I am sitting here enjoying my evening while watching some TV and it FINALLY sank in that "I'm living in BC!!!" It made me start thinking about how life is so full of twists and turns. If you would have told me a year ago, or even 6 months ago that I would be where I am right now I probably wouldn't believe you. I am so lucky to have the opportunities that I do! I can't believe I am getting ready to start my first teaching job! As I was setting up my room today, I felt like a real "professional" for the first time, I was comfortable calling all the shots and really feel like i'm ready to jump right into it!!! Mind you I still have a tonne of planning to do, I really am excited for this school year!!!!!!
this is a pretty pointless blog, I am just being all "reflective" and now that I live by myself I have no one to share my thoughts with (i'll just bottle it all up and use that energy in the classroom) LOL
I'm watching Americas got talent right now, and I really think that little girl is going to win- she is very talented. I feel like there is too much diversity (if there is such a thing) on this show. Since talent is a a subjective term, I feel that a lot of people get credit for being good performers, rather than full of raw talent. For example: the piano player guy is SO TALENTED, but when it comes down to performance, he cant beat someone who's using lighting and stage props to enhance their performance. I really don't think they should be in the same category, its just not fair.
that's my rant on prime time TV- I need to get a hobby :) LOL, once my running shoes show up with the UPS boxes, i'll start jogging around my wonderful community!
have a great night,
Sarah
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
“The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you're doing, someone else does”
Greetings from Port Hardy BC! Actually- to be more specific, I am reporting from my very own apartment in Coal Harbour, which is a tiny town literally a 2 minute drive from my school (the most beautiful school in the whole world)!
I arrived here on Thursday and was COMPLETELY exhausted. Due to the fact that I had to visit as many people as possible before I left, I managed to plan a date with Dan and Brando after the Tom Petty concert and stayed up all night before my flight on Thurs. I flew out of Toronto at 7:30am and arrived in Vancouver at 10:00am BC time, I flew from VAN to Campbell River at 11:30 and arrived with one of the other teachers waiting for me at 12:30pm. After another 2hr drive- I reached my new home!!!! Well, not really my home- I ended up living with one of the other teachers for a few days until my place became available.
It all turned out to be great and well worth it because the apartment I just moved into today is fully furnished and is super badass (for lack of a better word) All of the appliances are brand new, the couches are leather, I have a queen bed in my room and a spare room with two twin beds- which is perfect for visitorssssssssssss! (the beds are ready to be slept in)! LOL, I also have a stocked fridge/freezer with some fresh sockeye salmon.....there are also some crab guts (bait) that I need to go drop in the ocean sometime soon. The owners of the building were staying in this apartment and asked me if it was okay if I dropped it off for them. I said it was no problem at all because I LOVE walking down to the pier. I spent 3hrs there yesterday watching people catch crabs. It was so cool, I saw the biggest starfish EVER attached to the net, I also made friends with these people visiting from New Zealand and one boy caught a starfish on his hook. It was wild. The ocean intrigues me so much, I hope to make friends with some fishermen so they can take me out on the weekend :)
Other than watching people down at the pier I have started picking blackberries, I have enough here to bake a pie but I am just waiting to get to town in order to get a pie plate. I am really excited as I have never taken to baking before, but the fresh berries get me really excited. lol. I find it kind of funny living by myself because I have turned into a bit of a neat freak since working at the lodge this summer. When I made my bed today I totally did the "SWWL crew cut" on the bed, I even folded my towels the way we did it at the lodge. All my clothes are put away so nicely, which is totally unlike me. lol, I guess living on my own in such a nice place makes me a bit more organized. These are all good habits to get into!!!!
Today I spent all day in my classroom getting it set up. I got a TONNE done!!!! If you check on facebook you can see how my room is setup but in the left corner there is a "science" area, kind of like a lab area where there are also a lot of cupboards for storage. I went through every stitch of paper and have it all organized the way I want it for the year- it looks GREAT! I set up the desks as well- including my own! Tomorrows job = bulletin boards!! I have 7 to decorate so i'm hoping my camp skills of arts and crafts leader come in handy!!!! LOL.
