Lovely Lise

This is my closest friend in Denmark outside of my MC team - lovely Lise. Finally today I have heard from her after over 4 months... apparently I have been sending emails to her aiesec mail which she never checks and she has been sending emails to mazzacaz@mail, instead of gmail. How amusing!!!

So great to hear from her, and what has been happening in her life.

BABE I MISS YOU, and hopefully I will be back in Denmark for a visit in June-July for Helene's Wedding :-)

We definately need a super dooper mother of a catchup :-)

Lots of hot chocolate and dodgy old woolen cardigans will be needed to get that country wives gossip feeling we are always going for.

KNUS, Mazzy xx

Stress and Recovery

So after a stressful couple of days trying to work out the details of this roadtrip, realising I cannot leave the country due to visa issues... it seems that I will not be visiting US this weekend. We have had to postpone it to the 18th of March weekend.

So no calls to US gang or catching up with everyone this weekend.... :-(

But it will happen in Mid-March. Jen babe, you are still away right?

HUGE PUBLIC HUG AND THANKS TO CHRIS who has been harbouring all the stress, and changes to the trip in the last few days. I know you have really felt it upon your shoulders, and just want to go go go this weekend, so sorry about that BUT when we do go it is going to be more than amazing.

HUGs Mazzy xx

A needed bolt of lightning

OK, so it has been said that curiousity killed the cat - if that is the case I have realised last night that I am a pretty alive, and well functioning cat.

Last night, attending the cultural festival in Montreal I was struck by how much I have become integrated into the city culture here, how much I am settled and how my initial budding curiousity about french-canadian culture has dramatcially lessened in the last few months. I am literally within things, a part of things but in many ways I have forgotten that I am in another country, another culture.

For me now, I no longer really notice the Canadian accent, it is so familiar upon my ears
For me now, I am more than comfotable with the snow, the white covered city... I am not noticing it as much
For me now, I am so used to things happening, that I am no longer as avidly enquiring as to WHY they are happening.

I know this is a good thing, a normal thing even but in many ways I feel like I am in Australia... except I am not. Does that make any sense? I guess I feel very at home.

The amazing thing that happened last night was that I realised again that I AM in another country, that I AM in another culture... and that although the differences were not hitting me in the face, that they are definately very present.

Watching the traditional folk dances for instance, I was filled again with wonderment at the history of Canada, and indeed Quebec.

Going to the Planitarium, watching the stars, I again marvelled that I was in ANOTHER HEMISPHERE... I mean, there is no Southern Cross constellation on this side of the planet.

Walking through the bitter cold at night, I was again struck by the fact that I am living in a snow wonderland, I am not in hot summer tempretures.

I realised that there is sooo much more to discover, but I need to be active about it. I need to ask those questions again, I need to start reading... because there is still so much for me to learn about this amazing, interesting, crazy multicultural city....and the deeper I delve, the more interesting and rewarding it is bound to be.

I love it in life, when you get these realisations. Little catalysts whereby just changing your mindset a little, adjusting your behaviours slighty- you can make a huge impact on the way you interact and percieve your environment,

I AM IN CANADA BABY.... I AM ON ANOTHER CONTINENT.... and I am going to learn as much as I can, observe as much as I can before I leave to discover a new part of the world.

Montreal White Night

Please Arrest Me!, originally uploaded by Chris C.

So I just returned (time 6.41am) from the Montreal White Night. This is an awesome event that started last year, based on similar nights in Europe, which is totally based on Montreal culture.

Basically it is the night of the year when Montreal does not sleep - everyone is able to go to Museums, shows, movies, outdoor activities, cultural shows etc FOR FREE ALL NIGHT LONG!

It was fantastic. I went with Nabil, Astrid, Chris and Anuj. All in all we visited a Brazilian festival, danced traditional Quebec and Romanian dances at the Town Hall, visited the Planitarium, walked through Old Montreal, and then visited BK-Tim Hortons for a mega chat.

The featured photo was taken by Chris - I mean we simply HAD to have a photo with the Canadian Police at Tim Hortons.... ok... that is more of a cover story - really Chris thought the woman police officer was a BABE!

Many funny moments will be relayed later... I am now OFF TO BED!

Maria...You Rock!

Thanks babe for the awesome chats today... really been wonderful to relate with you, and share our thoughts. It has definately been great to talk things over, and to talk about life and ourselves.

I appreciated it!

Hugs Mazzy xx

The Day of Maziness

So yesterday at work I was talking to the receptionist about what her plans for the weekend were, and she told me that she was travelling with her new boyfriend last night for the weekend to his country place.

'What? You are missing a day of work' I said. To which she swiftly informed me that, no Mazzy, everyone has tomorrow off as it is the University Holiday at Concordia.

Well thanks for the information guys, I am not from around here :-)

But nevertheless, after getting over the initial shock, that I could have infact travelled to work on a day where no-one else would be present - I quickly got excited.

A whole day for ME ME ME, to do WHATEVER I WANT!

It was exactly what the doctor ordered.

So here is how the Day of Maz has happened thus far:

* Had a sleep in (till 9.30am... WHOA!), and a luxurious shower and getting ready
* Popped on the internet sent mails to friends, and chatted on msn whilst still waking up.
* Morning coffee in Starbucks whilst reading my amazing novel of the moment with the sun on my face and a large hot chocolate in my hands
* Going to the cinema to watch 'The Wedding Date' - a wonderful chick flick - not exactly oscar material but I loved every minute if it with my Subway purchase and yummy popcorn.
* Shopping and discovering the local op shop where I made some awesome purchases: crazy individual indian style top, new shoes exatly what I was looking for, and a cool black vest for GREAT GREAT prices.

Just got home and now I am about to cook some food, put some relaxing music on and continue reading my book...

Don't you just LOVE 'YOU' days!!

Time for a Change

So I got inspired to make a change on my blog ... I feel like looking at something new, I was bored with the old format - so at 2am last night, not being able to sleep I got up and started working on it.

I had it PERFECT and did not want to save the settings incase I did not like the outcome, so I was working on unsaved territory. Naturally, the computer froze, and I had to start from scratch again.

So I spent another unnecessary hour doing it again.

You know when you do something, you see the new thing, you lose it and you cant go back to the old thing ... well thats pretty much what happened.

Anyway I am happy, because I can now post bigger pictures, and it still is my pink internet home...

LOVING A CHANGE!!!

Congratuations!

So a happy Dorys was the first person online to tell the Aussies on msn that...

MARTY IS ON AI!! DIRECTOR .... woo hoo!

Another amazing AIESEC Sydney member takes AI by storm...

SYDNEY SYDNEY SYDNEY OI OI OI

Special congrats to Dey and to Shantanu aswell, I facilitated with these dudes at ITC in Poland last year, and I can vouch that they will be amazing.

Also congrats to everyone else who was selected.

Roadtrip NEXT WEEKEND!

So excited about the roadtrip next week: Boston, NY, and Washington. We are hitting the road Wednesday 3rd night/thursday 4th morning and coming home on Monday 7th.

NEW YORK CITY

I am so excited about this - we will arrive Friday afternoon and stay till Sunday morning... and it is THE weekend to go apparently. Check out who will be in town:

Jill and her bf Will
Sarah and her bf Brock
Shirely and her German Bf
Sims and her German Bf
Lynsey (UK MC) and her Bf, and school friends
Suzanne?
Asha?
Carly, Rickesh and the rest of the US MC team.... MINUS JEN!!! BOO HOO!!]
Teresa and Baruk LC gang hopefully!

Anyone else coming to town... COME !!! BOOK FLIGHTS NOW!!! It is going to be awesome.

WASHINGTON

Andrew and his awesome LC are ready for a funfilled Sunday night..... LOVE THESE GUYS!! It should be FAB!

Getting excited!!

If anyone knows a good place to crash in Boston, let me know ASAP.

HUgs Mazzy xx

Me Too!

DSCF0106.JPG, originally uploaded by Jennifer Harwood.

Jen babe... Just had to post this photo aswell...

REUNION IN INDIA?

Well maybe... let's have a backup plan since I have NO idea which continent I will be on in the next year at this stage...

Hugs Maz xx

International Friendship Week

I was reading today that it is now International Friendship Week - the week where we celebrate the friends in our lives. Since soooo many of my kindred spirits are abroad, or in Australia I thought I would send a bigger than ben hur, mamma mia, oh my god did that just come out of my computer screen...

MAZZY BEAR HUG!

Love you, and missing you ALL from the coldest snowiest Montreal xxxx

Pondering

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Frank Outlaw

maja1, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Apparently I am on the right track....HOORAY!

In the workplace Idealists have one very special talent: they are drawn to and can do wonders in recruiting, training, deploying, advancing, and counseling personnel. With their insight into people, their interest in human potential, and their glow of enthusiasms, NFs shine when they take on the job of finding quality employees, of guiding them into the right positions, and of helping them develop over the course of their careers.

Not only in business, but at school as well, individual development is the Idealist's domain, which is to say they are naturally good at influencing the growth and maturation of others. Teaching, counseling, interviewing, and tutoring come easily to Idealists, and are highly intuitive pursuits for them. Even without much formal training, NFs seem able, in Faber and Mazlish's phrase, to "talk so others will listen and listen so others will talk" and this with young and old and with male and female.

An Idealist

Researching for work, and I just sat the Kiersey-Bates Temperament Sorter. The outcome? Apparently I am an Idealist - and to be honest I relate with alot of what it says...

