Carlos Daniel Delgado Vazquez, Social Science

Discovering new horizons in Gaspé and Nicaragua

Carlos Daniel Delgado Vazquez does not waste time or let difficulties hold him back. When he first arrived in Montreal from Mexico in 2008, he spoke only Spanish. So he spent his first year learning French, then completed high school and graduated from École Secondaire Honoré-Mercier two years later.

Vanier College and the Nicaragua Study Project

Wanting to improve his English he decided to attend Vanier College. He didn't waste time at Vanier either. Barely into his first semester in Social Science he heard about the Nicaragua Study Project and promptly signed up for it. Two days after Christmas he set out with seven other Vanier students and two teachers for two weeks in Latin America where he lived with a local family and helped build a bridge then visited other communities while researching social justice, women's rights as well as educational, environmental and gender issues in that country.

"What impressed me most was to see that these people who have little in the material sense, have so much more than us spiritually – in terms of honesty, friendships, solidarity and the sense of community." Without a moment's hesitation he adds that he want to go back there again.

Then it was off to Gaspé

But Daniel's Cegep adventures didn't end in Nicaragua. When he heard about the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles exchange program, he immediately applied, got accepted, and along with three other Vanier students went off to Gaspé for his second semester.

"Gaspé is really something!" he exclaims with a bright smile. "Living by myself, looking after myself, being responsible for myself, cooking for myself, that's been terrific. It's the first time I've ever been on my own." The exchange students all live in a student residence where they have their own rooms but share a common kitchen area where they each cook their own meals.

Life in residence is great

"I could wake up late! No need for hours on buses or metros – the residence is attached to the school! Some evenings, students got together and we had pot luck dinners. And the scenery there is beautiful. When I looked out my window I saw forest, and behind that, more forest. I've never had that before. I've always lived in a city. When I look out my window in Montreal, I see someone else's window."

As for the advantages of the Gaspé exchange, the list is long

"First, I'd been living in Québec for three years and never travelled anywhere, so this was a chance for me to get to know a part of Canada. Second, the fact that Gaspé is a small community is wonderful. You meet the same people everywhere – in class, then later in a coffee shop, and again in the local dépanneur. Basically everybody knows everyone else. And third, I experienced winter for the first time – making snowballs, playing in the snow, sliding – these are things Canadians grow up with, but I've not seen much of in Montreal. There is also skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing – even if I didn't do all those things, I saw them because they are part of life in Gaspé."

What about the courses?

"They were pretty much the same as at Vanier. But since the Gaspé Cegep is French and English, I could even take some of my courses in French. So for instance, I wanted to take volleyball at a certain time, but it was only available in French. I liked that."

Get involved

"Participate, get involved, try new things, try everything! There are two ways to go in Cegep: you can be mediocre or you can come to school and get the most out of your courses and the extracurricular activities. That's why involvement is so important. That's what has been great about Vanier. Had I not come to Vanier, I would not have travelled to Nicaragua or gone on the Gaspé exchange. I got involved right away."

Parents are important

Coming to a new country, learning two new languages, then going off to Gaspé – it might be overwhelming for someone else, but not Daniel. "Parents are so important. I appreciate my mother. If she wasn't there supporting me, I don't know what I would do – I'd have a breakdown or something!"

What lies down the road?

"I am interested in politics," Daniel states. "My grandfather was in politics in Mexico, so it kind of runs in the family. And I like writing – in the evening, I'm working on a novel, in English. And I've applied for my Canadian citizenship." There's no doubt; Carlos Daniel Delgado Vazquez is a name to watch for in the future.