It's Tuesday night, but it so does not feel like it. It feels more like a Monday.
So, this weekend was insane, in a good sort of way. Curt and Laura got out to visit me for four days, which was good fun. We were--I was--so busy. Between being with them and working my regular shifts, I am spent! But I wouldn't have traded a moment otherwise.
The two got out here on Thursday evening and we feasted on all things unhealthy while watching "Nightmare Before Christmas"; bright and early Friday morning we headed out for Granville Island in Vancouver. That place is something else! I liked it; Granville Island is not actually an island, but an artisan based community underneath the Granville Street bridge overlooking False Creek and English Bay in Vancouver. We toured various art galleries that showcased mediums of wood, pottery, paint, paper, glass, silk...everything. We went through the fresh market, which smelled so good, and went to the brewery and bought some Granville Island Beer. Yum-my! It's defiantly worth a stop if you're in Vancouver.
I didn't have to work again until Sunday afternoon, so first thing Saturday morning we drove down to Seattle and did the tourist thing there. We stopped, of course, at Pike Place, went up the Space Needle, to the Aquarium, and to the Experience Music Project Museum of Modern Music. All very good fun. Seattle is yet another, amazingly artistic community. I loved walking around and seeing and hearing all of the buskers, but the hotel we stayed in...golly was I on the verge of going postal. It was alright in the daylight, but at 2am, the drunks started coming back for their mid-night snack and were slamming doors and yelling; the walls in that place were thin to begin with, and when they were slamming the doors, it sounded like the whole wall was about to fall over. I think Laura and I managed a 5-6 hour sleep that night, after hoofing around the city all day and me needing to work a full 8 hours at Starbucks the following day. Phew. I was rather testy. Oh, and the attractive male ratio is much better in Seattle, which really made our trip there worth while.
Monday morning came really fast; I had to work until midnight on Sunday, and fortunately, Curt was kind enough to come and pick me up. At 7am, I was up again, we went for a quick coffee with friend, and found ourselves on the the road to whirlwind trip to Whistler. The drive was spectacular, but in truth, we were in Whistler for maybe a half hour (it is a 2.5 hour drive from Abby, barring all traffic problems) for lunch, and then turned right around to get me back to Abby in time for work. It was amazing: we made it through construction and Vancouver, both ways, with no traffic. I was even a half hour early for work.
They left this morning, and it was sad again. But not too bad. This time I had to throw myself back into my neglected homework. I just prefer being the one who does the leaving.
So I went to my only class today, and the first thing I hear about is how 2 of my "friends"/classmates have recently gotten engaged. They are my age. They were looking at dress magazines and talking about weddings and their hubby-to-be's, and boy, was that ever a new experience.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Fij Numbo eg Shembok Twrily
No two people ever say the same thing. I mean, I guess that shouldn't be too surprising, especially being that we are in a world of innumerable languages. But really, think about it. No two people ever say the same thing. Ever. Ever! Every single human being on this planet has his own language. We each have a unique dialect. And yet, we are able to communicate with each other. A-mazing!
I downloaded an audiobook by Stephen Pinker called "The Stuff of Thought." I had to get an audiobook because otherwise I would have given up on it before I picked it up. I mean, I understand the language now that I am in Linguistics, but holy crow, it is a mind workout!
Anyway, he basically goes through how language can change everything, and, most fascinating to me, how we obtain it. When you really think about it, to concept of a baby--something that drools so much and is unable to fend for itself or control its bodily functions--a baby has this enormous task of learning how to speak. It sits there for a while, always listening to the random sounds that its parents use to communicate, and breaks it down grammatically. A baby is conscious of all of the fundamentals of language that I have been laboriously learning for the past month and a bit. And you know that the kicker is? The baby knows this stuff better than me! Bette than any linguistian!
It has been proposed that we are born with an innate grammar set. We already know the rules when we come out kicking and screaming (probably because we just really don't want to have to use that grammar). This has to be so, or else the quest for a mother tongue acquisition would be fruitless! Think about that! Did you think about it? Talk about a God-thing. I mean, even if a child were isolated and never in contact with a form of language, it would naturally create its own. His language, if dissected and studied, would even show use of adjectives, nouns, verbs, pronouns, articles, adverbs, and would follow syntactic and semantic rules! Why? Because it is upon these grammatical rules that all languages, no matter how strange, is created! I love it.
Another thing, a child, at 5 years old, is the smartest it will ever be. That kind of sucks huh? I mean, I now live with a 5 year old and basically, if all the things I am learning were put into terms that even I could understand, she learn this stuff faster and more solidly than I ever will. No fair!
The book is good so far, though if you want to read it, you might need to do it in small portions because your concept of pretty much everything is challenged. Even more fascinating is Pinker's bit on verbs, but I'm not that smart so I'll leave that discussion to him.
Oh, and by the way, if you look closely at my title, although non-sense, it is entirely grammatically correct! Dear lord, pray for me.
I downloaded an audiobook by Stephen Pinker called "The Stuff of Thought." I had to get an audiobook because otherwise I would have given up on it before I picked it up. I mean, I understand the language now that I am in Linguistics, but holy crow, it is a mind workout!
Anyway, he basically goes through how language can change everything, and, most fascinating to me, how we obtain it. When you really think about it, to concept of a baby--something that drools so much and is unable to fend for itself or control its bodily functions--a baby has this enormous task of learning how to speak. It sits there for a while, always listening to the random sounds that its parents use to communicate, and breaks it down grammatically. A baby is conscious of all of the fundamentals of language that I have been laboriously learning for the past month and a bit. And you know that the kicker is? The baby knows this stuff better than me! Bette than any linguistian!
It has been proposed that we are born with an innate grammar set. We already know the rules when we come out kicking and screaming (probably because we just really don't want to have to use that grammar). This has to be so, or else the quest for a mother tongue acquisition would be fruitless! Think about that! Did you think about it? Talk about a God-thing. I mean, even if a child were isolated and never in contact with a form of language, it would naturally create its own. His language, if dissected and studied, would even show use of adjectives, nouns, verbs, pronouns, articles, adverbs, and would follow syntactic and semantic rules! Why? Because it is upon these grammatical rules that all languages, no matter how strange, is created! I love it.
Another thing, a child, at 5 years old, is the smartest it will ever be. That kind of sucks huh? I mean, I now live with a 5 year old and basically, if all the things I am learning were put into terms that even I could understand, she learn this stuff faster and more solidly than I ever will. No fair!
The book is good so far, though if you want to read it, you might need to do it in small portions because your concept of pretty much everything is challenged. Even more fascinating is Pinker's bit on verbs, but I'm not that smart so I'll leave that discussion to him.
Oh, and by the way, if you look closely at my title, although non-sense, it is entirely grammatically correct! Dear lord, pray for me.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
A Tale of Two Cities
This past week has been...a tale of two cities. My trip home was absolutely fabulous, and totally refreshing. It really felt good being back home and seeing everyone (and seeing people I knew); I never realized how many people read my blog!
So, a tale of two cities. Right. First of all, an update on how my 1st month at university has gone. I've already written 2 midterms, the first one being for Spanish and the second for Linguistics. The Spanish one was easy for me in the first place, but even to my surprise, I wrote it and obtained the highest mark in my class. Between that and the hand-in assignments which I've also been getting top marks at, I am at the top of my class! Woo-hoo! The second, for linguistics, I wrote mere hours before my flight home for the holiday. My head was fairly focused on the test, but lets face it, I was distracted. I was sitting behind the hottest guy in all of my classes too, which didn't affect me too much, but notably some. Anyway, I was one of the first people done the exam, but left so discouraged. I was convinced I bombed. I mean, I thought as logically as I could and really put an effort into it, but boy, I honestly thought I failed. So much so that my whole flight home was frustrating as I could not stop thinking about it. I couldn't even sleep that night because my brain would not shut off the linguistics. Nor did it for my whole weekend. I was seriously worried about it; I have only failed one test in my life and that was in Physics 30. I could not stand the thought of failing something, let alone in an institution as expensive as university! By the time I flew back out here, I was okay with failing, knowing that I would just have to push myself even harder and make up for the one failed midterm on the next 2 quizzes and the next midterm. Alas, in class on Tuesday, I realized that my weekend was merely a reality check and that in truth, I had pulled off a solid A with a 90.5% on the exam.
