And so the count down begins...

Hey, hey, hey...

Well I have been home for 6 and a half weeks now which means my time here is quickly coming to an end.  It has been a great time back in London; I had the opportunity to teach grade 2 (which was AWESOME) and had the chance to see a lot of great friends.  There are a few I still have to see but only a limited time in which to see them.  I know that we will do what we can...
On January 2nd, I will find myself flying up to the North Pole... Okay, so it's Thunder Bay but I am sure it will feel like the North Pole.  Last week I was checking the temperature and it was -24 C... What am I going to do???  Wear lots of layers I assume.  I am looking forward to heading back up though and seeing my peeps up there.  I cannot believe I only have 9 more weeks of classes.  It is going to fly by and I want to cherish every minute!
I hope you are all ready for Christmas although I know I am not.  ha, ha...  I will write on or before Saturday, so happy prepping everyone!

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OneLove

WOW! It has been a while...

Hello all!!!  I cannot believe I haven't written anything in exactly a month... Wow, I have been home for a month and what a busy month it has been!  I cannot even begin to share how happy I am to be in London and doing what I have dreamed of doing my whole life.  I cannot imagine doing anything other than teaching.  I LOVE IT!  I have been student teaching in a grade two class and it is an absolute joy.  I mean, some days they can be little terrors but for the most part, they are awesome kids and are very smart.  I have one official week left but I will be going in for two more weeks so I can finish the year off with them.
Home has been crazy!  Trying to see people and feeling like there are never enough hours in a day.  But as it gets a little closer to Christmas I am reminded that I will be headed to the Great White North soontime!  We will see just how weak I am when it comes to the cold. ha ha... This will be an interesting experience.  Well boys and girls, I am off to do some marking.  I hope you are all having a great weekend.  Only 19 days left until the Jesus' Birthday!!!

Colder in the South...

Ok... So, when I said I was moving to Thunder Bay, Ontario, everyone said it would be so cold.  I am just putting this thought out there, but why is it that I left Northern Ontario where the weather was more than comfortable (yesterday I was outside in a T-shirt) to come to Southern Ontario where I need a winter jacket.... What is going on her!  

As you can see I have landed safe and sound.  Glad to be back in L-town but already miss T-Bay.  If I could merge the two, I would be set.  Well now comes the hard part... Time to unpack.  This could be torturous but I will work it out.  Just wanted to check in.  See you all soon!

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OneLove

One day left...

Hey Everyone,
As I continue to procrastinate, I am writing to let you all know I will be officially finished my first semester of classes in less than 24 hours.  I have really enjoyed my first stint here in T-Bay.  Most of the people up here are pretty awesome, and my roommate is super fun!  We have such a good time discussing life and philosophical debates and all sorts of other things.

I am home in almost three days.  And off to the races I am!  Starting almost as soon as I get in the craziness that is my life in London will begin.  Saturday marks my return to work and I could not be more excited!  Which will be followed by an exciting night with a group of my peeps that I cannot wait to see!  Well friends, I have to go and study for my two exams that I have tomorrow.  See you all soon!

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OneLove

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

So ladies and gentlemen,

I am sad to say my first nine weeks of school up here in Thunder Bay are coming to an end.  Since the moment I stepped off the plane and first saw Cass and then her mom and soon to be step-dad, I have not really looked back.  Do not get me wrong, I do miss home and the people there but I opened myself up to this adventure and I am very grateful for that.  I have met some very cool people up here.  Some friends I know will be around for a very long time and some I know are around for the season.  Because as I have learned throughout life, people enter your life for reasons and seasons.  I have learned so much here, both personally and professionally.  I am slowly becoming comfortable in my ability to becoming a great teacher, but also very apprehensive as I head home to complete my first placement in a grade one classroom.  The excitement of student teaching is growing although the idea of leaving Thunder Bay has me a little bit sad.  At least I know I will be back in a couple months.

Don't worry though because I am looking forward to coming home to see everyone.  My first weekend back is already packed with so much fun and goodness.  I am sure that my two months home will be the same.  So bring in the noise, bring in the funk!  I hope everyone is ready for my return...haha... not that I expect you to miss me, but I really do  :P  I am off to bed... long day ahead....

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OneLove

Two weeks to go!

Well good evening all!  It has been a LONG time since I have written anything.  Last night was P.O.E.T.S. meeting #2, and let me tell you, I am sooooooo bad at karaoke.  ha ha... But it was a great time! Can you believe I have been up here for 8 weeks already!?!  It's crazy I know.  As much as I am looking forward to seeing everyone at home, I am not ready to leave here just yet.  I really love it!

