Olympic Fever!

I just got to watch the official Olympic Torch-bearer run by me in Alliston, ON. It was really neat, waiting with hundreds of other freezing Canadians. In hindsight, I should definitely have put a pair of long-johns on. But I had all my new Canadian Olympic gear on, so at least I looked festive. My toes are still frozen, though. Here are some pictures. I love Sidney Crosby. :)

Costa Rica Pics

Here are a few photos from my recent trip down to Central America. :) Enjoy!

 

Holidays in Canada

I'm blessed to spend the Christmas holidays in the most beautiful country on earth. (And that would be Canada for those of you who were unaware, lol.) Anyways, I'm enjoying spending time with family members and friends, and can't believe how fast time is flying! We spent tonight with the Dewoldes, and watched the Leafs dominate the Pens (sorry Dad!) and then played a long game of Scene It (which Cameron and I lost, but only because our questions were the hardest; "Arsenic and Old Lace" from 1944, who the crap has heard of that?). New Years will be here before we know it, and then I'll be heading back down to the States with some friends from U of Guelph for the Passion conference in Atlanta. Oh, and I finally get to see the Olympic torch processional in Alliston on Dec. 30th, which I am über excited about. I'm about to go bankrupt buying Olympic merch from the Hudson's Bay Company... :)

Pura Vida - Costa Rica!!!

I am on the most amazing trip EVER.... in Costa Rica, Central America. It´s been a wonderful, adventure-filled 15 days and there are so many stories to tell, pictures to show, and memories to look back on. I will definitely be uploading some pictures from my trip when I return tomorrow, Dec. 21, on my birthday. I´ll be in two countries on my birthday - a first for me. I haven´t ever had a birthday outside of Canada (or in an airport). Anyways, we´re about to head to dinner for our last night in Tamarindo, CR. We went on a catamaran today, which included snorkeling and watching the beautiful sunset from the ocean. We´ve surfed a lot these past few days, too, which has been awesome. Hasta luego!

Kairos Recruitment Committee

I just wanted to post a pic of my awesome Recruitment crew... I love you guys (and the rest who couldn't come that day). I couldn't have gotten through the semester without you. :)

Projects Galore...

The semester is wrapping up and I am officially burnt out. Just a few more sleepless nights and my final projects/presentations should be finished... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?
Anyway, the official word is out: 9 days of class left.
Which means my chances of survival at this point are very high.

Speed of Sound

Wow...another semester has come and gone. I can't believe it! With two exams left, I am not only feeling the crunch but am wondering where the time went. Anyways, all successful students take study breaks, so I thought I'd spend mine giving an update on two trips I took this semester. =)

New York City

Model United Nations Conference

I went with a prof and 18 other students for NMUN (National Model U.N.). We stayed at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square for 10 days -- well, I guess 9 days since our flight was delayed almost 24 hours. That's another story in itself....which involved staying at the Westin Atlanta during a band conference. lol. Let's just say I never want to wake up to a trombone ever again. Anyways, the conference was a great experience. Our university represented Costa Rica, and we spent the entire semester preparing for the conference. I worked with Taylor on General Assembly 2nd Committee: Economic and Financial. During the delegations we got to work with students from all over the world. It opened my eyes to what real U.N. delegates do on a daily basis. We had some free time in the city, so we did lots of exploring. Favourite sights: Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, seeing the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park, Fifth Ave. Kimberly and I went into Tiffany & Co. to "browse". We also had dessert at The Serendipity, which was made famous by the movie of the same title (with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, 2001).

As a class, we had the opportunity to attend a Ghanean church in the Bronx. What vibrant worship! We also did some street ministry with them. Seeing Columbia University was another highlight...although it was short-lived since Jeremy and I hopped on three wrong subways. Let's just say running through NYC in heels trying to make it to a 7:30 dinner reservation is not pleasant. Memorable, but painful. Walking through the different districts in Manhattan was like re-living every movie ever filmed in NYC. I wanted to run in circles thru a revolving door just like Will Farrel did in "Elf" (and then hurl in the nearest garbage can), but I thought I'd probably tick the New Yorkers off. lol. We returned to the good ol' South on Easter Sunday, exhausted as can be. I mean, who wants to sleep when you're in the middle of New York? =)

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2 university students + 1 Honda Pilot + 10 days = 2 countries, 19 states, 2 provinces, 2 national capitals and loooooooads of adventures..................

Spring Break Road Trip

Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness. ~Ray Bradbury

Almost everyone gets tired of school... and everyone gets tired of Clevegas.
What better thing to do than hit the road? ... Kristin and I packed up the car and left a few days before school actually let out b/c we figured a head start would be useful...considering how much driving we were about to do. =)

I have never driven so much in my entire life. We covered a lot of ground, visiting Charlotte NC, Washington DC, Boston MA, Montreal QC, Ottawa ON, Toronto ON, and back to Atlanta GA. We stayed for several days in both Boston and Montreal.

Our way up the east coast was long, but an absolute blast. I got to see D.C. for the first time...and the president, too, for that matter. Both Obama and Biden were within 6 feet of me as their limos drove past us on the street, accompanied by lots of police cars, motorbikes, and a helicopter. By the look on Obama's face, it seemed he might've been bored/tired of the whole shpeel. Bodyguards, how tiring.

If I could pick one word to be the theme of this trip it would be "adventure". Or "lost". We got lost every day. We learned the value of GOOD maps. *ie - they should be used. I concluded that Googlemaps is a technological manifestation of the devil himself, and therefore should not be used. Starbucks coffee saved my life on multiple occasions (Kristin, what would I do without your employee discount?). I think I set a world record for chugging an XL black coffee.

Highlights include: Trekking up Mont Réal/Royal (which was a sheet of ice going up!!), Kristin getting attacked by a squirrel, soaking up the academia on Harvard's campus (and chilling with the Law students!!), staying at a hostel with people from France and Belgium (they are so fun!), being saved by an angel named Marvin, driving on the 401 from Ottawa to Toronto and watching the sun set, breaking the law in D.C. (don't ask), seeing Obama and Biden, singing "Just Around the Riverbend!" with Kristin as we looped around the same highways trying to find out hotel at 5:30am (after driving for over 16 hours), "Toronto in an hour", getting to see my Mom's parents in Barrie, taking a detour to see Rockport and Maine, seeing the Niagara Falls at night, etc......

Kristin's CD collection helped us pass time in the car, as did sleeping (most often it was only the passenger doing this), talking to "The Brain" on the dashboard, and having fascinating conversations. At one point we played an entire Céline Dion CD and sang at the top of our lungs. Words can't describe how talented we are. lol.

Traveling with Kristin was a blast, and we had so much fun. I thoroughly enjoy experiencing new places, people, things -- it's so crucial to being able to understand other people. Mark Twain once said,

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,

and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.

Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired

by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime"