I just don’t get it. I get “in trouble” when I don’t apply for a job because I won’t be there for the full term of the position. So next time comes around, and I apply for a job that I won’t be there for the full position. This time, I get asked “what were you thinking? You can’t do the term.” How do I win in this situation? And, it’s all from the same person. I just don’t get it.
I am sure it is hormones talking, but today, I feel so close to tears. His changed mind has me wanting to cry. For that matter, so does moving to China. I will have to say some real goodbyes this summer. I think I want a couple weeks to travel in Canada. The more I think about it, the less logical it becomes to go to my Aunt’s wedding anniversary party for the July long weekend. But, I want to see my family before I leave. We may be separated, but I love them and miss them. I need time to see Dad and Tami, and some of not all of my cousins before I go. I need to say a goodbye to Nathaniel and to Marlene. I need to finish the photo album I started for Nate. I know that me leaving for a year is the end of him in my life. I cannot show up over a year later and expect the warm welcome I am used to. So I have to say goodbye. Maybe it’s way past time anyways. It’s been a year since his father and I broke up. I always claimed I would keep the relationship alive, but how do I do that from China? I might still send him a birthday/Christmas card, but I have to drift out. I feel this for all of Trav’s family all of a sudden actually. I feel like keeping a relationship with me is a burden we could all do without. It’s not as strained as it was when Trav and I weren’t talking, but I think it too has reached the closing point. Mom is sick and despite trying to remain positive, I would be surprised if I got to see her again after I left for China. I would like to remain a friend to them, but not the daughter like friend I wanted to be, and was. I will try to take Nate out there one weekend to say goodbyes to all of them. However, I am not letting go of Travis. He is still my best friend (if you didn’t gather that from my last post), and I will always love him. But I guess he can have his family back.
Since I came back from Vancouver and started looking for a job overseas, I have found myself drifting away from those that mean everything to me. If Nickolas gives me attitude, I give it right back at him, annoyed at him for the first time in four years. I know that we are both acting out against the goodbye that is coming, but it just makes me sadder. I do consider him to be my little brother, and in the last four years, we have had so many good times. I am definitely going to miss that little guy. I am trying to make up for my leaving by having the coolest time possible in the coming weeks. We are going to make his mother a birthday present. I think we will make mugs for ourselves as a memento. I am making a scrapbook which I want us to write notes in for each other. I probably actually have too much planned for remaining weeks. I hate the thought of saying goodbye to him. I hate to think of what happens with me gone. Does he get a new buddy? Will they connect? Will the new person help him as he reaches puberty? I certainly couldn’t help him with that.
And of course, there is also all of my friends. I will have to say a goodbye to them as well. It’s not like going to Ghana for a couple months anymore. It’s more permanent than my travels have been before. the 2-4 months I have left in the past is nothing. Now I am gone for a year. Best case scenario, I am home for maybe two months in the summer to see them again. Worst case scenario, I stay gone more than a year. Will they still be there when I come home? Will they write? Will anyone even care that I am gone and not on facebook anymore? Will they email? Or will I be cut from the loop completely? I am following a dream only a year in the making, but it is one I fully believe in. Why is this all hitting so hard? And why do I feel like I am losing everything that matters to me?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Lonely Talk
My unemployed stance has me in a difficult place. I am lonely. Every day, I try to find enough things to do to fight this off, but every day, the loneliness is there, just below the surface. I try to hide it, to suppress it, but it is always there. I am talking to many people online, but it’s not helping; it’s not the same as in person. I know that not one of you will support this, but I really miss Trav. Regardless of your opinion on the dear boy, he is still the best friend I have ever had. He understands me and I don’t have to do a lot of explaining. And, I miss him. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him, and want to talk to him. This isn’t really an option though. I do my best to deal with it.
Many of you are probably already thinking about how I am going to manage life in China, where I am effectively cut off from the internet world in which I know it. Just like I did in Ghana, I am going to be immersed in the culture. I am going to be busy. Yes, I will still have lonely moments. But, I will also be making new friends with the other teachers and people I come into contact with. It will be wonderful. And, I will Skype home as often as I can on a 15 hour time difference! I am not worried about life in China. It’s the unemployed nothing to do life that gets to me.
I haven’t written “poetry” in a long time, but in the last 8 days, I have written two. I am going to share these on my blog, for the first time.
