On the drive

The Drive, as in Commercial Dr. is the direction I traveled in this afternoon after what felt like a very long day of school. The Commercial Dr. area is one of the most interesting, independent and multicultural areas in the city. There are too many cafes to count, lots of restaurants and shopping. But I was heading down there because I was going to visit my cousin Dominique and my baby cousin Theo, two years old. This was my only available day for me to go and see them before I leave, so once school was out I hopped on the train and went down there. It’s such a fun place to visit; the park is right across the street and everything is within walking distance.
Today Theo and I played hockey, he's actually really good. I love when this kid laughs because sometimes it’s so hard that he can't even catch his breath, it is hilarious to watch. This tiny, bleach blond haired, blue-eyed baby is the most adorable when: he is laughing hysterically and when he runs. He loves it when I chase him around the house, and when that happens he runs and laughs at the same time, too cute. Too many times today did I find myself running back and forth from the living room to the bedroom because when he finds something he likes he wants to have it repeatedly.
I guess since I'm related to him of course I'm going to say he is adorable but really, he is so cute. Trying to feed him though is such a choir, but then of course there is no surprise when I want to go to the best gelato place in the city he could eat it all if he wanted. We got chocolate today and by the end of it Theo looked like a hobo clown with the dark colour surrounding his mouth.
He was having a bath when I was leaving and I am very sad that I wont be seeing him for two months. I said “Bye Theo” and he comes back with a very childlike “bye” back to me. And finally as I am about to walk out the door I blow him a kiss, making the right sounds and then he does it right back to me.

Until next time...

P.S. Another great thing about the drive is my favourite pizza place, Lombardo's and I think everyone should go there. I'm very excited for lunch tomorrow because its leftover pizza.

The Sunday Service

Tonight some friends and I went to go watch the Sunday Service at the Hennessey Dining Lounge in Vancouver as a kind of last night out of spending money before I leave type thing. The Sunday Service is an improv group that does a two-hour improvisation show. The four performers are actors that are involved in the Vancouver theatre community and started their own improv comedy team. They do this show every Sunday and this was the second time I went to go see the show. It is an amazing show, its different every time and it only costs five dollars. It happens in a restaurant so you can sit, eat and watch.
The performers are so amazing; the stage is quite small as well as the restaurant so the mood is very intimate. The actors are very welcoming to the whole crowd and relaxed, as two of actors do one sketch the others wait for their time sitting of to the side watching, eating and drinking beer.
The show is divided into two halves, the first doing improv games that I'm sure lots of people have played in the their high school drama class. The second half is one long improv, and many of their scenes play out from suggestions from the audience. The actors sometimes find themselves in such ridiculous situations that they are laughing along with the audience. I laughed so hard at everything. It is so original and everything is thought of on the spot. They change gender, use accents, different voices, music, they sing sometimes and so much more. To laugh so hard your side hurts is a definite sign of entertainment.

A very good show.

Farewell

So today is Friday which means that officially a week today that I, and the rest of the class will begin our journey across the pond to Wales. Things are starting to come together but there is still lots that needs to be done before I go, it is never ending. But today I went to the currency exchange place and got my British pounds, its very pretty looking money.
Since I only have a week left before we go I think I'm cramming in a lot of stuff into these last few days. I have my to do lists and packing needs to start but there are also people that I really want to see before I go. The Wales field study is only a month but I am also traveling for three more weeks after that. So essentially I'm going to be gone for almost two months and I'm trying to make time to see people before I go. I've never been away from home for two months so I really want to say goodbye to certain people.
For instance I want to make sure that I get to see my two year old baby cousin and hopefully I'll be seeing him on Monday. I see him quite a bit but he's still young and I just don't want him to forget me when I wont see him for two months. But maybe I'm just being a little sensitive right now.

Lets see where next week leads me,

Jessie

I don't need a tranquilizer

Not that people should worry and think that I'm going to have a huge panic attack or something but I do have a slight fear of flying. As June 4th gets closer I am becoming a little nervous that I will be getting on a plane soon. I really hate the turbulence and the idea of going up in a plane, flying overseas puts me a little on edge.
I remember when I was a part of a high school trip that went to China for two weeks and having these feelings. That trip was the first time I had ever flown overseas so I feel that I was justified in my feelings. My mom is aware of this anxiety that I have and a few weeks before I went to China she asked me if I wanted to go to my family doctor and ask her for a tranquilizer. Just in case I really started to panic at the airport. I told her no, and that it wasn't necessary. When the day actually came I think I held myself together very nicely and if there was some bumping air I just held my best friend's hand until it passed . I don't think that I am that bad where I would need to be given a shot.
My mom hasn't asked me yet for this trip if I would like some happy drug that would disorientate me, but she still might.

Is going to go think happy thoughts,
Jess

Almost time to say goodbye

So this morning at approximately 7:35am I found myself at Vancouver International Airport. The reason that I was there was to drop off my boyfriend Blake who is going to Prince George to visit family. It wasn't until I was already driving to the airport that it hit me that I will be here again in just over a week to leave for Europe. I guess I thought I still had lots of time before leaving but slowly the departure date has crept up on me. Not that I am complaining but there is still lots to do before I go, things that I probably haven't even realized I need to do.
When I signed up for the Wales Field School in February I was so excited to be able to get an opportunity to explore Europe. I have always aspired to travel and I've never been to anywhere in Europe before. But even though were leaving in only nine days I haven't really felt the excitement yet and the idea that I will be in London soon hasn't hit me. But today as I was waiting for Blake to check his luggage so I could say goodbye to him I walked around the airport to find caffeine and food. I wanted Starbucks so I walked all the way to the international side because I didn't know there was one in the domestic area. As I walked by international departures and saw where I will be checking in and getting ready to leave that is when it hit me.
Blake gets back before I leave so then it'll be me leaving and him dropping me off at the airport.

Lots of stuff to do before departure... bye,

Jessie