25. Random Things About Me.

I just put this on Facebook ... but I wanted to share it here as well. Enjoy!

1. I'm nearly done 7 years of university. It's so exciting to be only about 4 months away from graduation! Truthfully though, it hasn't really felt that like it's been that long.

2. I actually love school! I love learning, as well as the freedom that you have during your years as a student. I'm pretty sure that I'll miss it ... enough that I want to go back to school in a couple years and get a Masters in International Public Health.

3. My dream job would be working with an NGO somewhere, anywhere overseas. I would love to live in a community, finding out what needs (particularly eye care needs) are there, and then helping fulfill those needs. Although I love optometry, I just don't see my future in an office with all the newest technology and fancy eye glass frames. I believe that I would be better used and more fulfilled in a developing country, where I could combine my love of optometry with my love of international development.

4. I'm passionate about doing what I can to get rid of injustices and inequalities. I truly believe that we are all part of one family, and knowing that some people are treated unjustly, or have to go without food or water or health care, makes me very angry.

5. I believe that I have been blessed so that I can be a blessing to others. I strive to live by that every day.

6. When it comes to spending money, books are my one true weakness. I love reading, and am constantly looking for new, interesting books to read. Going to a bookstore is kind of like therapy for me. If I'm stressed or just need to get out of the house for awhile, I'll head to a bookstore to spend an hour or two looking around. I always come out feeling better, whether or not I bought a new book. Something about books just calms me down!

7. I love love love to travel! If I could pick any job, I would make myself a professional traveller, and travel around the world for the rest of my life. The travelling that I've done in the past several years has played a huge role in forming me into the person that I am today. I will never ever tire of seeing the world - meeting new people, exploring new places, experiencing new cultures. Travelling solo has been great, but I also look forward to the day when I have someone to journey with (see #10 below).

8. Africa is my heartland, the place where I will always yearn to go to. In my times there, I have met the most beautiful people, and have learned much about beauty and joy and hope. Every time I return, it feels like I have gone home.

9. Due to my love of travel, I also love airports. Even just going to the Regina airport gets my heart racing. While they are a place for 'goodbyes', they are also a place for 'hellos' and 'welcome homes', and you can meet some of the most fascinating people at them. The opening scene in 'love actually' is one of my favourite movie scenes ... due in large part, to my love of airports.

10. My dream way(s) of meeting a guy would be:
a) While travelling/backpacking - either a fellow traveller, or a local
b) In a bookstore, as we strike up a conversation in the aisle about the newest books that we've just read
Both of those together ... even better. Meeting a guy in a bookstore while travelling in a foreign country. Sigh. It just couldn't get any better than that. I do realize that these will probably never happen ... but I'm still single, so I can dream, right?! If I can't have these, I definitely want a guy who can appreciate my love for travel, people, and my passion to help others and make a difference in the world.

11. After my travels the past couple years, I've realized that sometimes the best part of home, is coming home to it. Regina will always feel like home to me, because of all my memories there, and of course, because of my family and friends. But I don't need to be in Regina to be happy ... I know now that I can feel at 'home' in any city, province or country.

12. Someday I will run in a marathon (or a half-marathon) or compete in a triathlon. Doing so will require much training on my part ... but I WILL DO IT!

13. The thought of owning my own house, and enough stuff to fill it absolutely terrifies me! I've been a bit of a transient over the past couple years, constantly on the go between places, and never really being rooted in one place. And I've kind of liked it! At least at this point in my life, I don't want to feel tied down to a certain place - I like the freedom to go as wanted/needed. The thought of being able to pack everything I own into my backpack and just live with only what I absolutely need is a very appealing thought to me.

14. I'd like a family ... someday. Not sure how many kids I'd like. All I know is that I'd like to adopt. I'd love to have a multicultural family.

15. There are two things that I'd really like to learn how to do once I am done school and have a bit more free time:
-learn how to play guitar
-learn how to take good pictures, and become a good photographer

16. My family are the greatest people ever! Jonathan and Alicia are my two favourite people, and we always have the greatest time when we are all together. And my parents are just awesome - I couldn't have asked for more loving or supportive parents!

17. If I could choose any superpower, it would be the ability to speak every language in the world fluently. Not being able to communicate with people is very frustrating. For now, I guess I'll just focus on trying to learn a second one. :)

18. I don't drink coffee. Every once in a while, I'll have a cup ... but for the most part, I'm a tea gal. And it definitely is best when drank out of a clear cup. That way you can enjoy not only the wonderful flavour, but also the beautiful colour!

