S & M

Ouch.  I know we all promise ourselves we'll never do it again, but we always go back for more.  That damn book hangover.  It gets you every time.  True readers will know what I mean when I describe the state of mind after finishing an amazing book or book series and not being able to basically cope with the real world.  It's the feeling of wanting to crawl inside your book and not leave for days because, frankly, it just hurts to much to leave.

 This is not a healthy relationship, but you rationalize any way you can to continue.  Just one more chapter.  Just one more page.  But it can't end like this!  The excuses go on and on.  It's a form of pain that readers, like myself, will willingly bring onto themselves as a form of torture.  We know how good the book will be.  We know this is the last book, or the newest release.  But we still bring on the pain.  Readers are some seriously kinky people.  It's like a form of S & M.  The books bring the pain and we relish in it.  It's a good pain.

I've recently just finished a book series called The Mortal Instruments.  The last book came out in July and I devoured it in 3 days while also working full time.  And this series has left me so hungover that I find myself scouring the Internet for any news of a different series (which there will be) that lies in the same universe.  This will be the authors 3rd series and even though I am 25 and it's in the Young Adult section, I seem to be drawn like a moth to the flame to these books.  And I had to wait over a year for the 6th book in the series to be released.  The torture was excruciating.  But I'm happy with how things ended.  The author tied the previous series together so nicely with this one, and made such a good foundation for the next.  I seem to be giddy with anticipation for the next series.  Please let the author take pity on our souls and release the first book soon.  My poor heart can't take much more.

I really don't care

But even if the stars and moon collide

I never want you back into my life

You can take your words and all your lies

Oh oh oh! I really don't care

Oh Demi Lovato, you really understand me.  This is exactly how I'm feeling these days.  After a bad (but good for me) breakup last year, all I want to do is move on with my life.  And it's really hard when this person, who broke it off with me in the first place, keeps trying to get in touch.  I never want to see this person again.  Ever.  Like the Song says, I never want you back into my life.  Take the hint bro and leave me alone.  Move on.  It's OVER.

The Infamous Bucket List

You all know it.  And you most likely all have one.  That seemingly never-ending list of things you want to accomplish before you die.  Travel, learn a new craft, read books by famous authors or poets...The difference of things could go on for days really....And mine is not so different.  I, too, have a list of things I want to accomplish and/or do before I die.  And I'm not waiting for death to get his greedy paws in me before I do it.  My list started out very small at first.  In fact, it really only had one thing on it.  Travel to Japan.  

Now, over the years, things had come and gone off and on my list, but travelling to Japan stayed in the #1 spot.  For years and years on end, Japan was all I could think about.  And when opportunity to go and live there for a year knocked, I ran to answer.  

During my time in Japan, I met a boy and fell in love.  We had a relationship for 4 years and I thought he was the one. My new #1 was being with him through life and travelling around the world together. But when life turned cruel and things didn't work out, I can honestly say, that for a long time, I was lost.  I really didn't know what to do with my life.  I knew the travel bug was itching in the back of my brain again, and this time, I started to scratch.  I found myself looking back on the SWAP website for places to go, things to see and do.  And it hit me.  My #1 spot will always belong to travel.  

Travel is my passion in life, whether I am going to another country, or just another city.  Road trips, long flights, train rides...I looked forward to them because I knew they brought me closer to somewhere I've never been before.  To that restaurant based on a friends recommendation, or a day trip to the zoo, decided on pure whimsy.  The need for me to go an explore will always be in my heart.  Which is one of the many reasons I decided on a compass for my first tattoo.  I even remember my mom telling me that she has known since I was very little that I would never stay in our little town.  

So for my bucket list, I feel mine's a little different.  My list is broken down into many sub-categories.  The first thing on my list is travel. And underneath that is all the places I want to visit, and the things those cities offer.  Next is my list of things I would like to do.  Learn multiple languages, learn to knit, learn to cook fancy meals, learn to organize better....After that comes the dreams I can't exactly control.  Get married, have kids, become a grandmother who spoils her grandchildren and tells silly other kids to "Get off my lawn you rascals!" while never really meaning it.  It's actually a quite extensive list.

I've yet to accomplish most things on my list, but I think if I can conquer at least 1 thing every year and cross it off, I'm doing ok.  How does your list look?

Put a Cork in it!

