Jul 2007

Hi friends and family!
It has been a while since I last posted so I thought I should take a moment today and tell you all that I am off to Europe tomorrow. Actually I am only going to London tomorrow to stay and then getting my plane to Frankfurt, Germany in the morning! It's all very exciting! My friend Shannon Dawson from high school is flying to Frankfurt from Calgary and landing 5 minutes before me (theoretically). Her German friends she met in Costa Rica last year are picking us up and hosting us at their house for a week. They have taken the week off work and are excited to show us all around!!!
From there, I don't really know what the plan is. I haven't booked a return ticket at all........ Can't decide if that's a smart decision or not..... All I know is I need to be back for August 9th. So it should be an adventure!
So other than planning my latest excursion, I haven't been up to too much since my last post. I have been working a lot, mostly travelling around to farmers markets. Last week I did 5 markets in 5 different towns or cities in 8 days, and I was by myself for 3 of them, and was the driver for all of them. My sense of direction is no good in this place, so there were a lot of U-turns and confused phone calls, and stressful moments. One of the guys I live with lent me his satellite navigation thing for one of the markets, that thing is amazing! I should have one......
Ummm, what else have I been up too..... Basketball has slowed down for the summer, we only play every other week till mid august then we will start twice a week again. Still very fun. I've gone on a couple day trips with my adopted family - the Halls. My friend Emma works as a fundraiser for Rainbows Childrens Hospice (which is like the Sick kids hospital), so she has had a few events that I have helped with to raise money. One night was a pub quiz that she and her brother organized. It was really fun, quite competitive! The government here doesn't take care of things like that (i.e. childrens hospitals, elderly people, students), unlike Scotland where they take care of everything. University is virtually tuition free to Scots. No fair!
My orange van has been on the fritz lately. From the stories I have heard of my van before I drove it, I am amazed that I have never had problems with it before. However, now is probably the most ideal time for it to break down because I am away! Haha. Awwww, I just looked out the window and it's raining AGAIN! It seriously rains like every single day. I hope it's sunny and hot in Germany! Back to the van... I couldn't do anything because I couldn't get the hood open because it is like rusted shut, but my friend James came last night and charged her up, so hopefully it will hold the charge long enough to take me to the shop to meet Ian today, and then hopefully he'll let me take the nice van till tomorrow.
That's about all I got. I will probably post while in Europe and fill y'all in on the adventure! Take care, and keep sending me emails!!!!!