Other than that, tomorrow I am waiting for my UPS boxes to arrive so I can unpack the rest of my stuff. 5 more boxes and im completely moved in! I am currently watching Father of the Bride Pt. 2, enjoying a cold beer and weighing the pro's and cons of getting a car.......life is good :) :) :)
I will be getting a PO box soon, and once I get that- I will post it so you can send me mail YAYYY! hope all is well back at home in Ontario (I hear its hot), stay cool and COME VISIT
cheers :)
Sarah
I arrived here on Thursday and was COMPLETELY exhausted. Due to the fact that I had to visit as many people as possible before I left, I managed to plan a date with Dan and Brando after the Tom Petty concert and stayed up all night before my flight on Thurs. I flew out of Toronto at 7:30am and arrived in Vancouver at 10:00am BC time, I flew from VAN to Campbell River at 11:30 and arrived with one of the other teachers waiting for me at 12:30pm. After another 2hr drive- I reached my new home!!!! Well, not really my home- I ended up living with one of the other teachers for a few days until my place became available.
It all turned out to be great and well worth it because the apartment I just moved into today is fully furnished and is super badass (for lack of a better word) All of the appliances are brand new, the couches are leather, I have a queen bed in my room and a spare room with two twin beds- which is perfect for visitorssssssssssss! (the beds are ready to be slept in)! LOL, I also have a stocked fridge/freezer with some fresh sockeye salmon.....there are also some crab guts (bait) that I need to go drop in the ocean sometime soon. The owners of the building were staying in this apartment and asked me if it was okay if I dropped it off for them. I said it was no problem at all because I LOVE walking down to the pier. I spent 3hrs there yesterday watching people catch crabs. It was so cool, I saw the biggest starfish EVER attached to the net, I also made friends with these people visiting from New Zealand and one boy caught a starfish on his hook. It was wild. The ocean intrigues me so much, I hope to make friends with some fishermen so they can take me out on the weekend :)
Other than watching people down at the pier I have started picking blackberries, I have enough here to bake a pie but I am just waiting to get to town in order to get a pie plate. I am really excited as I have never taken to baking before, but the fresh berries get me really excited. lol. I find it kind of funny living by myself because I have turned into a bit of a neat freak since working at the lodge this summer. When I made my bed today I totally did the "SWWL crew cut" on the bed, I even folded my towels the way we did it at the lodge. All my clothes are put away so nicely, which is totally unlike me. lol, I guess living on my own in such a nice place makes me a bit more organized. These are all good habits to get into!!!!
Today I spent all day in my classroom getting it set up. I got a TONNE done!!!! If you check on facebook you can see how my room is setup but in the left corner there is a "science" area, kind of like a lab area where there are also a lot of cupboards for storage. I went through every stitch of paper and have it all organized the way I want it for the year- it looks GREAT! I set up the desks as well- including my own! Tomorrows job = bulletin boards!! I have 7 to decorate so i'm hoping my camp skills of arts and crafts leader come in handy!!!! LOL.
Other than that, tomorrow I am waiting for my UPS boxes to arrive so I can unpack the rest of my stuff. 5 more boxes and im completely moved in! I am currently watching Father of the Bride Pt. 2, enjoying a cold beer and weighing the pro's and cons of getting a car.......life is good :) :) :)
I will be getting a PO box soon, and once I get that- I will post it so you can send me mail YAYYY! hope all is well back at home in Ontario (I hear its hot), stay cool and COME VISIT
cheers :)
Sarah
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Bittersweet :)
It is truly amazing how much you can learn about yourself in 4 short months. Within the past few days I have really began to understand that my job up here has been much more than cleaning cabins and serving meals. This summer has allowed me to realize that if you surround yourself with positive people, you can accomplish anything. I have learned that settling is not an option and that you are the only one in control of your own future. I now fully believe that “everything happens for a reason” and that my decision to come here for the summer was to reaffirm my passion for teaching by following my dreams. Through my experiences with two of the most wonderful children in the entire world, I look forward to being able to make a difference in the life of children in my future classrooms.
I do not think I ever would have discovered these things in any other work environment. Rather than simply working 9-5 at a traditional job, my bosses (and friends) managed to welcome the entire staff into their family. Through thick and thin we made it through the summer, and despite the aggravation we often caused one another (like any “normal” family), I know I have met some lifelong friends.
While I prepare to say goodbye to missy and the kids, and to finish up my last three days of work I feel like this really is the end of a chapter of my life. As I pack up my life and move to the other end of the country, I am now ready to start my career. My time at SWWL has given me the confidence in myself to dream any dream, pursue any goal, and to believe in myself. These are things that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
Missy gave me a card tonight, with a poem inside of it (which is the reason why I got all sentimental in the first place). I want to share it with everyone, and plan on getting it framed for my new apartment (yay). It is my new anthem and the way I look forward to living the rest of my life:
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have this many emotions at the end of the summer. It really goes to show how much of an influence an experience can have on how you view the world.
