It has finally/already begun, finally because it was over 2 months ago that we applied for the internships and already because we only found out about 2 weeks ago that we had been chosen. The orientation is going pretty well and the leaders have been understanding of our exhaustion (most of us have just arrived in the region yesterday or today).

There are 15 interns in total, with a few more to arrive soon. We are all young women and will be working for various NGOs in Atlantic Canada for 5 weeks starting on Monday. We have studied all sorts of degrees from International Development to film making, Environmental Science to Neuroscience. It is surreal to be surrounded by so many young, talented and enthusiastic interns. Just being around them is more valuable (for me anyways) than the travel advice and do-to checklist we went over today, most of which many of us are already somewhat/very familiar with.

Now that we are all grouped together for the next 4 days, we will be able to bond before beginning the actual ‘work’ part of the Canadian portion of the various internships in the region. We are at a beautiful, small meeting centre and will walk to the nearby town and share our skills and hobbies with one another, perhaps starting with yoga taught by one of the interns.

We found out that we will be leaving for out host countries the week of July 12 to 19–that is soon!