That was the good, and now, for the...I don't say want to say "bad," because that may not be so. It seems as if I have underestimated the costs of going to school. I am needing some serious prayers as it seems I am seriously lacking funding. I didn't take out as big of a loan as i could have because lets face it, loans suck. But I also was not expecting to be so long getting a job, or for the costs of goods to be so flipping expensive! I mean, I certainly have not been squandering my money since moving here. I've had to buy some clothes because my wardrobe was not entirely suitable for the climate, I don't eat out or go partying or out to movies, I have paid 2 months rent and damage deposit and for food, cell bill, tuition, books (which was twice as expensive as perceived), and then clothing for work at Starbucks (which was a seriously unexpected and un-budgeted expense), and now, with the end of the month looming, only a half month of work, rent coming up and some unpaid bills, and now registration for next semester and those fees (already!), I'm in the hole. So please, be praying that somehow the money turns up. I thank you all for all your prayers, and I have such confidence that God has me here for a reason and He didn't just bring me here to drown in unfamiliar waters, but I am at a loss. I'm not worried about it this time.
Back on the upside, I think I get to go back to Vintage this weekend as a carpool has been organized! After going back home and getting back to the church, I really realized how good it was to be taught again. I took it for granted for so long, or so it seems, that now, I've really realized how good it is to worship with other people and have my beliefs challenged and to be taught and to be having a relationship with God again. How easily I forgot! I've really been thinking about my relationship with God and my relationship with my job or studies, and in the past couple weeks I've really realized that God's usually getting the shaft. My courses have really been challenging my concepts of what is real socially and how it relates to me morally and spiritually, and how intricately we've been designed, even just our capacity create random sounds, give them meaning, communicate and most amazing is our acquisition of language! I mean, all I can really say is: "How?"
So that is that, for now. Hope I've helped fill in some blanks. Thanks for your continued prayer and love!
So, a tale of two cities. Right. First of all, an update on how my 1st month at university has gone. I've already written 2 midterms, the first one being for Spanish and the second for Linguistics. The Spanish one was easy for me in the first place, but even to my surprise, I wrote it and obtained the highest mark in my class. Between that and the hand-in assignments which I've also been getting top marks at, I am at the top of my class! Woo-hoo! The second, for linguistics, I wrote mere hours before my flight home for the holiday. My head was fairly focused on the test, but lets face it, I was distracted. I was sitting behind the hottest guy in all of my classes too, which didn't affect me too much, but notably some. Anyway, I was one of the first people done the exam, but left so discouraged. I was convinced I bombed. I mean, I thought as logically as I could and really put an effort into it, but boy, I honestly thought I failed. So much so that my whole flight home was frustrating as I could not stop thinking about it. I couldn't even sleep that night because my brain would not shut off the linguistics. Nor did it for my whole weekend. I was seriously worried about it; I have only failed one test in my life and that was in Physics 30. I could not stand the thought of failing something, let alone in an institution as expensive as university! By the time I flew back out here, I was okay with failing, knowing that I would just have to push myself even harder and make up for the one failed midterm on the next 2 quizzes and the next midterm. Alas, in class on Tuesday, I realized that my weekend was merely a reality check and that in truth, I had pulled off a solid A with a 90.5% on the exam.
That was the good, and now, for the...I don't say want to say "bad," because that may not be so. It seems as if I have underestimated the costs of going to school. I am needing some serious prayers as it seems I am seriously lacking funding. I didn't take out as big of a loan as i could have because lets face it, loans suck. But I also was not expecting to be so long getting a job, or for the costs of goods to be so flipping expensive! I mean, I certainly have not been squandering my money since moving here. I've had to buy some clothes because my wardrobe was not entirely suitable for the climate, I don't eat out or go partying or out to movies, I have paid 2 months rent and damage deposit and for food, cell bill, tuition, books (which was twice as expensive as perceived), and then clothing for work at Starbucks (which was a seriously unexpected and un-budgeted expense), and now, with the end of the month looming, only a half month of work, rent coming up and some unpaid bills, and now registration for next semester and those fees (already!), I'm in the hole. So please, be praying that somehow the money turns up. I thank you all for all your prayers, and I have such confidence that God has me here for a reason and He didn't just bring me here to drown in unfamiliar waters, but I am at a loss. I'm not worried about it this time.
Back on the upside, I think I get to go back to Vintage this weekend as a carpool has been organized! After going back home and getting back to the church, I really realized how good it was to be taught again. I took it for granted for so long, or so it seems, that now, I've really realized how good it is to worship with other people and have my beliefs challenged and to be taught and to be having a relationship with God again. How easily I forgot! I've really been thinking about my relationship with God and my relationship with my job or studies, and in the past couple weeks I've really realized that God's usually getting the shaft. My courses have really been challenging my concepts of what is real socially and how it relates to me morally and spiritually, and how intricately we've been designed, even just our capacity create random sounds, give them meaning, communicate and most amazing is our acquisition of language! I mean, all I can really say is: "How?"
So that is that, for now. Hope I've helped fill in some blanks. Thanks for your continued prayer and love!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Mmmm. Mashed Potatoes
So, unbeknownst to most, I flew home this weekend to surprise most of my loved ones. I really wanted to be home for the weekend, and, it feels so good to see the familiar faces again.
So far, it has been good; I have seen so many of the folks I wanted to see, hugged a bunch of people, and been smiling and laughing for a few days straight. Like I said, it feels good to be here. Even though it seems so much more flat than I remember.
I've been thinking a lot about the past month and how my life has changed since I was last on the 806. It is...more than I thought it would be. Linden has not changed too much, but there are a couple things that have, or are in the process, and those are the things that I never really wanted to change. And they are small things too, so seemingly insignificant, but the few things that I call my very own.
Anyway, being back here has also realize how my definition of "home" has changed too. Linden feels good. I love so many people here, and I enjoy the prairies. I'm staying in my old house too and have been venturing to my usual haunts (I mean, I've only been gone a month!), but they are just not the same. This house, is not my house anymore, and I think that is the weirdest part. Sometime, even in the course of a month, without my consciousness knowledge, my home transitioned to Abbotsford. My stuff is all there, my room, my new job at Starbucks, my school, my bus route, trees, dogs, landlords...everything that demands my attention is in a whole other place now. All I have for Linden now are a town full of people I love and memories. It is so weird! I guess I am still working on finding my place in this world! I keep reminding myself, if it is this strange for me now, I can not imagine what it will be when I move to Latin America!
So far, it has been good; I have seen so many of the folks I wanted to see, hugged a bunch of people, and been smiling and laughing for a few days straight. Like I said, it feels good to be here. Even though it seems so much more flat than I remember.
I've been thinking a lot about the past month and how my life has changed since I was last on the 806. It is...more than I thought it would be. Linden has not changed too much, but there are a couple things that have, or are in the process, and those are the things that I never really wanted to change. And they are small things too, so seemingly insignificant, but the few things that I call my very own.
Anyway, being back here has also realize how my definition of "home" has changed too. Linden feels good. I love so many people here, and I enjoy the prairies. I'm staying in my old house too and have been venturing to my usual haunts (I mean, I've only been gone a month!), but they are just not the same. This house, is not my house anymore, and I think that is the weirdest part. Sometime, even in the course of a month, without my consciousness knowledge, my home transitioned to Abbotsford. My stuff is all there, my room, my new job at Starbucks, my school, my bus route, trees, dogs, landlords...everything that demands my attention is in a whole other place now. All I have for Linden now are a town full of people I love and memories. It is so weird! I guess I am still working on finding my place in this world! I keep reminding myself, if it is this strange for me now, I can not imagine what it will be when I move to Latin America!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Days Go By
I am already preparing for my first midterm, which hits October 4th and is all about Linguistics. We had our first test in the same and I pulled off and even B- (70%). Pretty good, but far to average for my expectations of myself. I am not in school here, learning to be average--I want to excel! I mean, I know all this stuff, or I should, as all of the material is before me; I just need to figure out how to put the puzzle together.
Basically a whole month has gone by since I moved. I can not believe it! It feels like a lot longer. I mean, of course I miss home, of course I miss my family and friends, my job--everything. But I'm figuring it out, and it makes me feel all the more adult. I've made so many changes already, all for the better, and I can not wait for my loved ones to see me and to show them how I've succeeded thus far.
I went for a job interview for Starbucks the other day, and it went very well. I will know by Monday if I have a job there or not; please, please, please pray! I've also been making friends with far less difficulty. Well sort of. Although my LAS class is my favorite, the people certainly are not as friendly as those in my other two classes. The teacher rocks though: he was born in Brazil and grew up there and in Scotland, emigrated to Canada and has a thick English accent, as both of his folks were English (though he never once stepped foot on the Motherland's soil).
He is a doll.
My weekend plans this week are not yet made. Opps! No, I think I am going out for coffee with one of my Spanish classmates. Maybe We'll watch a movie here too, or something. My landlord's folks are flying in from Edmonton in a couple of hours, so this place is is going to be bustling with people.
Basically a whole month has gone by since I moved. I can not believe it! It feels like a lot longer. I mean, of course I miss home, of course I miss my family and friends, my job--everything. But I'm figuring it out, and it makes me feel all the more adult. I've made so many changes already, all for the better, and I can not wait for my loved ones to see me and to show them how I've succeeded thus far.
