I Got a Blog

        So I started a blog. There's something slightly embarrassing about admitting it. I used to be very anti-blog, I couldn't see the point in writing down everything one did or felt and posting it on the internet for all to see. To me it seemed like why would anyone care about what that person wrote? I've changed my opinion somewhat over the years, and I do follow a few blogs. Why? Because they can be interesting, funny, informative, inspiring or full of beautiful, creative art work. Also they give me something to do on the internet other than mindlessly scroll through my Facebook feed.
      I can't promise that my blog will be any of those things, but I do have two (semi) legitimate reasons for keeping a blog.

1. For the next 11 months I will be living and working in England. Technically it's volunteering through the GAP-year organization Lattitude, but I do get a small stipend each week. My placement is at Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre, a twenty minute walk away from Chingford, an outer district of London north east of the city.
     People seem really confused when I try to explain about the Park and what I will be doing there. I've just been saying "I'm working at a Scout Camp," but I think Gilwell is very different from Scout camps here or even places like Camp Thunderbird and Camp Pringle. In all honesty I'm not completely sure myself what is it is I'll be doing there. I'll let you know when I find out.
    So my first reason for keeping a blog is to record what I do during this year that promises to be very different than any of my previous 18. The blog is also a way to let people back home know what I'm up to. Of course I will still want to send emails and skype with people, but I think this is blog might save me from having to relate certain stories ten times.

2. Reason number 2 is that for the last year I have been working on my Duke of Edinburgh Award and will continue to do so this year. There are three levels to it and I just completed the bronze level this past Friday. Which means I've started on the silver. One requirement of the award is to pick a skill and practice it for a period of time each week over a minimum of 6 months. So blogging (writing) is my skill. A big thanks to Martha for being my assessor, I hope these posts don't bore you too much. I will do my best to post once a week. Ok. It's there in bold type on the internet, so now I have to stick with it.

     Today is Sunday, tomorrow my plane leaves from Victoria at 5pm. I fly to Vancouver and then board another flight to Heathrow airport which should arrive at 11:40am local time on Tuesday. Lattitude representatives will pick us up and take us to the hostel in London where we will stay two nights for the orientation before traveling to our placements around the country. Lucky for me I'm only an hour away.

   I think I'm almost finished packing, just a couple things to stuff in tomorrow morning. That was a somewhat frustrating experience and I had to leave some stuff out. I doubt very much that I'll miss that stuff. I've probably still over packed. My bags are all within the the size and weight regulations for the airline (barely) but whether or not I can carry them across London on the public transit is another question.

  I don't think there is much else to say. I'm so excited to leave and still a little bit nervous. Saying goodbye to everyone has been a sad but I don't think I've quite got my head around the idea that I won't be seeing some many people for a whole year!