Algonquin Trip!!

So, it's been a few months since my last post. I apologize. The reasoning is that I have so much to write about and have been procrastinating doing it because it's going to take me a really long time.....I started that sentence 2 weeks ago, and am just writing this now.

So wayyy back in January, a few days after my last post, I had the District  Interviews for my exchange. I think they went pretty well! I got there and was greeted by Juliette from France (who is one of the inbounds from my club) who then took me to the first interview room. There were four people on the other side shooting questions at me like "what would do about home sickness" "why do you want to go on exchange" "what is your best/worst quality" "what is one thing you have had to overcome". It went reallly well, and all of the Rotarians were super nice and friendly. Don't be afraid of Rotarians, they are awesome people! That lasted like 30-45 minutes if I can remember correctly. Then I waited a long time until the next room. This one was a little more challenging. It was all of the district heads and was very intimidating at the time. They just asked me why I wanted to go to the countries that I chose, and made sure I had no problems that would stop me from going on exchange. and that was that.

Moving on to the fun stuff. So in February was the Algonquin trip!!! IT WAS AMAZING!!! We were divided into 2 trips, I was on the second trip. They mix up inbounds and outbounds. I left on Saturday morning and came back Tuesday night. It was the most amazing trip I have ever been on. It was so cool to be hanging out with such a diverse group of people and seeing how you can just shove a bunch of teens on a bus and they can be friends in an instant. the bus ride was super fun and very loud. Exchange students are very loud and very fun. Once we got to Algonquin we walked a km across a frozen lake to our destination. We all slept in one big house, the boys in a big room on the bottom floor, girls on the top floor. The first night was one of the most memorable ones of the trip. We all sat on the floor, and the lights were turned off, and Greg, the trip leader (and one of the coolest people I have ever had the chance to meet) had each inbound sing their national anthem. It was such an emotional and powerful moment. 15 different cultures were represented in one room. All accepting of each other. Then we went to bed.

On our way across the Lake!

 The Spider Web game that we played that night, We had to fit every person through a different hole in the web by lifting them up and the other team catching them on the other side.

The next day we were woken up bright and early by Greg's gorgeous (sarcasm) singing voice. This day is one proud one for me. I have always been extremely afraid of heights so when I was told that we would be doing a trust fall I was pretty much scared out of my mind. This isn't a normal trust fall where someone stands behind you and you fall gracefully into their waiting arms, this is a 90 degree drop off a 1.5 meter deck in to the waiting arms of about 18 people. I was the first to go. Unfortunately I have no idea if anyone got a picture of it, but I do have pictures of some of the others so you can see what I am talking about here. It was so scary but I am so glad I did it and am frankly very proud of myself for forcing myself to do it. I know it sounds corny but it made me feel like I could do anything after that moment.

 Juliette's Trust Fall

That afternoon, we went on a snowshoeing expedition. We were divided into groups, the leaders, navigators, planners, safety, and fire builders. We each had a skill that we shared with the group. I was a planner. That means that my group organized everything we needed to bring and who would bring what. This expedition required we made it to a certain location in the woods and then made hot chocolate. The way you navigate is to find orange markers tied around trees. Yes, they trust a bunch of teenagers and foreigners to navigate through a forest on snowshoes in the winter. You can probably imagine how funny it was. It was a long afternoon of snowshoeing but was made hilarious and fun that I didn't even think about the tiredness that I was feeling.

 Starting a fire for the hot chocolate.

We were divided into two teams for the first expedition, I was on team Jelly! The others were team Peanut Butter. We all made flags the night after the first expedition.

The second day was the BIG expedition. This was a day long one, where we all had our original groups but we had to cook a full lunch of grilled cheese and soup. This was the most hilarious thing ever. We got just a tad...'lost' on the way. Actually we managed to miss 3 markers, walk around a pond to get the next one when we were about 8 feet from it and then had to go back to get the other three at the end, and cut off the last ones because we didn't have enough time. I'm glad that not very many people got frustrated by it though. The navigators tried their best. Greg and the other leaders had to come find us half way through to point us in the right direction. We didn't want them to find out that we were lost so a bunch of times we pretended that they were 'breaking up' on the walkie talkie, very funny. It was such a tiring day...6 hours of snowshoeing! But again, it was totally worth it. We all came together as a team and always helped each other out.

 Snowshoeing away!

After the expedition we ate dinner, and then had a solo at night. This is where we went into the forest and for an hour, in the cold and snow, wrote a letter to ourselves that will be sent to us in one year. I cried. Yep, I cried by myself in the dark in a forest by candlelight. It was really emotional to think about how much I changed in 4 days. Its totally crazy to think about, and most people probably won't understand. No one but those that were there will understand what an experience it was.

All of us together!! I miss you all so much! This was one of the best memories I have ever made.

Rotary, Gnomes, and other things...

So I have had this page open on my computer with the title of the post written at the top for about 3 days. When I first wrote the title, I was really pumped to write a new post, but then my mom called me to do something so I said I would come back to it, but for some reason the last two days, I could not bring myself to sit down and write it, but I've been thinking about it. Now, I should be doing my homework, seeing as I have to go back to school tomorrow, but I really don't want to. So I shall do this instead. Since my last post, a bunch of stuff has happened. First of all, it was Christmas! Which also means, Two Week Break! I was really happy about the timing of this break, because we went to school up until the 23rd, so Christmas was 2 days later and then we literally had 2 full weeks of nothing. It has been fantastic. My family bought a new big flat screen T.V a while ago, but we are renovating our basement which is where the T.V will go, so instead we set it up in front of the piano in my living room. I really like it there because it is sort of right in the center of our house, instead of disconnected off where it would be if it was in the family room. But once the renovations are done, it will be back downstairs.

For New Years my friends and I went to Niagara Falls and watched the Fireworks off the Skylon Tower and Simple Plan played! It was amazing. They are one of my favourite bands and it was awesome to see them again. A few of my friends and I are also going to see them play in Toronto in February.

Now onto the Rotary update which is the most exciting thing that is happening in my life. Last week, Gloria, who is the Youth Exchange Officer for my club, came to my house to finish up my application. I finally wrote the letter I had to write that will be sent to my host club and host family, it was three pages long, but I think it sounded nice. My mom also wrote a two page letter, and I had to gather 4 photos to include in the application. Gloria came and we sat and talked for about an hour with myself and my parents and then we went through and signed all four copies of the application. It was a really long process so I'm glad its over. The next step is the district level interviews. They are this coming Saturday, the 14th in Hamilton and I am sooo nervous. I have to study up on the government, and I have to know a little about all of the countries that I want to go to. I should really get on that. Gloria also gave me a magazine called the Economist that talks a little about what's going on around the world. Right now, my top three countries are Switzerland, Denmark, and Sweden. But I would also love to go to Germany, Belgium, France, The Netherlands or Finland. I'm pretty much open about anywhere! I have been following a lot of other blogs and they all say amazing things about all of the countries so it is such a hard choice.

After the district interviews, assuming that all goes well, I will be going up north to Algonquin to an Outfitters camp with the rest of the exchange students, and the ones that are here from other countries. I'm so excited to get to know the rest of the people that will be going away next year. I hope to meet a lot of people that I will be friends with for a long time.

On another note, I got a gnome for Christmas! His name is Jeremy and he is about 2.5 inches tall or 'a little shorter than a shrub' as his passport says. Yes, he came with his own passport, filled with facts about gnomes. It says his name is Cedric, but my friend Steph named him Jeremy, so Jeremy it is. He has started his own blog, where he will post a picture of himself everyday on our travels. It only has 2 pictures now, and he will start posting closer to the time when we leave. It is a tumblr blog, he thought it would be easier to use.

 My good friend Jeremy all set to travel the globe!

Jeremy and I, Click here to visit his blog!

So it's back to school tomorrow. I only have 11 classes left until exams start. Luckily since I'm at Brock for Mentorship, I only have 2 exams, the 24th and 25th and then I get a few days off. Brock has been going awesome! I have worked on so many different projects and I'm so glad everyone has helped me out so much and included me in their studies. Before Christmas, I was invited to my professor's house for a Christmas party and there was a Christmas lunch too. I had such a good time. I'm really upset that it's coming to an end so soon, and I have to start working on my final presentation soon, that will happen in February. That is the only thing that I'm not looking forward to coming up.

Other than that, there is nothing else to report on. I cleaned my room, watched a lot of movies with my brother, which I really enjoyed. I'm glad that we got to spend a lot of time together over the holidays. We both have busy lives, and now that school is starting again, we won't get to see each other as much. I'm happy to say that this is one of my best Christmas breaks ever. I hung out with my friends a lot, and I feel like I accomplished a lot, even though I really didn't do very much. It was really fun, and very relaxing. The rest of this school year is going to go by just as fast as the first half.

