It's nearly the end of the first week of classes at George Brown & strangely enough, I still don't have an idea of what the program I'm in is about. *sigh* Maybe I'll have a better idea by the end of next week... I'm just hoping I'll be able to make it in tomorrow because I had to change my ride last min...and the system doesn't like last min changes. Oh well, the profs will be more prepared with the destination of field trips for the future!

It's been quite eventful recently, celebrating some friend's birthdays (Tony and Christian)... with the biggest event of the year that occurred last saturday on aug 18 (which also happens to be Ames' birthday!), 2012. 

My bestie, Shelley is now a MRS!

To be completely honest though, even before this day (it was the WHOLE day, with TWO ceremonies...on the west side in the morning, and then richmond hill in the afternoon/evening) occuring...she's technically been married in my mind.  lol, the engagement has taken a very long time!  Well, at least now it's all done and she's happily married!

Of course she and hubby had to come home from windy city for a week or so (not even...), do the deed, and now they're back to work.  Fast and clean (as opposed to dirty), lol!

Now the family and I are heading off for just over a week vacay to Montreal and the falls.  In this time I shall be celebrating another great even in my life with the fam...my dirty thirties....:O oy!! 

Here's wishing another big event that will have excellent outcomes!

 

You know what I find most irritating and annoying?

The fact that I had emailed my job developer back on monday asking for help with job preparation for an interview I'm going IN for on tuesday...and he FINALLY answers me TODAY (thursday) saying that they have the actual program that'll be tested on ....and to come in asap (seriously, only tomorrow because this upcoming weekend is a LONG WEEKEND). 

What bugs me most is that it's taken them how long to give me an answer, and then I literally have a day to go in and toy around with the test, before I hope that I pass the two tests I'll be going in for next week.  Also distressing is that I'll be spending the long weekend *thinking* about all this...instead of relaxing.

I suppose there shouldn't be any complaints...for now.  Alright, now to put my mind to it...

It feels quite odd to be posting on my blog once again...especially since it's been so long since I've really written or have been part of the blog world now.

At the same time, it's nice to have an outlet once again for anyone (random or I know) to find out what I'm thinking or feeling.

So much has changed in the past five years.  I've overcome alot in this time...yet at the same time, still have so much to achieve.  Especially because at times I look around and see all that my friends, family and peers are doing...and I feel so stuck or left behind.

I'm not intimidated or sad about anything in my situation...I just feel like I can do so much more, or that I have the ability to do more...yet have not been given the opportunity to do this.

For example, I've enrolled in a half year (four days a week, therefore it's suggested people in this program not be working) Redirection Through Education - For You Program at George Brown College that begins in September.  Personally, I am excited about going out and learning how to deal with the new challenges that I am facing in life and work, as well as possibly meeting so many new people in this program.

However, I've found that there is another side to this...I've noticed that there's another way people see this program...that I may meet the 'wrong' kind of people/crowd.

The thing is, there's no way I can come to any conclusion yet because I have not even attended a day...so I have no idea what to expect in terms of class dynamics.  The way I see it...no assumptions until September.

At the same time, I'm getting ready for my best friend's wedding (in approximately three weeks)!  She's currently still in Chicago with her fiance, and won't be back for another ten days.  Until then, I'm sure there is still much to do...for example, getting fitted for clothing?!?!?

Also, because they don't have time for any bridal registry, I don't know what (if any) the situation is for wedding gifts! 

So it's exciting, yet also stressful...c'est la vie, non?

Seventeen years by her side
Broke the same bread
Wore the same clothes and we said
We're sisters with nothing between
If one of us fall
The other will soon be following

Both of you fell the same day
You don't know why
One of you never woke up
And you laid your body down on the floor
You're desperate to hear her footsteps again
But this house is on fire, we need to go

Oh, you don't have to go it alone, go it alone

Run for your life, my love
Run and you don't give up
It's all that you are
All that you want
I will be close behind
Run for your life

She had a fire inside
And that terrified you
You swore that you'd never lose your control
Baby, let yourself go
'cause part of you hides
And I know the hunger inside of you's strong
You can only hold back the river so long

Oh, you don't have to go it alone
Oh, you don't have to go it alone, go it alone

Run for your life, my love
Run and you don't give up
All that you are
All that you want
Run for your life right now
And if you don't know how
I’ll come back with you and take all that’s true
And leave all that's burned behind
Run for your life

Oh, you don't have to go it alone
Go it alone, go it alone,

Run for your life, my love
Run and you don't give up
All that you are
All that you want
Run for your life right now
And if you don't know how
I’ll come back with you and take all that’s true
Leave all that's burned behind

So run for your life
Run for your life

 

- the fray, run for your life

Revival...

It has been nearly five years and ONLY NOW have I figured out a way to update my password on blogger AND post again. 

It's been long enough...seriously!

Regardless, I am just sending out a little hello to everyone out there, that I'm back.  lol!

I'll post an update in the near future....until then...sit tight!  :)

If I were to live in Australia, I would live in Noosa Head. The most gorgeous little town on the Sunshine Coast. It's like Yorkville, but in the tropics.

I survived Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. Interestingly enough, I only camped one night out of two. The night I camped out was ridiculously painful. I didn't even take out my contacts for fear of sand getting into them. The second night we were lucky enough to meet these older men partying in a large 30 room cabin at Indian head (where you see sharks, dolphins and turtles) and they invited the whole group of 22 people to stay and party with them. How could we refuse? So we got a shower and a bed out of that...now THAT'S my kind of camping. The most beautiful freshwater lake on the island was Lake Mackenzie. Best time ever...especially with all the people we met. Swedes, Norwegians, Germans, Americans. It's exciting to see how everyone is going to the same places, up and down the coast.

Whitsundays was nice, but it wasn't as good because the weather was on and off rainy. Besides, put on a boat with bad weather doesn't make for a fun time either.

Cannot wait for New Zealand!!

"I'm holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearin what you say but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say...

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

I'd take another chance, take a fall
Take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it's nothin new
I loved you with a fire red-
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late"

- one republic, apologize

it's raining, thundering, POURING outside.

and i love it.

i love that i'm sitting inside, in the dark, but with the balcony sliding door open, which is letting the bright white cloudy light and cool breeze in. what a refreshing feeling this is. weird, i was sleeping in late today, and now i feel i'm able to do some assignments that need to get done.

the last post was kind of crazy and i realize that. it was a result of a lot of pent up anxiety and emotions relating to life, love, friends and family...but mostly the future that is to come.

but this rain is totally welcome and relaxing. the sound of pouring rain, and the lightening and thunder that comes with it...is great! and the smell of clean and fresh air....actually, it's been raining on and off the past couple of days. but for some reason, this is the one that's done it.

Considering I'm in the city of Sydney, with a population of almost 4.5 million people, you wouldn't think I'd feel so lonely.

It's a Friday night, and there's a pool party that going to start in about half an hour. Yet, I have no desire to go. I feel wholly out of shape and unmotivated. With just about two weeks left of Uni, I seem to have run out of steam. I've decided that I detest the whole idea of attending Uni and travelling at the same time. It sucks. A LOT.

Everything fun that is happening is hampered by course assignments. And to top it off, because I'm not working, it's just money flying out the window. It's really REALLY depressing.

Travelling is supposed to be fun, and when I am, it IS fun. So the answer is NO to UNI.

Unfortunately, I have no answer for this pressing desire to be anti-social. I'd much rather stay at home, sit on my balcony and stare into the beautiful skyline of a city that DOES go to sleep after 11pm.

I wonder about ever working in Sydney. It's a possiblity, but never living with people I don't know. I like my roomies, but I've noticed that I can be very particular about certain things, things that I've always just assumed were my mother's peculiarities....until I've lived on my own. I also wonder about working in general. This unknown about going back home to no job and living at home...well, it's depressing. But I have no other choice but to do so because guess what? Running out of money isn't much help either.

So yes, this is a pretty bad post considering it's been awhile since I've last posted. But at the same time, I don't seem to have anyone else to talk about this to at the moment, so cybercity, this one's for you.

