CATCHING UP! with Mariah Tomasin

changed and the daughter they sent to Canada, grew up.

QUESTION 2.  What was the biggest lesson you learned from being away in a foreign country for a year?

I learned to trust more in myself, to give a chance to change, to try new things and not to miss the opportunities. Also, to be open to a new culture and just enjoy as much as I could my experience abroad. Having two different families was a challenge for me at first but then I felt like being part of them, the “home” feeling, and everything started to make sense.

QUESTION 3.  What do you miss about Prince Rupert?

Pretty much everything. I miss the rain, my friends, my host families (that includes Lisa’s awesome butter tarts and Bev’s great chocolate drops cookies), school activities, the beautiful wild life, the cold weather, the trails, the snow, the small city feeling, the trips, Tim Hortons … and a lot more!!!

QUESTION 4.  Did you have to repeat your grade 12, if so, what has that been like for you?

No. The principal at the time, Sandy Jones, helped me once I had to do four mandatory subjects to have my diploma here. So, my life as a student went right to University.

QUESTION 5.  Tell us what you’re doing these days (school, jobs, hobbies, etc)

Now I’m studying Occupational Therapy at the University of São Paulo. So I’m living by myself at São Paulo. The exchange helped me a lot on this way. I see a lot of my friends finding it hard to live away from their families, but for me it was for sure less hard then going to Canada for a year! Haha.

QUESTION 6.  What are your future plans as far as school and work?

I have a lot of big dreams now. I feel way more independent and I know there’s world full of adventures and great opportunities waiting for me out there. So I hope to visit a lot of countries and find my place. I plan on going next year to another exchange but the destiny will be Europe and now I’ll be sponsored by “Science Without Borders” which is a project made by the Brazilian government. “The mobility  program proposed here aims to launch  the seeds of  what could revolutionize the R&D system,the Brazilian students  and researchers exposed to an environment of  high competitiveness and  entrepreneurship. The best students and researchers will undertake research in the best and most relevant Universities around the World.” Basically, the government selects some students and give them a scholarship to study a year abroad in another University, which improves some areas of knowledge, increasing the number of professionals with and extra study.

I’m not sure yet the path I’ll take and choose through my course, but I really like mental health and hospital work, so we’ll see what the future reserves for me. (Please, keep in touch in case of one of you need the assistance of an Occupational Therapist in the future, ok?! Hahaha)

QUESTION 7.  Have you had much involvement with Rotary since you’ve been back home?

Not really. I did some presentations to the Rotary Clubs at my city. Even Jenna (the exchange student from Germany who I met at Prince Rupert) was here at the time and she participated as well, which was really nice for all of us. Now that I’m living at São Paulo and having full time classes gets difficult to reserve a time for Rotary meetings, unfortunately.

QUESTION 8.  What advice would you give to exchange students about to start their year away?

I would tell them to keep their minds open to the new culture, to the new things that will come and never refuse an opportunity because they can learn a lot with that. Also, they can always trust the Rotarians and host families to talk about their fears and difficulties. It’s very important that they keep practicing the language and for that I recommend not to be “living a facebook life”, what I mean is that they need to live here, now, not to be stuck on their lives back in their countries because if they do, they’ll miss a lot of chances on getting their English even better also, the chance of meeting new people that could be great friends.

I know they are tired of listening to this but they must be aware of the 4 Ds. There are another two important advices: Be part of the family! They should help their host families, cooking, helping with the laundry, or whatever they can. Besides, host families are there to give them support, so the care, all the help and attention is very worth on a good relationship. The last advice is about community and volunteer work. It feels great to help and you can meet new people as well. They might be tired in the end of the day but I know that they won’t regret the time they spent. It’s good will.

QUESTION 9.  What advice would you give to exchange students for when they return home?

I know it’s hard to put a dot on their exchange, but there’s no need for that. Actually it’s very important to keep in touch with the people they met, with the great friends, host families, Rotarians (you never know when you will have a chance to catch up with them) but it is very necessary that they continue their life and follow the next dreams. The most important is to put in practice what they’ve learned with the experience outside their countries and keep practicing the language. What they’ve become will be a differential on their carriers for sure.

QUESTION 10.  Your comments? 

I’m very thankful for the support that the Rotary Club of Prince Rupert gave to me. I couldn't have asked for a better year, a better city, a better country. Most of the exchange students wouldn’t want to live up north saying they couldn’t live at a small city. What they didn’t know is that there is no place as a united community as Prince Rupert. I went to Vancouver several times and it was enough for me. I had the chance to go to Alaska thanks to Shaun and Lisa, CHSS and Rotary. I had the chance to see almost 20 bears, including a Kermode. I had the chance to participate at Children’s Fest, Halloween’s Fest, painting the RCMP building with dad Bob and mom Bev. I had the chance to visit a lot of cities up north, even going to Winnipeg with Bob and Bev, Haida Gwaii with my dudes Shaun and Lisa, and fishing for salmon!  I mean, living up north was all I wanted!  Even more, the experience of finishing high school in another country and graduating with my international friends and having a Canadian prom was unforgettable.

Really, I cannot express how thankful I am. You all changed my life. You all are part of this outstanding year I had.

The result of all this was my host families coming to Brazil to visit me and my family, Shaun and Lisa getting married at the little farm, Jenna coming… that’s priceless.

Jenna once told me about a saying: “exchange isn't just a year in your life, it's a life in a year.”

So I thought: “Such a PERFECT year!”

Big Brazilian hugs for all of you, my respected friends and I couldn’t forget the special monkey hug for dad Bob.

Sincerely;

Mariah Ramos Tomasin

Ps: I still remember Canada’s anthem! (I admit, I sing it in the shower! haha).