I've been living in this odd town called Cork for almost 3 weeks now and let me tell you something.  I'm in love.  Cork is absolutely wonderful.  I'm lucky enough that it's only a 5-7 minute walk from our current apartment into the city centre, and I walk it everyday!  The city itself is wonderfully charming.  It keeps a small town feel and city feel all wrapped up into one fantastic package.

The city centre is the place to be with all the cute shops and boutiques, restaurants and pubs, electrics and Euro stores.  The buildings are all colourful, some painted bright purple or red, and most have an antique feeling to them, as if they have been there for hundreds of years.  and in some cases they have, such as the 4* Imerial Hotel in the business district of the city.  It has been there for almost 200 years!  That's crazy when you really think about it!  That building is older than Canada itself!  Amazing!

My favourite part of the city is probably on 2 streets, Grand Parade and Patrick street which have all the nice shops and restaurants.  But my favourite shop goes from Patrick street to Oliver Plunkett (think Ouellette street with all the bars).  Penney's.  What a great shop!  Friends coming to visit, please bring an empty suitcase, because Penney's is super cheap!  I bought a pair of dress pants there for, like, $8-$9!  It's ace.

I haven't really tried many restaurants yet as I am still unemployed (but I'm hoping that all changes this week) and we are trying to cut back on spending until I've got some steady pay checks coming in!  So I'll write a separate update in a couple weeks when I've had some more money to go exploring in the town.

The walk into town is really lovely as you have to cross a bridge to reach the city centre and it's always just nice to look at!  I do enjoy living near the water!  Especially because there doesn't seem to be any mosquitoes yet, which is fabulous!

I hope everyone gets a chance to come see this beautiful place where I live one day!

Top Of The Morning!

Well, it's official!  I've arrived in the land of Fairies and Leprechauns, and have yet to run into either!  I must say I'm slightly disappointed.  But let me start at the beginning..........

My friend Renee and I picked up Crystal in London and made our way to Toronto with my 2 giant suitcases, where we checked them into their hotel room (as my flight was supposed to leave at 11:40pm) and myself into the airport.  We went for my last meal at the Swiss Chalet in the Toronto airport where I had the most Canadian of meals.  Poutine of course.  I was going to have Arby's as they don't have that here in the Leprechaun land, but I had had it BOTH Wednesday and Thursday, so I was a little Arby's out.  The poutine was good, but the company was better.

 I could tell something was a little off but I figured that it had been a long day for everyone.  Crystal had makeup school in London from 10am, and Renee and I had the long drive ahead of us.  I would never have thought that it was because they were sad.  Well, maybe Crystal, but not Renee.  She was fine until we went for goodbye hugs and I felt her start to shake.  I was kind of shocked.  When I went to Japan, I got a "See you in a year!" and this time I got her to cry!  I know I shouldn't really be proud of that, but I can't say it didn't make me happy.  (We all know I'm a terrible person, this is really nothing new)  She's one of my best friends and always will be so I'm not gonna lie, it was nice to see.  But then those tears started everyone else off.  Me, Crystal, and Renee, all one big sobbing mess!  What a sight we were.  But time was moving quickly and the line for security wasn't slowing down AT ALL.  So goodbyes were said and we parted.

Security was a nightmare.  Not that it was difficult to get through or anything, but that the line was SUPER long!  The good thing was that they were really pushing people through and it was maybe about a half hour wait, which really seems like forever when you have 2 super heavy bags on your arms.  The lady at the front of the line was Irish and when I told her where I was going, she joked saying she didn't like me anymore.  How nice....

While walking to my gate, I hear an announcement go up about "Flight 332 to Dublin via Air Transat.  There has been a gate change.  Your new gate will be C32."  Which is kind of weird because my original gate was C34.....Airports are a strange place.  The wait was uneventful, which I suppose is good in most cases.  But then my flight was delayed by almost an hour.  I was exhausted by this point as we didn't even start boarding until midnight, when we supposed to have left at 11:40.  Super exciting, NOT!

The plane, once everyone was boarded, wasn't full and people were offered to move to empty seats all around the cabin.  Except the first class cabin I think.  But the other two people in my row left, leaving me alone.  Not that I could get comfortable in any kind of position, because let's be serious, air plane seats were not designed to be super comfy.  They were designed to fit a million people into a sardine tin.

Once we landed, I made my way down through immigration, grabbed my bags, and headed out towards the exit.  I saw Cesca almost right away where the doll was waiting to take a snapchat and send it to my mom right away so she wouldn't worry.  I had arrived in Ireland.  Lord help them.