School has been pretty crazy and has been keeping me very busy.  I have two tests this week and at least one major assignment due.  I feel like I am running out of time.   I have been trying to complete the assignment all weekend and still feel as though I am making absolutely no headway.  Well I still have one day.  Let's hope it goes well.  I must be super busy since I haven't written in almost a month.

I just had an awesome and well needed skype visit with my family.  It is great seeing them all, including friends of my brother's who I have not seen in forever!  As much as I know I will miss it here while I am home, I look forward to spending time with the important people in my life.  But for now I am signing off.  I have some reading to do before I hit my pillow.  Hope you all rest well!

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OneLove

P.O.E.T.S. Meeting #1

Let me tell you... Whoever said Teacher's College was a joke was full of it.  This week I have a reflection, a paper, and three tests.  It is going to be a LONG week!!!  So instead of boring you with all of that I will share with you the first P.O.E.T.S. meeting...
... Friday's slogan, Piss On Everything Tomorrow's Saturday!  A bunch of us from school decided we were going to de-stress before beginning the work for the week ahead of us.  Before that, my roommate and I went shopping with her mom, I got a new Bra and two new pairs of jeans... thank God for SALES!!!  Then we came home to get ready and get a few brews out of the way.  Finally around 11:30pm we walked down to meet up with a few of my classmates at a bar to begin the night with karaoke.  It took forever but we finally got to rock out to Love Shack and when we returned to the table, I found out I had an admirer.  Too bad he was older than my father.  Really I know I joke about wanting a sugar daddy but really, not happening. Afterwards we hit up the dance bar around the corner (definitely not a London or Toronto club/bar, but it would do) and danced up a storm.  Really would I have it any other way??
...Today was supposed to be dedicated to homework and such but that did not happen.  We had to get a TV for my room so that my roommate and I could watch what we each wanted to view.  We have very different tastes in television shows/movies.  Then we checked out a couple stores, one was called Red Earth (it's kind of like sea jewels) and Bean Fiend (a wicked little organic restaurant/coffee shop).  Then we came home, I went to Church and have been trying to get organized since.  But before I started writing or studying I thought I would update you on the going-ons of my adventure in Thunder Bay thus far.
... It is a beautiful place, here in Thunder Bay and I hope to visit lots after I come home.  Four weeks down, two to go, until my first trip home that is.  Looking forward to it, but still nervous about the whole flying thing.
Anyway, that is it for me tonight.

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OneLove

Missing home, but love it here!

Well... I am now into my fourth week of school and as you can tell by my absence, I have a LOT of work to do.  School readings are taking up most of my time but this past weekend I finally made time to go out and socialize with new school friends and some of my roommate's friends.  Where to start...

I guess we will start with school.  I LOVE SCHOOL!!!!! I don't know if i have mentioned that lately or not. But I really do.  I always knew I did but I never truly realized just how much I missed it.  Today I had my 3rd music class and I just have to say that I never thought that curriculum and instruction in Music would be one of my favourite classes.  I know I love music but it is truly my favourite class so far.  Besides music I am taking Science, Math, Ethics/Law, Catholic education, Language Arts, Classroom Management, Foundations, and Aboriginal Education.  It is a heavy load but I get most of Friday off, which makes it all worth while!  And I have met a lot of cool people, Not quite as cool as all of you just yet but they do have the potential.  haha... Oh and I got mail last week... A great friend of mine sent me the GREATEST lunch bag ever....and let me tell you, people here love it too... haha... go figure!  Teachers!  ha ha

On to Friday night... I went to a school social with my roommate to attempt to socialize with people from school and it was a lot of fun.  But trust you me, the night life here, is NOTHING like Southern Ontario.  It seems very relaxed... no one is a rush to get anywhere.  I think that may be one of the things I like about here.  Oh and as I promised to share with you all, well most of you, there are 5 guys in my class. Two of them are engaged, and two out of the last three are too bad.  But I am not pushing anything... Lets be serious, I am not looking for a relationship here since I plan on being back with all of you soon enough.

I will try to continue Saturday night tomorrow... This monkey needs to get to sleep STAT!  Miss you all tons!!!  Don't have too much fun without me.

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OneLove!

Gray morning... Sunshiny night...

