So the whirlwind is drawing to a close.
It's been amazing, but it's getting time to go home. I think I'm actually ready for it this time.
Chicago was amazing fun, and I arrived in Toronto on Sunday night. The plane was fine, the airport was slow, but it was great to see Caroline at the airport and hang out at her place over late night pizza and wings and catch up with the Oilers winning the second game of the series in the background!!! :)
It's a beautiful day in Toronto and I am chilling out taking it slow exploring around and going to meet up with Will for lunch/coffee shortly while Caroline is at work. Yesterday was a public holiday (Queen Victoria's birthday?) and we joined a day tour out to Niagara falls. Between the water, the ice wine tour, the lights and the road trip, it was a really really great day.
It was strange flying over Toronto and Lake Ontario and seeing the beauty of it all as the sun went down. Then within 24 hours to see the majesty of Niagara falls and just be struck with how awesome God is.
I had the Chris Tomlin song 'Indescribable' in my head the whole time and couple of times just couldn't hold it in, thanking God for this amazing world and that I got to stand there and just soak in it. (no pun intended given it's a waterfall!)
but yeah, pretty amazing stuff.
Will be back in Vancouver on Wednesday night and then on the plan pretty much all day Friday and Saturday to arrive in Auckland at 5am on Sunday 28th. Crazy go nuts to be sure, but it's going to be awesome.
Pineapple lumps and rugby here I come
I miss Canada already!
'Indescribable' - Chris Tomlin
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Inconquerable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Anything here is just as it is, in my humble opinion, for cathartic expression, for self indulgent soap boxing, for thinking 'out loud'.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
So I typed up a legendary, entertaining, insightful, witty blog entry yesterday and then Adam's computer deleted it. grrrr.
So here goes again
Things are really good here, it's been a bit of a non-stop whirlwind but it's been pretty awesome.
We left Winnipeg on Sunday night and made the drive east to Kenora to visit Matt's house for some late night movie watching, boating on the lake goodness before Jessa, Adam, Josh and I roadtripped it down to Minnesota on Monday night.
I'm amused to say that I entered the United States of America wearing socks, flipflops and my pajama pants! (who does a 8 hour road trip wearing jeans!)
But yeah, it was super fun, and good arriving in Minnesota.
Minneapolkis was beautiul and we had fun driving around and exploring the zoo, Laura's work (mmm icecream) and the Uptown area. Laura's place is so beatiful and relaxing, and it was so fun to meet her family and hang out with her and Krista and Joel again. Also compelte with a Adam/Laura/Hill morocco reunion making couscous for everyone's lunch on wednesday.
Josh Adam and I headed south and east on wednesday night for Chicago area, and yesterday was the all out American experience day. Adam and I hit Chicago for the Cubs vs. Washington game, complete with hotdogs, soft salty pretzels (bleh), and a souvenir Chicago cubs blanket. We even managed to get photographed twice by the fanfotos guys, so you can check us out on www.cubs.com/fanfoto and select the "Thursday 18 May" game and then we are the first pic on Gallery 11 and then about halfway down the page on Gallery 33.
It was fun, though a bit on the windy side, and sadly the Cubs lost. But we still cheered and shouted and sang "Take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.
We completed the day by walking up and down Michigan ave, eating Chicago style stuffed pizza (heart attack but sooooooooo good, best pizza ever) and stopping by the cheesecake factory, the Hershey store, Ghiradellis and then to the coolest Apple Mac store EVER, where we took the following pics :)
Basically I think Chicago is about regaining the 50 pounds I thought I had successfully lost inthe last 18 months! tehehe jk, but I don't htink I'm cut out for life as an American. I'll see you soon Commercial drive dollar grocery SALAD!
Can't even believe I'll be back in NZ in 11 days. Not even computing yet. Excited but crazy all at the same time.
Am loving it here and will be flying out on Sunday night to Toronto to see Caroline, Will and Jenny and then back to Van and back home. Not sure where the next post will be from, but will be sure to include highlight pics of all the different stops along this crazy adventure month.
Hopefully a bunch from Chicago Chinatown too, the 2nd biggest in North America I think.
Ok, that's all from me today
Going back to enjoy some sun and EXCERCISE in the yard.
Love and sausage patties
hill
So here goes again
Things are really good here, it's been a bit of a non-stop whirlwind but it's been pretty awesome.
We left Winnipeg on Sunday night and made the drive east to Kenora to visit Matt's house for some late night movie watching, boating on the lake goodness before Jessa, Adam, Josh and I roadtripped it down to Minnesota on Monday night.
I'm amused to say that I entered the United States of America wearing socks, flipflops and my pajama pants! (who does a 8 hour road trip wearing jeans!)
But yeah, it was super fun, and good arriving in Minnesota.
Minneapolkis was beautiul and we had fun driving around and exploring the zoo, Laura's work (mmm icecream) and the Uptown area. Laura's place is so beatiful and relaxing, and it was so fun to meet her family and hang out with her and Krista and Joel again. Also compelte with a Adam/Laura/Hill morocco reunion making couscous for everyone's lunch on wednesday.
Josh Adam and I headed south and east on wednesday night for Chicago area, and yesterday was the all out American experience day. Adam and I hit Chicago for the Cubs vs. Washington game, complete with hotdogs, soft salty pretzels (bleh), and a souvenir Chicago cubs blanket. We even managed to get photographed twice by the fanfotos guys, so you can check us out on www.cubs.com/fanfoto and select the "Thursday 18 May" game and then we are the first pic on Gallery 11 and then about halfway down the page on Gallery 33.
It was fun, though a bit on the windy side, and sadly the Cubs lost. But we still cheered and shouted and sang "Take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.
We completed the day by walking up and down Michigan ave, eating Chicago style stuffed pizza (heart attack but sooooooooo good, best pizza ever) and stopping by the cheesecake factory, the Hershey store, Ghiradellis and then to the coolest Apple Mac store EVER, where we took the following pics :)
