everything is illuminated.

Jonathan Safran Foer wrote a book about a young man traveling to the Ukraine to find out more about his heritage. The man is from the US, vegetarian and can't speak the language. There is a apart of the book where the topic of him being a vegetarian comes up and the people he is with from the Ukraine can't understand this and think it is so unhealthy and continues to push meat on him throughout his journey. It was quite funny in the book and little did I know that when I arrived to the 100 year old house in Poland I was about to have that same scene from the book playing out before my eyes. I went to Poland and everything was illuminated.

I wasn't there for very long (the 12th-16th) but I saw enough to know that I have to go back. I had the authentic Polish experience, staying in a house with a woman who speaks Polish or German. Since I speak neither everything we said was translated. Maria is 83 and has been through more than anyone should. Her stories of living through the war and everything else Poland has gone through would be a best seller if a book was ever written. Maria is the chief of the village and builds parks for young children to play in. She also takes in people who are traveling around whether she knows them or not. Still through everything she has experienced in life there is a light in her eyes and so much love in her heart. If we were all a bit more like that I am sure the world would be happier.

I ate like every meal was my last, perogies (my all time favorite), soups, bread, cheese, fruit, etc. Everything tasted better in Poland! Maybe it was because I was on vacation and I had nothing to worry about while I was there. Not only was the food amazing but the people we were with. Ursula, someone who I have known forever, treated us so well! On our first full day Ursula, Ella (her sister-in-law), Ursula's daughter Ursula who they call Ula, Hilary and I all went to the local market. People, I died and went to scarf heaven... May have purchased three but they are beautiful and weren't expensive! Then they took us

for lunch and I had myself some perogies. Every Christmas Ursula makes them and it's one

of our suppers throughout the holidays. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't miss them as much as Christmas morning, yes folks they are that good. SO! I has real Polish perogies and my god they were amazing!!

We spent all of our evenings visiting with their family, drinking wine, telling stories, watching Polish tv and understanding "yes, no, thank you and very". (One night a newer season of House was on and I couldn't understand what they were saying but House was totally dancing with Cuddy and I could hardly stand it... I'm only on season 3 and Hilary and I can't get enough of House and his witty humour!) Sorry for the sidetrack. It was so relaxing just to sit there and hear about the history of the house and village.

Hilary and I went to Wroclaw for a touristy day! It was beautiful, sunny and full of fun things to do. I think one of my favorite parts was our couple of hours spent in the gardens.

Think KCIC gardens x 5! It was beautiful and peaceful. The trip came together so fast that we didn't really research too many things to do so we went on a whim and saw things that caught our eye. We also bought some souvenirs and postcards. Once lunch rolled around we walke

d to the town centre. It is one of the biggest centres in all of Europe! That is impressive since Wroclaw was destroyed right after the war and then the aftermath and communism, etc. It is beautiful! Where did we go for lunch you might ask? A Vegan/Veggie Polish restaurant. Yep! Again we had perogies but they were a bit different, still amazing though.

Our last day in Poland was absolutely beautiful! We spent the day chatting, eating well again, going on walks, taking pictures, and just loving everything about the experience we were having. So if you are pondering where you would like to visit in Europe I would highly recommend putting Poland on the list. If I can and I will go back for su

re.

Yet again another European adventure full of history, laughs, smiles, beauty and love.

"It has shown me that everything is illuminated in the light of the past. It is always along the side of us...on the inside, looking out. "

— Jonathan Safran Foer

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend with great people!

I am thankful for you!

xo

October

If I haven't mentioned how much I love October then I apologize to one of my favorite months. I think it's my reflection month (yep, still feel a tad barf-y over the word "reflection"). What have I been thinking about?

-The two months I haven't worked. Last summer I didn't work all of August and took me forever to bounce back. I guess life is testing me again to see how far it can push me. I'm stubborn, I know that and the thought of getting a part time job while waiting for teaching to pick up makes me angry, sad and confused. Didn't I just send six years becoming a teacher? Lame. Oh well, I am going to get over myself and apply for a few places. Who knows! Maybe I will like them. I know there is one place I would like to work. There is a stationary/art/craft/etc. store close by who needs someone to work on Saturdays. I would work there forever if I could. Screams my name doesn't it? Yes. Here's hoping. I think that I should be paid to watch tv. I so that VERY well.

