Angelica Netzahualcoyotzi Gomez

November 2008 Update

I started my new and last module at the English Language Centre. And looking back I have realized that I am the luckiest person on earth. I have been studying and talking with people from different nationalities every day in my classes. Discussing social problems them has been helping me to have another perspective about the world. Before coming here I thought that I had an informed perspective but now I know that there´s so much to learn. However; it is not only about learning, but what is more important is helping.

During this month I have had a mixture of feelings. On the one hand I have been working on my Volunteer to Thailand Project and in one of the ideas that I had before coming here; that is basically about starting relations between my home University:  Benemerita Universidad de Puebla (BUAP) and the University of Tasmania (UTAS). As well I joined the white water rafting club of the University. On the other hand I’ve started saying goodbye to almost all my friends that I made here at the ELC and the International Bible Meetings (IBM).

First, I sent some emails to the International Relationships Office at BUAP explaining to them my idea one more time and telling them the perspective that I have about UTAS; which in my opinion is very good. I believe that being here is a significant opportunity to start a relationship between the two Universities. Te answer that I had from BUAP was pleasing. And now I´ll be playing the role of ambassador for my University. As the Chancellor of BUAP says, we need to work together with the best Universities. And I hardly believe that UTAS is one of them. Moreover; I will like to try to build another project in the future like the one that we had with Macquarie University; the International Volunteer Program.

Secondly I been exploring a new sport for me; rafting. I’ve had good times with the club exploring rivers around Tasmania during my weekends. This is the first time that I´ve practiced it and now I am becoming addicted to it; it´s really fun. As well being part of the IBM has opened more my eyes; and I can say that I will never regret the decision to study the Bible with Christians, even when I am Catholic. I really appreciate that my father taught me to respect everybody’s religions and beliefs.

This month has been a little bit sad for me as well; because I’ve been starting to say goodbye to many of my friends. Some of them are leaving for exchange programs and others are going back to their homes. One thing that I have enjoyed before they leave is the farewell parties for my friends. Of course no one dislikes the part of having a table full of international food. It has been a good opportunity for me to learn about traditions of other cultures.

I try to see the good side of this situation and remember the good times with them. Otherwise I would not have the same energy to continue with my projects. I know that my next month will be exciting because I will star my adventure in Asia; volunteering in the home countries of friends with whom I have been studying for the last five months at the ELC.  

October 2008 Update

This month has been very exciting because I saw many of my friends. At the end of September in my spring break I visited the Gold Coast to see my friend Renae, who´s working really hard to finish the last details for her volunteer program to Colombia. My visit to Queensland was really grateful because my friends Manuel and David and I had the opportunity to meet our old Aussie friends and go together to the Salsa Dance Fundraiser, an event that Renae organized. I feel really proud of her, because she´s really commitment with the team. All the members are amazing; she did a good job choosing each one of them, they have different skills that will make this program a success.   

Before leaving Queensland I taught them to make a piñata, and you will ask why? Well, I thought that instead a normal fundraiser box to put on Griffith Uni, a fancy and unique one will work better!!! And so we did, in my last night there.  I´ll never forget my new friends and all the fun that we had together.  I am now madly in love of this team!!

To come back to Tassie I had to take the flight from Sydney; so I decided to spend some days around. There I meet more of the PSP scholars, David (again) Fahmi and Diego.  We went to Darling Harbour to the Latin Fiesta Festival; whit  four days full of performances of dancing a Latin music. Actually one of these days I felt that like it was the Mexican Independence day or something because of the Mariachi´s performance, the Mexican flag the food and David and I singing as loud as we could.

Despite all fun that I had, inside I was screaming for coming back to Hobart. It was really funny that I was in the Sydney, this big and beautiful city, but I felt so much stress from everyone around that I was getting stress too. I only wanted the peace and the views that only Tassie can offer and come back to classes. Well, I took my flight to Hobart; but because of the air traffic my flight had a delay of 4 hours!! I try to be calm, but spending all that time inside a plane without moving and a baby crying next to me, it is not what I thought it was going to happen.

Finally next day that I arrived my classes started; and exactly at the same time my friend Rizki Amalia (another PSP scholar from Indonesia) came to visit me in Hobart. It was really nice to see her again. She´s such a good girl!! we spend  great moments together.

When everything came back to normality, I continued planning the Volunteer Program to Thailand that I have been organizing since almost two months now (MORE INFO HERE!! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31014032007 ). Until now there are other 2 students interested about going, but probably they will go before I do because their holidays start before mines. So from now on I will start to found donations of educational material for the School where I am going to be teaching.  Triny and I are quite excited because we only have one month before going.

During this month I also made a new good friend;  Saleh BinTalib from Singapore. He´s my new “boss”; because now I am part of the new International Students Committee for  2009 in my University and he´s the Officer. Until now we are only five students have been selected including me but to have this “international salad well cooked ” we might have one or two more additions later, probably and European and a Malaysian student.

To finish this exciting month Triny and I went to the HOBART SHOW; which an annual event were the farmers around Tassie bring their animals to sell and show.  But because we went at night on Friday 24^th we only saw some performances of music and dancing.  We felt like we were in México again with all the rides spinning around and all those funny fair games.  But what I enjoyed more was the performance of the Taiko Drummers; big drums played in a Japanese style, and of the fireworks.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!

July 2008 Update