Okay, so I'm really, really tired, because last night I went to sleep at 2:30 and then woke up at 7am this morning, so I really want to blog but am sincerely just too tired to do so. However I should have time to blog tomorrow.
So my lovely readers can look forward to:
-My last French lesson in Katimavik
-Volunteering for the Snowboard Jamboree
-A very controversal excursion
-Never should be had Sandwich combos and creative ways to eat cereal
-and Attending the snowboard Jamboree.
I promise it will come soon!
Days left at work placement: 5
Days in Katimavik: 10
Insanity! Tomorrow promises hot breakfast, sleeping in until 10:30, and then cleaning the house for a soiree for our work partners Monday.
Blog soon! Thanks for staying updated!
Xoxoxox,
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Hands of Snow
Okay, so yes, I'm slacking on the blogging, I do so realize this, however I am just trying to enjoy my last 14 days left with Katimavik.
Such a big part of me cannot even comprehend how close to the end of the program I even am, and the other part of me is sad to go but will not miss the expired food at work, the only one who works at work, having only 12 hours free time a WEEK, and being woken up by carnaval horns and wrestling, every, single, afternoon.
I've kinda given up on the sleeping thing.
But I really am going to miss having a permanent sleep over and painting nails with Sara(h)*2, and going into old Quebec just for work, and conversations with everyone after night time timmies runs... there are so many things that are just so Katimavik that just happen that you don't even realize you'll miss until they aren't around anymore.
But another part of me won't mind washing 3-4 plates IN A DISHWASHER instead of 12 by hand, or sleeping on a real bed instead of a plastic matress in a sweaky bunk, or get PAID for working, or getting my licence and seeing my dog...
I'm also really excited to start seriously working on my memoir, and yes... attempt to get it published, and I'm also wanting to write letters to Roo and the Sara(h)s, because I'm going to put so much thought and love into them. I'm also going to write a personalized letter to each member of my group once Katimavik is over to thank them for the experience they contributed to.
But ANYWAYS.
On Sunday I think it was, the best thing that could ever happen did!
I really wanted a picture with the real bonhomme because I really, really love him. But it was the last day of carnaval and it just wasn't going to happen. So me and Sarah went to the ice Palace to take a picture with the fake one, and I did, and all was swell.
I accepted this, and was happy, at last I had a picture with A bonhomme..
After both Sarah and I didn't feel like going home just yet, so we decided to go to the Plains of Abraham where more of the carnaval is. Since it was the last day almost no-one was there and it was nice compared to the first time where we went where there were swarms of people. Then we saw a little marching band and we're like oh that's cute... but then I remembered that the last marching band we saw had Bonhomme at the end of it. I didn't get my hopes up but I used the zoom on my camera and guess what I saw...
So I almost start hyperventilating/crying at for normal, flashback to the first time I ever saw him. aahhaa.
So me and Sarah follow him and the little tractor he's riding on and being are singing this goodbye bonhomme song and he's waving and dancing so we scored a couple of good photos with him the backround and then I attempted and succeeded. LOOK AT THIS.
Don't even pretend you're not jealous.
That's just me, HOLDING BONHOMME DE NEIGE OF QUEBEC'S HAND!!!!!!!!!!
I also screamed "Joyeux Carnaval Bonhomme J'taime!" and he said
"J'taime Aussi!" (Which mean's I love you too.)
So... basically best day of life and I'm framing that when I get home.
As pay back to Sarah for being a legit photographer I paid her in Subway and Second Cup. (:
Also today, a man came in to the second hand store and started talking to me and I talked to him all in French and he said that he was a Quebec Loyalist/Seperatist and that he was fine with me because I spoke French well, so I'm glad that I'm kinda okay at French! Ahaha. Enough to be accepted by the locals? Aha.
Anyhow I miss you guys, will try to keep you updated, tomorrow we volunteer for the well known Snowboard Jamboree, and so I will try to take pics, and I don't know my travel iteneary yet, so still don't know my details of getting home or anything but yeah!
See you guys in 14 days. Hope you had a good Valentines.
Xxoxoxo,
Such a big part of me cannot even comprehend how close to the end of the program I even am, and the other part of me is sad to go but will not miss the expired food at work, the only one who works at work, having only 12 hours free time a WEEK, and being woken up by carnaval horns and wrestling, every, single, afternoon.
I've kinda given up on the sleeping thing.
But I really am going to miss having a permanent sleep over and painting nails with Sara(h)*2, and going into old Quebec just for work, and conversations with everyone after night time timmies runs... there are so many things that are just so Katimavik that just happen that you don't even realize you'll miss until they aren't around anymore.
But another part of me won't mind washing 3-4 plates IN A DISHWASHER instead of 12 by hand, or sleeping on a real bed instead of a plastic matress in a sweaky bunk, or get PAID for working, or getting my licence and seeing my dog...
I'm also really excited to start seriously working on my memoir, and yes... attempt to get it published, and I'm also wanting to write letters to Roo and the Sara(h)s, because I'm going to put so much thought and love into them. I'm also going to write a personalized letter to each member of my group once Katimavik is over to thank them for the experience they contributed to.
But ANYWAYS.
On Sunday I think it was, the best thing that could ever happen did!
I really wanted a picture with the real bonhomme because I really, really love him. But it was the last day of carnaval and it just wasn't going to happen. So me and Sarah went to the ice Palace to take a picture with the fake one, and I did, and all was swell.
I accepted this, and was happy, at last I had a picture with A bonhomme..
After both Sarah and I didn't feel like going home just yet, so we decided to go to the Plains of Abraham where more of the carnaval is. Since it was the last day almost no-one was there and it was nice compared to the first time where we went where there were swarms of people. Then we saw a little marching band and we're like oh that's cute... but then I remembered that the last marching band we saw had Bonhomme at the end of it. I didn't get my hopes up but I used the zoom on my camera and guess what I saw...
So I almost start hyperventilating/crying at for normal, flashback to the first time I ever saw him. aahhaa.
So me and Sarah follow him and the little tractor he's riding on and being are singing this goodbye bonhomme song and he's waving and dancing so we scored a couple of good photos with him the backround and then I attempted and succeeded. LOOK AT THIS.
Don't even pretend you're not jealous.
That's just me, HOLDING BONHOMME DE NEIGE OF QUEBEC'S HAND!!!!!!!!!!
I also screamed "Joyeux Carnaval Bonhomme J'taime!" and he said
"J'taime Aussi!" (Which mean's I love you too.)
So... basically best day of life and I'm framing that when I get home.
As pay back to Sarah for being a legit photographer I paid her in Subway and Second Cup. (:
Also today, a man came in to the second hand store and started talking to me and I talked to him all in French and he said that he was a Quebec Loyalist/Seperatist and that he was fine with me because I spoke French well, so I'm glad that I'm kinda okay at French! Ahaha. Enough to be accepted by the locals? Aha.
Anyhow I miss you guys, will try to keep you updated, tomorrow we volunteer for the well known Snowboard Jamboree, and so I will try to take pics, and I don't know my travel iteneary yet, so still don't know my details of getting home or anything but yeah!
See you guys in 14 days. Hope you had a good Valentines.
Xxoxoxo,
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Hotel of Ice!
Hey guys, so the other night I went with Roo and her rents to the hotel of ice! This folks, is not the same thing as Bonhomme's ice palace, which I too thought origionally. Anyhow this is a really expensive hotel made entirely out of snow, ice, and animal fur. There is absolutely no heat, and all hallways have direct access to the outdoors. There are no bathrooms, you need to walk to a seperate building, and you need to bring a sleeping bag to sleep in ontop of your ice bed. Sound crazy? It is, but it's true. Here is a picture blog!
The beehive!
The wedding chapel!
The frog room!
The feather room!
The Dessert Room!
And yes folks, what your eyes showed you was true! I have purchased my own Bonhomme backpack. Although slightly extremely overpriced I still bought it because I knew I would regret it if I didn't, and it's a great souvineer, and I can show the classes I give my French presentations to. Plus Sara hates him so I'm finding creative places to leave him, like for instance this is not my bed!
