Pictures from Rotation Camp!

Hey, we just got a CD from our old PC, Christine, with pictures from Rotation Camp. And here they are!

This is Gwobs, Me and the recently-departed Sophie outside of the room we ate in:

This is all the girls and Sean inside of a hula hoop! We all want to learn how to hula hoop and be sexy in La Pocatiere. And hopefully combine those two things with fire, somehow:

A crazy group shot in the Fireside Room:

Okay, so here’s the story behind this. The rice was gross and sticky, so I made a snowman with brocolli arms and tofu eyes. Then I tried to make Heidi eat it. And she stuck it in her mouth and then spit it out because it was gross. And then Heidi, Gwobs and I had a rice fight. And I put ricec in Gwobs’ bed, but he made me take it out by threatening to kill me:

A group shot in bunk beds:

We take a lot of group shots. We’re next to a lifeguard chair:

Yet another group shot with a totem pole after our intense team building activity:

And finally, a (surprise!) group shot after another activity!

The other ones mainly consist of me looking exhausted at 2am when we had to get up to catch our 4am bus. So, I’m not posting them! So there.

Almost a week’s worth of updates!

Well, I promised I would catch you up on the Vancouver trip, and loads more stuff has happened since then, so we’re in for the long haul as far as this entry is concerned.

Vancouver was great, apart from the fact that we dropped Nick #1 off at the airport because he was dismissed. We miss him.

First we went to the New Westminster house, to drop off our stuff, and then we walked to the SkyTrain station. It was GORGEOUS. We all shedded our jackets quickly and didn’t need them for the rest of the day! We went to Science World, and had lots of fun taking pictures and testing our strength and ability to not think. Ha ha ha. The joys of science. But we got restless quite early since the weather was so great. So, we walked to Chinatown and looked around there for about an hour. We didn’t have to be at the restaurant for dinner until 6pm, so we walked down Granville Street all the way to the beach, and took photos there. After about an hour there we were exhausted from being on our feet for 6 hours, added to the fact that we had been up since 4am! So, we took a bus back to the restaurant. We ate dinner at Cafe S’il Vous Plait on Robson and Richard. It was good, but the bathrooms were INSANELY OLD. Ha ha. Then we stopped by the huge mall, Metrotown, on the way back to the New West house.

We got to the house, had a meeting, and were going to go to bed. But the basement was SO SCARY! 3 girls were sleeping upstairs too, and the upstairs wasn’t too bad but it was like an attic. I got the basement. There was one room for Sophie and I (and later Joelle because she was scared) and one for the boys. The bathroom was insane, it was a tiny room, half toilet, half shower. The sink was a wash basin. So, that was bad enough. Then people were telling ghost stories and stuff, including one about a little girl who haunted THAT HOUSE. And I scare easily! So, first Steve jumped out at me while I was coming down the (rickety, lumpy) stairs. I was soooo freaked out! So, I went into the boys’ room and hung out for a bit, but Gwobs just kept telling these stories! Then Gwobs convinces me to go to bed, and he’s checking for monsters at my request, and Sean comes in the room all drowsy and goes “What’s going on?” and then he pulls a butcher knife from behind his back and comes as me!!!! So, I screamed like a mad girl! Ahhhuuuuggghhh! So, then I’m calmed down, almost asleep, and Gwobs comes in “Ash! Joelle! Come here!” So I go by myself, because Joelle was on a bunk, and Sean jumps out of a closet!!!! Auuuuggghhhhh x2! So, I’m scared and hyperventilating! Finally I get calmed down and I’m going to sleep again, when Steve points out a picture of a…. melted dog or something…. with red googly eyes!!!! It was FREAKY. Anyway, I got to sleep. But on Sunday I found out the boys were going to do more things to me, but then got tired. Arrrg, I was so scared! What jerks!

So, on Sunday, it raiiiiined. Ha ha. We went to Granville Island to shop, which was fun. Then to Stanley Park and Lynn Canyon. I’d post pictures, but I’m too lazy right now! And then we went home!