Adventure Is Out There!

Are you between the ages of 18 and 30/35?  Are you bored with your life?  Dreamed of travelling to a foreign land and falling in love? Want to go on the adventure of a lifetime? Try an exotic dish in it's home country?  Then pay attention fellow roamers!  Travelling to that dream destination to live and work has never been this easy!

Today I want to tell everyone about this program we have in Canada.  It's called SWAP (Student Work Abroad Program) and it is a program operated through TravelCuts student travel agency.  Don't let the name of the program fool you!  Not a student?  That's not even a problem!  Even though it's called the STUDENT Work Abroad Program, as long as you are between the ages of 18-30/35, you can get a visa!

According the SWAP website (swap.ca) there are only 6 easy steps in travelling with SWAP!

1) Pick a destination

2) Register

3) Apply for a visa

4) Get ready to go

5) Receive overseas support

6) Live, Work, Play

What is Swap?
SWAP is a program that will help you through every step of your visa application process.  I've used it once before (I travelled to Japan in 2009-2010) and I would never do it by myself!  Especially applying to Japan, since they are VERY picky about their visas, and one silly mistake on your application could have resulted in a denied visa.  I'm glad I went through them, because knowing me, I would have missed something and been denied!

Destinations
SWAP has a TON of places you can go!  Dreamed of sitting in a traditional Irish pub, sipping Guinness?  Want to drink tea in the afternoon in England?  Shop in the famed Takeshita street in Harajuku?  Why not all of these and more?  Through SWAP, you can go to 11 different destinations!

• UK
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Austria (must be proficient in German)
• Germany (must be proficient in German)
• Japan
• South Africa*
• USA*
• Thailand*

USA has 2 strands: PCT & Intern and Summer (summer available to students/2014 graduates only) 

SOUTH AFRICA has a volunteer OR work visa (work visa for students or recent graduates)

THAILAND is a teaching visa open to Canadians aged 20-65!  BUT applicants must posses a Bachelor's degree in order to qualify.

Support Funds

What are support funds?  This is a specific amount of money (different depending on the country) you must have saved before they will grant visas.  This is not a fee, simply a bank statement saying that you have the specified amount in your bank account.  Essentially, they want to make sure you are not homeless or that if you have difficulties with anything, you have enough money to come home.

Fees

There is a registration fee (which includes the actual visa fee).  This can change depending on if the country you're applying for has an accommodation/ no accommodation application.  Japan has this, while Ireland does not.  CAUTION: some countries (such as Ireland) require extra fees once in the country.  Be sure to check this under the country's specific visa requirements page!

It's really this easy guys!  Whenever I tell people that I am moving to a foreign country, I always hear, "That's amazing" and "I've always wanted to travel!"  Now, there's no more excuses!  You want to do it?  Then do it!  It does take work, but it pays off tenfold in the end!  

I've just applied for an Ireland visa, and I hope to leave mid April for the land of green and shamrocks! I'm currently in the visa application process, and hope to send away for my visa in the next 2 weeks.  As much as I love Canada, I can't wait to begin a new adventure!

Happy Roaming!

Things I learned this past year...

It's now a couple of days past new year, and in that time I did a lot of reflecting on this past year.  Many things happened to me, both positive and negative, and I want to share with you what I learned from these experiences.

1) I learned that Love is difficult.  I didn't know how quickly you could fall in love, and just how quickly you could fall out of love.  Over this past year, a love I thought was forever disintegrated before my very eyes. It happened so quickly, I didn't even realize I was trying to hold onto smoke.

2) I learned that while Canada will always have a place in my heart, this town where I live, is not where I want to be.  I want to continue travelling the world while I'm still young, and while I love my family, travelling is my passion.  I want to explore and feel freedom in the utmost sense.

3) I learned that I still have no idea what I want to do with my future.  I know I want it to include travelling if possible, but other than that, I haven't the faintest idea.  I feel like that kid in school, when asked what they want to be, they say happy instead of a career.  Because that's all I can imagine for my future at this point.

4) I learned that from weakness comes strength.  I know what that means now.  I realized that while in my last relationship, I became weak.  I lost who I was, and became someone who wasn't me at all, all to please someone else.  I know that can't happen again.  It's true what that quote says.  If you can't handle me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best.

What did you learn over this past year?  Did you have any epiphany's?  Let me know in the comments below!