-Trying not to get worried about the travel alert put out by the Canadian government... Mom and Dad aren't worried so I guess I shouldn't be. Mom said "just don't go on that London Eye thing for a while". Thanks, Mom :)

-Life. I would really enjoy living in the woods in a nice little house making art. I would have to be close to the beach because I need to get drift wood for said art. I don't know what I am going to make yet but maybe I can make some money and be one with nature. (that doesn't sound corny when I say it in my head...) I also want to open up a veggie sandwich shop. Stay tuned.

-Making a tofurkey for Sunday. I don't care if I am broke I am making a goddamn tofurkey to enjoy with my Canadian friends and I will be thankful for everything... even this "free time".

-Today I am going to take my camera on a walk. It's been a while and I have yet to discover Ashton Court. There is a deer park thing and you can walk around and see 100's of deer all around!! Sounds magical.

-House. I have an addiction to House and it is so, so good.

-Poland in a week from today!!

Happy day! xo

Quick update

-No work yet
-It's raining so I am staying in and reading HP 3 with lots of tea
-The ensembles at the university are for students only... lame
-I bought some things at Ikea yesterday!
-My parents are the best
-I'm going to Poland on October 12th to the 16th! Woo!
-If you are reading this, I probably miss you

Hope you are well!
xo

i'm happy

Conductor Herbert von Karajan said that when one hears Mahler's Fifth, “you forget that time has passed. A great performance of the Fifth is a transforming experience. The fantastic finale almost forces you to hold your breath.”

...this post is to be continued.

I've never heard music like that before. I don't even know how to describe it and how I felt in the moment, but I will try.

We went to the pre concert talk and in my opinion that should happen at every concert!! It was so great! Only a half an hour with the man from Colston Hall and the principal flute player. He was wonderful! He used to play with the Bournesmith Symphony before playing with the LSO and had many funny stories. He explained what it has been like being with the LSO and the experiences he has been having. He talked about their role with film music and how they have been lucky to play for some major films (Star Wars, etc.) AND he also said that they are working on a film right now that he cannot name but it is coming out in November... any guesses? I have one. They then moved on to talk about the conductor, Valery Gergiev. Now, I may not be up on all the conductors in the world but I knew his name. They laughed a little when they brought up his name and looked awkward but then this thing came over him while he was talking about him. The man conducting the interview asked him "how can you follow him?"and in my head I was thinking "this man is in the London Symphony Orchestra... he doesn't need someone up there to beat time for him, come on now." Just as the thought entered my mind the man replied with a more polite version of the thought that was in his head. He did however mention that everything you need from Valery Gergiev is in his eyes, if you look there, you can't go wrong. Then we heard a touching story of some rough London teenage boys hearing Mahler for the first time and how it changed them. It was wonderful. There was a little break and Hilary and I had a cider. Side note, you can bring your wine, beer, pop, etc. into the hall AND during intermission they sell ice cream. I don't know about you guys but I've never seen that before, ever.

Then the music started. The first half they played Shchedrin's Carmen Suite and it was really great! Then they reorganized the stage for Mahler. Throughout the whole piece I didn't think about whether I would have work tomorrow, how I haven't had a days work yet meaning no pay, I didn't really think about anything but the people I miss and love and but not in a sad way. Having Hilary to go to these things makes all the difference in the world! Two girls who just spent six years in Nova Scotia and now we are going to see the London Symphony Orchestra... it blows my mind on a daily basis.

I get daily reminders of how lucky I am. Yesterday I saw Mahler 5, Wednesday I spent the day in London with Hilary and then we went on a boat cruise that work planned... on the Thames. And to top it all off Hilary has started to read Harry Potter and is on the hunt for book 2 at the library.

Girls weekend is just hours away! Morgan and Tegan arrive this evening and it will be a much needed dance/pretty/good food/laugh/etc party!

I started this post off with a quote to I will end it with one.

xo

I'm broke but I'm happy

I'm poor but I'm kind

I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah

... and I'm giving you all high fives!! I hope you are all happy and well!

roommateless no more

Hilary made it safe and sound! It was so nice to see her come off the bus! It seemed like the craziest idea at first that we would move to England together and here we are, exploring, having meetings with work, her falling in love with all that Bristol has to offer (which is a lot) eating good meals together, drinking wine and just picking up where we left off in May! It's so nice be to sharing this experience with someone again (other than the people in my tv shows.. ha..).

