Dear Corona Chronicles

I believe that we can work this shutdown to our advantage and make use of the endless opportunities that are available to us. So from now, I will be documenting how I spent my Quarantine days apart form doing online classes.

Late last year after a much-needed discussion with my mum about my future. I set out three goals. One of the goals was that I  wanted to learn at least 7 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Yoruba) to help me fulfill another goal that is dear to my heart. That is to form an organization that fights against xenophobia, bullying, and discrimination against children and races which is something I've had to deal with from a young age. I knew the goal but I struggled with the idea.

Being born in a different country than the one I am being raised in gave me an advantage seeing that I was already fluent in French, English, and somewhat Spanish. I knew I didn't want to go to school to study linguistics as that would be added years to my studies. However, I took this lockdown and corona to mean something bad but it took me a while to realize that I could work it to my advantage.

There are different sites that help and facilitates learning of languages and therefore I took to the internet and found my way on all the sites I could find and enrolled in different language classes that could teach me the basics of the languages I wanted to be familiar with and I must say this has been by far one of the best decisions I've made. I may not be well versed in all as yet but it is surely one step to reaching that goal.

The question that my mum asked me was why would I need to learn languages to start the organization? I am sure most people would wonder why also. If you know me you know how much I love diversity, cultures, languages, etc. I tend to think outside the box and xenophobia affects a wide variety of people and the goal is to be able to reach those people no matter where they are, to be able to understand them, and share their story.

In case you are wondering the sites that I use are; Duolingo, Livemocha, Busuu, Living language, Foreign Service Institute, Lingualift, Babbel, and of course Youtube.

The sites use fun activities that help keep you awake and also send reminders and scores that keep you motivated.

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."

love SJ

PS. What's your Corona story?

#DearCoronaChronicles

#S.MichelHandsandHeartsOrganisation