While sitting in the sand in Waikiki, I decided it might be nice to phone home:
Sister: Hello?I have been having the most amazing time while I've been here. My time in Hawaii has afforded me the opportunity to work with some highly motivated and talented students from all over the United States. Each night, when I think about the course of the day, I fall asleep with a smile in my heart-- this has been an opportunity to do what I love doing.
Me: Guess what?
Sister: What?
Me: I'm in Hawaii.
Sister: Shut up.
Me: I'm sorry. Guess what?
Sister: What?
Me: I'm sitting on the beach.
Sister: ...
Me: In Hawaii!
Sister: I hate you.
It's also been a humbling experience. When reflecting upon the very things that I engage with the students in discussion groups, I have come to realize that the challenges that teenagers face are not all that different from the struggles that "adults" have-- they just take on a different form.
There shall be more upon my return to Canada.
It's 5 am local time and I'm hideously jet-lagged. There are roosters wandering around the University of Hawaii campus and screeching their banshee cries. But despite that, the air is warm and everything is beautiful here. I'm thankful that I'm working with totally awesome people and I'm looking forward to an awesome week.
The other staff members related that it was awkward talking about the trip before coming here. Most conversations went like this:
Friend: So what're you doing after you're finished this camp?So ... anyone want a coconut bra?
Me: I'm working at an economics and leadership program in the States ... hey, nice shoes.
Friend: Ah. Where is it?
Me: *cough* Honolulu.
Friend: Excuse me? Hawaii?
Me: *mumble* Yes.
Friend: And you're getting paid to do this?
Me: ... yes.
Friend: I hate you.
Me: B-b-b-b-but ... I'll bring you a coconut bra! Wait! Come back!
So I'm sitting in the hostel using the wireless internet:
Me: *sitting at laptop blogging*So here I am sitting with this odd half-smile, half-goofball look on my face. San Francisco is sort of like Toronto, except it's more hilly and there seems to be a lot of rainbow flags hanging from things. The San Francisco Palm Reader
Guy in tight clothes: *walks by* Welcome to San Francisco! *gives an air kiss*
Me: *smiles* (thinks) Oh wait, no don't smile... he might think you're interested in him or something. *tries to stop smiling*
Guy in tight clothes: Buh-byeee!
I have to admit, I was drawn in by the bright neon sign in the front that advertised palm readings and Tarot card readings. I had never done them before and I was curious as to what this person could tell me. As soon as I walked in, a young woman greeted me and told me that the price was $25 for reading-- I turned around, and then an older woman piped up and said, "$10! I'll do it for $10 because I see you have a strong aura."Over 20 Years Of Proven Success Are there problems you feel you cannot solve? Is every door shutting on you? Do you feel you cannot find your spiritual path & that there's negativity wherever you turn? Call Today ... Clarify Yourself and Open a New Door!
Let me reach deeply into your problems to clarify differences between love, happiness, fulfillment & success.
Ironically, the first question the psychic asked me was where I was from. So she sat me down and asked me what my two innermost wishes were and told me to reveal the one that I wanted most. Since my innermost wish is quite personal, I went with the other one instead, "to do something I love that helps people." And then then fun began.
Psychic: You have a great aura and you like to help people.As she spoke, I looked into her eyes and thought to myself, "shut up, shut up, shut up, stop making shit up" but I don't think she was that psychic, because she didn't get my message. She went on to tell me that in order to lift the curse, she would meditate for me. I nodded my head. Sure, meditate for me all you want-- but there was a catch.
Me: (thinking) Well, duh, I just told you that my wish is to do something that helps people.
Psychic: I sense some trouble in your childhood.
Me: I didn't get along with my parents.
Psychic: Ahhh... and this is the dark cloud over your aura that prevents you from doing what you want.
Me: (thinking) I'm going to Hawaii working at a job I love. I'm doing exactly what I want.
Psychic: And there is a curse on you that originated from your great, great, great grandmother on your father's side. You will not succeed in anything until this curse is lifted.
Me: *blank stare* ...
Psychic: I will have to meditate with special candles that will burn for 90 days and they will cost $550.The roboto-psychic started scaring me so I paid my $10 for the reading and left. As I walked down the street, I thought to myself, hey, for $10 I had a pretty good time. San Francisco
Me: I can't afford that.