As well as this yesterday MA and I met a resident at our job and his name is apparently peter pan, his life goal is to get into Israel without a passport via illegal boatage because Jesus told him to. He is also apparently going to live in a tree in heaven, and Jesus can turn him into a girl in under 12 seconds. Uh Yeah, obviously something is going on there, but it makes for an interesting lunch hour.
I also got mail from my mom and Jessica today so that was a nice surprise!
Alright all for now, probably more happening this weekend. Only 11 more days of work! (Thank goodness) Hope you're all well!
xoxoxox, thanks for reading!
The beehive!
The wedding chapel!
The frog room!
The feather room!
The Dessert Room!
And yes folks, what your eyes showed you was true! I have purchased my own Bonhomme backpack. Although slightly extremely overpriced I still bought it because I knew I would regret it if I didn't, and it's a great souvineer, and I can show the classes I give my French presentations to. Plus Sara hates him so I'm finding creative places to leave him, like for instance this is not my bed!
As well as this yesterday MA and I met a resident at our job and his name is apparently peter pan, his life goal is to get into Israel without a passport via illegal boatage because Jesus told him to. He is also apparently going to live in a tree in heaven, and Jesus can turn him into a girl in under 12 seconds. Uh Yeah, obviously something is going on there, but it makes for an interesting lunch hour.
I also got mail from my mom and Jessica today so that was a nice surprise!
Alright all for now, probably more happening this weekend. Only 11 more days of work! (Thank goodness) Hope you're all well!
xoxoxox, thanks for reading!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Une Sac?
Hola!
So today has been a really good day!
I went to work and had to do donations the whole morning which I don't really like, but I got to eat lunch with Marc-Andre and then we worked in our homeless shelters second hand store.
Now this second hand store is in a backround in Old Quebec in a sort of warehouse with no heat and the pathways inbetween clothing is really narrow, but this place is pretty cool.
The homeless or people with low finicial incomes can come to the store for 2 hours a day and pick out clothes, blankets, jackets, shoes etc and take it for free.
Marc-Andre would write down the person's name and what they were taking and I would put the clothes they wanted in a 2nd hand shopping bag.
I really loved it because I actually got to interact with people, and smile at them and practice my French as I put the clothes in the bag.
It was also really eye opening to actually see people picking out their clothes and coming up to us. It really showed me how much I have.
Some of them didn't need bags because they simply wore their choices out of the store. :( One man came in and left wearing a new jacket and boots and that unfortunately meant he came in without wearing any.
The one man came to me after Marc-Andre left and clearly less fortunate, he tried to buy all the free clothes he chose. That just melted my heart, especially after he told us he wanted to donate the money to us anyways for helping him out.
Take a moment every now and then when you're treking through the snow I know is all over the place think how that would feel without boots or a jacket.
And exciting tid-bit, I got one of my friends back home to talk to my old French teacher and tell him how I've been living in Quebec City and gone to Carnaval etc, and he wants me to come in March and give all his classes presentations! I am so excited!!
As well Sarah got a package today, and when she opened it there was a present for me, her and Sara!!! So she called us over we opened them and her mom and omi sent us chocolate and valentines!!!!
It was the sweetest thing ever and we called them on speakerphone and freaked out. They are soooo cutteeeee! (:
Thanks for reading,
xoxoxo,
So today has been a really good day!
I went to work and had to do donations the whole morning which I don't really like, but I got to eat lunch with Marc-Andre and then we worked in our homeless shelters second hand store.
Now this second hand store is in a backround in Old Quebec in a sort of warehouse with no heat and the pathways inbetween clothing is really narrow, but this place is pretty cool.
The homeless or people with low finicial incomes can come to the store for 2 hours a day and pick out clothes, blankets, jackets, shoes etc and take it for free.
Marc-Andre would write down the person's name and what they were taking and I would put the clothes they wanted in a 2nd hand shopping bag.
I really loved it because I actually got to interact with people, and smile at them and practice my French as I put the clothes in the bag.