So it has been a little while since I last wrote.  This morning started on a gray note, good old math exams on a rainy Saturday morning.  However, the sun came out by the time I got home; hopefully that is a good sign.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I have come to the end of my second week here in Thunder Bay and I love it!  The days are nice and fairly decent temperatures happening, but night time is getting a little chilly.  My roommate and her Mom are awesome.  Last night we had a pizza dinner and hung out and rearranged my new room.  I have divided my room into three areas; 1) my sleeping (bedroom) area, 2) my "office" and 3) my little kitchenette area.  I miss home but not enough to feel homesick.

Tonight was fun though.  I went across to Grande Portage, Minnesota with my roommate and her Mom and we went to the casino for a couple hours.  Fun times but no big winners... Meh what can you do?  When we got home I got a skype call from my cousin in Korea and the first thing I saw in the video window was my beautiful little nephew who is the sweetest little thing!  I miss them all so much but know that I will get to see them again next summer.  That was a great and happy way to end the day!  Anyhoot, it is WAY past my bed time... I have sooo much work to do tomorrow.

Miss ya!
OneLove

Long time, no type

Hey, hey, hey...
So I am now into my second week of school and I still love it!  I am having some issues staying on top of my readings already though and I have to kill that before it becomes habit.  It is already getting pretty chilly up here in the North especially if there is no sun for the day.  Today was rainy on and off and windy which was not fun.  Especially since I decided to straighten my hair... and we all know that when my hair is straight, water is its enemy.  But thanks for the hooded sweater!   Anyhoot, I have 3 chapters to read and a small assignment to complete... I am off to get it all done.... Night!

OneLove

One week closer to being a teacher!

Good Night Guys and Dolls

I can say I am super excited to report that my first week has come to an end.  And what a great week it has been.  I LOVE school and cannot believe how much I have missed it.  Let me tell you, it is AWESOME!!!  One problem though, I have realized that I cannot procrastinate.  I have a lot of work to do and if I do not start it soon I will fall behind.

I have made a few new friends which is nice and I have learned to navigate the bus to a few places along my route to school.  People up here are friendly and are always willing to help when I am lost or have questions.

The first couple days at school were a little brutal as it was crazy hot and for some reason our building is not air conditioned properly so the classrooms were deadly hot!  Today was sooo cold though.  I am starting to see the difference between the North and South of our great province.   The best part of the cold is that I am no longer getting eaten alive.  Because on Tuesday night my legs got annihilated by mosquitoes.  They are vile little creatures.  And they hurt up here.  I could actually feel them chewing on me... gross...

Other than that, not much is new here.  I am going to try to get back to my school work now... Try being the key word in that one... Love you guys!

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OneLove

Time to Learn

Hello Everyone!
I have so much to share with you tonight.  We will have to start with the wedding.  Which might I add was an absolute fairytale.  The bride looked stunning, like a fairy princess and her groom was absolutely dashing!  She had four ravishing bridesmaids on her arm (one of which was me... obviously....haha...) and He was accompanied by 4 handsome groomsmen.  Not to mention the adorable Flower girl and two spiffy junior groomsmen.   Before I tell you about all the awesomeness of the day, let me share with you all the horrors of the day.  The day started off well, got our hair done which might I add looked FANTASTIC and then on to makeup which also turned out great.  but then... we got dressed and by the time we got to the church and three out of four bridesmaids dresses broke in some fashion.  AND by the time we got to the limo after the ceremony the fourth one broke.  It seems that no matter what bridal store you go to, you will encounter problems.  But that didn't ruin the day.  We also had some problems with the limo company probably because Bellasio Limos are a bunch of scammers.  Don't ever use them!!!  That is it for the bad stuff but other than that the wedding was AMAZING!  For their first dance the happy couple started to Halo by Beyonce and then the music went funny like there was a problem with stereo but it changed into a fast up tempo song and they busted into a choreographed routine... it was SOOOO GOOD!!!                            

Onto the move... Flight was awesome but more so because I was not all alone.  Thankfully one of the emcees from the wedding is in a wedding this weekend here in Thunder Bay so I had someone to sit with.  I settled in okay, but its day four and I still have not unpacked.  Meh, I'll get to it this weekend.  But on to the fun stuff that you have all been waiting for...

School... YAY!!!  Monday is a long day for me but I still love every second of it.  In our group there is a lot of diversity.  More so among ages versus between the sexes.  There are five men in our group of 30 something.  Not a good ratio, seeing as how 2 out of 5 are engaged...hahaha...  But hey what can you do right... I have met a couple girls that I sit with often who are from Toronto.  Well one, Jenny, is orginally from here but now lives in Toronto and will be going back to do her placement.  And the other girl, Becky, taught over sees for a few years but came home to go to school. So all in all, things are good.  I am making friends and loving it here.  I went grocery shopping today but let me tell you, it was soooo hard to NOT buy junk food.  b/c i LOVE junk food.   But my loves, I am off to try to do some homework...