Your Demands
I was minding my own business
Looking for things to buy
Out of no where
I was blindsided by a smile
I lost eight years in a second
I was 18 and falling in love
The flashback lasted about a minute
I dreamed it
Someone must have your smile
I told myself I was going crazy
But the more I watched you
The more I was sure it was you
You look different
But it’s been years
Since I last saw you
You kept making eye contact
And breaking it
Before I could even smile
Butterflies filled my stomach
This is crazy I thought
It’s probably not even you
I didn’t talk to you
Beyond those awkward glances
But I can’t stop thinking about you
And I am kicking myself
For not saying anything
I was obeying your wished
Wishes from so long ago
Wishes your eyes still portrayed
But now I can’t stop thinking
And wondering how you are
Wishing I had broken your demands
To fulfill my desire
To know if it was even you
And how you are today
One Week
It only took me a week
To say I couldn’t live without you
To declare you the
Best friend I ever had
Everyone called me foolish
After all, it had only been
One week
One week and I knew
I could never have you
The way I wanted to
I could never be your girl
A best friend would have to do
Every time you kissed me
I tried to convince myself
That we had to be friends
One year
One year and we were engaged
I had found my prince
And it had started in
One week
Now, two and a half years
Since I knew you were
My soul mate
I feel back in week one
I still need you
For all my ups and downs
For the good, the bad, and the ugly
For every amazing moment
And every moment that breaks my heart
My body, mind, heart and soul
Call your name
I know I could talk to you
I know you would understand
I know you would be my best friend
Instead, I search for someone else
And hope they can do the job
They try their best
So I try not to compare
But I still come back
Wishing I had called you instead
One week was all it took
I have spent the last year
Wishing you were still here
Missing everything we should have
I still need you
And I still want you near
It’s been a year
But it still feels like week one
Trying to convince myself
We are better off this way
I always said
I needed you in my life
And I would take you
In any way I could get
But it’s not enough
I still want more
It’s been a year
Two and a half since
Week One
Where my world changed
Forever
In just…
In just one week
Many of you are probably already thinking about how I am going to manage life in China, where I am effectively cut off from the internet world in which I know it. Just like I did in Ghana, I am going to be immersed in the culture. I am going to be busy. Yes, I will still have lonely moments. But, I will also be making new friends with the other teachers and people I come into contact with. It will be wonderful. And, I will Skype home as often as I can on a 15 hour time difference! I am not worried about life in China. It’s the unemployed nothing to do life that gets to me.
I haven’t written “poetry” in a long time, but in the last 8 days, I have written two. I am going to share these on my blog, for the first time.
Your Demands
I was minding my own business
Looking for things to buy
Out of no where
I was blindsided by a smile
I lost eight years in a second
I was 18 and falling in love
The flashback lasted about a minute
I dreamed it
Someone must have your smile
I told myself I was going crazy
But the more I watched you
The more I was sure it was you
You look different
But it’s been years
Since I last saw you
You kept making eye contact
And breaking it
Before I could even smile
Butterflies filled my stomach
This is crazy I thought
It’s probably not even you
I didn’t talk to you
Beyond those awkward glances
But I can’t stop thinking about you
And I am kicking myself
For not saying anything
I was obeying your wished
Wishes from so long ago
Wishes your eyes still portrayed
But now I can’t stop thinking
And wondering how you are
Wishing I had broken your demands
To fulfill my desire
To know if it was even you
And how you are today
One Week
It only took me a week
To say I couldn’t live without you
To declare you the
Best friend I ever had
Everyone called me foolish
After all, it had only been
One week
One week and I knew
I could never have you
The way I wanted to
I could never be your girl
A best friend would have to do
Every time you kissed me
I tried to convince myself
That we had to be friends
One year
One year and we were engaged
I had found my prince
And it had started in
One week
Now, two and a half years
Since I knew you were
My soul mate
I feel back in week one
I still need you
For all my ups and downs
For the good, the bad, and the ugly
For every amazing moment
And every moment that breaks my heart
My body, mind, heart and soul
Call your name
I know I could talk to you
I know you would understand
I know you would be my best friend
Instead, I search for someone else
And hope they can do the job
They try their best
So I try not to compare
But I still come back
Wishing I had called you instead
One week was all it took
I have spent the last year
Wishing you were still here
Missing everything we should have
I still need you
And I still want you near
It’s been a year
But it still feels like week one
Trying to convince myself
We are better off this way
I always said
I needed you in my life
And I would take you
In any way I could get
But it’s not enough
I still want more
It’s been a year
Two and a half since
Week One
Where my world changed
Forever
In just…
In just one week
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Life Happens
Okay, let’s face it. I am depressed. I am not going to let it get me, BUT, it’s there. I am almost convinced I will not find an ESL job in PG, but despite having talked about it, don’t think I will be moving to Vancouver for it. I am just… more at home in PG than Vancouver. I don’t want to be worried about getting lost. I don’t want to worry about buses and all that. I know, a little pathetic of me, but whatever, it’s what I want, or think I want anyways. However, I am not being a total bum about it, although it does feel this way to me, and therefore, probably to you as well. I have applied for all the volunteer positions I can think of. I am going to set up a meeting with a director to talk to her about some options I have. I would enjoy doing some more observations along with maybe a class or two. I would enjoy subbing as well. So, I am going to do that. I am trying to find out if we still have an “ESL cafe” in town, and would be excited to take a part of that as well. Hopefully, at least one of these volunteer positions come true for me as well! I need a job, so, I will have to find something soon, ESL or not. Monday’s goals.
I am going to be one of four mentors working on the Go Girl Program this spring. This program is ran through Big Brothers and Big Sisters. It is aimed at pre-adolescent girls and is meant to help build confidence and self-esteem in these girls. It sounds like a pretty great program, and I am excited to have this opportunity. I had it last year, but it wasn’t the right time for me. A big part of this program which appeals to me on a professional level is that we are given basic lesson plans for each meeting, and we have to facilitate them. I am happy to have this chance to continue my teaching, even if not in an ESL environment. It also makes me happy to know that my teen story might inspire someone. I know I followed a very clean path, and it is possible that hearing this from me will encourage the girls to step away from the peer pressure they might feel to conform to fit in. In a lot of ways, I was a pretty typical teen. I was depressed. I bullied kids who I didn’t like. This did not become clear to me until long after high school ended, and I am a little ashamed of what I did. However, I have forgiven myself, and I have moved onto be the girl that you all know and love. I will have to tell this to these girls. It is a little scary to know that I will “bare my soul”, but I am at a point where I am ready to do this. This program starts in about mid-April, but my training is this week. This program will run for seven weeks (which will look like nine on the calendar because of two long weekends in there), for 2 hours a week. I am so excited!
I am still going to sign up for those two courses I talked about previously; they start April 20th. I am also signing up for a first aid course. I took Nathaniel sledding on Tuesday and when he scratched the heck out of his head, it was the scare of my young life. I thought he might have a concussion, and I quickly realized that I had no idea what a concussion looked like, or what to do about it. This event on cemented in my mind that I need a first aid course before I go overseas. If I do something dumb to myself, like fall in a sewage hole again, I need to know how to treat it myself! I won’t always have a Katherine around to play doctor! This is in May. Probably also in May I will have my yard sale for Relay for Life 2011 and United Hearts Children’s Centre. For those of you in PG, I will gladly take your yard sale treasures for this fundraiser! And of course, the Relay is in May as well! As you can tell, I have big plans for my summer here, and I have big plans for my future still. And of course, I am raising money for that too!
On a side note, mostly about Nathaniel’s mishap on the hill…. I had a mishap on the hill today too! I was cruising along, enjoying the perfect spring day… snow was sloshing behind me, and life was grand. And then, I had time to think “oh shit!” and “thank god I wear a helmet” before my face crashed into the snow. I don’t know the rest, but I landed hard on my back as well. My goggles were around my neck (making it hard to take off my helmet!) My little neck warmer thing was filled with snow. I wasn’t sure I could move. (I am pretty sure part of my back landed on something and will soon be bruised, but Mom says that she can see no damage to me yet). I yell curse words down the hill so that Mom at least knows I am alive. S
he asks if I am okay, and I answer with I think so, but I am not yet sure. My back hurt so much I didn’t know what to do. Once I caught the breath that this wicked fall had stolen away, I slowly sat up. Okay, good, my back merely hurts. I pull out a tissue to dry the snow off my face, and discover that somewhere, there is blood on my face. It takes me a bit to figure out that the bridge of my nose is bleeding a little. As I start to get re-dressed (there was snow everywhere!), I realize that I broke the inside lens of my goggles, and made a little crack in the outside of them. I figure it was the goggles breaking that made my nose bleed. And now that I am safely at home, my whole body is starting to hurt to move (and my back is even sorer). I had a bath, but tomorrow will still be a rough day. If I had more time to think thoughts as I flew to my death (I enjoy being dramatic), I would have also thought “this is going to hurt”. One of mom’s statements was pretty much just that : you will hurt in the morning! I joked that I did it to make Nate feel better, but Nate’s entire face was scratched from his sliding face first to a stop at the bottom of the sledding hill. As upset as I was about it, he shouldn’t have gone down on his face! Those were not my instructions to him! Nathaniel was really upset by the blood on his face, so I can only show you the picture I took when we got home today, of me!
I want to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers and donations towards United Hearts Children Centre. What could have been a crisis with the roofing situation has been handled, and we are back to raising money for the inside of the orphanage. We couldn’t have gotten this far without you guys!
Anyways, that’s my week for you. Don’t worry, I am going to pull my shit together and get this back together. I have to drop off a criminal record check, mom and my passport renewals, go swimming?, I am going to apply everywhere and get a job, I am going to talk to people about ESL placements, and I am going to find volunteer work as well. I have my first interview with Georgia on Thursday, and I am going to get that job and go to Georgia for September! And I am a month ahead of university students, so I can get the best jobs!
I love you, my dear friends.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Excitement!
My life is wonderful, but things annoy me. So, I am going to rant for a minute, and then tell you all about the goodness that is Jenna.
1. Just because I am white, does not mean I can help you financially. There are things I will support and things I will not. A friend from Ghana emailed me last week begging for money. He can’t pay the rent on his drinking spot, and thinks I should pay it for him. I was like, I don’t have the money. He told me that I would have to find it because he needed it. It wasn’t until I told him that I didn’t know how I was going to pay my own rent that he gave me a break on it. He still messages me every day about it. However, when Pastor Elisha called me this morning telling me that the orphanage is not able to complete the roofing project because the price of everything has gone up and there is just not enough money, I did react. I emailed my people and asked if they could spare any money. Housing 25 orphans is far more important to me than one man’s bar. Maybe I am a snob, but something’s you just cannot ask of me!
