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Holy Smokes ... It's LiveJournal.
Even Holier Smokes ... It's ME writing on LiveJournal.
It has been quite some time. And my writing today is for no intended audience, not even for myself really, just simply a nostaligic trip to when LJ was much more prevalent in my life.
I am now at 8.5 months of life in London. What an experience! I've always made a point to avoid using cliches in my life (that's a cliche in itself, isn't it?) but realize that many-a cliches exist because there genuinely is some truth behind them and as long as my cliches are not rude or derogatory, I suppose there is no harm in using them. So, if I may go on now and use a cliche; Life in London has been a true roller coaster ride. This experience has been composed of some serious ups and downs, but like the roller coaster, ultimately when you get off the ride, you've had a blast and want on one more time (maybe even two or three more times, depending on the size of the line).
- Social life; Exceptional, amazing friends, incredible boyfriend (do I dare say the love of my life ... I think I'll accept that dare). Friends from new places who I know I'll probably be distanced from in the future but as a result of the things we are experiencing here together, will always be in my heart.
- Travel; Surprising, I'm going places and seeing things that I never imagined myself experiencing. Sure it was always a nice thought to see Sistine Chapel or count the thousands of roaming sheep on a mountain in Wales but for a long time, that's all those things were to me ... nice ideas, never to be seen as realities. But I'm seeing these things, with my own two eyes.
- Work; Hupheegroohama, There is no dictionary word to describe how I feel about work. It's been a pleasure to start my career in education but the teaching here is, well, not what I imagined for myself. I'm not motivated or inspired, I'm hardly even interested. The things that have been keeping me going are the things I used to say I wasn't getting into teaching for; money and time off. In an attempt to see the cup as half full, the overall benefit is that I am gaining experience and I'm thinking about all of my options and for the first time, am not seeing myself as just a teacher or as someone whose only role in education is to teach but am now seeing and entertaining ways that I can contribute in other sectors.
- Homesickness; Liberating, yes, I've felt it (I've felt sick to my stomach over it) but I think the defining moment for me here is the success in which I've dealt with the distance from my family/friends. I've proven I can have a life for myself (in a new, far-away place). I've proven I'm not nearly as dependent on the city of my birth as I once thought I was. I've proven that I'm closer to people now than I ever was, even when I was only 2 minutes away.
THE PLAN (imagine a crash of thunder and bolt of lightening) will see me in London until approx. New Year 2009. Then a move back to Canada is in sight and I'll be bringing back the worlds best souvenir; a cute, funny, kind, musical, experiencing-seeking guy named Martin. From there, there are options, several, yet to be determined.
O.K. time to head back to double-decker buses, thinking of home, mobile phones and episodes of Only Fools and Horses.
Even Holier Smokes ... It's ME writing on LiveJournal.
It has been quite some time. And my writing today is for no intended audience, not even for myself really, just simply a nostaligic trip to when LJ was much more prevalent in my life.
I am now at 8.5 months of life in London. What an experience! I've always made a point to avoid using cliches in my life (that's a cliche in itself, isn't it?) but realize that many-a cliches exist because there genuinely is some truth behind them and as long as my cliches are not rude or derogatory, I suppose there is no harm in using them. So, if I may go on now and use a cliche; Life in London has been a true roller coaster ride. This experience has been composed of some serious ups and downs, but like the roller coaster, ultimately when you get off the ride, you've had a blast and want on one more time (maybe even two or three more times, depending on the size of the line).
- Social life; Exceptional, amazing friends, incredible boyfriend (do I dare say the love of my life ... I think I'll accept that dare). Friends from new places who I know I'll probably be distanced from in the future but as a result of the things we are experiencing here together, will always be in my heart.
- Travel; Surprising, I'm going places and seeing things that I never imagined myself experiencing. Sure it was always a nice thought to see Sistine Chapel or count the thousands of roaming sheep on a mountain in Wales but for a long time, that's all those things were to me ... nice ideas, never to be seen as realities. But I'm seeing these things, with my own two eyes.
- Work; Hupheegroohama, There is no dictionary word to describe how I feel about work. It's been a pleasure to start my career in education but the teaching here is, well, not what I imagined for myself. I'm not motivated or inspired, I'm hardly even interested. The things that have been keeping me going are the things I used to say I wasn't getting into teaching for; money and time off. In an attempt to see the cup as half full, the overall benefit is that I am gaining experience and I'm thinking about all of my options and for the first time, am not seeing myself as just a teacher or as someone whose only role in education is to teach but am now seeing and entertaining ways that I can contribute in other sectors.
- Homesickness; Liberating, yes, I've felt it (I've felt sick to my stomach over it) but I think the defining moment for me here is the success in which I've dealt with the distance from my family/friends. I've proven I can have a life for myself (in a new, far-away place). I've proven I'm not nearly as dependent on the city of my birth as I once thought I was. I've proven that I'm closer to people now than I ever was, even when I was only 2 minutes away.
THE PLAN (imagine a crash of thunder and bolt of lightening) will see me in London until approx. New Year 2009. Then a move back to Canada is in sight and I'll be bringing back the worlds best souvenir; a cute, funny, kind, musical, experiencing-seeking guy named Martin. From there, there are options, several, yet to be determined.
O.K. time to head back to double-decker buses, thinking of home, mobile phones and episodes of Only Fools and Horses.