Friday, September 3, 2010
Wowza...
...so big reality check, my friends! Found out a few days ago I will be paying for the entirety of the trip to London for the masters' audition, the audition itself, and the whole year of school. That means in a year, I need to somehow get over $25, 000. So...I am working during the year, need one, two or three high paying jobs during the summer, and loans, and god knows what else. But I want this...so somehow it has to work out. Wish me luck. I refuse to give up and feel hopeless, but I AM feeling extremely overwhelmed right now, plus I need to get my surgery sometime this year, which has been stressing me out to no end as well. I am still as optimistic as I can be, but as always, wish these reality checks could have waited for a few more weeks of naive happiness and excitement. Ah well, life is what it is. Moving upwards and onwards, I suppose.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Last week in London!
...this is a super late post, and I don't remember EVERYTHING from the last week, but I though I would post it, mostly so I don't forget everything in this coming year.
Sunday:
a few of us went to go see Jersey Boys matinee. I really liked it, and I know some of Frankie Valli's songs to begin with. Man...the staging was brilliant as well. At one point, the staging was flipped around so it felt like we were backstage watching Frankie Valli and his band playing to the audience with bright lights, and we saw the stage managers and such downstage...it was so simple, but just beautiful. After the show, we got to meet and have a picture with some of the cast mates, and met the musical director who had gotten us cheap tickets and super nice ones as well! the front row of the second section, so it was raised up and had a TON of leg room! After that we wandered around a bit, had some dinner, and just chilled out at Chester House. We had a small dance rehearsal which not many people showed up to at all, hahah guess we know who's here to be serious! Ah well, my voice is pretty much better, so with a good sleep, I know I'll be alright!
Monday:
Again, up at 6:30 for breakfast with the clan. I think we had boiled ham, eggs, and rolls, which was pretty alright. We tubed and bussed over to Mountview for 9:15 to go through dances and do a vocal warm up before our first class of the day. I am really enjoying being a dance captain. I feel like because I am a bit older than most people, and because I have been taking initiative in the duties we've been assigned that everyone listens and respects me, which is super nice. The only class we had in the morning was a masterclass with the musical director of Sweet Charity. Basically for the whole morning, we learned the whole "Rhythm of Life" song. it's funny because I had actually learned this song while in Young Canadians, but I had learned the pg versin, and it had been a lot shorter as well. I was kind of annoyed at our group today, actually, because here we were with this AMAZING teacher who is working ON the West End, and some of the class couldn't even stop talking for three hours to learn some amazing things. Ah well, I can only focus on what I am doing, and so overall I really liked this! I love the song, and think the teacher was super nice...probably a bit too nice actually, hahaha! We then had lunch, and I went over to the grocery store to buy food...it's just so much cheaper doing this way. After lunch, we had more rehearsals for our showcase. The girls started learning a new song called You'll Never Walk Alone, and I have to say, we are preeeeetty damn good! It's four part harmony, and it is STUNNING! The guys have another number as well, they are doing Officer Krupke from West Side Story, and I know it's going to be awesome! Went home, and had dinner, watched Silence of the Lambs ( and a guy named Dan is suuuuuuper good at being Lecter...super creepy!, talked for a long time with Kim and Christina ( a much needed talk!) and then went to bed! I love those two...I don't want to leave in less than a week...definitely not ready.
