Posts from — August 2010

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh

So I officially fly out tomorrow and I’ve really begun my goodbyes. I’ve been counting down the days until this moment since April, and I never thought that actually saying goodbye to all my friends would be so hard. My excitement overshadowed the reality of leaving them all behind. We’re all moving on and I’m so proud of each and every one of them. It’s a new chapter ahead and it’s going to be so exciting. But at the same time, these are the people who shaped who I am. The experiences that I had with them in high school, the things we did and talked about. Our crazy lunch times laughing at pointless things seem so far in the past. How boneheaded of me to think that it wouldn’t be hard saying goodbye. I was so caught up in leaving and moving on that I didn’t spend enough time reflecting on how much strength it takes to say goodbye. To move on out and start over again.

I went to one of my best friend’s goodbye/birthday dinners last night and it was beyond tough to really realize that I wouldn’t be seeing her until May 2011 (she goes to Ottawa for Christmas). I know it’s not going to be the same, and I’ve never been really good with communicating via the internet, but I have to try because these friends mean the world to me. I don’t know what I would do without them. Our entire futures are ahead of us, and it’s thrilling to be moving on, but things won’t be exactly this way ever again. I can officially say that reality has smacked me right in the face. It’s up to me to now pick up, carry on and do what I’ve been dreaming of doing for the last three years.

On a less intense note, the packing frenzy began a few days ago. I never realized how much stuff I had until I had to pack it all up into suitcases. Here’s just a little preview of how messy my room was the other day, and how the mess has now migrated into my dining room.

Piles and piles of clothes.

My Pooh Bear getting ready for the new adventure.

The beautiful laptop case my big sister made me.

The dining room turned packing station.

Well that’s it folks, the next time  I’ll be ’round, I won’t be in Brampton!

This post has a couple topics and therefore doesn’t flow, reader beware.

1. As the summer comes to a close, I have begun saying my goodbyes. Last time parties, BBQs, coffee dates and movie hangouts. I’m trying to fill these last few days with as much family and friends as possible. I don’t want to leave in September and regret not saying goodbye.

But enough of all the sadness. My summer otherwise, has been pretty decent. I worked for a little while but a recurring injury put the kabosh on that. I just spent the rest of my weeks trying to get through all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls. (I’m so close, I might actual make it.) I’ve been to the zoo, and frolicked in downtown Toronto many-a-time. I took a trip out west to St. Jacobs and Listowel to do some nice antique browsing and had the most uuh-mazzzing cupcakes at this bakery called The Cake Box². I went to Buffalo to shop, and I’m squeezing in one more trip before I leave. I’ve seen countless movies, seriously: Toy Story 3, Eclipse, Despicable Me, Inception, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and The Other Guys. Telus Tuesdays! Hellooo! I’m trying to fit in at least three more before I leave: Eat Pray Love, Salt and Takers. Have I mentioned I’m a total movie buff?

I’ve had Lord of the Rings marathons and I’ve roamed around my city, just trying to drink it all in. The next 7 days (OMG! one week!) are super packed with, well, packing, more trips downtown and countless more friend encounters to get through. Let’s hope I make it in one piece and don’t come out a blubbering, homesick-before-I-even-leave mess.

2. I’ve hit another iPod phase where everything on it sucks, and I’m getting bored of listening to the same things over and over again. So I’ve begun a new music hunt. So far I’ve discovered Paper Route and, Now, Now Every Children. I have pretty eclectic tastes, if i say so myself. Here’s a little preview of some of these bands for your listening pleasure:

Now, Now Every Children – Giants (from their new EP)

Paper Route – Wish and Enemy Among Us (from their album “Absence”)
I couldn’t find a non-live video, terribly sorry.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, kids! I hope it’s been a fantastic one. Mine was looking a little drab for a moment, but everything’s been pretty chill since then. I’m hoping to stretch it out as much as possible before getting back to the daily grind of school. Be safe, say “no” to drugs and go back to school! I’m out.

PS: Happy music hunting!

“Take me by the hand, take me somewhere new.”

I got my housing assignment back in late July and I’m proud (after a couple hours of initial disappointment that day) to say I’ll be living in Place Vanier, Okanagan House. At first I really wanted to be in Totem Park. It just seemed to be where all the cool kids were. I figured that’s where I belonged. (No offence to Vanier, it’s probably a really rocking place, or it will be after I arrive.)

So when I got Vanier, it’s safe to say I wasn’t feeling so hot about it. I mean, I got a single room and that in itself was a good thing, but no Totem? I felt gipped. For another few hours at least. I tend to get over things pretty easily. I thought about all the good things I’d heard about Vanier (not that Totem doesn’t rock too) and I figured, “I got what I got for a reason. Now make the best of it.”

Now I’ve decided to stick with it, enjoy it and be so grateful that I have a place to stay. I can’t believe I was complaining when there are people who have no where to stay at all. Well, kids, I’m here to show you just how awesome, cool and nerdy Place Vanier can be, and why it’ll be THE place to be in 2011-2012. Oh yeah! Peace, darlings.

“No more dreaming like a girl so in love with the wrong world.”

Where was I when I got the email telling me I was a part of this year’s Blog Squad? Sitting on my bed watching the sixth (and almost final!) season of Gilmore Girls. A pleasant surprise, don’t get me wrong, although I do love my GG…

But of course, being accepted as a First Year blogger, and trying to configure my blog to my freakish satisfaction, got me thinking about how I ended up here. Almost thirteen days away from arriving in an entirely new city, a new land. Ready for new adventures and new friends. I definitely could not stop thinking about how everything has come full circle: from applying to UBC, to being accepted and now counting down the days until I leave home. It’s so crazy. I mean, you work hard to get to where you are, but it still feels so surreal to be actually arriving at your destination, your goal.

The weirdest thing is that I wasn’t nervous before. Not when I was looking through the Viewbook so many times that I could recite it back to you. Not when I sent in my application, or waited anxiously for an acceptance letter. Definitely not when said letter arrived. I was too busy being excited, daydreaming of when I could really start a new chapter of my life. Now, thirteen days before I get on a plane and head toward Vancouver, now is the time when I start to get nervous. It’s not a bad, “OMFG what the heck am I doing?!” nervous, more of a “I hope it’s everything I’ve dreamed of” kind.

The thing is I know I’ll have fun, but I know there will probably be times when I wonder if I made the right decision. If moving across the country and starting over was the right thing for me. Well, my fellow Blog Squaders, potential readers and UBC prospectives, I guess this is the time for you to join me on my journey, as I figure what the heck I’m doing! Welcome to my life.