This is the entry I sent to the listserve to the IISD as part of my internship program. It's nothing new, but I wanted to keep it somewhere, so if you have some free time, you can learn a bit more about what I am doing....
ok, so I am going to try not to be completely envious of Alison and the others that are currently in HOT countries, as it appears I have landed in a Latino version of Britain. Much like Vancouver, it's cold and rainy and gross out right now; but when it's nice out, it sure is nice out! I suppose that comes hand in hand with living on the waterfront and arriving at the tail end of winter. The 91% humidity (and lack of sleep) didn't help me avoid the sniffles either! So here I am, drinking some homemade ginger and lemon tea, getting ready to tell you all about my first two weeks here.
If, for the training week, we "hit the ground running," then I do believe I have hit the ground here darting in a 100m sprint! The days have just flown by since I first started, and the entire APC team has made me feel more than at home. My first assignment, to help me get to know the team a little bit better, consisted of re-writing everyone's teaser bios (the few sentences that appear next to their photo on the public site). I have to say, what an accomplished, inspiring bunch of people! The richness of the organization is its diversified and world-wide staff. Today for example, I was had to help test the Moodle chat and whiteboard functions by participating in a chat session with people from South Africa, Mexico, Czech Republic, the Philippines and Canada! I sift through at least 50 emails a day (some of which are irrelevant to me), but the weekly updates always give me a laugh. They are a mix of work and personal life that have that water-cooler conversation feel to them. Aside from re-writing some of the site content (I will also have to produce some French abstracts and articles based on the PDF of a new African initiative), I have also been put in touch with some international media outlets, for which I will be the liaison (yay!). This is because the information coordinator for the site (who also happens to be Canadian!) will be leaving the organization, so I will be taking on some of his roles and assignments. The added responsibility however, also means that I have been putting in some extra hours on the side to read up on ICT policy and some of the site's content. It's been great though, and reading has not felt like a chore; rather, I see it as a matter of interest and concern for a job well done. Further to this, my manager and I met today in her home office to discuss the media monitoring project I will be working on based on the previous intern's recommendations. I'm starting to work on it as early as tomorrow, and would like to have the matrix and evaluation system semi-finalized by the end of the month so that I can work on the monitoring for the next 5 months. I'm also looking at ways of making this a long-term project that they will continue once my term has finished.
Since it's a virtual organization, I don't know that many people here yet – fortunately though, both my roommates have made it easier for me to meet people. I've also found a cute little yoga studio (which you can read about here : www.borderlys.blogspot.com), where the people are friendly.
I've attached a photo of my work space with my co-worker Analia. It's in a house-turned-office, owned by some young architects. I also posted a photo of the view, two steps out my front door. You can view more photos on my flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/borderlys . Consider yourself warned - they aren't all * ahem * work related. You can also read my somewhat irregular ramblings of anything and everything on my blog (see above).
Hope you are all well!
Lisa
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
Return of the toque
I FOUND MY TOQUE!!!!!!
OH JOY!!!!!
Today was the last day that I tried to look for my toque, figuring that if I hadn't seen it lying on the street by now, that I wasn't going to find it. It was a hard decision to make, since part of my just felt that I was supposed to find it. So just as I was a few steps from home (incidentally, not far from where the taxi had dropped me off) a car drove away, revealing a lonely flattened toque that had lost its way! Nothing against my new toque - it's also great - but it doesn't have the love I put into it....
OH JOY!!!!!
Today was the last day that I tried to look for my toque, figuring that if I hadn't seen it lying on the street by now, that I wasn't going to find it. It was a hard decision to make, since part of my just felt that I was supposed to find it. So just as I was a few steps from home (incidentally, not far from where the taxi had dropped me off) a car drove away, revealing a lonely flattened toque that had lost its way! Nothing against my new toque - it's also great - but it doesn't have the love I put into it....
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Week two, here we go!
After my first week of work, I am feeling pretty good about my internship! So far, I've been given very precise instructions for the different projects I'll be working on, and my manager has been great in giving me instructions and helping me set goals for the day and week. It's nice to work from her home office, since I don't have to worry about little formalities (like what to wear, being 5 minutes late, etc.), and sometimes I even get to work with a kitty on my lap! She also makes the best coffee in the whole entire world! So far, I've mostly been getting familiar with the organization, re-writing teaser bios (a few sentences that appear next to the people's photos on the site). It's actually a great way to get to know members of the organisation! It's quite interesting to learn the culture of this virtual organisation - things like the informal weekly updates (personal and work related) allow for a more personal, "water cooler" type of interactions. I've had a little introduction to the media impact monitoring and evaluating aspect of my internship, as well as a briefing on the media relations aspect. I still have so much reading to do before I feel comfortable with the site content because for now, I still feel like there is an overwhelming amount of information on the site. My plan to read up on policy this weekend didn't quite come to fruiting either....
