First Assignment of college

Belleville, ON (17/09/09)- Antonina V. Durham, PH.D, moved from Tomsk, Siberia to Canada in 1998 as an exchange student and has been a microbiologist in Canada since 2001. Her booth in the Farmers Market reflects how diverse she is and you can find things such as; Sprouted Flax Products, handcrafted Russian birch bark carvings, matrioshkas and information on her various volunteer activities. She is an active member of the Rotary Club and in her spare time she rows on a Dragon boat team and volunteers at her husbands AutoMotion museum.

What more can I say other then what an amazing, friendly, engaged and perfect first assignment Antonina turned out to be. Involved in so many amazing things, so smart and tune with who she is and wants to keep striving to be. We spent a couple of hours together, talking about life, hobbies, travel and world issues. Looking at pictures of work she is doing in Mexico to help communities. I'm still convinced she picked me out of the crowd more so than I chose her, and am I ever happy she did.

"Getting to know your camera" was the assignment. I had to go out and find someone, talk to them, get a picture and get a story of who they are. I was pretty nervous knowing I had to approach someone and actually start conversation. Such an odd concept to me how it can be difficult to just talk to someone, it seems so simple. Yet, I get a knot in my stomach, my heart races and I feel an eight on the Richter scale of nervousness every time I mentally prep myself to walk up and talk to a stranger. Lucky for me she was warm and awesome and receptive. I eased up really quick! She told me " Behind every face is a story, and you need to know how to tell it. Don't forget that." Pretty solid advice for a beginner that I won't forget.

Thanks :)