Year Review.....11 classes left of this semester, then 2 exams and a few days off...Algonquin Trip in February, Family Day, and Mentorship Presentation, March Break and Rotary Orientation, Easter in April, May Long Weekend, then Exams in June. There are a few more Rotary events near the end of the school year and then I'm off in August!

I feel like I should update this more with shorter posts instead of big long ones every once in a while. Less painful for me and you.

And so it begins......Rotary Youth Exchange 2012-2013

As I begin to write this, I am listening to the song Mother, We Just Can't Get Enough by New Radicals. It's making the title of this post so much more epic in my head, and gives me this weird tingly, fresh start feeling inside. Think, Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap, when she visits England for the first time and There She Goes Again by the La's is playing in the background. The Journey is starting guys...and it feels good. Yesterday, I found out that I was excepted by the Niagara on the Lake Rotary Club to be their outbound youth exchange student for the 2012-2013 school year. I just looked back on my blog, and I have talk about Rotary a few times, always hopeful that I would get in, and I finally did!!! This is officially the start of my journey, my own life...something that is MINE and no one else's. This time next year, I will be in another country, on another continent surrounded by foreign people and foreign things. How awesome does that sound?!

I have explained what Rotary is a little, but I will go a little more in depth for yall about how it works, well as much as I can tell you, but I did say I was an expert on the topic so I'll try to live up to the expectations I have set for myself. Back in the summer, I started contacting local Rotary Clubs. Since each club sends only one person (sometimes 2 but this is a rare occurrence for financial reasons), you are allowed to apply to more than one club. This is hard to do though, since out of the 4 clubs in my city, only one participated in the exchange this year, and you are technically only allowed to apply to LOCAL clubs, which basically means you live or attend high school there. Lucky for me though, NOTL( Niagara on the Lake..I refuse to type that out everytime ahha)'s high school was closed last year, so they broadened their search area for students, which means that they accepted my application, and ultimately they decided to sponsor me. So out of the 5 clubs that I contacted, 2 allowed me to apply. I attended an information night about 2 weeks ago through the St.Catharines club, which is actually my real local club, and put in an application there. This is only the preliminary application, it is short with about 4 or 5 questions on it. I submitted that, and they give everyone a first interview. So, I did this for both clubs. I had my first interview for the NOTL club last Wednesday, and I was supposed to have an interview for the St.Cath club tomorrow but I was able to cancel it because I was accepted by the NOTL club (!!!). Anyways, as I said before, after the interview, each club selects one student that they will be sponsoring, and one alternate just in case something happens and I can't go, or am no longer eligible (health reasons or lying on the application etc...but I didn't lie so I guess they only thing standing in my way is if I break my leg or something), and I was selected! BUT ( I know theres more...crazy) I am only technically 95% in, because I still have to fill out the loonnnnnggg application (18 pages in total) that involves all the person information, including medical appointment, dentist appointment, letters, pictures, the whole nine yards. Then after that (almost done!) there is one more interview, but this is at the district level. All of the Rotary clubs are encompassed into districts, mine goes from Buffalo USA to Hamilton Canada. It is one of the few international districts. So all the people selected, plus the alternates, go through this interview as sort of a rubber stamp of approval that they agree I should go. It's also separate from your parents so they can be sure that it was your idea and that you aren't being forced into going. So I have to fill out the long application and hand it in by Dec 22nd to the Youth Exchange Officer at my club, and then in January I have the district interview. Then I am officially in. Wow..that was a lot of info.

So then, once I am official (which is most likely, they rarely refuse students after passing the first interview) I get to go through all the fun stuff ( not being sarcastic, there's actually fun stuff after all the not fun stuff said above^). There is an up north weekend in February, which includes all of the people in my district from other countries that are in Canada for their exchange now (will be referred to as INBOUNDS) and the people that will be going away next year, like me (called OUTBOUNDS). I have already met 2 inbounds, Marcel from Switzerland, and Juliette, from France that are being hosted by the NOTL club. After that, there is an orientation in March for my parents and I (rules and such), then there is a Jamestown weekend and a hiking weekend later in the spring/early summer. Then I leave for my country in August for a year! I won't find out my country for a few months. I fill out the country request form in January, and then they have to go through the sending of the application etc etc and then guarantee forms and all that then I find out where I'm going. Europe though definitely...I hope.