"Free report for Mazzy: Idealist

Idealists, as a temperament, are passionately concerned with personal growth and development. Idealists strive to discover who they are and how they can become their best possible self -- always this quest for self-knowledge and self-improvement drives their imagination. And they want to help others make the journey. Idealists are naturally drawn to working with people, and whether in education or counseling, in social services or personnel work, in journalism or the ministry, they are gifted at helping others find their way in life, often inspiring them to grow as individuals and to fulfill their potentials.

Idealists are sure that friendly cooperation is the best way for people to achieve their goals. Conflict and confrontation upset them because they seem to put up angry barriers between people. Idealists dream of creating harmonious, even caring personal relations, and they have a unique talent for helping people get along with each other and work together for the good of all. Such interpersonal harmony might be a romantic ideal, but then Idealists are incurable romantics who prefer to focus on what might be, rather than what is. The real, practical world is only a starting place for Idealists; they believe that life is filled with possibilities waiting to be realized, rich with meanings calling out to be understood. This idea of a mystical or spiritual dimension to life, the "not visible" or the "not yet" that can only be known through intuition or by a leap of faith, is far more important to Idealists than the world of material things.

Highly ethical in their actions, Idealists hold themselves to a strict standard of personal integrity. They must be true to themselves and to others, and they can be quite hard on themselves when they are dishonest, or when they are false or insincere. More often, however, Idealists are the very soul of kindness. Particularly in their personal relationships, Idealists are without question filled with love and good will. They believe in giving of themselves to help others; they cherish a few warm, sensitive friendships; they strive for a special rapport with their children; and in marriage they wish to find a "soulmate," someone with whom they can bond emotionally and spiritually, sharing their deepest feelings and their complex inner worlds.

Idealists are rare, making up between 20 and 25 percent of the population. But their ability to inspire people with their enthusiasm and their idealism has given them influence far beyond their numbers."

Clarity

Last night I had a dream about my dream.

Ok, that does not really make huge sense... More specifically, I had a dream about the organisation I want to run and could actually see clearly the work that we would do, who I would want to be in the organisation and I could feel it very physically.

Although I am umming and ahhhing about my life choices etc, when it comes down to it I am very clear on my organisation and the work that I want to do. I know what my dream job would be, I have an idea about how to get there....

So.... should I forget about security, take a risk and jump?

Is now the time?

And although I could work in a MNC, would it just futher set me on the path of the normal corporate life. Am I being really honest with myself when I say that it is only temporary? Or will I end up working in that MNC till I am old and grey, still wondering about the dream I had when I was younger, and what may have been? Will I become so comfortable on a corporate salary and lifestyle, that starting something new will seem all the more scarier, and all the more harder? Am I really gaining new skills that will help me? Or is this an excuse to take the easier path?

Maybe I need to grit my teeth, close my eyes, and take a massive leap into the unknown.... and maybe, just maybe I can start my dream earlier than I think.

Energy Music

Whenever I am feeling low on energy, or uninspired, or lacking there are some songs that always revitalise me:

'Don't Stop me Now' by Queen or actually anything by Queen, also including 'Bicycle'.
'Footloose' by Kenny Loggins
'Take me out' by Franz Ferdinand
'Take on me' by Aha
'Billy Jean' by Michael Jackson
'Let's here it for the Boys' by Denise Williams
'What a Feeling' by Irene Cara
'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor
Anything Enya or Era.

I love the Power of music!

Yummy Scrummy

I just had the BEST meal since I arrived in Montreal. It was from this awesome place called Bangkok Cuisine. It was the yummiest Chicken, Cashew Nuts and Veges...

OH MY GOD!

Fresh, cooked based on order... and delicious :-)

I am a happy camper.

Why doesn't it get easier?

050220 - Maja's Farewell Dinner 003
Originally uploaded by Mazzy.

So I just got back from another airport farewell... this time to my Polish sister, Maja.

It is amazing to me that in the last month I have now farewelled two of the closest friends I have made in my life -first it was my German sister and now my Polish one.

Maja - what can I say about this crazy girl? We spent 24 hours of each day, of each week together since October last year. We worked together in a team of two, we lived together, we partied together.

We fought, we cried, we laughed, we bickered - and THAT is exactly why she is my Polish sister. The relationship that we shared was SO intense, that the bonds between us are like family. There is nothing to hide, there is no mask to put on - we simply know each other too well for that.

Becoming family like means being able to read that person, seeing all about them- the good, the bad and the ugly... and staying loyal, loving them anyway and all the more for the crappy parts.

Maja babe, I am so emotional I have left Mims and John-Nick at the apartment and am typing alone from a net cafe.... because I need to be alone right now. I need to let it sink in that you will not be here anymore, and a huge part of my Montreal experience is no longer present.

THANK YOU for the amazing person you are babe, and this goes right back at you:

" Things we've done together
Memories of the past,
Happy times and thoughts we've shared
These are things that last...

That's how it is with sisters,
And I especially want to say,
You really mean the world to me
Today and every day"

Thanks for the beautiful message sweetie, and the same goes for you.