Tuesday:
Up again at 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, and off to Mountview at 9 for dance and vocal warm up. In the morning, our class was split up into our two groups again for acting and dance. I had acting first. we basically talked about uniting and beating, verbing, motivations, obstacles and then our teacher (Jo Walsh from last week) showed us a bunch of books we should read. I wrote notes, and wrote down a bunch of the titles that I want to read. What I got from this, is basically if ANYONE tells me I am "musical theatre acting" Imma kick their butt! it is the SAME...the same process, character development...same everything. The difference is content...and sometimes you have to elevate the characterizations. An actor has to earn the right to heighten the character though, and so many people don't...which is where lots of poor productions come from. A character like Adelaide still has to be based in absolute truth, with real human feelings and motivations to be real on stage. Only then can she be heightened to who she has to be on stage. I liked that a lot! After that we had dance class. He was like a dancing Jackie Chan. I loved him. He does the dance auditions for Mountview, so he put us through what he would do IN an audition. We did another grueling warm up with him (though not even close to as bad as slow-and-painful death) and then did across the floor stuff. We then had about 15 minutes to learn a dance from Hairspray, which was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fun. I loved it...GOD I want to be in that show someday! I feel like I did a good job in this class, and saw the teacher looking at me quite a bit and smiling/nodding that sort of thing, so I got super excited. Goodness...I am getting more confident everyday that I chose the right industry for me! After this we had lunch, and then after lunch we had rehearsals for the showcase. The ladies didn't do a whoooooooole lot after lunch, mostly just waiting for the boys to choreograph Krupke. Our newest song, You'll Never Walk Alone, we are just sitting down and singing it...there is a little scene between Kim and Steven where he throws her to the ground, so we are basically telling her we are there for her. It's really nice. After class, we all went back to Chester, had dinner, watched Jeepers Creepers (which is the STUPIDEST horror movie ever...but still entertaining, especially with a bunch of musical theatre people watching it together!) and then went to bed!
Wednesday:
Another incredibly awesome day! Up at 6:30 for a 7:30 breakfast, and at Mountview by 9:30. We did a review of the showcase so far, and then a bit of a vocal warm up. We had individual singing lessons again. I worked with Claire Daniels (the woman from last week) again, and she was just as awesome the second time around. I did some range work, and more relaxing while singing exercises. I did some more work on Everything Else, and then had time to ask some questions. She told me it was good I hadn't had lessons before this because I am a clean slate to be taught, but still had a good natural voice. She told me lessons now would be a good idea because my voice is maturing, and I am sassy enough to tell a teacher if I don't agree with what I am being taught. I need to work on support in my highest notes of my range because I find them quite easy, so I can get a bit lazy with them! Very informative once again! After that we had Nick Holder again. (I thought it was Holden, but it's Holder!) I didn't get to perform again, but even just watching him work with others teaches me so much, and is SO inspiring. A group of us got to talk to him after class for a long time. I opened up more than I thought I would about my mindframe about myself, and my past with gymnastics. He was firm but very supportive. Yes I was told I couldn't do things, but I listened and believed them. He really thinks I can make it in the London industry, and told me he will be waiting for my return. God...I pretty much love the man, and have only seen him for 3 hours of my life. I truly feel like he has taught me more in 3 hours than I have been taught by any other single teacher I have ever met. We then had lunch, and then rehearsals for the showcase. We learned the last dance of our showcase, which is Run Freedom Run from Urinetown. It's SOOOOOOOOOOOO much fun!!! It is a gospel song, and it's fast, fun, and suuuuuuper high energy! A great song to end our show on! The dance captains decided that we'd show up at 9 tomorrow with the rest of the group to go over things! After class Christina, Sian, Alice I. and I went to go watch Billy Elliot. Oh. My. GOD. it is amaaaaaaaaaaaazing! I can totally understand why it won the Tony Award for best musical now. It is just stunning...the story, the songs, and the DANCING...my god. The boy who played Elliot was 12...ok? 12! And he is a junior associate of the London Ballet company, and was stunning at acting and singing as well...actually ALL of the kids in it were amazing. And the adults...just everything. So far, this has been my favourite London musical! I cried like a tiny child while watching it! After this (it took forEVER to get to and from the theatre....it and Wicked were way the hell out of central London...so it was a long trip) we got back to Chester way later than we all wanted (but it was SO worth it) so we rushed to bed, so we could get up early again!
