Last Minute!

Oh man. Today was the last day I had with my entire host family. We had an awesome day because we went to see THE DINOSAURS! AND THE HOODOOS. The badlands were awesome. The dinosaurs were awesome. The museum was awesome. I took pictures. I didn't buy anything at the gift shop because nothing was perfect enough for anyone. I can't give someone something imperfect unless its meant to be so. Then tonight we were all sitting in the living room and my host parents got both Busi and I birthday/Christmas gifts! (Busi's birthday is the 6th, and mine the 16th of December). My host parents got me the hoodie that I saw but couldn't bring myself to buy. I love it. They also got me a book, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. How well do they know me! Their gift comes in the mail tomorrow, I think I'll wrap it and make them promise to wait until Christmas happens. Maybe I'll send something to Rowan (the little girl) from South Africa, not that she's really old enough to understand or appreciate it.

As is my fashion, I broke something I need today. Hah. Two days before departure and I have to do some running around to figure out WHAT IS GOING ON. I need a watch/clock/something. The battery finally disappeared from my piece of crap travel alarm clock so I'm going to have to rush out and get a new one. I ate McDonald's today and it was OHSOGOOD at the time and now my body is outright rejecting me.

Tomorrow I have to do laundry and pack so that Tuesday I can spend the whole day SUPERCLEANING EVERYTHING. I'm worried about my luggage weight, even though I'm going over with less than I came with, or at least the same. I dunno, I just don't want to have to spend the extra charge. I'm sending a bunch of books home for dear mother and father to deal with, as well as my highly broken camera. Lucky for me, I'm a smart cookie (who knows she breaks everything she touches) and I brought a USB stick so I transferred all of my pictures to that. Now I have all of my pictures in case for some freak chance I'll need them in Cape Town.

This may be my last blog update for a while (I know, it's not like I've been particularly good at keeping up with it). I'm not sure what my internet access is going to be like in Cape Town. I'm almost certain there won't be a computer with internet access in the house. It's all a matter of if they have internet at my specific work placement, or if I can find a library to use, or if I want to spend my weekly pocket money at an internet cafe updating this. (If it comes down to that, you might not get as many updates, yar har).

Moral of the story: My host family gave me super thoughtful gifts, my stomach is very unhappy with me, dinosaurs are completely AWESOME, I'm leaving soon (on a jet plane, i don't know when i'll be back again), Stephen Lewis is officially done on December 1st (World AIDS Day), and my dare is done. I do have pictures of myself and a couple other lovely superhero-iffic ladies, but they are on the camera I don't have a cord for. Some other girls have a picture of it, so if they get theirs on facebook, then I'll probably steal it and see if I can put it up here and wherever else.

Okay. I'm going on a rant and I must go to bed soon because I don't have an alarm to wake me up tomorrow! Cheers, good luck with everything between now and whenever.

One Week

Okay. So I'm probably the worst blogger ever. I never do it. I'll totally try to do it more in Cape Town even though it's actually going to be more difficult. (Hey, alone time right?) The biggest worry on my mind right now? PACKING! I did my Stephen Lewis dare, but didn't get any pictures so I'm doing it again tomorrow! Haha. Good for me. I dressed as a superhero and went to a high school class with one of the sexual health educators. She said she'd give me money if I walked out of the school without my jacket on, looking like a fool in front of everyone. Of COURSE I did it. Now I have to worry about changing my money, sending crap home that I won't need in Cape Town (like a giant wooly sweater and a million books), seeing how much sending that crap home will COST. Phew. I'm a stressbag. But all of the things we have to do for the program are done, by which I mean all the things my team of 6 had to organize are all done.

We went skating last night and let me tell you, skating is not really my thing. I completely fell on my bum and I'm pretty sure I have a huge bruise. It was really fun though. We went to the Olympic Oval, which is pretty impossible to find unless you have a map tattooed on your body, and who (besides that dude in prison break) actually has that? Especially of Calgary. We're in the midst of debriefing our Canadian experience now and preparing for South Africa. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. I'm nervous of having to live with a whole new host family and learn their ins and outs, at the same time as trying to learn directions around an entirely new city. I'm finally getting used to Calgary and traveling through Calgary and now we're leaving. Lucky for us we'll be in walking distance of our work placements and each other (as well as malls etc). This is BIG. I had to travel an hour every day to and from work, other girls had to travel an hour and a half. This is all for a 15 - 30 minute drive by car. Ridiculous!

I'm not sure what else to tell you right now. This is my update. I love everyone and I'll see you on the other side!

Banff, Halloween, Whatever else

WELL. It's about time that I posted a new blog. After Mid-Project we still had to have another educational day, which meant ... yes ... even MORE MEETINGS! Mid-Project was interesting. I never in my life want to create meals for 20 people. Leave it up to the professionals! We had to cancel one of the activities due to group negativity, but we did it the next night. Banff is pretty much full of Australians. I don't know how I feel about this. They were nice enough, if they never had to see you again. Some of the girls learned this lesson the hard way, and I didn't really have any interest in the lot of them. We also got to see Lake Louise. It and the mountains were BEAUTIFUL! I love the mountains.

Halloween we volunteered at this crazy Halloween party. I went as an accident. I had to spend most of the night outside however because they needed someone to ... I'm not even sure. I just know I spent 3 hours outside in my host mother's high heels (she made me wear them). It was cold, but I got a walkie-talkie which apparently made the rest of the girls extremely jealous. I also got in tight with the security dudes, I pretty much OWNED that party. It would have been fun if I hadn't been outside alone all night.

Work is going well, we only have 5 days left. I'm a little sad and I'm trying to find work at other Sexual Health Centers, but Calgary Sexual Health is pretty unique in their approach. I want to "borrow" all of their ideas and take them global. Only 3 more weeks until Cape Town, and I'm starting to get excited. Although I'm feeling guilty, I've only sent out one letter and no post cards. I need to get on that, but I've been incredabusy that it's been hard. I will try harder though!

Thats all I can think of for now, I haven't had my coffee yet.