Basically I think Chicago is about regaining the 50 pounds I thought I had successfully lost inthe last 18 months! tehehe jk, but I don't htink I'm cut out for life as an American. I'll see you soon Commercial drive dollar grocery SALAD!
Can't even believe I'll be back in NZ in 11 days. Not even computing yet. Excited but crazy all at the same time.
Am loving it here and will be flying out on Sunday night to Toronto to see Caroline, Will and Jenny and then back to Van and back home. Not sure where the next post will be from, but will be sure to include highlight pics of all the different stops along this crazy adventure month.
Hopefully a bunch from Chicago Chinatown too, the 2nd biggest in North America I think.
Ok, that's all from me today
Going back to enjoy some sun and EXCERCISE in the yard.
Love and sausage patties
hill
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
So this has been a crazy crazy whirlwind trip, but it's only just beginning.
I am writing from Laura's kitchen in Minnesota, and this is one of the most beutiful houses i have ever been in. It's right on one of Minnesota's 10,000 something lakes and there are birds and trees and beauty everywhere. It's amazing and I'm so sad to leave here tonight. We had a nice day yesterday with beautiful weather, exporing the minnesota zoo, the uptown area where laura works and hanging out with Jessa for the last time. Very sad, goodbyes suck. Doing them staggered like this is a much better idea, until I am onthe plane by myself and then...doh! But then I'll be excited about coming home, so it will only be 13 hours of stress before it's all good again.
Am very excited about Chicago, Adam and I are going to party it up, and our first thing is a Chicago Cubs basebal game. sooooo cool.
But one thing I noticed, being here in the USA, I miss Canada! IT feels different here and they sell guns and ammo off the self in Wallmart.
But yeah, life is keeping on keeping on.
Will write again soon
Love, hill
I am writing from Laura's kitchen in Minnesota, and this is one of the most beutiful houses i have ever been in. It's right on one of Minnesota's 10,000 something lakes and there are birds and trees and beauty everywhere. It's amazing and I'm so sad to leave here tonight. We had a nice day yesterday with beautiful weather, exporing the minnesota zoo, the uptown area where laura works and hanging out with Jessa for the last time. Very sad, goodbyes suck. Doing them staggered like this is a much better idea, until I am onthe plane by myself and then...doh! But then I'll be excited about coming home, so it will only be 13 hours of stress before it's all good again.
Am very excited about Chicago, Adam and I are going to party it up, and our first thing is a Chicago Cubs basebal game. sooooo cool.
But one thing I noticed, being here in the USA, I miss Canada! IT feels different here and they sell guns and ammo off the self in Wallmart.
But yeah, life is keeping on keeping on.
Will write again soon
Love, hill
Sunday, May 14, 2006
So apparently you have to change some setting on your laptop so that other people can actually post comments. tehehe
oh well.
so it's been a crazy weekend. It still is, but we are sadly drawing to the close of it.
We arrived in Winnipeg at 9.15 on Friday morning and it was totally crazy, I think we were the three most excited people to ever land in winnipeg. We got totally laughed at but it was worth it! we did the whole yellin and screaming and shouting and run and hug and had so much fun hooning around. It's been sooooo good to see everyone and hang out and hug and just catchup on life. The whirlwind "tournado" has begun.
It's pretty amazing too, 13 out of 24 students made it here for the weekend, and Dave and HEathr managed to make it down fo our picnic and bbq yesterday. So good to see everyone.
Today we leave for Ontario, We are going to spend the night and tomorrow at Matt's house in Kenora, and then Jessa, Josh, Adam and I road trip it down to Minnesota, and then the tour goes on. It's crazy exciting to think this is all happening and then I am going home! Back to good old kiwiland. I already have 2 standing orders for shipments of pineapple lumps, and I am so excited to see you all.
Will post pics when my feet hit the ground again
Love and pickles
Hillary
oh well.
so it's been a crazy weekend. It still is, but we are sadly drawing to the close of it.
We arrived in Winnipeg at 9.15 on Friday morning and it was totally crazy, I think we were the three most excited people to ever land in winnipeg. We got totally laughed at but it was worth it! we did the whole yellin and screaming and shouting and run and hug and had so much fun hooning around. It's been sooooo good to see everyone and hang out and hug and just catchup on life. The whirlwind "tournado" has begun.
It's pretty amazing too, 13 out of 24 students made it here for the weekend, and Dave and HEathr managed to make it down fo our picnic and bbq yesterday. So good to see everyone.
Today we leave for Ontario, We are going to spend the night and tomorrow at Matt's house in Kenora, and then Jessa, Josh, Adam and I road trip it down to Minnesota, and then the tour goes on. It's crazy exciting to think this is all happening and then I am going home! Back to good old kiwiland. I already have 2 standing orders for shipments of pineapple lumps, and I am so excited to see you all.
Will post pics when my feet hit the ground again
Love and pickles
Hillary
Thursday, May 11, 2006
So yeah, I'm officially old.
It's weird, but 22 doesn't feel too much different to 21.
Actually who am I kidding. It's super weird.
It's been fun though, have so far spent the day chillaxing with Amy and Kate (Jill's 5 and 11 year old sisters) who each gave me a beautiful hand made birthday card and then proceeeded to decorate the house with balloons and streamers for me with Neal (14 yo bro) help :)
Very cool.
It's been so awesome staying here, their family is so cool and hospitable. Have really enjoyed it, but at the same time am soooooo excited to be going on to winnipeg tomorrow for the birthdya party to end all birthdya parties. and then on to all the other cool places i get to go. not to mention my beautiful new zealand, in practically no time at all.
Sigh
It's all good
Am going to cruise again, will take a bunch more pics and post some fun ones like Krista attacking logs, Andrew and I Tim Tam slamming, and Jill and I doing facials.
Love you loads
Happy Birthday to me :)
Hillary
It's weird, but 22 doesn't feel too much different to 21.
Actually who am I kidding. It's super weird.