On Monday night, we went cross country skiing at Telemark. And yes, I suck at XC Skiing. But part way through our lesson I started getting electric shocks in my head, so I sat out. I was in the lodge with Sean and Sophie who were sick, and I fell asleep, and aparently I was twitching. So badly that Sean went for help, but Sophie woke me up before he got back. So, we went home that night, and I slept. But part way through the night, I woke up and for about 30 seconds had this Rice Krispie sound in my head. Anyway, on Tuesday I went to the doctor, since my migraine medicine doesn’t work. And he told me my other medicine was more for arthritis!!! SO IT WOULDN’T WORK ANYWAY!!! And he said I may have had a bit of a seizure, but I SHOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT IT! Ha ha ha. Anyway, I’m supposed to try 3 different kinds of medicine for my headaches, and then pick the one that works best, and then see a doctor after we move to Ottawa (in 5 days!!!). So, that’s what’s up with that!

Yesterday we had a CNIB staff meeting, and Anny and I got 20$ of gift certificates for Tim Horton’s, a CNIB mug, candy and a flower, ha ha. It was sweet. We gave them some feedback on volunteering, and then we all went to Earl’s for lunch!

Last night was our Final Presentation. I made the majority of the Powerpoint, and Anny and I presented it. It went over well, and everyone seemed to enjoy it! It was sad though because it is our FINAL presentation! We’re leaving SO SOON!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Anny is hot! She is reading this! The UN called yesterday, they’re going to enforce sanctions on her hottness!

Anyway, after the presentation I went with Anny to visit her grandfather at the hospital. He’s staying at this really excellent Rotary Lodge. The people there pay 30$/day, and they get 3 excellent meals and a room. And it’s on hospital property so it’s easy for the residents to get to the clinic for their chemo and radiation! It was such a lovely building, and the rooms were bigger than ours at the Katimavik house, but for only 2 people! Ha ha. Oh, and her grandfather hugged me as we left, which was nice, because I don’t really have a grandfather to hug, since one is dead and the other doesn’t see me, ever.

Then we went to Kelly O’Bryan’s to celebrate Sean’s 22nd birthday! It was alright, but Sean spent most of his time talking to his billets and not to us, so we were a bit bored. Also, being in a pub sucks when you can’t drink alcohol! I had a mocktail called a Funky Monkey, which was odd.

Today I’m at work, just hanging out! Ha ha. Anny and I went out for lunch, which was fun. We overate, naturally, and feel sick, but it was still fun!

Tonight we’ll start packing, and tomorrow and Sunday will be dedicated to debriefing, cleaning, and last minute essential workshops, and then it’s off to rotation camp, and off to Ottawa! We have a 2 hour layover in Calgary, which will be good as well!

In any case, I doubt I will post until then, so I’ll write later- in Ottawa!

By the way, this is my 101st entry on this blog! Yay!

Vancouver Photos

Here are a few photos from Vancouver! Just to satisfy you until I can get more/ write about our trip!

Just a quick "bored at work" post….

… however this shall be the last of it’s kind, since today is my last day of work at the CNIB! Next week is our last week in Kelowna, and I will be House Manager with Gwobs. So, that will be…. ah, who am I kidding? House manager blows!

The presentation at the conference today went well! The other presentations were project proposals as part of a competition, so that was weird. It was interesting to see the sorts of projects though. The Heritage Christian School is building a school in Uganda. The Kelowna Christian School has already helped build an orphanage and a medical centre, and are now working on a water supply system. So, yeah, it was definitely interesting, although not focused on Canada at all! We actually had a short discussion about it (my group), and how we think we should be focusing more on what’s going on at home, than what’s going on overseas. Don’t get me wrong, I think the developing countries need our help very much, but I feel that if we can’t even help ourselves, how can we effectively help others? Also, isn’t it a bit hypocritical to want to help everyone else, but not help your own? It’s like we’re turning a blind eye on the problems of this country, and just looking out there for someone else to save. Is it because we’ll need someone on the outside to save us when it is time for our downfall?