I do not think I ever would have discovered these things in any other work environment. Rather than simply working 9-5 at a traditional job, my bosses (and friends) managed to welcome the entire staff into their family. Through thick and thin we made it through the summer, and despite the aggravation we often caused one another (like any “normal” family), I know I have met some lifelong friends.
While I prepare to say goodbye to missy and the kids, and to finish up my last three days of work I feel like this really is the end of a chapter of my life. As I pack up my life and move to the other end of the country, I am now ready to start my career. My time at SWWL has given me the confidence in myself to dream any dream, pursue any goal, and to believe in myself. These are things that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
Missy gave me a card tonight, with a poem inside of it (which is the reason why I got all sentimental in the first place). I want to share it with everyone, and plan on getting it framed for my new apartment (yay). It is my new anthem and the way I look forward to living the rest of my life:
You can Design Your Own Destiny
You are a wonderful person,
so do wonderful things.
You can make a difference in
your own world.
You have a purpose;
You have the power;
you are magic.
You can create beauty,
Recall the past, plan the future.
You can soar in imagination.
You have the courage to question,
and you can choose to change.
The only limitations you have are those in your own mind.
Don`t be satisfied with less than all you can be.
Don`t compare yourself with others;
draw your own dreams
and design your own destiny.
Live each day to the fullest.
Give a little more than you take.
Make the world a better place to live,
and always...
always...
Listen to your own heart,
For only you know what is best for you.
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have this many emotions at the end of the summer. It really goes to show how much of an influence an experience can have on how you view the world.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
august 2010
First off- I can not believe its already August. I guess the time truly does fly when you are having FUN! I only have 15 days left here at the lodge when it seems just like yesterday I was packing up my stuff and moving into the wilderness for the summer! I sure have had an amazing adventure- I am soaking up these last few days and enjoying it! Today, I am working with the kids for one of the last times. We are having a lot of fun, its sad to think it'll all be over soon. BUT on the positive side I HAVE SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TOO!
This was just the beginning of my adventure.....
I am officially finished working at the lodge on the morning of the 18th, then I will be going to Thunder Bay for the evening and flying home to Toronto for 2:30pm on Thursday the 19th. I will be home for exactly a week and then will by flying out to my new home at 7:30am on August 26th! I can't wait. I was doing some research on areas surrounding Port Hardy/Coal Harbour and it looks phenomenal. There are so many outdoor/nature activities I am going to fit right in! I can not wait to go whale watching. Its going to be the time of my life. Not to mention all of the rich history of the surrounding areas, its going to be amazing!!!!
I am also really excited to see my school/classrooms. The pictures i've seen are gorgeous but I think its going to be even more phenomenal in person. I am so excited to get my classroom up and running- its going to be an amazing year!!!
Camp is starting to wind down as people slowly start to leave. Missy and the kids will be gone on the 15th and then jess and I are out on the 18th...from there everything winds down and the season comes to an end. I will certainly be sad to leave here, and I will always have a place in my heart for Northern Ontario- I love it. I'm so glad that I chose to come up here as my last adventure before "real life" begins. As much as I miss home, I love living the dream :)
This was just the beginning of my adventure.....
I am officially finished working at the lodge on the morning of the 18th, then I will be going to Thunder Bay for the evening and flying home to Toronto for 2:30pm on Thursday the 19th. I will be home for exactly a week and then will by flying out to my new home at 7:30am on August 26th! I can't wait. I was doing some research on areas surrounding Port Hardy/Coal Harbour and it looks phenomenal. There are so many outdoor/nature activities I am going to fit right in! I can not wait to go whale watching. Its going to be the time of my life. Not to mention all of the rich history of the surrounding areas, its going to be amazing!!!!
I am also really excited to see my school/classrooms. The pictures i've seen are gorgeous but I think its going to be even more phenomenal in person. I am so excited to get my classroom up and running- its going to be an amazing year!!!
Camp is starting to wind down as people slowly start to leave. Missy and the kids will be gone on the 15th and then jess and I are out on the 18th...from there everything winds down and the season comes to an end. I will certainly be sad to leave here, and I will always have a place in my heart for Northern Ontario- I love it. I'm so glad that I chose to come up here as my last adventure before "real life" begins. As much as I miss home, I love living the dream :)
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