It's been fun though, have so far spent the day chillaxing with Amy and Kate (Jill's 5 and 11 year old sisters) who each gave me a beautiful hand made birthday card and then proceeeded to decorate the house with balloons and streamers for me with Neal (14 yo bro) help :)
Very cool.
It's been so awesome staying here, their family is so cool and hospitable. Have really enjoyed it, but at the same time am soooooo excited to be going on to winnipeg tomorrow for the birthdya party to end all birthdya parties. and then on to all the other cool places i get to go. not to mention my beautiful new zealand, in practically no time at all.
Sigh
It's all good
Am going to cruise again, will take a bunch more pics and post some fun ones like Krista attacking logs, Andrew and I Tim Tam slamming, and Jill and I doing facials.
Love you loads
Happy Birthday to me :)
Hillary
Saturday, May 06, 2006
so apparetnly it turns out that i am a bit behind in blogging funny stories of the weirdness that has insued since arriving in the fair prvoince of alberta. so by popular demand:
While i was still staying at krista's, andrew came up to hang out with us.
friday night: ended up painting our faces (andrew and i) blue and white. not sure why. maybe cuz their oilers colours! Go Oilers! but then i had an allergice reaction to the paint and had to take it off. andrew however left it on all night when we went bowling in witaskiwin with jill. crazy go nuts.
satuday: the chair escapade.
so we take 3 deck chairs in the trunk of krista's car and drive around the lacombe county for oh 4 hours or so taking pictures and videos of us, sitting, standing, attacking logs, hunting seagulls, all from the comfort of our deckchairs.
yeah, i know, it's hard to believe isn't it. but don't worry, the dvd will soon be back in stock.......
and last night?
well last night involved a lot of driving, the use of at least one adjustable wrench, a bit of coffee and a couple of smokey bars.
it's been a cowboy country alberta extravaganza.
pictures will follow soon
love you lots
hillary
While i was still staying at krista's, andrew came up to hang out with us.
friday night: ended up painting our faces (andrew and i) blue and white. not sure why. maybe cuz their oilers colours! Go Oilers! but then i had an allergice reaction to the paint and had to take it off. andrew however left it on all night when we went bowling in witaskiwin with jill. crazy go nuts.
satuday: the chair escapade.
so we take 3 deck chairs in the trunk of krista's car and drive around the lacombe county for oh 4 hours or so taking pictures and videos of us, sitting, standing, attacking logs, hunting seagulls, all from the comfort of our deckchairs.
yeah, i know, it's hard to believe isn't it. but don't worry, the dvd will soon be back in stock.......
and last night?
well last night involved a lot of driving, the use of at least one adjustable wrench, a bit of coffee and a couple of smokey bars.
it's been a cowboy country alberta extravaganza.
pictures will follow soon
love you lots
hillary
Sunday, April 30, 2006
So a new province altogether, Alberta has been pretty trippy
I've been loving it, though right now am fairly exhausted.
It's been a bit of a whirlwind, arriving in calgary to meet up with Krista and her sister in law as we got off the plane and it was pretty awesome to drive around and get a good view of the place. We went to a kind of Calgary legend, a drive in burger place called "Peter's drivein" it's pretty much a long standing calgary institution that could freeze the arteries of something whose arteries could not be frozen. Ok so that didnt' make much sense but what i guess i mean is that although the burger was not bad, I was already feeling queezy from the horrendously bumpy landing, and now felt worse. lol
on that note though, bumpy landing aside, 10 points to westjet for being a super cool and pretty awesome airline.
so anyways
Yeah, so Alberta is pretty awesome. And pretty flat. And also pretty, well for lack of a better word, pretty. Krasta and I mostly chilled out and soon realiesd that we were ER twins sepertaed cruely and harshly from birth. In the short 4 days that i was there we managed to catch up on half a season of ER while milking cows and moving stock and even watching a calf being born (though 'pulled' apparently is the term of choice. eeeeeew)
it was pretty cool being able to do a bunch of farm stuff and hang out with Krista and her family so yeah, thanks Prins family that was cool.
Also, my favourite cow - Laura this is for you - is cow 89. And my favourite calf is 'Stubby face' Calf number 29something. :)
so now i am at jill's house whihc is near edmonton/le duc/witaskiwin/and camrose. which is albertan speak for we are about half an hour from anywhere :) my whole perspective of distance and driving has changed now
ok so i wrote most of that ummm, about 5 days ago.
things are really great, Jill's family are all amazing and awesome and I've had such a good time here just hanging out and relaxing and learning about homeschooling and planting gardens and playing a lot of tictactoe and speed and slaps with her little sisters as well as some serious olympic worthy trampolining with the aid of the sprinkler :) weather here has been cool and crazy with snow and 21 degree sunny days all in the same week. and they call auckland changeable!
so yeah, it's been awesome and i will post again soon when i can think of other things to add.
oh and my book plug for today (well for htis year it's so good)
Philip Yancey's book "Soul Survivor" I finially finished this book and it really is super awesome, highlight chapters for me were about Henri Nouwen and Frederick Buechner
Love you lots like Jelly Tots
Hillary
I've been loving it, though right now am fairly exhausted.
It's been a bit of a whirlwind, arriving in calgary to meet up with Krista and her sister in law as we got off the plane and it was pretty awesome to drive around and get a good view of the place. We went to a kind of Calgary legend, a drive in burger place called "Peter's drivein" it's pretty much a long standing calgary institution that could freeze the arteries of something whose arteries could not be frozen. Ok so that didnt' make much sense but what i guess i mean is that although the burger was not bad, I was already feeling queezy from the horrendously bumpy landing, and now felt worse. lol
on that note though, bumpy landing aside, 10 points to westjet for being a super cool and pretty awesome airline.
so anyways