I did have a great weekend though! I went out with "los internacionales," which is what I have dubbed the ex-pat and international crowd living here at the moment. We stayed out all night; I lost my beloved toque on the way home; and felt the repercussions of dancing until 6am the next morning. To make things worse, the next day Katarina and I went to the market, which, as it turns out, closed early because it was raining out. Walking in the rain for a few hours, lack of sleep, then going to bed late-ish a second night didn't exactly do wonders for my health. Where is that echinacea tea when I need it?!?
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Shanti, I'm home!
Ever since I arrived to Montevideo (what, a whole 5 days ago…) I’ve been struggling somewhat to practice yoga. I’ve wanted to, my body has certainly craved it, but closing myself off in my room when I am in a new place that still remains largely undiscovered just doesn’t make sense somehow. Yet, I do think I’m at a point in my yoga where I could benefit from individual yoga – after all, I don’t want to be dependant on others leading my practice all my life. Individual practice was something I used to do regularly, but once I started going to Bodhi Tree, and my practice kept getting stronger and stronger (and I am not just referring to asanas), I got lazy and stopped discovering yoga on my own. I figured this would be the perfect time to do that.
Buuuuuuuut, I just couldn’t resist the cute little friendly yoga studio a few blocks from my house! It certainly is not the pristine environment of Bodhi, but there was something so warm about this place, with its paper lamps, Ganesh posters, incense, and welcoming owners/teachers. The class simple (and short!), but I left there feeling happy and serene. I decided I may not come to the studio several times a week, but I might splurge on 2 nights a week here and compliment it individual practice.
It’s funny how I am immediately drawn to the yoga community. I used to be so intimidated by it, but now it’s feels like home, wherever I am….
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Day 2
Day 2
Well, my impression of Montevideo has altered itself slightly after today. It seems perhaps Sundays are the days to go out…The Rambla was bursting with activity, and the little amusement part that was closed yesterday (odd, for a Saturday, wouldn’t you say?) was in full operation, and its neaby cafés just as busy. I met my manager, Karen, who took me up to the “cerro” (the hill, or “mountain”), where the best views in town can be found. Ironically, it is also one of the poorer areas of town; yet, it is also a colourful and charming area of town. I’ll have to go back and take some pictures! The view on Montevideo was indeed wonderful, especially with the approaching sunset, giving the sky a pinkish hue. On the way back home though, as I walked from Karen’s house, I was reminded of the fact that poverty still does exist….As I was coming out of the supermarket and putting my money away, I saw a man notice this very fact. As I turned out of the store, I saw (or felt him) turn in my direction and follow me. I felt a sharp flash of pins throughout my body and I knew he had a motive. So I quickly and nonchalantly I went back into the store for a few minutes, and when I came out, he was gone and I scurried the entre 40 metres back home from the market.
Tomorrow is my first day with the APC! I feel excited – I am finally working in something I feel passionate about! I feel nervous – I hope I can fill in Kelly (the previous inter)’s shoues. Mostly though, I feel hopefu – this is paving the way to my future in development and I want to learn as much as possible and do as much as possible. Really, the meaning of “give and take” has never made more sense to me.
Well, my impression of Montevideo has altered itself slightly after today. It seems perhaps Sundays are the days to go out…The Rambla was bursting with activity, and the little amusement part that was closed yesterday (odd, for a Saturday, wouldn’t you say?) was in full operation, and its neaby cafés just as busy. I met my manager, Karen, who took me up to the “cerro” (the hill, or “mountain”), where the best views in town can be found. Ironically, it is also one of the poorer areas of town; yet, it is also a colourful and charming area of town. I’ll have to go back and take some pictures! The view on Montevideo was indeed wonderful, especially with the approaching sunset, giving the sky a pinkish hue. On the way back home though, as I walked from Karen’s house, I was reminded of the fact that poverty still does exist….As I was coming out of the supermarket and putting my money away, I saw a man notice this very fact. As I turned out of the store, I saw (or felt him) turn in my direction and follow me. I felt a sharp flash of pins throughout my body and I knew he had a motive. So I quickly and nonchalantly I went back into the store for a few minutes, and when I came out, he was gone and I scurried the entre 40 metres back home from the market.
