Hello, my name is Dominic Qamanirq, and I am from Arctic Bay, Nunavut. For the summer, I am placed in Orleans, Ontario. The thing I love about it here is that we have a really quiet area. My placement buddy is Peyton Simba, and he is from Kakisa Lake. My placement buddy and I have been going to the gym and the pool during our free time. Ever since I moved to the south, I’ve been trying hard to learn how to swim because I enjoy it.

Every day feels like an opportunity to grow, whether it’s trying new food, meeting new people, or learning about their culture. Knowing we have different cultures makes it more interesting to learn about the many opportunities that come with it.

The new experience of being away from my hometown and my parents for a while is somewhat challenging and makes me homesick, but receiving all the support from NYA and friends has helped me a lot. I’m very thankful to them for supporting me through hard times, and it means a lot to me.

And most of all, I’m very grateful to my host family for being able to stay at their house and welcoming me, and I’m very thankful to NYA (Northern Youth Abroad) for giving me a chance to be a participant!

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Sincerely, Dominic