FANTASTYCNE!

You know when...

... you feel so tired that even laughing seems to take energy.

That is me right now.

Captain Anti-Energy in the house.

Goodbye... Again

This time it is my Polish sister leaving.... the other HUGE part of my Montreal experience.

We have lived together, worked together, laughed together, cried together to the point where we are literally like sisters. The bonds could not be more comfortable or more strong.

So this weekend has been a massive goodbye.Here are some highlights:

* Friday Night Farewell Party at Mims Irish Pub. It was awesome with a big group of people gathering and then staying over at our house afterwards - Claire, Becky, John-Nick, Rob, Mims, Maja and Moi

* Polish Banana and Nutella Crepes for breakfast... mmmmmm, yummy scrummy.

* Vege out day all saturday and super dooper recovery time. We watched two movies, and the introduction of 'Taking Lives' over 5 times because people would not sit still and concentrate. It was hilarious. In the end, self proclaimed Geek Boy took over the remote, and the movie started to actually happen from then onwards.

* Saturday night dinner at La Popessa restuarant on St Denis. This place is a big thumbs up. It is a pasta place where they make the pasta right in front of your eyes. It is great stuff...LOVED IT!

* Dancing an Tokyo Club - one of the most famous in Montreal.

* Sunday night dinner and drinks at our house... for live updates you can check out the blog of 'The Kiwi'

And today it is airport time again.....and more tears.

Song of the Moment

Leaving On A Jetplane

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.
But the dawn is breaking it's early morning
The taxi is waiting, he is blowing his horn
Already I'm so lonesome, I could cry

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you wait for meHold me like you never let me go
I'm leaving on a jetplane,I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go

There is so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now they don't mean a thing.
Every place I go I think of you
Every song I sing I sing for you.
When I come back I wear your wedding-ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you wait for meHold me like you never let me go
I'm leaving on a jetplane,I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time let me kiss you
Close your eyes, and I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to comeI wont have to leave alone, and I
wont have to say:

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you wait for me

Hold me like you never let me go
I'm leaving on a jetplane,I don't know when I'll be back again.
I'm leaving on a jetplane,I don't know when I'll be back again.
I'm leaving on a jetplane,I don't know when I'll be back again.

Oh babe I hate to go.

Recovery

I woke this morning to a HUGE amount of bodies in my apartment: Claire, her UK friend, Mims, Maja, John-Nick, Robin, and moi! We just had the yummiest Polish crepes and are about to watch some movies...

WHY?

We are in official recovery.

Last night was Majas farewell party, and it was a HUGE night.

I will post some photos soon... and there is more to come tonight...

I LOVE WEEKENDS!!

And so shines a ray of light...

... and that light today came in the form of a consultant working with our education institute on different reflective learning strategies. You know when you can just meet a person and understand them, you have a common passion and common experiences... well that was what it was like meeting this woman.

She is in her early 30's and has started her own organisation called Collaborative Change. It is a consultancy that works with different organisations on team development, executive coaching, organisational development, culture, etc - all the areas that I love. As she was explaining her experiences, I was growing more and more excited and inspired.

Of course I took the opportunity to talk to her about how she started her organisation, letting her know I also had similar ambitions and giving her abit of a run down of my longer term vision. She told me she could sense I was very involved in this area, and that I lit up when she was talking about different learning initiatives such as communities of practice.

Now both inspired from the conversation, she told me she was looking on taking some new people into the team and would I be interested. FOR SURE I said...definately. So I sent her a copy of my CV and we will most likely meet up next week for a coffee.

You know its strange.

The work she is doing is EXACTLY alligned with what I want to do - and the experience within it is directly relevant for my own organisation I want to begin. It's weird because the other day I emailed Szymon from AI last year. He has started his own consulting company called Beyond with a fellow AI guy. I wanted his opinion on the best way to pursue the entreprenuerial path based on his recent experiences. He told me that I have the general skills to start it now, but he does think it would be useful working in the line of work I want to and then branching off. I remember thinking a few days ago...

How can I get experience in management consulting at my age? Where would I start? How do I make those networks?

I feel happy that this has come along as a possible opportunity, also from the point of view that the thought of doing what I love is making me challenge the other options I am considering with a bit more of a critical eye.

What a day.... what an unexpected opportunity.

Tango Reflection

Tango Highlights:

* Anuj and I paired off as dance partners, and were pretending that we were world famous Tango dancers. Give me your most sexy and sultry look I would tell him! We were great, and the tutor would often come to us to give encouragement which was awesome.

* However Chris was not so lucky. He was allocated to the most psychotic girl in the world. When he was aput with her, he started to introduce himself to her but she just looked at him and did not respond. Strange! So he tried to act normal, and continue with the dancing - however, it was a little hard with the psycho girl staring deep into his eyes the entire time. It was SO funny to watch :-)

* We all learned the first steps of the tango, and felt inspired.