Tomorrow is my first day with the APC! I feel excited – I am finally working in something I feel passionate about! I feel nervous – I hope I can fill in Kelly (the previous inter)’s shoues. Mostly though, I feel hopefu – this is paving the way to my future in development and I want to learn as much as possible and do as much as possible. Really, the meaning of “give and take” has never made more sense to me.
First impressions
It’s Sunday morning; I am listening to some mellow tunes and drinking a freshly brewed coffee. I should be drinking maté, I suppose, but I’ve got a whole six months to pick that habit up anyway.
So I’ve been in Uruguay now for one night and one full day, and while in some respects I found what I was expecting, in other ones, I am picking up on some cultural differences.
I arrived Friday night, exhausted after 30 hours of traveling…(I guess saving a few bucks and taking the Ferry may not have been the most brilliant of ideas, since I waited about 6 hours at the station, and took the ferry for another three). It was 9pm or so by the time I arrived, but Analía, my coworker was there to pick me up, and in good spirits. She brought me to my apartment, where Andrea, my Uruguayan roommate showed me the ropes, and even ordered pizza for us, since she figured I would likely be hungry. Katarina, my other roommate from Germany came in shortly after, with a British friend (Patrick), and Antoine, a French-German guy who has been here for three weeks. So, within a few short hours, our apartment was already an international haven!
The next day, Andea took me for a walk about the Rambla, which is essentially a boardwalk along the river, which extends with miles of beach front alongside of it. We did mandatory stops to the cash machine and so on, but it wasn’t until the afternoon, when I set off by myself that I really started getting an idea of what Montevideo is really like.
This place redefines chill. At first I thought the city was empty because I was expecting this capital city of one million people to be bustling with activity. Instead, I found youth strolling about quietly with their parents and grandparents, groups of young people sitting in parks or along the rambla drinking maté, people walking their dogs, groups of young boys or men playing soccer in fields, but no one sitting in cafés! The people here may be more European in some ways but the café culture I was expecting certainly wasn’t there last night….until I went out for dinner at 11:00 with Andrea and a few of her friends (thank god I had already eaten earlier!). I then met up with Katarina at a friend’s house, who was having a party and spent time getting to know a few locals, and some local foreigners, from Bolivia, Germany, Japan, Brazil, etc. So far, insertion into the “ex-pat” circle has been easy, but what I am most eager to do, is get to know some locals, drink mate with them, and learn more about Uruguayan life-style and Uruguayans themselves. While I am sure poverty exists, it is not as overt as in other developing countries, so I am left with an impression of a country that defies “third world” characteristics…it truly feels like a developing and emerging country, where a new middle class is beginning to emerge.
So I’ve been in Uruguay now for one night and one full day, and while in some respects I found what I was expecting, in other ones, I am picking up on some cultural differences.
I arrived Friday night, exhausted after 30 hours of traveling…(I guess saving a few bucks and taking the Ferry may not have been the most brilliant of ideas, since I waited about 6 hours at the station, and took the ferry for another three). It was 9pm or so by the time I arrived, but Analía, my coworker was there to pick me up, and in good spirits. She brought me to my apartment, where Andrea, my Uruguayan roommate showed me the ropes, and even ordered pizza for us, since she figured I would likely be hungry. Katarina, my other roommate from Germany came in shortly after, with a British friend (Patrick), and Antoine, a French-German guy who has been here for three weeks. So, within a few short hours, our apartment was already an international haven!
The next day, Andea took me for a walk about the Rambla, which is essentially a boardwalk along the river, which extends with miles of beach front alongside of it. We did mandatory stops to the cash machine and so on, but it wasn’t until the afternoon, when I set off by myself that I really started getting an idea of what Montevideo is really like.
This place redefines chill. At first I thought the city was empty because I was expecting this capital city of one million people to be bustling with activity. Instead, I found youth strolling about quietly with their parents and grandparents, groups of young people sitting in parks or along the rambla drinking maté, people walking their dogs, groups of young boys or men playing soccer in fields, but no one sitting in cafés! The people here may be more European in some ways but the café culture I was expecting certainly wasn’t there last night….until I went out for dinner at 11:00 with Andrea and a few of her friends (thank god I had already eaten earlier!). I then met up with Katarina at a friend’s house, who was having a party and spent time getting to know a few locals, and some local foreigners, from Bolivia, Germany, Japan, Brazil, etc. So far, insertion into the “ex-pat” circle has been easy, but what I am most eager to do, is get to know some locals, drink mate with them, and learn more about Uruguayan life-style and Uruguayans themselves. While I am sure poverty exists, it is not as overt as in other developing countries, so I am left with an impression of a country that defies “third world” characteristics…it truly feels like a developing and emerging country, where a new middle class is beginning to emerge.
