|
|
Tuesday, February 20th, 2007
| |
5:32 am - coming home
|
It's amazing how quickly my six weeks came to an end.
I finally did my safari, with Adam, who was amazing. We went to a wonderful place called Aquilla Game Reserve about two hours outside of Cape Town. We got to see the African "Top Five", pet a cheetah, nearly get charged by a Rhino, and stay in a beautiful "luxury" chalet.
I also finally went Skydiving!! There is no more picturesque place to dive than over Cape Town - with the view of the ocean and table mountain... it was breath taking. One more thing to cross off the list.
We had a final last night get together at the Mexican Kitchen - a wonderful way to say goodbye to all of the amazing people that I'd met - a few too many tequila's perhaps, but hey.......
Leaving the kids was by far the hardest part. I really didn't think that I would become that attached, or that leaving would be that hard - but it broke my heart to leave. I went to South Africa thinking that I would impart my knowledge on these underprivaledged kids, but in reality - They are the ones who were teaching us. I've taken so much home with me from those children - and the wonderful woman who takes them all in, and I'll never forget any of them.
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, February 4th, 2007
| |
10:35 am - think of me when you forget your seatbelt....
|
Think of me, when you forget your seatbelt.
Did the Robben Island Tour - which was fantastic. For those of you that don't know, it's the island where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held during apartheid. The tourguide was actually an ex-political prisoner who spent over 7 years there. He was amazing.... The only problem was the ferry over to the island. It was about a 45 minute ride going over we made the mistake of sitting inside the boat.. felt pretty sick bythe time we got there... but on the way back we sat at the front on the outside of the boat, which was much easier.
Yesterday, a bunch of us went to hike Lion's head for sundown... we made it about 10 minutes up the mountain and watched the sundown on the edge before we realized that none of us had brought a flashlight, and hiking in the dark is rather dangerous. So we hiked about 5 more minutes up, found a little rock niche and drank wine and ate chocolate until it was too dark to see. It was a beautiful sunset. My friend Adam then packed us all in the back of his pickup to drive us home and we had an incident, rounding the corner and nearly crashed - but Adam (driving brilliance) regained control, and everyone is alive (so far).
Today, we are heading to Kommetjie for lunch - although i'm not sure exactly where that is. Just a nice relaxing Sunday. We are also heading out for a safari (finally) on Wednesday, which should be fun. I'll let you know.
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, January 29th, 2007
| |
11:48 am - I hope there's Ice on ALL the roads....hee hee
|
I suppose I could be a little more frequent in my updates, but to be perfectly honest, we've just been doing SO much, I have't had much time!! I'm still loving every second of this country... and could easily see myself living here....
The work with the children becomes easier each day. It's amazing how much you can see each child change in the brief time that we've been there. One of the children said his first word the other day - and it was "Sasa"!! It was SO cute. If I could take one of them home, he would be the one.
In terms of sight seeing - I spent a weekend in Scarborough, which is right by Cape Point - one of the housemates has a family holiday house there on the top of a mountain. Talk about gorgeous! It was a mix of Italy, (with the steep houses on the hills and cobblestone roads) and Ireland (the stunning landscape on the mountains beyond the houses). We drove the coast home - stopped at a penguin beach, saw baboon's and lastly stopped at the Sunday Market in Cape Town.
Last week we hiked up Table Mountain... Actually, it was less of a hike, and more of a massive rock stair climb. Oh, and did I mention that it was 40 degrees that day? Hmm... Me and my infinite wisdom... But we made it. I got to the top of the mountain and promptly vomited...lol. Mix of heat stroke and physical exhaustion... took us about three hours in total, but it was completely worth it. I have some breathtaking photo's.
I'm hoping to do the Robben Island tour tomorrow, but we shall see how the day evolves...
Other than that, there has been plenty of drinking, bbq's, and evening's out. Meeting ton's of amazing people and just generally having a great time. Now, i am off to the beach ;-)
current mood:  cheerful
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, January 15th, 2007
| |
2:08 pm - Please, don't call me that.....
|
It's a strange thing to get used to. Having a group of children call you Mama. They call all of the women Mama. In a sense, I suppose we all are their mom's. It's just odd answering to that name.
Yesterday, one of the HIV positive children bit me. Not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to put a scare into me. The owner doesn't tell us who is positive and who is not, as she's worried that we will treat them differently, and she is probably right. I just asked the full time nanny - and secretly, she told me who is and isn't. I'm so good at that ;-)
Tomorrow, we are heading on the wine garden tour - should be .... interesting... lol.
current mood: amused
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Friday, January 12th, 2007
| |
7:14 pm - South African Sun
|
Well, within the last week, i've been spit on, puked on, pissed on, drooled on, snotted on, spilled on and painted on. And to think i've paid for this!!! at lunch hour during the first day, I was seriously questioning my decision - what the hell was i thinking?? I hate kids!!! but when we left at the end of the day, and the kids didn't want us to - kept hugging us and trying to make us stay - i was hooked. Since then, as hard work as it has been, i've enjoyed it. (i do use the word 'enjoy' lightly) .
