Search.

First day of volunteer work today.
If you didn't know, I work at Search Community Mental Health Services.
The first day was really uneventful, they had us read the staff policies manual and I borrowed the "Bipolar disorder Survival Guide" to read. And that's pretty much all I did from 8:30-4:30.

We did drop by the art club that they run for the "clients", there are some wicked painters there.

Tried to communicate with a deaf guy, but since I don't know any sign language, me and Trish (my coworker from Katimavik) had one of the staff who knew sign language translate for us.

Tomorrow I think we're running this car wash dealio, and then in the afternoon I'm going with one of the counselors to visit a client in their house.

Two days ago I cooked up a mean stir-fry, and it was deffo good. But now that orientation week is over, the house managers for this week (Kaylie and Myriam) will be cooking stuff for us while we're all at work. We were supposed to have Spag (that's what we call spaghetti around here - Quebec thing) tonight, but they didn't get the chance to go buy groceries because some people had to drive to London to get this weird skin-tuberculosis test thing. Delegate from Iceland, any idea how that works?

Tonight, after coming back from work, we just sat around the couch room (aka computer + living room) till we decided to go downtown to the Cool Cucumber which we have been going to every night for ice cream. We're addicted.

And then Andrew, Kaylie and I hung out at the local gas station to mingle with the locals. Wednesday, during our free time, Andrew will be going to London with one of them to get his nipple pierced (or tongue, I forget, but it REALLY scares me that everyone in my group is obsessed with piercings), and he'll be stopping at this headshop while in town, and I'll give him money to buy stuff.

Oh, my hemp body butter supply is running rather low - everyone's loving it and using it.

Too much to report on, not enough time.

Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast

Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless.

Love, from Strathroy ON

Wow. Holy crap. Right now I'm in a living room with four other people, and we're the late nighters. The seven other people I live with in my Katimahouse are sleeping. And I'm actually tired.

I have so, so many things to say about the past five days, but I can't even remember now. My days have been long, it feels like I've been living with the same people for years. You probably can't tell at all from the tone of this blog, but I have been a FANTASTIC time. Every single person I've met at Orientation Camp (where three Katima-groups join together) are really, really interesting people.

But now I'm settled into my Katimahouse, which is located in Strathroy, and I'm living with ten other people (should be eleven, but we have one person missing...). And I'm with an amazing group. Everyone is awesome, and it's pure chill.

Oh, before I forget, the address for the Katimahouse I'm at for the next three months (till January, when I move to Quebec) if you wish to write me letters, which I -will- reply to, if you leave a return address:

602A Albert Road
Strathroy, ON
N7G 1X2

Aaand I'm super busy, so I'll try to get to e-mails I've gotten and all the other stuff when I can!

There's LOADS more stuff to say, I just can't think of anything right now! The couches are comfortable, I feel at home already, and though I miss Toronto and everyone I know and used to talk to, I'm having a blast here.

I'll try and update this blog once in a while, but there's only one computer for eleven people... Which is good, really, because I'm forced to do other things!

Piece out.

Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast

Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless.

The Tell-Tale Departure

True! --nervous--very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The oppurtunity had sharpened my senses --not destroyed -- not dulled them. Above all was the sense of finally leaving the city at which I had spent the last 18 years of my life. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily -- how calmly I can tell you my story that will begin tomorrow, at 4:00 pm.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Katimavik! The subways in the city I so often used bore one of two ads proclaiming Katimavik to be the leading youth-volunteer-involvement program. Why should I, a humble young man wish to involve myself into such a thing? 

No matter, the truth is upon me that tomorrow, I shall no longer be here. Gone. The last time I shall be able to write my lines upon this little oasis of a blog from my computer, at least for nine months. Who will I be when I come back?

All I ask from you - and be mindful, I'm not one to beg- is to, well, maybe once in a while, send me an e-mail, or to leave a comment, or to send me long love letters (the usual, what) to show that you're alive. I don't know when I'll get the chance to go online at all, so, well, be patient.

Maybe I'll try to keep this blog updated with interesting stuff, maybe vent some steam about my groupmembers or something, post pictures, vlog maaaybe, I don't know.

All I know is I have butterflies in my stomach and I have no clue how I will fall asleep tonight.

Strathroy, ON, say hello.

Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast 

Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless.

Addiction.

I am obsessed with Yahoo Answers. It's six am and I'm on it browsing/answering questions.

I can't stop, I... I just need to answer people on things I'm familiar with. 

And just knowing that there are some suicidals a step away from death on the Mental Health section really really scares me.

And I need to get to level 2, at least, I need to be able to vote.

Help me.

P.S. I leave for Katimavik in four days, I'm going to start to pack tomorrow, I hope I can bring all the books I bought today.