I went for a job interview for Starbucks the other day, and it went very well. I will know by Monday if I have a job there or not; please, please, please pray! I've also been making friends with far less difficulty. Well sort of. Although my LAS class is my favorite, the people certainly are not as friendly as those in my other two classes. The teacher rocks though: he was born in Brazil and grew up there and in Scotland, emigrated to Canada and has a thick English accent, as both of his folks were English (though he never once stepped foot on the Motherland's soil).
He is a doll.
My weekend plans this week are not yet made. Opps! No, I think I am going out for coffee with one of my Spanish classmates. Maybe We'll watch a movie here too, or something. My landlord's folks are flying in from Edmonton in a couple of hours, so this place is is going to be bustling with people.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Filtered
It has been a hard week. Throughout the past week there have been so many times when my brain has literally not stopped processing data from one morning to the next. Sleep has not been easy because of such a problem, and as result, my I've been feeling a little ill. Not too bad, but defiantly not 100%. My stomach has been reeling and churning, body aching, and feeling sore-throaty in the morning. Yech. Needless to say, this has been the week the weather changed to ran from sun.
Linguistics has begun to make more sense, though the course is not looking more like Chem in its formations and equations. The lexical component of the course has begun to stress me out, but apparently that is perfectly normal and will only get worse before it gets better and as we go through the course.
Latin American Studies has proven, so far, to be...so much more eye opening than I expected. It has shocked me how "Europeanized" our educational system really is. The blatant disregard for such a prominent part of the world is disgusting! And even worse is how we, as North Americans justify the abuse of Latin America. Allbeit, Canada is far better than the States and the damage has been done and was committed centuries ago. But, in the educational system I was brought up in, we did not learn about our other fellow Americans. We were taught about anti-communism controls put in place there, without also addressing the fact that communism would work far better in most Latin American countries than a democracy (did the USA not convert to a communist-like policy during the Great Depression to get back up on its economical feet? Why can the L.A. countries employ the same right of self-government? Oh yeah, the USA is, in most L.A. countries, allowed to step in and change up the govn't whenever they feel like it. Even now! Sick! Actually, Haiti was the 3rd established republic, right after the USA, and no one cares. Columbus landed at Hispaniola (now Haiti and D.R.) in 1482, long before anyone even knew about the USA, but the US use that same date to claim their discovery. Needless to say, LAS has really started to open my eyes to see just how filtered my education has been.
I've been making friends, however, and have weekend plans prospering and study times set. Yeah! I can't believe how much more positive it has made me.
This week, I have also manged to find a church that interests me. It seems like it might be a solid deal, and I am definitely going for a second time. It is MB, which is different than my previous "denomination," but I don't necessarily care so much about what they call themselves as much as I do care about what they're preaching, and this group of people seem to put God at the head of everything. It is a young church too, both age wise and people wise. They are still growing, and as of yet, seemingly don't have a building. Right now they are meeting in a theater in one of the cinemas in town. Sweet. Check its site out: www.vintage242church.com
I also have several job prospects. The most promising looks to be Starbucks, but a waitressing job might be in the works too. I have a third interview next Wednesday afternoon; praying, and praying, and praying that all goes well with that!
The guys factor is getting a little more rosy too. They seem to be more attractive now than they were 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, there seems to be this underlying pressure to be with a significant other. Almost every one of the girls in all of my classes is dating, not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that I suppose. But it does have that wonderful effect of making me feel nakedly single. I mean, there are a few guys out there with whom I wish our relationship were perhaps a bit different and maybe a couple super hot guys at school here, but in in University solely for the purpose of getting educated enough to move thousands of miles from here without destroying a culture. That is why I am here (and I have, admittedly, been finding it necessary to remind myself of that fact); I don't plan on walking away with a hubby after 4 years. Not that I'll turn a guy away if he seems like a good match, but I need a guy willing and able to have a life with me that works as much with my goals as mine do with his. Otherwise it is simply unfair to one or the other, and that would break my heart either way.
Anyway, that is my rant for making me feel better about being single at the moment.
I have a TESL Association meeting in 4 hours; it is a "club" for people interested in teaching English as a second language here or abroad. It basically provides an outlet for people to network with each other and hear some real life experiences and help each other get their goals in motion. While I am not planning on beginning my career for another 4 years, it might prove very useful. I think it might be worth my time to join the club. We shall see.
That is, I think, about all worth mentioning for now. I'll let you know when my life starts to get interesting again!
P.S. For my 2nd Cousin: I am going to take some pics of school tonight, fingers crossed, and hope post them here in the next day or so. They won't be too pretty though, as the sky is gray and miserable. But the trees are still mostly green!
Linguistics has begun to make more sense, though the course is not looking more like Chem in its formations and equations. The lexical component of the course has begun to stress me out, but apparently that is perfectly normal and will only get worse before it gets better and as we go through the course.
Latin American Studies has proven, so far, to be...so much more eye opening than I expected. It has shocked me how "Europeanized" our educational system really is. The blatant disregard for such a prominent part of the world is disgusting! And even worse is how we, as North Americans justify the abuse of Latin America. Allbeit, Canada is far better than the States and the damage has been done and was committed centuries ago. But, in the educational system I was brought up in, we did not learn about our other fellow Americans. We were taught about anti-communism controls put in place there, without also addressing the fact that communism would work far better in most Latin American countries than a democracy (did the USA not convert to a communist-like policy during the Great Depression to get back up on its economical feet? Why can the L.A. countries employ the same right of self-government? Oh yeah, the USA is, in most L.A. countries, allowed to step in and change up the govn't whenever they feel like it. Even now! Sick! Actually, Haiti was the 3rd established republic, right after the USA, and no one cares. Columbus landed at Hispaniola (now Haiti and D.R.) in 1482, long before anyone even knew about the USA, but the US use that same date to claim their discovery. Needless to say, LAS has really started to open my eyes to see just how filtered my education has been.
I've been making friends, however, and have weekend plans prospering and study times set. Yeah! I can't believe how much more positive it has made me.
This week, I have also manged to find a church that interests me. It seems like it might be a solid deal, and I am definitely going for a second time. It is MB, which is different than my previous "denomination," but I don't necessarily care so much about what they call themselves as much as I do care about what they're preaching, and this group of people seem to put God at the head of everything. It is a young church too, both age wise and people wise. They are still growing, and as of yet, seemingly don't have a building. Right now they are meeting in a theater in one of the cinemas in town. Sweet. Check its site out: www.vintage242church.com
I also have several job prospects. The most promising looks to be Starbucks, but a waitressing job might be in the works too. I have a third interview next Wednesday afternoon; praying, and praying, and praying that all goes well with that!
The guys factor is getting a little more rosy too. They seem to be more attractive now than they were 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, there seems to be this underlying pressure to be with a significant other. Almost every one of the girls in all of my classes is dating, not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that I suppose. But it does have that wonderful effect of making me feel nakedly single. I mean, there are a few guys out there with whom I wish our relationship were perhaps a bit different and maybe a couple super hot guys at school here, but in in University solely for the purpose of getting educated enough to move thousands of miles from here without destroying a culture. That is why I am here (and I have, admittedly, been finding it necessary to remind myself of that fact); I don't plan on walking away with a hubby after 4 years. Not that I'll turn a guy away if he seems like a good match, but I need a guy willing and able to have a life with me that works as much with my goals as mine do with his. Otherwise it is simply unfair to one or the other, and that would break my heart either way.
Anyway, that is my rant for making me feel better about being single at the moment.
I have a TESL Association meeting in 4 hours; it is a "club" for people interested in teaching English as a second language here or abroad. It basically provides an outlet for people to network with each other and hear some real life experiences and help each other get their goals in motion. While I am not planning on beginning my career for another 4 years, it might prove very useful. I think it might be worth my time to join the club. We shall see.
That is, I think, about all worth mentioning for now. I'll let you know when my life starts to get interesting again!
P.S. For my 2nd Cousin: I am going to take some pics of school tonight, fingers crossed, and hope post them here in the next day or so. They won't be too pretty though, as the sky is gray and miserable. But the trees are still mostly green!
Friday, September 07, 2007
My New House
For the sake of Dad, I thought I would take a couple more pictures of my new house and post them here. Have no fear, I have never lived so richly!
The crazy washing machines that I have absolutley no idea how to work.
The living room and main entrance upstairs. This is shared space, not mine.
Our shared family room adjacent to the kitchen.
The kitchen. I love it! They want me to simply rifle through the pantry and eat anything I want. Still not used to that!