I stopped by work yesterday to pick up more time sheets and then I left to wait for Hilary to finish up in her meeting. I was walking up and down the road taking in the market and the little stores. There are all kinds of charity workers who ask you to stop for 5 minutes of your time to hear what they have to say. They are usually young and trying to get messages out there. I admire them because it must be hard not wanting to be heard or sometimes even seen by rude humans who are consumed by where they are going in the next hour, not where they are going long term. So as I was walking down the road I saw this young girl from Amnesty International stop this business man all suited up for a days work and he looked at her with a death stare and said "if I wanted to talk to you about this nonsense I would have stopped, I'm heading to actual work!" and he stormed off. I'm sure that happens frequently but I can see it just knocked her confidence down a bit. It's not like she was selling knock-off hand bags or fake gold watches, mister crankypants. ANYWAY, cause I really had nothing to do and I am interested in this organization I went up to her and said "I'll talk to you". That I did. So we talked about where I was from, she asked if I was American, I asked why people always assume we are American (which was a dumb question... I know exactly why they think I am because the US is all you hear about. Not hating on the US at all, I'm just not American) Then she told me about some of the things they are working on and somethings I didn't know about (note to self start reading the news in the morning). It was great! Two people having a conversation until she said I could help out by donating just 25p a day. I would but my income at the moment is not flowing into my bank account so I made a note that once things are under control, etc. that this would be something I am interested in. All in all, I'm glad I stopped :)

Then as I was waiting by the building for Hilary to come out one of the Protocol people came out, the one I liked the most. He just talked to Hilary and got her all sorted out. He apologized that work is so slow at the moment and said to keep on calling in. It was reassuring that he cared or pretended anyway haha. But he did mention my Canada connection again and how he was on strict orders to take care of me so I am glad he didn't forget that :)

After all of that we walked to the bank, to a couple of phone stores and then we got Hilary a library card! We headed home, I did some window shopping and I showed her some of my favorite stores. It was a lovely day!

Now, It is 7:23am and I am waiting again. Still have the nerves for some reason. I think its the unknown that scares me, will I make it to the bus? will the school be nice? Will I want to fall asleep by 10:30 because 6:00am is not my best friend? One thing I do know if I am loving my 10:00pm grandma bedtime again. Routine = good.

Miss you all!

xo

things.

Things I'm alright with:
-Watching tv all day if it means saving money! You do what you have to do... besides I have put Brothers & Sister and Dexter on hold for far too long.
-Buying tomato soup at poundland (our version of the dollar store).
-Rainy days
-Drinking tea to kill time
-Hilary's arrival tomorrow!
-My need/want to call my mother everyday just to see what the news is
-My brother (maybe) coming for Easter?! Tylerman times = good times
-The kind plumber in my bathroom fixing my tub. He asked if I was working today and I told him my sob (over reacting, coombs) story.
-Gaga being on Ellen *see below for not alright comments

-My oatmeal phase... any chance I can eat brown sugar is more than alright with me.

Things I'm not alright with:
-Gaga's meat dress... but I suppose it was bound to happen. But Ellen almost couldn't look at her which is sad being as I usually don't care about celebrities (only when Marlz travels across the country and brings those fantastic magazines home which hasn't happened in a year... yep.) but these two ladies are different. And Oprah, I'm an Oprah lover... don't hate. Ellen being vegan could have something to do with her disgust of of the outfit. It made sense, I get why she wore it but I'm pro veggie outfit that Ellen gave her. Alright with: her dates to the VMAs! I've only seen pictures but I'm alright with it in a big way.
-Not getting work. I almost got day this morning but they thought I had a car and the drive would have been 50 minutes anyway. On the bus that would have been... forever. So no work today.

Two not alrights! not bad! I'm sure there are more but I won't bore you with those.

Life isn't overly exciting these days but that is all about to change as Hilary arrives tomorrow! It's hard with all of the goodbyes and see you laters when you don't know when later is. I did it, hell I had a doozey of a day in Wolfville where I said see you later to 8 of my favorite people in one day (note to self... don't do that again). For me the excitement took over the sadness, the beautiful greenery made up for the lack of Nova Scotia love I so miss and I'm in England.

I hope you all have a great day! I will! :)

Miss you

xo