I've learned that I'm not nearly as bad with kids as i thought. But i've also reinforced the decision that I never want to have any of my own.
These kids come from some horrific backgrounds, and have some pretty intense physical, mental and emotional issues, so it's been quite a challenge for my patience, but i'm learning as I go. All in all, it's pretty rewarding, and i think the next six weeks wont' be so bad.
Talk to you all soon!!
current mood:  thirsty
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Friday, January 5th, 2007
| |
4:56 pm - In South Africa
|
Good day, it's been a while. And Tori, you know this post is especially for you!!
Getting here was a nightmare. My guts all cramped up on the flight, making the last ten hours absolutely unbearable. I've never been in such pain.
Then upon arrival, the volunteer bus picked me up at the airport, where I proceeded to vomit halfway to the volunteer house. Great first impression. Ha.
I'm actually staying in a backpacker house in Table View, just outside of capetown. It is honestly the cleanest PB house i've ever seen. And everyone who is staying there is fantastic. With the exception of the two snotty american girls who seem to think this is a fashion show. Luckily, we are all on the same shift. Lucky me. I don't start working until monday, so i've been incredibly bored. I just don't know what to do.
I suppose I'll update on Monday, and let you know how that goes.
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, September 27th, 2006
| |
7:31 am - only few will understand the importance of this post..
|
For those of you who know those that are involved...
Guess who is pregnant?
That's right, my boss, A.H.
oh, and Sandy Ni.
Who's next?
(at least we know who it WON'T be)
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, September 10th, 2006
| |
7:30 am - It's been a while
|
Well, it's been a while since i've last posted, but apparently i'm not the only one neglecting such duties.
My life is still seemingly boring. I've been working a lot of overtime to pay for the expensive toys I enjoy so much.
my braces are coming off in THREE WEEKS!!! For my last month, we decided to put on coloured elastics. Sounds childish, I know, but I missed out on such luxuries having done this in my later years. Besides, when am I ever going to have this opportunity again? Well, hopefully never.
I guess that's really about it. Sad isn't it?
Well I'm off to work yet another 14 hour shift. Yee - Haw.
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, July 6th, 2006
| |
5:56 am - Luck seems to be turning around
|
The guy who sold me the bike (who is an absolute sweet and adorable) came over last night (all the way from Newmarket I might add) and took the tire off of my bike for me. This way it doesn't have to be flat-bedded over to the shop.
Now I just take the tire in, they replace it, and Keanen is going to put it back on for me. That alone, saved me over $200.00
He's such a doll.
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, July 5th, 2006
| |
5:33 am
|
Last week sucked ass.
to start, my boss and I got into a huge fight which has now made things terribly tense around the office.
The best guy on our weekend team got fired because the boss doesn't like him. literally - that was the only reason. Now, my weekend team consists of Josh - the 32 year old all brawn, no brain bodybuilder who thinks work is a four letter word and whose rich parents still pay his rent. And Allen- the new guy who hasn't really been trained yet. GREAT>
My Apartment flooded.....again. It's in the process of drying and eliminating the smell of wet carpet. yum...
I popped the back tire on my bike, which is going to cost me nearly 500 dollars to replace
I got stood up on Sunday - Apparently He's mad at me again for reason I know not of. Probably the silent treatment for a couple of days until he calls and acts like nothing happened. How do I always end up dating chicks? ugh
So that was my week last week. Hopefully this week will be better....
current mood:  cranky
|
|
(4 comments | comment on this)
|
| Saturday, July 1st, 2006
| |
7:44 am
|
|
| Monday, June 12th, 2006
| |
6:00 am - This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.
|
This morning is the service for the young woman who took her own life, and I actually managed to get a little bit of sleep last night. I stopped by the funeral home last night, to see how everything was going, and got a chance to see some of her absolutely amazing art. She was such a talented woman. One of the idea's we came up with in the arrangement office, was to bring in one of her old sketch books, and have people write messages to her with her sketch pencils/pencil crayons. Reading through it, was enough to make you cry. You could see that she had struggled with depression and OCD for SO long, that while it was a sudden death, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
As her father was leaving the funeral home, he stopped at our front sign, looked at her name on that board, and whispered "My little girl" and walked out.
I wish there was something I could say to make everything alright, but there isn't. It's that feeling of helplessness that makes these situations so difficult.
current mood: sympathetic
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Friday, June 9th, 2006
| |
6:20 am - One great big straw...
|
Every funeral director has a type of death that really hits home. For most, it seems to be children. At risk of sounding callous, child funerals don't really bother me that much. Protective wall? Perhaps. It could simply be because I don't have or want any children. It could be my complete lack of maternal instinct.
Suicides are my weakness. I don't know what it is, but every time I make funeral arrangements and direct the funeral for someone who has ended their own life, it screws with my head for weeks and drains every last bit of energy out of me. I just seem to put SO much of myself into these families, and i'm not sure that it is healthy.
