Time flies when you're having...fun? It is almost December, I have been home from Europe for 3 months now (the length of my entire trip to Europe), and I am not in South Korea. I chickened out I guess you could say.
I needed a bit of a break before going back to a land where everyone is staring at me confused, not understanding a word coming out of my mouth, how to help me, as I wonder in circles with a map in my hand, just wanting to know where the closest McDonald's is for a free bathroom and wifi. (Yes, that did happen...several times). South Korea will be different though, since I will at least have a home base.
It seems the tension between the Korean borders is getting pretty bad right now, with sinking submarines and bombings on South Korea islands, with people dying, you can bet I am waiting to see if it all dies down before jumping on a plane over there.
In the meantime I am gaining some valuable volunteer experience in various aspects of my future career goal and paying off that thing I like to call the best summer of my life...I also happened to pick up a long distance university course, to prevent my brain from turning into mush, and keep me on track. I hope to have all this done in time for early spring (my new date of departure for Korea!)...that way I can do grad applications while I am away, and not worry I don't have the volunteer experiences etc. Pheww. It all seems to be working out. My mom did say everything happens for a reason, so I guess this delay has a purpose.
I just pray a full blown war doesn't take place. I have fallen in love with Korean culture from afar. When I first decided to put it off, I was relieved (yay no change for a bit), then sad (ummm why I still sitting in my parent's house?), but I have come to realize I have it pretty good.
Talking to some people post-grad makes me see how put together my little plan is. Sure going to Asia for a year seems like I am "running away" but it's relevant to my ultimate career goal, gives me a chance to save money for school and, since I postponed it and got myself put together back home, I can even apply to grad school, fulfill my year contract there, and be back in time to start school. Mhmmm :)
This is such an awkward phase in life. You want to postpone the "real world", yet you want to join it. I don't know what I want, but I do know I only have 2 continents down, and 5 more to go ;)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Geneva, Switzerland
June 4, 2010
I'm currently sitting in yet another airport - Geneva, Switzerland to Nice, France. Bre and I missed our 4:05pm flight's check in by 5 minutes, so we now have to wait and hope seats open up on the 8:30pm flight.
Geneva was so pretty and a very relaxed city - not busy at all. The weather agreed with us both days, so we saw everything there is to see here! We started our first night here by getting picked up by Jacob and Elise at the airport and heading to his house to drop off our bags. Jacob then took us on a walk along the waterfront at night before going to pick up 4 other couch surfers. Bre and I grabbed a quick dinner at McDonalds since everything else was closed.
After the other four arrived we went to a small bar called Tiki and grabbed beers and got to know each other - they were off to Nice in the morning, so perhaps we will meet again.
The next day Bre, Elise and I went a full day of sightseeing, we saw the Cathredral, gardens, the waterfront, Baby Plage, the UN and so much more. Geneva is an absolutely gorgeous place, although I think would make me restless if I lived there all the time as a young person - it was also pretty expensive.
That night we went out with Jacob and his friends and pre-drank with a wine & cheese on his balcony. The place we went was a lot of fun, and full of locals. There was a wall with a million shots with funny names to choose from.
The next morning Bre and I made a trek up to the UN again to go on a tour of the inside. They were all out of English tours, so we went on a French one, hoping we could understand most of it. After that we rushed to get to our flight in Geneva - yup, we missed it, and here we are now.
MY GENEVA PICTURES:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2338490&id=72610957&l=1063dc9c30
Paris, France (Airport)
June 2, 2010
Yesterday at 9:10pm, Bre and I left Toronto, Canada for our three month Europe adventure -- three planes later I am sitting at Orly Airport in Paris, France, waiting for our last flight of the day to Geneva, Switzerland. The six hour time difference has got us both tired, but I think once we meet up with the people in Geneva, the excitement will take over! Today alone I have been in four countries - Canada, Iceland, France, and in a couple hours - Switzerland!
We met a lady on our flight visiting her "man friend" in Oslo, and she gets to travel a lot for work, and when visiting him. It is nice to see the world doesn't just close its doors once you have "grown up".
