MAP Youth Exchange Programme
Written on 10 September 1991
I had the opportunity of a lifetime when I was chosen by the Penang YMCA as it's representative in the Malaysia-Alberta Partnership Youth Exchange Programme in Alberta, Canada from 31 July to 3 September 1991.
The other two participants were Maphilinda M.B. of Ipoh YMCA and Vivian Poh of Kuala Lumpur YMCA. Before we left for Canada, the National Council of YMCAs of Malaysia conducted orientation sessions to prepare us for the programme. During the sessions, we also spent time working on the theme of the Exchange Programme "Equals - A new look at the World". We had disccussion on the issue of equality among people of different nations, different races, different ages, sex, religion and different abilities.
My purpose of writing this article is to share my experience in Canada with all of you. My first impression of Canada was an uneasy one because I was not used to be on the wrong side of the road. You see, the traffic system in Canada is reverse from my country. During the period in Alberta, a province of Canada, I was involved in different YMCAs for work placements in the day camps and resident camps. I also visited towns, met their people and learnt about their culture.
My first work placement was in Fort McMurray YMCA. It is a joint-building with the Westwood Community High School. I was involved in the Day Camp for one week. The children were brought to the Provincial Park and were taught to be aware of nature and cleanliness. I taught the children some of the Malaysian games such as "One leg game", "Seven stones" and etc.
In Calgary, there are four YMCAs, the Eau Claire YMCA in the city, the North Family YMCA, the South Family YMCA and the Rocky Mountain YMCA. I was placed in the Eau Claire YMCA for one week. It has a big sophisticated building. I spent my time with the staff and at the Day Camp. From the staff, I learned how they manage and run the Y. At the Day Camp, I found the activities that the Counsellors planned are very educational and interesting. One of the activities which I found to be very meaningful is "Awareness", where they invited handicapped people to talk to the children about disabilities. The children were encouraged to ask questions and they tried to do things with one hand and also moved around on wheelchairs. Talking about wheelchair, I would like to write about my foster family, the Humphrey family in Airdrie whom I had stayed with during my work placement in Calgary. The father, Uncle Ronald, is a retired fireman who is confined to a wheelchair. He surprised me with his determination to do everything on his own. He can cook, do carpentry, run errands and even drive a car! The mother, Aunty Leona, an administration assistant in Calgary's downtown, is a caring lady who pampered me like a little girl. The daughter, Lori, worked at the Eau Claire YMCA as Day Camp's counselor during her school summer holiday.
My third work placement was in the Lethbridge YMCA, where I had the chance to be involved in all the programmes. I found that the programme for the children was very creative and fun. I also attended an "Aquafit" class, which is an aerobic workout in water. It uses the resistance of water to increate exercise intensity. It is fun and enjoyable. Playing with my Lethbridge foster family's kids was also fun. All three of the deGraaf's kids are so lovable and friendly. The mother, Jeanette, is a superb cook. Her fruit pizza and strawberry pie are my favourites. We went to Busy Bea's Market Garden in Broxburn to pick fresh strawberries to bake pie. I love strawberry picking, know why? Because one third of the strawberries which I picked went into my stomach rather than into the bucket. Fresh strawberry is real yummy!
All the YMCAs in
Alberta have fitness facilities such as swimming pool, weight room, sauna,
gym, raquetball court, indoor running track and etc. I found that the Alberta
YMCAs emphasize more on fitness and this is the main difference between
their YMCAs and Malaysian YMCAs.
On the last week in Alberta, we, the
Malaysian participants got together again and went on the Rocky Mountain
tour which was very interesting and exciting to all of us. I really enjoyed
the beautiful scenery and the tour very much.
As a conclusion, I would like to say that the Exchange has made me a better person as my knowledge and thinking are widened after my insight of people in another country so far away from Malaysia. I would like to thank the Penang YMCA for chosen me for the Exchange. I would also like to thank the staff for being so helpful, gathering information and preparing things for me to bring to Canada for the Exchange.