Katima Family

In Order of appearance: Yaritza (Jaz), Cedric (With an accent over the e), Cole, Morgan, Kristen, Willie, Connor, Me in all my awkwardness, Helena, and of course Sterling

Ah My lovely family:) Aren't we adorable. Blog post tommarrow!

I've landed

My first plane ride was fun, it felt like a roller coaster taking off though, seriously I don't like watching a plane turn, it makes my stomach drop. This is only the second day! Yay...seriously it has been so buzy! We got in on Thursday morning at four am. Very tired participants. But then once we got up that morning we talked, had breakfast, and then went to the SAAG (South Alberta Art Gallery) where we then got to learn all about our work partners. Then today we went to the rest of the workpartners. Birds of Prey (Get to work cleaning cages, doing stuff with mice...won't even mention the mouse house) Family Center (Get to work with Kids) St Teresa, and St. Michael (Get to help with the elderly) Safety City (get to teach kids safety) Fifth on fifth (get to help people get jobs) ummm I have a horrible memory so I apologize to anyone I didn't mention

Seriously though, I am homesick...I miss my twin. I feel like the awkward one trying and failing to make conversation...any ideas on how to make the shy awkward kid, less of that?

I should go hang out with my group, see ya!

Katima-Cupcakes

Had my goodbye party last night:D It was awesome... my friend who is an amazing baker made cupcakes!! Be jealous at this!

Here is a cupcake to represent when I get to go to quebec:D


Here is a cupcake to represent me flying for the first time:D


Here is my favourite cupcake a suitcase and the world!



...no lethbridge because and I quote "I don't want to make a damn bridge" (In response to the high level bridge)

I like to keep you reading with pretty pictures...also because I have a short attention span and like they say a picture says a thousand words

Less than two weeks

I leave in less than two weeks...Less than two weeks until I don't see my family for six months, until I don't see my four best friends, and until I don't see my twin sister for six months. Its a scary thought. I am leaving and everything is staying the same except me. My friends will go to White pine without me have sleepover and go camping everything the same minus me. I am terrified....

...yet extremely excitied. Less than two weeks until ....I meet my group for the first time, I see my house for the first time...until I GET A LIFE:) I am so excitied, I want to jump up and down screaming it is amazing. I am ready to leave, my stuff is sitting half packed on my bedroom floor. My bedroom looks like chaos. Packing is seriously the hardest part, think about it. When you leave its hard to pack what you want and how to properly pack, do you really need that...and so on, but when you leave? Packing knowning that your going home? That is heartbreaking (I have read a lot of blogs that make me want to cry, its so sad the last day)

I finally finished school! Yes, I am officially a graduate:) Thats weird to say... I still feel weird seeing my school and realizing that I no longer have to go there. I AM DONE GRAD 2011 YES!!!

Katimavik, I am ready to leave. I have my flight information too! I leave at 6:15 pm from the Vancouver airport, and then get to my lethbridge house at 4 am...ouch. We all arrive and then have to drop off all the other groups in our cluster (Calgary to Canmore to Lethbridge to Medicine Hat) at least they rented a motorcoach for us:) Also I travel with a guy who is in my group...so hopefully that isn't awkward. All my relatives are planning on coming to the airport to say goodbye...Great (note the increased level of sarcasm there?) Seriously, I don't want to have to leave a bunch of sobbing relatives behind. Ugh...July 6th won't be fun...but july 7th...yeah when we all get on the motorcoach to our houses? THAT WILL BE FANTASTIC!


If I close my eyes will I stop this whirlwind
Will the days end because of my absence
My life is disappearing and I'm leaving
I am ready for the change of seasons
Change is coming on the wind
I can feel the breeze hit my skin
Awake for the first time
My eyes are open, craving new scenery
Leaving everything for adventure
I am at the edge of the earth
Looking back I see my life laid out behind me
Lets leave everything behind
Jump

French Evaluation

Did my french evaluation...ugh, I hate talking on the phone, but we have a power outage so I had to use my mothers cell phone....FML. I have been trying to call her for a month now and we have been playing phone tag. But today I won tag!!! Yes, I finally got a contact of the French Evaluation lady! I didn't exactly fail...but well....it was still bad. She asked me to speak in full sentences or if I didn't know how then to try and tell her what she was asking in french.