Psychic: Ok, I'll pay for half. It'll be only $225.
Me: I got 12 bucks on me.
Psychic: I sense you have more. After this blessing, the money will come rolling in. You can go to the ATM downstairs.
Me: How about I give you an I.O.U. then? If the money comes in, I'll share some. I'm actually in negative numbers right now in my bank account. I'm on an expense account with the company I'm working for.
Psychic: Yes, you can pay for it that way.
Me: What? I can't put that on an expense form!
Psychic: You can pay for it.
Me: I ... have ... NO ... money.
Psychic: You can pay for it.
So here I am in San Francisco. I sat next to a man on the plane who kept on insisting on free drinks because he paid $1200 for his flight. He had one too many drinks. I just looked down at my crappy pasta and smiled.
Leaving for Hawaii tomorrow morning.
If you want to chat with me, I'll have an internet connection and a microphone. Download Skype and find me, username: perpetualstroll
Leaving for Hawaii tomorrow! Wahoo!
Who's got G-Mail? That's right! I do! Thanks to Kathy. You ROCK!
This morning, there was a a-knockin' at the door:
Man: Hi, I'm canvassing for the Markham Liberal candidate, John McCallum. Can I count on your support?I never thought I'd have the chance to see things come full circle.
Me: Sure.
Man: Ok, so can we put a sign on your front lawn?
Me: No. I support the Liberal party, but not Mr. McCallum and quite frankly, he's just the lesser of all the evils out there. First of all, he doesn't even live in the riding he "represents" and second, he was hungover and smelled of alcohol at a debate where I once saw him. I wasn't too impressed.
Man: When was this?
Me: Four years ago.
Four years ago, when I was a student at Markham District High School, a debate was held in the school cafeteria and the candidates for MP were invited to attend. As student council president at the time, I was charged with welcoming them. Mr. McCallum arrived quite late, looking extremely tired and smelling faintly of alcohol.
A student at my school was an ardent supporter of the Canadian Alliance at the time and bombarded Mr. McCallum with difficult questions. From what I can remember, they weren't answered very well. Following the debate, Mr. McCallum approached this student and said something along the lines of, "don't try to get in my way you little shit" and then brushed him off to schmooze.
The story made its rounds around the school, but that's as far as it went. Who was going to listen to a bunch of high school students? John McCallum has an impressive past which includes Chief Economist at the Royal Bank and Dean of Arts at McGill.
When it came down to it, he won the election by a landslide. He was the lesser of the evils out there. Shortly after assuming office, he was found to be too drunk to board an airplane Toronto. I wasn't surprised to read this, but this occured during a time in which national defense was a particularly sensitive issue and this man was our defense minister. I'm sure that this man has many good qualities to him, but as far as representation is concerned, I feel more comfortable voting for someone who lives in my riding.
Now, four years later, though I'm a little bit older, perhaps Mr. McCallum still thinks of me as a "little shit" who is merely a nuisance.
Yeah, but I'm a little shit with a blog and this is my story.
Tambourines in the MorningMost of you have probably noticed that I haven't posted in nearly a month. I've been busy working a few jobs:
Needless to say, I haven't had much free time.
- A JUMP Ambassador
- making telephone calls to prospective students
- a transcriptionist
My day typically starts at 7:30 am, but sometimes I'll wake up at 6:00 am because some children are playing hockey outside my door or simply running up and down the halls with a tambourine screaming at the top of their lungs, "Oh my god! It's 6 am! Everybody wake up!"
"How do you do it?" teachers have often asked me, referring to my apparent ability to remain smiling, despite the swarms of children crowding all around me, screaming, whining, complaining, tugging at my sleeves, poking me and asking inapproriate questions. For example:
11-year-old Student: Do you have a girlfriend?I suppose one of the most meaningful compliments I've received from parents and teachers is that apparently I have some "gift" with children. I suppose this could mean two things:
Me: Yes.
Student: So, do you get action?
Me: Excuse me?
Student: Y'know, do you get it on with your girlfriend?
Me: That's none of your business and you will not be asking that question again, do I make myself clear?
Student: I guess that's a yes.
Me: ...