Liveena in Totonicapan

Hello, my name is Liveena Toonoo (most prefer Liv), and I am from Cape Dorset, Nunavut. My Canadian Phase was in St. Albert, Alberta with my buddy; Anne Renee in 2012. I was placed at the YMCA Citadel Day Care, which really prepared me a lot for my job experiences since. Now I am currently doing the International Phase.

Algonquin College in Ottawa was part one of our International Phase. We had basic Spanish classes 2 times a week for 3 weeks with an awesome Spanish teacher named Jackie. (But I manage to almost mix up Ukrainian and Spanish, and the kids find it quite funny to hear us try to speak very basic Spanish, and it’s adorable). We also had a 3 week construction class course with the whole group taught by Craig. I would’ve never thought that I would be doing a construction class, considering I avoided it in high school. Any tools, whether it be hand or power tools, had always scared me prior to the class. Which Craig definitely saw on my face prior to trying every tool – I definitely loved the Compound Miter Saw though. We all successfully completed the course. We were split into 4 groups and all managed to finish a dog house for each group. They then donate the dog houses, which is awesome.

Those 3 weeks in Ottawa definitely flew by, and we are now currently in Totonicapan, Guatemala. It is breathe taking and beautiful. We’re almost 3 thousand feet above sea level, working on our second house. It’s quite exhausting, but so worth it knowing we’re making a house, that the families will then make into a home. Things to remember “apply sunscreen constantly, drink lots of water, wear a hat”.  The people here are beautiful, the women’s clothing especially. Some children are also very entertaining, curious and shy. They definitely notice my Monroe piercing. One young lady gave me a bracelet on our first house while I was chiselling cement blocks, which has probably made my whole week! (Side thought: Everyone is almost all my height or shorter; “these are my people” and “Oh my gosh, I feel tall”).

I definitely recommend Northern Youth Abroad to all the youth of Nunavut and Northwest Territories. NYA has many great benefits, such as receiving high school credits, and volunteer hours at great work places (which all vary depending on your interests). You also get to see different part of Canada in the Canadian Phase, and then you’d be eligible for the International Phase. So take the leap, get out of your comfort zone, there’s a whole different world waiting for you out there!