I don't know what i've done
Or if i like what i've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none
There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That i should go and this should end
Oh and i found my self listening

See i thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you aren't leaving without a fight
And i think i am just as torn inside

And I wont be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me then any one i've ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself
And so i say to you, this is what i have to do.

Cause i don't know who i am, who i am without you
All i know is that i should
And i don't know if i could stand another hand upon you
All i know is that i should
Cause she will love you more then i could
She who dares to stand where i stood

Missy Higgins - Where I Stood

Sometimes I find it difficult to post a blog when so much time has passed by. There's always a ton of stuff that happens inbetween that time period. And then I don't know where to start from. For example, yesterday I went to the Sydney fishmarket with my flatmates (asti and vivian.) We were so excited to go because we were going to get relatively inexpensive and fresh fish to eat on our new dinner table! That's right, you read it properly: We got our couches and dinner table at midnight the night before.

We came home with some white fish (hahaha) and salmon. yummy! Vivian and Asti cooked the white fish later in the evening. I would have helped but I maintain my philosophy that "too many cooks spoil the broth." I made myself useful as the photographer!

After gorging ourselves with food (according to my auntie, i'm starving) I took a NAP and then later on went out to "pontoon", a sydney restaurant and nightclub by cockle bay wharf. After returning home at an indecent hour, I am now up because I need to go for a run.

Why? Because I've signed up for the City 2 Surf run that is happening on August 12, 2007. My cousin thinks I am going to kill myself as it is a 14km run that involves many hills. I disagree. Jay and I signed up and it will be a fun run for us. Taking it easy, enjoying the scenery, and once I get to Bondi beach, hit up Amy's new digs! It's so great that I know someone who lives out by the beaches! whoo hoo!

Let's not forget to mention that I was in Canberra last weekend. I went to celebrate Bronwyn's birthday. She picked me up from the Jolimont station and then we went to a computer party (deja vu from the computer science student association times from u of t, hahaha) where they were serving free drinks. Then, I was invited out to dinner with the Sheppard family where I became a surrogate child. hahaha. I tagged along for a round at the casino, and then we went out dancing at the Uni pub.

Before I continue, I would like to take this moment to discuss some words I have learned.
It's your shout = It's your turn to buy this round
hire = rent (Eg. hire a movie)

I'll continue to update the list because it IS 7:30am and I can't think of the other words I've learned at this moment in time.

Johanna, a girl I met while I was in Fiji, is in from Melbourne this weekend. So I'm going up to the blue mountains with her today. And judging by the sunshine outside, it looks like a good day to do it too! Once I get back, I'll publish a post on school...because I started this week!

FIJI TIME & SETTLING IN SYDNEY

The Yasawa Islands adventure was the best adventure of my life. Mesj, Kris and I went with Awesome Adventures Fiji, and went with the package, A Great Pair. We stopped off at two islands, Kuata and Korovou. Both were beautiful and different in their own ways. On Kuata, we had much more traditional Fijian foods and went snorkling and hiking up to the summit of the island. This is also the same island that they shot the portion where Tom Hanks tried to hang himself in "Castaway" after he lost his ball, Wilson.

Where Kuata was more traditional and intimate, Korovou was a resort aimed at tourists. The food was more international, they had singing and dancing by the "bula boys", and they had a lot more of the comforts that we would be used to at home, such as the internet. Here, I did more hiking, including a sunrise hike that was quite challenging as before the sun came up, we had to hike up by flashlight. The guy I went with, Bjoern, was really scared of spiders, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he would hike infront and point out all the spider webs so I wouldn't walk into them. I did alot more activity on this island including swimming in the dark, sleeping on the beach in order to enjoy the beauty of solar system in the southern hemisphere, and going to visit the village on the island. At the village, the primary school children sang songs, recited poetry and performed dances for us tourists. It was really interesting to see that even though the Fijians have their own language, they are still taught English in their schools. Their school rooms looked very similar to classrooms that you'd see in North America.

