IBAAW

On May 18, 2007, when we were still in Orleans. Sean, Jade, Alex, Joelle and I were bored. So we decided to do a photoshoot, on account of Sean is studying that at University next year. Anyway, I was sorting through the photos today and playing with them a bit, and I thought I'd share!

First, here's Sean, our brilliant photographer. This picture was actually taken by Joelle or I, and then skanked up for Seanzor, by yours truly.


Here is me, in sepia, enjoying the view of something to my left!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière, Orléans, Photos

Okay, so our computer at home is BROKEN!!!!! So, there won't be any news from me until we get to Quebec.

So, I'd better keep this short, but, to keep you up-to-date until I can write more:

- Our trip to Toronto was great!!! I LOVED teh CBC Museum!! I saw puppets from The Friendly Giant and Mr Dressup, and it was great!!! Oh and the Tickle Trunk was there!! Yayyy. Toronto Zoo = not as good as Calgary one!!!

- Our visit to Parliament was excellent. Question period was hilarious. The Memorial Chamber was kind of sad. The library was GORGEOUS and my number one reason to become a federal politician, ha ha.

Bye!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Well, here are, atleast, a few pictures of our shenanigans on Joelle's b-day!

Thanks to Sean's camera on his phone!!


The gang at the restaurant:

The view of Parliament from the Alexandra Bridge:

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans, Photos

So, when we last left our heros, they had just volunteered for Youth Action Day.

The following day, they were off once again, to volunteer for the Tulip Festival. Tulip Festival takes place every May. The main point of it is to show off the lovely 10,000 tulips we receive from the Dutch Royal Family as a thank-you for allowing them to take refuge here during World War II. We were told that some people would be working at 8.30am, and that others would start at 11am. So, we showed up at 8.30am (at 2 different parks- Major's Hill and Commissioner's) and nobody from the festival was there. And they didn't show up until after 11!!! We were all sort of angry, since we all got up early, and then we sat around for ages. Anyway, Anny and I eventually walked to the Gliebe to get a coffee, so whatever. The day was pretty much unorganized and uneventful. Anny and I were working in a boutique. We didn't get volunteer shirts though, so we sort of just looked like obsessive compulsive people, folding shirts at random. After 6 hours of that, we were allowed to leave! Yay. We went and looked at tulips. Some of them were FREAKING BRIGHT!!! AHHHH. Ha ha. The red ones almost blinded me!!! At 6, Natasha picked us up, and we went to the other park to get everyone else. They had been working all day, with NO WATER. So... yeah, it kind of sucked on both ends!!

That night we did our obligatory house meeting, and then International Prank Call Joanne (our PL in Kelowna) Day commenced!!! We spent about 10$ on phone cards, and left about 20 messages, that were about 5 minutes long each. It was pretty awesome.

Monday, not much went down. I'm house manager this week, so I pretty much cooked and cleaned. We worked on our Welcome Package for the group following us.

Tuesday (yesterday) was Joelle's birthday!! Alex, Jade and I made a big banner and paper chains to decorate. Then I made a chocolate cake (from scratch!!!!), and Alex decorated it. Because we'd been cleaning, and felt ugly, Alex and I got all skanked up. Then Joelle came home, so we all sang "Bonne Fete," and she blew out the candles. We'd all agreed to go out for dinner, so we went to Tucker's downtown! It is like this huuuuge buffet. I always forget that I'm a vegetarian until I go out to eat, but the veggie food was pretty good. I had two big plates, and a huge plate of dessert!! We then decided to walk to Quebec so we could all go for a drink, so we walked across the Alexandra Bridge, and found a place called The Whip. Ha ha. Sounds kinky, but actually, it was just a taverne. So, we all had a drink, and then walked back to Ontario and took the bus home. Good times, overall.

Today, Alex and I did some major cooking, which was fun, but made slightly unbarable by the +27 temperatures and lack of wind! I made peanut butter cookies for our trip, and bread (which was perfect and squishy... the secret? Add a bit of milk!!). Alex assembled 2 lasagnes, one meat, one veggie, for tomorrow night's dinner, since we'll be baking muffins and more cookies tomorrow. Oh, and we made a red bean rice salad for lunch tomorrow. Plus there's leftover pasta salad from today, ha ha. Tonight for dinner was a hot chicken sandwich, which is like... a chicken sandwich with gravy and peas on top. Weird. I didn't have any, since I don't eat chicken, but everyone enjoyed it!!

