(Blarg!!!!!! So much typing!!!!! )
Anyway, so now June. I graduated. All my stuff is pretty much in order, (after practice packing like 4 times) and we've got everything figured out. I have all my travel documents ready. And we are counting down less than a week before I leave.
*breaths*
I'm only freaking out a little. But anyway, that's all the posting I'll do for now. (need to go get my report card and year book. Than its the grad banquette this evening!)
Hope I can keep this relatively regular as far as posting goes, and sorry for my horrid spelling!!
I'll see you next time!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Catching Up Part 3
(....a lot of catching up!)
So I was in!
Now, because I was selected late, I had tons to get done, in less time than usual. The 1st thing was getting the $500 together for travel and insurance. My Granny was awesome and gave me the money! (Well, its a lone but hey! XP Life's like that.) So that was taken care of in a flash! Before that, I had mailed in my "proof of citizenship" (birth certificate etc.).
Next was the volunteer questionnaire on the website, which was long! Then came the health assessment. Luckily, I got an appointment with my family doctor no problem. But as Mom and I were leaving, we were told that we had to pay, as third party medical inquiries aren't covered by BC med. But that wasn't a problem either, because a couple at my church had been generous enough to give me $600 towards my experience. So I was able to pay the $169 to the doctor no problem! (so much less stress!)
At this point, I had been told that I'd be going to Labrador and Manitoba. I was so pumped for the East and my Manitoba community was francophone! But, about a week later, Katimavik called. (Because of the time difference, I always have to call them back.) My placement had been changed due to lack of billeting homes. I was a bit bummed at first, but I got over it. So now I'm heading for Chisasibi, Quebec, and Steinbach, Manitoba.
After this, there was a rally of phone calls. I got my French assessment done, (2+! whatever that means.....) and got a lose outline of my travel plans, among other things.
Then, I needed to get my BC ID and a criminal record/vulnerable sector check. So I went I got the CR/VS check underway, only to find out I didn't need it because I was under 18. But I have it now, and Katimavik wavered the fee so it's not like I paid for it! XD Then, I went and got my BC ID in the form of my "L". So, even though I won't drive before I leave, I have my driver's license. :P
After that, it came down to getting all the things I'd need for the trip. Major purchases were my suitcase, and sleeping bag. I've spent over $1000 on the whole thing already, on fees and stuff, and I'll still need to get winter clothes when I arrive in Manitoba. But I still think this has been pretty inexpensive, considering that some other travel/work programs cost over $5000.
So I was in!
Now, because I was selected late, I had tons to get done, in less time than usual. The 1st thing was getting the $500 together for travel and insurance. My Granny was awesome and gave me the money! (Well, its a lone but hey! XP Life's like that.) So that was taken care of in a flash! Before that, I had mailed in my "proof of citizenship" (birth certificate etc.).
Next was the volunteer questionnaire on the website, which was long! Then came the health assessment. Luckily, I got an appointment with my family doctor no problem. But as Mom and I were leaving, we were told that we had to pay, as third party medical inquiries aren't covered by BC med. But that wasn't a problem either, because a couple at my church had been generous enough to give me $600 towards my experience. So I was able to pay the $169 to the doctor no problem! (so much less stress!)
At this point, I had been told that I'd be going to Labrador and Manitoba. I was so pumped for the East and my Manitoba community was francophone! But, about a week later, Katimavik called. (Because of the time difference, I always have to call them back.) My placement had been changed due to lack of billeting homes. I was a bit bummed at first, but I got over it. So now I'm heading for Chisasibi, Quebec, and Steinbach, Manitoba.
After this, there was a rally of phone calls. I got my French assessment done, (2+! whatever that means.....) and got a lose outline of my travel plans, among other things.
Then, I needed to get my BC ID and a criminal record/vulnerable sector check. So I went I got the CR/VS check underway, only to find out I didn't need it because I was under 18. But I have it now, and Katimavik wavered the fee so it's not like I paid for it! XD Then, I went and got my BC ID in the form of my "L". So, even though I won't drive before I leave, I have my driver's license. :P
After that, it came down to getting all the things I'd need for the trip. Major purchases were my suitcase, and sleeping bag. I've spent over $1000 on the whole thing already, on fees and stuff, and I'll still need to get winter clothes when I arrive in Manitoba. But I still think this has been pretty inexpensive, considering that some other travel/work programs cost over $5000.
Catching Up Part 2
(....wow, typing it all up really makes it seem.....hectic?)