Yeah, so Alberta is pretty awesome. And pretty flat. And also pretty, well for lack of a better word, pretty. Krasta and I mostly chilled out and soon realiesd that we were ER twins sepertaed cruely and harshly from birth. In the short 4 days that i was there we managed to catch up on half a season of ER while milking cows and moving stock and even watching a calf being born (though 'pulled' apparently is the term of choice. eeeeeew)
it was pretty cool being able to do a bunch of farm stuff and hang out with Krista and her family so yeah, thanks Prins family that was cool.
Also, my favourite cow - Laura this is for you - is cow 89. And my favourite calf is 'Stubby face' Calf number 29something. :)
so now i am at jill's house whihc is near edmonton/le duc/witaskiwin/and camrose. which is albertan speak for we are about half an hour from anywhere :) my whole perspective of distance and driving has changed now
ok so i wrote most of that ummm, about 5 days ago.
things are really great, Jill's family are all amazing and awesome and I've had such a good time here just hanging out and relaxing and learning about homeschooling and planting gardens and playing a lot of tictactoe and speed and slaps with her little sisters as well as some serious olympic worthy trampolining with the aid of the sprinkler :) weather here has been cool and crazy with snow and 21 degree sunny days all in the same week. and they call auckland changeable!
so yeah, it's been awesome and i will post again soon when i can think of other things to add.
oh and my book plug for today (well for htis year it's so good)
Philip Yancey's book "Soul Survivor" I finially finished this book and it really is super awesome, highlight chapters for me were about Henri Nouwen and Frederick Buechner
Love you lots like Jelly Tots
Hillary
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
So i've realised that basically all my posts start with the word "so...."
thigns are gonig well here, though things really have reached the crazy crazy point.
i have finally packed up all my stuff ans shipped it off to jacqui and nancy's place to store whil ei am away travelling around canada
i am soooooo excited i can't even really believe it.
every other day i think i kind of wake up and think "hang on where am i again? is this relaly real?"
i know that sounds silly but it is kinda freaky packing up again after so long to really be really truly packing up to go back to the otehr side of the world, even if only for a super short time.
but even that is crazy strange.
sigh
well anyways
this has to kind of be a short post as i am out of minutes in the net cafe, but yeah, things are keeping on keeping on and the next post will undoubtably be from ALBERTA somewher! YEAH BABY YEAH!!! (ok that was for all you old school balmoralites)
love you lots
hill
thigns are gonig well here, though things really have reached the crazy crazy point.
i have finally packed up all my stuff ans shipped it off to jacqui and nancy's place to store whil ei am away travelling around canada
i am soooooo excited i can't even really believe it.
every other day i think i kind of wake up and think "hang on where am i again? is this relaly real?"
i know that sounds silly but it is kinda freaky packing up again after so long to really be really truly packing up to go back to the otehr side of the world, even if only for a super short time.
but even that is crazy strange.
sigh
well anyways
this has to kind of be a short post as i am out of minutes in the net cafe, but yeah, things are keeping on keeping on and the next post will undoubtably be from ALBERTA somewher! YEAH BABY YEAH!!! (ok that was for all you old school balmoralites)
love you lots
hill
Friday, April 21, 2006
So I brought a plate of lamingtons to work today and everyone was pretty stoked about that.
It’s hard to believe this I really my last day of work in Vancouver.
It’s going well so far and everyone is happy because we started out the day with a plate of Lamingtons that I brought after last night’s baking frenzy.
Made a whole lot of lamingtons
A whole lot.
-Tape is rewinding-
It’s strange to think that it’s all going to be done soon. But at the same time, the countdown is as follows:
-5 days to Alberta and Krista
-8 days to Jill
-20 days to my birthday!!!!!!!!
-21 days to Winnipeg!!!!!!!!!!!
-45 days to AUCKLAND
Ok tape is done rewinding
-Next tape is rewinding-
Ok so got distracted in that break talking.
-Next tape is again rewinding-
Lunch is in 15 minutes. The ladies I work with are taking me out to Chinese food. Mmmmmmmm
Tonight am hanging out with Jacqui and Ryan and not sure what we are doing yet, just general hanging out I figure.
Had a really good laugh today at the “Numa numa dance” (thanks Jason!) and also a couple of the non-crude, hilarious pranks on ebaumsworld. Will post the links another time I guess. Sooooo funny.
Tape is ready
Two words
Lunch break
Two more words
Baskin Robbins…………
Back to work!
-tape rewinding-
Feeling pretty full. Chinese food and Baskin Robbins. But only once is alright, right?
Put it this way though, am walking the LONG way home.
Falling asleep actually
Yawn
Ok, so this is funny:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5349997277616358646 yeah baby. Napoleon.
www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/206373 numa numa man, the legend himself.
www.flashplayer.com/music/napoleonnumadance.html Napoleon meets Numa numa, baby yeah!
-ok this is serious now-
this is my last hour of work in Canada
woah
And now it’s done.
Post again soon, probably from an net café or Alberta.
Lots of love
hill
It’s hard to believe this I really my last day of work in Vancouver.
It’s going well so far and everyone is happy because we started out the day with a plate of Lamingtons that I brought after last night’s baking frenzy.
Made a whole lot of lamingtons
A whole lot.
-Tape is rewinding-
It’s strange to think that it’s all going to be done soon. But at the same time, the countdown is as follows:
-5 days to Alberta and Krista
-8 days to Jill
-20 days to my birthday!!!!!!!!
-21 days to Winnipeg!!!!!!!!!!!
-45 days to AUCKLAND
Ok tape is done rewinding
-Next tape is rewinding-
Ok so got distracted in that break talking.
-Next tape is again rewinding-
Lunch is in 15 minutes. The ladies I work with are taking me out to Chinese food. Mmmmmmmm
Tonight am hanging out with Jacqui and Ryan and not sure what we are doing yet, just general hanging out I figure.
Had a really good laugh today at the “Numa numa dance” (thanks Jason!) and also a couple of the non-crude, hilarious pranks on ebaumsworld. Will post the links another time I guess. Sooooo funny.
Tape is ready
Two words
Lunch break
Two more words
Baskin Robbins…………
Back to work!
-tape rewinding-
Feeling pretty full. Chinese food and Baskin Robbins. But only once is alright, right?