It doesn't even feel real yet, though I just finished ordering lunch in French in Paris (2 years of university French = useless!) I am so excited to start this journey. Bre and I have been talking about this since first year - it's a dream come true, and even more amazing that we get to do it together. It's going to be hard being in a place so far from home for so long, but I think these three months will fly by!
Tonight we are going for drinks with some couch surfers and meeting up with a tutor from LSF. We then have a full day of sightseeing ahead in Geneva!
That's all for now!
Brittney xo
PS: Icelandic is a language - definitely didn't know that.
wow, fail.
So, I have been home from Europe for about 19 days now. Needless to say, I did not keep my blog while away. Excuses aside, internet (for free anyway) was VERY hard to come by in most countries, especially in hostels when there is a line up of other people behind you to use the computer. I knew I had to document my trip somehow though, so I got myself a journal and wrote down everything, every chance I got. We were on 6-7 hour train rides enough that I successfully got a chance to keep up to date with most of my travels.
I love the blogging community, as well as the chance to share anything I learned from my three months in Europe, so I have decided to transfer most of my journal over to my blog, as well as add some extra research on the places I have done, now that I am home. The good thing about doing it this way, is that I can now add pictures from my trip to my blog as well!
This summer was probably one of the most amazing, yet exhausting experiences of my life. I learned so much about different cultures, myself, and confirmed that my first true love is travel. As happy as I was to get home, I miss Italy to death (I have a weakness for all things Italian - food, language, culture, GELATO), as well as just the general thrill of getting to see or experience something new each day. When I got home I was certain I would put teaching in South Korea off for a year, but I have already begun interviews, and excited to get on the go again - so this time I will try and keep an up to date blog about that as well.
I obviously won't be able to put up 3 months worth of stories within a week, so be patient, I will do it in order of travels - which means first stop on my blog will be Geneva, Switzerland!
Hope you enjoy!
I love the blogging community, as well as the chance to share anything I learned from my three months in Europe, so I have decided to transfer most of my journal over to my blog, as well as add some extra research on the places I have done, now that I am home. The good thing about doing it this way, is that I can now add pictures from my trip to my blog as well!
This summer was probably one of the most amazing, yet exhausting experiences of my life. I learned so much about different cultures, myself, and confirmed that my first true love is travel. As happy as I was to get home, I miss Italy to death (I have a weakness for all things Italian - food, language, culture, GELATO), as well as just the general thrill of getting to see or experience something new each day. When I got home I was certain I would put teaching in South Korea off for a year, but I have already begun interviews, and excited to get on the go again - so this time I will try and keep an up to date blog about that as well.
I obviously won't be able to put up 3 months worth of stories within a week, so be patient, I will do it in order of travels - which means first stop on my blog will be Geneva, Switzerland!
Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
so much to do, so little time
A few updates regarding our trip!!
I finally got myself a backpack for Europe... it's pretty much the typical backpack one would expect for this sort of travel. It's surprisingly light and has a lot of padding, so I am hoping my grandma-back can handle it for 3 months. He said it was made specifically for women... so I guess that's a bonus? Who knows, I'm not the outdoorsy type, so all the backpacks kind of all blurred together to me. This one opened along the front though and had two removable bags, which were the selling features to me. If I had to dig everything I packed out of my bag everytime I needed something for three months - I'd lose my mind!! The bag was on sale too - only $150! (I know that sounds crazy for a backpack, but it's going to be my life for 3 months)
I also purchased this weird towel thing. Ok it's not a weird towel thing - it is a towel. It folds really small, and super absorbent, so it dries crazy fast, and won't smell up my luggage! It was $28 bucks, which is a lot for a towel, but the guy said I'd thank him later... I guess I'm an easy sale, but it seems like a good idea! I also bough lots of Canada patches to put on my bag so I'm not mistaken for an American ;)
Now to the exciting stuff - FLIGHTS!
The first month of our trip is finalized!
Bre and I booked our flights from Paris, France, to Geneva, Switzerland on June 2 on easyjet.com, and then after two nights there, flying from Geneva to Nice, France! The total for both flights came to I believe 106 Euros, including luggage fees etc. I am so excited! We now have to look around for couchsurfers to stay with in Geneva, but Nice we opted for hostels.
