Enthusiastic about Blogging

Victoria.

It still doesn't feel quite real that I'll be leaving home so soon. And I know this blog is supposed to be about Ghana, but I wanted to write a post to reflect on the past few months. I remember thinking I didn't want to waste the first half of my year, and I set myself goals. Funnily enough, very few of those goals were met. I never got a new hobby, didn't get the chance to make time to sketch, and didn't attend a single yoga class. (And I can't even remember what the other goals were...) But, I have that feeling that I've accomplished what I needed to accomplish. That I've tried new things, continued with the things I enjoy, worked hard, and had a ton of fun. Almost like I've met goals that were never quite established.

Work.

For every time I complained about needing to go to work, I had a customer who made my day. And really, I spent so much time talking about grocery store stories that I even drove my sister crazy. So here's a few of my favorite customer memories from Thrifty's!

- One of my first shifts I was chatting with a customer, ringing though all his groceries, give him his receipt, and a Chihuahua pops its head out of the collar of the mans shirt. Never would have guessed!

-Practically threw a case of raspberries off the belt and they went everywhere. The customer and the next in line thought it was hilarious. Basically just an example of the everyday-frazzled-ness of Thrifty's!

- Express lane was cash only for the day, rang through a mans groceries. He says Debit and I tell him that my till is cash only. Turns out he is blind and I never even realized. He gave me cash and I had all the other customers in line as my witness to make sure I took the right amount. Definitely one of the most inspirational customers that I've had.

- Caught up with four of my teachers in one day. Mme. McCurrah (Kindergarten), Mme. Dunsmuir (Grade 1), Mme. Brault (Grade 8), and Mme. Campbell (Grade 12).

-Glenda and Zoe break a glass vial of Vanilla Bean in front of my till so Glenda builds a contraption of baskets to warn others. Meanwhile, I yell at Faelen to clean it up as Zoe and I are talking a mile-a-minute catching up on each others lives.

To all my co-workers: Thanks for all the hello's, smiles, and memories. Despite spending far too much time making those stupid little meat bags, I've loved working with you all! And I'll miss you :)

Preparations.

There are so many people that have helped me get ready for my departure. And everyone has their own way of being a part of my trip. For my dad and sister, it means they'll be coming to Sekondi to visit me during Emma's Spring Break. For my mom, it has meant collecting craft supplies and other materials to bring to the school. After going through her preschool supply room, I figured glitter, beads, and games would be just as useful as the practical things like grammar books, paper, and pencils. I know that every time I read a story, colour with crayons, or give a kid a little notebook, I'll think of her.





Thanks mom <3



 

 

Less than 2 weeks to go.

Time to start packing. Time to start cleaning my room. Time to start shopping for summer clothing, and stock up on bug spray and sunscreen. And time to start saying goodbye's.

Gap Year part 1: Home

It's about a Gap Year. Going out of my comfort zone. Doing something new, something adventurous, and something meaningful. Which is why, unlike most people, I'm not in University this year. I figured when else can you take a year long break from your life? So I'm going to Africa instead.

Why sit in a classroom when you could be teaching instead? To be fair, I say this from the comfort of my favorite café in downtown Victoria, BC, which has always been home. Victoria that is, not the café. I want to be challenged, to "find myself".  It's time to leave my easy life behind for 6 months, and see the world. Which is why I have decided to volunteer with Lattitude Global Volunteering in Ghana. As soon as they gave a presentation in my grade 11 French Immersion Class at Vic High, I knew I wanted to do it. Ghana wasn't the original plan, but if you have an interview with Stuart, the program director, it doesn't take much for the idea of going to Ghana to stick in your mind. So, a year after my interview I'm ready to go! (Well, almost. There's the whole packing thing to be dealt with.)

I'm going to be teaching English and Creative Arts at Western Royal Montessori School in Sekondi, on the Western Coast of Ghana. I'll be there for 5 months with my roomie Maddi (from Kelowna, BC), living in a little pink house on the school property.

But first, here's a little bit about me and my previous 4 months or so, because they've turned out to be far more valuable than I thought. I basically just work all the time. I started at the UVic Bookstore for the September Rush, which was a huge score on my part because I was definitely the baby of the bunch there :) I met so many nice people, and ended up joining a rez intermurals soccer team thanks to a great co-worker. After the rush, I got asked to cover a few shifts at Finnerty's, the café downstairs, and ended up getting hired. I'm also working at Thrifty's in Fairfield Plaza, which kind of feels like a second home as I'm there so much. It's crazy busy all the time and I havn't had a single shift where I didn't see someone I know (although really, half the time it's my parents or Duane and Silvia :)) I have some pretty stellar customer stories, and the entire staff there is amazing.

Asides from working, the past few months have consisted of countless sleepovers with Nastja and Olivia, being a faux-student at UVic, meeting some great friends, and spending time with the fam. I've lost a lot of my shyness and feel like I'm more prepared (and finally financially ready. Volunteering is expensive.) to leave. And of course, lots of time spent preparing for my trip. Countless shots, paperwork, and getting supplies to bring along. But the thing that made the trip seem real? Meeting some of the other volunteers who will be going with me. I have a feeling they'll be like family to me, and they seem fantastic :)

So, one more thing about me. When I'm writing, I tend to ramble. A LOT. And I have very few travel journals that are complete, but I really will try to update this blog. So, whether you're family, a friend, parents of friends, a stranger, or a future volunteer, I'll try to fill you in on my adventures.

So I sit here, looking out at the rain, drinking my vanilla latte, and off to work in a few hours. In just under 3 weeks I'll be in an incredibly different environment, and I couldn't be more excited.