19. I LOVE food! Especially flavourful food! Indian food/spices would have to be my very favourite, but I like almost everything!

20. I have a good appreciation for all four seasons. Each one of them is my favourite while I am in it, as they all have unique things that they offer! With that being said though, I am really looking forward to being able to wear sandals again!

21. I love playing hockey! It's the only sport that I've ever played competitively, and I have some of the best memories from my years of playing. Not sure what it was that originally spurred me on to want to play, but I'm glad that I decided to play, and stuck with it all the way through. I don't think I'll ever tire of lacing up the skates and playing - there is just nothing quite like it!

22. I've barely watched any TV over the past four years. I didn't have one while I lived in Waterloo, and now that I do have access to one, I almost never watch. And truthfully, I don't really miss it.

23. I'm left-handed. I also always notice when other people are left-handed (in real life and in movies!).

24. I love being with people, but I also need my personal time. Time to read, write, listen to music, look at pictures. It's become crucial, and helps keep me centred and grounded.

25. I have no idea where I'll be living in about 4 months time. And for the most part, I'm okay with that. Things will be taken care of ... that much I've learned over the past couple years. Any suggestions?

Back to Estonia!

In a matter of seconds on Sunday, my summer plans were decided. I hadn't seriously been looking into travel plans for the summer ... but I knew that I had 6 weeks time to kill after writing my board exams at the end of May. I ALWAYS have the travel itch, but I hadn't seriously considered anything for this summer. So, when Andrea asked me on Sunday what I was doing during July, and if I would want to join her on LST in Estonia, my immediate response was 'absolutely!'.

So, as of less than one week ago, I am now going back to Estonia! Details, including the exact dates, are yet to be determined. Right now, it is just Andrea and I ... but we may still try to recruit a few more team members! I am so, so thrilled to be going back to a city and country that I came to love dearly in summer 2005. And truthfully, while I loved my time there, I didn't think I would ever have the opportunity to return. So, to have this opportunity is amazing! I am so excited to see dear friends again, and to be able to meet many more people!

The only bittersweet part of all of this being that within a couple hours of deciding to return to Estonia, I heard the sad, sad news that Liis Kohv (a good friend from there) had been killed in a car accident that day, and her sister (Iiris, another good friend) was in critical condition. Iiris remains in critical condition, and I and many other people are praying for her recovery. My heart is aching for that place right now, and all the people that I love there. It's hard knowing that when I return, a face that I was so looking forward to seeing again, won't be there.

More details will come once I know them. Until then, here's a few pictures from nearly four years ago!

i love love love this video (and the t-shirt at the end of the video). to me, it sums it all up nicely. africa doesn't really need me, although it is nice to think that i have been (or will be) of some benefit to her and her people. but me ... i truly need africa. it has been of way more benefit to me, and has changed me in ways that i never could have imagined.

When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day.

The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign.

My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.

I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.

back at it

I'm back to "school". Technically, I'm not in school because I'm a long ways from Waterloo, but I'm still paying them lots of money for tuition, and truth be told, I feel like I'll end up learning more this term than I ever did at the school. Right now, I'm in Brandon, MB, and am really enjoying it (aside from the bitter cold temperatures). The ophthalmologist I'm working with is really nice, and I know that I'll learn lots from him during my 13 weeks here. Work is taking up most of my time during the week, but my weekends are free. This weekend and last, I just decided to stay here, and get a feel for the city. Next weekend, I'm going to go home, and the weekend after I'll go to Winnipeg. It's so nice to be close enough to home to be able to go there for the weekend.

Also, after a couple weeks with no internet access, I'm finally able to get caught up with blogs and emails. I always realize how much I rely on the internet when I don't have access to it for a period of time. I had lots of blog ideas in my head around New Years - but I can't remember them now, and I wouldn't have the time to write them all if I did.

All in all, life is good. And I am blessed.

travel plans?

lately, i've had several dreams where i am either travelling in, or about to go to another country. a couple weeks ago, i dreamed that i was travelling through russia with my friends from estonia. and then later on in the dream, i met a couple of friends in italy (and saw a bryan adams acoustic show!). then about a week ago, i dreamed that i was flying to zurich.

i think all these dreams mean that i'm supposed to be boarding a plane sometime soon. i don't think that will actually happen ... but i can plan and dream, right? i get the itch to head to an airport about every 6 months, and it's been a little less than 6 months since el salvador ... so i think it's about time. sigh. i love seeing the world.