He does Work within.

He works within us. I guess it's not as evident especially when we are not in a reflection stage or when don't consider how the doors opened and closed for a purpose, a reason. A lot of things have been revealed to me this week. 

Hello & Good-bye

I guess I have reiterate again how fast time goes by, I feel like I do this ever so often with the fact that I'm realizing it more and more. Perhaps it was the conversation with EC that evoked that thought. The knowledge that she's moving on with her life as the Civil Environmental Engineer and she's graduating this year. Her last graduation I was a mere child who didn't really know what was going on. Life as I knew it was completely different and I'm not the same person I was three years ago.

But that's the not the point of this post, I was just thinking about how in 6 days and 5 nights I've accomplished a lot, things come and go. It just wasn't the simple meet and greet and never talk to them ever again. Living with someone is definitely different from the typical we're just friends thing. It's just like when you're over for a sleepover. I treasure those moments; one because it's not every often that I do sleepover but when I do it's a feel good feeling, because you truly get to them "raw" well more than you ever would in a coffe shop talking about life eh?

Where does that leave me now half way through reading week? Well, apparently I may be going to view my first basketball game on the 11th, we'll see how the kinks work out and if that's going to even to happen. There's a crap load of stuff I do have to do but as usual, it will get done in the knick of time and there will be no stress nor anger or anything associated with those emotions. I'm exciting I guess to go back, maybe I will choose to sleepover tonight with SC, but knowing her it's never a night of sleeping. Harper's is on the menu tonight as we shall casually stroll downtown with a new friend that as of if this moment haven't met.

Time for the cool and funny story I guess in the travels of RSF. Trains, ViaRail I guess is foreign to me. Which  one would find odd because well I've travelled to quite a few places just not on trains or that's not the mode of transportation that I fancy. So anyway, at some point in the 6 days from when I boarded the train in the snow and from when I was heading out to board I lost the actual ticket for my train. So great eh? If I were in any other country, I would not have been able to 1. Cut the line in front of six people 2. Not pay a fee for getting my ticket reprinted 3. Not be treated like just some other girl who lost their ticket.   So I was just that crazy con-eddie booking it up and down Union Station, ran into another con-eddie, literally yelled, "Hey LC and bye".

That's the end of it..

That's the end of all the fun of reading week, or that's what I thought until I get a bunch of spam message from my dear friend "stranded" in Kingston. Upon my return to Kingston, it'll be a party and I won't get jack done.

Well, it sounds like a great plan especially because I get to watch my first Queen's Women's Basketball Game, make my first batch red bean soup in Kingston and to sleepover! So screw work and let's not get down to business...

I guess it's important to write a summative to the things I have accomplished over the reading week abroad, mhmm, away from Kingston. You will notice there is a trend here, lack of academics – that's the way to live life though nowadays.

• Got a new MEC red back pack
• Got to eat sushi, bubble tea among many other really good things
• Got to have some good heart to heart with the people I stayed with
• On the note of having great heart to heart, emotional train wreck is no longer that hurt I hope. Over the course of a few hours she went from doubting sully to girl who's in the process finding the good of the situation
• Shh. I wrote a note and slipped it somewhere in her bag, hopefully it'll help at some point
• Got to meet my friend's parents and her younger sister; I guess it was odd because her younger sister was my age
• Got to visit uptown's T&T and purchase many things.. yum
• Got to sleep on memory foam for the first time, it was rather odd I found. 

Essentially in the Middle of Nowhere

It’s been an awesome three days in the big city of Toronto. A dynamic difference in comparison to the small little town of Kingston.  It was great to be greeted with such great hospitality and staying in my friend’s studio flat in the heart of the city. I really couldn’t ask for more. To be quite frank I never really connected with the girl before it would be the day to day things we talked about, the weather per say or how much this assignment did not allow me to get a good nights sleep — You get the gist of things.

It was therefore real interesting that she opened up her home just because I asked. Well, I met up with her in December and just asked her what she was doing for reading week. I’m completely grateful that she had done so, because if not I would have no where to stay, and I’d be stuck in the little town in the middle of no where.