A second attempt
It's quite obvious that I was unsuccessful in maintaining my blog after my Euro-trip, but now that I am in Uruguay for 6 months, I decided to give it another shot (and perhaps use spell check this time!).
So, stay tuned for my thoughts, impressions and experiences in Uruguay...
So, stay tuned for my thoughts, impressions and experiences in Uruguay...
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Help me, I am trapped inside an ice cube!
just thought you should all know, this is what I do with my time, rather than study.....
Christmas anyone?
Holy Crap! When did time decide to fast forward over to Christmas? Nothing signifies the coming of Christmas in my family like fruitcake does. That's because we all have to partake and put our love into it.
I don't know about you guys, but the days leading up to Christmas used to go by SOOO slow, and I used to linger by the tree, looking at all the wonderful gifts I would get to open: Christmas just couldn't come fast enough.
I wish I could get that feeling again; however, now it just seems like another day, and the reason I am so excited about it, is because I get a day off work, which means I can concentrate on my homework (despite my current procrastination).
Also, what happened to a White Christmas? Is it just a thing of the past? I know I sure can't envision Christmas if I don't even have to warm up my car in the morning.....
Anyway, all this just to say have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, even if you don't realize it's Christmas Eve yet....I need to get some homework done so I can go cross country skiing today.
I don't know about you guys, but the days leading up to Christmas used to go by SOOO slow, and I used to linger by the tree, looking at all the wonderful gifts I would get to open: Christmas just couldn't come fast enough.
I wish I could get that feeling again; however, now it just seems like another day, and the reason I am so excited about it, is because I get a day off work, which means I can concentrate on my homework (despite my current procrastination).
Also, what happened to a White Christmas? Is it just a thing of the past? I know I sure can't envision Christmas if I don't even have to warm up my car in the morning.....
Anyway, all this just to say have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, even if you don't realize it's Christmas Eve yet....I need to get some homework done so I can go cross country skiing today.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
B tard
“B” tard.
Ok, so I know I am geeking out by getting all upset about my B average right now, but it’s seriously hurting my intellectual ego right now. I can’t help but feel inferior when it seems like I am part of the 8% (this is a hypothetical number I have used to emphasize how I feel) that is not being rewarded with As every second day. And yes, we do get assingments back every second day because we have to hand some in every second day.
I am trying to be positive about this – really, the point in my doing this Master’s is to learn. It’s to improve. Nonetheless, when the options are A, B, or fail, I’ll take the A thank you. None of this second grade B shit. “But Lisa,” I am sure you are now thinking, “you speak five languages! Get over it already, you are not an idiot!” To that I say “Who cares. It’s not getting me As at the moment, is it?!?!”
It’s ironic, because just the other day one of my professors was talking about how grades get you to the Master’s, but once you are in, they are baisically irrelevant. The fact that I get Bs won’t prevent me from getting a job; it won’t prevent me from getting published (I doubt this will be the case anyway); regardless, it just plain feels shitty and nothing (other than getting an A, of course) can make me feel better about it.
Ok, so I know I am geeking out by getting all upset about my B average right now, but it’s seriously hurting my intellectual ego right now. I can’t help but feel inferior when it seems like I am part of the 8% (this is a hypothetical number I have used to emphasize how I feel) that is not being rewarded with As every second day. And yes, we do get assingments back every second day because we have to hand some in every second day.
I am trying to be positive about this – really, the point in my doing this Master’s is to learn. It’s to improve. Nonetheless, when the options are A, B, or fail, I’ll take the A thank you. None of this second grade B shit. “But Lisa,” I am sure you are now thinking, “you speak five languages! Get over it already, you are not an idiot!” To that I say “Who cares. It’s not getting me As at the moment, is it?!?!”
It’s ironic, because just the other day one of my professors was talking about how grades get you to the Master’s, but once you are in, they are baisically irrelevant. The fact that I get Bs won’t prevent me from getting a job; it won’t prevent me from getting published (I doubt this will be the case anyway); regardless, it just plain feels shitty and nothing (other than getting an A, of course) can make me feel better about it.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
mr sandman, bring me some SLEEP!
....so it's 1:21 am and for the second night in a row, I can't sleep. Asides from this being extremely frustrating, it's somewhat concerning. I need my mind to be sharp so I can do all my work! It seems I get sleepy precisely at the wrong time -- during class. Contrary to my usual get-tired-at-10:30-go-to-bed-at-11-wake-up-at-6am routine which has kept my body and mind in tip top shape so far, my bodily schedule is all out of whack. OUT OF WHACK I SAY! It has since turned into a go-to-bed-at-2-wake-up-at-6am routine, and I don't think I even need to explain why this is a bad thing. Ever seen sleepy Lisa? Sleepy Lisa = grumpy Lisa, and grumpy Lisa is no fun at all.