We also booked a flight way, way in advance since we are staying with Bre's family in the UK we had to let them know all the flight details and arrival, so that they can book their summer as well, and be around. So we have our flight leaving August 7th from Amsterdam to London! It will be nice to stay in the comfort of family for a week after 2 months of non-stop travel to get energized for the last couple weeks of our trip.
25 days and many more flights and ferries to worry about! Ahh.
I finally got myself a backpack for Europe... it's pretty much the typical backpack one would expect for this sort of travel. It's surprisingly light and has a lot of padding, so I am hoping my grandma-back can handle it for 3 months. He said it was made specifically for women... so I guess that's a bonus? Who knows, I'm not the outdoorsy type, so all the backpacks kind of all blurred together to me. This one opened along the front though and had two removable bags, which were the selling features to me. If I had to dig everything I packed out of my bag everytime I needed something for three months - I'd lose my mind!! The bag was on sale too - only $150! (I know that sounds crazy for a backpack, but it's going to be my life for 3 months)
I also purchased this weird towel thing. Ok it's not a weird towel thing - it is a towel. It folds really small, and super absorbent, so it dries crazy fast, and won't smell up my luggage! It was $28 bucks, which is a lot for a towel, but the guy said I'd thank him later... I guess I'm an easy sale, but it seems like a good idea! I also bough lots of Canada patches to put on my bag so I'm not mistaken for an American ;)
Now to the exciting stuff - FLIGHTS!
The first month of our trip is finalized!
Bre and I booked our flights from Paris, France, to Geneva, Switzerland on June 2 on easyjet.com, and then after two nights there, flying from Geneva to Nice, France! The total for both flights came to I believe 106 Euros, including luggage fees etc. I am so excited! We now have to look around for couchsurfers to stay with in Geneva, but Nice we opted for hostels.
We also booked a flight way, way in advance since we are staying with Bre's family in the UK we had to let them know all the flight details and arrival, so that they can book their summer as well, and be around. So we have our flight leaving August 7th from Amsterdam to London! It will be nice to stay in the comfort of family for a week after 2 months of non-stop travel to get energized for the last couple weeks of our trip.
25 days and many more flights and ferries to worry about! Ahh.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
bittersweet goodbye
I know this blog was supposed to be about Europe, but I thought I should at least document me officially being done university, since it's the first step in my travels. I did it. I finished. I have to pack up my room later this afternoon, and say good bye to everyone that have become my family over the past four years.
I was so excited to be finished school, getting tired of the same routine, the same venues, the same stories, but now that it is finally over, I have been hit with a wave of sadness. When in my life am I going to live only minutes away from all my friends, sit in a house with a group of girls my age, and walk into a bar or party and know everyone there. Probably never. I guess that's the experience though, and now it's time for the next thing.
I'm going to miss student life A LOT. I have learned so much and grown as a person over the past four years. I don't even think the me of 2006 would even recognize myself today. So much has happened in the past four years, some of it changed me for the better, while other things were tough to get through, but in the end made me a stronger person.
I feel like my experiences at university outside of the classroom have gotten me a little more ready for the "real world", whatever that may be. So here's to change, and here's to beginning the next chapter in my life. Scary, but it had to happen eventually.
I will miss you McMaster University - the people, the falling apart student house, and the smell that distinguishes this city from any other one I have lived in (ew).
Next stop: Oshawa for a month of work, then Europe!
I was so excited to be finished school, getting tired of the same routine, the same venues, the same stories, but now that it is finally over, I have been hit with a wave of sadness. When in my life am I going to live only minutes away from all my friends, sit in a house with a group of girls my age, and walk into a bar or party and know everyone there. Probably never. I guess that's the experience though, and now it's time for the next thing.
I'm going to miss student life A LOT. I have learned so much and grown as a person over the past four years. I don't even think the me of 2006 would even recognize myself today. So much has happened in the past four years, some of it changed me for the better, while other things were tough to get through, but in the end made me a stronger person.
I feel like my experiences at university outside of the classroom have gotten me a little more ready for the "real world", whatever that may be. So here's to change, and here's to beginning the next chapter in my life. Scary, but it had to happen eventually.
I will miss you McMaster University - the people, the falling apart student house, and the smell that distinguishes this city from any other one I have lived in (ew).
