Seeing Green, the best way we know how.

So yesterday we had free time until supper since we volunteered all during our free time the night before setting up for the benefit, so Me and Jared and Katey and Ryan and Evelyne and Zoe went and checked out the piercing place. It's official, I am getting my ears pierced on Tuesday morning at 8am before I go to work. Whoot! Anyhow we came home and we all just chilled around and then we ate amazing veggie stew produced by the hands of the Sarah-Isaac power team. We got dressed up all decently fancy and then headed over to the friendship centre to pull off the Children's Hospital Fundraiser without a hitch.

Jobs included:
Coat CheckBabysitting really cute babies:Clearing off tables with style:

And my job, selling a deck of cards $10 dollars each to be put into a draw to win a gold/diamond ring. And yes folks, it is true, I sold all 52 making $520 dollars. Who can say no to Kyra? ahaha.

The winning card which I was allowed to pick on stage in front of everyone was Red Jack of Hearts. (: I asked Ryan to take a picture of me on stage drawing the winning card but he just stood there holding my camera and never took the photo so that was fabulous, however the winning card is in my journal. (:



Once everyone left and the silent auction was over (including selling 2 turtle pies for $250 dollars!!!) we cleaned that place up good with just enough time to take an epic group photo.

I <3 my Katimavik familyyyy!

House Tour!

So we officially have like 1 month and 1/2 here in Vanderhoof, and I still haven't done a house tour, how rude of me. :P
This is our bedroom. I'm on the top right hand bunk. Sara is on the left bottom, Sarah left top, Zoe on right bottom.

This is our messy dining room after a snack of fruit and random pumpkin pie. ahaha

Welcome to our huge kitchen. Unfortunately you cannot appreciate it to it's full extent because Jared demanded he be a part of the photograph.

This is our living room. My favourite has got to be the epic 70s couch. Well, not really. Its really low to the ground and you don't expect it so you just fall into it pretty much..

This is our fly collage wall. Melissa being the artist she is suggested we build a wall of pictures and seeing as national geo is the only magazine you can get your hands on in this small town most of the pics are fromm all over the world.

This is our computer room but it's useless to me because I have an epic notebook that I use at the dining room table.

Alright, and then yesterday Reg was nice enough to let us and some youth from the community come to the Neighbourhood Space and listen to a presentation about diversity and anti-racism and then eat pizza and pop and then we watched Splice the movie and it's pretty much the worst movie I have ever, ever, seen. So don't watch it EVER.

And Anne-Rose's adorable mother baked the Katimavik kids a cake for last night! Soo cuteee! Thank-you Anne-Rose's mom!!

And last night, again we must have been extremely tired as our little sleepy head fell asleep again! I always take advantage of such amazing oppertunities and Zoe took a photo. Mwaaha.

Alright, and on top of all of this awesomeness, I had an epic day.
So it all started with me having to clean up the neighbourhood space alone after the party. The best finds were a greasy napkin in a brochure for a local organization, and about 3 full cans of pop that were opened but never drank... I swept and cleaned and then Reg came around and mopped up the whole place. It looks pretty spiffy now.
A little later into the day we get this mysterious phone call, (I still don't know who it's from) and I just didn't answer it because if Reg is there, the phone is always for Reg. Me answering the phone is basically useless. However this time he answered it and it was for me!!! Some lady who remains nameless as I have no idea who she is called me slightly frantic and said that down at the Health Unit they were doing precautionary mammograms to detect breast cancer and the ladies that usually help out were all unavalible and then someone suggested to her that there was a Katimavik volunteer at the Neighbourhood Space and that she really needed help. So I asked Reg and then ran home and asked Melissa and they said it was fine so at 12:30 I walked over to the Health Unit and I basically did a lot of medical paper work and talked to the ladies as they came in. The nurses too were super super nice and they were both uber interested in Katimavik so I had an oppertunity to tell them all about it. As well as this I met a South African doctor with the same last name as my Aunts Daughter LOL, AND it turns out dad, that she was born in the same hospital as us! "The one in Pretoria with all the nuns" ahahaha. So that was really, really cool. After that was over and it flew by because my mind was actually challenged (because there was so much paper work, all different types and I had to do like 20 things at once and stay organized, soo fun) I walked down the hill and as I was getting to the bridge I was like man, that really looks like M.A, and ooh wow that guy has a cap just like Isaacs.. turned out it was Brandon, Isaac, M.A and Jared making hiking trails and picnic tables for a cool man down here. He told us all about how he used to make hiking trails for a living and how he chainsawed off part of his arm. He also has the sweetest dog EVER. Since they were done their volunteering at 6 and it was 5:45 I just chilled with the guys dog and watched them work, and then Mel picked us all up in the van because she passed her drivers test today!! Yaaaay! We came home and had an amazing meal of Chile and kinda biscuit bread, and then Me and Sara and Kate and Ryan and Eve and Zoe helped set up for the auction/fundraiser for the childrens hospital and tomorrow we get to dress up all fancy and help with the kitchen and coat rooms and I get to do this sweet thing where I sell individual cards from a deck to people for $10 each and then they draw a card and that person wins a diamond ring! Anyways it looks gorgeous in there and it took like 2 hrs to set up and I wish I brought my camera but I'll have my camera tomorrow so it's all good. Basically to sum it up, today was an EPIC day and I am happy. Tomorrow will be great too, this weekend we have a lot of spare time because we bascially volunteer all our spare time away. (: Anyhow, stay awesome guys.

