thankyou to my friends and supporters who have already donated their money, time, emotional support and well wishes. i leave on sunday morning. i can't believe it's already here!!
thankyou thankyou thankyou to you all!
i hope you keep up with me while i'm away :)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
things
i'm leaving everything in 5 days... or 6?
well, close enough.
i was going to sell my second guitar today to a stranger(the first was auctioned off at my fundraiser last night).
we made the meeting.
he offered cash.
i walked out of my apartment, guitar in hand.
the guitar that was my mom's.
the guitar my first boyfriend taught me to play on.
the guitar that is slightly out of tune.the guitar i never play anymore.
i couldn't do it.i walked half way to starbucks where we were going to meet.
stopped in the street, looked at the guitar, turned around and went home.
cried.
i've sold my furniture, my bike, my cd's, my tv, my dvd player.
i've given away my clothes, my dishes...
i just couldn't bear to part with one more thing.
at least not today.
i'm feeling like a bit of a spaz.
but i wouldn't have forgiven myself for selling that guitar to a stranger.
sometimes things are important.
well, close enough.
i was going to sell my second guitar today to a stranger(the first was auctioned off at my fundraiser last night).
we made the meeting.
he offered cash.
i walked out of my apartment, guitar in hand.
the guitar that was my mom's.
the guitar my first boyfriend taught me to play on.
the guitar that is slightly out of tune.the guitar i never play anymore.
i couldn't do it.i walked half way to starbucks where we were going to meet.
stopped in the street, looked at the guitar, turned around and went home.
cried.
i've sold my furniture, my bike, my cd's, my tv, my dvd player.
i've given away my clothes, my dishes...
i just couldn't bear to part with one more thing.
at least not today.
i'm feeling like a bit of a spaz.
but i wouldn't have forgiven myself for selling that guitar to a stranger.
sometimes things are important.
Friday, May 23, 2008
my big fat wet yard sale
luckily a friend lent me a tarp for my yard sale on the long weekend! didn't have much luck otherwise, but not all was lost. i was able to sell some things before the rain and after. it was just the 6 hours in between of pouring rain and wind that made it the most exhausting, cold, wet, non-fun yard sale ever!! let's just say i'm glad that's over with!
i leave in 9 days.
time is creeping up on me....
the cat is now in kelowna with my parents. i said goodbye to him and my mom and sister during my brief visit to vancouver this week. i have to admit i cried a little when i had to put him in his little crate and hand him over to my parents.... i hate to admit it! but he was being so dramatic about the whole thing - meowing and flipping upside down... i think that moment, along with the yard sale, has been a big reality check as to what i'm doing... it is starting to sink in.
i'm excited, but it's also a pretty scary and gigantic life change that i'm embarking on.
everyone says to me "be careful!"
i know! i know!
don't worry... i'll be careful :)
i leave in 9 days.
time is creeping up on me....
the cat is now in kelowna with my parents. i said goodbye to him and my mom and sister during my brief visit to vancouver this week. i have to admit i cried a little when i had to put him in his little crate and hand him over to my parents.... i hate to admit it! but he was being so dramatic about the whole thing - meowing and flipping upside down... i think that moment, along with the yard sale, has been a big reality check as to what i'm doing... it is starting to sink in.
i'm excited, but it's also a pretty scary and gigantic life change that i'm embarking on.
everyone says to me "be careful!"
i know! i know!
don't worry... i'll be careful :)
Friday, May 9, 2008
donations
okay, so i've had a few people ask me how they can help me out (if they can't make the fundraiser) - hence the 'donation' button in the right column.
i feel as though i should explain where the money will be going for people who are wanting to assist me. in the theme of my first blog, i've set up a little q&a (with myself - haha)
1. Q. how much money do you need to raise?
A. i'm estimating i'll need a minimum of $300/month july -december. most of my money will be gone once i arrive in La Cieba (due to travel costs), with some small income coming in from furniture i've sold in post dated payments, and the rest is the good old low interest visa.
2. Q. what is your breakdown of costs?
A. -one weeks accommodation at the volunteer house will be $25/wk for the first to weeks, and $15/wk (usd) thereafter - so roughly $65/month. this is my most economical choice. if i were to stay in a hostel or cheap hotel, it would be minimum $7/night
- food will be another $25/week roughly
- transportation on the bus (which i will be using a couple times/wk to get to and from the jungle school is about 50cents a trip
- i will also have other basic living costs, personal hygiene, some amenities for the house (as it is sparsely furnished) and phone cards/internet use.
- three months after i arrive, i have to go to belize or nicaragua (cross two borders) in order to get my volunteer visa renewed. that trip will likely cost about $100 min.
- i'm hoping to take some spanish lessons once there to keep up, and also would love to buy supplies for the kids - especially if we can put together a show of some sort.