So, yeah, tomorrow is another big day of baking for our trip...

....oh my goodness, our trip!!

I don't think I mentioned it, but we're going to Toronto this weekend!!! We did the excursion, and seriously, it was sooo close, I didn't think we'd make it! Anyway, yesterday we got it from regional office, with a few things to fix, so I fixed it and sent it in. Then the lady from there called me, and told me that Carleton Place will be there the same day, and that they got a discount at the CN Tower. So, I called the CN Tower and got the same discount, which will save us 100$! And then we got the excursion officially approved!!! Yayyyy. So, I'll be chillin' in Toronto this weekend.

Next week is our last week here! On Monday we're doing a planning and organizing workshop. Tuesday is the French Organic Workshop we're hosting, that I mentioned briefly. Wednesday is Meet Your MP Day, and Friday is our Final Presentation! Then, I think we're volunteering at Tulip Festival again on Saturday, and Sunday will be dedicated to cleaning and last-minute wrap up, etc.

Then we're off to rotation camp, for all the debriefing etc. And before you know it we'll be on the 5 hour bus ride to La Pocatiere!! In no time at all I will be at home again!!! That's scary/exciting.

Speaking of home, my mom and dad said I don't even need to find a job for a month after I get back, as long as I sort of do a house manager thing there. I.E. cook and clean. To which I say, NO PROBLEM. I'm used to cooking and cleaning for 10 people! Four? That's childs play!!

Oh, and FYI, May 7th was ONE YEAR of consecutive blogging on this thing!! Whooot. It's the longest I've gone without jackrabbiting somewhere else! I think it is a sign of maturity, or something. But probably not.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Today, Joelle is 18!!!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!!


We went downtown for dinner to celebrate and then went to Gatineau (Quebec) for a drink!

And that is all!!!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Hey. Yup. Hi. Going to get on this.

So, Spider-man 3 came out last night. To celebrate we had "super hero"-themed dinner. Alex, Jade and I went as the Powerpuff girls. There are pictures somewhere, but I obviously have been pretty awful with the whole posting-photos-thing as of late. So... yeah.

Then, we found out that Gwobs won this draw thing at his work. He won 125$ and because he is very nice and so super, he took us all to see Spider-man!!!! Yayyyyy. It was funny though, because we all got out of our costumes, and went to the theatre, and they were having a costume contest!!! Argggggg. Ha ha. Anyway, the movie was quite awesome. There were loads of funny bits. And emo-Spidey which is like ahhhhhhh-be-still-my-heart you big, nerdy, emo LOVE!!! Not to mention Topher Grace and James Franco are HOTTTTTTTT. Sizzle. Gahhhh. The whole movie is just a droolfest.

Today we volunteered for Youth Action Day. It's organized by the United Way to help Ontarian high school students get their 40 hours of community service done. Ha ha, community service. First we went to this big hall-ish thing, kind of like The Space in Calgary, and we had breakfast and got some nifty t-shirts, ha ha. Then we drove out to Rideau Hill Camp. We worked on getting the camp ready for... ermmm.... camping season. I helped clean out some cabins and rake leaves and twigs. We saw lots of dead things too, like a squirrel's head, and a deer's leg. Oh, and when we were cleaning matresses there were mice in one. One of the ladies KILLED THE MOM MOUSE WITH HER FOOT AND THEN THREW THE BABIES IN THE GARBAGE!!! It was sooo gross, and Alex and I were working there and we're both vegetarians, so... yeah. We weren't very pleased. Lunch was yummy though, they made us vegetarian chili. We also got a certificate that said we gained 8 hours of volunteer-ness. Which made us laugh, since we all do an average of 35-hours of volunteering per week already.

Tomorrow is our first day volunteering at the Tulip Festival. I have no idea how that will be, since last week they called and said we couldn't volunteer because some people have facial piercings. But, apparently they really needed us, because they relented. And in protest, Sean went and got his lip pierced yesterday.

Next week I'm house manager as well, so that will be fun. I hope. Then only 4 days left of work (because I'm pretty sure we get the whole day of the 16th off to meet our MPs).

Oh, and on the 15th we're holding an organic workshop at our house. In French. So, if you want to come, then, YAY. Ha ha.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Hey, this is just a pointless note, because I actually don't have anything to say!