* Another random dude started talking to me when we were leaving about how good it is to hold somone close after being alone and single on Valentines... ahhh... HELLO... NOT necessary to share that desperate information !!

All in all it was a great night!

Good fun for all.

Tango Time ...

Tango
Originally uploaded by Mazzy.

So excited because I am starting Tango classes tonight with the gang...Chris, Maja, Anuj, Astrid and some others :-)

Have not been taking dancing lessons in years and years and years... so it should be heaps of fun!

It's Tango Time!!!

The Workplace Blues

I have come to realise the power of work, and the importance of work in my life.

What I mean by that, is that for me personally, it is fundamental that I enjoy and extract value from the work that I do. Unlike other people I know, who are able to concentrate on the other areas of their lives in the midst of a crappy job... for me, the crappy job is a driving factor.

I can easily express this by imagining myself as a car. In order for me to be the best car I am capable of, it is important for me to fill certain fuel tanks. These tanks can be filled by family, by friends, by travel... lots of things. But if my work tank is empty (as it currently is), that really impacts me as a car. I cannot work properly in other ares of my life.

For me, this is my current reality.

I am having amazing things happening to me in other areas... I have awesome people in Montreal, I am living in another culture, I have a great social life...

But because work is really not the best environment for me, it means that I have to really move my car myself. It is not natural.

After a day at work, when my energy is low, or I may be feeling a little down... I have to really motivate myself to do these other things when it would usually come naturally... flow from my natural energy...

Gosh I am not sure what I am saying....

But letting it out can only be good.

Life Choices

"... As for me, life is heaps different. I finished uni in 2002, got admitted as a lawyer in 2003, moved to Cowra (rural NSW) in the same year and started practicing in a small law firm. Got married in June last year (on my 25th birthday) in the Blue Mountains and have since lived in Forbes..."

This is a line from an email I just got from one of my closest friends in University - Susie Tuon. It is a funny story with us... we met in the queue to buy our law text books, then we realised we both had sleeping bags and were travelling to the same Law Orientation Camp. Instantly we became the closest of friends, and remained so throughout our law studies. We also lived together for a short time in a place not far from the Sydney CBD.

Unfortunately we lost touch, especially as I became more involved with AIESEC, and took a national position in Australia, then I headed to Denmark... so yeah it has been awhile. Its an amazing email to recieve, when someone you were really close with is giving you updates on a year level... not just a month or half month basis. It is even more surreal comprehending how different your life has become from someone who you were originally on the same path with.

Right now it is making me think about the different paths in life, and the places that making different choices takes you.

It is hard for me to imagine that Susie is married... I mean since June last year, that she is living such a different life... but it is also amazing, and when we have a catch up on the phone I know it is going to be like no time passed at all.

But yeah, the email has really made me think and reflect alot today.

THANKS SUSIE, love hearing from you again! MWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Old Quebec City

Old Quebec, originally uploaded by Chris C.

Thanks Chris for making these awesome Montages of the weekend ;-) You ROCK!

Chez son Pere

Chez son Pere, originally uploaded by Chris C.

Quebec Dinner

Quebec Dinner
Originally uploaded by Mazzy.

So, I had an amazing weekend travelling to Quebec city with Mims, Chris, Zavier, and Maja. Great memories, new people, new places and huge fun at the world fanous Winter Carnival of Quebec.

I have no time to write about the highlights yet, but I will post some up later. For now, Chris the Man has posted a good capture on his blog you can check out if you are interested.

But AMAZING times, AMAZING times :-)

Esthers House

MAILED PHOTOS
Originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Sunday morning breakfast at the lovely Esthers house :-) Her parents are the best, making us pancakes and drinks... but her dad warned me that if I continued to wear my black shoes I would die in one day.... hmmm.

Chillin' Out

Chillin' Out
Originally uploaded by Mazzy.

The Quebec City Gang chilling out :-) I am tired, we are all tired... let's lay down!

What a Team!

Just wanted to say congratulations to the new Danish MC team 05-06... an AMAZING group of people who will be leading AIESEC in Denmark over the next year...

MCP: Stefan Bendtsen Sønderup
VP External Relations: Ren Bin Lee
VP Exchange and PBoX: Majken Rønne
VP People Development: Andrea Franco
VP People Development: Louise Rønne
VP Finance: Niels Søgaard Hvidt

This is the first time in years that so many Danish people will be on one team, and that in itself is an amazing result but more than this, I cannot think of any better people to take Denmark forward in the next year.

I am so excited about where @ DK is headed, and just want to pop on a plane to kiss each and everyone of them... plus my fave MC team there at the moment - Soren, Maja, Simon, Wing, and my darlings Sam & Diego :-)

Hopefully I can get to Copenhagen in August for Helenes Wedding.... Yes one of my Danish friends is getting married.... DK REUNION TIME!!