The first night I was there we stayed up till 2 am. And it was simply great to just to get to know her. It was odd I guess that I had to initiate every conversation we had since I got there, but it plays to her quiet personality.

I got to do some awesome things such as shop for the things I needed, well necessities more than shopping for what I wanted. I’m kind of bummed that they actually don’t have Timberland stores here since I recently found out they all closed down in ‘04. So I could not shop for a good pair of boots to replaced the ones I’m currently worn all the way to the sole. They’re a great pair of leather boots that I don’t want to part with as they brave the light Kingston snow and are that great day to day pair of shoes that are classy, not over the top shoes. I also looked forward to visiting Clarks or stores that sold them anyway since I spotted a pair of their Originals Desert Mali shoes that are new for the season. Eaton Centre just wasn’t that impressive since I didn’t get to purchase the things I hoped to. However, it was great that Sears was having some really random sale for their bath things. I lost my only towel, well my only real cotton towel during BEWIC. So it was great to purchase a nice shade of blue towels – other than the fact they take up so much space in my bag. I’m just lugging around a 45 L hiking bag and my new 30 L MEC deluxe book bag (:

I’m sporting the book bag in red, apparently a colour more suitable for me Random, now back to my days spend here in TO. The second day was great, when we went to Ktown in this case (Korean Town). Went for my haircut and had some great conversation with CC since I haven’t seen her since the end of summer. I guess that’s really it, wandered around downtown, watched “The Grey”, got NW hooked on House, baked PB cookies.

Now, I’m just sitting in “Café Princess” in the Finch Subway station area. Random I know, but I didn’t want to stay in downtown, subconsciously well may be now consciously to avoid any more awkward conversations. I’m enjoying my coffee with hazelnut syrup. mhmmm... If it was only hotter, that would be great. I’ll blog a little later after staying up with the train wreck girl. Hope she’s not in that state at the moment. Looking forward to share the love of God.

Hello Again.

After a few kind of troubled posts. Tis alright, rest assured. The great city of Toronto has amazed me and I'm finding comfort in staying with friends downtown and simply enjoying the good life of relaxing. It may be reading week, but I'm far from what the university defines to be reading week. None of my textbooks are even currently with me. I however, did take the opportunity to travel and seek out the greatness of VIA rail. 

The awesomeness of MEC has been refound, asian food and many other great delights like a real shopping mall. I guess I did purchase a few things, nothing extravagant. My biggest purchase were bath towels in a lovely shade of blue, since mine disappeared after BEWIC. So here it is. Part of the good life one may say. 

There is a lot to get back to when I'm back in Kingston, still then everything else can be held in a picturesque frame; no worries, no regrets. The week coming back from reading week will be one horrid nightmare with back to back interviews and a heck of a lot of classes. 

Switching gears. Today I was asked by my future housemate / floor mate if I was graded on a different scale because I was in IB. I guess I didn't foresee that she was going to try to convince a friend of hers to do the programme. I guess it does pose a huge dilemma. It does give people a head start, challenges those, prepares one in "studying for exams" but there are huge drawbacks that I hoped that never came to light. The fact that I became essentially in the bubble of the player on the varsity sports teams who would have to miss games, the girl who did adequately well and in everyone's eyes the girl who seemingly juggled her life well. I couldn't advocate for the programme although I grew a substantial amount as it came to a challenge that I had a passion to knock it down and defy all odds. However, not everyone lasts through such a rigor programme. I guess it's counter-intuitive just as all the teachers and administrators talk about mock exams. 

Off to a Rough One

The morning was a rough one. I managed to wake up for that 830 class of Geology. I don't even know why I bother going to that class. It's my bird course for the semester and I have yet to learn something. I guess to Mrs. D, I've learn a crap load of stuff in IB HL GPHY and it's paying off big time.

Digressing from that one class. Well, near the end of that one class I was supposed to meet up with KW so she can give me Hunger Games. I saw her and just bolted the other way. I didn't want questions to be raised, or comments, or concerns. For once in my life, I saw a Con-Eddie and booked it straight in the opposite direction.

