A summer of firsts
Wekweeti's Laylu Judas spends summer in West Vancouver
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Friday, July 29, 2016
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Laylu Judas says she's quickly becoming an expert when it comes to Vancouver B.C.'s unique transit system.
Wekweeti's Laylu Judas, 15, is living in West Vancouver as part of the 2016 Northern Youth Abroad program. - photo courtesy of Thorsten Gohl
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The 15-year-old from Wekweeti said living in West Vancouver this summer means learning how to navigate the city.
"I learned how to go on the bus and SkyTrain and the SeaBus," Judas said.
"It was my first time."
Judas is spending the summer working at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre, a recreation centre in North Vancouver, as part of her participation in the Northern Youth Abroad program.
She works with children from five to 12 years old, doing everything from taking them on trips to local beaches to excursions to nearby movie theatres.
While she's enjoying her job, Judas said she's also been spending time exploring the outdoors with her host family.
A recent trip to Squamish featured a gondola ride above Howe Sound.
"We went hiking and stuff, it was fun," Judas said. "There are so many mountains."
Judas said she's also planning a trip to the Playland Amusement Park where she hopes to go bungee jumping.
She's also visited the Park Royal Shopping Centre.
Host mother Joanne Stone-Campbell has been encouraging Judas and her placement buddy, Claire Rymer from Fort Resolution, to get the most out of their trip, Judas said.
"She motivates us to do new things and meet new people," Judas said.
Stone-Campbell also helped Judas to conquer some of the nervousness she experienced when she started her job.
"My work placement makes me work with teenagers," she said. "She (Stone-Campbell) told me to just talk to them, don't be shy. She was just encouraging."
Judas said she is enjoying living in Vancouver.
"There are so many people. It is really big, but it's fun," she said. "I like the mountains."
Getting to see B.C.'s landscape every day is one of her favourite parts of living in Vancouver.
"I like how it looks everywhere," she said.
For other youth thinking about signing up for the NYA program, Judas said it's important to ask plenty of questions and to keep in contact with NYA administrators.
"If something happens, always ask Northern Youth Abroad staff because they always know what to do," she said.
