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Alumni Voices # 1.5 August 09
Hello Returning Intercordians!
Some of you are back in Canada and some are still travelling and making final plans to return. All of you are in the time of transition and the inevitable conflictual feelings that accompany that change. Many Intercordians say that the transition back into Canada is more difficult than the culture shock experienced in May. However it is for you, it is always challenging to live change well. We are thinking of you!
I know that the rescheduling of the Reintegration Seminar was frustrating for many of you. I apologize for the confusion and the consequences of the change. We are in the final stages of having plans finalized and hope that, though truncated and delayed, the Reintegration Time will be a good opportunity for all of you to share your stories and bring a measure of closure on your Intercordia Experience.
I also know that the placement Experience was different for all of you. Some found it heartbreaking to leave and others were glad to return to Canada and the majority of you had some degree of both feelings! Each placement had its strengths and challenges, joys and frustrations; it will be natural to want to compare and evaluate. But comparison is always dangerous…. There will always be someone who had it “better” and someone who had it “worse.” I want to share with you part of an email I sent to a student who had legitimate reasons to complain about the support they did not receive from their placement partner.
I know how miscommunication with the partner and not having the support you need on the ground can be frustrating (even infuriating) and we can think that “if I had better support or had chosen a diffeent placement the experience would have been….......” but I would like to suggest that it is the problems that give the best opportunity for learning. Of course, only problems would be overwhelming but it is in the miscommunication, the unmet expectations, the frustrations that do not get sorted out or resolved that we have a real experience of poverty. That is the learning goal of Intercordia….. to get to know the life experience of someone who is different than I am.
Remember, it is easier to walk with some one who is poor than to be poor ourselves. However, it is in the being poor that we really develop compassion because we know what it is like to NOT be in control and so in the future, when we are with those who are poor we can truly say, “I know something about how you feel, I know something of how painful it is have things done to you against your will!” But you cannot say that with integrity unless you have had real experiences of not having what you need or want! What poor and marginalized people need before your help is your understanding and compassion. From a place of understanding we can be true companions.
So I hope that you can come to see all the frustrations as not just something to resolve (although of course it is natural to try and understand and resolve them) but to see them as an integral part of your Intercordia Experience, one that puts you in solidarity with the billions of people in the world who live powerless and overwhelmed and have little hope of change. There is nothing more demanding and painful than to become peaceful with difficult moments that happen to us, but if we can befriend these moments and allow them to put us into solidarity with others than we redeem the moment and transform our hearts.
We are looking forward to hearing all your stories, the good, the bad and the ugly! We want you to be honest because in the honesty comes the learning and the learning leads to wisdom.
Finally we need your help! Soon we will be advertising and recruiting students for the 2009 – 2010 Program year on four campuses: St. Mike’s, St. Thomas More, Kings and St. Thomas (we will no longer be partnered with St. Jerome’s). We would like your help to spread the word, speak at Information Sessions and give in class presentations and other initiatives. In the coming weeks we will be in touch and ask for specific support. We are grateful for all you can do to keep the Intercordia Program alive and vibrant.
Enjoy the remains of the summer!
Clara, Lisa, Mary Bee, Reanne and Joe
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