I don’t know. I just think that if I don’t understand Canada, and how I fit into Canada, I cannot even begin to understand the rest of the world and how I fit into it. It’s like… abandonning ship, in a way.

Anyway, just thought I’d share that.

We leave for Vancouver at 6am tomorrow! I am majorly stoked! It’s going to be a fantastic trip! And on Wednesday, Sophie, Anny and I are probably doing a presentation at the Okanagan Mission Secondary School, so that will be fun! However we STILL haven’t started our Final Presentation! And we’re in Vancouver tomorrow and Sunday, Sunday night we’ll be having a house meeting, Monday night we’re going Cross Country Skiing, Tuesday night the Quebecoise are at English class, Wednesday night we could do it, but that’s really putting it off, since our big dinner and presentation is Thursday night at 6pm!!! Oh my God, the insanity of it all! We’re such procrastinators as well!

I have “Y Ese Nino” by Melody (Melodia) Ruiz stuck in my head, which is odd since it is in Spanish, which is a language that I don’t speak!

Love ya, wow guys, only 6 months and 2 weeks left until Katimavik is over! That’s nothing!!!!!

Once the room stops spinning….

I’m slightly worried, because I’ve been very dizzy the last while. Usually, I’m dizzy before I get a mirgraine, but I’ve been dizzy the last week or so, with no migraine in sight. I can barely stand to sit on the chair I’m on, because the room spins when I’m this high off the floor (2 feet). I walk into walls at home. It’s weird.

Maybe I’m stressed. Or tired. Okay, I know I’m tired today. I was outside in the “English Club,” until midnight last night. Then we ate some fried chicken. Then I tried to stay up while Gwobs watched a movie on Genetically Modified Organisms for his work, but it was boring and 2am, so I went to bed. This morning I got up, and Gwobs was passed out in the living room. He didn’t know how he got there, but he had done 8 slides. And everytime it was supposed to say “patent,” it said “paten.” So, I went through and editted it a bit, because obviously presentations at 4am make him unable to spell.

Oh my God, presentations are taking over my life! Tomorrow is the conference I mentioned last entry. I’m really excited, I wrote my little speech thing today, and I think it’s quite good. But I haven’t really thought about our Final Presentation, so I’m freaking out! I mean, writing my thing for tomorrow was fine- because it’s just me. But planning a presentation for 11 people to be involved in?!?! Different story. Also, I got an e-mail today from the career center at the Okanagan Misson High School, and they would like me to do a presentation. I WOULD LOVE TO DO IT, but time is running out! Hopefully it will work out though!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh.

So, yes, I’m just a tad bit stressed, I suppose. I think my mom is going to the doctor today as well. I wonder if she’s back yet. My cousin Kayla and my Auntie Cathy are visiting my family in Calgary this weekend I think, so that will be nice for them. I will be in Vancouver, obviously, which is another thing I’m sort of stressing, since I want the excursion to be perfect! I think it will be though, because the only thing we were worried about was paying for Science World, but we got a letter in the mail yesterday, and they are giving us an AMAZING discount!

Also, I am sad today. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. I just feel a bit down. Like I’m sort of disconnected from everyone. I suppose it will get better when I get home tonight and see everyone! They’re such great people I live with!!! Sometimes I miss them when I’m at work bored out of my mind. Also, Anny’s back tomorrow night, and I’ve missed her TONS. I talked to her for a bit last night, so that was good.

Anyway, I’m going to go and find something else to do now! I still have an hour and a half left of work!!!! Gahhhhhhh!!!!