It was also really eye opening to actually see people picking out their clothes and coming up to us. It really showed me how much I have.
Some of them didn't need bags because they simply wore their choices out of the store. :( One man came in and left wearing a new jacket and boots and that unfortunately meant he came in without wearing any.
The one man came to me after Marc-Andre left and clearly less fortunate, he tried to buy all the free clothes he chose. That just melted my heart, especially after he told us he wanted to donate the money to us anyways for helping him out.
Take a moment every now and then when you're treking through the snow I know is all over the place think how that would feel without boots or a jacket.
And exciting tid-bit, I got one of my friends back home to talk to my old French teacher and tell him how I've been living in Quebec City and gone to Carnaval etc, and he wants me to come in March and give all his classes presentations! I am so excited!!
As well Sarah got a package today, and when she opened it there was a present for me, her and Sara!!! So she called us over we opened them and her mom and omi sent us chocolate and valentines!!!!
It was the sweetest thing ever and we called them on speakerphone and freaked out. They are soooo cutteeeee! (:
Thanks for reading,
xoxoxo,
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Canoe who?
Hey guys!
So this morning we had Kate's parents over for an extravagant breakfast of fruit, yogert, crepes, juice, bacon and sausages!
It was really nice, and a bunch of us sat and talked with Kate's parents and told them stories to compare V-hoof to Q-City.
Afterwards we bused down to the St.Lawrence River and watched the canoe races. It was pretty impressive. They had to go down the St.Lawrence then across it through the ice to back where they started, and then go around for a second time!
And at first we were confused about the qualifiers and why it was them running through the snow with their canoes, and soon we realized it because they would run/carry their canoes over/through the ice sitting on the river!!
Afterwards we parted ways, and me and Ryan and Kate and MA discovered a filming of a movie and the scene was an alien shooting a man out of his car, ahahah! Only in Quebec!
Me and Ryan and Kate and MA then went and got beaver tails and then went to every single tourist shop in old Quebec on a hunt for a Bonhomme Back pack for me. If I find one cheaper than 35 bucks I'll buy it.
Tonight is free time/no tech so I think I might do my French homework ahaha! But yeah, things are good and it's days like these that make me realize deep down, that I'm going to miss these friends so, so much.
Thanks for reading. (:
So this morning we had Kate's parents over for an extravagant breakfast of fruit, yogert, crepes, juice, bacon and sausages!
It was really nice, and a bunch of us sat and talked with Kate's parents and told them stories to compare V-hoof to Q-City.
Afterwards we bused down to the St.Lawrence River and watched the canoe races. It was pretty impressive. They had to go down the St.Lawrence then across it through the ice to back where they started, and then go around for a second time!
And at first we were confused about the qualifiers and why it was them running through the snow with their canoes, and soon we realized it because they would run/carry their canoes over/through the ice sitting on the river!!
Afterwards we parted ways, and me and Ryan and Kate and MA discovered a filming of a movie and the scene was an alien shooting a man out of his car, ahahah! Only in Quebec!
Me and Ryan and Kate and MA then went and got beaver tails and then went to every single tourist shop in old Quebec on a hunt for a Bonhomme Back pack for me. If I find one cheaper than 35 bucks I'll buy it.
Tonight is free time/no tech so I think I might do my French homework ahaha! But yeah, things are good and it's days like these that make me realize deep down, that I'm going to miss these friends so, so much.
Thanks for reading. (:
BON HOMME DE NEIGE!
Hey guys!
So last night we bussed downtown and we watched the qualifications for a canoe race across the St.Lawerence River on Sunday morning. The qualifications however took place on a street covered in snow and the teams had to run with their canoes and try to get the best time. We missed the guy section but we saw the girls compete and it looked like hard work!
Ma's billet is in the actual race tomorrow so we're going to go watch it.
Afterwards we heard there was a dance party by the ice palace so we went but to our dismay you needed the little snowman for your jacket to get in. But the ice palace looked really cool with all the lights and stuff.
So today we got to sleep in and when I awoke, I finally had a small bon homme de neige for my jacket!!