Thursday:
Up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, Mountview at 9 for review and vocal warm up. I don't have a WHOLE lot to say about this day. It was a full day of rehearsal from 10-5. We got all the transitions down, and just nit-picked until it was all clean. It was a long day of dance, but super fun. I just love Lainey...I cannot believe I was so scared of her at first. I think she really likes me as well, she keeps mentioning me in her talks to us, and telling me to remember things she says so I can lead the group later. She is not going to be there tomorrow for the rehearsals or our showcase, so it is Mike England (singing teacher), Cameron, and I who are kind of running it tomorrow. Mike will be bbviously doing singing, Cameron is the acting, and I (with Georgie) am acting as Lainey's eyes for the dancing part! At the end of the day Lainey thanked all of us, and gave a special thanks to the dance captains, though especially to Georgie and I because we had done a WHOLE lot over the two weeks! Then we all went home, and had dinner, and sang together until bedtime. We are all getting kind of emotional about the prospect of leaving. I don't even want to think about it yet...after this, we went home and had dinner and THEN, Christina, Kim and I caught a troll...for real, hahahh! We saw a little troll statue on a balcony and had a little adventure taking it. We decided that we are going to mail him around to each other and take picture of it at iconic places in our Country! Kim is getting him first, so Troll will be off to Hong Kong first! Hahahah, SUCH a good time, SO much laughter! Then it was time for bed!
friday:
SUCH A GOOD DAY! Up at 6:30, breakfast 7:30 (where we showed the troll to everyone! ahahahahahah), Mountview at 9:30. We did a bit of a warm up, review, and vocal warm up too. The morning was rehearsals for the showcase in the afternoon. We ran each dance and cleaned it up, and then ran the whole thing twice, and had notes. Then we had lunch, we all ate at the cantina, and after that went and did our hair and make up. SO many pictures we taken today!!! I had also brought my camera, so I have a bunch of pics from today! We did our showcase, and it went SUPER well, I think! We had about 60 or so people watching, parents and friends and alumni! We finished it, and then were given a certificate of achievement, took group photos, and then bam...the course was over by about 3:30. I can't even believe it's over. Good thing we have plans for tonight, or I'd be a mess. We went to a pub just down the road from Mountview, and had a few drinks, sang too loudly, and then eventually had to say goodbye to people. God...I cried so much. I don't want to say goodbye to these people. Toby gave me his hat he used as a costume piece from our showcase, so I can bring it to Canada when I get back. I had to say goodbye to Sian as well...AUGH...sucks so MUCH! After this, a bunch of us went to Central London to see one last show before we left. Christina, Steven and I went to go see Blood Brothers, while a few more people watched Avenue Q (which I had seen the first time I went to London.) Blood brothers is SO fantastic! The second half especially. It's about twins being separated...so needless to say I cried SO much again! After that, we all decided being our last night together, who really gave a shit if we were tired, we'd all go out dancing, so we went to this shitty little club and danced and drank! We caught the last possible tube, and then I stayed up even later talking to friends. Eventually we just got WAY too tired, and all went to bed.
Saturday:
God damn it...last day. This effing SUCKS. It's after the fact, so I am going to write about the whole experience of this day. I got up early ish (I had been getting up at 6:30 the whole time, so getting up at wasn't hard even after staying up too late!) We all had breakfast together, and then we all packed up and brought our bags to the office for safekeeping. Basically, we just stayed in and talked until one by one people started having to leave. Saying goodbye was extremely difficult. I mean...I know I only knew these people for two weeks, but I have made veeeery good friends with them. Many MANY tears were had today. I HATED saying goodbye to Georgie. Her and Alice I. were the first of my closest friends to leave. God. We WILL stay in touch, I KNOW it. It sucked saying goodbye to everyone though. Lauren, Sasha, Xalvador, just to name a couple. AUGH. Then more and more