Hi everyone! My name is Mackenzie, although most people call me Kenzie or Kenz.
I’m actually writing this after I have already arrived in India because I completely forgot to do my pre-departure journal before leaving. Looking back, it does not really surprise me because I basically worked seven days a week right up until I left, between teaching swimming lessons at the lake, and life was pretty chaotic. I literally did not start packing until two days before my flight, and even then, nothing was really finished until a couple of hours before I left for the airport.
Thinking back, I realize that last-minute packing is probably a reflection of my personality. I tend to focus on the commitments right in front of me rather than worrying too much about things that are still a few days away. My swimming lesson families thought it was funny because they kept asking me almost every day if I had started packing yet, and every time my answer was, “Not yet!” They were almost more concerned about it than I was.
Before leaving, the thing I was honestly most anxious about was not travelling to another country or being away from home; it was the sixteen-hour flight. I’m someone who doesn’t enjoy sitting still for long periods of time, so being confined to one seat for that many hours sounded like the biggest challenge. I planned to download way too many episodes of Criminal Minds, bring my Nintendo Switch, my iPad, and a handful of other activities to keep myself occupied.
Looking back now, I think it is interesting that my biggest worry was something practical rather than the cultural or academic aspects of the trip. I think that says something about how I approach new experiences. Instead of worrying about the unknown, I tend to focus on the things I can prepare for and control. Once I feel prepared for those smaller challenges, I’m usually ready to take on the bigger ones.
As a social work student, I feel incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to learn and practice alongside professionals and communities in India. International learning opportunities like this aren’t available to everyone, and I recognize what a privilege it is to participate. I have always thought about doing some international learning experience, but a traditional co-op never really fit with my work and school commitments. This International Field School feels like the perfect opportunity because it allows me to experience social work in a completely different context while still progressing through my degree.
One of the things I’m most looking forward to is seeing how social work is practiced in a different cultural, political, and social environment. So much of what I have learned has been based on Canadian systems and policies. I know there will be similarities, but I am expecting there will also be important differences in how communities define wellbeing, how services are delivered, and how social workers build relationships. I hope this experience challenges some of my assumptions and helps me become a more culturally responsive practitioner.
As I begin this journey, I don’t expect to have all the answers. Instead, I want to approach this experience with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn from the people I meet. My goal isn’t simply to observe another country’s systems but to reflect on how these experiences can shape the kind of social worker I hope to become when I return home.