My den; a space all my own. Downstairs on ground level (of a 3 story house). I haven't yet had the time to really make it my own. I did, however, tidy up the thousands of textbooks and other books. You'd think I wasn't a student! Oh, the books on the table are just for one class, and there are to more on the right ledge by the stereo that go with them. All except one, I suppose, which is a lovely contribution by my second cousin out east. But that is he smallest book on the top of the giant stack. I have 4 more giant texts on top of those!
The crazy washing machines that I have absolutley no idea how to work.
The living room and main entrance upstairs. This is shared space, not mine.
Our shared family room adjacent to the kitchen.
The kitchen. I love it! They want me to simply rifle through the pantry and eat anything I want. Still not used to that!
My den; a space all my own. Downstairs on ground level (of a 3 story house). I haven't yet had the time to really make it my own. I did, however, tidy up the thousands of textbooks and other books. You'd think I wasn't a student! Oh, the books on the table are just for one class, and there are to more on the right ledge by the stereo that go with them. All except one, I suppose, which is a lovely contribution by my second cousin out east. But that is he smallest book on the top of the giant stack. I have 4 more giant texts on top of those!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Freshman
Though not technically a whole week, I am done school until Monday--my first week of my first semester in university has come and gone. I've only had three days of class, but am already able to have a feel for how this semester is going to go.
Latin American Studies is likely to be the best class of the semester. The teacher is hilarious, the work load not too bad (though involving intensive reading and a massive term paper), and the subject is fascinating to me. Spanish is probably going to be next best; it involves lots of interaction between peers. However, it also requires at least 4 hours of computer work per week (2 of which I am to do in the language lab at the school somewhere), in addition to reading the text, and doing the workbook pages which relate to the text we're to read.
Lastly comes Linguistics. The course, so far, seems like it will prove to be quite challenging. The teacher is incredibly quiet, and though I sat at the front of the class, I still had a great deal of trouble following her. the professor also has a tendency to use highly grammatical language which is somewhat foreign to me. If it weren't for the fact that I know the course would be worth it, and 2nd year will be better, I might consider dropping it. For all you who don't know what Linguistics is, it is learning the descriptive science of language. So far, we're simply learning an incredible amount of grammar (something that was greatly omitted in my previous schooling...or so it seems) and soon we'll be learning basic syntax creation. It makes me sound smart, but as of yet, I have no idea what anything means. After all, I have only had a couple of classes of Linguistics.
Homesickness has so far mostly evaded me. That's not t say I don't deeply miss a great number of people, and don't wish my confidantes by my side at every minuet. I have not yet had a cup of coffee equal to that from Global Grounds. I miss my customers, and I miss my best friend's dog almost more than anyone else.
But this new place has been treating me well. My new landlords are unbelievably nice, my new house far more than I could have hoped for, and my new school better than any other I have seen. These factors have defiantly helped make the transition easier, and I am hoping to find a job soon and start feeling like I am part of a community again.
All in all, the adjustment to my new life has been going well. I haven't made any friends as of yet, but am getting to know more and more people everyday. Now, all I have to do is find people to go snowboarding with!
Latin American Studies is likely to be the best class of the semester. The teacher is hilarious, the work load not too bad (though involving intensive reading and a massive term paper), and the subject is fascinating to me. Spanish is probably going to be next best; it involves lots of interaction between peers. However, it also requires at least 4 hours of computer work per week (2 of which I am to do in the language lab at the school somewhere), in addition to reading the text, and doing the workbook pages which relate to the text we're to read.
Lastly comes Linguistics. The course, so far, seems like it will prove to be quite challenging. The teacher is incredibly quiet, and though I sat at the front of the class, I still had a great deal of trouble following her. the professor also has a tendency to use highly grammatical language which is somewhat foreign to me. If it weren't for the fact that I know the course would be worth it, and 2nd year will be better, I might consider dropping it. For all you who don't know what Linguistics is, it is learning the descriptive science of language. So far, we're simply learning an incredible amount of grammar (something that was greatly omitted in my previous schooling...or so it seems) and soon we'll be learning basic syntax creation. It makes me sound smart, but as of yet, I have no idea what anything means. After all, I have only had a couple of classes of Linguistics.
Homesickness has so far mostly evaded me. That's not t say I don't deeply miss a great number of people, and don't wish my confidantes by my side at every minuet. I have not yet had a cup of coffee equal to that from Global Grounds. I miss my customers, and I miss my best friend's dog almost more than anyone else.
But this new place has been treating me well. My new landlords are unbelievably nice, my new house far more than I could have hoped for, and my new school better than any other I have seen. These factors have defiantly helped make the transition easier, and I am hoping to find a job soon and start feeling like I am part of a community again.
All in all, the adjustment to my new life has been going well. I haven't made any friends as of yet, but am getting to know more and more people everyday. Now, all I have to do is find people to go snowboarding with!
Monday, September 03, 2007
A New Chapter
Well, it has happened. My friends have gone their way and left me here in Abbotsford. I officially live here. My land lords seem awesome, my house is so much more than I was expecting, and school seems like it will be tons of fun. I'll find out tomorrow.
So I have some pictures below. Check them out!
My new bedroom, or rather, about half of my new room. It is about twice the size f my old one.
My living space and me in the bathroom in the back. Trust me. It is far bigger than it looks!
All of my earthly belongings packed into Laura's new van. that was one full van!
On the ferry on the way back from Nanaimo. Andrew, me, Laura, and Curt.
The view from the my house, and walk to the bus stop. When they said I lived on the top of a hill, they sure meant it. It about a leisurely half hour walk down hill to the bus stop.
So I have some pictures below. Check them out!
My new bedroom, or rather, about half of my new room. It is about twice the size f my old one.
My living space and me in the bathroom in the back. Trust me. It is far bigger than it looks!
All of my earthly belongings packed into Laura's new van. that was one full van!
On the ferry on the way back from Nanaimo. Andrew, me, Laura, and Curt.
The view from the my house, and walk to the bus stop. When they said I lived on the top of a hill, they sure meant it. It about a leisurely half hour walk down hill to the bus stop.
Friday, August 31, 2007
On The Road
I'm writing this from the desk in my hotel room in Abbotsford on the night before I move into my new home. Shortly after arriving here early this evening (and after heading out early last evening), we went and found the house I'll be moving into. That's when the panic started coming in droves. I'll be okay though.
Our trip, so far, has been good. Quiet, but good. We ended up camping in Golden, BC last night in a campground with a grumpy manager. Our site was barely big enough for our tent and Highway 1 was rising right next to us so we got to hear the semi's downshifting all night long. But it was a place to sleep, and that we did. It was beautiful there too. I have some pics that I'll link up later.
The 5 hours of driving time today seemed to drag on though. It was tough. I didn't want to miss a thing, because it might be a long time before we drive out here all together again. I ended up snoozing, reluctently, for a couple of minuets though.
There are so many thoughts going through my head; some scare me, and some comfort. The ones that scare me are mostly of what is going to happen after my travel mates leave me here on Monday afternoon. What am I going to do? I'm already feeling lost and overwhelmed. I can't even find bus tickets! But I hear this anxiety is normal, so that counts as a comforting thought. It'll pass and I know I'll be okay. Hope that I settle in here quickly though, and find something to find familiarity in. There is a farm here, with cows and a big red barn. Right in the middle of the city. Maybe that will qualify. There are so many people though! I mean, I've travelled out here a couple of times, but travelling here and knowing that you'll be staying here for a couple years is a touch different. Just, please, keep praying for me.
Our trip, so far, has been good. Quiet, but good. We ended up camping in Golden, BC last night in a campground with a grumpy manager. Our site was barely big enough for our tent and Highway 1 was rising right next to us so we got to hear the semi's downshifting all night long. But it was a place to sleep, and that we did. It was beautiful there too. I have some pics that I'll link up later.
The 5 hours of driving time today seemed to drag on though. It was tough. I didn't want to miss a thing, because it might be a long time before we drive out here all together again. I ended up snoozing, reluctently, for a couple of minuets though.
There are so many thoughts going through my head; some scare me, and some comfort. The ones that scare me are mostly of what is going to happen after my travel mates leave me here on Monday afternoon. What am I going to do? I'm already feeling lost and overwhelmed. I can't even find bus tickets! But I hear this anxiety is normal, so that counts as a comforting thought. It'll pass and I know I'll be okay. Hope that I settle in here quickly though, and find something to find familiarity in. There is a farm here, with cows and a big red barn. Right in the middle of the city. Maybe that will qualify. There are so many people though! I mean, I've travelled out here a couple of times, but travelling here and knowing that you'll be staying here for a couple years is a touch different. Just, please, keep praying for me.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Circa 2007
Two days out from my big move to BC, and I feel like all I am left with is the question, "Where did the last four months of my life go?" Between going to Toronto, Saskatoon, DEMO in Calgary, the West Coast, Edmonton, and State-side; between my roomies being gone; between late evenings at the Robinson's (which passed all too quickly)--when was there time for time to pass by?
