Mercredi 21 Novembre 2012

It was my first day at my internship !!!

We did two activities :

- cutting of flyers for the "buy nothing day" (on november 23rd ),

- making ecological all-purpose cleaner.

Écological all-purpose cleaner

Non toxic but do not ingest

Ingredients

Vinegar

Borax

Phosphate free dish soap

To make your own, mix:

60 ml (x4) of vinegar

15 ml (x1) of borax

15 ml (x4) of liquid dish soap. 

Add 1 litre of water and store in a spray bottle.

It is very easy to make, not expensive and good for the environment !!

The "buy nothing day" is an event against overconsumption and the damage it causes. 

I learned varied vocabulary this morning  : to blow (se moucher), god bless you (''à vos souhaits'' lorsque quelqu'un éternue), to spit (cracher), stapler (agrafeuse), funnel (entonnoir), leaf (feuille), bark (écorce), all-purpose cleaner (nettoyant tout-usage), sap (sève), recycling bins (bacs de recyclage), bud (bourgeon)...

Éco-quartier is not an English program but everybody is bilingual and I could hear conversations on different topics so noted the words I did not know.

People in Éco-quartier care to speak English for our benefit and I think it's great !

I did not notice any special cultural differences but I was mostly very attentive to what Nikki, Jezebel and Joel said. I was too focused on their words and make sure I understood what they were saying, finally I did not wondering what she said.

It is the same problem for the mistakes, I was too focused on listening and I did not talk so much. Next time I'll be careful !

I am really happy to do an internship in English !

There are many opportunities to practice English in Québec and in Montréal, a chance that we do not have in France !

      My most important goal is oral communication, to be able to understand people easily and to speak correctly, with appropriate words, without using gestures. I want English words come more easily. For the moment, I put a lot of time to find the right words or do not find it... To reach my goal I will try to speak as much as possible and to as many people as possible.

     

      My second goal is to learn new vocabulary and incorporate them. My lack of vocabulary is a barrier to oral and to written. I'm really frustrated when I can not say what I want! I will note each of these terms and ask for everything I do not understand or I do not know. I think I will take a BIG notebook !

      

      My third goal is to not switch from English to French ... It's still a reflex that I will have lost. I will say in my head that people to whom I speak do not understand French. Maybe it will help me !

      

      My final goal is to do a good job. I really want to help as much as possible while learning a lot of things ! I will be motivated, serious and attentive.

    

My internship is with a program of environmental action in Montréal, Éco-quartier.

Éco-quartier finances community organizations which make activities to improve the environment in their districts.

My host is Nikki (Nicole in French). She is very nice and welcoming. I immediately felt comfortable with her. Nikki told us (Jézabel and me) about different tasks. I will do lot of tasks because I am open-minded with all : 

- Door to door,

- Activities in schools,

- Update informations and news online,

- Distribution of recycling bins,

- Activities of recycling and composting.

I think it will be a great internship !