i have been here for 2 weeks now. it sort of feels like forever. it's a little unreal how far away i actually am from everyone that i know and love... i have taught for 3 days total and am very exhausted. it took a while to get used to management in this age group --- but by today things were much smoother sailing.
todays highlights:
*a grade 5 class that was a lot of fun and very productive... good things will happen with that class.
*flyup --- my school has a house system (think harry potter) so today all the new students [and teachers] got "sorted" i am now a golden eagle which i guess is exciting... we came in first place in the tug of wars today... first overall i guess --- our 4/5s came in 2nd and our 6/7s came in 1st... and the other 1st place team came in last for their other one... therefore we're the best :P
*after school made my way over john and kathleen's where it seems i spend a lot of my time... john fixed my car and we had dinner and then kathleen and i 'shot the shit' for a bit.... or rather until 10 when i realized i should prolly leave :P
*i have soooo much more to say --- but am absolutely exhausted
good night

so yesterday i visited my new school - i got to meet the VP and secretary, see my classroom, and get a feel for the building. the VP then called the woman i am replacing and she then came to the school so we could chat about what she has done in the past however many years. she then invited hannah and i over for dinner and we got to meet her husband who also teaches at the school. today we're going on a hike with them...
it's really great to know at least 1 couple in your new town... just throwing it out there :P

i am sitting in my new temporary apartment in goose bay... stealing internet from who knows who... not really sure... but hey - i have a bed and a roof and a couple of couches - and 3 tvs and my wii... what more does a girl need?

i'm sitting in a motel in baie comeau watching tv - 1/2 way between home and new home. i think i'm excited - but not gonna lie... this is a big adventure.

aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

i am in calgary --- have slept in regina, winnipeg, thunder bay, sault ste marie, and north bay since leaving home.
i have been thoroughly enjoying myself --- i think it's crazy how far i've gone...
desite this --- i'm having difficulty finding peace with things tonight... hopefully tomoro is better :)
later

i am leaving at some point this morning for another epic adventure. this time - rather then explore the nation of ham or shem or the other one --- i am going to drive across my own country.

FACING WEST FROM CALIFORNIA'S SHORES
by: Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
FACING west from California's shores,
Inquiring, tireless, seeking what is yet unfound,
I, a child, very old, over waves, towards the house of maternity, the land of migrations, look afar, Look off the shores of my Western sea, the circle almost circled;
For starting westward from Hindustan, from the vales of Kashmere,
From Asia, from the north, from the God, the sage, and the hero,
From the south, from the flowery peninsulas and the spice islands,
Long having wander'd since, round the earth having wander'd,
Now I face home again, very pleas'd and joyous,
(But where is what I started for so long ago? And why is it yet unfound?)

we read that poem in first year - and tho the poem speaks of california --- the same can be said for bc as well --- we have a need to push as far as we can go...
so to the pacific i will head: through the north, the prairies, and the mountains...
who knows what will happen

today i took a nap on a bench in front of a still frozen lake wearing shorts and a t-shirt...

i love canada.

i'm leaving tomoro...

this is my note from pratik...
sooo... i know we only talk once every many weeks... but i'm kind of going to miss you! in the sense that it will be weird not having your name online on my msn list. but i hope you have a great adventure
it kind of made my day a little - and it made me get a little excited about not being online for a month

i hope you [jen cuz i'm pretty sure you're the only one that reads this] have a great month --- and happy birthday while i'm gone!!!!

in a week i will be on an airplane - heading towards amsterdam...
in a week it wont matter what i have or don't have because it will be too late...
in a week the reality that i'm going to africa will probably have hit me
in a week these piles around me will be packed tightly into a bag or two
in a week it wont matter how many resumes i've mailed off ...
in a week i'll be un-reachable (yay!)
in a week i wont have music to listen to while i write lesson plans...
in a week i'll be ready to sit back for the ride...

today... busy busy busy

wouldn't have it any other way :)

10 more sleeps - sort of freaking out here...

to do:
- update travelling pharmacy: maleron, pepto bismal, lactose pills, benedryl, gravol, tylenol, aloe, first aid supplies
- get money - need USD (created after 2002 of course), and euros
- send off resumes
- finish writing lesson plans
- clean room
- write an essay
- practice piano
- practice guitar
- pack
- get sunscreen and deet products
- find a hat
- cry about the crack on ethyl's windsheild and the hot chocolate stain on her floor
- debate the spelling of ethyl... ethel?
- find wallet back
- get enough sleep so the cold goes away
- organize practice teaching binder
- figure out what to do with england correspondance
- ;asldkfna;sdflansdf;alsdfnas;dflashdf;aei

it's gonna be good :)