Draft Roadmap

So last night, the MAGIC, Roadtrip and Improv theatre crew of Chris, Anuj and moi, mapped out a draft agenda for the March US Roadtrip. It is as follows:

Wednesday 9th - Hitting the Road

Leave Montreal on Wednesday afternoon to arrive in Boston in the night time.

Thursday 10th - Harvard & Boston

Spend the day in Boston and at Harvard.
Travel in the night to Conneticut and Yale :-) Hopefully catch up with the cool Yale AIESEC gang, and maybe a Frat party to complete the North American University scene ...

Friday 11th - Travelling to New York

In the afternoon travelling to the Big Apple.
Partying on Friday night in NY - Super Fun.

Saturday 12th - Mega New York Time

Spend the whole day in NY, doing all the cool and groovy things.
Definately seeing a Broadway musical in the afternoon/night.

Sunday 13th - Bye bye Big Apple, Hello Washington

Leave NYC in the afternoon, head to DC
Hopefully catch up with a few AIESECers for dinner and chillout

Monday 14th - Hanging in Washington DC

Spend the day in Washington, head back to Montreal in the night.

Tuesday 15th - Home Time

Arrive in Montreal at lunchtime :-)

Should be AWESOME!!!

Desperate for Input

I have a feeling my brain cells are dying.... seriously.

I am afraid any strategic thinking ability I have, through lying dormant, is slowly starting to disappear. I can't ask for more challenging work because high levels around here do nothing, people leave their offices early, I mean it is mass government sector apathy.

So I have tried to self motivate. I am working as if I am a consultant to this organisation... I am researching stuff, trying to keep my mind active, imagining what would I do if I was the Director of the Institute... trying to teach myself another language...

Does anyone have any other suggestions before I start rehearsing Improv theatre in my office? :-) Open to all ideas.

The Amazing Roadtrip!

If I have to confess a love for one show on television, I would have to say it is The Amazing Race. What I love about it is that through the game I get to see different places in the world, places that I have been too and places that I dream about. Each week it is the only hour that I am regimented in front of the TV... strongly implementing the 'talking is not advised' rule.

Why am I sharing this?

1. If anyone seriously wants to put in an entry form with me... let me know. I would be up for something crazy like that.

2. It makes me even more excited to Travel North America before I head off on a new journey.... SOOOO a few of us are proposing a roadtrip:

MARCH US ROADTRIP

We are looking at travelling from Montreal to Boston, New York and Washington DC from the 10th - 15th of March. We are renting a car so it will be super cheap, and hopefully can crash at a few AIESECers houses in the US while we are there :-)

If anyone is up for joining in, or meeting up with us.... feel free, the more the merrier.

We are just filling up spots in the car now.

SUPER EXCITED!

Money starts to matter when...

... you are seeing the positives of deportation.

I mean really, it is a free plane ticket back to your country right?

The Face-Off

Little Mermaid
Originally uploaded by

I am currently having a face off with my hair... or rather I have been for the last couple of years.

The Issue? It refuses to grow long and silky.

Now before anyone interjects with telling me that I may not be living in realistic-ville, let me tell you that when I first started university I had the most lovely mermaid hair. It was long with rings at the bottom. It was my pride and joy.

Then one crazy day, I did what I often do ... I acted on crazy spontaneity and in the moment. I took a section of my mermaid hair and I hacked it off, in what I thought at the time was a really funky style but I later realised after showering, was not what I imagined.

This set in course a hair scar, and unnatural desire to reclaim the hair from my past.

We all know about hair scars... those horrible hair moments that haunt you forever.

Take my friend Nellie. I remember in the 8th grade, she had the loveliest straightest most golden blonde hair. Sitting behind her in commerce, I used to wonder how hair could have no kinks in it at all, and how I might make my hair take on that look. But Nellie went to get a Perm and it took years for her to recover. Why? She went to the worst hairdresser in Oz. I am not joking, she literally went to a hairdresser that was a week later on a Current Affair for dodgy hair practices. Needless to say, within a week her hair starting falling out, and bad times followed.

Bad hair scar for her, and a big sign for me never to attempt a perm (no matter how motivating the image of Julia Roberts was in Pretty Woman).

So yes, I am still on the road to hair recovery but it seems not to want to grow past my shoulders...

WHY? WHY? WHY?
Please let it grow!

Oh, when will I be able to stand with my mermaid hair again?

Parlez-vous Francais?

Reading Paulie's blog, I finally got the kick in the butt I needed to learn French. I am pretty ashamed to admit it, but I have not been really focused on this since I arrived - and it was one of my biggest personal objectives coming here, to learn basic level French.

So I now have a goal to learn as much French as I can before I leave, am meeting up with a French friend once a week, doing Bilingual Improv Theatre and sourcing free courses in Montreal.

Oui Oui - It is French for me!!!

Good Times, Good Times

I just had the best weekend.... Some Highlights:

* Dinner at Wendys house with gang and McGill Improve Night

* Sitting on Review Board for Montreal and making an awesome contact with Nancy from Career Services, also on my Panel.