people had to go as well. Then there were only a few of us left who had to catch the tube to our various places of departure. Roel, Kim, Alice W., Christina and I caught the tube together. I cried each time someone had to get off. I lost it most thoroughly when Kim and Christina had to go though. GOD. So there I was...sobbing by myself on a tube, and then this busker comes onto our car with a stereo and a microphone, and sang this horrible pervy love song and started pole dancing badly. So I go from crying, to laughing hysterically. Man...I bet the people on the tube thought I was insane. I saw a super hot man across from me though, and talked to him for like...40 minutes before he had to get off the tube as well. Man...but I would go from happy, to sad in a matter of seconds...and cry at any excuse. I did NOT want to leave at ALL. I met two other people who were flying to Calgary as well, so that was alright. After the long ass tube ride, I got my money back from my oyster card, and followed the signs to where I needed to go through security, and then to where I needed to wait for my gate to open. I had a bagel for lunch, and just read a book until my gate opened finally. I went to my gate, and waited around there for a bit, and was let on the plane just fine! I was beside this dude who was SUPER twitchy and kept clearing his throat, so I actually think he may have had mild turrets or something, but he was super nice and helped me fill out my declaration sheet thing. I watched like..4 movies the way back as well, because I knew I shouldn't sleep so I could become less jet lagged. After the long flight, I got through customs just fine, got my luggage and saw Jo, Mom and Dad waiting for me at the airport. It was SO nice to see them. I mean, I didn't want to leave at all, but it was really good to have them there and hug them, and talk with them! We had had dinner on the plane, but because of the time difference, it was dinner time again when I got to Calgary. So parents took me out to Chinese food, but I was SOOOOOOOO tired I could barely function. My eyes were pretty much slits, and I couldn't keep them any more open than that. We drove home, I hung out about the house, and went to bed as soon as I possibly could!
Calgary:
The next day we had a BBQ with the family the next day. It was nice to see aunts, uncles, cousins, and all of them. I was still SUPER tired and jet lagged, but it was really nice. We were there for a long time, which was good, because I had to leave Calgary the next day. The next day I went shopping with mom for some stuff, and then I was off to Victoria again, and my plane was delayed for over an hour, but whatevs, I had a book. And I could nap a bit, too. So yeah, I was picked up at the Vic airport by Graeme, and we visited, and the next day life began as normal once again.
I have learned so much from this trip, have a new confidence, validation, support, and positivity that I didn't have before. I know where I want to go in one year from now, and will do everything I can to ensure that I make it back there. New decisions and new choices, I will believe in myself, and let the old lies die. I will remember this experience forever, and can't wait for my future. I am ready for fourth year, and then to go and take risks I didn't know I ever could before this! I will keep in touch with all the people I've met here, including all my friends, Nick Holder, and the teachers if I can. I've found where I belong, and I am not going to forget that, ever! <3
Kesinee
Sunday:
a few of us went to go see Jersey Boys matinee. I really liked it, and I know some of Frankie Valli's songs to begin with. Man...the staging was brilliant as well. At one point, the staging was flipped around so it felt like we were backstage watching Frankie Valli and his band playing to the audience with bright lights, and we saw the stage managers and such downstage...it was so simple, but just beautiful. After the show, we got to meet and have a picture with some of the cast mates, and met the musical director who had gotten us cheap tickets and super nice ones as well! the front row of the second section, so it was raised up and had a TON of leg room! After that we wandered around a bit, had some dinner, and just chilled out at Chester House. We had a small dance rehearsal which not many people showed up to at all, hahah guess we know who's here to be serious! Ah well, my voice is pretty much better, so with a good sleep, I know I'll be alright!