So, I applied in January. While waiting to see if I got accepted, my Mom and I checked out the porgram further.
The 1st disappointment: We discovered that the 9 month course was gone, and only the 6 month was available.
The 2nd disappointment: Participants were selected by draw, not by merit or application.
The 3rd disappointment: There were no September departure dates, only July.
Safe to say, by this point, I was thoroughly agitated by the whole process. Then March rolled around, and I didn't get selected. Second selections were in April (in case someone had to drop out), so we waited. Again, I didn't make it. So I basically wrote the whole thing off, and started making new plans for the summer and September.
Then May happened. I was at school when I got the text from my Mom. Katimavik had called. I was in.
And, surprisingly enough, I was excited again. I got over my "thing" form earlier, and was actually looking forward to it again.
So, maybe God delayed my selection so I'd have better head-space. XP Which is cool with me, because now I'm actually enjoying it, whereas I might have dropped out before or simply had a horrid time, seeing as I don't like quitting.
(By the way, I am a Christian, so if God and stuff gets mentioned often, you're just gonna have to deal. ;P )
So, I applied in January. While waiting to see if I got accepted, my Mom and I checked out the porgram further.
The 1st disappointment: We discovered that the 9 month course was gone, and only the 6 month was available.
The 2nd disappointment: Participants were selected by draw, not by merit or application.
The 3rd disappointment: There were no September departure dates, only July.
Safe to say, by this point, I was thoroughly agitated by the whole process. Then March rolled around, and I didn't get selected. Second selections were in April (in case someone had to drop out), so we waited. Again, I didn't make it. So I basically wrote the whole thing off, and started making new plans for the summer and September.
Then May happened. I was at school when I got the text from my Mom. Katimavik had called. I was in.
And, surprisingly enough, I was excited again. I got over my "thing" form earlier, and was actually looking forward to it again.
So, maybe God delayed my selection so I'd have better head-space. XP Which is cool with me, because now I'm actually enjoying it, whereas I might have dropped out before or simply had a horrid time, seeing as I don't like quitting.
(By the way, I am a Christian, so if God and stuff gets mentioned often, you're just gonna have to deal. ;P )
Catching Up
So, I decided today after reading someone else's Katima-blog that I would set up my own. However, considering I leave in just under a week, this is kind of a late start. That being said, the next couple posts will be a rundown of the back story and how I ended up here.
This basically all started in my Planning 11 class last year (2010) when I realized I wasn't going to be able to afford post-secondary education. I'd been wanting to take a year off anyway, so the shock of it wore off pretty quick. However, the question now arouse of what to do next. Get a job, travel, or apply for a program of some kind. Then Mom remembered a program that one of her sisters had looked into, almost 30 years ago! This program was Katimavik, and it was still up and running.
So we checked it out. I fell in love with it almost immediately. I was hyped about traveling Canada, and 9 months in 3 communities sounded epic! We waited till January 2011, then signed me up!
They even called in Feburary to ask if I wanted to do the winter rotation! But I hadn`t graduated yet. XD
We would have to wait till March for 1st selection to see if I got in, but until then I was pumped! I was wishing so hard to go North and East, and to a Francophone community.
Then things got a little negative.
This basically all started in my Planning 11 class last year (2010) when I realized I wasn't going to be able to afford post-secondary education. I'd been wanting to take a year off anyway, so the shock of it wore off pretty quick. However, the question now arouse of what to do next. Get a job, travel, or apply for a program of some kind. Then Mom remembered a program that one of her sisters had looked into, almost 30 years ago! This program was Katimavik, and it was still up and running.
So we checked it out. I fell in love with it almost immediately. I was hyped about traveling Canada, and 9 months in 3 communities sounded epic! We waited till January 2011, then signed me up!
They even called in Feburary to ask if I wanted to do the winter rotation! But I hadn`t graduated yet. XD
We would have to wait till March for 1st selection to see if I got in, but until then I was pumped! I was wishing so hard to go North and East, and to a Francophone community.
Then things got a little negative.
Disclaimer
"The views or opinions posted on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or values of Katimavik. The author takes full responsibility for his or her opinions and does not hold Katimavik or any third party accountable for the posted content. The author freely admits that her views may not be the same as those of the organization."
So yeah. Katimavik request the above disclaimer, not totally sure why, but hey. C'est la vie!
So yeah. Katimavik request the above disclaimer, not totally sure why, but hey. C'est la vie!
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