2. People who think I should have a boyfriend, and that I am being stubborn by not finding one. Mom’s friend Charlie (don’t even get me started on Charlie! He is at least 80 and drives me nuts!) insists every time he comes over that I need a man to solve all my problems (none of which I believe I had). When I tell him that I am happy without a man, he says I am lying. Why is it hard to believe that I am actually happy in life?
Okay, now that I am done ranting, I am taking a deep breath and am going to tell you all about my new plans for life!
I have been asked to help run “Go Girls”, a program ran through Big Brothers and Big Sisters which focuses on helping girls develop self-esteem and confidence, along with providing healthy choices for life. I was asked to do this last year, but if you think about, I was really in no state to try to help anyone! This year, I am seriously considering it. This year, they are running it for 7 weeks as a once a week after school program. It will be four girls to one mentor if all goes according to plan. I am pretty excited about it this year!
Because my grammar skills suck, I have found an online course which is designed for teaching grammar to ESL students. I am hoping that it will give me more skills and make it easier for me to step into a true teaching position. It is a six week course with two sessions a week. It sounds like there is two weeks for each assignment that is given. At the end of the course, there is a final exam, which is also online. I missed the March course because I didn’t think of this website in time, so I am going to take it for mid-April. I am also going to take a course on Enhancing Language Skills in Children at the same time. I feel that these two courses will be the most beneficial of the courses listed on the website for me at this time. There are actually five courses I want to take (all six weeks, and all $127 each). There is one on teaching pre-school which although I hope not to have pre-school I think it will give me great ideas to take into the younger classrooms with me. Although it is aimed at 2-5 year olds, I know that 7 and 8 year olds would like the same, slightly adapted materials. There is a course on just teaching ESl students, which although will mostly be a review of CELTA, I wouldn’t mind taking as well, because they might look at things slightly differently and give me a better idea of the classroom as well. There is no teaching in these programs, just coursework. This program also says that it will give you a better idea about assessing students’ performance, which is something that we don’t really cover in CELTA. The final course that I have bookmarked for my future learning is a course on being Assertive. This is something I am very aware that I lack, and am willing to work on. It was one of the things that I was told in every lesson in CELTA that I needed to work on and something that I was aware of before that. Hopefully, I will take all five of these courses this summer, and you will see a stronger, more knowledgeable, more confident Jenna come September.
I have been downloading any free grammar and teaching books I can find, and am probably going to go on another hunt today. I love the world of illegal downloading, haha. I would like to have a mini ESL library on my computer for my guidance and helping my students in the future. I am going to buy one of them external hard drive things and save it all on there for my travels. It will be good.
Speaking of my travels, I have a little plan, but still need to do a little more research on it. I am thinking right now about the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe. They are in the second year (and possibly last, I don’t think they are sure yet!) of a government funded English language training program for the public school system. It is classified as a volunteer program, but volunteers get a monthly payment of approximately $275. The contract states that you will give approximately $50 of this to your homestay family, or will buy some groceries. The information about Georgia says that a family of four eats for $75 a month. From what everyone says $225 a month is more than enough to live comfortably, but obviously not to save a lot of money. Flights are booked and paid for by the employer. There is a seven day orientation upon arrival, during which everything is paid, including your hotel and meals. Volunteers are provided with a cell phone upon arrival, and all calls to the employer and other volunteers is included in the plan. You do have to pay for other calls though. Volunteers are placed throughout the country – and like IVHQ, you don’t know where you are going until orientation. This isn’t a problem to me; I would love to be placed in a rural village where I could be a part of the community out there. I read some complaints that there might not be running water, but again, this is not something that bothers me. And if I do get placed in a city, there is plenty of culture and life to be found there as well! I love that placements are with a homestay family – part of doing this is to learn about another culture! I know that in Ghana, I was thankful for volunteer housing in the end, but I think this will be ideal. I will still see other volunteers, but will get a full dose of the culture. The information says that most of the homestay families are actually staff from the school which we will work at, so that makes it nice as well. The teaching is alongside a local teacher, with a sharing of the workload. Like many foreign English students, English has been learned “from a book” so pronunciation might not be right. This is part of my job – to give the students (and staff) proper pronunciation and natural English practice.
This idea of teaching is really appealing to me right now. As I mentioned in my last blog, I am nervous about my teaching skills, and do not feel reading to head into the “real world” of teaching right now. I am obviously hoping that my upcoming courses will help me feel more confident as well but…. For now, I would love to start beside another teacher, sharing the already planned curriculum, and learning my teaching style in a much safer environment. Georgia is taking anyone who can make a semester commitment, no teaching experience required. I feel this is a safe place for me to get my feet wet before I commit to my own classroom. There is also the opportunity for tutoring and helping in the community with events. Each teacher is matched with a previous volunteer teacher to help make the transition into Georgia a little easier to bear. Like my trip to Ghana, I don’t know why I am choosing here, but it sounds so good!
Of course, this is not as guaranteed as Ghana was. There are two interviews which will occur, providing they like the paperwork I provide. September is when the new semester’s start, so it is a busy time to go, but it is when I would like to go. They can only accept 50 volunteers at a time. Volunteers can start on the 15th or 30th of every month except December (because from December 23 – January 19 is holidays). If you do a two semester contract, you are provided with an airline ticket back home or to a place of your choice providing it costs less. Right now, I am thinking I might take that time to go to England and visit Andrea, or maybe make a quick trip to Ghana. Who knows? If I don’t go to England during the winter break, I would hope that Andrea and I could do our Europe trip in the summer time when my contract is up. Obviously, this is only possible if I actually make some money this summer!