Put it this way though, am walking the LONG way home.
Falling asleep actually
Yawn
Ok, so this is funny:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5349997277616358646 yeah baby. Napoleon.
www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/206373 numa numa man, the legend himself.
www.flashplayer.com/music/napoleonnumadance.html Napoleon meets Numa numa, baby yeah!
-ok this is serious now-
this is my last hour of work in Canada
woah
And now it’s done.
Post again soon, probably from an net café or Alberta.
Lots of love
hill
Thursday, April 20, 2006
So it’s morning
On my second to last day of work
I am going to blog as I go I think, typing between typing while I rewind tapes and such
Tape is rewinding
ok, so I am leaving Vancouver really really soon
I can’t quite process that right now
It’s been a super crazy go nuts last few weeks and I have been loving it, but at the same time a little part of me is waiting for the dust to settle.
I spent Easter weekend on Vancouver Island staying with Layne and her family. That was pretty awesome. The island is beautiful, and her family were super welcoming and cool. Will post a pick of me with them at some point. Also, her dad took us 4x4ing in their Jeep up whatever mountain it is that is near their house in Qualicum and even though I thought we were going to wipe out a couple of times it was really good. It was pretty bad weather with lots of snow and cloud, but it was gorgeous, like driving in Narnia, and I (finally!) got to do a decent snow angel in Canada! Very cool, we even took a video of the momentous event, before having numerous snowball fights and building a snowman. We called him George.
This last week of work has been cool too, everyone being super nice and hopefully will be able to keep in contact with a couple of them. They have been shouting me Starbucks on a regular basis too, so this week I have already (after only 2 ½ days of work) consumed two Grande triple shot non-fat caramel macchiatos. So much for letting go of my caffeine dependency.
Am looking at buying a laptop for when I move back to Van. Any suggestions? Or anyone looking at getting rid of their good laptop? Have been browsing the Dick Smith website, but not really sure yet.
Ok, next tape is ready to go.
-later-
Ok. Had laksa ayam for lunch. That was an excellent idea. And tomorrow am being bought lunch by the other people in my department as a thankyou/going away pressie after my six weeks or so here. Very nice of them indeed. Chinese food I think
-later-
Have found this excellent yoghurt. Whipped key lime flavour yoghurt. Just like eating mousse. Good.
-later still-
Wow that’s a whole lot of food talk there.
Actually, a bit more on food. Am making lamingtons and Anzac biscuits this week. A salute to kiwis and aussies everywhere. I don’t even like lamingtons really. But I figured they would be fun to make. Will take pictures….
Am also making dumplings tonight. Not wontons, they don’t’ have any good wonton skins on sale here. So dumplings it is. Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Ok next tape is ready.
Ok tape is not actually ready, I hit fast forward instead of rewind. Doh.
BTW! Does anyone have any good and yummy recipes that do not include ANY of the following:
-Dairy products
-Eggs
-Nuts
-Soy
Email me them alright?
Or put them in the comment thing
Or something
Ok (finally) it is home time.
love you all muchly and long time
hill
On my second to last day of work
I am going to blog as I go I think, typing between typing while I rewind tapes and such
Tape is rewinding
ok, so I am leaving Vancouver really really soon
I can’t quite process that right now
It’s been a super crazy go nuts last few weeks and I have been loving it, but at the same time a little part of me is waiting for the dust to settle.
I spent Easter weekend on Vancouver Island staying with Layne and her family. That was pretty awesome. The island is beautiful, and her family were super welcoming and cool. Will post a pick of me with them at some point. Also, her dad took us 4x4ing in their Jeep up whatever mountain it is that is near their house in Qualicum and even though I thought we were going to wipe out a couple of times it was really good. It was pretty bad weather with lots of snow and cloud, but it was gorgeous, like driving in Narnia, and I (finally!) got to do a decent snow angel in Canada! Very cool, we even took a video of the momentous event, before having numerous snowball fights and building a snowman. We called him George.
This last week of work has been cool too, everyone being super nice and hopefully will be able to keep in contact with a couple of them. They have been shouting me Starbucks on a regular basis too, so this week I have already (after only 2 ½ days of work) consumed two Grande triple shot non-fat caramel macchiatos. So much for letting go of my caffeine dependency.
Am looking at buying a laptop for when I move back to Van. Any suggestions? Or anyone looking at getting rid of their good laptop? Have been browsing the Dick Smith website, but not really sure yet.
Ok, next tape is ready to go.
-later-
Ok. Had laksa ayam for lunch. That was an excellent idea. And tomorrow am being bought lunch by the other people in my department as a thankyou/going away pressie after my six weeks or so here. Very nice of them indeed. Chinese food I think
-later-
Have found this excellent yoghurt. Whipped key lime flavour yoghurt. Just like eating mousse. Good.
-later still-
Wow that’s a whole lot of food talk there.
Actually, a bit more on food. Am making lamingtons and Anzac biscuits this week. A salute to kiwis and aussies everywhere. I don’t even like lamingtons really. But I figured they would be fun to make. Will take pictures….
Am also making dumplings tonight. Not wontons, they don’t’ have any good wonton skins on sale here. So dumplings it is. Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Ok next tape is ready.
Ok tape is not actually ready, I hit fast forward instead of rewind. Doh.
BTW! Does anyone have any good and yummy recipes that do not include ANY of the following:
-Dairy products
-Eggs
-Nuts
-Soy
Email me them alright?
Or put them in the comment thing
Or something
Ok (finally) it is home time.
love you all muchly and long time
hill
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
So yeah
Life can be complex
Life is complex
Oh well
At work so can't post in any detail, just thought I'd post these, cuz they made me smile.
I know I thought(think?) about this stuff
Will try and post again in my afternoon tea break
love you lots
hill
Countdown:
6 days til Alberta
21 days til Winnipeg
39 days til AUCKLAND!




