pinch me... I'm dreaming.

So, life in Africa?

Can't be described.

So far Sam and I have conquered the first few tasks: getting running water (just got it as we left for this cafe), getting groceries (from the scary, intense market), and getting comfortable enough with our Swahili to venture out alone.

I cannot describe the millions of differences between here and Canada. For starters, everyone's laid back attitude is wonderful. The idea that if something isn't done today, there is always tomorrow. People take long breaks (in exchange for long work days) and also walk at their own rates.

Little tasks (running to the store) often takes you more than half an hour as you stop to talk to everyone and everyone around us is checking up on how we are doing.

Pendo, our amazing house keeper, is phenomenal. Although I cannot understand her, you can follow her by her actions and her warm welcoming smile. She calls us her 'second children' and will watch us when we are away from home.

That AND she helped us survive the market, a crazy adventure on its own. The market is unlike anything I have ever seen. People pulling at your arms, people yelling at you, people looking into your bags, trying to reach into your pockets (mainly the street kids), and finally people just trying to be friendly...it is crazy, but definately an experience.

More to come, but I have to work through my inbox of insanity at present :)

I hear Africa is nice in October

So I don't really know how to begin telling this story...and it is no where near over, so I will just start from the top.

Last wednesday I woke up (uber tired) whining about my 9AM class. I toughed it out and made it to campus a little bit early to finish up my readings and awaited my two hour lecture to commence.

My prof rushes in to prepare for the lecture and asks to speak to me in the hall. I agree, we head outside, and then my adventure begins;

'I have something to ask you that I am 99.9% sure you are going to say no to.'

*long dramatic pause, like in the movies*

'I bet you are wondering what it is'
*I smile, anxiously awaiting the news*

'Would you be interested in going to Tanzania by October 15th?'
*long pause*
'let me go call my parents'

Twenty four hours later we are sitting in my prof's office awaiting a phone call to make sure all the funding is available for us to climb on board our planes. My fellow traveller/roomate/fiance (while in Africa) sat beside me as we kept looking at eachother with ear to ear smiles.

Then it all became official. Africa by mid-October.

For the next two and a half months I will be working/interning in Mwanza, Tanzania!

Although I doubt my computer access will be a lot, I promise to try my hardest to post while there.

Over the next three weeks (well, 2.5 now) I have a mini to-do list:
1) Learn Swahili
2) Vaccinate myself against everything
3) Pack and say goodbye to everyone

and then let the adventures begin....

gah! an update?!

I know. too long. but for fear of repeating any other apology ever read on any other blog, I will just some it up.

too busy (that and a hint of laziness).

before I have a chance to take a dent into the rest of my summer, the most intense week (or two weeks if training is included) of my life (aka the best weeks of my life) and the harsh reality that at the end of a summer of organization... I did have to open up my textbooks.

I would use this space to promote all things orientation week, but instead this blog is going to become a mere sample of my favorite pics (mainly the epic ones) to keep you all entertained. that and facebook has taken away all the excitement in waiting for published photos.

Not only all of this, but I haven't even begin to discuss the new media's I have come across, the new books I have started reading, and the new things all on the horizon (of which I keep calling 'the upper years') I crossed the threshold of moving from year two to year three and there is that looming feeling like those feelings you once had in grade 11...that's going to be me next year. the graduate.

okay, too far, too much thought.

I will leave you with this:
the last kiss: undeniably a great movie. be prepared for emotions to run free.
soph formal: I ripped my pants. hi, med syd formal? was this some cruel deja vu?
the song: Beyonce- irreplaceable...that's right, it's beyonce. tiring, yet astonishingly amazing.

and finally, a picture just to cure any anticipations you had about seeing o-week photos!


p.s. kelly green...that's us.

Catch me on the links.

The times they are a changing. This is my first post as a full time summer employee, and what are we at...june 10th? A little late on the job bandwagon but on it nonetheless. In preparation for my first days of being an employee I had to finish up the majority of my summer goals and wrap up my unemployed lifestyle. so why not go out with a bang?

In preparation for my summer job I have:
-partied profusely (funk music, patios, and dance floor moves are now just a weekend thing)
-shopped (end of season sales = low bank balances)
-eaten everything in sight (I will be walking a short distance to work, so I might as well start a diet then)

I bought a new book today, I have cleaned my room, and even picked up the clubs for a round of golf in the past week (which will be a post on it's own), but let the summer work begin bitches!!!

too ready for this. I watched my last reel of daytime t.v. today...sad, but true.

there is just something about 'old skool'

Before I went away to school you couldn't have paid me to go to a retro/oldschool music function without rolling my eyes. There used to be that not-cool-esque to retro styles where people would laugh at the thought of disco music.

