Odyssey? Really?!

Odyssey, Seriously?

I just spent another weekend in Québec city hanging out with Odyssey English Language Monitors (aka. Odysseyers or Odysseyites). It helped to validate my suspicions that we’re a bunch of saps who are being duped by the Canadian government. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Quebec and I’m having a great time in Baie St-Paul (BSP) but Odysseyites (myself included) have got to stop taking this program so seriously.

First of all, let me outline who Odysseyites are. An odysseyite is someone who applies to, and is accepted to the Odyssey program. Among other admission criteria, one must have completed at least one year of post-secondary education. For more information on admission criteria and application procedures go here. Or don’t, because for the purposes of this essay, it suffices to say that all Odysseyites are fresh out of at least one year of university. Note that this essay will deal only with the experiences of English Language Monitors (ELM) on the Odyssey program and are not to be confused with their French Language Monitor counterparts who could alternatively be called Odyséens or Odyséeurs.

Let’s start with the name Odyssey. Here is an excerpt from Merriam Webster’s online definition of Odyssey (almost) word-per-word.

Main Entry: od-ys-sey
Pronounciation: real \rē(-ə)l\ life \līf\ cop \käp\ out \au’t\
Function: noun

1 : a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune
2 : an intellectual or spiritual wandering or quest


Personally, the name makes me laugh. Seriously!? An intellectual or spiritual wandering or quest? I think not. More like a passable excuse not to be in school or working a ‘real job’ for a year. Somehow most Odysseyites seem to have missed the memo on how lame a name it is.

The number of all-important stories about staffroom or classroom mishaps and triumphs I hear (and ashamedly occasionally spew) is incredible, and frankly discouraging. The ELM job itself is a mere 25 hours per week. Other jobs worked by non-Odyseyites that comprise only 25 hrs/wk of one’s time wouldn’t usually tend to consume most of one’s time and existence. Nor would it be their main source of income unless also going to school. Many Odysseyites (myself included) have worked jobs that consumed more of their time while going to school full-time. So why, should Odyssey become so important in Odysseyites’ lives for the duration of a year? Below are some of my theories as to reasons for this phenomenon.

Theory # 1: Nothing Better to Do
When asked why Odysseyites decided to participate in the Odyssey program, one recurring response is a lack of other opportunities or choices. In other words, they came to the end of an era in their lives, such as being an undergraduate student, and have nothing better to do. For this reason, Odyseseyites cling to the program so as to avoid having to face what comes next.

Theory # 2: The Great (but temporary and safe) Escape
Another common response is that they needed to get away from something such as school, their hometown, their family, an ex, or a combination of the aforementioned and possibly more. In other words, Odyssey provided them with a means of escapism. Unlike many other forms of escapism such as drugs, foreign travel, etc., Odyssey provides a relatively safe and structured escape and even funds a (optional) trip home at Christmas time.

Theory # 3: Cop-Out Without
Many Odysseyites express a desire to learn French, to travel, work with kids, and get a taste of what it would be like to be a teacher, as reasons for their participation. It is easy, however, to see that these were the false-fronts to the grimmer, though no less legitimate, reasons for participation. Alternatively, if these were truly once the good-intentions of Odysseyites, they have not become the resounding reality for most. In fact, many an Odyseeyite can be found in centralized locations on weekends and time off from work such as Quebec city socializing and complaining about their students, in English of course, with none other than fellow Odysseites. With all of the noble reasons noted above to hide behind however, one can cop-out while avoiding disapproval.


The next question that has might puzzle one about participation in the Odyssey program is, why Odyssey? Why not Katimavik, Canada World Youth or some other program?
Well, as mentioned above, Odyssey, has a limited travel component, reasonable work demand and relatively short time-frame. As such, it offers a similar escape from ‘the real world’ as other programs might, but also the safety of being not too far from home, having a steady pay, regular but flexible hours and easy work. Once again, this seems to indicate that Odysseyites have found a relative hassle and risk-free way to avoid the real world for a while.

In addition to these attractive qualities, the program workers give convincing pep talks. These pep talks, while seemingly to boost morale and provide Odysseyites with support in reality serve to foster feelings of self and program importance. Perhaps the government (the funding source for Odyssey) is really just in it for the cheap labour and publicity in the area of ‘cultural exchange’.

Overall, it’s quite the feel-good program. I’d recommend it to almost anyone with nothing better to do for about 9 months.

Margot