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OneLove                

Safe and Sound

Hello everyone!  well the few people reading this so far.  As you all know I am now in Thunder Bay!!!  I have arrived safe and sound!  I just wanted to share that news but I have to get to bed as I start school bright and early tomorrow morning at 8:30am.  I will write all about my fabulous weekend tomorrow and let you all know how the first day of school goes.  Wish me luck!

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OneLove

So EXCITED!!!!

At this point today is the big day!  Not moving day but Wedding day for two very good friends!  This is going to be my shortest post and sorry I will be a little delayed for a couple days.

Looking forward to hair, make-up, and wedding fun!  Everyone have a safe and blessed weekend.  I am going to try to post on Sunday before leaving southern Ontario but if not you will hear all about my landing and my first day back to school on Monday!

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OneLove

Headaches and Dread...

So YAY!!!  I packed a whole suitcase... BOO!!!  I have to unpack it and repack it...haha I am not surprised with this turn of events.  But such is life, and so I will begin again.  I really just need to reevaluate the whole what to pack thing.  However, all of this packing business does not compare to wonderful headache I had to deal with having my first fitting for one of my bridesmaid dresses.

Why is it that people give you attitude when they are wrong.  They always seem to assume that you are telling lies even though there was just miscommunication on their part.  Some bridal stores in this city are just ridiculous!  I would love to share names and whatnot but due to the fact that I do not ever want to be held liable I will keep that information to myself unless you ask privately.  But really people should not work with the public if they do not have any kind of customer service skills.  ARGH...

But on to bigger and better things... I am looking forward to an awesome reunion with some co-workers and ex-co-workers tonight.  It is going to be a good time, that is for sure.  Between now and then I have to repack this suitcase and move on to number two and then I will be ready to go.  But don't worry I still have a few days to go :D

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OneLove

Okay but really...

So... about that whole packing thing. It clearly did not happen, although I was able to move half of the clothes from my bedroom to my family room where my suitcases are waiting patiently to be filled.  I just do not understand why I am so last minute.  I am sure it is partly because I fear that I may need something between now and Saturday.  Have I mentioned that I am also in a wedding on Saturday... really I don't have time to play this last minute game.

Okay so enough about that...  I will get it done tonight because the rest of the week is full of getting to see the people I need to see before I spread my wings and soar away (thank you Shawn Desmond)... I am a little sad to be leaving this place but am very much so looking forward to a new and much anticipated adventure.  After spending two years out of the learning game, I have never wanted to be back off the bench so bad!

I think that is one of my main reasons for going into the field of education.  I get to encourage students to have the same excitement I do at the beginning of the year.  I cannot think of anywhere else I would want to spend my days than in a classroom.  Everyday brings new joys and woes and adventures.  I know this is a little short but I have to start today's adventure... Maybe I will let you know where the day took me later.

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OneLove

One week and counting...

So this is my introduction into this interesting world of blogging.  I have decided to start blogging, following in the footsteps of a friend of mine.  Unfortunately, unlike my friend, my blog has no structure.  This is just a place for me to share my random thoughts with those who care to read them.  If you do care to continue after that introduction, WELCOME!  and Thank You for stopping by!

I am taking a huge leap for me in one week.  I am moving away yet again to begin another adventure as a student. This time I will find myself in the great northern area of our great province of Ontario.  I am looking forward to this new adventure since I would not find myself visiting that far North had it not been for school.  Oh and by the way... I have to fly... and did I mention, I am not a fan.  I mean I am not scared to fly, I just do NOT like taking off and landing. And when your flight is only an hour and a half, your whole trip is taking off and landing.

Like I said this is not the first time I have decided to take off and go away to school but it is the first time that I am almost a day's drive away from home, hence the flight out.  I should really be a pro-star at this point as far as moving goes, but flying has many more stipulations as far as how much one can pack... and let me tell you I am NOT a light packer.  Really, how many pairs of jeans does one need for two months.  My mom says 4 max, yet I seem to have 6 pairs of jeans 4 pairs of leggings, 2 or 3 pairs of dress pants... really and not to mention 4 pairs of sweat pants which I cannot wait to wear to class although something tells me I will not be wearing them as often as I would like.  I have all my clothes pulled out and ready to start packing but for some reason cannot seem to start the packing process. Man, where to begin.... I will start soon, I swear!

Ok... I am off, I am going to try to start. Wish me luck!!!

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OneLove