This has totally changed.

Whether it be funk or disco, or even just old fashioned tunes (Pat Benetar incl) CTO and retro tunes totally make my night. A long weekend wouldn't make sense to be spent anywhere except for a retro dance party, and a retro dance party it was indeed. Although I haunted the floor with my 'Heartbreaker' performance, I feel as though my dates and I redeemed ourselves during 'Vogue' and 'Gimme Gimme Gimme'...

most people wouldn't admit to the key performances from their night out, but I was in a good state of mind and 'grooving' to the tunes. so now my bar nights are sun-wed, spanning all the decades prior to my own.

until a good job comes...

I have been playing the employment waiting game for the past three weeks now and it is getting a little ridiculous. I am so tired of sending off resumes, doing call backs, and attending pointless interviews (for the jobs you know you will never take). In the mean time I have been watching movies, Ellen, reading again, and enjoying the company of friends.

but as good as that is, there is little profit in hanging out with friends who like to party/head out all the time.

The other day I took the time to sit and watch the movie on the right, and I would be lying if I said I didn't find it amazing... although yes it was slow, and yes Cameron Diaz isn't my favorite person, the movie is your standard 'family forever' storyline. which, in times of a madhunt for employment during your first summer away from home, is a good feeling to have leaving a film. and I promise when the excitement in my life picks up I will fill this blog with summer hilarities, but until then you are stuck with the ramblings of a movie watcher.

And I have to welcome back ms. alex to the city! I knew she wouldn't be able to stay away for long....this means everyone's favorite terrible twosome will be on the prowl in London this summer... so I guess things are lookin' up !

let the movie reviews begin.

Okay, so I haven't made it too far on the 'cult classics', but I have started catching up on all the 'new releases' that sat on the backburner during the school year.

Derailed kicked it off, followed by Wolf Creek (don't waste your time), and of course Last Holiday! Who doesn't appreciate a good comedy with Queen Latifah?

and with a long weekend around the corner dedicated to parties, patios, and poor judgement (I went for the last one just for the alliteration), who can sit around and hunt for a job seriously.

but if anyone asks, I am...

P.S. it is supposed to be a cool 8 degrees all weekend, go Ontario!...

Up next are: Monster in Law (I'll admit it), King Kong, and Narnia. I hate living this close to a movie store.

Londonia

it's a totally different city during the summer.

The busses run at their own schedule (or maybe its just the times no longer apply).
The bars aren't lined up. Barney's only uses half of their patio.
The Ceeps is CLOSED monday to thursday!
Jobs are a rare commodity.
Randoms/sketchballs are out in full force, especially since I am not surrounded by my bubble that is school.

But alas, there is a summer crew, and the summer crew loves to party. My new found love for a good glass of wine, a nice book, or a movie are actually things I never thought I would ever come to enjoy...but two weeks as an independent in the city have turned me into a fourty year old wino with a love for sappy movies and interesting books.

ahhh...free time.

My hunt for summer employment has ran a little dry. I counted up every email in my outbox and every resume I have dropped off, and so far I am 2:24 (as in two callbacks for twenty four resumes), but I will keep you posted as to how the rest of my job searching goes.

But with all this free time I have been able to catch up on my reading, movie watching, and of course... money wasting adventures. The first favorite of the season was 'Family Stone', which I passed up when it was released over Christmas for fear it was a shitty movie and would kill my love for SJP. Needless to say the movie surpassed my expecations, unlike Match Point which proves that I cannot stand the abstract ideas that flow from Woody Allen.

and look, the first wedding of the season. In fairness to myself, this is my only wedding of the season, but as the emcee I can say I did a damn good job. So congrats to my dear friend Carmen on the happiest day of her life.
This was my party crew for the night, and party we did (minus the maid of honour to my right, she had some responsibilities to uphold...)

This was the first wedding out of my group of close friends, and this year I have seen three engagement rings fall onto other peoples fingers, so I am assuming next years wedding season will be action packed with celebrations.

But back to the summer days and nights of patios and partying. (and the countdown is on until the DaVinci Code and, as embarassing as it sounds, X Men III).

I cracked

I am staying in London for the summer and I am so excited. But of course, calls from home have been filling my voice mail with the lists of students/friends who have returned to Ingersoll and my parents haven't received a visit since Easter.

and I gave in. I started packing my stuff today to head home for a week (roughly) I will be coming into London to avoid my house (like the plague) but after this week I will be coming back into the city full time... I swear.

Although free food and board are tempting, unmonitored summer partying is by far the better option.