Nearing the End!

When I started my job here in Toronto early February, I had only expected to stay for seven months!

My first week, hiding up in the bluffs.

Starting April, I didn't think I was going to last seven months!

Rescued bunnies, and the boys adjusting was a challenge!

Then I started jiu jitsu and wanted to stay forever!

But now I'm two weeks away from being done, and I can't tell you how strange a feeling this is for me! I've been here ten months! Ten months in the same area, in the same house (minus the summer), living my life along side the same people. The boys haven't even lived here as long as I! It's a familiar feeling packing away my things. After all, I've moved about fifteen times in my life! Its only been a few times that I have been sad to leave though, and this is one of those times!

Their second day in Canada at the Raptors game!

Hiking

At the aquarium

Their first Canadian Christmas!

 Jiu jitsu is probably the saddest thing I've had to say goodbye to so far! I spent pretty much ever spare minute I could at this gym. The coach and the gym atmosphere were amazing! The members at the gym became like family to me! I enjoyed this sport so much, I would literally end up doing arm bars in my dreams! You could say I was a little addicted!

Rolling with a friend (photo creds: Jun)

It was hard to train the last few weeks, because of a muscle injury and strep throat. My last day the strep throat effects were gone though, and my muscle injury didn't hurt too much! I had a great last two classes, got in a few rolls, had some sad goodbyes, and got my second stripe! 

2nd stripe photo.

It was great training with all of you at SBG and I hope to see you all again someday!

The other part of my life I'm sad to leave is the family! Today at dinner the eldest boy said, "Jinta, I love you so much! I don't want you to leave!" I almost choked up as he said it! I've been with the boys since their start in this country! Its been amazing observing them grow and develop over the years. I'm going to miss them so much! 

Dressed in their Star Wars day outfits!

 Then of course the pets, and my bedroom. After living ten months in this wonderful basement, I am going to miss the hot showers, the queen sized bed, all the luxury I've had! I'm afraid its made me a little soft! lol. I'm sure Africa will toughen me up again! 

The comfiest bed in the world!

And of course the pets! I get so attached to animals! The German Shepherd and I grew really close! Probably, because we had the hardest time bonding, but now that we are bonded, its very strong!

I can't say I will miss the city! I still hate the air, the water, the atmosphere in general. Although, I might miss the public transit, because now I'm going to have to force myself to get a drivers license! 

 Still, I've learned a lot from living here! I challenged myself, and I feel its made me a better person! I've realised that as much as I enjoyed being a nanny, I don't think I would be satisfied doing it as a career. At jiu jitsu I learned how to stay calm in stressful situations, how to problem solve, and developed more empathy. Because of this, and just navigating this city in general, I feel much more confident in myself! I think this is what I am going to take away the most from living here! Self Confidence!

Three more days as a nanny to go, then I spend my last week in the GTA at the farm! I will post about that next!

The Adventure 2018!

Guess what???!!! I lucked out!

I'm going to Africa!

Yep! My employers had some vacation pay stashed for me, so I didn't waste time, and bought my tickets! Its a go! I'm going! I can hardly believe it! 

Now that its a 90% chance of me going, I'll let you in on the details!

Where am I going?

I am going to Uganda, in the Pallisa district. One of the safest districts in the county.

What am I doing?

I am going to be working in partnership with a Christian mission in Pallisa, called Amina Christian house. I am going to be a teacher at the primary school! Teaching English, and Sports. The website for the school is (www.pccpuganda.org).

How long am I staying?
 I'm aiming for two months. I may stay longer or shorter depending on how much I enjoy the experience!

So there you have it! I'm super nervous about teaching in a school, but I'm told its not much different then teaching kids skills at summer camp! Sports will be easy to teach, since I've done it before! English.....going to have to work on lesson plans for that! lol. 

I leave on January 14th to London England. I'll be staying in London for a week, so to my friends over there, I would love to see you! Then on the 21st I'm flying out from London to Uganda with a stopover in Dubai! Won't get to explore the city, but I'll get to see it from the air! 

If anyone would like to help support the trip, I will need these items for my class....

- A ball that I can fill with air when I get there.
- Frisbee
- pencils
- map of Canada
- notebooks

For myself...

- water purifier
- power bank for my phone
- flashlight
- cargo pants
- hiking boots....for some reason I wore out my old pair!lol

Just putting this out there, because some people have been asking how they can help. Thanks again to Roland for the camera, and my employers for the travel backpack! Those two items have brought down expenses by a lot!

