Welcome back to the blog! Namaste from Canada!
My name is Srishty Shrestha. I am a junior majoring in Psychology, and I am from Nepal. This is my first ABST trip and also my very first time in Canada. I feel incredibly grateful to be here, spending this meaningful time with L’Arche.
Today marks our day four here in Canada, and it is also my birthday.
This trip is very special to me because spring break has always been my birthday week. I was raised by my grandma, my aama, whom I lost during COVID-19. For 16 years of my life, as long as I can remember, she was always my first birthday wisher. Every year, she would wake me up singing, “Happy birthday, my little princess!” She raised me and shaped me into the human being I am today.
I have been grieving her for the past five years. She meant the world to me. Choosing to come on this trip was deeply personal. I wanted to honor her memory. I wanted to remember what it felt like to be around her, especially during the time she began suffering from dementia, when she wasn’t fully aware of what was happening around her. Spending time at L’Arche, being present with core members, listening, laughing, simply being is taking me back to my home before COVID. It reminds me of sitting beside my aama, holding her hand, cherishing quiet moments.
This morning, we left early from L’Arche, Hamilton and headed to L’Arche, Daybreak. When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the staff and one of the core members, Darryl, a proud businessman who loves himself and definitely loves money! His confidence made all of us smile.
We spent time in the arts and crafts area, watching core members create candles, paper bags, and clay pots. Their talent and dedication were incredible. A few of us joined the wood workshop, working alongside core members who are employees there. Others joined the connection activity, where people from outside L’Arche come every week to hang out, and today was karaoke day! It was such a joyful experience. We got to see a glimpse of their everyday lives, their routines, and their friendships.
We shared lunch together, lentil soup and sourdough bread made by the core members. It tasted so good, maybe even better because it was made with care and community.
After volunteering, we headed to downtown Toronto for our main highlight of the day. We saw the iconic CN Tower towering above the skyline. Our group then split up, some went up the CN Tower, while others visited Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. I chose the aquarium, and it was beautiful and astonishing. I was amazed by the different species of fish, especially learning about one that can live up to 120 years! Seeing sharks swim overhead and even getting to gently pet a starfish felt surreal.
Later, we took the tram to St. Lawrence Market. Oh boy, it reminded me so much of Lagankhel Bazaar back home in Nepal. The energy, the vendors, the smells; it felt like a small piece of home in the middle of Toronto. For dinner, few of us had Korean while others had Chinese. It was okay, but what happened next made the night unforgettable.
As we were almost done eating, everyone in the group surprised me with a VEGAN BIRTHDAY CAKE. I was completely shocked. It was the highlight of my birthday. The cake was so so good,but even sweeter was the love behind it. I feel incredibly grateful to have such an amazing group and even more wonderful leaders and staff. Shout out to Chantel, Lauge, Josh, and Sonya, this trip would not have been the same without you.
After dinner, we walked through downtown Toronto, laughing, talking, and taking pictures of the CN Tower at every possible stop. The city lights, the conversations, the joy, it felt like such a beautiful way to turn a year older. Eventually, we drove back to L’Arche, Hamilton, tired but full of memories.
I am so grateful that I got to celebrate my birthday surrounded by such amazing people. I am excited for the next few days, where we will continue our programs and go on excursions with core members.
And lastly, I hope my aama knows how much I miss her. I hope she sees me trying my best to be the good human she raised me to be. This birthday was different, but in so many ways, it felt like she was with me the entire time.
Stay tuned in for some more fun from the 2026 ABST Canada L’Arche Trip Crew!