Life can be complex
Life is complex
Oh well
At work so can't post in any detail, just thought I'd post these, cuz they made me smile.
I know I thought(think?) about this stuff
Will try and post again in my afternoon tea break
love you lots
hill
Countdown:
6 days til Alberta
21 days til Winnipeg
39 days til AUCKLAND!




Wednesday, April 12, 2006
So the days are ticking slowly down until I leave Vancouver. I feel like I'm starting to get serpeartion anxiety, scared to leave, scared of when I will come back, and then at the samet ime my other personality is happy that I am going home and soooooo excited. Lots to think about as life seems to be progressing and the "one step at a time" obedience feels like the steps are getting bigger or maybe they jsut seem like that cuz I feel so little.
Picked up my ticket home yesterday and that made it all very real, flying from Vancouve r at 5am to go to LA for the day (yeah baby a whole tourist day!) and then arriving in auckland 5am on the 28th.
weirdness of weird crazy nuts.
Speaking of nuts, have been snacking (healthily) on soynuts and sunflower seeds. Feel a bit like a bird or a squirrel, but it's all good.
Ok typing calls, at least I have James Blunt, Dave Dobbyn, OMC and Crowded house to give me a good soundtrack in the background.
Love and cous cous
Hillary

Santos and I in Essaouira

Us playing music and singing worship on the beach

Couscous night in Essaouira with Kadijah, who taught me to make it

Lori, Adam and I in our Jelabas in our living room in Essaouira

The icecream shop workers that we made friends with. The girl in the middle and I laughed for about 20 minutes, eneither able to udnerstand the othe and all totally confused and then laughing all the more because of it :)
Picked up my ticket home yesterday and that made it all very real, flying from Vancouve r at 5am to go to LA for the day (yeah baby a whole tourist day!) and then arriving in auckland 5am on the 28th.
weirdness of weird crazy nuts.
Speaking of nuts, have been snacking (healthily) on soynuts and sunflower seeds. Feel a bit like a bird or a squirrel, but it's all good.
Ok typing calls, at least I have James Blunt, Dave Dobbyn, OMC and Crowded house to give me a good soundtrack in the background.
Love and cous cous
Hillary

Santos and I in Essaouira

Us playing music and singing worship on the beach

Couscous night in Essaouira with Kadijah, who taught me to make it

Lori, Adam and I in our Jelabas in our living room in Essaouira

The icecream shop workers that we made friends with. The girl in the middle and I laughed for about 20 minutes, eneither able to udnerstand the othe and all totally confused and then laughing all the more because of it :)
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
so this week we are having couscous night.
While we were in Morocco, I learned from Kadijah, the maid where we wre staying, how to make genuine Moroccan couscous. So much fun.
So tomorrow night we are havnig a couscous night were we will all hang out, sit on the floor and eat couscous out of a big communal plate. hmmm
so anyways
the hockey yesterday was so fun, i was grinning like an idiot for most of it and so excited (Frank took me to the Canucks vs. Mighty Ducks for my birthday)
Sadly we lost 4-2 but it was still fun being inthe loud crazy beer drenched hockey atmosphere.
Am starting to clean up my stuff and sort out what is coming home with me, what is staying ehre in storage and what is getting given away as I leave vancouver in just under three weeks!?!?!? crazy go nuts
and, most exciting of all, my birthday is in one month today!!!! wooo hoooo, winnipeg mass birthday party here I come!!!!
here's 5 more pics for y'all, morocco ones this time
love you lots
hill
Laura, Dong Woo and I trying on our jelabas and Berber headgear for life in the Moroccan dessert (ok ok a shop in Marrakech)

Laura and I having lunch (carefully so as not to ruin our henna) in Marrakech. Tagine and couscous.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Hannan and I at the orphange, she really liked my toque/beanie :)

Dong Woo drinking Mint Tea, in style

Laura and I getting our henna done. I'm smiling, but IT BURNS!
While we were in Morocco, I learned from Kadijah, the maid where we wre staying, how to make genuine Moroccan couscous. So much fun.
So tomorrow night we are havnig a couscous night were we will all hang out, sit on the floor and eat couscous out of a big communal plate. hmmm
so anyways
the hockey yesterday was so fun, i was grinning like an idiot for most of it and so excited (Frank took me to the Canucks vs. Mighty Ducks for my birthday)
Sadly we lost 4-2 but it was still fun being inthe loud crazy beer drenched hockey atmosphere.
Am starting to clean up my stuff and sort out what is coming home with me, what is staying ehre in storage and what is getting given away as I leave vancouver in just under three weeks!?!?!? crazy go nuts
and, most exciting of all, my birthday is in one month today!!!! wooo hoooo, winnipeg mass birthday party here I come!!!!
here's 5 more pics for y'all, morocco ones this time
love you lots
hill
Laura, Dong Woo and I trying on our jelabas and Berber headgear for life in the Moroccan dessert (ok ok a shop in Marrakech)

