Blink and the World is different...
Trip Start
Aug 24, 2004
1
2
35
Trip End
Mar 08, 2005
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Thursday, August 26, 2004
I am not very good at keeping journals, in fact I have many that are left unfinished... I did manage to fill my first and only one during the 6 months following this entry.
"Just over a week ago I was playing camp mom at SMC, getting ready to embark on a road trip with my brother and sister, I had just turned down a CWY internship becauyse it was leaving earlier than I was going to be home. Then the whole world changed."
SMC was a camp in Northern California, my family was suppose to drive down from Vancouver, we were going to head to San Diego, ride some roller coasters, then journey back... needless to say, it didn't turn out that way.
"I returned from my day off from camp to a flurry of messages to call home. My dear Grandpa had passed away. Within a couple days I had left camp, cancelled the road trip and was home with my family to attend his funeral."
When CWY realized I was home much earlier than I anticipated they renewed their offer: join a Netcorp group assembling in Edmonton. The decision was actually difficult to make considering the emotional strain we were all under, but it was actually my Gramma that convinced me to go. She said "There is no way you would have been home if this didn't happen, and there is no way you could have gone if you weren't home, so I think you have to go." That was it, I was going.
"I got home Sunday and spent the day with Ben. On monday, I managed to run all my errans in preparation. My cousin helped me buy my first real winter jacket. Packing was ridiculous-- but I had it done by 2am.
It was only 5am when Dad came to wake me up, early, but he had slept through his alarm-- we were meant to leave at 5am. It was a rush that turned out the be unnecessary, I was there in plenty of time for my 7am flight to Edmonton.
We all get matched up with a 'counter-part' from either Poland or Ukraine. We will spend the next six months with this person-- working and living, first in Alberta, then in Ostroh Ukraine. Of the four possibilities, I hardly have a favourite, they all seem like fantastic people, but I will write more on that later when it is sorted out.
I arrived mid-day Tuesday, a good five days later than all the other Canadians, and two days later than the internationals, but they were all quick to accept me and bring into the fold. My roommate for this part of the trip made me a really sweet welcome sign.
The days are spent going over program details and responsibilities with a little fun thrown in to spice it up. Yesterday we all went on this giant zip line after dinner, then played a good game of basketball.
Today was much the same, although this time I caught the language lesson and learnt how to spell my name in both Polish and Ukrainian: Aszli & ª Ù Ë ², respectively.
Tonight I made my first five phone calls since arriving, five answering machines! I joined in a game of volleyball, this is the most excersize I've had in six months, it feels so good. We have two more days here, I am not sure what they could possibly throw at us tomorrow-- but I guess I will get some sleep and just deal as it comes."
Unfortnately, I didn't really take any photos during this time, my camera was broken. I do know someone as part of the trip that took thousands though... So maybe I will paoch some appropriate ones from him...