Next stop: Oshawa for a month of work, then Europe!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
continue the countdown
ONE EXAM AND ONE DAY - that's all that's between me and my degree and a European summer. I am shaking with excitement. I am clearly procrastinating by looking at pictures of all the places I am about to go.. AH.
It seems that the ash is clearing from the volcano, which is AMAZING news... I was a little worried for a bit.
All the tutors have been talking though, and it sounds like my first two weeks in Nice and San Remo are going to be so much fun. Training is supposed to be the best experience of the English camps, so I am really pumped to meet everyone, and be in the Italian sun.
The weather here is finally picking up too, which is making me even more anxious... I need it to be summer. Patios in Canada are fun, but patios in Greece... that's another story.
So much to do in May... EUROPE 40 DAYS... hope you're ready!
It seems that the ash is clearing from the volcano, which is AMAZING news... I was a little worried for a bit.
All the tutors have been talking though, and it sounds like my first two weeks in Nice and San Remo are going to be so much fun. Training is supposed to be the best experience of the English camps, so I am really pumped to meet everyone, and be in the Italian sun.
The weather here is finally picking up too, which is making me even more anxious... I need it to be summer. Patios in Canada are fun, but patios in Greece... that's another story.
So much to do in May... EUROPE 40 DAYS... hope you're ready!
Friday, April 16, 2010
overwhelmed
AHHHH. Less then a month and a half away. I'm actually starting to feel the stress of it all though... SO MUCH to get ready. Need to pay off some debt, get a credit card, get some traveler cheques and go to the bank to transfer some money into Euros. Flight to Switzerland from Paris needs to be booked, need to buy my EuroRail pass and book ferries for Greece. Never mind the necessities; hats, sunglasses, shorts, sundresses, and I guess a legit backpack.
In other news, a volcano erupted in Iceland, canceling all current flights East out of Canada that require flying past that area AKA Europe, so let's hope that smoke is out of the way in 44 days time, and everyone over in Iceland is safe & sound.
Two more exams left of my undergraduate career, then it's full sailing ahead!
In other news, a volcano erupted in Iceland, canceling all current flights East out of Canada that require flying past that area AKA Europe, so let's hope that smoke is out of the way in 44 days time, and everyone over in Iceland is safe & sound.
Two more exams left of my undergraduate career, then it's full sailing ahead!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
is it too early to start the countdown?
As I sit here, writing my LAST essay of my undergrad, I can NOT focus. In less then two months I will be sitting on the beaches of Nice, France. School is the last thing on my mind. It's all becoming so real now!
A facebook group was started for all the tutors coming to Italy this summer, and it seems like we are all coming to Nice the weekend before. We are going to try and stay at the Saint Villa Exupery Hostel in Nice and get to know each other before heading off to San Remo together! Everyone seems like a lot fun, and really excited to travel. We also found out we will be staying at a hostel called Blue Beach while training in San Remo, Italy. It's right by the coast. It seems my summer is going to be filled with white, black, and red sand beaches - I am not complaining.
We also found out the locations of the camps. I will either be spending two weeks teaching in Milan or Rome! I have been to Rome before, and there is SO much to do there, so I would not mind going back at all, even though I know Bre and I will end up back there during our travels, since Bre has never been. Milan would also be interesting, since it is such a well known location in Italy, yet not somewhere I would go on my own. Milan also makes it a lot easier to start traveling from Venice and southwards in Italy. Rome would require a little backwards traveling. So it's a win-win situation really. I am sure there is a lot of Italian culture to pick up in both places!
It's kind of crazy thinking I am going to have to pack up my room, knowing someone else is going to be moving into it, about to embark on their university career. I have had an amazing experience during my undergrad, but now I'm dying to see what else is out there. Nineteen days until exams are done, and fifty-seven days until I land in Paris, France... but who's counting??
Monday, March 29, 2010
the official itinerary
Breanna and I spent the last 6 hours planning our trip to Europe instead of studying for our last tests of the school year tomorrow - can you blame us? This is all we have on our minds right now...and I am more excited then ever, we actually got to fit in everything we want to see in Europe in 63 jam packed days.... are you ready?
(FYI - our contract got cut by 4 weeks :( = less money, but more time to see Europe, so it kind of worked out perfect...