* Chinese New Year International Party on Saturday night and meeting a whole heap of new Francophone friends. I have recruited them for Thursday Improv nights and also a French speaking conversation group.... AWESOME with a capital A.

* Sunday Winter Festival at Jean Drapeau park where I had my first ever SUGAR SHACK. This is where you get some maple syrup and sugar stuff, pour it on the snow and then take a stick and wrap it up like a lolly pop... then eat it. Really sugary stuff, but famous in Canada. Also there was bobsleding, giant ice sculptures, and thousands of activities for the kids. It was definately a winter wonderland.

* Relaxing Sunday night with cinema time. We watched Hide and Seek and the must see movie Hotel Rwanda.

Now I cannot sleep... so am surfing the net and thinking of watching another movie at home..

Ahhh Insomnia strikes.

Improv Inspiration

I am mega pumped.

I spent all night at the McGill University Improv Theatre night. It was a 24 hour thing that they did from 9am Friday till 9am Saturday to raise money for children with cancer. I went with a few friends, and was invited by Melanie a New Yorker friend who was in one of the improv teams.

And it was a big fat thumbs up. ... my goodness, it was a whole hand and body up!

This is my thing, and these are my people... seriously. The creativity and randomness in that room was AMAZINGLY inspiring to me personally. I got up a few times and volunteered - but seriously, I am SO getting into this ASAP.

I am downloading all the improv games I can find, and hosting improv nights at my house with friends and people who are interested every Wednesday or Thursday night.

I mean, I have SO much energy I cannot even sleep... I am just thinking about it all, too excited to keep still for a minute.

Soooooooo good.

I love Training

So for the last three weeks, I have been running Professional Training seminars at Concordia University with a fellow trainee, Maja and co-op colleage, Fabio. We have been running 7 seminars each week, and today was the last day of the program :-)

And to be honest, it could not have ended any better. The students in our final seminar were the BEST....

seriously, on a Friday afternoon, you really do not expect alot. People are tired, want to go home, want to start the weekend party... but todays group were AWESOME.

People were interacting, it was fun, and the time just flew.

I am now on my post training high... that feeling you get when you have delievered a training people felt was really useful and engaging at the same time...

I LOVE this feeling :-)

Tonight I am also going to Improv Theatre Night at McGill with some friends, and I am pretty excited about this... I LOVE drama and any sort of performance...

So what started as a crappy day in the dingy office has ended on a huge training and people interaction HIGH!

Loving it :-)

Needs People, Likes to Interact

people
Originally uploaded by Mazzy.

I am currently sitting in my office, alone, typing.

The reason that I am really not loving my job is pretty clear to me - my working conditions.

To be honest, the work itself is and can be challenging (as long as I motivate myself to do it as I know that otherwise I could do nothing and continually get away with it here). I am designing learning and training seminars, on topics that I love. I get paid to train students, and research self-development stuff all day long.

It is and can be very motivating work.

I love conceptualising learning and development
I love training and facilitating with students
I love new ideas and pioneering

BUT...

I can safely say, I HATE my work environment. I work in a decent sized office (we just got moved), with no windows and away from all the other workers that work in another corridor of our building. Sometimes no-one need pass by for hours on end, and if I really wanted to, I could not come into work all morning or even all day, and chances are that nobody would notice unless they came over my side of the office.

I work with a fellow Polish trainee, which helps with the sanity but we are also like chalk and cheese. I am the ultra expressive type and she is the more quiet relaxed thinking type. I long for a team again, a group of people who all take turns in driving towards the outcome. I wish for at least one other expressive individual to join me in the days activities.

Often I make excuses to go to the other side of the office desperate to get some human interaction going on. The thing is, there are only so many photocopies and paper collection runs you can make without raising suspicion that you are in fact not working at all.

Honestly speaking, I am a person that thrives on the energy of other people, and here I am relegated to a random room away from the my 10 or so other colleagues. Here I am working in an office environment where me organising an 'Aussie Day' party and getting everyone together was a strange and highly unusual thing. Here I am, without the ability to put on music to decrease the sound of silence because my computer does not even have a sound card.

Today I am going to ask whether it is possible to work from another office, I cannot stand this any longer. I literally feel like I am going insane and the walls are starting to suffocate me...

Give me people people people people people people people people people people people people people....

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome :-)

Phantom Desires

So, for the last month or so, I have had these desires to relax to the music from 'The Phantom of the Opera'. At home in Australia when I was growing up, mum always had the latest musicals in our CD collection - so I was always listening to Phantom, Les Miserables, Crazy for You etc.

Thankfully at work I can always log onto accuradio.com and listen to the Broadway channel at any time.

But lately I have specifically been craving The Phantom. Really really craving it.

So tomorrow I am buying it, and I can't wait - it has been ages since I have made a personal purchase. Mainly because I am saving for air fares....