NOW PRESENTING...HOW TO FAIL AT FRENCH!
*=speaking french
aka me mumbling something in french...
Her:It's early isn't it?
Me: Ah, yes it is (I ALWAYS GET UP AT THIS GOD FORSAKEN TIME!!)
Her: *What is your name
Me: *I am Keagan
Her:*What is your email address
Me: Umm giggle(I giggle when I am nervous) Are you asking my email address?
Her: Yes
Me: Uh, I have no idea how to say that in full sentances
Her: *What is the date today?
Me:* The date is June...2011
Me: I have no idea what the day is
Her: OH! Okay I will tell you the date in English, it's the 15
Me: OH! *Its June the 15 2011
Her: *Do you speak french often
Me: Uh...speak french...?
Her: *Do you speak french often
Me:Yeah, I have no idea
Her: I am asking do you speak french often
Me:*NO, I don't speak french often
Her: *Have you taken a french class before
Me:*I took a french 11 class, last year
Her: Okay your finished, you will be okay you can speak full sentances, and understand a lot of what I am saying.
Me:Thanks, I am surprised I remembered that from my French class!
Her: Okay, any other questions?

That's all she asked...I think I did okay...a 1 would be nice....ugh

Later: I found out I did get a one...well at least I don't fail that bad:D

What did you guys get on your french evaluation?

Group Mate Blog

Yes, she put it on her facebook...so here it is:
http://sixmonthsofkatimavik.tumblr.com/
She is in my group...I hope this doesn't make me officially the "creepy" one of katimavik

Also, haven't been able to contact the French evaluation lady, CURSE YOU TIME ZONES!!! I am going to try again soon, but if I can't reach her I will for sure call her during exam week (since I am not writing exams so I get the whole week off)

Accepted

I got my official acceptance today:) So thats good, and so far I know three other people in my group, one guy lives near vancouver!! We could totally meet each other, but that would slightly be creepy. Anyways we are probably going to be traveling together, YAY I won't get lost:) Seriously, I have never ever been on a plane (I feel very childish writing never ever lol) and I am nervous and excitied! So I may or may not be screaming or crying "I need an adult" (brownie points to you if you get that reference) Also today i got my volunteer guide so I know what to bring.

In Other news...I am almost legal....IN ALBERTA AND QUEBEC! Now if you guys don't already know that means when I am gone I can legally drink where I am! (Although, Katimavik I don't think likes anyone...in the volunteer guide they said no drinking in the houses...) I probably won't drink but its weird knowing that I can just go and do it. Oh yeah, its in two days I turn 18:) Happy early birthday to me:D My twin and I are going to party on saturday

We have decided to have a BBQ and good bye party for me on June 29th to 30th, sleepover with my friends, because my one Best Friend is leaving for a family vacation on the 30 (She is devestated, she wanted to leave later so she could say goodbye) Its going to be with family and friends. Then hopefully I can go to the Canada day celebrations and have some very delicious french cabane du sucre (I think) since there is a huge group of frenchies coming from malliardville (which is the french area near where I live) to celebrate canada day which means awesome french food

Also while looking on Urban Dictionary I found this...I think it is a good thing to end on:) Its laughable

Under the disguise of a Canada's Leading Youth Volunteer program, it's a science experiment gone awry, lasting nine months and consisting with the strangest group of 17-21 year olds imaginable. The "Katimaviktims" (clever, oh ho ho) live with 10 other strangers and volunteer 8 hours a day in three different parts of Canada. The program includes making 10 page protocalls to go pee, enduring weekly house meetings that are more painful than plucking out your own eye, turning vegitarian or learning to loathe vegitarians, creating screaming wrestling matches over lifted toilet seats, dishes, lint traps, or music, and still somehow managing to get an amazingly positive life-altering experience.

Just don't ever mention toilet seats.
Recently graduated highschool student/frustrated university dropout/bored drifter: What's this? Katimavik? A free travelling program offered by some abstract arm of the Canadian government? Promised self discovery? What's there to lose?

Mothers

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there:) Speaking of mothers (I am so happy you brought up the subject:) ) I love my mother, but mom strangers don't care if I am leaving. Just to let you know, I am the youngest of six kids and I am graduating this year. Alot of the time my mother will be talking to a clerk and saying stuff like "My baby is leaving soon", "I'm going to cry when you graduate and then I will loose my baby only a few days later", "You're the first of my children to leave and go so far away from me",thank you mother. Seriously I love her, but she makes me feel bad for going:( But it's my life and I shouldn't feel bad for leaving...should I? I want to live my life, its my choices that I have to live with not hers

