Now it is currently almost 4 o'clock in Quebec City, and I am still in my pajamas, have my entire wardrobe sprawled over my floor, and have Emmanuel laying in my bed. I am in the midst of packing for the week of billetting, wherein I leave the tiny, colourful, yet oddly comforting house to go live in the house of some one in the community. I am billetting with someone from the group, so I won't be entirely alone, but I am a little nervous for the amount of French.
Last night was a Katimavik Haloween party. All three Katima-groups from the area gathered at the Levis house and had an amazing night. We had a pumpkin carving contest, a giant game of Loup-Garou, and then onto a Ghost Tour of Quebec. The Gost tour was full of real stories of the criminal history of Quebec. I found it so interesting. After that, the night was complete with a moon lit stroll of Old Quebec.
Today, instead of packing for two weeks of billetting, I called my sister and we had a really great convorsation. Usually, my sister and I have the usual only-talk-when-neccesary-did-you-take-my-shoes relationship. But since I have been gone, it has been easier for us to talk. I really enjoyed talking with her and sharing with her the experiances I have been through in the short month and a half I have been absent.
Funny Story from the Party last night.
Since Levis is so far fom Quebec City, my group didn't really really know the Levis group. As I was getting to know the group, I introduced myself to one very tall guy. The following conversation took place shortly after:
Me: Hello, My name is Irene.
Jordon: Jordon, you're name is Irene?
Me: ...Yea?
Jordon: Do you have a blog?
Me: *stunned face*
Jordon: Yeah, I googled Katimavik, an I found your blog. Its good.
Me: oh, thanks.
Hilirously awkward, also it is the first time that my writing has preceded me. It was interesting.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day Fourty Three
Hello. I would like to start this post off as an official appology. Firstly, I apologize to my faithful readers who informed me that I as a blogger have been shirking my responsabilities and it is time for a new post (Mum). And secondly, I would like to apologize in advance for the terrible spelling and typing. There seems to be a strange lag on my keyboard. But here goes nothing!
At work, I have been moved back into the Laundry Room because I, as a girl, cannot be in the Men's shower room. Which makes complete sense to me, I am just sad because being moved back into Laundry Room is very disappointing. Although, the laundry does have its upsides. For example, for any one that watches The Big Bang theory will know what a FlipFold is (for those that don't, its the folding board that wonderfully OCD Sheldon uses to fold hos laundry). Today, I found one and got to keep it. Best day in the Laundry yet.
The last couple days have been so full of activity, I can barely start to describe it all.
For example, with the deportation of our Arnaud we got a new volunteer. His name is Emmanuel and he arrived last night. It is hard to think of integrating a new person into this very tight and complicated group, but I am sure that with the already limited space, we will have no choice but to. He seems alright so far, but my communication with him is limited because he is totally francophone and I am a anglophone pretending to try to learn the language.
Another thing that transpired yesterday was the addition of another piercing to my body. Kurtis was kind enough to accompany me to a near by piercing place. There, I got my sixth piercing. Now, along with two lobe piercing, one upper lobe, two cartilege peircngs that make an industrial, and now my first surface peircing, my belly button is pierced! It didn't hurt as much as I expected, but, since I am who I am even in Quebec, I still passed out. Kurtis wasn't allowed behind the sheet with me, but when the piercer saw that I was going out, she indicated to him to get himself here and fast. All I remeber is looking up at Kurtis and saying "I'm about to pass out now." and right on cue, I did. When I came back, I thought I was back in Fredericton, in White Lotus, the peircing shop in town (since that is where I usually pass out from peircings...) but upon recognising Kurtis's presence, I knew that couldn't be the case. All the informtion came rushing back and then I noticed the 16-gauge curved bar with a glittering jade green gem in the center of my belly. I was ecstatic.
I have been through a lot in the past few weeks, most specifically in the mos recent week. My life has a tendecy of going through the strangest loops. Everything will line up for a few months, then, everything in the same week will explode and re-aligne. I am now in the re-alignement stage. I feel very emotionally, mentally and just about spirituallydrained. I am working on getting myself back together,and I know that I have freinds here that are willing to help me pick up the pieces.
Every day is a new adventure, So no worries
At work, I have been moved back into the Laundry Room because I, as a girl, cannot be in the Men's shower room. Which makes complete sense to me, I am just sad because being moved back into Laundry Room is very disappointing. Although, the laundry does have its upsides. For example, for any one that watches The Big Bang theory will know what a FlipFold is (for those that don't, its the folding board that wonderfully OCD Sheldon uses to fold hos laundry). Today, I found one and got to keep it. Best day in the Laundry yet.
The last couple days have been so full of activity, I can barely start to describe it all.
For example, with the deportation of our Arnaud we got a new volunteer. His name is Emmanuel and he arrived last night. It is hard to think of integrating a new person into this very tight and complicated group, but I am sure that with the already limited space, we will have no choice but to. He seems alright so far, but my communication with him is limited because he is totally francophone and I am a anglophone pretending to try to learn the language.
