, preferably in the next two years. I know that if this trip was what I thought it would be I would have signed up there on the spot.

It struck me as quite alarming when Gary said that all money raised and paid goes directly towards the cost of the student trip. I assumed there would be some type of project that a portion of the money would go to. People I know that have travelled to third world countries have been involved in working on houses or buildings or helping at orphanages or in some way contributing to the community. The reason why I am so turned off by the trip to Mexico as it was described to me is because it seems like they are going to just look and see how little the people get by with. I feel like when you help and take so much more from an experience than just sitting in a spectator position. I would like to go and experience and learn from people who live in these terrible conditions but I want to know that I gave something back to them. I am still very interested in travelling but I just feel like this trip is not right for me.

All this talk about travelling out of our comfort zone has made me reflect on all the experiences I have heard from other people. Currently one of my friends is in Malawi with the World University Service of Canada in Lilongwe working for grassroots NGO called Youth Development and Advancement Organization. She is blogging and if you are interested go here ---> http://jacquelineinmalawi.blogspot.com/

I really enjoyed playing the games with the other CYW students. I wish we had more time to talk but it was great none the less. I had some first, second and third year students in my group. There was a particular third year student in my group that I never talk to. Having her in my group I was able to talk to her and get to know her. I was actual quite thankful that I wasn't allowed to pick my group or else would not have had the opportunity to talk to her. I would have enjoyed talking to the other students after the games but everyone left so quickly. I can understand that though because I was in a rush as well.

Over all this was a great day to reflect and meet some cool people. Reflect on some things that I want to do and to meet people I hadn't had the chance to yet.

And those are Leah’s Words so peace out :)