The day was a rather rough one, but calming one. I failed to attend any of my classes even though Thursday is my "hard day" I just didn't want to go nor did I have the energy to after sulking all night and depicting what could have happened, what I did wrong, and why they made the choice. I'm over it completely.

It was great talking to ML, long story for another time but I'm her math Froshie. She lightened my day as she informally introduced me to her friend who is running the Gecko / Newts Orientation well give me his e-mail. (Gecko / Newts = for international students and students new to Queen's; I forget the acronym) It was great though. New doors are opened once I closed some old ones.

I guess it's also the realization that when that does happen, it may hurt. It's probably for the better. Less of my plan and more of His.

BLEH

It's that depression stage where you've been rejected twice in exactly a week for something you just love and adore. Feeling like I could knock back some drinks, perhaps not so much b/c OC doesn't want to drink, and drinking alone is just plain awkward.

Well I'm at that point where I want to look forward but am constantly reminded that I didn't make that cut. Perhaps I was just boastful with pride and joy, but then again ... when am I not usually like that?

So here we have it. I'm sitting in a room in the ugliest residence with an amazing Lazy Scholar which I recently found out serves really - I mean like really good ice cream. Anyway, two episodes of House later with some Woody's Grapefruit Vodka whatever which  tastes pretty good, I just got reminded by some people that they were there. Without me..

They can say all they want that they wish I was there, some were truthful others meh, not in the mood to interpret them. It's just a painful process now. Something you love, enjoy, passionate for; shattered in front of your eyes.

Till other times, I'll be in a hole. A metaphorical one (:

Cover Letters On the Fly

It's that crazy hot season for job applications in the summer. It's odd for me I guess, because I've never truly applied for a job. Well with the exception of when I worked at McDonald's but I got the interview right away and got hired on the spot. My last job didn't even require me to hand in a resume or a cover letter – it pays off to have connections.

I'm currently in the process of writing my second cover letter. It's not a crazy hard process but it does take time. Anyway, I guess feel good about writing these, just to get the experience out of it and perhaps land the job. On another note, the one I'm writing now is actually for a position for next year. And I'm stuck...

WHY?

It's because I'm going for a job where I just have to push a bunch of buttons. I obviously need qualifications for that... LOL. We'll see how it works out. It's good that I can possibly get paid $11 / hour essentially doing nothing – sorry to push buttons.

Anyway, thought I would share with the world. Although now that I'm a seasoned noob at this business, I was happy that my first cover letter was said to be and I quote,"Solid content, one of the better cover letters I've edited (I've edited a lot of them btw, I was once paid to do that)." HAHA I'm just self-loathing aren't I. It's that good feeling you get when you feel like you accomplished something great.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Till some other time.

Nothing to Do.

It's great not to have to do anything. It's weird, 5th week in, and nothing to do? I remember in first semester I felt like I was swamped in work and didn't have a clue how would I pull off the whole mid-term thing and continue to go to all my classes and all that jazz. I guess I'm just currently on top of things, having a very filled plate does pay off.

It's going to be an interesting week. I've already shared that I didn't get my elected position but tomorrow I find out if I'm going to get a position as a Teach. I guess I'm nerve racked at the same time interested to see what is to come of everything. Because there is the Teach and non-Teach divide throughout the rest of the year. Perhaps the plan set out for me is to defy all odds and not be a Teach and break through like KJ did.

There are a lot of Con-Ed events going on so that's very exciting. I guess at this point I'm just grateful that I'll have a place to stay over reading week. All of that I shall share soon enough. A glimpse into it currently I'm staying with two completely different parties and it'll be fun, love, and hopefully an insiders view on the raw personalities of those I haven't yet gotten to know dearly yet.

Now, to head home and to read more Hunger Games.

And to share a glimpse of my day I'm going to share a pretty photo!

Overlooking Lake Ontario, 2012

Post-Elections & Interviews!