I know a few of my lovely relatives out there, are not too happy about this trip. Thanks for really caring about my well being! It makes me feel very loved! However, I really feel called to go to Africa! Its been in my heart since I was at least four years old! I'm not going to be satisfied till I go, so I have to do this! I'm fairly certain I will be just fine, but even if I'm not, everything that happens will be God's will. He'll have control, no matter what. 

Love you all, and I'll keep you in the loop!

 

Toothy Problems

Hello everyone! Sorry for my super long delay in posting! I've been super busy, and it happens to be....

 


 The goal is write a 50,000 word novel in a month, so a lot of my spare time this month has been spent typing away on an exciting new story!

Anyhow, my toothy problems! Yes...long story short, a dentist in my past messed up on a filling!
 - The filling I got killed the nerve in my tooth
- causing an infection
- which caused a lot of pain!
-which made me visit the dentist
- which resulted in me getting a root canal
- which equalled no pain....but a far more empty bank account!

So, I had NOT planned for this in any way! Luckily I had money saved up! Not for dental purposes, it was for Africa.....

So, this is my problem! I'm not sure if I can afford to travel to Africa any more, but I already booked a flight to London as part of my trip! I may not be able to afford Africa, but I can still afford to explore Europe a little bit! I have to at least go to London anyway, because I already have a ticket!

Anyways, I will let you all know what ends up happening! Either way, I will be travelling somewhere next year, even if its not exactly where I had planned. Unexpected adventures are always the best though!

So, besides my slight financial problems, life has been good! Toronto got its first snow fall this week! It was pretty magical! Here are some pics of what has been going on lately!

Making Jacko lanterns

Went home for a bridal shower, and ended up having a fun evening with my brother and best friend Sierra

Halloween!

Us kids invaded my Mom's university

I have been visiting the farm on the weekends! Spent last night unfreezing water pipes! Never a dull moment there!

 I can hardly believe it, but I am officially done this job in one month! I thought I was going to be really happy leaving the city, but I've grown to like parts of my life here, and have grown close to many people. I am going to be really sad leaving them! 

However, I do plan to go live on the farm after my adventure, and so I will see everyone again. I am seriously considering going to school next year, and am having a really hard time deciding which courses I should take!( I love to do so many things!) Here is a list of what I am considering taking!

- Performance Horse Handling (Guelph) (2years)
- Vet assistant (online, or Durham college) (1 year)
- Vet Tech (Ridge town campus(Guelph) or st Lawrence Kingston) (2-4years)
- Screen writing (Toronto film school) (2 years)

Let me know what course (or courses) you think I should take! Enjoy the winter weather!

Falling off Horses, and Chasing Dogs!

 I sure do love it when the unexpected occurs! 

First of all, this past week was fantastic! I had three good friends of mine; Sierra, Rike, and Alex come for a visit! They all came the same week, so it was a little crazy, but it worked out in the end, and we had a blast!

Eating out!

Sierra with the Emus at High Park zoo.

Ball pit at the adult obstacle course we went to!

On Friday I went to the farm, like I normally do! I brought Rike with me, (she was planning on catching a ride with my Mom back home to Killaloe.) Usually on Friday nights I ride two to three horses, then work Saturday. However, it was raining and the other two horses were soaked, so I decided to just ride Denver instead!

Long story short, he was an ass! I got thrown off twice! Landed on my knee/belly flopped the first time, then bashed my arm against the arena wall the second. I kept getting back on though, till he finally cantered around like I wanted him to! Other then my arm feeling sore, I didn't feel that hurt! Just felt a little shaky! 

Denver and I after the ride! Still love him!(photo cred Rike)

 There just so happened to be a party at the farm that night, so for the rest of the evening I drank, had a good time with my friends. I was just heading up to bed around midnight, when the dog got out and ran away.

This dog!

 This is the event I believe triggered the injury! 

Everyone was in a scramble! Pulling on their shoes to go catch the stupid dog. I threw on my coat and ran out into the orchard across the road. It was so dark, and all I could see in front, behind, and to my side were apple trees! 

Hundreds of apple trees! 

I ran beside my one friend, her phone lighting our way. It was very surreal! It kind of felt like being in a video game. Between the rows we could hear the others shouting the dog's name, or "Marco, Polo," just so we could find each other. It was kind of like being trapped in a maze!

