Submitted by Nathalie Godbout

About: I'm a lawyer from Saint John, New Brunswick.

My take: Every morning starts the same way. I start tuning in at 6:10 a.m. or so, and wait impatiently for the national news to end and that familiar anthem to begin. You know the one I'm talking about; that catchy little tune that starts every morning broadcast with Steven Webb and Rachel Cave. I can't find a word to describe it. I just know that with the start of that captivating little melody, I'm about to find out what's happening in our little corner of the world.

Now imagine a morning that doesn't start that way.

Submitted by David Overall

About: I recently completed a community development internship with Industry Canada in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, and currently work with the Neighbourhood Housing Society in a low-income housing project.

My Take: You can learn a lot about a person by the home they maintain. One's dignity and self-respect are reflected in the conditions in which they choose to live, and my time in the Downtown Eastside has shown me that you don't need much to live well.

Submitted by Lydia Neufeld

About: Lydia is a longtime CBC reporter and radio host based in Edmonton. She was recently trapped in her car in a snowbank near her family's cabin in British Columbia. This is the story of her rescue.

My take: The real heroes in my story are my brothers. I have eight of them. They arrived at the cabin from the Vancouver area around 11 p.m. and were out looking for me by 11:30.

A group of them was out all night traveling that stretch of gravel road between Mahood Lake and Clearwater. I am the only one who takes that route since I'm the only one who lives out this way. It's a route I am very familiar with. However, with the pine beetle infestation the logging in this area has increased significantly and over the last few years the "face" of this route has changed. More roads, more side roads and all the trees are gone. It looks different year to year. Rob and I have taken a wrong road during our summer visits to the lake. It is easy enough to do.

Submitted by JanaLee Cherneski

About: I'm a Rhodes Scholar completing my doctorate in Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford.

My take: Dear Canada,

I write with sadness to confess I have been unfaithful to you, my home and native land. It seems I lack national sentiment, or so I have been told by your governing party's most recent advertising campaigns.

Submitted by Sylvia Lewis-Havard

About: I babysat the neighbours' children when I was a child. The minimum wage at the time was $6.40 an hour.

My story: My neighbours, who lived down the street, had three small children when I started babysitting for them. The husband was a lawyer and the wife an elementary teacher. They would pay me $1 per child, per hour. Generally, they would leave me other chores to do such as folding laundry, dusting shelves in the bathroom or cleaning the kitchen. On one occasion the wife was preparing for a birthday party and had been busy baking and cooking before I arrived. When I walked into the kitchen the entire counter and kitchen table were piled high with pots and pans and dirty dishes.

Submitted by Dr. Antonio Avina

About: I am a rheumatologist, currently doing a PhD at the University of British Columbia. I am also a Research Scientist at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) here in Mexico. I was on leave to conclude my PhD studies in Canada.

My update:: Hello again to all in Canada and the rest of the world. It is currently midnight, Mexico time. I am on a plane on my way back to Vancouver, the place I call home.

The last 2-3 weeks have been a huge learning process not only as a scientist and physician, but as a citizen of two worlds.

Submitted by Isabelle Hains and Ana Acevedo

About: Isabelle Hains and Ana Acevedo lost their sons Daniel Hains and Javier Acevedo in a crash on January 12, 2008 that killed seven members of the Bathurst High School basketball team and one teacher after a school van collided with a transport truck. They hope the results of New Brunswick's coroner's inquest into the accident will give them the opportunity to prevent similar tragedies.

Our story: Sixteen months have passed since our sons Daniel and Javier were taken from us so suddenly, and even the light of day looks different to us now.

We long for what we had before; we want to hear the words "I love you Mom" and to feel the hugs and kisses they gave us every day.

Submitted by Susan Schafer

About: I am a 21-year-old journalism graduate as of April. My older sister also just graduated this past month from law school. Perfect timing for a family celebration vacation to Mexico, or so we thought.

My take: While packing my bags for an all-inclusive trip to the Mayan Riviera, not even word of an unidentified Mexican virus could get me down. Little did I know that within a couple days we would be at the center of a global pandemic.

Submitted by Sheila Dykstra

About: I'm a Christian education specialist for West Africa working in Abuja, Nigeria with Christian Reformed World Missions. I'm originally from Osgoode, Ontario. In a university class on cultures of the world, I was fascinated by African culture and wanted to experience it. I started teaching in International Schools here in 2001. I fell in love with Nigeria, its people and culture. In 2008, I began my current position.

My story: Many people say that traveling by road in Africa is an adventure. I don't always pray for adventure on the road, usually it's for protection and a safe journey. We certainly prayed this prayer as we left Abuja, Nigeria at 5 am on Saturday morning. Our final destination was Niamey, Niger Republic. This is usually a two day journey. The first leg would take us from Abuja to Sokoto (via Kontagora, Niger State.) This is usually a long journey, at least 10 hours. The roads are generally good, except for one road that is paved with potholes for over 100 kilometres.

Submitted by Francis St. Louis

Released: Watch an update to this story.
Note: This link will be available for one month.

About: Sent from Cumberland, B.C.

My story: Myself and wife work in Mexico. She left Mexico days ago and travelled thru the USA and into Hong Kong on a business trip into China.

She arrived in Hong Kong and stayed over night. On Saturday Hong Kong time she inquired about restrictions into China and was told no problem. She then purchased a Ferry ticket to go to Szechuan and at the customs there was refused entrance based on her passport being stamped with a Mexican entrance stamp.

Her choice given by the Chinese was to either submit to quarantine in China or return to Hong Kong.

On returning to Hong Kong she was not allowed access and isolated and keep first on board the ferry for several hours then she was placed in a lock down room for several more hours.

From her departure from Hong Kong thru the return she spent over 18 hours without access to anyone to tell her what was happening other than the H1N1 high level of observation.

She has no symptoms or has been exposed to anyone that does. Late last night after 1:00 a.m. she was sent off to an isolation camp (Lady Maclehose, Holiday Village) where there seems to be tourists coming and going everyday.

What can I do???

Unlike the lock down in the Hong Kong Hotel she has not been given any information except her temperature being taken.

The Hong Kong authorities have told her that she will remain there for the next 7 days. Also, unlike the people in the Hotel in Hong Kong, she was given no choice and as this is a long weekend in Hong Kong the only access to outside contact is thru a pay phone.

There is no one who she or I can speak to base on a long weekend!!

I really would like to know what the Canadian Government is doing to protect its citizens.

Again she has had her temperature taken and she is not sick, her only problem is that she was in Mexico. This is like being guilty based on your regular daily activity not if you have been exposed or not.

**Check back for updates

Are you or someone you know quarantined for swine flu? Send us your story or post your comments below.

Submitted by Mathew Duffy

About: I completed an MBA with a concentration in Finance. I am currently studying for Level II in the Chartered Financial Analyst program. My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management. I recently founded 'abankshouldhireme.com' to find employment because of the dwindling job prospects. Here's what I'm doing to make myself stand out.

My take: My original intention during graduate school was to complete an LLB and an MBA in a combination program. I was drawn into a finance concentration (and to an MBA only) after learning more about the fast pace of the capital markets and banking during my first year - and of course, the compensation. The irony is that if I had remained in the combination program I would have probably waited out the worst of the economic job crunch.