Now, I have been in Sydney for almost a week. I spent the first four days and three nights at the Maze Backpackers Hostel near Chinatown. Together with the other three girls, we attended orientation at the Paramatta Campus on the second day. It turned out to be quite useless as all the information that we were given, we had already known from before.

The next couple of days spent looking for accommodations in the city. Let me tell you how different it is looking for places then in Toronto. Before I got here, I had visions in my head about finding a nice little flat for the four of us, and we would each get our own bedroom. RIIIIIGHT. The horrible reality is that most of the apartments in Sydney are crowded with people. I was really lucky to find a place in Ultimo that I am now sharing with two other girls. The other three have found a place very nearby that they share with three other boys. So they have six people in their two bedroom apartment versus my three people n a two bedroom apartment. Also, because people are packed into small spaces, the living quarters are disgusting. Alot of the places that I went to look at were very cluttered and messy. So, I really count myself lucky to finding a place where I have my own space.

I also have free wireless internet, and the place comes with a gym and pool. It's also a 10 min walk to the central train station where I will need to go when I have to go to school. AND, I am a two minute walk from the Broadway shopping centre where they cater to just about ALL my needs. There's several grocery stores there, a pharmacy (which they call chemist in oz), phone place, travel place, tons of clothing stores, food court....EVERYTHING.

Because of all this settling in, I haven't really taken in any of Sydney's sights yet. Also, I have spent a night at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Hornsby. They are a really sweet couple and have offered to help me with anything that I need. I met my cousin, Lanthia, her husband, Tom, and their three children, Crystal, Aaron, and Kara, for the first time. They made us dumplings! yummy!

Tomorrow, I plan to visit the Chinese garden and the Sydney Aquarium. This weekend will also be really fun as I am going to visit my friend Bronwyn in Canberra. It is her birthday on friday so I'm catching the bus and staying two nights with her and PARTYING IT UP!!!!

FIJIAN ADVENTURE: DAY 1 & 2

I'm currently sitting at an internet cafe at the Nadi Bay Hotel, a gorgeous place with two pools and good food!

The flight was very long. Jo, Kristen and I flew out of Pearson airport and stopped over in Minneapolis and LA before flying to Nadi airport, Fiji. The first flight was on a tiny plane and even though it was a two hour flight, it felt MUCH LONGER. The next two were consecutively larger and after taking a gravol on the last 11hr leg from LA to Nadi, I was feeling really sprightly. We almost missed our last flight there because they had our flight under two airlines. We arrived at 5:30am at the airport and immediately encountered a very LARGE problem...our luggage did not arrive with us from LA!!! :0

Yup, that's right. You can imagine our horror when we found out that there was no more luggage from that flight. We talked to the luggage people at the desk and they told us that they would be put on the next flight the very next day. But after arriving at the hotel, we got very worried because we were hearing all these horror stories from other backpackers staying at the hotel. They were saying things like not receiving their luggage for days, and one girl staying here STILL hasn't received her luggage in the past FOUR days!!! Plus Fijians like to rip us off with money. They put us in a taxi and charged us $10 when really it's like a $4 ride.

Anyway, we were definitely NOT happy campers. We went into Nadi downtown area and tried to look for swim suits but they were either incredibly expensive or they were so cheap and gross, and frankly, didn't cover much. Either way we ended up going to the airport really early this morning, and THANK GOODNESS, our luggage were all there. I think they just got confused at the LA airport. It's very disorganized there.

So now we've just spent the day lounging by the pool in our OWN bikinis and drinking strawberry milkshakes and Fijian beer. There are a lot of English people here. We seem to be the only Canadians so far. We head out to the Yasawa Islands in the morning and will be there for 4 days.

I finally went to Shoppers yesterday and spoke with the pharmacist about an over the counter cough medicine for my chronic cough. He said it sounded like I had a mild lung infection... :0 Well, no use but to drink up now. I dislike cough syrup because it leaves such a bitter aftertaste. One more week left of touring, and then I will be able to really relax and get better.

Last week's five day tour to Quebec City was awesome. There was so much free time for shopping that my addiction has once again flared. I bought all these new tops and hoodies from Simons, and shoes from Aldo, AND a new bikini from Garage!!! I keep justifying these purchases by telling myself that I'm buying them for Australia. hahahaha.