I'm feeling somewhat sullen at this point. Tomorrow, my best friend leaves and I am not good at tear retention. Then I leave the next day, and I have to say bye to EVERYONE, while working. Note to self: invest in a lot of waterproof mascara. I mean, have no doubt, I am beyond ecstatic about my upcoming adventures, but the present is more than overwhelming enough to distract me.
Thursday afternoon I leave Linden 9just an hour and a half after I finish my last shift at the coffee shop), and I don't know for sure when I'll be back. I'm hoping Christmas for sure, but I can't say I will be financially set for that at this point.
I did find a house though (thanks to a fleet of prayers), and it seems pretty awesome. I'll have to put pics up here when I can. And my grants and loans and bursaries are all coming in. Everything that needs to be signed either is or will be shortly. The boxes are nearly all packed, the laundry just needing one more go, and the van is ready. We have our plans set, and the next two days of my life are not mine, but belong to everyone but me. I want time with everyone I can; I want to savor my last guaranteed moments with my friends and families.
UCFV starts on Tuesday, and I can't wait to be learning again. But does anyone know how to make this transition easier? I feel like I'm breaking up with everyone, and we all know how crummy that feels.
I'm feeling somewhat sullen at this point. Tomorrow, my best friend leaves and I am not good at tear retention. Then I leave the next day, and I have to say bye to EVERYONE, while working. Note to self: invest in a lot of waterproof mascara. I mean, have no doubt, I am beyond ecstatic about my upcoming adventures, but the present is more than overwhelming enough to distract me.
Thursday afternoon I leave Linden 9just an hour and a half after I finish my last shift at the coffee shop), and I don't know for sure when I'll be back. I'm hoping Christmas for sure, but I can't say I will be financially set for that at this point.
I did find a house though (thanks to a fleet of prayers), and it seems pretty awesome. I'll have to put pics up here when I can. And my grants and loans and bursaries are all coming in. Everything that needs to be signed either is or will be shortly. The boxes are nearly all packed, the laundry just needing one more go, and the van is ready. We have our plans set, and the next two days of my life are not mine, but belong to everyone but me. I want time with everyone I can; I want to savor my last guaranteed moments with my friends and families.
UCFV starts on Tuesday, and I can't wait to be learning again. But does anyone know how to make this transition easier? I feel like I'm breaking up with everyone, and we all know how crummy that feels.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Becky Laslo
My Dad told me this morning that someone I grew up with in Beiseker died. She was 20 years old, and I don't know what did her in (other than that it was a disease, not an accident), but she died a couple weeks ago. We had the same name; her brother and I even share the same birthday. Our two families were close up until the time the moved away (I think I was going into Grade one or two) and have somehow found each other off and on again over the years. Talk about a surprise though.
Otherwise, life is back in working order. No more holidays for me, but that's okay. I really want to work again. Work that I should probably get back to now. I feel like swatting the thousand flies that keep flying into my head.
Otherwise, life is back in working order. No more holidays for me, but that's okay. I really want to work again. Work that I should probably get back to now. I feel like swatting the thousand flies that keep flying into my head.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
The Great Sliverwood
So, remember how I said I was heading of to Spokane for the weekend? Ya, that didn't exactly play out as planned. We had ventured down on the plan to catch some nitro drag racing at their raceway there, and turns out, the raceway hadn't even planned to show nitro drag racing (which was gay, being that their schedule had read so, and we had been told that it would go down as such). All in all I ended up spending a whole hour, maybe hour and a half in Spokane. Instead, our journey took us to northern Idaho.
Rather than come straight home (which would have wasted the 8 hours it took us to get down there), we decided to camp the night somewhere and go to the sweetest amusement park I've been to yet: Silverwood. It's got some pretty intense wooden roller coasters, which is what made it so cool. One went 55mph, and the other 65mph. The faster one even went underground 4 times, but I was too much of a sissy to do that one. I went on the slower one and came off shaky enough. And I wasn't feeling the greatest either, really.
It was a good trip; I kind of lost my wits at the end after being stuck in a car for hours when I REALLY didn't want to be. After the theme park, we had planned to camp another night in Yahk, BC, but the campground was full. As were all of the other campgrounds on the road home. And every single hotel, motel, lodge, and inn. We tried to find a place to stay up until 3am Sunday morning, before utterly giving up and deciding that no matter how tired we were, we had to go home. I don't drive, but still don't know how our 2 drivers made the trip happen. We pulled up in front of my house at 6:30am, which means our trip home was nearly 12 hours. I slept in my own bed (second or third time in 2 weeks!) until 1:12pm this afternoon.
So now I am home for three weeks and a bit, before we make our "last" road trip to move me out west. I have a week to myself too, in that time, which I'm really looking forward to. Some alone time, you know, to reflect and ground myself again. It'll be nice. Anyway, my typing skills are rapidly depleting, so I shall sign off.
Rather than come straight home (which would have wasted the 8 hours it took us to get down there), we decided to camp the night somewhere and go to the sweetest amusement park I've been to yet: Silverwood. It's got some pretty intense wooden roller coasters, which is what made it so cool. One went 55mph, and the other 65mph. The faster one even went underground 4 times, but I was too much of a sissy to do that one. I went on the slower one and came off shaky enough. And I wasn't feeling the greatest either, really.
It was a good trip; I kind of lost my wits at the end after being stuck in a car for hours when I REALLY didn't want to be. After the theme park, we had planned to camp another night in Yahk, BC, but the campground was full. As were all of the other campgrounds on the road home. And every single hotel, motel, lodge, and inn. We tried to find a place to stay up until 3am Sunday morning, before utterly giving up and deciding that no matter how tired we were, we had to go home. I don't drive, but still don't know how our 2 drivers made the trip happen. We pulled up in front of my house at 6:30am, which means our trip home was nearly 12 hours. I slept in my own bed (second or third time in 2 weeks!) until 1:12pm this afternoon.
So now I am home for three weeks and a bit, before we make our "last" road trip to move me out west. I have a week to myself too, in that time, which I'm really looking forward to. Some alone time, you know, to reflect and ground myself again. It'll be nice. Anyway, my typing skills are rapidly depleting, so I shall sign off.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
It's Been a While
I almost had trouble remembering how to sign into blogger it has been so long since I've been here! The past month has been almost out of control. I've been multi-tasking to the nth degree, or so it feels like.
July started with 2 of my coworkers going to Mexico for 2 weeks. Being that there are only 4 people staffed at the coffee shop, this meant I had to do twice as much work. It was worth it though. The two weeks were an incredible amount of fun, however, and flew by far to quickly.
As soon as my co-workers came back, I took off to the city for four days. I volunteered to help lead the church's youth group while away at an inner city "missions"/ intensive volunteering program. It basically came down to this: 17 hour days of working and sweating your posterior off and slowly losing your ability to be naive and blind to the fact that we live in a broken and hurting world, and then doing literally all we could to better the life of someone else. In this case, we helped the homeless population of Calgary. It is made even more intensive in that the experience basically demands and develops into a need for complete selflessness. Intense, but so worth it. I have done the program a couple of times before, and was blessed again this time in meeting some amazing people who live on the streets.
Not saying that I am entirely selfless (nor am I by far), but I was lucky enough to have grown up in a struggling household; one that provided for itself at one point, and then couldn't later down the road. I've seen both ends of the scale, and guess what, I learned that there is now difference. I can not honestly see how 2 people can be comparable other than in the fact that they are both human. Nothing separates one from another, other than their personalities and uniqueness, and perhaps that is why I love going down the homeless shelter. I love people, and I love meeting them, regardless of any circumstance or conditions they're in. I mean, we're all people right?
The day after I got home from Calgary I took off to Vancouver for the weekend with a couple friends. We went to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (worth a listen to if I do say so myself) and got some sight seeing and "vacationing in to. We left at 10pm Friday night and got home 4am Tuesday morning. But boy, I can not wait until I move west!
That reminds me. I had some upsets a couple of days before I left for Calgary. I had about 3 days to find a buttload of money, or find a place outside of the dorms at school to live. I've ended up taking the latter, but trying to figure that one out in 2 days was a slightly hair raising experience! I asked a couple people to be praying that something would come up for me, a place to stay for cheap (I'm moving in less than a month!), and that my loans would come through soon, and both have basically been answered! I think I have found the perfect place to live, and the day we were leaving for the coast I got a package from the Government with pages needing signatures from someone at the school in Abbotsford (we stopped there on the way home and got that all taken care of) and now all I have to do is mail it and they will through the loan into my account. So thanks for the prayers guys.