We could turn this into a riveting phiosophy 101 excercise:
Lisa is sleepy
Lisa is grumpy
Therefore if Lisa is sleepy, she is grumpy.
and now we have a truism. I think. Please keep in mind that I took this class some 6 years ago, and it was in French, too boot.
On top of all this I have thoughts of constructivism, functionalism and liberal pluralim running through my mind. Then there's the inductive qualitative paradigm that pops up now and again, and "am I properly using a semi-colon in this sentence?" .... "oh! now, what about dependant clauses?!" and "yeah that guy in my class is pretty cute", and "how the hell did I manage to talk for $142.79 worth on my cell phone last month?!"..................
Now if you will excuse me, I am going to try to convince my body (and mind) to sleep.
We could turn this into a riveting phiosophy 101 excercise:
Lisa is sleepy
Lisa is grumpy
Therefore if Lisa is sleepy, she is grumpy.
and now we have a truism. I think. Please keep in mind that I took this class some 6 years ago, and it was in French, too boot.
On top of all this I have thoughts of constructivism, functionalism and liberal pluralim running through my mind. Then there's the inductive qualitative paradigm that pops up now and again, and "am I properly using a semi-colon in this sentence?" .... "oh! now, what about dependant clauses?!" and "yeah that guy in my class is pretty cute", and "how the hell did I manage to talk for $142.79 worth on my cell phone last month?!"..................
Now if you will excuse me, I am going to try to convince my body (and mind) to sleep.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Back to school!
Well I have been wanting to update my blog and had many an entry idea, but unfortunately I never got arround to it, my enthousiasm for the entries has since faded and I been simply too busy with working, trying to stay in shape, eat well and get all my pre residency work and readings done. So I write to you from rainy Vancouver, and until it startd raining like crazy I thought I might like to move out here in the next year or so...it seems to be the place to be, since most of my good friends are here and I would like to be a part of their lives; and I also feel it would be easier to take on the new healthy lifestyle I am trying to take on here in in Vancouver. There are yoga places, organic food stores and sushi restaurants everywhere here! what's not to like?! Rent is also cheaper here (or the same price, at the most) compared to Calgary......
Really though, Vancouver is beautiful. It's grey, but manages to remain so colouful! The leaves are bright orange and bright red and green, even if they skies are grey. Just the rain......the damn rain! The weather really is much milder and it's nice to be here....
So I stat school on Monday and I am definetely looking forward to it! Got just about all my readings done and am feeling pumped. PUMPED I TELL YOU!
nerdin' out,
Lisa
Really though, Vancouver is beautiful. It's grey, but manages to remain so colouful! The leaves are bright orange and bright red and green, even if they skies are grey. Just the rain......the damn rain! The weather really is much milder and it's nice to be here....
So I stat school on Monday and I am definetely looking forward to it! Got just about all my readings done and am feeling pumped. PUMPED I TELL YOU!
nerdin' out,
Lisa
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Low Batt.
Well I haven't even been home a month and I have already managed to tired myself out so much that I already have that "stuggling to keep your head above water" syndrome. Part of that is due to the comute in traffic during rush hour, which takes nearly three hours out of my day. We could put it this way - I get up at 6, leave at 7 as the sun goes up and work til 6 and arrive arround 7:30, again in time to catch the sunset. (Neat thing is during the monring I dive towards the East and in the evenings drive back towards the West) But between prepping for school, trying to make a representative online album of the past 10 months of my life, looking for a job (this means getting up at 5:30 am to complete and read over cover letters that were composed at 11 pm the night before), catching up with friends and doing frisbee, yoga and squash; I have come to the conclusion that I am forgetting to take care of the most important person in my life: me. So if that means that it's Saturday night and I played Frisbee for 5 hours today and am too tired to go for dinner with friends, then I simply won't go! I think mainly I just need to get enough rest to be able to enjoy my outings, since now they have become another thing that has to get done.
On another tangent, I went out last night and saw many old friends associated with my ex, Darryl and with my former job at Neteller. Although it was really great seeing all of them again and I had a good time, especially watching his band play, all this weird nostalgia set in. Not nostaliga as in "I want to relive this" but more like "Yup. No need to go back there again....." I guess it's a healthy feeling?
