August 19, 2012

• Report # 912

  Hey everyone, I hope that you've all been having a wonderful weekend. I arrived at home on Friday afternoon and my dad picked me up from the airport. I wanted to stop at Scotia Bank to see if it would be possible to get an account set-up in one day. The guy at the counter told me something about BOl's or some three letter word all being booked up so I wouldn't be able to get anything done that Friday.

  It's not too big of a deal as I will just have to try not to withdrawal too many times while I'm in Mexico, and if everything works out I can start a bank account with a bank there anyways. It was a super hot Friday as it got up to just over 32 C. (90 F) I went for a run with my brother and I beat him back to the house for the first time so I don't know if I just ran faster or he was slower but it was nice to win. I definitely wouldn't recommend anyone going for a run when its any hotter than that though !

  I jumped in the pool afterwards and swam around for a while and relaxed the rest of the day. Yesterday morning I took the bus and the skytrain into Vancouver and I walked through Coal Harbour, up to English Bay, down Davie Street to Burrard, through Gas Town and China Town and finally made my way back to the skytrain station. I wanted to take lots of pictures of the city one last time before going to Mexico.

  It was quite the crazy day in Vancouver as there were so many events going on. There were people all bloody and gouled up as it was Zombie Walk, and there were so many people dressed up as Anime characters as it was some sort of Anime convention as well. Aside from that there was a huge Brazil fest going on. I was looking for the Latinfest and I thought the Brazil event was part of that, but there was just Brazil and nothing else so I kind of wondered. When I got home I found out the actual Latinfest wasn't until today.

  It's not a big deal that I didn't get to see Latinfest as I'll be in Mexico tomorrow anyways so I'll get to see Latin culture every single day. While I was walking through Gastown I went into a gift shop and bought two shirts for Dora, one pink Vancouver shirt and one red Canada shirt. I hope they fit well and that she likes them ! I'd never actually been buying any clothes for a girl before so that was completely new for me. By the time I had finished walking I was pretty exhausted.... probably just as much as I was when I did the Calgary walk.

  I took the skytrain back to Surrey and stopped at the Tim Hortons on King George Highway before heading to Surrey Memorial Hospital to visit my grandmother who had just had a knee surgery the other day. I had no idea where she was but a nurse saw me walking around and was able to direct me to where my grandmother was. When I arrived my grandmother was awake though just barely. She told me she didn't feel any pain but she had been given so much medication she was very drowsy.

  I helped my grandmother do some of her exercises and she was able to sit up and stay more awake for a while, but I could tell she wasn't feeling very well. I can't imagine going through a knee surgery, and this was her second as she had the other knee done five years ago. The nurse brought in dinner after a while and my grandmother kept saying how our dogs wouldn't even eat it, but in all honesty it wasn't bad. She got a carton of milk with a salad, cauliflower with melted cheese, mashed potatoes and a hamburger pattie.

  While it's certainly not award winning cuisine, I don't think anyone could really be complaining about it too much. I guess when people are in a hospital and not feeling very well all of the food just tastes horrible to them. But if all of the meals were as decent as the food she was served yesterday than people should give the hospital food a break, it's not terrible ! I spent about two hours with my grandmother and I helped her get her face washed and her teeth brushed before I said good-bye.

  From what I've heard she will be out of the hospital on Monday and then she will spent a month or so with her friend until she feels a lot better. So I am glad that her surgery went well and I hope she gets back to 100 % super soon.This morning I ran to Tim Hortons and went to the grocery store to buy some sunscreen for Mexico. I will definitely need to use it as I will be flying to Hermosillo on Tuesday morning and its going to be around 36 C (97 F) and feeling even hotter with the humidity so I'll roast.

  So today I have to pack my bag, type up some of my reference letters into Spanish, and look after a few other things, but I won't be going out anywhere today so I should have lots of time. I just heard my brother will drive me to the airport early tomorrow as my grandmother will be picked up afterwards so I'll get there with lots of time remaining which is what I like as it's always good to be super early instead of being in a huge rush.

  I will definitely miss being here after a while I'm sure and my pets and family, but it's time for a change and I'm ready to embark on this adventure and see how this goes. Dora has already been talking with the people she knows about possible jobs for me, so it seems to be off to a good start. I will admit I am a little nervous and scared about the unknown but I am as prepared as I could be and I am ready to give this all that I can and see what happens.

  At the end of the day we all have to do what we think is best for us as individuals. Unfortunately many people never do get to take the steps they need to in order to really do what they want in life, for a whole variety of reasons, but I am fortunate enough to be able to take this huge step. And while I can't be assured success, I am excited what the following weeks and months will be and to see what actually happens.

  I will continue updating my blog every three days as always, and I hope to have internet access to regularly comment everyone as well. I never have taken a break on my Xanga no matter where I have been ! So that's about all I have for today, for the next question:

  What is the biggest decision you have made in your life, how did it turn out ? What is something really big that you plan on doing in the near future ?

  I will leave you all with some more pictures from Calgary. I wish everyone all of the best with everything. Take care and I'll talk to you all from Hermosillo on Wednesday, bye for now.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

  • 3:53 pm
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