Another thing that transpired yesterday was the addition of another piercing to my body. Kurtis was kind enough to accompany me to a near by piercing place. There, I got my sixth piercing. Now, along with two lobe piercing, one upper lobe, two cartilege peircngs that make an industrial, and now my first surface peircing, my belly button is pierced! It didn't hurt as much as I expected, but, since I am who I am even in Quebec, I still passed out. Kurtis wasn't allowed behind the sheet with me, but when the piercer saw that I was going out, she indicated to him to get himself here and fast. All I remeber is looking up at Kurtis and saying "I'm about to pass out now." and right on cue, I did. When I came back, I thought I was back in Fredericton, in White Lotus, the peircing shop in town (since that is where I usually pass out from peircings...) but upon recognising Kurtis's presence, I knew that couldn't be the case. All the informtion came rushing back and then I noticed the 16-gauge curved bar with a glittering jade green gem in the center of my belly. I was ecstatic.
I have been through a lot in the past few weeks, most specifically in the mos recent week. My life has a tendecy of going through the strangest loops. Everything will line up for a few months, then, everything in the same week will explode and re-aligne. I am now in the re-alignement stage. I feel very emotionally, mentally and just about spirituallydrained. I am working on getting myself back together,and I know that I have freinds here that are willing to help me pick up the pieces.
Every day is a new adventure, So no worries
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Day Twenty Eight
Most of my blogging has been basedon my home life, but there is so much more to it all. For instance, I am working at a shelter called Le Maison du Lauberiviere. It is mainly a men's shelter where they can come in and detox if they need to, get a hot meal, a shower and, with the help of the freindly staff, get thier feet underneath them again.
For the first few weeks, I was stuck in the "Bouanderie" or the laundry room. It was boring, but work at the very least. Recently, I got moved up into the office where my main duties involveopening lockers and looking stupid when I don't understand the french. On rare days, I get to do something useful.
Today for example, a man came in and said in plain, un-accented french "I need a bed, or a room." He clearly did not speak any French at all. My boss, Gil (a teddy bear, I am told) speaks even less English. The task of translation was delegated to the only person in the room who had a prayer of communication. I managed to get the point across to Gil, after which, he communicated to me about what information he needed from him. I felt very accomplished and useful. The useful feeling was a new one and a welcome one after spending three weeks folding laundry.
I also get to meet some of the most interesting people. New people are always coming into Laubriviere. Today a man named Yao Alla appeared in the locker room. Standing at atleast 6'4", and very black, he is hard to miss. He was born on the Ivory Coast, speaks three languages fluently, and studied in France and vacationed in London, England. He was a facinating person, and I could have talked to him all day just to learn his story. I never got the whole thing, just that little bit, but I know that he will go on to have more interesting stories happen to him. He's just that type of an energy.
I hope this blog is living up to what I had promised. I have never kept a blog before, and have had barely any number of people read my writing. It is almost strange to write an email, essentially, to the whole of the internet. I hope it is at least interesting over a coffee or in avoiding work.
I am emotionally drained today, so that might be why this entry is a little more meloncholy and less of my usual style. I promise that the regular and observant Irene will be back on track in time for the next installment of this...series?
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
For the first few weeks, I was stuck in the "Bouanderie" or the laundry room. It was boring, but work at the very least. Recently, I got moved up into the office where my main duties involveopening lockers and looking stupid when I don't understand the french. On rare days, I get to do something useful.
Today for example, a man came in and said in plain, un-accented french "I need a bed, or a room." He clearly did not speak any French at all. My boss, Gil (a teddy bear, I am told) speaks even less English. The task of translation was delegated to the only person in the room who had a prayer of communication. I managed to get the point across to Gil, after which, he communicated to me about what information he needed from him. I felt very accomplished and useful. The useful feeling was a new one and a welcome one after spending three weeks folding laundry.
I also get to meet some of the most interesting people. New people are always coming into Laubriviere. Today a man named Yao Alla appeared in the locker room. Standing at atleast 6'4", and very black, he is hard to miss. He was born on the Ivory Coast, speaks three languages fluently, and studied in France and vacationed in London, England. He was a facinating person, and I could have talked to him all day just to learn his story. I never got the whole thing, just that little bit, but I know that he will go on to have more interesting stories happen to him. He's just that type of an energy.
I hope this blog is living up to what I had promised. I have never kept a blog before, and have had barely any number of people read my writing. It is almost strange to write an email, essentially, to the whole of the internet. I hope it is at least interesting over a coffee or in avoiding work.
I am emotionally drained today, so that might be why this entry is a little more meloncholy and less of my usual style. I promise that the regular and observant Irene will be back on track in time for the next installment of this...series?
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
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