Regardless, now I am waiting for my supper to cook, with which I will stuff myself, to later keel over and sleep for as much as 12 hours until day break. Great plans huh?
On another tangent, I went out last night and saw many old friends associated with my ex, Darryl and with my former job at Neteller. Although it was really great seeing all of them again and I had a good time, especially watching his band play, all this weird nostalgia set in. Not nostaliga as in "I want to relive this" but more like "Yup. No need to go back there again....." I guess it's a healthy feeling?
Regardless, now I am waiting for my supper to cook, with which I will stuff myself, to later keel over and sleep for as much as 12 hours until day break. Great plans huh?
Sunday, September 24, 2006
gettin' whipped back into shape.
Yeah. My return to Canada has been somewhat hectic...I had wanted to write all about the Brighton chronicles and my time in Brighton with Scott but unfortunately too much time has gone by and it's just all one hillarious blurr to me right now.
I have, however, been keeping quite busy. Within one week of being home, I was already moving out temporarily to Bearspaw to house/pet sit. It's great -- I get a view of the rockies, I get the company of 2 big dogs and one cute cat, and I get an hour and 15 minute drive into the centre of town everyday. yugh. Why am I doing this again?? Oh yeah, wait, I know why...BECAUSE I AM BROKE ASS!!! (and they are paying me) Actually I ike housesitting but the timing this is a bit bad right now. I am housesitting for 3 weeks, which happens to be within my first month back, so I am running arround, driving nearly three hours a day just to go for a beer kind of thing. The problem is that I WANT to see my friends and I want to go out but once I get here and it's nearly 8pm, there is no way in hell that I just want to hop in my car again and drive out to the city centre. I can't afford anything anyway.
In other news, I played my first game(s!) of Ultimate Frisbee today...WOO! It was a jolly old time, except that I nearly died. What was I thinking!?! I can't run like a mad woman and chase a frisbee for two hours! I have walking muscles, WALKING! After our victories (not because of me, might I add) my toe curled up involuntarily and I couldn't get it back to normal!!! I litteraly had to pry it open with my fingers to seperate it from my foot. It wasn't painful per say, but it was most definetely weird. I think anytime your body does something your brain didn't ask it to is guaranteed to be slightly odd.
So now I am in Bearspaw with Socrates watching me as I type this between the online orientation for my Master's, online job applications, msn, and translating for a friend....which I should get back to.....
I have, however, been keeping quite busy. Within one week of being home, I was already moving out temporarily to Bearspaw to house/pet sit. It's great -- I get a view of the rockies, I get the company of 2 big dogs and one cute cat, and I get an hour and 15 minute drive into the centre of town everyday. yugh. Why am I doing this again?? Oh yeah, wait, I know why...BECAUSE I AM BROKE ASS!!! (and they are paying me) Actually I ike housesitting but the timing this is a bit bad right now. I am housesitting for 3 weeks, which happens to be within my first month back, so I am running arround, driving nearly three hours a day just to go for a beer kind of thing. The problem is that I WANT to see my friends and I want to go out but once I get here and it's nearly 8pm, there is no way in hell that I just want to hop in my car again and drive out to the city centre. I can't afford anything anyway.
In other news, I played my first game(s!) of Ultimate Frisbee today...WOO! It was a jolly old time, except that I nearly died. What was I thinking!?! I can't run like a mad woman and chase a frisbee for two hours! I have walking muscles, WALKING! After our victories (not because of me, might I add) my toe curled up involuntarily and I couldn't get it back to normal!!! I litteraly had to pry it open with my fingers to seperate it from my foot. It wasn't painful per say, but it was most definetely weird. I think anytime your body does something your brain didn't ask it to is guaranteed to be slightly odd.
So now I am in Bearspaw with Socrates watching me as I type this between the online orientation for my Master's, online job applications, msn, and translating for a friend....which I should get back to.....
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Chetnik lisa
Well it’s my second last day here and that sinking feeling of termination has slowly crept up on me. I’ve got that heavy feeling that you get when something is over, that you can’t do anything about. This place became my home away from home during my 9 months away, through living and working here, then by dropping in and relaxing for sometime before continuing on to my next destination. I’m at that stage where I have to say “well if I don’t see you again, take care” or “it was nice knowing you” and when I get the question “when will you return to Serbia?” replying with an apologetic shrug and a “I really don’t know”. For the most par of last week it had been rainy and I had been fighting some weird stomach virus and counting down the days to go home, and now the pinch in my heart makes me wish I had better appreciated my time here, and the famous words of Joni Mitchell come to mind “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone”….