Tonight I go off to Spokane for a couple days to take in some drag racing at the speedway. It's my last official vacation until I move, and my last chance to get away, so I hope things go well. I'm working a solid 3 weeks here, and then I'm done on the 30th. I can't believe that I'm saying that! Saying good-bye to the coffee shop is going to be impossible. I grew up here, in this building. This is where I transitioned from girl you young woman. It is my sanctuary, and I am going to deeply deeply miss it.
July started with 2 of my coworkers going to Mexico for 2 weeks. Being that there are only 4 people staffed at the coffee shop, this meant I had to do twice as much work. It was worth it though. The two weeks were an incredible amount of fun, however, and flew by far to quickly.
As soon as my co-workers came back, I took off to the city for four days. I volunteered to help lead the church's youth group while away at an inner city "missions"/ intensive volunteering program. It basically came down to this: 17 hour days of working and sweating your posterior off and slowly losing your ability to be naive and blind to the fact that we live in a broken and hurting world, and then doing literally all we could to better the life of someone else. In this case, we helped the homeless population of Calgary. It is made even more intensive in that the experience basically demands and develops into a need for complete selflessness. Intense, but so worth it. I have done the program a couple of times before, and was blessed again this time in meeting some amazing people who live on the streets.
Not saying that I am entirely selfless (nor am I by far), but I was lucky enough to have grown up in a struggling household; one that provided for itself at one point, and then couldn't later down the road. I've seen both ends of the scale, and guess what, I learned that there is now difference. I can not honestly see how 2 people can be comparable other than in the fact that they are both human. Nothing separates one from another, other than their personalities and uniqueness, and perhaps that is why I love going down the homeless shelter. I love people, and I love meeting them, regardless of any circumstance or conditions they're in. I mean, we're all people right?
The day after I got home from Calgary I took off to Vancouver for the weekend with a couple friends. We went to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (worth a listen to if I do say so myself) and got some sight seeing and "vacationing in to. We left at 10pm Friday night and got home 4am Tuesday morning. But boy, I can not wait until I move west!
That reminds me. I had some upsets a couple of days before I left for Calgary. I had about 3 days to find a buttload of money, or find a place outside of the dorms at school to live. I've ended up taking the latter, but trying to figure that one out in 2 days was a slightly hair raising experience! I asked a couple people to be praying that something would come up for me, a place to stay for cheap (I'm moving in less than a month!), and that my loans would come through soon, and both have basically been answered! I think I have found the perfect place to live, and the day we were leaving for the coast I got a package from the Government with pages needing signatures from someone at the school in Abbotsford (we stopped there on the way home and got that all taken care of) and now all I have to do is mail it and they will through the loan into my account. So thanks for the prayers guys.
Tonight I go off to Spokane for a couple days to take in some drag racing at the speedway. It's my last official vacation until I move, and my last chance to get away, so I hope things go well. I'm working a solid 3 weeks here, and then I'm done on the 30th. I can't believe that I'm saying that! Saying good-bye to the coffee shop is going to be impossible. I grew up here, in this building. This is where I transitioned from girl you young woman. It is my sanctuary, and I am going to deeply deeply miss it.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Ode to Billy Joe
The other day I had this really cool little thought, and I wrote it down. I don't really know what inspired it or anything, but it just kinda came out in a thought. Think about it:
It is the one thing that is truly universal; the one thing we are all yearning for, the one thing that will, ironically, undoubtedly let us down, no matter how hard we try. People, all over the world-- every minuet of every day of every year-- are under its control and there is no way to run away from it. Life. Life, true life, abounding livelihood, is the one thing that can motivate us to do the impossible, and the only universally common disease. It is susceptible to time, to love, and impacted by thousands of lives around itself during its existence. One person can not be immune from its rapture. There is no escape! There can be no genuine desire to abandon it; it is the greatest sacrifice that can ever be made. It is the fundamental paradox of all Creation: that something can be made to live and to die. Life can be created, destroyed, lost, found, reborn, and no matter what happens to it, it will always be eternal. Life is deemed too long and wished over for some, and for others it is too short. For some there is too much Life to live, and not enough time to do so, and for others, just being alive is too overwhelming. When it seems to end, the lost life will persist, ceaselessly, in another life. It is the Divine cycle: to awake, to breathe, to suffer, rejoice, cry, to grow, make mistakes, regrets, and after Life's years have dried up, it was created, ultimately, to end. Life was created to end, but not to be uncreated. It was designed for inevitable failure, despite Life's best efforts to remain alive. It will end. It all physically ends. But after the physical life comes the metaphysical life, and there, life will continue. Ceaselessly. Nothing can erase life.
We are not invincible. The same day will never be lived twice, and wasting time stuck in a rut means losing something that is more precious than may be commonly conceived. Moments should be savoured, remembered, loved--whether they bring happiness or pain, hope or disdain--all moments are fleeting. Grow in them. C'est le vie! Carpe diem! Vive! "O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up--for your flag is flung--for you the bugle trills...."
Every day is a blessing, and God wholly wants to see His creations come alive in it. He wants to overwhelm us in the beauty He created, to taste life, to sweat life, to feel alive. He created everything--absolutely everything--be it by means of a big bang or gradual adaptation to changing environments (which HE changes, not David Suzuki); He wants them to be enjoyed and reveled in, and guess what, He created everything to end. Be it human life or anything else, He created the Divine cycle! Everything follows it, and it is simply another way of showing His awesomeness, and faithfulness in that He knows what He is doing, though we might not.
Sometimes everyone needs to hear "Seize the day" and wake up, again.
Anyway, I thought that was cool. Something my lazy brain needed to hear again, and the whole cycle thing and God's faithfulness deal is pretty encouraging at a time when all anyone it talking about is how the world is about to stop working altogether. Cool.
It is the one thing that is truly universal; the one thing we are all yearning for, the one thing that will, ironically, undoubtedly let us down, no matter how hard we try. People, all over the world-- every minuet of every day of every year-- are under its control and there is no way to run away from it. Life. Life, true life, abounding livelihood, is the one thing that can motivate us to do the impossible, and the only universally common disease. It is susceptible to time, to love, and impacted by thousands of lives around itself during its existence. One person can not be immune from its rapture. There is no escape! There can be no genuine desire to abandon it; it is the greatest sacrifice that can ever be made. It is the fundamental paradox of all Creation: that something can be made to live and to die. Life can be created, destroyed, lost, found, reborn, and no matter what happens to it, it will always be eternal. Life is deemed too long and wished over for some, and for others it is too short. For some there is too much Life to live, and not enough time to do so, and for others, just being alive is too overwhelming. When it seems to end, the lost life will persist, ceaselessly, in another life. It is the Divine cycle: to awake, to breathe, to suffer, rejoice, cry, to grow, make mistakes, regrets, and after Life's years have dried up, it was created, ultimately, to end. Life was created to end, but not to be uncreated. It was designed for inevitable failure, despite Life's best efforts to remain alive. It will end. It all physically ends. But after the physical life comes the metaphysical life, and there, life will continue. Ceaselessly. Nothing can erase life.
We are not invincible. The same day will never be lived twice, and wasting time stuck in a rut means losing something that is more precious than may be commonly conceived. Moments should be savoured, remembered, loved--whether they bring happiness or pain, hope or disdain--all moments are fleeting. Grow in them. C'est le vie! Carpe diem! Vive! "O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up--for your flag is flung--for you the bugle trills...."
Every day is a blessing, and God wholly wants to see His creations come alive in it. He wants to overwhelm us in the beauty He created, to taste life, to sweat life, to feel alive. He created everything--absolutely everything--be it by means of a big bang or gradual adaptation to changing environments (which HE changes, not David Suzuki); He wants them to be enjoyed and reveled in, and guess what, He created everything to end. Be it human life or anything else, He created the Divine cycle! Everything follows it, and it is simply another way of showing His awesomeness, and faithfulness in that He knows what He is doing, though we might not.
Sometimes everyone needs to hear "Seize the day" and wake up, again.
Anyway, I thought that was cool. Something my lazy brain needed to hear again, and the whole cycle thing and God's faithfulness deal is pretty encouraging at a time when all anyone it talking about is how the world is about to stop working altogether. Cool.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Stop the Discrimination!!!
I am sick of of hearing people complain about Americans. Seriously, people, stop! I hate to breakthe news, but believe it or not, there is no difference between the Americans and us Canadians. We are both people!
I was blessed to be raised in a home that allowed me to grow up and develop my own opinions on everything (I apologize if what I say here offends anyone, but afterall, these are just opinions of someone who is human). And, as part of my development, I have come to see all people as equal, regardless of their colour, ethnicity, beliefs, laws, etc. People are all the same. And I certainly don't feel that it is right to judge a man because of something he was taught; something created by man in the first place. Different people have diferent laws, and modern-day laws are man-made, and we all know that man is incapable of governing himself. We're all idiots, but God created us that way, and to Him that's perfect. I figure, if God can look down on this tangled mess we've created and still find it in His amazing heart to love us all equally, how could I think that my judgements should supercede His? But then, I realize, I am coming at this topic as a Christian and being that I have always believed in God, I can not understand and atheistic or apathetic veiw on this same topic.
