My Parents: We are moving to Belgium!
Me: Where’s that?
It was the late seventies and I was five years old, living the dream of a military brat at CFB Mont Apica (Quebec), when we got the message that my dad was getting a promotion and posted to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium. We were moving OUTCAN!
This would be my second relocation, so for me, this was a normal part of life – we were simply moving to another city. What I did not understand at the time was just how impactful my OUTCAN experience would shape and influence the person I am today.
It starts with the flight into SHAPE, on a HERC!
I was excited to be taking a ride on a military plane, sitting in the parachute-style seats. I was just like my dad, a ‘soldier’. That excitement wore off rather quickly though not too long after we were wheels up. The seats in a HERC are for adults, not children, and the bathroom is not a porcelain toilet in a closed-door room. My impactful experience = life at times can be a bucket on the floor and a shower curtain for privacy. Just go with it!
The next stop on my OUTCAN journey was settling into our new home in the countryside.
My parents decided to live off base in Cambrun Casteau, a small Belgian village about 20 minutes from SHAPE. I learned fast how to say a few words in the local language to buy candy from the local store. My impactful experience = adapting to your new surroundings is key to enjoying the sweeter things in life.
From there my OUTCAN experience really blossomed.
I started Grade 1 at the SHAPE International School – Canadian Section. Little did I know this is where I would meet my first non-Canadian friend. Scott was an American from ‘puke-it-all up’, Washington State in the USA, or Puget Sound to be precise, but I still remember to this day that is how Scott introduced himself. This would not be my only exposure to kids from other countries.
What I soon learned is that part of the school system in SHAPE was taking week-long school trips to other parts of Belgium where we learned about the local culture and history, and interacted with kids from the area. Even though we did not speak the same language, we still sat in the same classroom, did school work and played together during recess. My impactful experience = this was my first lesson in diversity, equity and inclusion!
I would be remiss not to mention the numerous trips we took all over Europe. From seeing the Berlin wall (yes it was till up at that time), to the white cliffs of dover, to the windmills in Netherlands, and to visiting the countless Canadian war cemeteries near Juno Beach to find my grandfather’s best friend who was killed during WWII so my grandfather could finally pay his last respects, some 40+ years later.
My OUTCAN experience shaped the person I am today and I am forever grateful for that opportunity. I learned about diversity and inclusion at a very young age and my experience ignited a sense of curiosity that explains why I ask so many questions to gain a deeper understanding. It taught me to be mindful, to be aware of my surroundings, and to respect those that came before me who paved the road we travel.
I wish every child could have an OUTCAN experience.
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