In less heavy news:
I GOT MY CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK! (well...I got it into the police station friday and today they called me and said that it was in) I was so worried not because I have a criminal record or anything, but that I left it too late and it wouldn't be into the station for a few weeks because it always takes long. At the station when I was filling all the paperwork we had a really nice woman helping us, and she actually knew what Katimavik was! My jaw dropped usually I get blank stares, apparently her neighbours daughter did the program too, anyways I get sidetracked too easily, well since I am under 18 (Until May 19th, thats why I was putting off my criminal record check) they don't do Vulnerable sector checks, but the lady said that she would do it for me:) That was nice of her (or did she just want my money lol) So now, once I hand this in I AM DONE WITH PAPERWORK AND EVERYTHING WILL BE GREEN ON KATIMAROUTE! (yes, here is where you can applaud, because if you are an applicant or a past katimavictim then you will know just how much of a pain that novel of paperwork is, Step four and five)

I got my french call...I wasn't home....I called back at school, twice and no answer. Ugh I hate talking on the phone, I know my french isn't the best, so its just nervewracking waiting for it to be done. Seriously I just wanna get it over with. I am going to try calling on Tuesday and hopefully I can get it done. DAMN timezone changes!! *Shakes fist

I am sorta talking to two of my group mates:) YAY! One is an 18 year old female, and the other is a 21 year old female, yeah Females represent (seriously we can find no one else in our group its kinda of disappointing, but exciting because that means the first impression I get from them isn't facebook... BUT I WANT TO KNOW!! And seriously who wouldn't stalk the facebook page:P..or is that just me:) ) Oh yeah...I failed to mention my group number... its 41164 I believe:)

Also my best friend told her mother about me leaving?!?! Whoa but her mother told me to go for it and said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity (YUP:) ) Also two of my favourite art teachers also told me that Katimavik is a good program and they have heard nothing but positive things from it:)

58 days I AM SO FREAKING EXCITIED...oh and 30 days left of school, but Katimavik is more important:)

Quatchi

yup thats 11 quatchi keychains:) one for each of my group mates and one for a PL hopefully they like it, I think they are cute and adorable:) Thats all guys:) Oh and everything on Katimaroute is clear but my criminal record check...but that will hopefully be done soon

Too much, not enough time

Seriously I have so much to do before Katimavik...I haven't been officially selected but I have been conditionally accepted...all I have to do is my money and my medical (For some reason I don't see anything about criminal record check...?) Anyways, I "followed" some Katima-blogs that I really liked, I think two of them never actually finished the program and decided it wasn't for them. Luckily the only thing really pushing me down about the whole Katimavik thing is the medical, I have no idea why I am fit as a horse but it just makes me nervous. I feel like they are going to revoke my acceptance, like it will all be some cruel sick joke someone is playing on me....I need Katimavik a lot more than Katimavik needs me lol

Timeline(ALL BEFORE I LEAVE):
Time to get money/payment in: March 29th (I am sending/dealing with it this weekend)
Go to see the doctor: I go on April 9th (The deadline is the 12th, putting it to the last minute doesn't help when your already stressing about stupid things about it)
Date I find out where I go: April 13th (41 days)
Write my Advanced Placement European History Exam: May 6th (64 days?)
Grad Dinner and Dance: June 6th (95 days ?)
Graduation Ceremony: June 20th (109 days?)
Last day of actual school: June 18th?
Then Exam Week
Last day of official school: June 30th
Day I leave: July 6th: (127? days)
Day I come home: December 16th (127 days and six months)

KATIMAVIK HERE I COME:)

Just get it over with already...

So this morning (7:30 my time) while eagerly awaiting my letter of whether or not I got into Katimavik or didn't, this lovely baby comes into my email, naturally it said Katimavik so I pounced on it



I was reading it saying to myself "Ummm I dont see whether or not I got into the program....geez if they are going to reject me it would be nice if they would just get it over with already (OMG she used the title of the article in the thingy! OMG Squeee!)

I got to school and wanted to check my email again because I knew I couldn't concentrate without knowing whether or not I got in so I opened this baby



I was in my school library, naturally I squeeled like a little girl. Trust me I got more than a few looks. I look over to my sister (the only one I told about second selection) and then said I got in. We then walked to her class and I was laughing and smiling and I looked like a total fool.But I just couldnt contain it, trust me this was all I thought about ALL DAY LONG!!! It was the most amazing thing ever. I just feel really bad for those who didn't recieve placement. But hey I am one of the lucky ones:)

Yours truly
Katimagirl (I can say that now without lying!:) )

I didn't get in...