A bunch of tour managers went out thursday night and we partied it up at the Dag until 3am!!!! The first floor had performances by these guys who looked like they were part of KISS, and they rocked out 80s tunes. We stayed downstairs for a good couple of hours, and then went upstairs where they played normal club beats. I have to say that it was one of the best times in terms of clubbing in a looong time. There were people there but not so many that it was crowded. The music was fantastic, and there was a nice mix of guys and girls in our group.

I have to say touring is one of the best things I did for myself. Ryan and Christine showed me the back way of the Dufferin terrace on tuesday. It's the largest terrace in North America! Such gorgeous views of the St. Lawrence river. Every week I see new things, discover new places, meet new people. The children are a blast to work with. Sure, there are random annoyances, but it's all part of the job.

This weekend was the first weekend off in forever. Cat took me to the Holt Renfrew spa on bloor street where she treated me to a hot stone massage!!! I had my massage first, then we went to Pusateri's and had cafe au laits while sitting on the patio in the nice hot sun. Then I went shopping (see a pattern here?) while she went for her massage. After a nice looooong afternoon nap, I went out in the evening with Shelley.

For Father's day, Ames and I bought him a watch because it broke after/during Ames' LSAT test. I have discovered that I do not like looking at watches. They bore me. hahaha. Ames has even sold me her laptop, so now I have one more thing ready for Oz!

Three weeks before I leave! But it doesn't feel like it. I will probably feel it once work is done...if it is EVER done!

I love visiting the National Gallery. Every single time I walk into that building, the guide shows the group something different, something new. This week, my favorite painting was A.Y. Jackson's "The Red Maple."



Another favorite place to visit is Byward Market. I suggested the french bakery to the kids, and then spent a lunch hour with some of the boys. We even tried out some teas at the tea shop across St. George st. The shop staff were so nice. I told them about my constant cough that doesn't seem to want go away, and they put together a nice concoction of herbs for me to try.

We even went to an Ottawa Lynx vs. Durham Bulls game at the Jetform Park. We had a picnic dinner of burgers and hot dogs and then 3 hrs of sitting in a very windy stadium. I didn't hold out for very long, and after about half an hour, retreated into the stadium restaurant and watched the rest of the game from the box area.

Before I forget, I wanted to write a little paragraph on this amazing sandwich restaurant that Manny took me to on monday for lunch. It's call "Sandwich Box". They make all their bread fresh daily, and is healthy and pricey (about $6.85.) hahaha. Each sandwich comes with a side salad, and you can pick any three options to put in the sandwich, including the type of bread and spread.

Tuesday evening, met up with some of the CCMers at the Beer Bistro for a quick bite and greet before meeting up with Michelle to see "Brand against the Brain" showing at the Elgin Theatre. Part of the Luminato festival, it is a cute black and white movie by director, Guy Maddin. It used a live TSO orchestra, narrator, singer, and other people to make the sounds that a normal movie would have. Without those distractions, I probably would have gotten pretty motion sick as it was what I would call "contemporary."

With the gorgeous weather from today, I will be rollerblading at harborfront this evening.

These prints speak for themselves. Drawn by Canadian Native Artists, Cecil Youngfox, Benjamin Chee Chee and Doris Cyrette. I bought a packet of 7 cards by Doris at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and I plan on framing them in my room. :)


- "Returning" by Cecil Youngfox


- "Snow Singers" by Cecil Youngfox


- "Good Morning" by Benjamin Chee Chee


- "Spring Flight" by Benjamin Chee Chee


- "Swallows" by Benjamin Chee Chee


- "Learning" by Benjamin Chee Chee


- "Autumn Flight" by Benjamin Chee Chee


- "Friends" by Benjamin Chee Chee


- "Night Spirits" by Doris Cyrette


- "First Born" by Doris Cyrette

- "Interlude" by Doris Cyrette

Alright, how do I start this thing?