SO we leave Toronto, Canada at 9pm for an overnight flight, where we transfer in Iceland and land in Paris, France at 2pm... we are then taking a flight from Paris, France to Geneva, Switzerland ... I know we were going to do Barcelona, but we decided to save Spain for the end of our trip since we were told it's a really amazing place in the summer, especially for people our age... and we really wanted to see Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland, and Geneva just so happened to be near Nice... so anyways....
1. Geneva, Switzerland
2. Nice- Monaco- Eze
3. San Remo (TRAINING FOR JOB)
2 weeks of working in ITALY
We are now done work and time for the adventure to begin...(in this order...)
1. Italy:
a. Venice
b. Cinque Terre
c. Rome
d. Tuscany
e. Pompeii
f. Capri
5. Greece:
a. Athens
b. Mykonos
c. Santorini
6. Croatia:
a. Split
b. Zadar
7. Hungary:
a. Budapest
8. Austria:
a. Vienna
9. Switzerland:
a. Zurich
10. Germany:
a. Munich
11. Czech Republic:
a. Prague
12. Poland:
a. Krakow
b. Warsaw
13. Germany:
a. Berlin
14. Belgium:
a. Brussels
15. Netherlands:
a. Holland
b. Amsterdam
16. England:
a. London
b. Bath- Stonehenge
c. Milton Keynes
17. Scotland:
a. Edinburgh
18. Ireland:
a. Dublin
- Cliffs of Moher
19. France:
a. Paris
b. Verseille
20. Spain:
a. Barcelona
b. Madrid
21. Portugal:
a. Lisbon
Well that's our trip so far...more details to come later... but it's going to be an amazing trip!
Monday, March 8, 2010
flying high
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but nothing new has really happened in the progress of this trip - until NOW! My friend Bre and I have been continuously checking multiple travel websites trying to find the best deals on flights into Europe. First we were looking into flights going directly to Nice, France, since it is the closest airport to San Remo, Italy, but because it is PRIME time to be flying there it was expensive. We were told by several travel agents our cheapest bet would be to fly into Paris, France and then train to wherever we had to go...
My friend went to Europe last summer and told me about this website which gives AMAZING deals to students on flights, hostels, activities etc. so I checked it out and was so disappointed to see that flights to Paris were still around $1100.00 with taxes...BUT by chance I decided to check the website to see if prices went down and VOILA - ROUND FLIGHT TRIP FROM TORONTO TO PARIS FOR...$554.00 INCLUDING tax AND travel insurance! WHAT?! Literally just cut my expected cost in HALF! Needless to say we booked our trip!
Au revoir Canada June 1st, 2010 we will be flying out of Toronto, landing in Iceland, and then off to Paris! Since we saved so much on our flight, we were also able to extend our travel time another week - so we now have 5 weeks to explore Europe!
Since training for our job in San Remo doesn't start until the 7th of June at 6pm, we decided to take a little mini detour and head to Barcelona, Spain straight from Paris, France (since we will be ending our journey in Paris, we will explore it then), spend a few days in Spain, then head to Nice to enjoy the beach, see Monaco, then finally meet up with the other tutors on the 7th and get a train to San Remo.
So excited to keep planning our trip! It seems to be slowly becoming more and more real!
Check out this website if you're in University right now and planning on flying/traveling anywhere: www.studentuniverse.com
Be patient, check back regularly and you will find a deal! It took us about 2 weeks of constant checking to find our deal, and it was well worth it!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
dot the i's & cross the t's
The contract has been sent to me via email, I have printed it out, signed it, and sent it back to Italy! It's official, June 7th I begin training in San Remo, Italy!
So much work ahead now! Save save save money, and of course Breanna and I have to plan our 4 weeks travel across Europe! We have SO many places we want to see in that month, so it's going to have to be pretty well organized!
We went to a travel agent yesterday to pick up some information, she suggested to us taking a guided tour, but we figured that might get a little old after 2 weeks, never mind 4...plus we are 22 years old and in Europe...we want to do it our way...which is going to be hard. Book flights, hostels, maps of the cities so we don't miss any important sites, and of course the ever detailed EuroRail system that we must somehow master.