But tomorrow is the day when my Phantom of the Opera desires will FINALLY be satiated.

15 hours till Purchase... :-)

Signs of Blahness

I am having a BLAH day.

Totally and utterly BLAH.

Why?

* Arrive to work sick, really sick but dedicated to getting some work and urgent emailing done.
* Go to log onto internet, but discover our hub thingy has been taken by another employee
* Go see that employee - apparently they were told to take it
* Go see the Admin staff, apparently we have to move offices anyway so its a good excuse to move now
* Still sick, I clear out the office solo style as my fellow trainee is in shock we are moving to a different office
* Postpone a meeting because we are moving offices
* Finally move computers in, and now need to clean - an hour or so later
* Get internet chords, alas we need an ID to be able to log on
* No-one knows the number, except the Admin woman who is at French Classes
* Decide to use another office, move all stuff over to it
* Go to log on, need admin password....and guess what? No-one knows it.
* Think OK I will do my trainee evaluation, something I can print from my desktop
* Suprise suprise.... The printer is not set up.
* Think OK, I seem to not be able to work, lets have a look at the CD Kristin gave me with photos on it...
* CD Drive cannot read it, and computer gets stuck.

That is IT- I am sick, and everything seems to be signally me to go home...

I am now following that calling :-)

MAGIC 2005 ... Are you coming?

So one night, sitting around a table drinking wine a New Zealander (Chris), Canadian (Anuj) and Australian (Me) decide that what Montreal needs is a good dose of Magic :-) An excuse to bring people together in one place, to see Montreal, to get to know different cultures...

And thus the idea of Magic was born.

MAGIC. Officially:

M: Montreal
A: Annual
G: Global
I: Integration
C: Convention

Sounds awesome huh!!!

What it really is, is an exuse for people to get together, to learn about different cultures, to see Montreal on one of the BEST weekends in Montreal (Festival!!!) Actually one of the nights is the night when Montreal as a city officially DOES NOT SLEEP!

It is definately still in the planning stages, but people will be staying all around Montreal at different houses... and it is going to be an AWESOME weekend.

So who is interested? CANADIANS you have NO excuse, you guys have to make road trips to get here! US gang, this is a perfect excuse for you to all come and visit Montreal :-)

DATES: Last weekend of February
Friday Night till Sunday Morning.

More specific details will be sent out, but is anyone out there interested in a Magical Montreal weekend???!!!

French Canadian Party

Here are some photos from my roomie, Mim's, 26th Birthday on Saturday Night. It was a fantastic night :-)

The worst thing about being a Nomad is...

... saying goodbye to the people you love and care about.

Today, Kristin- my closest friend in Montreal, and also in my life - boarded a flight at 6.30pm to Germany. It was strange really because it seemed so surreal.

I remember last Thursday night having shots together, hugging and talking about her leaving... hmmm, NOT REAL
I remember on Saturday night at Mims Party having more drinks and hugs.... STILL NOT REAL
Yesterday, going to an Italian Restaurant for a Farewell Dinner.... DEFINATELY NOT REAL
And finally today, travelling to the airport... DID IT SINK IN?

Not really.

Even as she was boarding the plane and my eyes were filled with tears, I still could not comprehend that she will no longer be around. No more calls to talk about the day, no more partying, no more coffee chats and no more random times...

For now anyway, because at least I know that I will see her soon.

One thing being nomadic in my existance has taught me is how small the world is, and how soon I will see the people I care about again. I may not know where, or when, or what country or in what context..

But I know.

Paparazzi Frenzy

DSCN2433
Originally uploaded by Mazzy.

... caught Maja and Anuj as they were entering Kristins farewell party at McKibbins Irish Pub last Thursday Night...

It was a pretty big event, so they were trying to guard their privacy.

Don't Leave Us!!!

20050131 - Canada - January 123
Originally uploaded by Chris C.

At the Metro desperately trying to keep Kristin in Montreal. I wish we could, I feel so sad my best friend in Montreal is leaving, THIS is the worst part of the Nomadic lifestyle.... missing the people you love and care about when they leave.

Guilo & Angelinas

20050131 - Canada - January 105
Originally uploaded by Chris C.

Saying goodbye to Kristin at a funky Italian restuarant in the downtown Montreal. It was an awesome night with heaps of laughs, yummy food, really awesome waitors who sang and let us keep the menus - and good company.

But will miss my darling German one.

Amusing

20050131 - Canada - January 089
Originally uploaded by Chris C.

Everyone thought it was pretty funny when I tried to dip a sausage roll into this 'Ketchup' - well appparently it was just a red bowl...

Whoops.

International Party

20050131 - Canada - January 084
Originally uploaded by Chris C.

Some snaps from the International Party we all went to last weekend. It was an awesome night with only a few Canadian people present, everyone else was from countries all over the world.

Pretty darn awesome :-)