Finally, we found some of the others. They had kind of given up  the chase, and were enjoying some apples they had acquired instead. (These apples were huge, honestly the biggest apples I have ever seen, and good too! I don't know where they sell these apples, because I have never seen apples so big in my life!)

Anyhow, we were just munching on apples and talking, when I spotted him. He ran ahead on the road, looking like a ghost, since all I could see was his white fur. My friend, and I dashed after shouting to the others, "We found him!" Unfortunately, partially due to alcohol, my friend fell in the ditch.....

But I kept going!

I ran so fast! I don't know where the energy was coming from! Ever since my lung infection in June I have hardly done any running. Yet here I was keeping up to a dog, and not feeling exhausted at all! Perhaps it was the alcohol, perhaps I'm actually that fit?! Either way, I was able to keep track of where he was going, and us girls finally caught him!

Then I woke up the next morning and my knee was shot! 

It hurt to walk, it hurt to move my left knee even slightly! I tried doing small chores; Like sweeping the floor, washing the dishes. My knee wasn't feeling any better! 

I couldn't work if I couldn't walk! My Mom came to pick up Rike, and I explained the situation.

"If you can't work," she said, "then why don't you come home for the weekend instead?" 

So, I did! It was probably the best weekend I've had at home yet, since I left! Usually when I go home, its for a big event like Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. Usually, the atmosphere is super stressful and I can't wait to leave! This time though, it was super relaxed. On top of that, my brother Christopher treated me like a queen! I went with Rike back to Linda's farm to see Linda again. However the terrain at the farm was super uneven, so Christopher gave me piggy back rides all around, which was super fun! Then afterwards he took me out for dinner! (I think he missed me! lol)

Anyhow, on Sunday my knee was feeling so much better. I could walk, I could sort of run. I hung out with my sisters till Mom and I took off back to the big city. I actually drove almost all the way from Killaloe to Toronto! I was pretty proud of myself! It was also really nice to spend five hours chatting with my mom!

We got back just in time for me to head off to jiu jitsu. My knee was feeling 100% by that time, and I felt like I could give it a try! The only part of me hurting that night was the bruise on my arm, but that was okay! Now I'm 100% better, and this week has been super chill and relaxed!

The whole family is in New York for Thanksgiving, so I'm all alone with the dogs, enjoying a very peaceful, chill, relaxed weekend! I'm kind of sad I'm missing Thanksgiving with my family, but at the same time.....

I feel like I'm on vacation and I'm really enjoying myself!

Hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving! I know I have a lot to be thankful for!

The New Routine!

I have a good life! I often don't understand why! When I tell people this, they say its because I'm a good person......but there are many good people in the world, many better then I, who have horrible lives!  None the less, I've been feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for everything I have! 

I'm back in the city! As much as I miss the country, I am glad to be back! I do enjoy my comfy bed, the food I'm provided, doing more jiu jitsu, and playing with the boys! The boys have changed so much over the summer! Now I can have actual conversations with them, since their English has greatly improved. They also grew a lot taller!

And now all three go to school! 

This has changed my routine a lot, because now I don't have a child to entertain all day long. Instead, I clean the house, look after the dogs, and do odd jobs (ex.painting the fence).

I've recently discovered the joys of audio books! Its been really nice to listen to them as I work! They keep my mind busy as I do routine jobs, that eventually get boring (like painting the fence!). It's strange going into my second year of not going to school, and I feel like I got to keep my brain active! Jiu jitsu really helps with this, and I am starting to treat it like a school subject! I write a journal entry of what I've learned every night, and am starting to watch you tubes on it during my lunch breaks. The audio books also help too! I've been listening to books on writing, faith, and then a few fantasy novels (I love fantasy!). If any of you have suggestions on good books, let me know!

Anyhow, I still am going back to the farm occasionally! It feels like being released from a cage, as I leave the city! I was so happy to see everyone the day I came back. They have become like family, and I'm thinking of going back to live there after Africa. 

Denver and I this week!

 It's already mid September! It's weird how fast time flys! Only two and a half months left here....seems so short! 

Went home to see my grandma briefly, since she is heading back to B.C! I'm going to miss her lots!

 Its an exciting week ahead though! I might just be visited by someone I've really missed! 

Sierra might be coming over! It's been too long!

Change

Change.....it happens to everyone, everywhere, and everything. I usually don't mind change, but over the summer, it hit me hard at times!