Now this little plastic snow man is very important, because it's your all access pass into Carnival Festivities. I love Bon Homme though and you can tell through many photos. :P
So we took the bus I normally take to work and went to the ice palace. But we have yet to go inside. The ice palace seems to always have crazy dancers in front of it.
Then we looked at all these snow sculptures and they are really good! Many that we looked at were done by apprentices, and even those were amazing!
Everything at Carnival is crazy though because it's so busy! The streets were mayhem and they closed down Old Quebec for cars, so only people could walk around because there is so many!
Like for instance, there is this 'glissade' and it's a long ice slide and to slide down it, you have to wait in line for 45 min!
I also saw THE cutest backpack EVER. I really want it but it ranges between 22-40 Dollars! Is it worth it? Ahaha I love Bon Homme!!
And then we were casually walking through the mobs of people when Evelyne shouts and yells Bon Homme, so I turn and look, and there, swarmed by millions of children which he was hearding like cattle was THE BON HOMME DE NIEGE of QUEBEC! Now, I don't know if you guys understand, but this guy, is like THE FACE of the winter Carnival, like this guy has body guards, so I threw my camera at Evelyne, jumped in the line of action and BAM!
That was how Kyra got a picture with the coolest mascot EVER!
I got pretty close.
You guys don't even understand this is like Santa Clause and the tooth fairy combined but the Canadian version.
Anyhow, so that was my hyperventilation of the day.
Then tonight we went to the parade where my camera died pretty early on but I did get one or two photos.
So that was my day!
Tomorrow we are having an extravagant French Breakfast, watch a canoe race over the St.L, and then tech free, free time. Then day 15 of my 15 last days of work! Wooh!
Stay awesome, and stayed updated, xoxox..
So last night we bussed downtown and we watched the qualifications for a canoe race across the St.Lawerence River on Sunday morning. The qualifications however took place on a street covered in snow and the teams had to run with their canoes and try to get the best time. We missed the guy section but we saw the girls compete and it looked like hard work!
Ma's billet is in the actual race tomorrow so we're going to go watch it.
Afterwards we heard there was a dance party by the ice palace so we went but to our dismay you needed the little snowman for your jacket to get in. But the ice palace looked really cool with all the lights and stuff.
So today we got to sleep in and when I awoke, I finally had a small bon homme de neige for my jacket!!
Now this little plastic snow man is very important, because it's your all access pass into Carnival Festivities. I love Bon Homme though and you can tell through many photos. :P
So we took the bus I normally take to work and went to the ice palace. But we have yet to go inside. The ice palace seems to always have crazy dancers in front of it.
Then we looked at all these snow sculptures and they are really good! Many that we looked at were done by apprentices, and even those were amazing!
Everything at Carnival is crazy though because it's so busy! The streets were mayhem and they closed down Old Quebec for cars, so only people could walk around because there is so many!
Like for instance, there is this 'glissade' and it's a long ice slide and to slide down it, you have to wait in line for 45 min!
I also saw THE cutest backpack EVER. I really want it but it ranges between 22-40 Dollars! Is it worth it? Ahaha I love Bon Homme!!
And then we were casually walking through the mobs of people when Evelyne shouts and yells Bon Homme, so I turn and look, and there, swarmed by millions of children which he was hearding like cattle was THE BON HOMME DE NIEGE of QUEBEC! Now, I don't know if you guys understand, but this guy, is like THE FACE of the winter Carnival, like this guy has body guards, so I threw my camera at Evelyne, jumped in the line of action and BAM!
That was how Kyra got a picture with the coolest mascot EVER!
I got pretty close.
You guys don't even understand this is like Santa Clause and the tooth fairy combined but the Canadian version.
Anyhow, so that was my hyperventilation of the day.
Then tonight we went to the parade where my camera died pretty early on but I did get one or two photos.
So that was my day!
Tomorrow we are having an extravagant French Breakfast, watch a canoe race over the St.L, and then tech free, free time. Then day 15 of my 15 last days of work! Wooh!
Stay awesome, and stayed updated, xoxox..
Friday, February 4, 2011
Breathe in, and out.