The sun has since come out, and the weather has been lovely here. Over the weekend went to the “GUCA” trumpet festival in Southern Serbia, where I partied with Serbs, complete with Chetnik army cap and all…..It’s a part of Serbian culture not to be missed! The sound of powerful, almost schizophrenic trumpet orchestras all over the streets, blaring high-energy music – you can’t help but get in to it! And all the beer helps get in the mood quite effectively…. Not to mention to mention the smell of grilling meat (I had the BEST “pljeskavica” – Serbian style hamburger – of my LIFE there), corn on the cob, “kupus” (delicious cooked cabbage) and local pastries!
I get I just have to make the best of my remaining time here before I head out to London to see Shcott and head home....
The sun has since come out, and the weather has been lovely here. Over the weekend went to the “GUCA” trumpet festival in Southern Serbia, where I partied with Serbs, complete with Chetnik army cap and all…..It’s a part of Serbian culture not to be missed! The sound of powerful, almost schizophrenic trumpet orchestras all over the streets, blaring high-energy music – you can’t help but get in to it! And all the beer helps get in the mood quite effectively…. Not to mention to mention the smell of grilling meat (I had the BEST “pljeskavica” – Serbian style hamburger – of my LIFE there), corn on the cob, “kupus” (delicious cooked cabbage) and local pastries!
I get I just have to make the best of my remaining time here before I head out to London to see Shcott and head home....
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
This is the end....
Well that’s it. It’s pretty much over. My time in Turkey has passed (just in time, apparently, or else I might have been victim or witness to bombings!) and now it feels like I am aimlessly waiting the day that I can go home. Which I suppose is what I am literally am doing. I tried to find a flight back to Calgary for early September but it seems they have all been booked. So now I am sitting in rainy, cold, drab Novi Becej (I always arrive on time for the rain here) but my mind is elsewhere. Gotta get stuff done for school, gotta organize my photos, gotta start making money, gotta get in shape, gotta get my life in order….you name it, I gotta do it. I am really excited to come home and start a new chapter of my life. I suppose this trip may seem like your cliché “just finished my degree so I”m taking off for a year” trip, but it really wasn’t. Which is what I realized as I was here. I think I have passed the stage where I want to do something just for fun, or to pass time by…I ain’t getting’ any younger after all. I feel this trip lacked purpose – although don’t get me wrong, it was great to travel and learn and see things -- it just felt kind of selfish. Next extended trip should be for a development project of some sort, or some sort of goal, which would allow me to contribute somehow, or make some sort of a difference. I guess I feel like this, because life has been good to me, and has given me so much that I want to give back to it. I still have many trips planned and still want to climb the Kilimanjaro, go scuba diving in the Red Sea, hike the Inca Trail, ride a camel in the Moroccan desert, drink tea in Japan, go to Island, and who knows, maybe even go to the States some day…..but for now I just want to drink tea with my mom after doing the dishes together; hear my dad howling to ACDC on Saturday mornings; fight with my sister over clothes and makeup; and fall asleep with a cat on my lap.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
headıng east
Today was the most amazıng day I have had ın Turkey so far -- just when I thought the lunar landscapes of Capadoccıa were ımpossıble to beat (well, they stıll sort of are...) I have made ıt to southeast anatolıa, whıch ıs a whole other world. We woke up to see the sunrıse on Mount Nemrut - and yes for anyone who has been to Turkey, ı saw the Lonely Planet cover pıcture wıth my own eyes - and later made ıt to the southern town of Harran. Walkıng arround ın 48 degree wheather ın the oldest mesopotamıan cıty ıs undescrıbable....Honey coloured brıck and mud huts by the sunset , kıds runnıng to see us to speak wıth us and ınevıtably get one or two turkıs Lıra from us, people sayıng hello to us and ınvıtıng us ınto theır homes.....Indeed beıng ın thıs 4000 year old town 15 kılometres from the Syrıan border feel much more lıke the mıddle east then the relatıvely westernızed (and tourıst orıented)cıty of Istanbul. We also vısıted the Karavansaray (baısıcally a camel parkıng lot durıng the sılk roads perıod) where the prophet Abraham met hıs wıfe, Sarah, and saw the cave he was born ın. I have decıded to cut my tıme ın Turkey by a week, mostly for fınancıal reasons but now I have a wonderful taste left ın my mouth that wıll keep me wantıng more and needıng to come back and go even deeper ınto the mıddle east....