I have a cold. My throat is sore, but... nothing much has happened these last few days!

Sunday's gallery visit was fun! We drove all the way there. From Orleans, to downtown Ottawa, which is about 20 minutes. We drive by the gallery... and Anny announces that she left the tickets on the fridge! So, we drove all the way back to the house to get them, and then back. So, in total, it took us about an hour and a half to get there!!! Ha ha. Most of us were fine with it, since really, what do we have to do on Sundays anyway? But Natasha was a bit angry, because she was the one driving, and obviously, driving on the busy highways is not a fun was to spend Sunday.

The exhibit was great!!! It was Ron Mueck's collection of these INCREDIBLY realistic sculptures. They were just.... so real. Like, some of the most simple, yet emotional moments of human existance, just... there. On display. It was awesome. I also enjoyed a section called "Deconstruction." They did some interesting installation art there. It was pretty sweet. And, not to sound odd or anything, but the gifshop was AMAZING. I didn't spend anything!!! In fact, I left my wallet at home to prevent myself from even spending a penny! But I wanted to buy practically everything!!!! Ha ha.

That's all I have to say!!! BYE!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

So, to prevent myself from spending money that I do not have, I have condemned myself to the Katima-house tonight, instead of taking a trip to the customary hang-out called the mall. In celebration of this historic event, I am spending the night "being a nerd," and reading odd gamer-nerd comics and playing on the computer. So far, it is going quite well, and I am enjoying myself. Ha ha.

Last night, Anny, Natasha, Joelle and I went to the National Arts Centre, to see this dance performance called bODY_rEMIX. It was a really great modern show, two Acts, with loads of naked people using crutches to... erm- dance. It was FREAKIN SWEET, but difficult to explain. Joelle and I sat together in the orchestra, and Anny and Natasha were on the balcony.

Today we volunteered at the Home Support Cafe thing. It was pretty much fun, but overall uneventful.

Tomorrow we'll be at the National Art Gallery. I suppose you'll see the pictures... if I post them that is... you know how I am. I'm unreliable. I suck.

I'm sorry.


I feel badly.


I'm going to go cry now.

Gahhhhhhhhh, why am I such a failureeeeeeeee ?

Ha ha, dorky enough for you?

I'm outie.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISSY LISSY!!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

I am the proud owner of a CTI.

Yes, I am that badass.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Ahhhh the full-length HP trailer is out!!!! It looks SO AWESOME!!!! Too bad I'll have to see it in French first... not that I have anything against the French, but it won't be the same... I'm praying for an English copy in La Pocatiere as well! Anyway, here's the link if you haven't seen it yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLud6yM47u8

While I'm here, I may as well write something! Umm... today we went downtown to learn about Tulip Festival and volunteering at it. I was deemed "bilingual" in my interview! Yayyyy. So, I'm working at either information or the boutique. Then we spent a nicee afternoon at Byward Market and along Rideau and stuff, which was great. And of course, we checked out a Earth Day thing at Parliament. And the Eternal Flame is back up, so we saw that too!

I can't be pasty this summer. Usually that is my goal, but yesterday was Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) and we spent the whole day picking up garbage along Des Epinettes and a bit of Jeanne d'Arc, as well as in the ravines near our house. One is Yves Richer Park, but I don't know the other one. And anyway, even though I applied SPF 30 twice during the day, I still tanned a bit, so I gave up. I don't know if I tanned today, but I probably did since it was 22 degrees and I was outside until 3.30pm.

Oh yeah, and then Rob's billet, Phil, came over for dinner and to talk to us since he was a Katimavik part and just came back from Canada World Youth. He only had a month break between the 2 programs!!! That's crazy!! Anyway, it was cool to hear more about CWY.

Oh, and we had our house meeting tonight, which went well. I love it when meetings go well since everyone is so happy! Ha ha.

I read 2 French novels this week. Granted, they were for young teenagers, and one was The Babysitter's Club, but it was good times!!! :P

We finally finished our excursion protocol for Toronto. The trip would be from the night of the 11th until the night of the 13th of May. I hope it gets approved!!!! Please please please katima-gods, approve our protocol!!! I didn't do as much work on it as I did for the Vancouver for obvious lack-of-knowledge-about-Toronto reasons. But I did do the SMART objectives, which are my specialty! If there's anything I can so, it's take information and make it sound educational! That's how I passed the written protion of my biology diploma! Ha ha.

