Journeys

PERSONAL WRITTEN WORDS

Some of these stories detail my mental health struggles and how I use journeys through some difficult places to find resilience. I can only hope that these words can serve as an inspirational foundation for others.

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please know you are not alone. I encourage you to seek help right away by going to your nearest hospital, calling 911, or contacting resources like Crisis Services Canada.

Arca Tierra: Connecting Xochimilco's Peasant Farmers with Mexico City's Gourmands

Tucked away in the southern valley of Mexico City and just far enough away from the urban hustle and bustle is a winding network of vivid...

Robyn H

Mar 8, 20214 min read

Shamanism, Exorcism, and Sacrifice in Chamula, Mexico

From the outside, Iglesia de San Juan Chamula looks like a typical small-town Mexican church. The statuesque white building is attractive...

Robyn H

Jan 22, 20213 min read

Las Pilas, El Salvador: Where they Burn Tires on Christmas

Las Pilas is not where someone would typically spend Christmas. Yet, stepping foot into the rural mountain village sparks up familiar...

Robyn H

Jan 22, 20215 min read

Taking Next Steps: A Niger Travel Diary

When I returned from Pakistan, everything that happened there after was a whirlwind. I could barely process it all, and quite frankly, I...

Robyn H

Feb 27, 202014 min read

Taking a Leap: A Northern Pakistan Travel Diary

The minute I stepped off the plane into Pakistan, I knew it was not going to be an easy final leg emotionally. I had a lot going on in my...

Robyn Huang

Dec 30, 201912 min read

Picking Myself Up: A Mainland South Yemen Travel Diary

I left Lesvos with a number of different emotions. A part of me really wanted to stay and continue to help and meet new families coming...

Robyn Huang

Nov 25, 201924 min read

Survival in Perspective: My Experiences with a Refugee Women's Project in Lesvos

After my visit to Chad earlier this month, I halted travel for a period. Since then, I have been residing in Lesvos, Greece supporting...

Robyn Huang

Oct 30, 20195 min read

Holding Onto Life: A Chad Travel Diary

I was in a flux of emotions leaving Sudan because I felt so strongly about the country and wanting to stay there. I was probably still...

Robyn Huang

Oct 24, 201927 min read

The Kindness of Strangers: A Northern Sudan Travel Diary

I went into Sudan feeling incredibly low, but after only six days, this would completely change. I was never actually planning to go to...

Robyn Huang

Oct 5, 201921 min read

Grasping the Power of Voodoo: A Mali Travel Diary

Stepping out of the plane into Mali, I felt a bit disoriented. I was no longer in the Middle East; and, even though I had been to...

Robyn Huang

Sep 24, 201933 min read

Finding Resilient New Beginnings: A Syria Travel Diary

I get quite emotional thinking about Syria. It is quite possibly one of the prettiest places I ever been to in a really subtle, modest...

Robyn Huang

Sep 10, 201923 min read

Experiential and Immersive Spirituality: A Southern Iraq Travel Diary

So, whenever I write about my travels I need to caveat that I am not trying to make this into a travel blog. For me, this is about being...

Robyn Huang

Sep 2, 201919 min read

Facades and Leaving on a Mental Plane

Three days ago, I boarded a plane to Baghdad, as the kick-off point to leave Toronto for an extended period of time. It came around a...

Robyn Huang

Aug 21, 201911 min read

Psychological Musings: An Iran Travel Diary

Sometimes when I go into a therapy session, I feel blank. My head feels heavy, and an underlying low mood swing keeps me from putting...

Robyn Huang

Jun 19, 201917 min read

Life After Trauma: An Afghanistan Travel Diary

I just returned from travelling around what parts of Afghanistan I could. The Mental Health Part In ways to ‘some’ with their ‘opinions’,...

Robyn H

Apr 3, 201928 min read