However, back to my original rant. People need to stop thinking of the Americans as less than us Canadians. I mean, their laws and leadership is leaving somthing to be desired, but look at ours; Canada is tearing itself apart from sea to sea, and no one can agree with anybody on anything. So guess what, both countries are populated by people (who are even the same ethnicity!!!) and both have governments that aren't perfect. Big suprise. So why do so many folks say "those dumb Americans?" We are the same!!!! We are all human beings with opinions, likes, dislikes, goals, dreams, talents; stop building up walls folks!
I think I'm done. Hopefully my point came across clearly enough.
I was blessed to be raised in a home that allowed me to grow up and develop my own opinions on everything (I apologize if what I say here offends anyone, but afterall, these are just opinions of someone who is human). And, as part of my development, I have come to see all people as equal, regardless of their colour, ethnicity, beliefs, laws, etc. People are all the same. And I certainly don't feel that it is right to judge a man because of something he was taught; something created by man in the first place. Different people have diferent laws, and modern-day laws are man-made, and we all know that man is incapable of governing himself. We're all idiots, but God created us that way, and to Him that's perfect. I figure, if God can look down on this tangled mess we've created and still find it in His amazing heart to love us all equally, how could I think that my judgements should supercede His? But then, I realize, I am coming at this topic as a Christian and being that I have always believed in God, I can not understand and atheistic or apathetic veiw on this same topic.
However, back to my original rant. People need to stop thinking of the Americans as less than us Canadians. I mean, their laws and leadership is leaving somthing to be desired, but look at ours; Canada is tearing itself apart from sea to sea, and no one can agree with anybody on anything. So guess what, both countries are populated by people (who are even the same ethnicity!!!) and both have governments that aren't perfect. Big suprise. So why do so many folks say "those dumb Americans?" We are the same!!!! We are all human beings with opinions, likes, dislikes, goals, dreams, talents; stop building up walls folks!
I think I'm done. Hopefully my point came across clearly enough.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Finally Rested Up
This past weekend, a couple of my pals and I booked 'er out to Saskatoon for a show at their wicked Jazz Festival. It was so much fun, and a painfully quick trip. Seriously, we spent a whole 23 hours in Saskatoon and 12 hours or so driving.
We booked a hotel room for the night, which almost ended up being a waste in that I only got about and hour, tops, of sleep, three others got 3 os so, and one about 8. We were mostly all up and at 'em around 6am. We ended up walking around the city the whole next day too, so our poor drivers had some troubles keeping their eyes open on the trip home (which started around 11:30pm and ended back home around 6am Sunday morning). But, the best part was that for some reason our trip was seriously blessed.
Thursday night my glasses broke, my titanium frames, and I was told the following day that the sudden and unfounded break was irrepairable. It was supposed to cost me anywhere from $150-over $200 to get new frames for the glasses I bought back in Feburary. I can't afford that! Anyway, one of the guys who went to the festival with us just so happened to have an uncle in Saskatoon and who just so happened to be one of the four people in western Canada to have a laser welding machine. We took the glasses into the uncle on Saturday and he not only fixed my frames (and laser welding was the only way to fix titanium), but he did it free of charge. Talk about a blessing! Goodness! And coincidence? I think not! Not only that, but we had no car troubles, gas was cheaper than anticipated, our hotel room was thankfully held for us (we were 9 hours late for check-in), we ended up having someone give us a free parking pass for the whole next day, and we picked up the tickets with no problem (there were MANY expected). Actually, we ended up having the whole Saturday afternoon to ourselves!
We were first at the gate for the concert of the amazing Herbie Hancock when we met a man named Terri. This man, and his sweet wife, bought us the most collosal pizza i have ever eaten (or seen!), just because they met us. We spent our entire evening with them. They sent us off that evening with the pizza, and a fatefult timing. My one friend who got us all to the event is the a huge fan of Herbie and his Quartet, and because of Terri and his wife, he was able to meet him. Seriously, after the pizza and on our way out of the hotel, Herbie was walking into the lobby as we were about to walk out. My friend got to meet him and his autograph and was pretty much in a silent state of shock for the rest of the night/morning. Even now he is floored at the fact that he met Herbie.
Anyway, it was awesome, truly. I put some pictures of it on my facebook. I took some really great pics of the beautiful town of Saskatoon (I should have anyway, being that I was out taking most of them at 4:30am and the light then is stunning!).
We booked a hotel room for the night, which almost ended up being a waste in that I only got about and hour, tops, of sleep, three others got 3 os so, and one about 8. We were mostly all up and at 'em around 6am. We ended up walking around the city the whole next day too, so our poor drivers had some troubles keeping their eyes open on the trip home (which started around 11:30pm and ended back home around 6am Sunday morning). But, the best part was that for some reason our trip was seriously blessed.
Thursday night my glasses broke, my titanium frames, and I was told the following day that the sudden and unfounded break was irrepairable. It was supposed to cost me anywhere from $150-over $200 to get new frames for the glasses I bought back in Feburary. I can't afford that! Anyway, one of the guys who went to the festival with us just so happened to have an uncle in Saskatoon and who just so happened to be one of the four people in western Canada to have a laser welding machine. We took the glasses into the uncle on Saturday and he not only fixed my frames (and laser welding was the only way to fix titanium), but he did it free of charge. Talk about a blessing! Goodness! And coincidence? I think not! Not only that, but we had no car troubles, gas was cheaper than anticipated, our hotel room was thankfully held for us (we were 9 hours late for check-in), we ended up having someone give us a free parking pass for the whole next day, and we picked up the tickets with no problem (there were MANY expected). Actually, we ended up having the whole Saturday afternoon to ourselves!
We were first at the gate for the concert of the amazing Herbie Hancock when we met a man named Terri. This man, and his sweet wife, bought us the most collosal pizza i have ever eaten (or seen!), just because they met us. We spent our entire evening with them. They sent us off that evening with the pizza, and a fatefult timing. My one friend who got us all to the event is the a huge fan of Herbie and his Quartet, and because of Terri and his wife, he was able to meet him. Seriously, after the pizza and on our way out of the hotel, Herbie was walking into the lobby as we were about to walk out. My friend got to meet him and his autograph and was pretty much in a silent state of shock for the rest of the night/morning. Even now he is floored at the fact that he met Herbie.
Anyway, it was awesome, truly. I put some pictures of it on my facebook. I took some really great pics of the beautiful town of Saskatoon (I should have anyway, being that I was out taking most of them at 4:30am and the light then is stunning!).
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Demo Crew Here I Come!!
Four years ago I had my very first taste of reality through a program called Demo Crew. Basically, this program takes a youth group into the inner city of Calgary and strips them of any boundries and comfort-zones they may have had before. In Demo Crew, there is no room for stereotypes, there is no room for judgement, there is no choice but to grow. Simple: you can not go through that program and not have had a glimpse of how awesome, and imperative God is.
My first year, on my first day, I hated it. Well sort of. I knew I would rather have been at home than sleeping on a col churches hardwood floor. My leaders had challenged us to leave everything at home: expectations, cd players and mp3s, emotional baggage, showering--everything! I it was so hard. But I returned home a different person, and enlightened person, and a person with a heart to heal and help the broken, and a heart that accepts diversity as a beautiful thing. I returned the following year, again, not expecting a thing. And guess what? My enlightenment was even more intense. Then I went to Mexico the following summer, and last year I worked. Now this year, I have the privilage of returning to Demo as a youth leader, and the chance to see other lives changed and naiivety disappear. It's only four days of intense ministry, but holy man, can it ever change the course of your life!
I'm thrilled that God has bropught this back into my life right before I move away. The timing is just perfect, well, for the most part. I mean, I have to take time off of work to do this thing, which sounds like it will result in less road tripping and vacationing, but God has laid this so heavily on my heart that I couldn't possibly say no. I mean, if there were any better way for me to spend four days of my week, I couldn't possibly think of it. I love volunteering! It's been so long since I was last in inner city Calgary for that purpose.
Any how, this isn't happening until the end of July, but if you think of it, prayer would be awesome; prayer is essential for the kids going and the leaders leading!
My first year, on my first day, I hated it. Well sort of. I knew I would rather have been at home than sleeping on a col churches hardwood floor. My leaders had challenged us to leave everything at home: expectations, cd players and mp3s, emotional baggage, showering--everything! I it was so hard. But I returned home a different person, and enlightened person, and a person with a heart to heal and help the broken, and a heart that accepts diversity as a beautiful thing. I returned the following year, again, not expecting a thing. And guess what? My enlightenment was even more intense. Then I went to Mexico the following summer, and last year I worked. Now this year, I have the privilage of returning to Demo as a youth leader, and the chance to see other lives changed and naiivety disappear. It's only four days of intense ministry, but holy man, can it ever change the course of your life!
