It's the final countdownnnn!

Well, not really, but it's actually not all that long until it's time to head off!
I was realizing today that a lot has to happen in a very small amount of time which is pretty intense. Like in 5 days, I need to cancel my cell phone, and in 21 days I need to hand in my resignation, it's my birthday/going away party and I need to make arrangements to give away my hamster. As of a half an hour from now, I have 6 weeks until I leave!
I have found two people who are in my group on facebook, but I have not talked to either of them, and neither of them have talked to me, so that's exciting. I don't really know the point of having them on FB yet if we're not going to talk or anything, but the one is from Calgary so perhaps we will meet up on the way to BC.
So far my Quebec City address is posted, but not the address to my house in BC so that's weird and does not make much sense as I'm going to BC first. However this could just mean they had to switch Katimavik houses or something.
Vanderhoof although epically small (4500 pop.) does have my bank, RBC and it does have an LDS church so that's pretty convenient. A couple in my ward informed me there are two streets that actually have stores on them so that's great.. I think they have a library too.
I should really start learning my French, and I need an ID so why not get my learners while I'm at it? If only I could find my learners book hey?
Work is goin' decently, a month has already basically flown by so that's good, and the money is extremely useful at this point in time as I've already got a new Ipod, new wardrobe, new camera and maybe a new netbook tomorrow.
I am subtly leaving hints everywhere I go for my friends, letting them know to keep in touch while I am away. I hope they are listening because it would be legit awesome if I had some tie to society while living in a tiny town in northern BC. It's officially 10 hrs away from E-town and from where my bro lives in the same province. The closest city is Prince George and I think that's three hours away so I'm sure I'll have to get creative with our 48 hours off.
OOH and crazy exciting news!!! (Not really) Katimavik asked me for my T-shirt size so that means Imma get in on some of this bright green shirt action.

Locations!

So I was supposed to find out my locations on the 15th of June, however a cut was made to the program. So instead of going for 9 months I have to go for 6, instead of 3 places, I can only go to 2, and instead of the $1000 dollar bursary I get $0 dollars.
AND instead of finding out on the 15th, I had to wait 10 days and find out on the 25th. However, it was worth the wait as I'm going to
VANDERHOOF, BC and QUEBEC CITY, QC!!!
I am seriously going to be in Quebec City during Christmas for all the festivities and stuff! I am so excited! It was worth the wait. My group number is 51157. (:
I have found two people in my group which I F/R we'll see if they accept or not though. :P
This is Quebec City:

And this is Vanderhoof:


Eeee! I am also officially done highschool and am just working full time so it's just a countdown until when I leave! (:

French Evaluation.

One word.
Fail.
I know you can't really fail an evaluation, you can just do badly on it, but seriously. You don't even understand... It was B- to the -rutal.
Firstly, he called me while I was at school the other day so I had to call him back, which made it 50 times more nerve wracking because I had to go through the whole dialing the number and waiting for him to answer business.
I really wanted to do well, honestly, so this is why I wrote down some basic questions I could just tell he would ask me. I had taken french 10 and knew some basics.
So I finally work up the courage and dial this freakin' long number. I do this and get his answering machine so slightly relieved I went downstairs and told my parents, too bad, no go he wasn't there but my mother ordered me to try again. So I did... and he answered that time. ):
So he answers...
Him: Bonjour!
Me: Comma Ca va?
Him: Bien, et vous?
Me: Bien, Merci.
Him: So what's your name?
Me: Kyra
Him: Alright, I'm going to ask you a series of questions. It doesn't really matter what you say, but how you say it in full sentences.
Me: (nervous laugh) I can't speak in full sentences...
Him: First question, Quel est votre nom?
Me: I'm sorry, I don't know.
Him: I'm going to say it again. (He does)
Me: Sorry.. I still don't know.
Him: That question was, what is your name?
Me: (laughing awkwardly) Oooh.. okay.
Him: Do you know how to answer that question?
Me: Je m'appelle Kyra?
Him: Oui. Next question, Quel jour est-il aujourd'hui ?
Me: Uhh....
Him: Quel jour est-il aujourd'hui ?
Me: Are you asking me my age?
Him: No, I'll say it slower. Quel... jour.... est-il... aujourd'hui?
Me: I don't know!
Him: The question was, what is today's date?
Me: Oooh...
Him: Next question, Avez-vous jamais pris une classe française?
Me: Okay.. I seriously have no idea.
Him: Avez-vous jamais pris une classe française?
Me: Something to do with French? (Dorky laugh)
Him: Yes... what else? Avez-vous jamais pris une classe française?
Me: I'm really bad at this...
Him: That question was have you ever taken French classes before?
Me: Yes, for 4-5ish months at the introductory level so I know my days of the week, months, family members, weather and I can count to thirty.
Him: Alright this is the conclusion of the interview. You should be notified of your placements on the 15th of June. Any questions?
Me: I'm sorry that I'm so bad!
Him: It's alright. Goodbye
Me: Byee... ):

I seriously felt like the biggest loser ever. I thought what is your name had the word m'appelle in it.. but when he asked it, he didn't use it in that form so I didn't recognize it, and I thought he was asking about my age because I had the list of questions on my desk and it kinda sounded like it. Basically I did not impress myself and he probably thought I was crazy. The scale is on 0-10, and I don't think I got 0, but if I got a 2, I would impress myself. LOL Oh well, it doesn't affect my placement or anything, they just do French evaluations before and after in order to see the improvements made during the program to present to the government to show that progress and learning takes place in Katimavik. Ahaha.. but still I can't get that... "Something to do with French?" out of my head. DUH!!!

