“Life is like a roller coaster ride and if you don’t hold on to your values, principles and morals in life, the roller coaster will take the better of you”.

Hi, I would take time to have a brief introduction about myself. My Name is Sonia Wright. I am born and brought up in Bangalore. I have completed my Bachelors in Psychology & intend to pursue diplomas in Child Care. My Passion is to work with Children as a final goal to life.

I started working to support my education and my family from the age of 18, working for Multinational Companies like Northern Trust, Caterpillar India and HSBC, and my overall experience must be 2 years, as I have been studying which was also my main focus in life. Since I last worked in HSBC, having quit my job had not really a clue as to what I was going to do next. My close friend calls in on my last day of work and offers me the opportunity to go to France. I was dumbstruck for a moment! I thought it was just a dream or an illusion. France in specific Paris was a dream of destination and honeymoon spot but not for work for sure.

Having got in touch with FSL India, numerous visits and correspondences with them has helped me get to where I am today. Thanks to FSL India team for the work they do and also for helping me get across. From the time I quit my job to the time I landed and settled in France was a stressful period. Ups & Downs were faced in a lot of aspects, but without going through all of that I would not be where I am today in a happy realm.

To start off with, I left India on the 19^th October and landed in Paris on the 19^th Night 2011. My first trip on an international flight was mind blowing. I enjoyed everything about my journey. Having arrived in Paris, had the Management of Concordia Pick me up and settle in an Apartment for a few days as I was not really going to stay in Paris for the project. The few days in Paris were really hard. I felt low as I left my family behind, left everything behind and had taken this opportunity. It was really hard for me. On top of this ode, I had fallen sick due to the temperature shock which added to the misery of my stay in Paris. But on the whole, I had to pick myself up and move on knowing the hand of God was on me, also knowing that God has paved the way for me even before I landed up in Paris.

Honestly, I never expected life to be a bed of roses for me after I got onto that plane to France. I knew the challenges I would face and it would be a bit hard for me who for the first time has left my family who are aged! Knowing all these facts and understanding every little bit of it facing up to them with a bold mind and heart is what got me going. To make his short, I landed in Bordeaux which is where my project was being conducted. Having arrived in Bordeaux made me feel I will not move again. Cause the pain of moving from one location to another all alone is the tuff challenge.

I was glad to be welcomed into the home of Concordia-Regional Office. It was a bit more pleasing to have seen people around and knowing that I am going to live with those people is important. Believing that I am not alone is also even more important – God is there with me.

My first week was a week of feeling the place, getting used to the people around me, talking to them, understanding their ways. Apart from that I was doing my administrative work with Concordia. Second week went onto with meetings, having little projects assigned. Third Week continued the same way and we are in the fourth week of exploring different ways of tasks and working with the team at Concordia.

With all that I have spoken, I would just like to tell you all that “Life is like a roller coaster ride and if you don’t hold on to your values, principles and morals in life, the roller coaster will take the better of you”. Always important to stick to whom you are and what you are! Take up everything as a challenge, an open-mind and see yourself soaring to new heights.

Sonia Write

FSL India Volunteers