3. Q. how can i donate?
A. if you go to the 'donate' link, there are options for credit card or bank transfers that will go directly to my paypal account. i will use this account for necessities once in honduras only. the only downfall with this method is paypal takes about a 3% commission off of donations. you can email me for bank account info if you'd prefer... it's up to you. paypal is very convenient, and i suppose one must pay for that!!
4. Q. what if i want to donate directly to the kids or the organization?
A. you can go to the 'helping honduras kids' link and there are many sponsorship and donation options available on the website from sponsoring a child to sending supplies to volunteering!
5. Q. will my donation be tax deductible?
A. no. not if you are donating to just help me - unfortunately i'm not a non profit organization, i'm just an independent volunteer. if you are sending money directly to 'helping honduras kids' then your donation will be tax exempt - however, volunteers don't get any subsidies through their organization.
6. Q. what is the most helpful way for me to donate?
A. if you can only donate a small amount, it would be great to get a series of small monthly payments (like $10/month) - that is less than going out for lunch in many canadian restaurants, but it will pay for nearly a week of accommodation for me. if i could get 30 people to send $10/month - i won't have to worry about getting into excessive debt!
7. Q. how will you know if i donate?
A. paypal sends me notification of donations. you can also email me at dncr_gemini@hotmail.com.
i think that covers most questions - if you have anymore, ask! either in the comment section or via email. also, i will update my blog with info on how much money i raise, and how much i will still need.
thanks so much to those of you who have made it necessary for me to answer these questions!!
3 weeks to take off!!! yikes!
i feel as though i should explain where the money will be going for people who are wanting to assist me. in the theme of my first blog, i've set up a little q&a (with myself - haha)
1. Q. how much money do you need to raise?
A. i'm estimating i'll need a minimum of $300/month july -december. most of my money will be gone once i arrive in La Cieba (due to travel costs), with some small income coming in from furniture i've sold in post dated payments, and the rest is the good old low interest visa.
2. Q. what is your breakdown of costs?
A. -one weeks accommodation at the volunteer house will be $25/wk for the first to weeks, and $15/wk (usd) thereafter - so roughly $65/month. this is my most economical choice. if i were to stay in a hostel or cheap hotel, it would be minimum $7/night
- food will be another $25/week roughly
- transportation on the bus (which i will be using a couple times/wk to get to and from the jungle school is about 50cents a trip
- i will also have other basic living costs, personal hygiene, some amenities for the house (as it is sparsely furnished) and phone cards/internet use.
- three months after i arrive, i have to go to belize or nicaragua (cross two borders) in order to get my volunteer visa renewed. that trip will likely cost about $100 min.
- i'm hoping to take some spanish lessons once there to keep up, and also would love to buy supplies for the kids - especially if we can put together a show of some sort.
3. Q. how can i donate?
A. if you go to the 'donate' link, there are options for credit card or bank transfers that will go directly to my paypal account. i will use this account for necessities once in honduras only. the only downfall with this method is paypal takes about a 3% commission off of donations. you can email me for bank account info if you'd prefer... it's up to you. paypal is very convenient, and i suppose one must pay for that!!
4. Q. what if i want to donate directly to the kids or the organization?
A. you can go to the 'helping honduras kids' link and there are many sponsorship and donation options available on the website from sponsoring a child to sending supplies to volunteering!
5. Q. will my donation be tax deductible?
A. no. not if you are donating to just help me - unfortunately i'm not a non profit organization, i'm just an independent volunteer. if you are sending money directly to 'helping honduras kids' then your donation will be tax exempt - however, volunteers don't get any subsidies through their organization.
6. Q. what is the most helpful way for me to donate?
A. if you can only donate a small amount, it would be great to get a series of small monthly payments (like $10/month) - that is less than going out for lunch in many canadian restaurants, but it will pay for nearly a week of accommodation for me. if i could get 30 people to send $10/month - i won't have to worry about getting into excessive debt!
7. Q. how will you know if i donate?
A. paypal sends me notification of donations. you can also email me at dncr_gemini@hotmail.com.
i think that covers most questions - if you have anymore, ask! either in the comment section or via email. also, i will update my blog with info on how much money i raise, and how much i will still need.
thanks so much to those of you who have made it necessary for me to answer these questions!!
3 weeks to take off!!! yikes!