Just put on a waiting list...it doesn't seem real. I had thought that I would be in for sure, and then today I saw a "get a life"button it was like everything was lining up and I was going to get it. But I got an email and it pretty much says "Hey, you got put on a waiting list, thanks bye." that seems cruel. It kinda is... I still can't believe it...seriously I want to cry but I just can't. I really don't want to tell anyone I didn't get in...I just want to hide in my room all day until March (hopefully I can get placed in a program then) Ugh, I am gonna go eat some frosting and hopefully feel better about myself. Sniff sniff
Katimagirl signing out, hopefully not for long, but you never know

trying to be happy about this doesn't work...

Step 4 on KatimaRoute

I thought some people might want to know what step four looked like. So perfect time to do a blog post. <-- thats step four. Nothing complicated or scary too it. You can open up a Katimaroute any time but no one will look at it until you pay your application fee. All the stuff surrounded in Green is red until you complete it. For the questionnaire you just get simple questions (I will type them out here, that way you guys don't try to steal my epic sauce answers. lol) 1.All Katimavik volunteers work 35 hours a week with non-profit organisations. As a volunteer, how will you contribute to these organisations? What are your strengths? 2.You will have the opportunity to discover two or three Canadian communities other than your own while participating in Katimavik. The Katimavik approach to discovery isn’t like tourism; the focus is on community integration. What does integrating into a community mean to you? What will you do to facilitate your integration into your host communities? .3.Katimavik promotes a non-traditional learning program that will enable you to learn through a variety of experiences and to develop certain competencies.

The Katimavik competencies are:

To interact with others in a variety of situations
To adopt an open attitude towards the diversity of social and multicultural realities
To communicate in both official languages
To engage in diverse work experiences
To apply habits that favour a healthy lifestyle
To develop an integrated vision of environmental protection and sustainable development
To engage as a citizen
To prepare to integrate, as a citizen, into the job market, school or other life event.
Which of these competencies are you most interested in developing and why? .3.Katimavik promotes a non-traditional learning program that will enable you to learn through a variety of experiences and to develop certain competencies. Which of these competencies are you most interested in developing and why? 4.Qu'est-ce qui te motive à améliorer ta maîtrise de la langue française? (I would assume you answer this one in French, I did) 5.In order to foster a positive experience and to ensure the safety of the program's staff and volunteers, Katimavik has established rules and standards. In what way will you take responsibility for ensuring the rules and standards are respected? and then you have to type in your social security number

For ID I just used my drivers license and my birth certificate, I scanned them and sent them (It took about 3-7 days for it to go green on my Katimaroute)
My Mom wrote a check for my application fee and we mailed it in. It took about two weeks for it to go green on my Katimaroute and almost a month and a half to two months for it to be taken out of the bank.

You can fill out your information in any order you choose. It really doesn't matter. Hope that helps. Any questions? (Post them in the comments I will try the best I can to help)

Will Ferguson

www.willferguson.ca I pray to gosh I spelt that right, if not google it, HE IS AMAZING! But seriously, he wrote a book called "I was a teenage katima-victim" I just finished reading it and it was amazing! I wanted to start Katimavik yesterday when I finished reading this book, it was funny, witty, and I hope it was truthful... It didn't just talk about the good things about Katimavik, it talked about the bad things (The fighting, the food, some job placements) I don't think I have ever been this captivated by a book, usually I read books and they don't stick with me, I read this one, and its like "Holy shark, I NEED TO DO THIS!" If you haven't read the book, I would recommend picking it up, even if you never plan on doing the program it was just so funny, and well I guess you will find out what else when you read the book. I am scared that this program is becoming an obsession...I need to find good recipes and work on my cooking (baking is fine, cooking um well I can cook basic things, but not more complex things) I also found out what tabernac means...yeah I found it on a few blogs, I yell the word outloud in my house (Luckily no one speaks french in my house! Thank goodness for anglophones!) and then continue reading find out what it is. Tehe now I have a word I can say and no one will know what I am saying...but I think it sounds cool! It sounds so much more polite than our swear words. Anyways I meant for this to be short, so see ya guys

NEXT TIME ON KATIMAVIK!
Well I guess next time I will just describe in annoying detail step 4 of application, god knows I have had enough practice with it.
OR
You may not see me 'til January hopefully with good news.

This week on KATIMAGIRL!

I have applied for Katimavik, yes me. Oh and in case your 100% completely and totally lost dont worry your pretty little heads, I AM TOO:) Just kidding, the program and description and to apply go to www.katimavik.org its for youth aged 17 to 21, I have applied for the 6 month program for July of 2011! I need better theme music.