Monday:
Again, up at 6:30 for breakfast with the clan. I think we had boiled ham, eggs, and rolls, which was pretty alright. We tubed and bussed over to Mountview for 9:15 to go through dances and do a vocal warm up before our first class of the day. I am really enjoying being a dance captain. I feel like because I am a bit older than most people, and because I have been taking initiative in the duties we've been assigned that everyone listens and respects me, which is super nice. The only class we had in the morning was a masterclass with the musical director of Sweet Charity. Basically for the whole morning, we learned the whole "Rhythm of Life" song. it's funny because I had actually learned this song while in Young Canadians, but I had learned the pg versin, and it had been a lot shorter as well. I was kind of annoyed at our group today, actually, because here we were with this AMAZING teacher who is working ON the West End, and some of the class couldn't even stop talking for three hours to learn some amazing things. Ah well, I can only focus on what I am doing, and so overall I really liked this! I love the song, and think the teacher was super nice...probably a bit too nice actually, hahaha! We then had lunch, and I went over to the grocery store to buy food...it's just so much cheaper doing this way. After lunch, we had more rehearsals for our showcase. The girls started learning a new song called You'll Never Walk Alone, and I have to say, we are preeeeetty damn good! It's four part harmony, and it is STUNNING! The guys have another number as well, they are doing Officer Krupke from West Side Story, and I know it's going to be awesome! Went home, and had dinner, watched Silence of the Lambs ( and a guy named Dan is suuuuuuper good at being Lecter...super creepy!, talked for a long time with Kim and Christina ( a much needed talk!) and then went to bed! I love those two...I don't want to leave in less than a week...definitely not ready.
Tuesday:
Up again at 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, and off to Mountview at 9 for dance and vocal warm up. In the morning, our class was split up into our two groups again for acting and dance. I had acting first. we basically talked about uniting and beating, verbing, motivations, obstacles and then our teacher (Jo Walsh from last week) showed us a bunch of books we should read. I wrote notes, and wrote down a bunch of the titles that I want to read. What I got from this, is basically if ANYONE tells me I am "musical theatre acting" Imma kick their butt! it is the SAME...the same process, character development...same everything. The difference is content...and sometimes you have to elevate the characterizations. An actor has to earn the right to heighten the character though, and so many people don't...which is where lots of poor productions come from. A character like Adelaide still has to be based in absolute truth, with real human feelings and motivations to be real on stage. Only then can she be heightened to who she has to be on stage. I liked that a lot! After that we had dance class. He was like a dancing Jackie Chan. I loved him. He does the dance auditions for Mountview, so he put us through what he would do IN an audition. We did another grueling warm up with him (though not even close to as bad as slow-and-painful death) and then did across the floor stuff. We then had about 15 minutes to learn a dance from Hairspray, which was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fun. I loved it...GOD I want to be in that show someday! I feel like I did a good job in this class, and saw the teacher looking at me quite a bit and smiling/nodding that sort of thing, so I got super excited. Goodness...I am getting more confident everyday that I chose the right industry for me! After this we had lunch, and then after lunch we had rehearsals for the showcase. The ladies didn't do a whoooooooole lot after lunch, mostly just waiting for the boys to choreograph Krupke. Our newest song, You'll Never Walk Alone, we are just sitting down and singing it...there is a little scene between Kim and Steven where he throws her to the ground, so we are basically telling her we are there for her. It's really nice. After class, we all went back to Chester, had dinner, watched Jeepers Creepers (which is the STUPIDEST horror movie ever...but still entertaining, especially with a bunch of musical theatre people watching it together!) and then went to bed!