Anyways, the unfortunate part is I still have to finish school in Canada! All this excitement the passed week and I have to concentrate on my studies until I graduate in June. Plus, I still have to apply to univeristy, and then just defer my acceptance until the following year after my exchange. So much stuff going on right now! When I found out I got accepted I freaked out! I was with two of my best friends and we all screamed and I basically cried. Actually on my way home, I balled. I was driving listening to Dancing In the Moonlight at full blast (I tend to associate good experiences with songs...it just works out that way) and it just happened..I just started balling my eyes out in happiness!

The first song I'm going to listen to when I get to my country is the one I mentioned near the beginning of this post. There She Goes Again by the La's. And I will look out the window as I am being driven to my new home, and it will mark the start of my adventure. My year abroad. This is just the start of a year of planning, and anticipation for an awesome year of my life!

The Halloween Spirit is No More

Two days ago, it was Halloween. A maximum number of twelve children showed up at my door. What is this madness? When I was little, the neighborhood was full, there were children everywhere. It was like a pedophiles dream. Now, kids in grade six are going to parties. WHAT THE HELL WORLD?!?!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH ALL THE FESTIVITIES THAT USED TO OCCUR???!?!??!!? I was very angry at this, and wanted to scream. I also don't enjoy the fact that girls feel the need to dress up like sluts on Halloween, I don't know about you, but in my childhood, care bears didn't wear low cut tops, and I'm pretty sure Police Officers don't wear stilettos with their uniforms, but good try there. Anyhoo, I had a graduation retreat today, I'm not really sure what the purpose was, but we had a motivational speaker that was funny and we got food. Then when we got back to school, we had a presentation about applying to university, now, I'm stressed out about my future and all that. Fun.

I Want a Gnome

So, recently I have been interested in a photo-a-day project. It's where you take a photo everyday, as per the photo-a-day name. I have been researching the project and it looks like a lot of fun, and something to keep you creative. This guy takes a picture of himself everyday and has been documenting the changes. He's been doing it for like 11 years. There's also this blog that blogs about other peoples projects. They call them 365s. So they take a photo everyday for a year. Some people draw trees, or create butterflies out of household objects. Since I am applying for a youth exchange, I have been following a lot of blogs and youtubers that are on exchange. One girl in particular, also has another blog account for her garden gnome. She took her gnome with her to Thailand and takes a photo of her gnome doing different activities. This looks fantastic. The only problem is that I don't have a gnome, and my life isn't interesting enough to take pictures of a gnome everyday. This is unfortunate. But, if I get into my exchange I am going to do this. For sure. So, if you happen to come across a cute garden gnome, pick it up for me. Thanks. If I don't get it, I will come up with some other photo-a-day project. I also want a better camera because mine sucks balls.

 I think a garden gnome would be a cool halloween costume.

Anyhoo, the Rotary info night is coming up soon on November 2nd. I also have two presentations that I have to give next week and 2 books to read for school. Funerific.

Also recently, I started listening to fleetwood mac. Yes, Stevie Nicks with a bunch of other people that noone knows. Then I realized that as a child, I would only remember the Stevie part, and I had no idea who Stevie Nicks was, I only knew about Stevie Wonder so whenever people said Stevie Nicks or Stevie Wonder I just automatically assumed they were talking about Stevie Wonder.

 This is Stevie Nicks

This is Stevie Wonder...who I thought everyone was talking about when they said Stevie Nicks...

Good Day.

it's the most wonderful time of the year

No, I am not confused as to what month it is, I know it's October, and I know that Christmas is not in October. For me the most wonderful time of the year is AUTUMN!!!!! Well..it's sort of a tie...I guess October to January is the best time for me...minus all the snow..I don't really like the cold but I do like Christmas...Anyways backtrack to autumn (tape rewinding sound effect playing in your head). October...the changing leaves, the perfect weather, not too hot, not too cold...just jeans and a light jacket or sweater...the odd drizzly days where you can cozy up and watch a halloween movie on family channel with a warm cup of hot chocolate. Ahhhh heaven. Well that's the way it was when I was twelve, now I have to squeeze the wonderfulness in between working and homework. But, I always find the time to enjoy it. Now, on to Halloween movies on family channel. They are so childish but oh so wondrous at the same time. Halloweentown being the most epic, along with Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire, Twitches 1 and 2 and Don't Look Under the Bed. It's really strange, I always brag about being in love with the Halloween movies on the family channel, which I am, but I have never really watched or enjoyed the 'classic' Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus and Beetlejuice, the two movies that everyone asks about when I talk about the movies. I have tried watching these, but never really got into them. Wierd. I always watch at least 2 movies every weekend, although it's very unfortunate that Family decided to change their 'Popcorn Pix' layout to only include one movie at 12:00, instead of a movie at 12 and a movie at 1:30....that's 2 less movies to enjoy every weekend!

