Now Taking Donations!

So! The plans are still set, and a date has been chosen (tentatively of course, I am still the same old Jenn). The date is: August 10, 2010! I still haven't bought the ticket, but every morning when I wake up I check ALL the sites to see whats cheapest that day. It's almost sadly obsessive....

Once I get my visa all set I will buy my ticket. It's...awesome. Beyond awesome. I almost hyperventilate every time I think of leaving this country....which is probably because I'm scared witless! This is the biggest decision I have ever made. I am leaving my university, the first town I have ever felt at home in, my family, my new friends. For...what exactly? For a new continent. For new languages, new faces, new food, new beer, new culture. Different architecture, different roads, different history. I want to learn. I want to feel the stories of the people of these countries. I want to hear their music, taste their air, walk their paths, see their MOUNTAINS!

Even if I will be spending the majority of my time in Norway, who knows where I will end up. My itinerary can, and will change SO MUCH! Sri Lanka has added itself to my list of places to see, and who knows, maybe Ill make my way there. (I better get a dang good job in Norway....;))

I am open to suggestions, places you have seen, or places you will be visiting!

My plans are ongoing, mostly relying on how much money I am making. If anyone has any brilliant ideas on how to make extra money, I will take those as well. So far I am putting my name out as a 21 year old babysitter (I love kids!), a housekeeper, and I have a full time job I am starting next week selling tea (check out DavidsTea!), a lawn mower, a hedge trimmer, a garden planter, and a hacky-sackyer. Watch for me. I'm going to be famous!

Now the question is; what do I need for travelling? I have the backpacks, the passport holder, etc, I have traveled before. But I'm going to EUROPE! Isn't there a dress code? Luckily Norwegians apparently pride themselves in not flaunting their wealth...seeing as I wont have ANY wealth whatsoever.

Anyways, this blog has become a mess of venting to no one....it feels good to type it out though!

Changing the Wallpaper in my Life

Good evening to the abundance of people who will not read this.

And good evening also, to the people who do.

Today, was my last shift at Second Cup. I have been working at this coffee shop in Parkwood Mall for some time now, a little more than a year. Through these mass of days I've slaved behind the espresso machine, and met some of the most amazing people while serving them their lattes.

I have worked in, and managed a few coffee shops now, and this one takes the cake for the most incredible customers I have ever imagined. Now, I now everyone has their bad days. Especially me when there is no sunshine *see winter weather in Prince George*. But in general, this has been one of my favourite jobs.

Today was I was reminded that no matter how often you think you don't make an impact on people's lives, because you can't see it often, you do. Everyday. The people that work in McDonald's? You may not think that you can change a persons day, but you do. Those people that work at a Telus store? You may not think that they funny story you tell someone is remembered, but it is.

I was reminded of this today, when I couple I recognized the faces of came in to get coffees, and I said the usual "Hey! I haven't seen those handsome mugs around lately!" And they reply with, "I know! We've been around though, how were the Olympics?" Please keep in mind I went to the Olympics almost three months ago, and this was the last time I had seen this couple, and the first time I'd met them, that I mentioned going to the gold medal game in Vancouver. At this point I am at a near breakdown of emotion. These LOVELY PEOPLE remembered me! And from what? Me raving about how excited I was to go to the Olympics? I couldn't believe it.

So then this gets me thinking of all the people I have met, and fallen in love with over the course of this year, just from my work at a coffee shop.

There's Shae, this handsome fellow who comes into Second Cup to write his scripts. Phyllis who comes and gets a medium mocha with lots of whipped cream, her grandson David, and her great granddaughter who is such a sweetheart. There's Gary in all of his old Vietnam, private service stories, and his huge heart, and sound advice. There's Grlindy, and her awesome attitude, as well as her husband who puts up with us hugging and girl talking. There's skim caramel caretto guy, who has two Ducatis and a BMW cruiser, and loves to talk about them. Dave who is a huge teddy bear, as well as his usual entourage who has gone through some serious changes in a year. Clay the really attractive fire fighter, who I get all starry eyed and blushy when I see him, but he puts up with me everytime. Large latte guy who lives in a cabin way out in the bush, no doubt with his wife I will one day take the place of....creepy? No. Just kidding. There's that really happy lady who dresses well, and who is always smiling, and her boyfriend who saw (or no doubt hear me) at the Keg one night. Flavour coffee guy, who never gets a mug, flavour coffee woman who I saw throughout her entire pregnancy, and had the privilege of meeting her daughter and watching her grow. All the parkwood mall employees, who are hilarious to talk with, because of the hospital and the hospice house having day passes. Customers like window licking man, who make me afraid of becoming old.

There are so many more faces I remember, and so many more memories I have had in that place. But my decision to travel has been smiled upon so many times, and in the strangest ways, that I need to get it done.

I have also recently met someone who has completely solidified who I am, in such a freakishly short time, that I wonder who he is, and where he was sent from. It's like, in talking with him, I am reminded every second of who I am, where I came from, where I am going, and how huge my decision to travel is going to weigh on the rest of my life. This person knows who he is, and though he probably won't read this, thank you, thank you, thank you. For being that 'guiding light'. For somehow in ONE DAY changing all my thoughts toward the positive.

Wow, this is getting long. I just have so much to SAY! Peter Katz? Amazing. The song 'Son' is one everyone should listen to, because no matter who you are, you will take something from it. If you have the chance of seeing him live, please do.

Everything is inspiring, you just have to see the inspiration in it!

J

Norway 2010

Well. Here we are.

I hear blogging is the journal of the future, and I figure, why not continue on the technological path of greatness?

I have started this blog to narrate my thoughts for all to hear, and maybe receive some good advice. I am planning some travels in my near future, and in order to go on these travels, I need to somehow make it through a summer without spending any money, working more than my fair share, and planning the trip. All the while, fighting with myself on destinations, and whether or not travelling right now is the best choice. Though I am stubborn with the latter, I am assuming there is no time like the present, and I'm flowing with the turns.

So, right now, I am a student at the University of Northern BC, in Prince George, and am majoring in outdoor rec and tourism management. My goal, is to put into this year of random travel, as much as I get out. I want to see as many places, meet as many people, and maybe even find somewhere new to study, or even live. I want to feel the different culture, learn the different languages, and feel all the emotions one could possibly imagine. Now to most this might sound exhausting, but to me, it sounds like the greatest adventure anyone could have.

I have moved around a lot within the last two years, and if I've learned anything about myself, it's that people make my world go round. And this trip will only feed that. Maybe I'll end up choosing a different path to take in school when I come home. Maybe I wont come home.

My first destination, is Norway. A friend from UNBC is originally from there, and has a flat in Oslo, and I mentioned that one day I should probably come visit. Things started to point me in the direction of Norway, one thing led to another, and here I am, looking to buy a ticket. I am hoping to get a resident visa for Norway, so I can work for a few months, and then I'll see some of Europe, probably shimmy my way over to the middle East, and hopefully either a little more east into Asia, or a little more South, into Africa. We'll see how this all comes together!

Seeing as this is my first blog, forgive the lack of coordination I seem to have with the internet, and expect a little more from me next time.

To travel, or not to travel. That is the question. Or is it, where to travel?