Anyway... no pictures from Easter have been uploaded yet, but I'll try to get them uploaded this week!!! I'm sorry, I know you guys have been waiting on the edge of your seats, I'm sure!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Okay, yeah, I haven't got around to le uber long post, because nobody has uploaded the pics yet! Also, it is SOOOOOO SUNNY and NICE here (22 degrees) so we're all kind of distracted from anything other than BEING OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is GYSD and we're picking up garbage, so yeah.... I'm busy. Ha ha.

BUT I'M STILL ALIVE, and hopefully a lengthy blog will happen soon!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Hey guys! I just wanted to mention that I'm back from my lovely Easter trip to Quebec!! I went to Magog, Sherbrooke, Stanstead, Lennoxville, Trois-Rivieres, Montreal and loads of little towns in between! It was awesome.

We took LOADS of pictures, and did lots too, but I'm not going to get into anything since the photos aren't on the computer yet (since we just got home 2 hours ago). In any case, I'm house manager this week, so I'll get working on a super loooooooong post!

Quahhhhhhhh, it was so much fun!!!

I <3333 Joelle, Anny and Nick, they are awesome travel mates!!!

And Joelle's family is AWESOME.

CABANE AU SUCRE!!!

Ahhh, I'm giving it away! Later!!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Okay, I said I wouldn't be back, and this is going to be short, because I should be spending time with my billets, but stuff happened, and therefore, I BLOG.

Last night we had a blackout. Ha ha. Around 8.30pm all of the power went out. So, Alana found a flashlight and candles and stuff, but the kids were still freaked out, especially since I kept on making references to scary movies and aliens. Mainly War of the Worlds. They insisted there was no big black hole outside, and I was like "How do you know?" Then John got home, and when he did, Joelle ran across the street, because they had one flashlight, and lots of candles, but no matches! So, she got some matches from us. Then I used the flashlight to go down to my room to get my mp3 player, because it has a radio. That wasn't too helpful though, because all they said was that Hydro Ontario said they knew the power was out, but the didn't know why, or how long it would last. Thanks, guys. Ha ha. So, then we all decided to go to bed, so I had to take a candle with me and make my way downstairs. So, yeah, the whole night was odd, but the shadows and stuff were SO COOL. Ha ha. I turned on my lamp before I went to bed as well, so I knew that the power came back on just before midnight.

Today was our class sugar bush trip, which was pretty fun. I mean, what could be more fun than 5 hours of supervising kids in the cold?!? Ha ha. But actually, I had a good time. Some good memories with the kids, I'm sure. Oh, and with Nick. Ha ha. He has such a little entourage of grade 4/5 girls. It's fantastic. But seriously, how do these kids have so much energy??? They played on haystacks and slides and in mazes ALL DAY. For the whole trip. And in PUDDLES and MUD. And yet, Aaron, who I am billeting with, played from when we got home at 3 until now. So, 2 hours. That's like 7 hours non-stop!!!! It's crazy!!!

I am soooo exhausted.

Anyway, the plan for tonight is that I'm eating dinner here. Then I'm watching Full House, for the last time! Ha ha. But I have to because it's the one where Becky has the twins! Then I'm heading back to the katima-house. So....yeah. That's all!

Thanks for the birthday wishes Lissa and Orry, my loves!!!

And I'm glad you had a nice grad trip Lissy!!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Yup, so last night Joelle and I went to Quebec to see "A vos marques...PARTY!" It was a good chick flick-type film. And Alexandre Despatie was in it, which was nice because he is gorgey and also because he spent most of the film half-naked.

Tonight is my last night billeting, so I'm going to do some laundry. Then tomorrow, after dinner, I'm going back to the house, and another group is coming to use our house for the weekend. So, that will be interesting...

On Friday we're debriefing, and then we're FREEEEE. Off to Joelle's! The first night we're going to a party, but I won't say where on account of it's location keeps changing, so I actually don't know. And I don't know what we're doing on Saturday. On Sunday we're doing the whole maple sugar thing near Trois-Rivieres.

Oh yeah, and tomorrow is my class trip to a sugar bush, so that will be fun, except it is RAINING. A LOT. Ugh. And it's on a muddy farm. Lol. I'm doooooooomed.

Yay, my birthday money is being put in my account tomorrow!!!! I am major stoked, because of course I love money.

And, of course, it is my birthday on Sunday...