Wednesday:
Another incredibly awesome day! Up at 6:30 for a 7:30 breakfast, and at Mountview by 9:30. We did a review of the showcase so far, and then a bit of a vocal warm up. We had individual singing lessons again. I worked with Claire Daniels (the woman from last week) again, and she was just as awesome the second time around. I did some range work, and more relaxing while singing exercises. I did some more work on Everything Else, and then had time to ask some questions. She told me it was good I hadn't had lessons before this because I am a clean slate to be taught, but still had a good natural voice. She told me lessons now would be a good idea because my voice is maturing, and I am sassy enough to tell a teacher if I don't agree with what I am being taught. I need to work on support in my highest notes of my range because I find them quite easy, so I can get a bit lazy with them! Very informative once again! After that we had Nick Holder again. (I thought it was Holden, but it's Holder!) I didn't get to perform again, but even just watching him work with others teaches me so much, and is SO inspiring. A group of us got to talk to him after class for a long time. I opened up more than I thought I would about my mindframe about myself, and my past with gymnastics. He was firm but very supportive. Yes I was told I couldn't do things, but I listened and believed them. He really thinks I can make it in the London industry, and told me he will be waiting for my return. God...I pretty much love the man, and have only seen him for 3 hours of my life. I truly feel like he has taught me more in 3 hours than I have been taught by any other single teacher I have ever met. We then had lunch, and then rehearsals for the showcase. We learned the last dance of our showcase, which is Run Freedom Run from Urinetown. It's SOOOOOOOOOOOO much fun!!! It is a gospel song, and it's fast, fun, and suuuuuuper high energy! A great song to end our show on! The dance captains decided that we'd show up at 9 tomorrow with the rest of the group to go over things! After class Christina, Sian, Alice I. and I went to go watch Billy Elliot. Oh. My. GOD. it is amaaaaaaaaaaaazing! I can totally understand why it won the Tony Award for best musical now. It is just stunning...the story, the songs, and the DANCING...my god. The boy who played Elliot was 12...ok? 12! And he is a junior associate of the London Ballet company, and was stunning at acting and singing as well...actually ALL of the kids in it were amazing. And the adults...just everything. So far, this has been my favourite London musical! I cried like a tiny child while watching it! After this (it took forEVER to get to and from the theatre....it and Wicked were way the hell out of central London...so it was a long trip) we got back to Chester way later than we all wanted (but it was SO worth it) so we rushed to bed, so we could get up early again!
Thursday:
Up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, Mountview at 9 for review and vocal warm up. I don't have a WHOLE lot to say about this day. It was a full day of rehearsal from 10-5. We got all the transitions down, and just nit-picked until it was all clean. It was a long day of dance, but super fun. I just love Lainey...I cannot believe I was so scared of her at first. I think she really likes me as well, she keeps mentioning me in her talks to us, and telling me to remember things she says so I can lead the group later. She is not going to be there tomorrow for the rehearsals or our showcase, so it is Mike England (singing teacher), Cameron, and I who are kind of running it tomorrow. Mike will be bbviously doing singing, Cameron is the acting, and I (with Georgie) am acting as Lainey's eyes for the dancing part! At the end of the day Lainey thanked all of us, and gave a special thanks to the dance captains, though especially to Georgie and I because we had done a WHOLE lot over the two weeks! Then we all went home, and had dinner, and sang together until bedtime. We are all getting kind of emotional about the prospect of leaving. I don't even want to think about it yet...after this, we went home and had dinner and THEN, Christina, Kim and I caught a troll...for real, hahahh! We saw a little troll statue on a balcony and had a little adventure taking it. We decided that we are going to mail him around to each other and take picture of it at iconic places in our Country! Kim is getting him first, so Troll will be off to Hong Kong first! Hahahah, SUCH a good time, SO much laughter! Then it was time for bed!
friday:
SUCH A GOOD DAY! Up at 6:30, breakfast 7:30 (where we showed the troll to everyone! ahahahahahah), Mountview at 9:30. We did a bit of a warm up, review, and vocal warm up too. The morning was rehearsals for the showcase in the afternoon. We ran each dance and cleaned it up, and then ran the whole thing twice, and had notes. Then we had lunch, we all ate at the cantina, and after that went and did our hair and make up. SO many pictures we taken today!!! I had also brought my camera, so I have a bunch of pics from today! We did our showcase, and it went SUPER well, I think! We had about 60 or so people watching, parents and friends and alumni! We finished it, and then were given a certificate of achievement, took group photos, and then bam...the course was over by about 3:30. I can't even believe it's over. Good thing we have plans for tonight, or I'd be a mess. We went to a pub just down the road from Mountview, and had a few drinks, sang too loudly, and then eventually had to say goodbye to people. God...I cried so much. I don't want to say goodbye to these people. Toby gave me his hat he used as a costume piece from our showcase, so I can bring it to Canada when I get back. I had to say goodbye to Sian as well...AUGH...sucks so MUCH! After this, a bunch of us went to Central London to see one last show before we left. Christina, Steven and I went to go see Blood Brothers, while a few more people watched Avenue Q (which I had seen the first time I went to London.) Blood brothers is SO fantastic! The second half especially. It's about twins being separated...so needless to say I cried SO much again! After that, we all decided being our last night together, who really gave a shit if we were tired, we'd all go out dancing, so we went to this shitty little club and danced and drank! We caught the last possible tube, and then I stayed up even later talking to friends. Eventually we just got WAY too tired, and all went to bed.