 How pretty is this...no I didn't take it..although I wish I did.

Also in October we have Thanksgiving!!! (I am Canadian...American Thanksgiving is our shopping holiday, where my mom buys all of our Christmas Presents). This weekend, my grandparents, and my Aunt and Uncle are coming over to enjoy a Turkey and all of the wonderful foods that come with it...homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes and the best part BRUSSEL SPROUTS!! ....I'm not kidding...I love them. So does my entire family...and we aren't crazy. We just have an awesome way to cook them. I don't like them unless my family makes them. If you just boil them, they are really bitter and gross. The way you do it, is cook them in chicken broth..once they are tender, drain them, then cover them in cheese. Best vegetable...so so good. Then comes dessert...pumpkin pie. The only pie I like. For some reason gooey fruit doesn't appeal to me...apple pie, cherry pie etc etc...not good. Pumpkin pie: good. I also get 2 days off of school so that I can stuff my face for that much longer, this really isn't a good way to combat childhood obesity, but the government knows what they are doing.....its a stat holiday. The only problem I have with having Thanksgiving in October is the fact that we now have two wonderful things in one month and 0 in November..I think I might get like a PA day at school but that's over once you get to university. Also, when I was younger and the teacher used to order the calendar headers from American Companies, and the Turkey picture was always on the November month and it took me like 4 extra years to realize that Thanksgiving was in October and not November because when I was 4 I had no concept of time. Do you know what I mean? Way to confuse a child.

 Remember these bad boys...theres totally food on the November one.

In other news, mentorship is getting better. I got to do real science the other day and the rats came in and I get to help take care of them. But that's about it on that note.

I put in my preliminary application for the Rotary Exchange!!! It took me a really long time to write, even though it was only one page of questions. The longer answers were to the questions like "Why do you want to be an exchange student" and "what do you hope to accomplish". I still have to go to the information night with my parents, and if they like this application I have to do an interview, and then fill out a 20 page application including letters, essays, short answers, pictures, doctor/dentist/teacher visit...on and on and on. But it is sooo worth it. I have never wanted to do anything this bad my entire life. I just want to do something that is for me, my own journey. Learn and new language, meet new people, become bicultural. I'll keep you posted on what happen with this...I'm so excited though. I spend my time googling Rotary every night...instead of doing math..but oh well.

If you have never had the chance to experience Halloweentown..here's a little glimpse of what you are missing. Go watch it.

 

 

1998 was such a wonderful year.

Anyways, after I wrote this, I accidentally deleted it, and then blogger saved my blank draft...and there is no way to go back to older saved drafts...thanks blogger, I love rewriting posts. I hope I captured the original magic.

toodles

being the adult in the conversation

This is another looking back to when I was little post, now that I am entering grade 12 (tomorrow..but I'll get to that later), that means I can almost be considered an adult...almost. So anyways, remember when your parents would force you to say, call your grandparents, or talk to your great aunt on the phone to thank her for the card she got you for your birthday...and the conversation would be completely one sided because you have absolutely no idea what to say to these people? You would go over the same questions like, hows school? hows piano/guitar/dance/insert activity here lessons? hows your dog? are you enjoying ____? etc etc...blah blah blah. Anyways, these conversations were always to be avoided because its actually the worst most awkward thing ever. But now that I'm older, and have littler cousins, they are the ones who are being subjected to these conversations....with me. I've never had this experience before until, I was talking to my aunt on the phone, having a normal conversation because I now know how to be social without being rude to relatives, and she suddenly hands the phone to my little cousin who obviously has no idea what to say. Neither did I. So of course I turned to those stupid questions..."so are you excited for school? what grade are you going into again?" responses all one worded of course. This was a very weird experience for me, since I was always used to being the one who answered the questions, not asked them. Eventually I was just like...okay uh can you hand the phone back now....thanks. Let's not repeat that again.

Anyways, it's that time of year again...I have to go back to school tomorrow :(. But, it's my last year of high school..then off to university some where...I can't believe I actually have to start applying in a couple of months.

On another note, I'm almost done the room reno! It looks freaking fantastic...now I just have to finish cleaning all my random crap off the floor that I have no idea what to do with. yay....

goodbye.