トロントの大学から、やっと返事来た！

ネッシーは今年の九月からトロントの大学行きます！

I don't think I was THAT nervous about whether or not I would get in since I had a real strong feeling God wanted me to be there, but it was still nerve wracking having to wait so long. But now I can really celebrate with joy that I'm at the unversity I want to be at.

Now I just have to wait until my package arrives so I can figure out what I need to do next... SO EXCITEDDD!!!!

大学はメンドクサ～イィ！

It's seriously taking Toronto FOREVER to decide if they want to accept me or not... and I wish they would just do it faster so I can figure out what I'm going to do with myself later....

But I guess I have to be a bit more considerate given that I did send in my stuff late and I signed up for a course that I can't even be close to be accepted in because I didn't do enough research....

I just wish they'd hurry up though...

早くぅ～～

On another note....

Kind of excited for IB exams but I'm not sure why...

And I really need to start planning for the 日本旅行

東京にめっちゃ安いホテルがあるかな…

学生から、お金がない．．．

Anyways, really should get back to studying.

w-inds and Big Bang are collaborating for a single!!!!!

THIS IS CRAZYYYY

and to top it all off, they're releasing the single ON MY BIRTHDAYYY

how crazy is that????

anyways, had to talk about that... since I'm on here anyways.... should probably use Japanese but I have to vent out my happiness in some way and this was the fastest way.... not that anyone else could join me in excitement if I posted it elsewhere... *sigh*

still....

OMGSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

もう５ヶ月日本に来た。なんか早いよね～

けいたいたぶんすぐもているから、またアメーバ使ってもいいと思う

日本来たからすごいふとった　

やばいよ～　あたしどうすればいい？　

たしかに私は日本いるの時間は５ヶ月けど、日本語ペラペラじゃありません。

だから、もしできれば、みんな正しい日本語教えてください！

お願いします！

My new host family has a lot of experience with host students so maybe it’s just me that thinks it’s weird that they think I have allergies when I’m actually trying to keep myself from crying out loud.

For some reason, the moment my first host family left after dropping me off at the new host family, everything just fell apart. I couldn’t contain myself, I wanted to go home, I wasn’t feeling right and I felt more alone than I ever did in these past 2.5 weeks. I thought about all the new friends that I made here and that I would be sad if I left now, but it didn’t matter. I wanted to go home.

Even though my new host family insists that they treat me like family and that I’m just like another daughter to them, it still doesn’t feel right. I’m sure that they are an awesome family but I guess maybe it’s too much change too soon. I just got comfortable in my first host family’s home and now I have to change absolutely everything. Everything meaning that I have to remember to hold my bowl on the side with my left hand when I eat and I have to watch how much water I use because they have limited supply. If I use too much, the bill goes up and I would have “broke my promise”.

And I’m sorry if I offend anyone, but despite how much they emphasize on cleaning the house and keeping things clean (I had to vacuum AND sweep my room), the place really isn’t that clean. Dirt and dust are everywhere and I’m not even going to mention the kitchen or washroom.

I feel better now, but I still get a bit emotional now and then throughout the day. I actually have to force a smile because I know it’s not the family that’s the problem, it’s me. At the moment, I really can’t wait till school starts again so I can be away from this place. In fact, I feel so uncomfortable here that I feel it necessary to buy my own soap, shampoo, cup to use for brushing my teeth, and to keep all my toiletries in my room so I won’t take any space in the bathroom.

When will this month end?

At first it seemed like an ordinary hangout with some friends before they started school in university but as the day progressed, it turned out to be a day where I learned more about someone, learned some valuble experience myself, and just learned to let go of any inhibitions that I may have had

So it started off with 3 hours of singing with Joyce, Justin, Leon and Kyle

I don't think I've ever sang the way I did that day

This time I just sang without worrying if my voice would crack or if I sounded good or not....

.... Okay I lied I was a LITTLE bit concious of that, but I just kept thinking "It's okay, I'm not a bad singer, not the best either, but I'm good enough to carry on a melody."

I was fortunate to be with Justin who is an amazing singer and I just had a blast with all of them.

Now presenting: JUSTIN LEE!

, this is Justin's immitation of how he would act if he was the performer of the concert.

Justin, Kyle and I comparing our feet size.

Man they have huge feet..... and I thought *I* had big feet....

Anyways, after we were joined by David and headed off to Chinatown to eat

The guys offered to pay for me but I was sharing with David so I insisted on that I pay my share just cause it would've been awkward otherwise.

Food was good, price was decent, and we were all full.

We headed to Justin's place across the street and went to the roof just to talk....

but it was too cold so we left

Joyce had to get to work, and the guys went to visit Tommy so David drove Joyce and I to her work place.

When that was done, I was being driven home but just as we got infront of my building, I mentioned that I practiced driving in the parking lot by my building for the first time when David suggested that he would take me driving too.

Of course I consented and we headed for the parking lot at the zoo and I learned how to park in a stall and became more comfortable with using the gas pedal (as sad as it might sound)

And yes, I did park that car

Pro-ness no?