Right now, my long term goal is do a couple of years teaching in various locations. Vietnam has a CELTA program, and also offers the Young Learners extension program. I am currently thinking I would like to take the CELTA-YL in Vietnam, and then do a year or so working there. And then, it’s off to travel the world again!
I have been thinking a lot about the community centre type thing I want to eventually open in some village where I decide to settle. This community centre of mine obviously needs to pay me enough to live on, because I will be settled into the community and my life savings will either be depleted or low unless I find the money making jobs! (And there is nowhere in ESL that you can get “rich”) I want to have “theme” days. For example, on Monday we might have a girl’s day – where we work on the Go Girls program, along with maybe some things from Girl Guides. Maybe Tuesday is a sport day. Wednesday could be a homework day, and I could possibly offer English classes in the evening to adults. Thursday could be craft day and Friday could be fun and games. I don’t know, I am not there in life, but I think this would be amazing! I think that having one day of the week for each thing would make it easier for my “students” to plan for these things. But, this is a long ways away, but no harm in starting planning and collecting now! And I may as well use as many skills as I can! I couldn’t sleep last night; I was so busy thinking about all these things! In the day, maybe I could do a little day care thing with the little ones, like what we do at the orphanage – some learning, some fun, some free time.
So yep, that’s my life. I am going to slip onto four pages on Word, and I am sure you have had quite enough of my life anyways! I am just so happy and excited and have so many things I want to do, that I cannot contain it!
I love you!
1. Just because I am white, does not mean I can help you financially. There are things I will support and things I will not. A friend from Ghana emailed me last week begging for money. He can’t pay the rent on his drinking spot, and thinks I should pay it for him. I was like, I don’t have the money. He told me that I would have to find it because he needed it. It wasn’t until I told him that I didn’t know how I was going to pay my own rent that he gave me a break on it. He still messages me every day about it. However, when Pastor Elisha called me this morning telling me that the orphanage is not able to complete the roofing project because the price of everything has gone up and there is just not enough money, I did react. I emailed my people and asked if they could spare any money. Housing 25 orphans is far more important to me than one man’s bar. Maybe I am a snob, but something’s you just cannot ask of me!
2. People who think I should have a boyfriend, and that I am being stubborn by not finding one. Mom’s friend Charlie (don’t even get me started on Charlie! He is at least 80 and drives me nuts!) insists every time he comes over that I need a man to solve all my problems (none of which I believe I had). When I tell him that I am happy without a man, he says I am lying. Why is it hard to believe that I am actually happy in life?
Okay, now that I am done ranting, I am taking a deep breath and am going to tell you all about my new plans for life!
I have been asked to help run “Go Girls”, a program ran through Big Brothers and Big Sisters which focuses on helping girls develop self-esteem and confidence, along with providing healthy choices for life. I was asked to do this last year, but if you think about, I was really in no state to try to help anyone! This year, I am seriously considering it. This year, they are running it for 7 weeks as a once a week after school program. It will be four girls to one mentor if all goes according to plan. I am pretty excited about it this year!
Because my grammar skills suck, I have found an online course which is designed for teaching grammar to ESL students. I am hoping that it will give me more skills and make it easier for me to step into a true teaching position. It is a six week course with two sessions a week. It sounds like there is two weeks for each assignment that is given. At the end of the course, there is a final exam, which is also online. I missed the March course because I didn’t think of this website in time, so I am going to take it for mid-April. I am also going to take a course on Enhancing Language Skills in Children at the same time. I feel that these two courses will be the most beneficial of the courses listed on the website for me at this time. There are actually five courses I want to take (all six weeks, and all $127 each). There is one on teaching pre-school which although I hope not to have pre-school I think it will give me great ideas to take into the younger classrooms with me. Although it is aimed at 2-5 year olds, I know that 7 and 8 year olds would like the same, slightly adapted materials. There is a course on just teaching ESl students, which although will mostly be a review of CELTA, I wouldn’t mind taking as well, because they might look at things slightly differently and give me a better idea of the classroom as well. There is no teaching in these programs, just coursework. This program also says that it will give you a better idea about assessing students’ performance, which is something that we don’t really cover in CELTA. The final course that I have bookmarked for my future learning is a course on being Assertive. This is something I am very aware that I lack, and am willing to work on. It was one of the things that I was told in every lesson in CELTA that I needed to work on and something that I was aware of before that. Hopefully, I will take all five of these courses this summer, and you will see a stronger, more knowledgeable, more confident Jenna come September.
I have been downloading any free grammar and teaching books I can find, and am probably going to go on another hunt today. I love the world of illegal downloading, haha. I would like to have a mini ESL library on my computer for my guidance and helping my students in the future. I am going to buy one of them external hard drive things and save it all on there for my travels. It will be good.
