It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world. - John Green

Come Wednesday night, I will be in Belize for the next 5 months of my life.  It hasn't hit me yet that I'm leaving.  I don't think it will till I walk through my cabin door and hear my suitcase make a noise over the creaky wooden floor boards.  I'm a bit pressed for time.  I realize it's Monday and I have a lot to do.  And I haven't done anything yet.  I'm about to pick up Jaclyn.  Then the fun stuff starts.   Waxing.  Nails.  Mosquito Nets.  Bug Spray.  Sun Screen.  I'll hit up Shoppers at midnight as per usual for the rest. The main goal for today is to do all my laundry and pack my suitcase-hopefully keep it under 50 pounds.  Doable I hope.  

I better get my day started.  Princess Jaclyn is waiting <3

Stay Classy ;)

Adriana 

Get busy living or get busy dying. ― Stephen King

What makes January 1st such a special day?  Why do people wait all year for this one day to ask for second chances?  to make amends with old acquaintances?  to change?  to become better people?  to ask for the forgiveness they could have asked for all year long?  to be healthier, wealthier and then some?  I was driving to London today to pick up the last of my stuff and started thinking about what January 1st meant to me.  I get it, you know?  A day dedicated to new beginnings.  A symbolic start date at a shot to better yourself.  A chance to start over.  Cynics might say that people don't need a man-made date to push them down the road to self-recovery; they should strive every single day to make themselves decent human beings anyways.  But hey, I'm not a cynic.  I believe life, love and the meaning of, so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hard on myself about my life.  The last week has been really tough on me, I couldn't help but rack my brain about the past year; my mistakes, my fuck ups, all the words I couldn't say, all the things I did that I didn't mean and most importantly, all the things I didn't do.  Then I realized it isn't about the year...it's about my life.  I need to find something that gives me drive.  I need to find my passion.  I want to be permanently happy doing whatever I want whenever I want.  I don't want to be trapped in a life satisfying everyone else but myself.  This year is about finding myself, finding my passion.  I spent the majority of last year in this black rut.  I honestly feel like I let myself get lost in the shuffle of life and lost sight of all the things important, near and dear to me.  Clocks ticking; I'm not getting younger, might as well get back on track.  What better way to start then on this proclaimed day of change?

I want to fix the relationships that matter most to me and cut the poison out of my life.  That means I want to really work on how I treat people.  It's time I stand up for what I believe in and stop letting some people walk all over me.  I get caught up in people, perhaps I wear my heart on my sleeve a little too often; I give too many chances; I can't say no to people in fear of hurting their feelings.  Well, that's about to change: in with the new, out with the old. Bye bye douchebags.  (Don't be offended when I stop answering your calls..that means you're one of those people).

Volunteering makes me feel good.  Some might say that its selfish and in a way, it probably is.  I don't care though.  I plan on doing a lot more of it.  If helping people makes me feel good, then we're helping each other.   

Finance is a foreign concept to me.  I couldn't pull out two dimes to rub together if my life depended on it.  For those of you who know me, I am a broke student.  I'm in debt and I spend like it doesn't matter.  Well it does.  This year is dedicated to budgeting and paying off my debt, so that when I am done school, I can start with a clean slate.

I hate to admit it, but sometimes I smoke cigarettes.  No more.  Health is a major priority.  A healthy, well balanced lifestyle is in order.  I'm hanging up my raving shades, putting away the red solo cup, and  taking some yoga classes instead.  Back to basics.

Finally, I will move.  I won't stand still anymore.  Its time I made moves in life.  I will find my passion this year.  I will light the fire that will drive the rest of my life.

Here's to new beginnings and living the life I love.


Get living,

Adriana 

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. – Martin Buber

I leave in 12 days for a trip of a life time.  Frankly, I'm a little scared.

Famous Words of Bob Marley...

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around.  You can tell them things that you've never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more.  You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you.  When something wonderful happens, you can't wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement.  They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself.  Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful.  There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only quiet calmness when they are around.  You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are.  The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever.  Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it's like being young again.  Colours seem brighter and more brilliant.  Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn't exist at all.  A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day's work and always brings a smile to your face.  In their presence, there's no need for continuous conversation, but you find you're quite content in just having them nearby.  Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you.  You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do.  Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon.  You open your heart knowing that there's a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy you never dreamed possible.  You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel pleasure that's so real it scares you.  You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soulmate who will remain loyal to the end.  Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile.  Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life."

             - Bob Marley


I know this isn't really something I would normally include in my blog, but I guess I'm a hopeless romantic, and its inevitable for me to talk about love, life and the meaning of it all once in a while.  I couldn't have said it any better than Bob Marley himself.  The exert beautifully describes what love is, and what it should feel like to be with someone who can fit so perfectly in your life.  I'm not saying that you need someone to be around at all times in order to be happy; I for one am completely content with being on my own right now; I'm just enjoying my youth.  Have I ever been in love?  I'm not sure.  I don't think so. However, when it does happen (if it ever happens), I hope it's someone that can keep up with me, not someone I need to slow down for.  