By that time, I felt quite exhausted.

Driving takes quite a bit of energy out of you!

And it was getting dark

So we headed home again, but the drove past my house accidentally

But we were having a good conversation about things and life that we just kept (or rather David) driving and talking untill 9-ish and we turned around to get home again.

Sounds like a really normal day with friends, but I think this will be a day that I remember for a while. I haven't had a meaningful and mature conversation with someone for a while. It's also the day that I've heard some REALLY good news in a LONG time

Congratulations David

　ネッシー

Anyways, so the other day was the Japanese exchange student's, Yuri, first day of school.

And as most students, she got a bit of homework to do.

The FIRST thing she did when she got home yesterday was go straight to our room and do her homework.

Like... come on....

You can only imagine how I, a person that is withdrawn from school meaning I have no classes and therefore no homework to do, felt when I saw her working so hard for some small amount of homework.

Not only that, but I was sitting downstairs watching The Ellen DeGeneres Show because I didn't want to go upstairs to my room and distract her from her concentration.

Basically, she had to read this 10 page excerpt and then answer 12 simple questions that ask about the excerpt.

But even something that would take us normally maximum 1 hour EVEN infront of the distracting TV, she spent alllll night on it, underlining new words she encounter, highlighting her answers and other stuff I would never have thought of doing.

I call that DEVOTION.

That's how much she wants to learn here and I just can't help but stare in awe.

I wish I had that kind of drive

Maybe I'll learn it when I go to Japan

But then on the other hand, she came home by herself on the bus and when she was trying to open the door... she couldn't really do it

She didn't know how to fit the key in the hole or something...

I listened to her fumble with the key and lock and didn't really do anything untill she knocked on the door

I probably sound like a horrible person because I did that, but I wanted to see if she could figure it out...

I guess not.

　　ネッシー

On a much brighter note

Yesterday the Japanese exchange student came and she will be living here in my house for 10 months while I am gone in Japan... which means that hopefully I will be leaving soon

So she came, we ate, got home and... she really likes the internet

Anyways, today we went to Banff and Lake Louise and Dad took loads of pictures... as usual...

Ate lots of food, I don't think Yuri has eaten so much beef in one sitting in her life hahaha.

I have pictures... but I'm too lazy to upload them yet hahaha

Just wait!

ネッシー

Of course our Salvation is also important and IS the best gift of all, but lately, I can't help but think how important time is in our lives; especially in the lives of our generation right now.

With more time, we could do everything. With more time, things could be and would be different. But sadly enough, each person only gets 60 seconds, 60 minutes, 24 hours, and 365 days; no more, no less.

And although our time is so limited, we still take it for granted.

I'd like to call myself perfect and say that I use my time to the fullest and do everything possible with it but we all know that apart from God, no one can claim that. In fact, we are all far from that.

Looking back on the past few years and its events, I've learned that life IS short and we need to do everything we can in the short time that we have. Take chances, jump at opportunities because you never know what may happen if you don't. Having said that, when you have taken the chance and jumped at the opportunities, don't over obesess yourself with them and think about everything else in your life as well.

Nobody knows when God will call them back to him and that's why we have to do everything in our power (and with His help) to do what we can to make Him proud of our deeds. Don't procrastinate and wait till later because when you are called back to Him, it'll be too late.

Time. What would happen if we had more of it? Would it change the way we do things? Or will it just prolong the process of procrastination and ignorance of events that happen around us? Must we all have a set amount of time handed to us at birth before we realize how little time we have to do the things we must do and to see that the money you make and the clothes that you wear are not what's important?

I know and knew of people that had a limited amount of time and it hurts me to see that all their dreams of their future may not be fulfilled and how most of them regret not spending more time with family and friends. At this point, I don't even know what to say to them. What do you do when you know of someone that is fighting for more time? Do you show them sympathy and always make it an unconcious point that they're sick and you're not? Or do you live on life and greet them as if they were completely healthy and smile like everything is alright? Or maybe you act as if there is still hope for them but what if you're wrong? what do you do then?

But as I type this and think about it, verses from the book of Romans come to mind, especially the ones from chapter 12. It says that "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us...if it is encouraging, let him encourage;...if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." verse 6, 8. Although the answer may seem vague, but it speaks clearly to me that neither sympathizing or smiling is better and we should do what God has given us the ability to do. Some people may not even actually contact the person but instead would pray for them sliently at home.

For me, I feel that if I can make a person's day brighter but spending time with them, doing silly things to make them laugh, having fun myself to bring up the mood of others, I've done my job. I'm starting to realize the kind of gift God has given me: Laughter. And I'm really thankful for it. Sure I can do silly actions and say stupid things but I really, truely believe that I was given this personality for a reason. I want to spend my time with my family and friends, talking, laughing and making memories that last.

Thank you Lord for giving us hope that life can go on when tragedy strikes and for giving us people that can remind us of that. Thank you Lord for teaching us how valuble those around us are and how we should treasure each moment we get to spend with them. But most of all, Thank you Lord for giving us time and the choice for use it in ways where we can make memories and share feelings with those that are close to us.