Speaking of my travels, I have a little plan, but still need to do a little more research on it. I am thinking right now about the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe. They are in the second year (and possibly last, I don’t think they are sure yet!) of a government funded English language training program for the public school system. It is classified as a volunteer program, but volunteers get a monthly payment of approximately $275. The contract states that you will give approximately $50 of this to your homestay family, or will buy some groceries. The information about Georgia says that a family of four eats for $75 a month. From what everyone says $225 a month is more than enough to live comfortably, but obviously not to save a lot of money. Flights are booked and paid for by the employer. There is a seven day orientation upon arrival, during which everything is paid, including your hotel and meals. Volunteers are provided with a cell phone upon arrival, and all calls to the employer and other volunteers is included in the plan. You do have to pay for other calls though. Volunteers are placed throughout the country – and like IVHQ, you don’t know where you are going until orientation. This isn’t a problem to me; I would love to be placed in a rural village where I could be a part of the community out there. I read some complaints that there might not be running water, but again, this is not something that bothers me. And if I do get placed in a city, there is plenty of culture and life to be found there as well! I love that placements are with a homestay family – part of doing this is to learn about another culture! I know that in Ghana, I was thankful for volunteer housing in the end, but I think this will be ideal. I will still see other volunteers, but will get a full dose of the culture. The information says that most of the homestay families are actually staff from the school which we will work at, so that makes it nice as well. The teaching is alongside a local teacher, with a sharing of the workload. Like many foreign English students, English has been learned “from a book” so pronunciation might not be right. This is part of my job – to give the students (and staff) proper pronunciation and natural English practice.
This idea of teaching is really appealing to me right now. As I mentioned in my last blog, I am nervous about my teaching skills, and do not feel reading to head into the “real world” of teaching right now. I am obviously hoping that my upcoming courses will help me feel more confident as well but…. For now, I would love to start beside another teacher, sharing the already planned curriculum, and learning my teaching style in a much safer environment. Georgia is taking anyone who can make a semester commitment, no teaching experience required. I feel this is a safe place for me to get my feet wet before I commit to my own classroom. There is also the opportunity for tutoring and helping in the community with events. Each teacher is matched with a previous volunteer teacher to help make the transition into Georgia a little easier to bear. Like my trip to Ghana, I don’t know why I am choosing here, but it sounds so good!
Of course, this is not as guaranteed as Ghana was. There are two interviews which will occur, providing they like the paperwork I provide. September is when the new semester’s start, so it is a busy time to go, but it is when I would like to go. They can only accept 50 volunteers at a time. Volunteers can start on the 15th or 30th of every month except December (because from December 23 – January 19 is holidays). If you do a two semester contract, you are provided with an airline ticket back home or to a place of your choice providing it costs less. Right now, I am thinking I might take that time to go to England and visit Andrea, or maybe make a quick trip to Ghana. Who knows? If I don’t go to England during the winter break, I would hope that Andrea and I could do our Europe trip in the summer time when my contract is up. Obviously, this is only possible if I actually make some money this summer!
Right now, my long term goal is do a couple of years teaching in various locations. Vietnam has a CELTA program, and also offers the Young Learners extension program. I am currently thinking I would like to take the CELTA-YL in Vietnam, and then do a year or so working there. And then, it’s off to travel the world again!
I have been thinking a lot about the community centre type thing I want to eventually open in some village where I decide to settle. This community centre of mine obviously needs to pay me enough to live on, because I will be settled into the community and my life savings will either be depleted or low unless I find the money making jobs! (And there is nowhere in ESL that you can get “rich”) I want to have “theme” days. For example, on Monday we might have a girl’s day – where we work on the Go Girls program, along with maybe some things from Girl Guides. Maybe Tuesday is a sport day. Wednesday could be a homework day, and I could possibly offer English classes in the evening to adults. Thursday could be craft day and Friday could be fun and games. I don’t know, I am not there in life, but I think this would be amazing! I think that having one day of the week for each thing would make it easier for my “students” to plan for these things. But, this is a long ways away, but no harm in starting planning and collecting now! And I may as well use as many skills as I can! I couldn’t sleep last night; I was so busy thinking about all these things! In the day, maybe I could do a little day care thing with the little ones, like what we do at the orphanage – some learning, some fun, some free time.
So yep, that’s my life. I am going to slip onto four pages on Word, and I am sure you have had quite enough of my life anyways! I am just so happy and excited and have so many things I want to do, that I cannot contain it!
I love you!
Monday, February 7, 2011
A lame attempt at my old Poetry days
You were my best friend
You were my enemy
You were my fiancé
You were my everything.
I cannot honestly say
That I ever expect us to be
In the place we are today
I have cried too many tears
Laughed so many smiles
Had so many good times
And too many bad
But you still make me smile
I could not ask for a better place
Than where we stand today
You still make me smile
You still make me laugh
No longer do you have the power
To make me cry
We are both in better places
And oddly enough,
We are both fully aware that
We were not right for each other
You had once said that
I needed to find myself
And knew, I needed to be on
My own to do that
Somehow, I think I knew that too
You could have done it better
It didn’t have to be the way it was
But I am happy it all happened
It made me feel stronger inside
And if I could go back in time
I would still say ‘yes’
I am glad we held on
I am happy you are my friend
I still need you in my life
And want to be a part of yours
Thank you. For everything.