Anyhow, last night was our Commencement!! That means banquet is in two days! My sister is coming from three hours away to do my hair and makeup and come to the banquet and the limo is booked and paid for and I have all my accessories! But commencement was pretty sweet. Those caps are so intense and so hard to keep on your head! It's tight and suction cups itself to your head and at the same time is constantly wants to fall off. But I did not trip, fall, or make a fool of myself on stage that I know of which is pretty awesome. I didn't really get as many photos as I wanted to, but the ones I did get turned out. I'll pop a few on here.









I looked so short in my cap and gown but that's okay, because I am short.



I am uber excited however. It is now June!
This means:

Banquet: 2 Days
Locations: 14 Days
Highschool Done: 23 days
Depature: 98 Days

Can you spell E-P-I-C? <3

Katima-Supper w/ the Edmonton + St. Albert groups!

So a little while ago, I found this blog http://katimameg.blogspot.com . I really liked it and read it until the very end where I realized that she was in Edmonton with her group... right now!! I commented on her post and gave her my email and Meaghan replied and invited me to supper at the Edmonton Katima house! Meaghan was super friendly and eager to answer my questions and her group was very friendly and welcoming as well. They made Shepard's Pie and we ate downstairs in their dysfunctional kitchen and made the food in the functional one. We sat around the eclectic tables and chairs and ate our meal. I think I'm going to see a lot of things of eclectic nature during this program which is sweet. (: All the French participants spoke English very well, and talked with me too which was nice. They had tons of stories which just makes me expect a good time from it all. After supper the St. Albert group came and they were pretty cool too. I baked them all cookies, which yeah did seem kinda hokey... but they spread and ate them like wildfire so either they were being super nice, or the cookies were tasty. (: Overall I had a really good night and I'm lucky because I don't think a lot of people get the chance to spend the evening with two Katima groups in a Katima house before they go on the program. I'm kinda proud of myself that I took that step and took the initiative to try and meet Katimavik participants in Edmonton. When you put it into perspective, I went to a house I've never been to before, alone, to meet 10 strangers. Aahaha, yes my mom told me never to talk to strangers, this time she told me to go for it.

Puppy!

We got a miniature Havanese puppy today! She is a girl and so flippin' cute! I actually love her! She's asleep on my lap right now, she feels right at home already. <3

Where would I love to go?

So.... I have two reasons for making the post. First is amazingly great yet incredibly unrelated news.
We're getting a puppy!!! If you know the history of pets in my family, which you obviously don't, you'd find this just as amazing as I do. We each had a cat when I was 4. We never cleaned up after them and so pet privileges were revoked. As well as this, my sister was allergic so it just didn't happen. We had fish but they always died. Then last year I convinced my mother to let me have a hamster! (: I love him. And now She wants a dog! We are getting either a regular Havanese or a miniature Havanese and supposedly they are kind, gentle, playful, happy sweet well-behaved dogs that stay little and they love people and follow you around the house. I loooove dogs that follow you. <3 Gaah. It's going to be so cute!

Secondly... I decided it would be fun to brainstorm where I'd like to go. Three places! That's a lot of places to go to. One new and exciting place would be enough, two is awesome, three is spectacular. I think one of my ultimate places to go would be Quebec City. It looks so old and beautiful and just distinctly different from anywhere else in Canada. Anywhere in the Maritimes would be amazing, I've heard everyone is just warmer and welcoming there and I've never seen the ocean. And then it's a tie between like Kelowna BC, and like Toronto or Ottawa, ON. Montreal would be great too. I think I am a city girl haha. (This is not where I'm going! This is just where I'd really love to go!)
I'd be so scared of going to the North West Territories but man would that be a crazy experience! And staying in AB would -sigh- be fine but could be better. I think everyone feels that way but with 11 of us, one of us at least is bound to end up close to where we came from.
42 days until I found out guys, maybe even less. I'm excited. (:
I'll post pictures of the puppy when we get it. <3

Lucky

Today on Katimavik's facebook page they posted the following message:

"WOW ! All spots for the 9-month Katimavik Classic 2010program have been filled. Online applications are now only available for the 6-month January and July programs. TELL YOUR FRIENDS !!! Thank you so much for showing interest in Canada's longest running volunteer service program!!!
Attention à tous les candidats qui n'ont pas été sélectionnés pour Katimavik classique 2010: Si vous vous voulez devenir éligible pour les programmes thématiques en janvier et en juillet 2011, connectez-vous sur Katimaroute, allez à l'étape 3 «Indiquez vos disponibilités» et sélectionnez votre thème de préférence."

It's actually insane, but all the people who were going to be accepted... have been! I feel so lucky that I was selected and it's so sad that some people didn't get in. It's the type of experience that is so good and beneficial that everyone should be allowed to participate if they want to/apply, but money makes the world go round I guess. But like I said, I'm just so grateful to have been accepted and I hope that some people who are on the waiting list get to experience their own adventure if someone who's away drops out in time.