Another Day in the Office

So word on the street is that it could snow this weekend. That's kinda crazy, but not that crazy and I'd be prepared because the 'rents sent me all my winter stuff.
So far, I've been really lucky with all the mail I've recieved while being away and I just want to thank everyone. So far I have recieved letters or packages from my cousin, my grandma, my parents, Rachel, Rebecca, Jessica, and Tristan. Thank you guys SO much and I'm super lucky to have great friends and family! (Not bragging but if getting mail were a contest, I've won) ahaha.
The only difficult part about this is to find the time to write back to all my wonderful friends and family, hahaha. Please be patient because I have only 4 blocks free time a week and usually two are spent sleeping and two are spent chillin'. I swear I have no forgotten about any of you, I just need to get my mind in gear and write like a million letters in one day.
Today I got my first volunteer profile since starting at Volunteer V-hoof. That's awesome, now I just have to call all the organizations which has proven to be harder than expected. Either the contact is the wrong number, the contact no longer works with the organization, or the organization has no need whatsoever for volunteers, or I just can't reach them at the number I have, so it's been great.
We are billeting next week I think. Or the week after, something like that. Melissa has been running around and tracking down billet families for all of us. I may go with a couple thats around 65, whose children are all grown up and moved away and whoo have a little dog who will probably remind me a little bit too much of Cleo... Billeting is going to be such a new and interesting experience. Can't say at this point I'd really mind getting away from the group for a little while, and nothing besides still going to your volunteer placement is Katimavik related while you're away so I can sort of have a breather. However, I'm not really good with coming up with independant activities to do ever since living in Katimavik. Since I'm a social person I always want to be with people and besides sleeping and showering there probably has not been more than an hour where I'm completely by myself and doing something independently.. so that's pretty darn crazy. Rents, I want a picture of Cleo! Asap!
Like the blog re-vamping? I know, so legit.

72 Fools

So I am back from my crazy fun 72.
Me, Evelyne, Isaac, Jared, Katey, Ryan and Zoe went to Prince George and stayed in a hotel, Ryan after the first night went to Vancouver.
Brandon and Sara and Melissa stayed at the house.
Sarah.L hung w/ her boyfriend in V-hoof and M.A went to Prince Rupert alone.
Our weekend basically consisted of a lot of laughs, unexplained bruises, shopping trips and A LOT of episodes of how I met your mother.
On the 2nd day we went shopping and I got a sweater and some jeggings, and I almost got my ears pierced but chickened out. I should really go here though, soon. We ate a lot as well. Like breakfast at starbucks, lunch at wendys, supper at subway/red robbins. So food, laughs, and HIMYM.
We headed back here in the early morning, recapped the weekened with Brandon and Sara and Melissa, and then me and Katey and Jared went and got Pizza and then went to Timmies where me and Katey ate 2 1/2 donuts each, and Jared ate 1 and made fun of us. :P We basically sat around and imagined what our families back home were up to, and how strange it was that we were endulging on donuts in a timmies on Thanksgiving day, def one for the record books.
Basically both my arms are sore, I took like a 5 hour nap and I'm dreading work tomorrow so I'm not in the mood to go to sleep but there is very little left to do as Zoe is sleeping on the couch, Evelyne, and Jared and Sara are asleep, and MA, Sarah and Ryan are not home, and Isaac is having some one-on-one time with the walking stick he found in PG whilist climbing a mountain solo.
So that was my thanksgiving folks. Here is a photo summary of the weekend. (:
waiting for the greyhound Vanderhoof--->George

Us looking fly by this random wall in George.
Katey dancing in her purchases of the day.

The view outside of our hotel room window.

Us wearin' our sunglasses at night, oh and 3d-glasses. We saw that owl movie the first night in PG. I forgot about that.

And us indulging in some hardcore heart attack causing dessert!

Notice how I look so into my element and how my face makes the viewer assume that this is an activity I often find myself doing.
Happy thanksgiving 'yall and I'll leave you with this:
"I'm thankful for the courage to have new experiences, the oppertunity to learn from other people, family, and the friends who become just like family when you're away from home." - This is what I would say at the table if I were home with my family. It's a tradition to say what you're thankful for you know.
OH and shoutout to Katelyn's parents who appearantly read this! Good to know someone does!! (:

Location, Location

So I've been here for a month officially today!!! I cannot believe how much I've already learnt through the experience, the maturity I've faced, the realizations I've come to, the amount of friends I miss back home, the amazing mail I've already recieved and the amount of fun I'm having. I feel so lucky to be living the dream I've had for the past year. I want to make the best out of my experience because I am so grateful for it.
I however have not posted any pictures of my job or the inside of the house so I have a few.