Election results were out a few nights ago and I get the call that I didn't get the position. I guess initially I was bummed but it just means that I need to commit something else other than Council. So perhaps that its QCE and to organize a huge conference with very little people. It'll be a challenge but I'm sure I'll do fine. So we'll see what I'll end up doing. 

So what else is in store for next year? Who knows. It'll be an interesting one. I do however want to be HIRED to be a teach and have little FROSHIES over at my place. 

Our interview was a blast. We knocked the ball out of the park and couldn't have been part of a better group. I met new people, and saw different sides of them I didn't know existed before. We built a bus, made a cheer that I'll share with you here. 

Con-Ed is hot to go. 

H-O-T-T-O-G-O

Con-Ed hot to go.

Con-Ed hot to go.

We're loud we're proud,

We're ten to one.

Got summers off, 

Wish you were done. 

Con-Ed hot to go.

Con-Ed hot to go.

From West to Main, 

In shine or rain. 

Alpha to Nu, 

We'd school you. 

Con-Ed hot to go.

Con-Ed hot to go.

We're the teachers,

With great features. 

So everyone said, 

"It's better in B.Ed!"

Con-Ed hot to go.

Con-Ed hot to go.

Reminded...

Perhaps I'm unlike many of the people who go off to university nowadays. Everyone has no clue where they'll head towards in terms of career, or what they truly want to do. There are others on this diverse spectrum who are brought up in a society where the pre-determined professional life of being an advocate, or a doctor who strive each and every single day starting from a young flourishing age towards that career path. I also do wonder, what goes on in those minds who are so TRULY determined to gain such a career path. How does God fit into that picture. Or is it simply a life of that is purposelessly driven – only desires to be "rolling in cash" where there is a lack of a better phrase or simply providing for the family.

However one comes to their career, it must all come down to the fundamental and initial desire / drive to step down that path.

As teachers you are forever a learner. Well it's probably practical to say that you are a forever a learning as individual tasks and whatever life throws at you makes you "learn", but you get my gist and what I mean as teachers as being a learner. Before I delve into why I truly want to be a teacher lets go back to they story of how I was reminded, only a short few days ago. It was that thing I just joined in the beginning of the year. Volunteering with Frontenac College in their literacy programme, well in particular their French reading circle one. It was only a one hour commitment every week that I started in late October / early November. I wanted to be out there, giving back to the community, on the side boost my resume and of course, have a little fun.

I guess it became a drag when I would almost forget all the time that I've committed my hour at 6:30 pm on a Monday night and end classes at 11:30 in the morning. With that huge gap of 7 hours, I move along in my life, going about my day and so forth. So the "drag" part came that I didn't enjoy my time. I worked with a number of kids, they were never constant and I was just getting flustered with the fact that the program is not working as I thought it would.

So it came to last week, where I even told the circle leader that I had another commitment and couldn't come to a meeting. I didn't lie or anything, but I think I could have still made a good 45 minutes of the hour. Digressing from that, it was unenjoyable. Period. It came to my turn to provide snacks and come up with a game for this week. So I went about heading out to the grocers to get some arrow root crackers and headed home to figure out what I'm going to do with all these kids. Talking to my can-mate the idea came to me. One of the games that I enjoyed as a kid was a fishing game. For some reason I associated simple arithmetic on the back of the fish although I've never played such a game.

I then had that "eureka" moment. Where I just put vocabulary words on the back of the fish, set up a bunch of fish hooks using paper clips and made fish with vocabulary words and a paper clip portion that could be hooked.

Ingenious I thought.

And so it turned out to be true. The last half hour before the reading circle ends there is time for a game. Although the children were first uninterested; at the end of it all they were truly enjoying the learning experience.

Learning is supposed to be enjoyable. It sucks when someone is shoving something down your throat, and that analogy applies to education as well. To simply see the kids desiring to play the game and to translate all the vocabulary before the other team was indescribable.

Teaching for me is a lifestyle, a career and my way of reflecting about what I enjoy the most– learning out of interest and of course for fun.