August 17th, 2008
“We will be there between 8-12″
I should have known better. Once again Shaw’s wonderful customer service shone. I waited all morning for the technician to be a no show. 45 minutes on the phone later and the best they could do was pass me off to three different people and reschedule it for tuesday afternoon. But at least I got an extra month of net access for free and a cheaper rate for the following six months.
So it seems that I will be spending my afternoon in Steeps yet again. The girls working here are very nice and quite friendly. I think that I will be here often, hell I am already getting tea on the house. Hopefully everyone I meet here will be as easy to get along with.
On a completely different note I saw the violent side of 17th ave start to show through. As I stood on the balcony this afternoon two guys start lipping each other off in the middle of the road in front of my building. Idiot #1 is the aggressor and gets ready to throw a punch so his buddies come running over to join in. Idiot #2 appears to be smarter because when the buddies jump in he takes off as he wants none of the group beating. Of course the buddies of #1 start chasing #2 but give up after half a block. The sick thing was people were watching and showed their disappointment when nothing happened. I myself was watching in case someone needed first-aid or the cops called. How come people think that a street fight is the way to solve the issue of a poorly timed comment or accidental bump?
August 15th, 2008
As it says, I have made it. I arrived yesterday and began unpacking my life into the new digs. Things are beggining to look good. I still need to get a bookshelf and sort out the teaching materials. Once I have access to my classroom I will have a lot more space to store those as well.
I found the great co-op a mere five blocks away from my building. This will lead to a great weekly walk for my groceries. It also means that I will get a small cheque in February. Right beside the BP’s a block from my place is a fine cigar shop that I will have to check out. Hopefully they can be my new Burlington’s.
I also found a Steeps nearby…where I am currently typing this… The Girls here are very nice and I could easily see myself here often.
As far as the whole teaching thing goes, the website shows that we start in the school on the 27th with the students starting on the 2nd. I am going to swing by there sooner then that as I hope to spread out the prep work over more then three days for my own sanity.
I think this transition is going to be a good thing. I can already picture my routine of teaching, eating, reading, teaing, and piping.
I hope to turn this site into what it was supposed to be soon, but probably not until I have net access in the apt.
March 28th, 2008
Time for an update about me.
I am 15 teaching days from being done. Then a week of professional development seminars and my teacher’s college experience is complete. The last 7 months have flown by. I wish I had more time to visit and hangout with the people I have met here, but we all have placed to go once we are done. Some to Asia, others the Middle East, the rest of us all over Canada.
I will be coming home for a bit, then picking myself up and moving down the road to Cowtown. I am a bit scared for a full time teaching gig, but it will be a good experience. It will also be nice to be near the mountains and to be able to see some areas of Alberta that I haven’t been exposed to. As far as living is concerned I am going to be looking for a large one bedroom or a two bedroom place so that I can keep the teacher aspect of my life in one area. That way I can take the odd night and pretend not to be a teacher without having stacks of papers or books to look at.
As far as when I will be moving its up in the air. Ideally I would move in the start of August so that I am settled by the time I need to start prepping my classroom. However there is the chance I need to do a training course in the spring so I may go down earlier. Either way I plan to be home for a good chunk of the summer.
The summer plans include golf, the jeep, the truck, hiking…and possibly working if need be. I also want to try and do a bunch of photography. I have tried to do some here and will post them to my gallery soon.
As for my website I want to do some major changes to go along with my new career so keep an eye out.
March 14th, 2008
What do you see when you are looking out of the window closest to you?
I see three hotels from three different decades. Pretty ugly.
Who was the last person coming into your room?
I am the only one who comes in here.
What is the most predominant colour around you?
Ugly yellow walls.
What is right behind you?
My bed and the door.
What is on today’s calendar sheet?
Was supposed to be passport day, but still need some info. So it is finish coursework day instead.
March 7th, 2008
1. What song would you sing to your newborn child? (OR if you already had a child, which song did you sing to him/her?)
~You are my sunshine.
2. How do you think animals think? (i.e. in animal language, human language, etc.)
~Each animal has their own way of communicating, however I don’t think they think in the same way we do. I believe they are lucky enough to have a lot more simplistic form of thinking.
3. As a child, did you have a dream to make a difference in the world? Can you describe your dream?
~I did. I wanted to help people. Now I am teaching, so I think I am well on my way.
4. Do you believe in God/a Higher Being?
~No.
5. Do you believe in aliens?
~As in people who are in a country illegally…yes.
