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
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Day Twenty Three
I sit here, in the little off shoot from our living room we have dubbed the "reading room" and begin to think. I look like a struggling artist or perhaps a naive student in this dimly lit, pathetically furnished room. I have my cup of tea made with a tea bag that arrived today from my nearly psychic mother who some how knew I was getting a cold, and needed something warm. The tea bags were accompanied by an assortment of items almost as good as the hugs I am missing at home. An english puzzle book, nearly a commodity in Quebec, a few packsof gum, a bit of money (very appreciated when living on an allowance of 3 dollars a day) and safety pins rounded out the care package. I cannot thank my mother enough. This house has been compared to a frat house with the lack of personal space (which is a foreign concept in a house of 12), laundry every where and the wonderful randomness that manages to find its way on the the internets.
Our house suffered a saddening blow this week with the sudden departure of Arnaud. His skinny, white, nerdy behind is certainly missed from the complex group dynamic. We will be getting a replacment (who statistically has to be a francophone male, but we'll see) some time next week. Its a big topic of conversation in the house. How will the new person fit in? Will they think we are crazy? Will we scare them off? CAN we scare them off? We are constantly thinking of new ways to initiate him into our little family. Right now it is to blindfold everyone, have everyone except him take off the blind fold and lead him through an obsticle course. Hey, we had to do it.
This morning, we had our french class for all the poor little anglophones. Only four out of nine were awake, and the teacher was arriving in five minutes. We clearly had a crisis on our hands. So the obviouse solution was to walk into each room, and gently get them up for the day. But the more fun solution would be to each arm ourselves with a metal spoon and a large pot and stand in the hall way and CRASH the pots and SCREAM as loud as we could! Kellie came blundering out of the room (from the top bunk) a-cursing our existance.
It was a moment for this history books
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Our house suffered a saddening blow this week with the sudden departure of Arnaud. His skinny, white, nerdy behind is certainly missed from the complex group dynamic. We will be getting a replacment (who statistically has to be a francophone male, but we'll see) some time next week. Its a big topic of conversation in the house. How will the new person fit in? Will they think we are crazy? Will we scare them off? CAN we scare them off? We are constantly thinking of new ways to initiate him into our little family. Right now it is to blindfold everyone, have everyone except him take off the blind fold and lead him through an obsticle course. Hey, we had to do it.
This morning, we had our french class for all the poor little anglophones. Only four out of nine were awake, and the teacher was arriving in five minutes. We clearly had a crisis on our hands. So the obviouse solution was to walk into each room, and gently get them up for the day. But the more fun solution would be to each arm ourselves with a metal spoon and a large pot and stand in the hall way and CRASH the pots and SCREAM as loud as we could! Kellie came blundering out of the room (from the top bunk) a-cursing our existance.
It was a moment for this history books
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Day Eighteen
What a whirlwind these days have been.Still house managaer, so I sometimes forget about the world outside of our Katimavik house. On my free time one night this week, myself, Anna from Calgary, Bruce from Belleville, and Kaley from Logan Lake went down town. The sights we saw and the shops we visited were some of the most amazing I have seen. On the top of the plains of Abraham, there is a rail that you stand by (or infront of if you are Irene or Bruce) and the Chateaux Frontinac is completely lit and it is beautiful. The river is to the right, the city is to the left, the moon is full and the city lights are just shimmering. Absolutly breath taking. The thing that made the night complete was the steep hill that jutted out and down.Bruce and I took one look at it and knew: before we left, we were sliding down that hill! We did. And it was unforgettable. The world whirls around so quickly that once you finally stop rolling (after catching air time, and ruining your clothes) you have to try and convince your self that the sky is up and you will not fall into it by laying on the grass. The light pollution blocks out most of the starry detail, but there are the brave and brighter stars still poke through. A different sort of night sky than I am used to, but beautiful nonetheless.
We have a visitor right now in the house. Arnaud's girlfriend is here, and she is fitting in well. It is nice to have a fresh face here after being with the same people for almost three weeks.
Trying to cook for twelve people every night is really difficult. You have to be sure not to accidentally use the ingrediants that will be needed for the next night. Which is exactly what happened last night..
My house is very nerdy. We discuss retro video games, pokemon, and internet memes that have died out long ago. Most popular meme in this house? Peanut butter jelly time!
Funny Story:
When? Last night
Where? At the Star Club
Who? Kurtis
What? We were trying to get to another place in the club, which has mirrors covering all the walls. We reached a small clearing, and our exit was blocked by a mirror. I, not wanting to walk head long into a mirror, stopped. Kurtis, later using the excuse of tiredness, didn't. All I could do was stand and watch as he tries to get around a guy that he thought was getting in his way. He really tried to "beef himself out". Upon his realization, he spunaround with a completely stunned look on his face. Literally the funniest experiance of the night.
A new adventure everyday, so no worries.
We have a visitor right now in the house. Arnaud's girlfriend is here, and she is fitting in well. It is nice to have a fresh face here after being with the same people for almost three weeks.
Trying to cook for twelve people every night is really difficult. You have to be sure not to accidentally use the ingrediants that will be needed for the next night. Which is exactly what happened last night..
My house is very nerdy. We discuss retro video games, pokemon, and internet memes that have died out long ago. Most popular meme in this house? Peanut butter jelly time!