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Orıent Express
...So after a long 36 hours of travel tıme, I fınd myself reunıted wıth my good frıend Maıte, wanderıng the swealterıng streets of Istanbul. It's a mıghty 38 degrees celcıus here, but that's not stoppıng the vendors and turkısh, ahem, gentlemenn from approachıng us. 'Hello, where are you from' or my personal favorıte ' Excuse me, you dropped somethıng' as he gestures towards hıs broken heart. I have never been asked out for tea so many tımes ın such a short perıod of tıme!
Although I knew Istabul would be quıte progressıve ın comparıson to the rest of the country, ıts stıll ımpressıve. There ıs not one call tp prayer, but several, echoıng through out the cıty, 5 tımes a day. I cant say ıts partıcularıly spırıtual to hear, through the bustlıng traffıc and tourısts, carpet sellers and tramway; ındeed the call to prayer here seems more lıke an extra noıse.
Istanbul ıs a great cıty, fılled wıth delıcıous surprıses ın ıts nooks and crannıes. local waterpıpe cafes, turkısh coffee, grılled meats and lets not forget, the Turkısh Delıght!
Although I knew Istabul would be quıte progressıve ın comparıson to the rest of the country, ıts stıll ımpressıve. There ıs not one call tp prayer, but several, echoıng through out the cıty, 5 tımes a day. I cant say ıts partıcularıly spırıtual to hear, through the bustlıng traffıc and tourısts, carpet sellers and tramway; ındeed the call to prayer here seems more lıke an extra noıse.
Istanbul ıs a great cıty, fılled wıth delıcıous surprıses ın ıts nooks and crannıes. local waterpıpe cafes, turkısh coffee, grılled meats and lets not forget, the Turkısh Delıght!
Pottie mouth -- a word on eastern european toilets
So, I consider myself a pretty tolerant personç I thınk I have seen quıte a few thıngs ın my lıfe and that I am not very fussy. ı certaınly don't have prıncess syndrome and I can pee anywhere........almost. Somethıng really has to be saıd about the toılets here -- especıally the ones on the traıns. Between the one wıth the door that's jammed shut, the one wıth the door that won't close and the excrement-fılled one, it's not always a matter of choice. It's quıte a physıcal challenge to have to grab onto the wall handle wıth one hand and your pants wıth the other so your pants dont get wet from the pee on the floor, and so my ass doesn't doesn't touch the shıt on the seat (ıt's runny and red and ıt looks lıke they had corn for dınner). That's ıf there ıs a seat. Most trıps to the toılet requıre ıntense squattıng sınce there ıs no actual seat (not that I would want to sıt on ıt anyway).
Traınstatıons charge you for the use of the toıletö sınce there ıs *staff* who takes care of ıt. what the hell the staff does ıs beyond me. MOst of the tıme they don't even gıve you the paper you're essentıally payıng for, and they certaınly don't clean them! I guess I don't mınd ıf there ıs no seat, thıs ıs ıf you are prıvıledged enough to get a toılet and not a hole ın the ground wıth two spots for your feet, but as I was sayıng, I dont understand WHY they dont have a seat....I mean wouldnt ıt just make sense to have one?
Traınstatıons charge you for the use of the toıletö sınce there ıs *staff* who takes care of ıt. what the hell the staff does ıs beyond me. MOst of the tıme they don't even gıve you the paper you're essentıally payıng for, and they certaınly don't clean them! I guess I don't mınd ıf there ıs no seat, thıs ıs ıf you are prıvıledged enough to get a toılet and not a hole ın the ground wıth two spots for your feet, but as I was sayıng, I dont understand WHY they dont have a seat....I mean wouldnt ıt just make sense to have one?
Monday, August 07, 2006
it's alive!
Headline reads: Momentous day! Ipod comes back to life after weeklong death!
July 2nd 2006. The presumed dead ipod resurrects from electronic wasteland after being pronounced officially dead a week earlier. Victim and eye witness of this miracle, Lisa Cyr, 25, moments after the resurrection says " I just can't believe it! I thought I was going to have to throw it away and as soon as I touched it, I saw the apple..THE APPLE!"
Innocent bystander and sister, Renee Cyr, claims "I never even saw it comming", as the hysteric Lisa jumps up and down proclaiming the good news.
July 2nd 2006. The presumed dead ipod resurrects from electronic wasteland after being pronounced officially dead a week earlier. Victim and eye witness of this miracle, Lisa Cyr, 25, moments after the resurrection says " I just can't believe it! I thought I was going to have to throw it away and as soon as I touched it, I saw the apple..THE APPLE!"
Innocent bystander and sister, Renee Cyr, claims "I never even saw it comming", as the hysteric Lisa jumps up and down proclaiming the good news.
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