Only one month left of classes - then exams...so you know planning this trip is going to be the source of all my procrastination... can't wait!
So much work ahead now! Save save save money, and of course Breanna and I have to plan our 4 weeks travel across Europe! We have SO many places we want to see in that month, so it's going to have to be pretty well organized!
We went to a travel agent yesterday to pick up some information, she suggested to us taking a guided tour, but we figured that might get a little old after 2 weeks, never mind 4...plus we are 22 years old and in Europe...we want to do it our way...which is going to be hard. Book flights, hostels, maps of the cities so we don't miss any important sites, and of course the ever detailed EuroRail system that we must somehow master.
Only one month left of classes - then exams...so you know planning this trip is going to be the source of all my procrastination... can't wait!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
destination unknown
AHHHH! So I got my official application sent to me from the coordinator of the camps in Italy already! (I was told it would take 2 weeks, and here it is 5 days later!) It asked a lot of questions about theatre and child experience, which makes me excited -- acting, singing and dancing like a fool for children and getting paid for it! I sent it back to her ASAP, and by the next day I was told I am guaranteed the job once I sign and return the contract.
I also found out where training begins in June. My first stop in Italy will be San Remo, which is along the Italian Riviera! The closest airport to San Remo is Nice, France, so I will most likely be spending a few days in the French Riviera (Nice, Eze and Monaco) before heading to San Remo. It's all starting to become more real. San Remo is a big resort place along the Italian Riviera, so I am going to try and go a few days before training so that I can enjoy it! I find out the locations of the rest of the camps once we arrive, so I guess it will be a surprise...
That's all the updates I have for now! Hoping to get more information about how the camps are ran etc. soon though...
Here is the link to the company I'll be working for this summer in case you are interested for Summer 2011:
http://www.linguesenzafrontiere.org/
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
getting started
I have been working like a crazy person since I have gotten home this reading week, I have bills to pay and now an $1100.00 flight to Itlay I need to pay for by mid-May. A very unexpected cost. One of the benefits of South Korea, that isn't included in my trip to Italy, is the flight is paid for. This works though, because now I don't have to be saving up too much while spending time in Europe.
My time in Italy will be well worth the $483.00 processing fee I had to pay Scotia Personnel Ltd. and the $1100.00 plane ticket. My accommodations AND food are completely covered the entire time I'm there for two months. Sounds like a good deal to me.
Now that I have been offered a position however, I have some paper work to gather to send to Scotia Personnel Ltd. asap so that everything is set in stone. In ten days I get my official offer from the Summer Camp in Italy, and ten days after I accept the offer, my contract comes. Within a month I will know all the details of my stay. It kind of seems surreal.
So my day off consists of me gathering the following documents:
- Completed Application form
* DONE at interview
- Resume and Cover letter
* DONE when applying a couple weeks ago
- At least 2 References, one of which should be related to children
* DONE when applying, they checked my references within a day, so I know they aren't joking around, my current boss is extremely excited for me!!
- Photocopy of Passport
*DONE this morning, my mother keeps my passport hostage so I don't get up and leave to the US to shop with my complete lack of funds
The following need to be done today:
- Medical background check
- Vulnerable Sector Police background check
- Photocopy of high school diploma
Apparently these things can take awhile to obtain, my high school diploma I never thought I'd need. I was wrong. It's packed in a box somewhere, who knows. It could be at my mom's or my dad's so I will have to go searching. Scotia Personnel said high school transcripts would also suffice, so I might be making a trip back to my high school today or tomorrow. (Scary I know).
Okay time to get this process started. Every step I take, the more real it will all become!
My time in Italy will be well worth the $483.00 processing fee I had to pay Scotia Personnel Ltd. and the $1100.00 plane ticket. My accommodations AND food are completely covered the entire time I'm there for two months. Sounds like a good deal to me.
Now that I have been offered a position however, I have some paper work to gather to send to Scotia Personnel Ltd. asap so that everything is set in stone. In ten days I get my official offer from the Summer Camp in Italy, and ten days after I accept the offer, my contract comes. Within a month I will know all the details of my stay. It kind of seems surreal.
