First Time
CANADA | Tuesday, 29 April 2014 | Views [113] | Scholarship Entry
Came to Canada from the Philippines when I was 16, I never dreamt of going to Europe for any vacation, but always hoped to visit all of Asia. Europe seemed to be too westernized for me, I was sure I will be alienated and unaccepted. A year after I left my home country, my best friend of 14 years went to study in London. I missed her so much, so I decided to go visit her last february. It was the first time I considered going to that continent. We also went to Berlin together. After going through these cities, I was in love with travelling. It showed me a different view of life. While in Berlin, we stayed in a hostel. We got to know a few people that came from different countries. There were couple of people who came from Paris, one of them sells cheese, and the other was a Surgeons assistant. Couple people were from Brazil, a girl from London, a few girls from Greece. There were just people from everywhere. While in the train stop we talked to an older gentleman, he told us his experience of the second world war, and the cold war. He emotionally told us how he was separated to his family, and had to sneak them to the west. I could compare a day abroad to a month at home. It was amazing. I love talking to random people, and learn from them (just if they want to share, of course). It opened my eyes in to a different world. I actually felt the diversity of different cultures, even in just one city. I saw the beauty of diversity. In Canada, my home for 5 years, I have friends from different background, but it is different if a person still lives in their own home town. In Philippines, it isn't very diverse, though I am part of the minority being a Chinese. Racism is extreme in there, that is why I truly appreciate people with open minds.
Tags: 2014 Travel Writing Scholarship - Euro Roadtrip
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