But most of all
Thank you for being my friend!
You were my enemy
You were my fiancé
You were my everything.
I cannot honestly say
That I ever expect us to be
In the place we are today
I have cried too many tears
Laughed so many smiles
Had so many good times
And too many bad
But you still make me smile
I could not ask for a better place
Than where we stand today
You still make me smile
You still make me laugh
No longer do you have the power
To make me cry
We are both in better places
And oddly enough,
We are both fully aware that
We were not right for each other
You had once said that
I needed to find myself
And knew, I needed to be on
My own to do that
Somehow, I think I knew that too
You could have done it better
It didn’t have to be the way it was
But I am happy it all happened
It made me feel stronger inside
And if I could go back in time
I would still say ‘yes’
I am glad we held on
I am happy you are my friend
I still need you in my life
And want to be a part of yours
Thank you. For everything.
But most of all
Thank you for being my friend!
Thanks Friends!
I realized last night (I am a little slow okay!) that the friends that I made in 2010 are even more amazing than I thought. The people I met in 2010 found me when I didn’t care if I lived. These amazing people befriended me anyways, knowing about all my crazy thoughts. These people really did find me at my worse. It’s so easy to believe that everyone walks out of your life when you are at your worst, and indeed, I have thought that for many years. But, you guys walked in, and you carried me for a while. You didn’t know a better me, you didn’t know what I was like. You picked me up anyways, and loved me all the same. And for that, I will love you forever. I am so thankful that as I improved in life, I was able to keep you and to know how amazing you are. No matter what happens, the friends I made in 2010, have a special place in my life. Thank you for last year. You have no idea how much it meant to me. Oh, and you’re pretty awesome in my happy times as well!
Of course, there are those of you who came back in 2010, and those of you who never left. I haven't forgotten about you either! I have always loved you, and always needed you! I always will!
Of course, there are those of you who came back in 2010, and those of you who never left. I haven't forgotten about you either! I have always loved you, and always needed you! I always will!
Friday, February 4, 2011
One week!
I am leaving in less than a week for Vancouver and my CELTA program. I don’t feel ready. My friends in Prince George are so amazing, that I don’t want to disappear right now. I know, that’s new for me isn’t it!? My best friend will not be here when I return. I don’t know what I will do without those weekly hangouts. Who will I rant to? Who will make me laugh? Who will be there for me? I know, I have many good friends who will gladly take on all those roles, but I know I will be missing that girl in my life. However, my best friend from high school has recently moved home. It’s nice to actually be able to see her as well, even though I am moving close to where she lived up until 2 weeks ago! Sadly, she might only be home until April and then they will be off in search of a job. I know that I plan to get out of this town finally as well, but it feels so sad to have to say goodbye to friends first!
I still feel like CELTA is just a dream I am dreaming. Even after close to 30 hours of pre course homework, I don’t feel like it is happening. I feel mostly prepared, but I am starting to doubt my preparedness again, so I will have to dig into those grammar books heavily again, starting today. My plans for today have been postponed until Monday, so I might as well get going! I started packing today. My suitcase feels ridiculously heavy and it is not packed fully yet. I feel like I am over packing, but I also know that Vancouver is not Africa and I do not want to not match like I do in Africa. I feel like if we are teaching every day, I should not wear t-shirts to class, so I have 6 days of nice shirts with me. These shirts also don’t show how much I sweat when nervous, as I am sure I will be! Then I have 5 or 6 t-shirts to wear after school and on weekends, or the days when I don’t have to teach. I need variety right? We all know that despite my tight budget, without variety, I will be across the street from Erin’s house at the Old Navy buying something new. I also have packed one pair of black pants, and two pairs of jeans. I don’t want to look like a small town frumpy girl with no clothes! Of course, with the time of year, I also feel like I need two jackets – a spring jacket and my winter jacket, and all the winter accessories such as a toque and scarf and of course, my mittens! I will wear my winter boots there, but I might want my runners as well. And of course, I need shoes to wear in school if I have to wear my boots to school as my feet will die in my boots… It’s all so complicated! A friend says they can drive me home providing I don’t have too much stuff. I am thinking that I might need a second suitcase (just carry on size!) for the extra jackets and everything! This bag here is not full yet, but I cannot put a spare coat in it. So right now, I am sitting beside the open mostly packed suitcase, writing this blog, and wondering what I should really be doing about all this.
Trav and I have been hanging out a decent amount these days. I must say that I like it. In many ways, he is like the friend he has always been. I am just so happy to have my friend back! I had coffee with him and his girlfriend last week. It was a really nice time. We just chatted for an hour or so. I actually really like her, and feel bad for all the angry feelings I held onto for so long. That’s what I want it to be like with Justin too. I don’t want to be at his house if his wife and I cannot be friends! But, that worry has disappeared a little, as Justin seems to be off the map for a bit.