Hello readers,
and many apologies! I am alive, (barely) but I recently have had nothing to post about.
In the Katima house after billeting finished, there has been copious amounts of drama which have dragged onto last night. However last night we had a group meeting where we all talked and discovered that none of us truly enjoy drama, that we all truly do care about eachother and that we have exactly... 24 days left in Quebec, 2 more French lessons, and 15 days of work left before we part ways. Katimavik is really interesting because it throws you into a life you never imagined having. Imagine a life where you share a room with at least 2 other people, you share a supper table with 11 other people, your groceries fill two carts, you work full time for free, and getting enough sleep is a scheduled rarity. Imagine a life where you become so close to 11 other people that they seem like siblings, and then when you hit a stumbling block, things get complicated because everyone is connected, and then interconnected with their closest friends in the house. What I think, and hope to come and realize is that we are, a really close group, and at the start of the program we were the group that would laugh at people's warnings of conflict because we lived in such unity, agreeance and happiness. The past 3 weeks have been testing and almost 3 of us left the program, but I'm glad to say we've all just barely made it through and I think we're holding on until the end. Right now, I'd be happy to be in my own bed, responsible for just myself, and washing 1-4 plates, and cooking every now and then, but then I flash forward and it will be extremely hard to say goodbye to Katelyn, the maritime sweety who only ever wants the best for everyone, to Isaac, the fast on his toes and debating skill talented, to Ryan the quiet jokester, to Zoe the artistic friendly from Quebec, to Evelyne the mature independant, to Jared the brother I never had, to Brandon the goofball who copyrighted the brandon moment, to Marc-Andre the fair and interesting farmer boy, to Sarah the sweet hippy vegetarian fellow prarie, Sara the gentle and haliarious girl, and Stephane, the funniest and busiest guy in town.
These are the people I'll remember when I get back home. <3
This evening we are watching a race that's part of carnival so I should have some photos to blog something interesting soon! Thanks for staying posted while I'm being boring, I'll call you soon mommy, I'm just getting some sleep etc, you know, recovery.
and many apologies! I am alive, (barely) but I recently have had nothing to post about.
In the Katima house after billeting finished, there has been copious amounts of drama which have dragged onto last night. However last night we had a group meeting where we all talked and discovered that none of us truly enjoy drama, that we all truly do care about eachother and that we have exactly... 24 days left in Quebec, 2 more French lessons, and 15 days of work left before we part ways. Katimavik is really interesting because it throws you into a life you never imagined having. Imagine a life where you share a room with at least 2 other people, you share a supper table with 11 other people, your groceries fill two carts, you work full time for free, and getting enough sleep is a scheduled rarity. Imagine a life where you become so close to 11 other people that they seem like siblings, and then when you hit a stumbling block, things get complicated because everyone is connected, and then interconnected with their closest friends in the house. What I think, and hope to come and realize is that we are, a really close group, and at the start of the program we were the group that would laugh at people's warnings of conflict because we lived in such unity, agreeance and happiness. The past 3 weeks have been testing and almost 3 of us left the program, but I'm glad to say we've all just barely made it through and I think we're holding on until the end. Right now, I'd be happy to be in my own bed, responsible for just myself, and washing 1-4 plates, and cooking every now and then, but then I flash forward and it will be extremely hard to say goodbye to Katelyn, the maritime sweety who only ever wants the best for everyone, to Isaac, the fast on his toes and debating skill talented, to Ryan the quiet jokester, to Zoe the artistic friendly from Quebec, to Evelyne the mature independant, to Jared the brother I never had, to Brandon the goofball who copyrighted the brandon moment, to Marc-Andre the fair and interesting farmer boy, to Sarah the sweet hippy vegetarian fellow prarie, Sara the gentle and haliarious girl, and Stephane, the funniest and busiest guy in town.
These are the people I'll remember when I get back home. <3
This evening we are watching a race that's part of carnival so I should have some photos to blog something interesting soon! Thanks for staying posted while I'm being boring, I'll call you soon mommy, I'm just getting some sleep etc, you know, recovery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