I'm thrilled that God has bropught this back into my life right before I move away. The timing is just perfect, well, for the most part. I mean, I have to take time off of work to do this thing, which sounds like it will result in less road tripping and vacationing, but God has laid this so heavily on my heart that I couldn't possibly say no. I mean, if there were any better way for me to spend four days of my week, I couldn't possibly think of it. I love volunteering! It's been so long since I was last in inner city Calgary for that purpose.
Any how, this isn't happening until the end of July, but if you think of it, prayer would be awesome; prayer is essential for the kids going and the leaders leading!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Little by Little
It seems yet another week has sliped by me. This keeps happening. I'm making head-way, in small and larger ways, with my upcoming move out of province. Today I finally set up an account at a national bank.
I can't believe that a month ago I was in Ontario. Oh how times flies! I keep dreaming of going back to the cottage and bumming around with my sweet realtions; they seem a lot cloer in my dreams than they really are.
There has been little but rain this week. Lots of thunderstorms too. Everything has seriously greened up. I love green; it means life and rejuvination.
So it looks like I might be a leader for a youth even coming up at the end of July. I hope the idea pans out . It's this thing called "Demo Crew," and basically involves sleeping in a church and clocking in insane hours of volunteering in a homeless shelter in downtown Calgary. I've been several times in the past, and it changed the course of my life and my outlook on life entirely. For once, I can say there is a program I believe in. I dearly pray that another bunch of kiddies can go in and see what's up in the real world.
As this summer starts chugging my way, all I hear are stories of everyone's plans for the fall. One of my oldest friends is moving to New Zealand, another one is moving to Austrailia, ones already in Thailand, most of my high school chums are already in Calgary, one of my dearest plans to book 'er to England, one to Manitoba, me to BC, another back up to Edmonton, and two, I believe, will be remaining in Linden. I can't believe how spread apart we're getting. I come from a town of 700 or so, and it seems like a great portion of them are going international all at once. I hope they all know that I plan to hit them up for a place to stay in my travels!
Well, with that I suppose I should call it a night. Good eve to all, and to all a good night!
I can't believe that a month ago I was in Ontario. Oh how times flies! I keep dreaming of going back to the cottage and bumming around with my sweet realtions; they seem a lot cloer in my dreams than they really are.
There has been little but rain this week. Lots of thunderstorms too. Everything has seriously greened up. I love green; it means life and rejuvination.
So it looks like I might be a leader for a youth even coming up at the end of July. I hope the idea pans out . It's this thing called "Demo Crew," and basically involves sleeping in a church and clocking in insane hours of volunteering in a homeless shelter in downtown Calgary. I've been several times in the past, and it changed the course of my life and my outlook on life entirely. For once, I can say there is a program I believe in. I dearly pray that another bunch of kiddies can go in and see what's up in the real world.
As this summer starts chugging my way, all I hear are stories of everyone's plans for the fall. One of my oldest friends is moving to New Zealand, another one is moving to Austrailia, ones already in Thailand, most of my high school chums are already in Calgary, one of my dearest plans to book 'er to England, one to Manitoba, me to BC, another back up to Edmonton, and two, I believe, will be remaining in Linden. I can't believe how spread apart we're getting. I come from a town of 700 or so, and it seems like a great portion of them are going international all at once. I hope they all know that I plan to hit them up for a place to stay in my travels!
Well, with that I suppose I should call it a night. Good eve to all, and to all a good night!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
My Very First Energy Drink
So this week has been one for the books. Once again, a polar opposite from the beginning of the week to the end; I am thrilled to say I ended the week on top of the world.
God has, undoubtedly, been humored by me in the past little while. He's not the one testing m patience or faith, but rather a bystander, watching how I react to doors opening and closing. And then opening again. Turns out I can get a government loan for UCFV Abbotsford (which I have now applied for), and now the church has decided that they want to financially support my venture to college. No kidding! I'm speechless. I mean, the last thing I want is for the church to be thinking that I'm just in it to get monies out of them, which I'm not. I just want to go to school! Oh how I want to be learning again!
I move in to rez in 82 days or so. I think. I can't believe how the time flies. I mean, less than a year ago, I had no idea where I was going, was struggling to regain confidence after my first break-up, just moving out on my own, and basicaly learning the ways of adult life. I'm now a successful young lady, with three jobs (until the end of the month, when I'll say "So long!" to Cousins), the ability to fend for myself, and more confidence than I ever had before. Most of the time. I'm happier now to, far happier.
So anyway, in my meeting with the elders and pastor, I divulged that I might perhaps like to work for the UN or Greenpeace at some point in my life. Unfortunatly, this confession was met primarily with scoffing and some judgements (except from a couple men, who told encouraged me to give 'er beans). I'm thinking along the lines of foreign aid and/or their program UNESCO, which brings education and sciences into the counrties of the world where such things are currently lacking or unavailable. I think that is great! I don't believe a single person in this world lacks the right to be educated on anything, and I don't fully believe that I must evangelize the person first and teach them later, after they've accepted Christ. I am not a missionary. I am a teacher yes, a linguist no doubt, and my heart for this broken world of ours is undeniable, but I believe that God can be found and revealed in the ordinary day, through a verse of Shakespeare or the way a language flows. I believe that the subtle revelation can be the most powerful (a favorite of example of this is "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by W.B. Yeats, check it out and see what he is saying!). I realize that the corporations cited above have become somewhat corrupt and broken, just like the rest of the world. But as far as I can tell, if God has laid such things on my life, such venues, why should I be judged if I want to work for them? Not everyone is called to work in a Christian environment! I mean, most of my life, I feel, I am going to be in a strongly Roman Catholic environment, but I have no doubt that God will be placing me there for some reason.
All said and done, I am fully excited and anxious to see where the good Lord is taking me. It obviously starts at school, as He is literally carrying me there. Thigns keep coming together, and my passions for what I am wanting to do are getting intensified daily. Honestly, sometimes I feel just so fully of excitment and hopefulness that I feel like I don't have enough sking to retain all the emotion. But then again, that might just be because I am a girl.
God has, undoubtedly, been humored by me in the past little while. He's not the one testing m patience or faith, but rather a bystander, watching how I react to doors opening and closing. And then opening again. Turns out I can get a government loan for UCFV Abbotsford (which I have now applied for), and now the church has decided that they want to financially support my venture to college. No kidding! I'm speechless. I mean, the last thing I want is for the church to be thinking that I'm just in it to get monies out of them, which I'm not. I just want to go to school! Oh how I want to be learning again!
I move in to rez in 82 days or so. I think. I can't believe how the time flies. I mean, less than a year ago, I had no idea where I was going, was struggling to regain confidence after my first break-up, just moving out on my own, and basicaly learning the ways of adult life. I'm now a successful young lady, with three jobs (until the end of the month, when I'll say "So long!" to Cousins), the ability to fend for myself, and more confidence than I ever had before. Most of the time. I'm happier now to, far happier.
So anyway, in my meeting with the elders and pastor, I divulged that I might perhaps like to work for the UN or Greenpeace at some point in my life. Unfortunatly, this confession was met primarily with scoffing and some judgements (except from a couple men, who told encouraged me to give 'er beans). I'm thinking along the lines of foreign aid and/or their program UNESCO, which brings education and sciences into the counrties of the world where such things are currently lacking or unavailable. I think that is great! I don't believe a single person in this world lacks the right to be educated on anything, and I don't fully believe that I must evangelize the person first and teach them later, after they've accepted Christ. I am not a missionary. I am a teacher yes, a linguist no doubt, and my heart for this broken world of ours is undeniable, but I believe that God can be found and revealed in the ordinary day, through a verse of Shakespeare or the way a language flows. I believe that the subtle revelation can be the most powerful (a favorite of example of this is "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by W.B. Yeats, check it out and see what he is saying!). I realize that the corporations cited above have become somewhat corrupt and broken, just like the rest of the world. But as far as I can tell, if God has laid such things on my life, such venues, why should I be judged if I want to work for them? Not everyone is called to work in a Christian environment! I mean, most of my life, I feel, I am going to be in a strongly Roman Catholic environment, but I have no doubt that God will be placing me there for some reason.
All said and done, I am fully excited and anxious to see where the good Lord is taking me. It obviously starts at school, as He is literally carrying me there. Thigns keep coming together, and my passions for what I am wanting to do are getting intensified daily. Honestly, sometimes I feel just so fully of excitment and hopefulness that I feel like I don't have enough sking to retain all the emotion. But then again, that might just be because I am a girl.
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