Laura and I having lunch (carefully so as not to ruin our henna) in Marrakech. Tagine and couscous.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Hannan and I at the orphange, she really liked my toque/beanie :)

Dong Woo drinking Mint Tea, in style

Laura and I getting our henna done. I'm smiling, but IT BURNS!
Monday, April 10, 2006
So I am still working typing for 7 hours a day, which is a little on the dull side, but good work with good hours and $$ so no complaints from me.
I am on my lunch break so I am going to make this quick, but will be posting some pictures now that I finally have got the disks of Morocco and Scotland pictures sorted out!. Today we'll start with Arbroath.
Also, for those of you intersted, my travel itinerary is starting to look a little more concrete, with me leaving Vancouver on Friday 28th April to Edmonton and beyond around Canada and to Chicago and Minnesota and then will arrive back in Auckland NZ on Sunday 28th May around 7 in the morning! :P
I am also going to my first NHL hockey game today!!!!! so excited. Big huge massive thank yous to my mate Frank who is shouting me to go, Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks (yes Disney owns their team and yes they're named for the movie!!!)
So that is goign to be awesome and lots and lots of pics will be taken.
Ok, am getting seriously hungry, so here goes for some pics
Love you lots like jelly tots (aye Gavin!)
hill

Laura, Gavin and I when he came to visit in Arbroath

Gavin and I in Arbroath

Jenny and I in St. Andrews (we didnt' see Prince WIlliam!)

Gavin and I again

James, Laura and I in Glasgow (didn't know how to make it NOT upside down :P)
Will post more in afternoon tea break
I am on my lunch break so I am going to make this quick, but will be posting some pictures now that I finally have got the disks of Morocco and Scotland pictures sorted out!. Today we'll start with Arbroath.
Also, for those of you intersted, my travel itinerary is starting to look a little more concrete, with me leaving Vancouver on Friday 28th April to Edmonton and beyond around Canada and to Chicago and Minnesota and then will arrive back in Auckland NZ on Sunday 28th May around 7 in the morning! :P
I am also going to my first NHL hockey game today!!!!! so excited. Big huge massive thank yous to my mate Frank who is shouting me to go, Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks (yes Disney owns their team and yes they're named for the movie!!!)
So that is goign to be awesome and lots and lots of pics will be taken.
Ok, am getting seriously hungry, so here goes for some pics
Love you lots like jelly tots (aye Gavin!)
hill

Laura, Gavin and I when he came to visit in Arbroath

Gavin and I in Arbroath

Jenny and I in St. Andrews (we didnt' see Prince WIlliam!)

Gavin and I again

James, Laura and I in Glasgow (didn't know how to make it NOT upside down :P)
Will post more in afternoon tea break
Saturday, April 01, 2006
wow, how long has it been since i posted?
well according to the little inof thing here about a month. ok, yeah, a whole month
how time flies huh
it's strange to think that 3 days ago marked my 10 monthiversary away from NZ, and started to official countdown to when I will be returning to NZ's balmy shores. It's been so amazing, and I feel like now, on this side of the maze/tunnel/roller coaster, I'm not even sure what to write any more without producing a novel.
It certainly is strange being back in "normal" (what is normal?) life, but at the same time, so good to be in a quiet house with a quiet housemate (the best flatmate ever in the whole world actually, my new adopted big brother) and a steady job (albeit a boring one)
see that is one of my excuses for not blogging on here for so long. I type for 7 hours a day at a psychiatric office and the thought of typing after hours makes my fingers tingle (but not in a good way :S)
but anywasy enough excuses
here is the sum up
spent january in morocco
spent february in scotland
spent march:
-working as a dictatypist
-getting used to life in Vancouver again
-preparing to come back to NZ again
-praying about the next few years in particular the who/what and where questions (how and why are pretty much well covered, particularly after the last 6 months!)
-living in a cool house with Stefan, one of the other Vancouver staff members, who is an Italian, German, Swiss guy. (i have a new phone number, will group email that one!!!)
-HAnging out with all the other staffers and friends in Van
-Planning my travels to see my buds from the DTS in different parts of North America.
So yeah.
Posts for the next month will be getting slightly more regular and sligtly more pensive I'm sure. Will also keep up the pics, cuz I know they are probably more intersting.
And how about some of you actually write some comments aye? Make me feel like someone reads my ramblings.......
much love
hill
well according to the little inof thing here about a month. ok, yeah, a whole month
how time flies huh
it's strange to think that 3 days ago marked my 10 monthiversary away from NZ, and started to official countdown to when I will be returning to NZ's balmy shores. It's been so amazing, and I feel like now, on this side of the maze/tunnel/roller coaster, I'm not even sure what to write any more without producing a novel.
It certainly is strange being back in "normal" (what is normal?) life, but at the same time, so good to be in a quiet house with a quiet housemate (the best flatmate ever in the whole world actually, my new adopted big brother) and a steady job (albeit a boring one)
see that is one of my excuses for not blogging on here for so long. I type for 7 hours a day at a psychiatric office and the thought of typing after hours makes my fingers tingle (but not in a good way :S)
but anywasy enough excuses
here is the sum up
spent january in morocco
spent february in scotland
spent march:
-working as a dictatypist
-getting used to life in Vancouver again
-preparing to come back to NZ again
-praying about the next few years in particular the who/what and where questions (how and why are pretty much well covered, particularly after the last 6 months!)
-living in a cool house with Stefan, one of the other Vancouver staff members, who is an Italian, German, Swiss guy. (i have a new phone number, will group email that one!!!)
-HAnging out with all the other staffers and friends in Van
-Planning my travels to see my buds from the DTS in different parts of North America.
So yeah.
Posts for the next month will be getting slightly more regular and sligtly more pensive I'm sure. Will also keep up the pics, cuz I know they are probably more intersting.
And how about some of you actually write some comments aye? Make me feel like someone reads my ramblings.......
much love
hill
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
VANCOUVER!
It's so good to be back!
I only have about 5 minutes before I have to gun it out of here and get back for the start of de-brief time, but just thought i'd drop a couple more pics on here before I get to all the story sharing and reminiscing. i'm going to save that for when all my lovelies here are home and i am in vancouver all on my lonesome.