Obviously, I made such arrangements recently and since then I seem to be transferring my stress to physical ailments - "flu-like symptoms".
The way the human mind deals with emotional stress, continues to amaze me. I'll have to be sure to take a day or two to myself after the funeral just to centre myself and clear my head.
current mood:  thoughtful
|
|
(4 comments | comment on this)
|
| Saturday, June 3rd, 2006
| |
7:31 am - It's cute, how stupid you are.
|
If i have one more outside consultant tell me how to do my job, i'm going to snap.
Don't tell me that it is inappropriate to make jokes in our office. We realize that these are serious times, but we keep things light so as not to go totally fucking insane.
What kind of company hires a professional musician to give us "empathy training"? Who the hell is she to tell us how to work with families? Stick to playing flute sweetheart - this is NOT your department. Why wouldn't they hire someone who at least has some sort of background in this industry or credentials or some kind.
Ugh..., i don't get paid enough to put up with this shit.
current mood: aggravated
|
|
(4 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, June 1st, 2006
| |
4:28 am - mybike
|
Well, I would like to introduce everyone to the newest addition to my family, this is Alida. She is a 2002 Suzuki SV650 and was officially adopted on Satuday, May 27, 2006. Her Father, Keanen, was sad to see her go, but knew it was for the best. He still maintains his visitation rights and Alida will continue to be a part of his life.
Isn't she beautiful? ;-)
|
|
(8 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, May 26th, 2006
| |
12:20 pm - go get 'em tiger
|
My friends kick ass.
Way to go Jeremy, I hope you win that 10 grand!!!
That took BALLS.
current mood:  shocked
|
|
(6 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, May 11th, 2006
| |
7:53 am - Run, run away...
|
Well, I ran my first race on Sunday - the Sporting Life 10K here in Toronto. I actually didn't do too badly, considering i'd blown my knee out the week before, and didn't think I would be able to run at all. I finished in 1 hour and 1 minute. Not bad for a first time, I say. I want to run another - this could be an addiction!!!
current mood:  accomplished
|
|
(13 comments | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, April 30th, 2006
| |
5:22 am - And sometime, blind dates are not so bad....
|
I went on a date with this man on Friday night and a little into the date, he tells me that he is a competetive body builder. (but he does have a day job)The day after the date he sends me this picture of him getting ready for some Canadian competition. And while I'm sure that he probably wouldn't appreciate me plastering his half naked body on the internet, I had to tell someone ;-) Besides, if he does it in front of an audience, what is the difference?
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, April 27th, 2006
| |
10:33 pm - Restless again.
|
Update :
It seems i'm restless again, it must be close to "finals" season.
Seems like I have nothing to work for anymore. I mean, realistically, I've done everything that I said i was going to do. I've proven everyone wrong with my life and now i've hit as high as I can go. And I'm ready. I keep trying to find something, anything to work towards, but all the important things to me have been done. I've got a great job, a good place to live, good friends (not many, but the few that I do have are the greatest), I've travelled, helped people in need, got my motorcycle licence and generally made a decent life for myself, against all odds.
Now what?
I guess i'm just having one of those nights.
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, March 12th, 2006
| |
7:55 am - Corporate rant
|
As most of you know, I work in a corporately owned funeral home, one that is supposedly "non-profit", but a corporation nonetheless. Now, typically I try to avoid all of the political drama that surrounds the workings of a corporation - i prefer not to think about it. I go to work, I do my job, I make sure my families are happy. That is what is important to me. I don't care about sales, customer shares, call averages, or other bullshit money related issues. If I worried about all of the things we are supposed to, I would never sleep - I'd be stressed out all of the time.
Last Wednesday the company held a mandatory "Customer Service" meeting. I'd conveniently booked myself three funerals to avoid attending. Oh, and I should add that they pulled all of the staff to go to this meeting and left me on my own to run two funerals. No office staff, no other directors. Now THAT'S customer service. Anyhow, at this meeting it was announced that the company had hired an outside company to go around to all of our funeral homes and pretend that they were coming in for an at-need arrangement. They fully arranged a funeral, and then cancelled it the next day so that they could "grade" us on our arranging and selling skills. Way to boost staff morale. As a result of this "study", they are organizing some training sessions. All of last week, we had "Laura", an outside consultant, who has never working in the funeral industry, sitting in on all of our at-need arrangements so that she can learn how to train us.
HUH? Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture???? I'm training someone so that they can train me? Tell me how this is going to work again?
We've got this "customer service team" - comprised of upper management in head office, who have never done an arrangement or directed a funeral in their lives, using an outside consultant who's never been in the business to tell us how to do our jobs.
Maybe it's just me. Perhaps I am the only one who this doesn't make sense to.
Ok, I feel better now.
current mood: frustrated
|
|
(6 comments | comment on this)
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
8luxy8's journal
