Thursday, November 27, 2008

I checked out The Rock Oasis today. The staff had some attitude, but the climbing was good. The bouldering was better than the Climbing Academy, but the people were nicer there.

Today I noticed how rapidly my moods seem to change from being really grateful to being really doubtful. I absolutely love what I am doing right now and the reason why I am here, but I wake up every morning wondering if I'm capable of it. I can't seem to ever feel completely comfortable with getting up in front of 30 high school kids. I feel like I have to keep proving myself to everyone, especially myself.

I realized today how much I miss social interaction. I miss having friends I can call to make lunch plans with and stuff. Not that I can afford it now anyways, but just having the option of being able to call people and meet up with them. I never understood how the hell people are able to make friends with people in a new city.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Western Technical Commercial School

Today we started the YES program in another school! The students are very cooperative and so different from the last class the I was here to teach. I'm co-teaching with Vaishnavi and Larissa who are both from Toronto.

Last night at 3am I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I found myself pondering on past relationships and realizing how much they've sculpted me into who I am today. I never realized how depressed I was during some of those past relationships. I hope I've come to a point in my life where I am more aware of my emotions and able to act accordingly.

Toronto!!

A church across the street from Bathurst subway exit.



A man who insisted I take his picture swearing he is photogenic. what do you think?




Isn't the city gorgeous?




I miss this guy sooo sooo much!




Welcome to Canada!




Where the fire hydrants are skinny and yellow!




Awesome building, eh?




The alley to where I'm staying.





Beautiful Toronto!

Friday, November 21, 2008

my first winter day in toronto!

Due to popular request, I've decided to attempt to regularly post on my blogspot. Wish me luck!!

Here's the situation: I am back in Toronto for the third time to teach YES (Youth Empowerment Seminar) in a high school (Western Technical Institute). It is such a privilege to be back here doing this! The class starts next Monday. Larissa and I met the teacher today. She seemed very supportive of the program and is looking forward to starting Monday.

Afterwards, I went back home and took a nap due to my lack of a good amount of sleep (I only got 2 hours yesterday and had to wake up at 5:30 today) than I decided to go on a little adventure!! To go find a rockclimbing gym, which really isn't too hard since the bitter cold makes climbers run indoors. Ha! That rhymes!! Anyways, there's about three downtown that I have access to through subways and buses.

Today I checked out Toronto Climbing Academy. It was practically empty because it was midday and most people are usually at their day jobs then. I didn't realize how happy climbing made me until I was so grateful that I had found the place.

Two more climbing gyms to check out!