This is what usually goes on after our activities at night. Our room is pretty much the 2nd most popular group chill spot besides the living room. :P

This is my bunk bed, I'm on the top. After Carlin has got the top bunk when we've had the oppertunity I was like NO! I dibs top for once in my life. Zoe sleeps below me.

And its not as if I have the oppertunity to miss all my closet space from back home because I have just as much room for the most part. The whole closet there is just my stuff. Ahahaha.

This is the private desk I've been so kindly given and this is where the magic happens. Writing newspaper articles, doing paperwork, the usual.

This is the youth centre that is open for a safe environment to hangout in weekdays 3-6.

And this is the view out of my window. And it just happens to be snowing. No big.
Last night since our group competency is healthy living, and regardless because you always have to excerise, our activity was Man Hunt in the park near by. I some how end up being the first one caught, or the tagger so I've been accepting my fate. We decided to up our scare factor because running around in a park is not scary enough and had a little fun with the face paint that was randomly in the Katima-house.


After we came in everyone looked like they went through a major breakup and had mascara-like streaks running down their faces because it started raining. And yeh, I was the tag, and yeh the 2nd round I got caught first. Aha
And I guess we were all extremely tired out afterwards, especially our resident sleepy head Ryan, so I took advantage of it and had a human pillow, LOL

And since its our 72 starting later today and I'm going to PG and won't be around till later on Mon, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I'm so grateful for all of my friends and family and my experiences and the new people I live with who already feel like a family. Have an awesome holidays!!
I will leave my mother this little bit of inspiration as well, the fall colours here are nice and this bush is so many different colours at the same time.
Love you guys!

Highway of Tears Memorial

So today was my first official day back at work. I love my job don't get me wrong, but house managing is pretty awesome.
I did some evaluation forms, and found some more info for the database, and then helped some of the woman prepare for their community theatre presentation for the highway of tears memorial for this evening.
The highway of tears is the stretch of highway between Prince George and Prince Rupert and since 1969, at least 32 women, many of them aboriginal, have been killed or suspiciously disappeared while on it hitchiking or surrounding the highway.
When I went home I just chilled around and then went to the bean with the two Sara(h)s. The start of the memorial everyone stood in a circle and we listened to Aboriginal drummers and watched some dancers.




At the end we did a friendship dance where we all hold hands and dance into kind of a spiral, it was a really intresting experience. After that we went to the neighbourhood space and they did their community theatre where they act out a problem and people from the audience interfere to solve the conflict or improve the situation.

After that they provided beef stew and bannock. Me and Sarah are vegetarians so I ate one piece of bannock with jam on it, so right now I am exceptionally hungry but I dare not eat food because I know how annoying it is when you're house manager and then people eat your ingredients. :P

So this week me and Jared have been house managing! It has been epic and we have not failed in doing anything thus far which is awesome!
Our Menu for the week was as follows:
Monday: Veggi Chowder and bread sticks for supper
Tues: Banana Bread for snack and baked potatoes with all the toppings and asparagus and peas
Wed: Cantelope for snack, sloppy joes for supper with epic dill dip and veggies and dessert chocolate chip cookies
Thurs: Banana Bread for snack, toasted cheese and ham sandwiches for supper and orange julius for dessert.
Fri: Pancakes for breakfast, chicken fingers, tofu and mashed potatoes and apple pie for dessert.
Sat: Eggs Seratoga and toast and juice and bacon for breakfast, granola bars for snack and Macaroni and cheese for supper.
Sun: Cinnamon buns for breakfast and then greek salas and chicken fingers and tofu sticks with strawberry smoothies for dessert.

Amazing, I know. You don't have to tell me.
House managing keeps you busy for sure, here is a little evidence.





So this def makes a girl tired, because although its not hard work, it's a lot of work and it gives me a new respect for mothers, lol.
AND GOOD NEWS!!! WE GOT OUR 72 APPROVED!!!

We left a 72 on the wall so that everyone would see when they came home. (:
I'm personally going to Prince George with Katey, Jared, Issac, Evelyne, and Zoe.
I was going to go to Prince Rupert with M.A and Ryan but plans changed. M.A is still going to PR, but alone and that's exciting for him, that is a legit adventure, for real. I already have my bus ticket and everything so it's offical... kinda scary but it should be fun. I am not exactly sure what we're doing yet.
But besides this I'm having fun and am NOT looking forward to going back to work... but its part of the process. House managing is extremely fun, and it's going to suck leaving such a slack atmosphere but it will also be awesome having people make food for me all the time and not to do anymore dishes because they never end, unless Zoe takes care of it because she is an epic dish washer.

Also side note, I've been published twice since Vanderhoof. If you're intrested..
http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/ominecaexpress/community/103889629.html
http://goodneighbours.wordpress.com/a-day-in-the-life/kyra-muller/