So my day off consists of me gathering the following documents:
- Completed Application form
* DONE at interview
- Resume and Cover letter
* DONE when applying a couple weeks ago
- At least 2 References, one of which should be related to children
* DONE when applying, they checked my references within a day, so I know they aren't joking around, my current boss is extremely excited for me!!
- Photocopy of Passport
*DONE this morning, my mother keeps my passport hostage so I don't get up and leave to the US to shop with my complete lack of funds
The following need to be done today:
- Medical background check
- Vulnerable Sector Police background check
- Photocopy of high school diploma
Apparently these things can take awhile to obtain, my high school diploma I never thought I'd need. I was wrong. It's packed in a box somewhere, who knows. It could be at my mom's or my dad's so I will have to go searching. Scotia Personnel said high school transcripts would also suffice, so I might be making a trip back to my high school today or tomorrow. (Scary I know).
Okay time to get this process started. Every step I take, the more real it will all become!
Monday, February 15, 2010
just the beginning
First post to a new blog.
I am in my final year at university, with less than three months to go... everyone is freaking out about what their next move is going to be, what career path they are going to take. I know what I want to be, but I know I don't want to be it right NOW. There is something I want more than a set in stone career at this age, and that's to see the world, experience and live in different cultures. I knew my safest bet was to look into teaching English as a second language in South Korea. I have heard of so many people doing it, and having such an amazing experience that I just couldn't resist looking into it.
Along the way I found SO many companies, but I didn't know who to trust. My friend Breanna then found a company based out of Halifax, NS called Scotia Personnel Ltd. Her friend used them a couple years ago to be a camp counselor in the UK for the summer. I e-mailed them right away about South Korea, and they said they would love to help me find a place in a school there, but to also look into their summer camps in Italy. ITALY?! I have been to Europe once in my life - five years ago - and I have been DYING to go back ever since. I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this handed to me. I looked into it, and I loved it. My friend Breanna and I applied together, crossed our fingers as we went to the interview, and safe to say from what this blog is all about, we both got a spot teaching English in Italy for two months this summer. After our two months of teaching, we plan on taking a month to explore the rest of Europe!
We just find out we got the positions this weekend, and in around two weeks, the contracts will be e-mailed to us from Italy, and we will have exact dates and locations of our summer camps. Not only am I going to be living in Asia in the fall, but I now get to say I lived in Europe the summer before?! WOW. Some people say university is the best years of your life, but I think it's just up to you to make each year even better then the one before, life is what you make it. I can't wait to share my experiences and the process behind teaching English abroad through this blog. I thought it would be the easiest way to communicate to everyone who I will miss sooo much back home in Canada. Let the planning begin!!
I am in my final year at university, with less than three months to go... everyone is freaking out about what their next move is going to be, what career path they are going to take. I know what I want to be, but I know I don't want to be it right NOW. There is something I want more than a set in stone career at this age, and that's to see the world, experience and live in different cultures. I knew my safest bet was to look into teaching English as a second language in South Korea. I have heard of so many people doing it, and having such an amazing experience that I just couldn't resist looking into it.
Along the way I found SO many companies, but I didn't know who to trust. My friend Breanna then found a company based out of Halifax, NS called Scotia Personnel Ltd. Her friend used them a couple years ago to be a camp counselor in the UK for the summer. I e-mailed them right away about South Korea, and they said they would love to help me find a place in a school there, but to also look into their summer camps in Italy. ITALY?! I have been to Europe once in my life - five years ago - and I have been DYING to go back ever since. I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this handed to me. I looked into it, and I loved it. My friend Breanna and I applied together, crossed our fingers as we went to the interview, and safe to say from what this blog is all about, we both got a spot teaching English in Italy for two months this summer. After our two months of teaching, we plan on taking a month to explore the rest of Europe!
We just find out we got the positions this weekend, and in around two weeks, the contracts will be e-mailed to us from Italy, and we will have exact dates and locations of our summer camps. Not only am I going to be living in Asia in the fall, but I now get to say I lived in Europe the summer before?! WOW. Some people say university is the best years of your life, but I think it's just up to you to make each year even better then the one before, life is what you make it. I can't wait to share my experiences and the process behind teaching English abroad through this blog. I thought it would be the easiest way to communicate to everyone who I will miss sooo much back home in Canada. Let the planning begin!!
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