Friday, May 2, 2008
one month to go...
so it's one month til flight... well, minus a day.
i'm feeling slightly more prepared to leave.
i've gone through the freak outs about safety, health, what i'm going to do with 20 + kids once i get there, if i'm going to have any money and why i'm leaving my career for a half a year (in that order).
i'm sure i'll find something else to worry about soon enough - but as is, things are looking good.
my parents have agreed to take the cat (he's been laying on my suitcase since i dragged it out of the closet) - which is great b/c that means i can see him at christmas when i return to canada :).
the more people i tell the more support i'm getting - which makes me really feel like i'm doing the right thing.
major things to do before i go include the fundraiser on the 25th of may at the savannah room, a potential yard sale (this looks like it may be a necessity), packing up stuff to take to b.c. (including the cat) and getting sponsorship info together.
i've received an email for the inhabitants of the volunteer house, where i'll be staying when i get there. it looks like there will be 4 of us there july and august, and 5 from aug/sept onward - with probably a bit of overlap and potential extras here and there. apparently it's advised that we bring something to store our clothes in - such as mesh baggies - as there isn't really anything but beds in the bedrooms (i have images of shaking creepy crawlies out of my clothes each morning... eek) a small folding side table and lamp was a suggestion for what to bring, but i'm not so into lugging a side table through mexico and guatemala for 6 weeks before i get there - not only would it add extra weight, but i'd definitely not be in the hostel cool-group if i set up a little individual side table beside my hammock and inquire after an outlet for my lamp after trekking through the mexican jungle... unless i was mary poppins... i'm sure there will be places to get some very basic furnishings once there.
one thing at a time.
to start, maybe a little spanish review this afternoon...
Monday, April 28, 2008
email notice/blog
so as some of you may know... but many don't... i'm going to be leaving toronto and canada on june first to go on a pretty big adventure. my final destination is La Cieba, Honduras, where i'll be volunteering for up to 5 months. i'll be taking about 6 weeks to travel there from guadalajara, mexico. so total time away will be about 7 months.
i guess i should fill in some details for you... ok... so the questions i keep getting asked and my answers are as follows:
1. what will you be doing in honduras?
good question.. ha... ultimately i don't know what to expect, but i do know that i'll be volunteering for an organization called helping honduras kids. you can check out the website at http://www.helpinghonduraskids.org/
what has been discussed is that i will go there and create an arts/performance/music/movement program for kids in three different locations (within about a half hour of eachother). it is likely that i will initially go there and assist teachers and full time volunteers with their tasks, get a feel for the kids and the environment, then see how i can incorporate my skills to create an 'after-school' type of program. if you go to the website you'll see info on the 'hogar de amor' the 'jungle school' and the 'campesinos' - those will be the groups i expect to be working with.
2. why honduras? how did you get hooked up with this specific organization?
about 2 months ago, my friend maggie sent out some pics and info about the orphanage (the hogar) in La Cieba. her and her husband had recently gone down there and visited/volunteered for a few days with the kids. i was initially just int
erested in sponsoring a child there (that's him - Santos - in the pic), as it's something i'd been wanting to do for a couple years, but had never gotten around to it. i also thought it would be a great thing for me to do as i've always wanted to travel through central america - and figured i could visit the orphanage at some point in the next year or so during my travels (which i expected to be next feb). i've also been learning spanish - so it all seemed to tie in to an eventual plan.
3. so what made you decide to go now? isn't this kind of out of nowhere?
well - i'd thought of doing a mexico/central america trip next year for a couple of months - do the surfing thing, the learning spanish thing and the backpacking thing - and then charlene (sister) got engaged - planning the wedding for next early summer-ish. since i'm her maid of honour, i figured it probably wouldn't be such an amazing idea to skip town right before she gets married. then i was thinking of just going down to mexico in june for about a week b/c i was in desperate need to get out of the city for a bit. i can't really explain it... but within a day, my 'vacation' plans went from one week to one month to three months, with a 4 week stay in honduras to volunteer. a couple of days later my 4 week volunteering plan turned into a 5 month volunteering plan.
i figured if i was going to create some sort of creative program for kids down there, i was going to need more than 4 weeks to do it. i took some time to think this over and really felt it was what i am supposed to do right now. and in the grand scheme of things, when i'm 80 - i'm not going to regret leaving toronto and my work here for a half a year. what i will regret is not following my gut and going on a potentially life-changing adventure.
4. aren't you nervous? going there all by yourself?
i'm terrified.
5. how will you make money/how can you afford this?
i can't really. and volunteers down there pay their own way, food, accommodation etc. i'm selling as much as i can before i leave, i'll be having a fundraiser in may (cabaret!cabaret!), i'm going to apply for sponsorship through my parents church (my childhood church) and am basically working as much as i can, paying off my credit card and expecting to be in some debt once i return. my parents are generously giving me my flights as a birthday gift, and the rest of it i'm leaving up to fate/the universe/god/however you want to put it. i've also had some family/friends who want to toss a bit of funds my way once i get to honduras.
in the end, even if i come back home with a maxed out credit card, i still have so much more than the kids that i'll be going to work with... this is my rationalization. and i have faith in synchronicity... what can i say... i'm a crazy artist/hippie/actor type... sort of...