It just occured to me that I probably won't be on here before next week, when I am house manager (gaggggggg), so....yeah! I hope you all have fun without me! Ha ha.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Hey everyone!!! And by everyone, I mean.... well, who reads this anyway?

I'm at school right now, and by school, I obviously mean my work placement. It's computers class, so that's pretty cool. Ooer, and it's DOUBLE computers, which is even better, ha ha!

Billeting is still going good!!! Ummm.... yes. Yesterday Joelle, the kids we live with, and I played road hockey for a few hours! It was sooooo much fun! Because the weather is gorgeous right now! Oh, and yes, I scored the winning goal for my team! From the centre line!!! Without even meaning to!!! Yes, I AM that amazing at hockey...

...but not really.

Speaking of hockey, I read that they're preparing the Red Mile back home. We're not even really in the playoffs yet!!! They might be getting ahead of themselves! Ahhh well, better safe than sorry. And in any case THE FLAMES ROCK AND WILL TAKE THE CUP!!!! Ha ha ha. And the Sens most definitely won't. Silly Ottawa Sens fans, who always think they have a chance, when they DON'T!

Yesterday, Nick, Jade, Gwobs and I went out to Pizza Pizza for lunch, to celebrate Jade's birthday which is today. So, yeah, HAPPY 18th JADEY BABY!!!!!!!!! She's spending a super fab day with her family today!!! I bet she's having a blast! Oh my goodness, I can't believe I'm going to be 19 in a week and 2.5 days! Ha ha ha. It's like reliving my 18th birthday, kind of, because I haven't been able to go out since I got into Katimavik. Silly BC and Ontario.

Anyway, I'm bored of this now, and there's not much to say, really!!! So, I'm going to go now, and I hope everyone is doing awesomely!!!

Love,

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Just a quick note to say that I'm once again billeting!!! Yup... you probably already realized that, since I've said it multiple times over the last three posts!!!!

Anyway, things are great! I'm going with Joelle's family to one of their kids' hockey games this afternoon, and then a baby shower this evening.

Ummm.... yes, that's all the news on this end!!!

Sorry this is so short!!!

I'm trying to make it longer..... hmmmmmm.

Nope, can't think of anything! Ha ha.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans

Okay, I wrote another entry before this one, so go read it as well!!! But this was just so exciting I couldn't wait!!!

Oh, except here is a pic of Anny and I trying an ice cream cone filled with MAPLE BUTTER (yummm) and the sticky maple stuff they put on snow, in Ottawa!!!

Anyway.....

Yesterday, we went to Rideau Hall, which is where the Governor General, Michealle Jean, lives. She held the first ever forum there for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination! There were great speakers! And we met her!!! She is SOOOOOO nice. Oh, and the place was gorgeous and smelled of fresh flowers! AND THE FOOD! My goodness, it was AMAZING!!!! Sorry, these pics are out of order, but I HATE blogger's way of putting pics in!

Jade and I next to a pretty table with fresh flowers:
Anny, Nick and I with the Queen (her picture anyway) in the room where the reception was held!

Like with the last entry, there are more pics but I won't have time to post them until after billeting!!! Sorry!!! Now I have to go eat!! BYEEEE!!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans, Photos

Okay, so, this is the long awaited museum and Ottawa entry! I'm going to do it quickly, because more interesting things happened yesterday!

Okay, so there aren't many pictures yet because we haven't uploaded them, but here are some now. I'll put more on after billeting, maybe!

Museum:

Me at a war monument in Ottawa:

Us all under our respective flags.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans, Photos

Wow, sorry for being so emo last time. Sometimes that happens, I guess.

To make up for it, here are some happy pictures of me and my group in Orléans!

This is Anny and I when we got off the plane at the Ottawa International Airport!

We took a yellow school bus to our house! Big change from the luxury busses we had in BC (you know, with bathrooms. Sweet.)!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans, Photos

Last night, we went to see...

LES TROIS ACCORDS!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness, I LOVED IT! Seriously. There are no words. It was fantastic! Gahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I am officially in love with Quebecois music. So, yeah, if you're looking for something cool, check them out. Also, LES COWBOYS FRIGANTS!!! And Pierre Lapointe if you're a bit emo (I LOVE HIM <3333). And Mes Aieux. Gahhh. I can't stress my love for Quebec at this moment enough! And I don't even live there yet!!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, Orléans