Busy busy bumblebee

Well, things are wrapping up here in Kelowna, so I’m really busy! My committees are in charge of our Final Presentation. So far we think we’re doing “Be Our Guest” as a musical dance number, and then the rest of the presentation! But what the rest of it is, we haven’t a clue! Our Final Presentation for our work partners and billet families and alumni is on the 15th, which is also Sean’s 22nd birthday! Then, we also do it again while we’re at rotation camp on the 19th and 20th.

We’re also working on our welcome package for the group coming from La Pocatiere. We’ve made a LARGE 30 PAGE SCRAPBOOK that is going to be quite difficult and expensive to mail to Quebec. Ha ha ha.

Also, on Friday there is a youth conference, and being the group spokesperson, I am doing a 10 minute presentation about Katimavik. I haven’t started thinking about it even, so I don’t know how that’s going to turn out! Anyway, it’s all about meeting the UN Millenium goals or something. It will be cool, but I can only go for the morning because they need me to cover the front desk at work from 1 to 4.30pm. Booooo. So, I will sit here, while the phone doesn’t ring. Fantastic.

Anny is back on Friday though, so it will be great to see her!

And Saturday morning at 6am, we leave for Vancouver!!!! Yesssssss. I am majorly psyched! I hope everything works out alright and that we all have fun!

So, yes, that’s pretty much what’s up with me right now. Not that anybody cares since nobody reads this, but whatever! Luv ya!

Back in Kelowna!

Well, I made it back to Kelowna! Nick #1 and I were on the same plane (except about 20 rows apart), so we shared a cab home, which was nice because it cost 30$! So, it was obviously a lot better that we were together, because 30$ is 10 days of boring work! Ha ha.

My weekend in Calgary was nice. No, I did not party like a fiend, as some of my housemates suggested. It was just a nice, quiet weekend at home, shopping on Saturday, just hanging out on Sunday. Eating crab and steak on Sunday evening. A fun game of SKIP-BO, while listening to the RENT soundtrack after dinner. And then, before I knew it, I was waiting in the terminal at the airport, looking at some dude that I thought looked like Nick, and voila! It was!

It was so funny at the airport when we picked-up pur luggage- Nick had just taken home a cardboard box of stuff, and then brought the box back with other things inside. So, my big black bag comes out, and I grab it, and then Nick has this beat up cardboard box. He looked quite odd carrying it through the airport (even though “through the aiport” is only about 10 steps).

Speaking of the Kelowna Airport, DO NOT EAT THERE. When we first got to Katimavik, we ate there and some of us got sick. I ate there on Friday, and got sick at home. So, yeah…. THE RESTAURANT AT THE KELOWNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MAKES PEOPLE SICK!

It was great to get back last night! When I got here, Joanne and the boys were watching a movie in the living room, and the girls (minus Anny who is on her LOA you may remember) were all in our room, and I got big screams and hugs when I walked in! Then I gave everyone some nifty Calgary keychains, and we talked about random stuff until we were so tired we had to sleep because we have to work today.

Which reminds me, I’d better head off to work soon! To summarize: my weekend was great, my flights were alright, and coming back to Kelowna was great. So, not bad, overall!

Vancouver = APPROVED.

Ah yes, two weeks of work on a single report has paid off!

And that includes 4 hours straight for me last Friday, with an additional 4 hours on Sunday! Plus small bits before and in between and after, AND a cross country skiing protocol on the side! Ha ha ha ha ha, I’m so happy it got approved!

Our Katimavik group is hitting the big city!

——-

In other news, 10 hours until I am hooooooooooome! I am wayyyy too excited for a day and a half visit, but whatever!

Anny just left with her sister and friend. Now I am all aloney on my owney. Sigh. For a whole week as far as le travail is concerned! Oh, woe is me, I can already feel the boredom sneaking up behind me!

Well, anyway, that’s all I have to say!!!!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I Luv ya, tomorrow…

…. you’re only a day away!!!!

Well, technically it’s 31 hours until I actually arrive in Calgary, but whatever!

Anny and I were talking about how sad it is, because I’ve only been gone just over 2 months, and she’s been gone for just under 2 months and we’re already geared up to leave!