Saturday:
God damn it...last day. This effing SUCKS. It's after the fact, so I am going to write about the whole experience of this day. I got up early ish (I had been getting up at 6:30 the whole time, so getting up at wasn't hard even after staying up too late!) We all had breakfast together, and then we all packed up and brought our bags to the office for safekeeping. Basically, we just stayed in and talked until one by one people started having to leave. Saying goodbye was extremely difficult. I mean...I know I only knew these people for two weeks, but I have made veeeery good friends with them. Many MANY tears were had today. I HATED saying goodbye to Georgie. Her and Alice I. were the first of my closest friends to leave. God. We WILL stay in touch, I KNOW it. It sucked saying goodbye to everyone though. Lauren, Sasha, Xalvador, just to name a couple. AUGH. Then more and more people had to go as well. Then there were only a few of us left who had to catch the tube to our various places of departure. Roel, Kim, Alice W., Christina and I caught the tube together. I cried each time someone had to get off. I lost it most thoroughly when Kim and Christina had to go though. GOD. So there I was...sobbing by myself on a tube, and then this busker comes onto our car with a stereo and a microphone, and sang this horrible pervy love song and started pole dancing badly. So I go from crying, to laughing hysterically. Man...I bet the people on the tube thought I was insane. I saw a super hot man across from me though, and talked to him for like...40 minutes before he had to get off the tube as well. Man...but I would go from happy, to sad in a matter of seconds...and cry at any excuse. I did NOT want to leave at ALL. I met two other people who were flying to Calgary as well, so that was alright. After the long ass tube ride, I got my money back from my oyster card, and followed the signs to where I needed to go through security, and then to where I needed to wait for my gate to open. I had a bagel for lunch, and just read a book until my gate opened finally. I went to my gate, and waited around there for a bit, and was let on the plane just fine! I was beside this dude who was SUPER twitchy and kept clearing his throat, so I actually think he may have had mild turrets or something, but he was super nice and helped me fill out my declaration sheet thing. I watched like..4 movies the way back as well, because I knew I shouldn't sleep so I could become less jet lagged. After the long flight, I got through customs just fine, got my luggage and saw Jo, Mom and Dad waiting for me at the airport. It was SO nice to see them. I mean, I didn't want to leave at all, but it was really good to have them there and hug them, and talk with them! We had had dinner on the plane, but because of the time difference, it was dinner time again when I got to Calgary. So parents took me out to Chinese food, but I was SOOOOOOOO tired I could barely function. My eyes were pretty much slits, and I couldn't keep them any more open than that. We drove home, I hung out about the house, and went to bed as soon as I possibly could!
Calgary:
The next day we had a BBQ with the family the next day. It was nice to see aunts, uncles, cousins, and all of them. I was still SUPER tired and jet lagged, but it was really nice. We were there for a long time, which was good, because I had to leave Calgary the next day. The next day I went shopping with mom for some stuff, and then I was off to Victoria again, and my plane was delayed for over an hour, but whatevs, I had a book. And I could nap a bit, too. So yeah, I was picked up at the Vic airport by Graeme, and we visited, and the next day life began as normal once again.
I have learned so much from this trip, have a new confidence, validation, support, and positivity that I didn't have before. I know where I want to go in one year from now, and will do everything I can to ensure that I make it back there. New decisions and new choices, I will believe in myself, and let the old lies die. I will remember this experience forever, and can't wait for my future. I am ready for fourth year, and then to go and take risks I didn't know I ever could before this! I will keep in touch with all the people I've met here, including all my friends, Nick Holder, and the teachers if I can. I've found where I belong, and I am not going to forget that, ever! <3
Kesinee
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