I am currently sitting at work, staring out of one of their huge "floor to ceiling" windows and struggling not to fall asleep. I just came back from an Ottawa tour this week, and it was by far the most tiring trip. My cough has been off and on about getting better, but by trying to project my voice out to a crowd of teens just takes its toll on my throat. It's now so completely hoarse that I don't even know how anyone can understand what I'm saying.

The Ottawa trip itself was a lot of fun. We visited the usual attractions, but new things to see included attending the "Question period" at the House of Commons as well as visiting the Diefenbunker. Question period was super cool because I was able to see all the MP's together, and it was almost a full house. Jack Layton, Stephen Harper, Giles Duceppe, Stephane Dion, Olivia Chow, Ken Dryden....they were ALL there. And they all sounded like little children bickering over a toy. So much fun!

But the children were exhausting. Sometimes I look at them and realize how TV dramas come up with so much fodder for their shows. It's THEM. I am sooooo glad that I wasn't like that when I was little...or wasn't given the opportunity to be like that. hahaha.

Ames came back from Europe yesterday too. We all met up at Yorkdale and had dinner at Moxies. Then we went home to unpack and unwind. Unfortunately, I had to force myself NOT to sleep because Shelley was having a little girl's out gathering for her birthday and I knew if I went to sleep, I wouldn't have been able to wake myself up.

Driving to Demetres was very difficult so I ended up going there, and then leaving as soon as she came. At least I made an appearance!

It has been suggested that I take some bedrest. And I will, but it will probably be Monday and Tuesday. It's always hard to not fill up my time with friends and family. But it's about time I just stay a day in bed!

It's been a long and crazy week. The long weekend was exactly that: LONG. haha.

I spent half of it working and then Sunday afternoon I went to Ottawa with my parents because mom wanted to see the end of the Tulip Festival. We stayed in the luxurious Chateau Laurier and spent some time at Byward market. In the evening, we had a super delicious fresh seafood basket at The Fishmarket Restaurant. The market also has the best french bakery called "Le Moulin de Provence." It sells classic french pastries and croissants with steaming bowls of cafe au laits. Hmmmm hmm, yum!

The tulips were almost done but we were lucky to still see some of them. I took my parents up to Parliament hill where there was much Victoria Day activities going. Then on our way back to check out of the hotel, we were lucky enough to catch a boat going through the eight locks on the rideau canal. Watching the little boat move from lock to lock was fascinating (but it took a very long time!)

My mom also has a thing for the Royal Canadian Mint, so we stopped off to look at some pretty, shiny, and EXPENSIVE coins.

The rest of the week was spent in my favorite city: Montreal. It was a little hectic because the Metro workers had just gone on a walk-out the day we arrived. So traffic was "fun." :S This particular trip was interesting because the students went to all these places I had never visited before: the biodome, insectarium, botanical gardens, iSci (Science Centre), Pointe-a-Calliere (Montreal Museum of Archeology), and the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre. My favorite was the biodome. It is a self-guided tour of four different types of ecosystems: the laurentian forest, tropical forest, saint-lawrence marine and arctic and antarctic ecosystem. Pointe-a-Calliere was also really cool too because I liked studying archeology in university and they showed the original wall of Montreal before it was torn down. The iSci museum is currently hosting "le monde du corps 2 (body world 2)" which I was disappointed about missing when it was in Toronto. Unfortunately, the students did not go to see that exhibit. Althought, the Technocite, Eureka, and Snowbirds exhibit were still fun.

The holocaust museum was a very interesting choice for the students as it had a really sombering effect. However, the head teacher was most interested in this memorial centre and overall it was so interesting and eye-opening. You only hear about the holocaust, but never really knew the nitty-gritty details. Still, not the funnest thing to do on the last day of the trip.

So this weekend is filled with various activities. But all I really want to do is veg out and relax. yeeeeah!

Thanks to Sammy Champs, who founded New France in 1608, we now have Quebec City. Even better, thanks to Lord Dufferin, who stopped the walls (enceinte) from being destroyed, Old Quebec City is a World Heritage Site because it is the only walled city left in Canada.

I love Old Quebec City. It rivals Paris as being the most romantic place in the world.