I think I am nearing the end of life with my little boys as well. Nickolas and I will probably close down in June forever. If my life does what I want it to, I will not be here for another school year. After four years of developing our friendship and getting to know each other, we are over. I find this heartbreaking. I look back over the years, how much he has grown, and much he has improved. But at the same time, maybe he has learned enough in our time together to make the right decisions in life. I would like to think that I have made an impact in his life! I have asked BBBS if it is possible to continue to send him cards once we are finished. We will see what happens there.
I am probably also going to become a distant figure in Nathaniel’s life. Again, I want to send him cards and what not, but he will probably not remember me in the long run. Although, Dad dated Debbie when I was about Nate’s age, maybe a couple years older and I remember and love Debbie… This too kills me. Yes, I realize his father and I are no longer together. I also know that I have done what I can for Nathaniel. He is a light in my life, but not one I can keep if I go away. I will probably only see him a couple of times before I go. I am still trying to work out where I can fit him into my life before I head off to Vancouver. I had a plan, but I had only texted his mother, and she must not be getting texts these days. Travis says he doesn’t bother with the cell anymore, he just calls the house. Monday or Tuesday are the only days I have left that I can stick him in!
I am very aware that I have been blessed to have these children in my life though. They have taught me many lessons, reminded me to smile when I forgot, and to look at things the simple way. They have both helped shape me into who I am, and who I want to be. Maybe I can’t have them long enough for my likings, but I have had them for long enough to make a difference in my life!
Alright, I guess I better get on with my life here, and go study or finish packing, or something productive that is not playing on my computer!
Much love my dears!
I still feel like CELTA is just a dream I am dreaming. Even after close to 30 hours of pre course homework, I don’t feel like it is happening. I feel mostly prepared, but I am starting to doubt my preparedness again, so I will have to dig into those grammar books heavily again, starting today. My plans for today have been postponed until Monday, so I might as well get going! I started packing today. My suitcase feels ridiculously heavy and it is not packed fully yet. I feel like I am over packing, but I also know that Vancouver is not Africa and I do not want to not match like I do in Africa. I feel like if we are teaching every day, I should not wear t-shirts to class, so I have 6 days of nice shirts with me. These shirts also don’t show how much I sweat when nervous, as I am sure I will be! Then I have 5 or 6 t-shirts to wear after school and on weekends, or the days when I don’t have to teach. I need variety right? We all know that despite my tight budget, without variety, I will be across the street from Erin’s house at the Old Navy buying something new. I also have packed one pair of black pants, and two pairs of jeans. I don’t want to look like a small town frumpy girl with no clothes! Of course, with the time of year, I also feel like I need two jackets – a spring jacket and my winter jacket, and all the winter accessories such as a toque and scarf and of course, my mittens! I will wear my winter boots there, but I might want my runners as well. And of course, I need shoes to wear in school if I have to wear my boots to school as my feet will die in my boots… It’s all so complicated! A friend says they can drive me home providing I don’t have too much stuff. I am thinking that I might need a second suitcase (just carry on size!) for the extra jackets and everything! This bag here is not full yet, but I cannot put a spare coat in it. So right now, I am sitting beside the open mostly packed suitcase, writing this blog, and wondering what I should really be doing about all this.
Trav and I have been hanging out a decent amount these days. I must say that I like it. In many ways, he is like the friend he has always been. I am just so happy to have my friend back! I had coffee with him and his girlfriend last week. It was a really nice time. We just chatted for an hour or so. I actually really like her, and feel bad for all the angry feelings I held onto for so long. That’s what I want it to be like with Justin too. I don’t want to be at his house if his wife and I cannot be friends! But, that worry has disappeared a little, as Justin seems to be off the map for a bit.
I think I am nearing the end of life with my little boys as well. Nickolas and I will probably close down in June forever. If my life does what I want it to, I will not be here for another school year. After four years of developing our friendship and getting to know each other, we are over. I find this heartbreaking. I look back over the years, how much he has grown, and much he has improved. But at the same time, maybe he has learned enough in our time together to make the right decisions in life. I would like to think that I have made an impact in his life! I have asked BBBS if it is possible to continue to send him cards once we are finished. We will see what happens there.
I am probably also going to become a distant figure in Nathaniel’s life. Again, I want to send him cards and what not, but he will probably not remember me in the long run. Although, Dad dated Debbie when I was about Nate’s age, maybe a couple years older and I remember and love Debbie… This too kills me. Yes, I realize his father and I are no longer together. I also know that I have done what I can for Nathaniel. He is a light in my life, but not one I can keep if I go away. I will probably only see him a couple of times before I go. I am still trying to work out where I can fit him into my life before I head off to Vancouver. I had a plan, but I had only texted his mother, and she must not be getting texts these days. Travis says he doesn’t bother with the cell anymore, he just calls the house. Monday or Tuesday are the only days I have left that I can stick him in!
I am very aware that I have been blessed to have these children in my life though. They have taught me many lessons, reminded me to smile when I forgot, and to look at things the simple way. They have both helped shape me into who I am, and who I want to be. Maybe I can’t have them long enough for my likings, but I have had them for long enough to make a difference in my life!
Alright, I guess I better get on with my life here, and go study or finish packing, or something productive that is not playing on my computer!
Much love my dears!
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