ALLLLLMMMOOOOSSSSTTTTT

So, I only have 80$ left to collect. Also, my dog kind of smells like feet today and I'm not entirely sure why. I'm going to Halifax this weekend to see a friend I haven't seen in about 6 years which is a quarter of my life. Then I'm going to New Brunswick to work for a period before I head off to Calgary for part one of my two part adventure in Canada World Youth. I'm starting to get pretty excited. I'm getting more frequent emails, and now our group is starting to get to know each other. I'm realizing how much I'm going to miss my puppy, who is currently awaiting a walk very patiently (and foot smellingly). I'll update once I have a little more going on! Thank you to everyone who has made a contribution thus far and has gotten me to this spot! It's very much greatly appreciated!

The Home Stretch

Preparation time is winding down. I have 20 more days to collect a grand total of $180. That will be the completion of the fundraising portion of Canada World Youth. I'd like to thank everyone who helped me along this portion of the program, be it financial or moral support. Both are greatly appreciated. I just got all of my shots (I hope), and I can finally raise my right arm above my head again. I just had to fill out a questionnaire which will help with my work/home placements. This is finally starting to feel real. I'm starting to get nervous about everything. I worry that I won't get along with my host family, my counterpart, or the other girls in the program. I'm worried that I'll flake out and be a terrible program member and be a complete waste of space and resources. I also worry that I'm going to lose everything I own on the flight to Calgary. After having lived out of a suitcase for the past year, I've placed half of my wardrobe in boxes. Also! I'm worried that I won't have packed the proper clothes, because I have to pack for Calgary winter (I have two memories of Calgary, one is a gross pool, the other is hail the size of golfballs) and South African heat. But hey, maybe I'll come back with a tan (the second in my life). I'm also not going to dye my hair in hopes that I become crazy blonde (not A crazy blonde) just in time for Canadian summer.

But, I'm also really excited. So don't get me wrong... I have all of my worries and fears, but I'm sure those will all disappear (except for losing my luggage... thats a constant fear in travel... especially considering - AIR CANADA LOST MY DOG - he was later returned, but seriously... how do you lose a dog? To this day we don't know where he went...) the moment I step off that plane in Calgary to embark on a 6 month journey that will be both exciting and trying.

I will update soon enough when I have some more information to tell you (like hopefully finishing my fundraising).

Dear E-diary, I'm chillin.
p.s. I washed my dog today and he smells like raspberries

More Fundraising News

I'm almost at 60%! Woohoo! Home stretch right? Maybe. Tonight I go see the legion to give them a nice little presenation on why they should donate. Hopefully that goes well. It's nice and warm today, my dog REALLY wants to go to the beach, and he just might get the chance. Perhaps I'll get up the courage to go in the water and swim today (not likely) but I always wear my bikini down just in case. Gives me a chance to wear my tinted overpriced sunscreen, but its especially for my face so that I don't get all greasy and gross. My lovely sister bought it for me anyway, who is now VERY pregnant. No more awkward "Did she just gain a lot of weight or is she really two people?" She actually is two people now. She will be having a lovely little lady who I won't get to see until I'm back from South Africa. I'm also missing my grandmother's 90th birthday, but I suppose we must make sacrifices in our lives. Who knows, maybe this experience will give me the knowledge to change the world. In the very least, maybe I'll get a tan?

Fundraising

So I have stagnated a little in my fundraising efforts. This weekend I'm having a yard sale that will hopefully serve two purposes: get rid of all the stuff I've been holding onto for no reason since my childhood, and make some money for Canada World Youth. I'm hoping that will help, because my home run apparently had their last meeting for the summer the DAY BEFORE I contacted them. The harsh realities of life I suppose. I'm hoping to go to Sackville sometime soon and expand my fundraising efforts. I'm starting to worry that I won't be able to raise the funds and I'll have to donate the rest of the money myself. In other news, its cold and rainy out so the dog and I are getting fat and lazy. He's sleeping in a bed upstairs, and I'm hardcore procrastinating on getting all of my life together to sell off for a dollar a piece. I'm hoping people will be more generous seeing as none of the funds raised are going into my pocket. I keep reminding myself that this is all one step towards a pivotal moment in my life (I hope). I'm hoping to gain at least a little direction from this experience, and even if I don't, it will be a great learning experience for myself and everyone directly and indirectly involved.

And that is my latest update. Now its time to go back to sorting through my past life. Hopefully I'll find some gems. In the very least, hopefully I'll get rid of the too tight jeans that say "sexy" on the butt that I obtained in a clothing trade. I'd take the stiches out, but then you'd still see a faded "sexy" on the butt, and thats just as embarassing. Thank goodness for long t-shirts. What I'm trying to say is BUY MY JEANS. I'm going to also be selling some clothes that aren't entirely outdated. They just... don't fit anymore. Whatever doesn't sell at my yard sale, I will likely cart to Sackville to see if anyone else fits into my clothes and/or shoes. Yes, thats right, I'm selling shoes. Any shoes that haven't been bought in the last 2 years must go. Size 7-8 depending on the shoe.

I have never blogged before in my life.

So it has come to this. Apparently, I am now officially a blogger. What does that mean? I guess it means that I write stuff down and assume that people care about what I have to say. I'm hoping to use this blog as a space to give updates about my progress and adventures through Canada World Youth. The way I hear it is that long distances calls from South Africa are a little more expensive, and being as I will be volunteering (a nice way of saying making no money), this might be a little more financially viable for me. I'm sure that eventually I'll get the hang of it, and its easier than sending out a impersonal mass email.

I'm working on my fundraising now, and its going. It sucks asking for donations when everyone's pocketbooks are so tight. I'm eternally grateful for every penny I receive, because I know the term "disposable income" is a bit of a misnomer. I'll update again once I figure out this "blogging" deal. Seems to me like its more like an e-diary.

Dear E-Diary, I am well.