Hunkering down

Exams are on the horizon. I'm trying my hardest to be dilligent about studying and not too stressed, so I might be absent for a while. Maybe I'll keep up with the shorter posts. What have we been up to?

- The boys upstairs in McL woke up early last Sunday morning to make all of us ladies breakfast. It was very impressive and very kind of them

- The Golden Shoe - an epic inter-house soccer tournament - took place. It was some intense playing and McL brought the shoe back for the second year in a row.

- The babies on campus are growing up and pulling at my hair:)

- My roommate has started to take down all the things on her wall....and a lump of anxiety has settled inside of me.

- My practice "Independent Project" for theatre is tonight! There are three of us in the group: Makyla from Ontario, Chezev from Trinidad, and I. It has been a whirlwind journey of writing, directing, and acting in our own piece. We struggled and triumphed and hope to convey some truths tonight. It has been a delight working with these very talented ladies.

- I've had some great conversations with people, I guess to me, that's a huge part of what Pearson is about. Learning about other people in a very deep way, to a point where you can recognize yourself in the process.

I am looking forward to a relaxing summer with my family! At the moment we're planning to go to Belize for a short vacation. In the meantime I have a lot of work to do re: extended essays, internal assessments, universities, scholarships, theatre production planning, etc. etc! I'm planning to do my summer service with 10 000 Villages, and with my last position on co-op radio (hopefully, if they take me back), and maybe some work at women's shelters on the Downtown Eastside. The sunshine is warming the days and our tired souls here... hmm...have I mentioned how BEAUTIFUL the campus here is (especially in the sun)?

No matter what, it is going to be incredibly painful to leave in just under 3 weeks. I can't really think about it yet, I'm trying to look at this as a "see you later" not a final goodbye. There are so many beautiful people here, it will be hard to let them go.

Lots of love,
Emmy

Birthday Mania

A few weeks ago it was my 18th birthday. Yes, yes, I know. I'm now officially a grown up. What does that even mean? Anyways, it was a most spectacular day and I will always be grateful for all the people that worked to make it so lovely.

Here's a brief timeline:
midnight - woken up by the brilliant BCers for a bowling bonanza
afternoon - walk to Matheson Lake & have picnic with friends
dinner - close friends surprise me with fancy dinner in the caf
after dinner - find ENORMOUS AMAZING fruit basket from my family, call home
8pm - everyone visits and shares fruit
10pm - I'm getting ready to go to bed when Sune comes into my room and asks if I want to watch a movie. I agree....only to find out it's a ploy for a surprise party my roommates and house arranged!!!!!!!! Not only that but they all came up with beautiful inspiring words to share with me.

Three cakes, lots of hugs and kisses, and lots of happiness after...I reflected on a wonderful day.

I have pictures of the amazing fruit basket and the bowling bonanza. I will post them soon.

Thank you so much everyone again.

Love,
e

Home

It's nearly midnight and I'm sitting on my comfy red couch. Who knew that after living at Pearson I would see couches as well as countries in a whole new way? List of things I now have renewed appreciation for

1)My family
2) Cooking and beautiful food
--> Livingrooms, kitchens, single person bedrooms, and couches
3) Personal Space
--> bathrooms that lock
4) Getting up in the middle of the night to eat
5) Getting up in the middle of the night/morning and realizing you don't have to be too quiet because there's no else in the room
6) Time alone....did I already say that?
7) A select few TV shows
8) Reading the local paper with my breakfast
9) Looking out of my kitchen window in the mornings
10) Driving anywhere with my mom
11) The radio dial that has more than 2 stations
12) Being separate from school (like not living and learning in the same place)
13) Lingering over my food and eating when I want
14) Walking around wearing ugly clothes. Wait I still do that on campus.
15) Just being in the place where I've lived since I was four

It has been a challenging second term. A close family member of mine has been ill for several months and is only now recovering. It is an enormous relief to see that person back and ready for life. I elected to take this weekend off and spend some time with my family, alone. It's one of the best decisions I've made. I feel recharged and renewed. I am comforted that I still feel completely at home at either place. I am so happy.

I am so happy going back to Pearson, and I am so happy coming back home. It will be hard leaving my friends in a month, but there is something so beautiful about an unconditional welcoming, arms spread wide open, and a house full of love waiting on either side.

Today was great.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In peace,
e