BUT, not permanently! I had to promise Sophie.

It’s funny to think we’re like this now, but funnier to think how mood swing-y we’ll be in August. One second it will be “YESSSSS I’M GOING HOME!!!!” and the next we’ll be dissolving into heart wrenching sobs at the thought of leaving our housemates.

Even on the 48hours off I am bound by Katimavik rules!!! If I do anything that goes against the behavioral standards, and someone finds out, I’m BUSTED.

Ha ha, I don’t think it will be an issue!

Anny and I went to Welk Mart on our lunch today and found Alex. So, we brought her back to the CNIB with us, and she proceeded to stay for the rest of the afternoon! It was great to see her, because even though we’ll be living together again on Monday, I haven’t seen her for two weeks! And her English is SO FANTASTIC. She’s barely spoken French since she left, and you can totally tell. I understand why billeting is important now- that is one of the main things that make it worthwhile when you need to learn the 2nd language! Alex thinks our phone survey job is so funny! I informed her that she wouldn’t if she actually had to do it.

Our Vancouver protocol is SO CLOSE to being approved! If it isn’t I will be completely heartbroken because I’ve spent a good 9 hours on it! Anny and I promised Alex, though, that no matter what, in 2 summers we’ll take her to Vancouver, and show her the time of her life! Ha ha. Oh, and to the island as well! That would be cool, huh? And Alex mentioned it would be cool to travel across the country and just visit everyone. Well, who knows what will happen in the next few years, but I would definitely want to see where everyone comes from!!!

Well, I’d better go, I meant this to be short and sweet, and it actually turned into a bit of an actual entry! Quel horreur!

I might write tomorrow in a fit of excitement after Anny leaves (I’m going to miss her so much! I don’t know if I mentioned it, but her grandfather is ill, so she’s taking a week long LOA), but I don’t know, and if I don’t, I probably won’t until some time next week! So au revoir for now!

Anybody want any Calgary souvenirs?

9.20pm! The latest I’ve stayed up all week!

Yes, it is 9.20, and this is the latest I’ve stayed up all week! Whoooot! And it will only get later from here!

Yeah, pretty much every night, I’m in bed by 8.30, but NOT TONIGHT.

Tonight we went to see “Night at the Museum.” I already saw it (after I got my tattoo), but I enjoyed seeing it again, since it is such a nice, funny movie. Nathalie, Adam and Arianne loved it! So, that was fun too! We also went out to eat at McDonald’s tonight <3333 Yum!

Today at work was pretty boring. I worked on that bloody Vancouver Protocol for 4 hours this morning, and it’s STILL not done. I don’t want to be negative, but I have a feeling it will NEVER be done!

It is exactly one week from today until I am going home for my 48 hours! I am so psyched! One week from this exact moment, I will be boarding a plane to Calgary at the Vancouver International Airport! Which, as I may have mentioned, I don’t remember, makes me mad! Why fly me out to Vancouver, and then back to Calgary? It’s making my flight one hour and fifty-four minutes longer than it has to be! Grrrrrr. And it means I won’t get into Calgary until midnight! Silly WestJet! Also, my layover is only 25 minutes or something, so my Kelowna-Vancouver flight BETTER NOT BE DELAYED because that’s not as much time as I would like!!! Ah well, the snow has been melting pretty fast, and hopefully it will stay clear, which would mean no bad weather!

Speaking of the snow clearing, it’s SnowFest in Kelowna! Tonight they had a big dance on Bernard, but obviously, I didn’t go! I hope to catch some of the festivities this weekend though! If we were all living at the house this week, we’d totally be there! But, ah well, my billets are still charming, and maybe I’ll just have to use SnowFest as an excuse to come visit next January! Ha ha, there’s an idea!

Well, that’s all I can really think of to say! Ooer, it’s now 9.28…. a NEW RECORD!

‘Kay, I can’t take this anymore, I’m exhausted. Goodnight.