Peace and Love

Beer, its the best damn drink in the world. -Jack Nicholson

I'm clearly not very good at blogging about the things I do on a regular basis. As you can tell with my lack of posts. I promise to get better at this... Maybe when I start doing things worth blogging about. My last adventure took place in Kitchener, Ontario. It might not be the real Germany, but for 2 weeks of festivities every year, it becomes a mini Berlin. People are running around screaming outlandish phrases in German, bars and pubs alike are pumping German folk music, men, women, and children are dressed traditionally, and let's not forget the German sausages found on every street corner.

This was my first ever Oktoberfest, and I was not disappointed. It's not something I'd do every year but it sure is something you have to try at least once. The music, the beer and the people really make you feel like a real German.

The way Oktoberfest is set up, you can check out a different pavilion every night. They vary on crowds, music, authenticism (not a word, but I'll use it to get my point across), decoration and purpose.

Do you want a fun night out? Want to try something new? I suggest you plan for a night out with your friends in little Germany. It's a really good time.

I'm adding the website below for anyone who wants to plan something for next ear. It has pavilion descriptions, hotel deals and packages for more than one night of Oktoberfest-ing.

www.oktoberfest.ca

If it turns out to not be your thing, at least you had a good laugh with good friends.

Ps for the dim witted, the event runs in October.

Peace & Love

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. -Stanley Horowitz

Grand Bend in the Fall:

I was having an awful day and decided to go for a drive.  I ended up in a deserted town with 2 amazing girlfriends.  There were no people, no city hustle, just the sounds of birds and the lake crashing.  I have to admit, this might not be an epic adventure or something worth writing about, but it was well worth the trip.  It was a peace of mind that I really needed.

My suggestion to the rest of you:
Check out a local beach off season.  Go in the fall, in the winter, or even in the spring.  It gets your mind off life and the real world for just a few hours.

I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. -Frank Sinatra

This weekend I travelled to a magical place called BUDCAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**this post should have been posted over a month ago**

Life happened and I forgot to write.  Does that make me a bad blogger?  Probably.  I got a little preoccupied with boys, friends and school.  So I will briefly summerize my BUDCAMP experience.

Flashback One
I'm in a bar.  I'm winning ballots.  I'm being called upon.  I'm on stage with 7 other contestants.  Suddenly I'm racing to put on a life jacket, a helmet and flipping a cup.  There's 4 of us now.  I'm tossing bikinis on a hook.  There's two of us now.  I pick the 4th key.... AND I'M OFF TO BUDCAMPPPP!!!!!!!!

Flashback Two
Budweiser so lovingly paid for our flights to Ottawa and even gave us spending money for booze.  We arrived to the airport (when I say we I mean Jessica and I) with a two small carry ons.  We boarded the plane anxiously and nervously because sadly, this was the first trip either of us had taken all summer.  The back of the plane was filled with other budcampers; we soon quickly found a common interest: beer.  And the drinking had began.  We drank on the plane, in the Ottawa airport and the second we got off the bus and ran into BUDCAMP.

The Friday was very low key.  There was a live band and lots of dancing.  Saturday is where all the cool shit went down.
7 AM: wake up
8 AM: WILD WATER RAFTING
3 PM: Lunch
5 PM: Competition
7PM: Concert and Party

Let me tell you that water rafting was the coolest thing I have done to date.  It was fun and wild and rough and crazy and my instructor was the sexiest piece of man meat I've ever seen.  The tour was super long, but well worth it.  For a first timer, rafting the Ottawa River was something I'd always wanted to do and have been talking about for the last couple of years.  I was not prepared for how much pain my body would be in afterwards.  Would I do it again?  YES.  Should you do it?  YES.


MEET THE TEAM: 

Competition Time was wild.  We did everything: paintballing, ATVing, keg tossing, watch explosions, ride in monster trucks, play human bowling, run obstacle courses, play in a lazy river, cliff jump into rapids and lastly, practice our wrist shots.

All in all, it was an epic weekend.  I am so glad I went.  Even more glad I brought Jess along.  <---shes amazing.

I wish I could write more, but its 2:30 AM.  What I should be doing is writing my paper..which is due tomorrow at 1 30 PM.   Instead I'm considering learning how to beat box with Kyle.   So I guess I leave you with one question...to beat box or not?

***side note: I can't even do accents; I highly doubt beatboxing will be my forte***





Information for anyone interested in a BUDCAMP experience:

Check out the following site.  It's adventure camp.  It offers many of things we did at BUDCAMP and more. It's fun and the team is really great.  They know their stuff and really make your experience worth while.  (also really good looking team...if that means anything at all to you)
http://www.wildernesstours.com/

Chances to win:
http://www.budweiser.ca/

Don't forget:  GRAB SOME BUDS.


Peace and Love.