Funny Story:
When? Last night
Where? At the Star Club
Who? Kurtis
What? We were trying to get to another place in the club, which has mirrors covering all the walls. We reached a small clearing, and our exit was blocked by a mirror. I, not wanting to walk head long into a mirror, stopped. Kurtis, later using the excuse of tiredness, didn't. All I could do was stand and watch as he tries to get around a guy that he thought was getting in his way. He really tried to "beef himself out". Upon his realization, he spunaround with a completely stunned look on his face. Literally the funniest experiance of the night.
A new adventure everyday, so no worries.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Day Fourteen
Aujourd'hui j'ai le "house manager" et je nettoiller et cuisiner tout le jour.
Look! I'm learning (broken) French!
During each week, two people are designated as the House Managers. This happens to be my unlucky week. My house managing partner is a guy from Montreal named Arnaud. We get along quite weel, but the fact of staying home everyday to cook and clean is just aweful! Its clearly a blessing that I was born in this era of working moms and stay at home dads. I could never be satisfied with being a housewife.
Although I am learning some really cool new things. Right now, I have three loaves of cinnamon bread rising on the counter, and the dough for the biscuits ready to bake for the home made soup we will have for dinner.
In Katimavik, we make anything we can, and if we can make it, we do not buy it. We learned to make our own bread and I have to say, it is really hard to do!! So sticky and the dough gets everywhere and there is nothing I can do about it.
These are the things I hope to improve and be able to take away from this experiance. I will be more self sufficient than I ever thought possible. As one of my roommates, Kaley, put it "Katimavik is the half-way house of life" and it is true. It is teaching me to keep my enviroment clean, to communicate with people, to cook, and most importantly, to be completely and totaly responsible for myself.
I miss my family, of course, and I was lucky enough to chat with my mother and sister last night. At the same time, I am enjoying the different type of freedom this is giving me. It is a freedom that comes with responsabilities farther than "clean your room so you can stay out past 10". Its more like "do this now so you can enjoy the down time much easier." (upon hindsight, they are the same thing)
I'm rambling, and my bread is ready to be put in the oven, So i'll leave you with that.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Look! I'm learning (broken) French!
During each week, two people are designated as the House Managers. This happens to be my unlucky week. My house managing partner is a guy from Montreal named Arnaud. We get along quite weel, but the fact of staying home everyday to cook and clean is just aweful! Its clearly a blessing that I was born in this era of working moms and stay at home dads. I could never be satisfied with being a housewife.
Although I am learning some really cool new things. Right now, I have three loaves of cinnamon bread rising on the counter, and the dough for the biscuits ready to bake for the home made soup we will have for dinner.
In Katimavik, we make anything we can, and if we can make it, we do not buy it. We learned to make our own bread and I have to say, it is really hard to do!! So sticky and the dough gets everywhere and there is nothing I can do about it.
These are the things I hope to improve and be able to take away from this experiance. I will be more self sufficient than I ever thought possible. As one of my roommates, Kaley, put it "Katimavik is the half-way house of life" and it is true. It is teaching me to keep my enviroment clean, to communicate with people, to cook, and most importantly, to be completely and totaly responsible for myself.
I miss my family, of course, and I was lucky enough to chat with my mother and sister last night. At the same time, I am enjoying the different type of freedom this is giving me. It is a freedom that comes with responsabilities farther than "clean your room so you can stay out past 10". Its more like "do this now so you can enjoy the down time much easier." (upon hindsight, they are the same thing)
I'm rambling, and my bread is ready to be put in the oven, So i'll leave you with that.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Day Eight
The last day I posted was only three days ago, but already so much has changed.
We toured the work placements and explored some of the downtown. I also had my first taste of Night Life. Being from Fredericton NB, and at the same time being 18, I had yet to go to a bar or club, and last night both those things changed. First a bar, then we went to a night club at a center known as (are you ready for this?) The Clap. I didn't want to sit down much in "The Clap"... But I actually had a really fun time. Dancing and letting go for a bit was so freeing and I enjoyed it as much as I could. (Dear Mum and Dad, I didn't drink to much. Just enough to see what it's all about. FYI not a fan of beer...)
Today was our first day at work. I surprised myself with the amout of french I was able to come up with. Entire bits of conversations were in French on my part.
A la travaille, j'ai travaille dans la jardin. That means at work, I worked in the garden! I'm already learning French. AND ITS DAY 8! I am really enjoying this. As I have mentioned before, my housemates are great. They are the best group, with such a variety, it is better than I could have asked for. And as Kurtis (from Ottawa, no surprise) puts it "We are awesome, especially Kurtis." Clearly there are ego problems in the House. But we willsort them out.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
We toured the work placements and explored some of the downtown. I also had my first taste of Night Life. Being from Fredericton NB, and at the same time being 18, I had yet to go to a bar or club, and last night both those things changed. First a bar, then we went to a night club at a center known as (are you ready for this?) The Clap. I didn't want to sit down much in "The Clap"... But I actually had a really fun time. Dancing and letting go for a bit was so freeing and I enjoyed it as much as I could. (Dear Mum and Dad, I didn't drink to much. Just enough to see what it's all about. FYI not a fan of beer...)
Today was our first day at work. I surprised myself with the amout of french I was able to come up with. Entire bits of conversations were in French on my part.
A la travaille, j'ai travaille dans la jardin. That means at work, I worked in the garden! I'm already learning French. AND ITS DAY 8! I am really enjoying this. As I have mentioned before, my housemates are great. They are the best group, with such a variety, it is better than I could have asked for. And as Kurtis (from Ottawa, no surprise) puts it "We are awesome, especially Kurtis." Clearly there are ego problems in the House. But we willsort them out.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
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