Particularly when it came to things ageing! Over the summer, two horses died of old age at the horse farm. I usually can handle animal deaths quit well, especially after working at a wildlife centre, but these horses were different somehow! You could really feel their absence...it changed the whole spirit of the place!

 Then their was my dog, Boo. When I came home for a bit this summer, I could see age creeping up on him as well! He is still healthy, but he can't run 5km with me anymore. It's made me realise that I need to cherish the years I still have left with him, because he isn't getting any younger!

I have felt change in myself too! When Hannah came to stay for three weeks at the farm, I was so happy to have someone I could call my family living with me. I never used to care a whole lot about seeing my family! I just wanted to get away! lol. However, when my family drove away from the farm to take Hannah back home, it took all I had to not breakdown! This feeling of being left behind just kept gnawing away at my stomach. I quickly ran to the barn loft, and cried where no one could see me! I know it was stupid to feel that way! I was the one who chose to leave home, they didn't make me, but in that moment I began to realise that I actually miss my family sometimes!

Hannah riding Rebel

Hannah and my other student! It was a pleasure to teach them how to ride!

 At the very end of the summer, I decided to go visit Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre again! There is always change going on there, so I wasn't too surprised about that. It was when I went over to see my favourite horse Felix, that my heart sank....

Swollen knees, visible age! I got up on his back, and the painful sound he made, caused me to slide right back off. I tried again, but got the same results. I had visited only four months before, and he had been fine! "No more riding you, I guess, buddy!" I whispered, burring my face in his mane. He kept nuzzling my pocket looking for an apple, I'm sure he doesn't mind that he can't be ridden anymore! How much longer do I have with him though?! I'm sure he has several more years, but the change has set in really fast, so who knows how many more times I will get to see him! When I imagine him gone....its hard! I have never felt so connected to a horse before! 

last year with Felix!

 Sometimes, when things become hard to bear in the adult sense, then perhaps it better to bear them the way children do. I was helping to run the horse summer camp at the farm this past week. As I was watching the children walk their show course, two of my twelve year old helpers were chatting next to me.

"Patches died," the one said, her eyes watery. "It happened so fast, I miss her!"

"Did you know Patches died?" the other one asked me.

I nodded, trying to act like it wasn't bothering me that much. "Yeah, I was one of the first staff members at the scene."

" So you saw her die?!" 

"Yeah," I stuttered, kicking away at the riding ring dust. I didn't really want to remember that day!

"Did she turn into a unicorn?"

"What?" I whispered, thrown off by the question.

"A unicorn?" She repeated, "my mom says that when horses die, they stand up, and run off into the wind as unicorns!"

They both looked at me with such hopefully, longing eyes. I felt that my answer was going to greatly effect them, but I wasn't sure how to answer! I don't usually like to lie to children, but perhaps if you imagine something to be true, its not exactly a lie! 

"She did turn into a unicorn," I smiled, imagining Patches with a long, pink horn. Seeing her run across the wind in the pasture, to whatever lies ahead. "She was very happy to be a unicorn!"

So, maybe when Felix dies he will turn into some handsome unicorn, and Boo will turn into a magnificent wolf, and they will forever be with me, haunting me in my dreams.

Very blurry selfie with my Mom at the university!

Despite some of the sad changes this summer, there have been good changes too! Mom has started university, and I went to visit her there. It was so weird, I felt like I was sending my Mom off into the world! I am so proud of her though! And I think she will have a great time!

 As for myself, summer is over! I had to say goodbye to everyone at the farm. I will be going back on Saturdays, so I can ride my new, and wild stead, Denver. Perhaps I will form the same sort of bond with him that I formed with Felix!

Riding with a friend on Denver!

  I shared my room with a young girl for a month while I was at the farm! As a goodbye, she painted my name on a horse shoe. She was like a sister to me, and I will never forget her!

Now, I am back in the city!

  I saw the  boys last night, and they have grown so much! I am excited to go back into being a part of their lives! I am also super excited to go back to four days of jiu jitsu instead of two!

Got my first stripe!

 It is literally one of the only reason I enjoy living in this city! I almost don't want to leave because of it....

but then Africa....

Africa kind of beats everything!

I'm really sorry I hardly blogged at all this summer! I was just so busy, and I had very limited Internet. I will try harder this month to keep on top of it! Hope all of you have a good start to your fall, and for those of you going back to school....

 Good luck!!