6. what's going to happen to your cat?(bono)
good question. anyone want to cat sit? last resort is sending him home with my parents - but this isn't ideal as they may be selling their house and moving into a condo. we'll see. but if you want to take him for a few months (and give him back after - no cat stealer's please!!) let me know.
7. what will you be doing/where will you be going before you get to honduras?
travel plans from guadalajara to ixtapa to puerto escondido to chiapas to guatemala to la cieba. learning spanish, surfing, hosteling, etc. i'll be writing a travel blog http://www.destinationhonduras.blogspot.com/ that you can check out for frequent updates - add it to your favorites :)
okay.
i think that's pretty much it for major questions... other than health and safety questions - to which i can only say i've prepared myself, and yes i know there are potential dangers - i will take all the necessary precautions...
i guess i should fill in some details for you... ok... so the questions i keep getting asked and my answers are as follows:
1. what will you be doing in honduras?
good question.. ha... ultimately i don't know what to expect, but i do know that i'll be volunteering for an organization called helping honduras kids. you can check out the website at http://www.helpinghonduraskids.org/
what has been discussed is that i will go there and create an arts/performance/music/movement program for kids in three different locations (within about a half hour of eachother). it is likely that i will initially go there and assist teachers and full time volunteers with their tasks, get a feel for the kids and the environment, then see how i can incorporate my skills to create an 'after-school' type of program. if you go to the website you'll see info on the 'hogar de amor' the 'jungle school' and the 'campesinos' - those will be the groups i expect to be working with.
2. why honduras? how did you get hooked up with this specific organization?
about 2 months ago, my friend maggie sent out some pics and info about the orphanage (the hogar) in La Cieba. her and her husband had recently gone down there and visited/volunteered for a few days with the kids. i was initially just int
erested in sponsoring a child there (that's him - Santos - in the pic), as it's something i'd been wanting to do for a couple years, but had never gotten around to it. i also thought it would be a great thing for me to do as i've always wanted to travel through central america - and figured i could visit the orphanage at some point in the next year or so during my travels (which i expected to be next feb). i've also been learning spanish - so it all seemed to tie in to an eventual plan.3. so what made you decide to go now? isn't this kind of out of nowhere?
well - i'd thought of doing a mexico/central america trip next year for a couple of months - do the surfing thing, the learning spanish thing and the backpacking thing - and then charlene (sister) got engaged - planning the wedding for next early summer-ish. since i'm her maid of honour, i figured it probably wouldn't be such an amazing idea to skip town right before she gets married. then i was thinking of just going down to mexico in june for about a week b/c i was in desperate need to get out of the city for a bit. i can't really explain it... but within a day, my 'vacation' plans went from one week to one month to three months, with a 4 week stay in honduras to volunteer. a couple of days later my 4 week volunteering plan turned into a 5 month volunteering plan.
i figured if i was going to create some sort of creative program for kids down there, i was going to need more than 4 weeks to do it. i took some time to think this over and really felt it was what i am supposed to do right now. and in the grand scheme of things, when i'm 80 - i'm not going to regret leaving toronto and my work here for a half a year. what i will regret is not following my gut and going on a potentially life-changing adventure.
4. aren't you nervous? going there all by yourself?
i'm terrified.
5. how will you make money/how can you afford this?
i can't really. and volunteers down there pay their own way, food, accommodation etc. i'm selling as much as i can before i leave, i'll be having a fundraiser in may (cabaret!cabaret!), i'm going to apply for sponsorship through my parents church (my childhood church) and am basically working as much as i can, paying off my credit card and expecting to be in some debt once i return. my parents are generously giving me my flights as a birthday gift, and the rest of it i'm leaving up to fate/the universe/god/however you want to put it. i've also had some family/friends who want to toss a bit of funds my way once i get to honduras.
in the end, even if i come back home with a maxed out credit card, i still have so much more than the kids that i'll be going to work with... this is my rationalization. and i have faith in synchronicity... what can i say... i'm a crazy artist/hippie/actor type... sort of...
6. what's going to happen to your cat?(bono)
good question. anyone want to cat sit? last resort is sending him home with my parents - but this isn't ideal as they may be selling their house and moving into a condo. we'll see. but if you want to take him for a few months (and give him back after - no cat stealer's please!!) let me know.
7. what will you be doing/where will you be going before you get to honduras?
travel plans from guadalajara to ixtapa to puerto escondido to chiapas to guatemala to la cieba. learning spanish, surfing, hosteling, etc. i'll be writing a travel blog http://www.destinationhonduras.blogspot.com/ that you can check out for frequent updates - add it to your favorites :)
okay.
i think that's pretty much it for major questions... other than health and safety questions - to which i can only say i've prepared myself, and yes i know there are potential dangers - i will take all the necessary precautions...
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