Finally arrived in Marrakech! Too much travelling, too much stuff!

First group lunch solo without leaders in Casablanca

Houla, Mirijam and Soufien and I at the orphanage in Morocco

The girls at the Grand Mosque in Casa

Last dinner in Marrakech before going on to the orphanage
It's so good to be back!
I only have about 5 minutes before I have to gun it out of here and get back for the start of de-brief time, but just thought i'd drop a couple more pics on here before I get to all the story sharing and reminiscing. i'm going to save that for when all my lovelies here are home and i am in vancouver all on my lonesome.

Finally arrived in Marrakech! Too much travelling, too much stuff!

First group lunch solo without leaders in Casablanca

Houla, Mirijam and Soufien and I at the orphanage in Morocco

The girls at the Grand Mosque in Casa

Last dinner in Marrakech before going on to the orphanage
Thursday, February 16, 2006
So I think it's almost been 6 weeks since my last post.
I figure nw is as good a time as any to give you a general update on how things are going, and also slot in a few pictures for your viewing pleasure :)
Things here are good, we are spending our last 2 weeks in Scotland in Arbroath/Dundee doing ministry stuff around different schools, churches, a prison, a skate park, and a few open air/prayer station type things.
The two weeks we had in Glasgow/Paisley went really well, the highglight for me being working with some of the youthworkers in the area and connecting with a group called Firestarters. Basically one weekend a month is spent living in churches and working in different outreach teams developing different ministry skills and reaching out to the east end of Glasgow. The age range is 10-20ish, so it was great being able to join up with different teams and get stuck in being involved, getting to know the kids, and being an encouragement and help to the leaders. I was solo in the 'Prayer team' and it was great having such a cool group all to myself! :)
Their website is http://www.firestartersuk.org/ for anyone interested in seeing more about them.We are here in Arbroath until next friday and then leave for a 2 day roadtrip around the scottish highlands while we debrief the trip. We are then back in glasgow for the night of sunday 27th and then back to vancouver 6am on monday 28th. Would really appreciate your prayers for continued energy and protection for this last BUSY two weeks, and then the journey home. Will keep you posted.
I haven't got much more time to write, but there are so many stories and pictures and everything that I will do my best to blog a bit more regularly if i think of any concise and interesting ways to say things :)
In the meantime, here are some pictures, with captions of course that will hopefully give you a bit more of an idea. My pictures won't work here because the computer in this library doesn't like my camea, so once i have burnt them to a disk there will be a whole bunch more. these are a few that i borrowed from Jen, one of the other girls in our team.

This is the view from our rooftop in Essaouira

DongWoo and Jen posing outside one of the street stalls Essaouira. DongWoo in full Jelaba of course!

The girls fueling our Moroccan coffee addiction in Marrakech. For 35c a shot, why not!

mmmmm, Coke is the same all around the world.
Though.. 'life is good, with or without cocacola' (according to santos!)

Mike and Jessi, two of our wise leaders
I figure nw is as good a time as any to give you a general update on how things are going, and also slot in a few pictures for your viewing pleasure :)
Things here are good, we are spending our last 2 weeks in Scotland in Arbroath/Dundee doing ministry stuff around different schools, churches, a prison, a skate park, and a few open air/prayer station type things.
The two weeks we had in Glasgow/Paisley went really well, the highglight for me being working with some of the youthworkers in the area and connecting with a group called Firestarters. Basically one weekend a month is spent living in churches and working in different outreach teams developing different ministry skills and reaching out to the east end of Glasgow. The age range is 10-20ish, so it was great being able to join up with different teams and get stuck in being involved, getting to know the kids, and being an encouragement and help to the leaders. I was solo in the 'Prayer team' and it was great having such a cool group all to myself! :)
Their website is http://www.firestartersuk.org/ for anyone interested in seeing more about them.We are here in Arbroath until next friday and then leave for a 2 day roadtrip around the scottish highlands while we debrief the trip. We are then back in glasgow for the night of sunday 27th and then back to vancouver 6am on monday 28th. Would really appreciate your prayers for continued energy and protection for this last BUSY two weeks, and then the journey home. Will keep you posted.
I haven't got much more time to write, but there are so many stories and pictures and everything that I will do my best to blog a bit more regularly if i think of any concise and interesting ways to say things :)
In the meantime, here are some pictures, with captions of course that will hopefully give you a bit more of an idea. My pictures won't work here because the computer in this library doesn't like my camea, so once i have burnt them to a disk there will be a whole bunch more. these are a few that i borrowed from Jen, one of the other girls in our team.

This is the view from our rooftop in Essaouira

DongWoo and Jen posing outside one of the street stalls Essaouira. DongWoo in full Jelaba of course!

The girls fueling our Moroccan coffee addiction in Marrakech. For 35c a shot, why not!

mmmmm, Coke is the same all around the world.
Though.. 'life is good, with or without cocacola' (according to santos!)

Mike and Jessi, two of our wise leaders
Monday, December 26, 2005
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