ExtravaGHANAza!

For those of you who are wondering about whatever became of our big event on November 10th, it was the definition of success.

Our fundraising goal of 4,650$ was blasted apart when we fundraised -in total- about 7500$. Talk about over achieving.

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Snow!

It literally just snowed. Just now. Everyone is still screaming.

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Out Around The Bay

My trip "out around the bay" -as it is so referred to- has really become a highlight of my trip so far. I'm already so fortunate to have the host family I have, but to have Amanda and her mother, Janice, show me all these beautiful places and accommodate me over night was really beyond something special.  These pictures were taken over two days as we went though what must have been 50 different places. I encourage both you, and me, to try and find them all on a map. Amanda worked in Cupid's (one of the town) at the historical society so she made the perfect "tour guide".

This photo was taken in Harbour Grace, where Amelia Earhart flew from to complete her first transatlantic voyage. Pretty cool, right?

 Almost right next to the Amelia Earhart plane, is the SS Kyle. This ship has been permanently grounded here since 1967. There's a story behind this, and I get the feeling g-pa will try and find it.

Again in Harbour Grace, this historical home is being preserved despite the development of a ship yard all around it. Amanda tells me you can buy ice cream at the house in the summer.

 This picture was taken on the beach in, I believe, Hearts Content (We also visited Heart's Desire and Heart's Delight), where the first Transatlantic telegraph cable was laid.

 I completely forget the name of these rocks (this rock?), but I can't leave it out because it's really awesome.

This was taken in Dildo (and yes, Newfoundlander do find this to be a funny name) when we pulled over to get my picture taken with captain Dildo (he's in the next picture). These friendly Baymen asked me to come over and get my picture "taken with real Newfies!"

 There's me and Captain Dildo himself

This was taken at Madrocks which is just outside of French's Cove.

We could've stayed at Madrocks all day watching giant wave smack rocks.

 The Three Sisters, right next to Madrocks, it kind of reminds me of Siwash Rock in Stanley Park.
 

This delicious meal was brought to us by E&E, a local favourite, and I can taste why. What I'm holding there is a battered onion ring, there's a battered chicken finger, fries dressing and gravy, and a pineapple crush which I really haven't seen outside of Newfoundland. I used to believe the dressing was just a Newfoundland word for Stuffing, but they're two different things. Where stuffing is more like steamed bread crumbs, dressing is actually just the bread crumbs, and it is amazing.

The picture itself is taken at Janice's Home and Daycare centre in South River, this is where we stayed overnight.

I forgot where this is, but Amanda took me up this hill to see this out standing view of the shape of the peninsula's and the bay's they form. Originally we didn't think we'd get the chance to go, just because I was supposed to start my volunteering in Brigus (not far from South River) at 10am. Thankfully, daylight savings time kicked in and we had an extra hour!

I believe this one was taken at the end of that peninsula in the previous picture.

We started in St. John's and went through Mount Pearl, Paradise, Conception Bay South, Upper Gullies, Lance Cove, Seal Cove, Holyrood, Brigus, Cupid's, South River, Clark's Beach, North River, Bareneed, Bay Roberts, Shearstown, Beachy Cove, Bishops Cove, Mercer's Cove, Frenchs Cove, Spaniard's Bay, Harbour Grace, Carbonear, Victoria (often called Victoria, BC -Behind Carbonear), Heart's Content, Crossroads, Heart's Desire, Heart's Delight, Islington, Cavendish, Green's Harbour, New Harbour, Dildo, Port De Grave, Ship Cove, Blow Me Down, Hibb's Cove, and so so so much, so much more.

Halloween Birthday Surprise Party

Saturday, October 27th, it was my secretly my birthday and I didn't even know it. My fellow group members signed me up to volunteer at the farmers market from 12-3, I figured we were going to start planning for the next French lesson, but we got carried away with ticket/cookbook sales. Then we went to Marie's to work on Halloween costumes, but we ended up watching a movie. Dean and Amanda (my host parents) had asked me to take care of Nate for 15 minutes to a half hour while they brought Dean's band equipment to the Ship. Thankfully they offered to pick me up before the babysit and drop me off after. So Dean picked me up from Marie's, although I had thought to take the bus earlier and was convinced otherwise. Dean asked me if I was 19 and had ID on me, he needed to pick up some beer and ice, because Amanda made punch. I went into the convenience store bought the ice, bought the beer, gave Dean his change. He then drove by the house, where I saw Janice walking in, and claimed he wanted to "check on the highway" -which is under construction up the road from our house. When we finally did get to the door I hadn't fully processed why the front hall was full of shoes when I heard everyone yell "SURPRISE!". Then I got massive hugs while laughing at myself. I had no idea, none. Amanda and Janice had been planning it for weeks, they'd been decorating since noon, and Amanda followed Dean in her car to pick up the girls at Marie's. WOW! There was food, drinks, everyone was in costume, it was fantastic! Definitely a highlight of my journey thus far.

After the party Dean was actually planing at the ship, so we went out to watch another amazing performance. In my opinion it was better, because there were Halloween costumes. Check out the pictures on the Las Vegas Lounge Lizard facebook page.

International Day of the Girl

October 11th First International Day of the Girl

Gifty and I worked hard at Marguerite's Place to help celebrate International Day of the Girl. Our activity (accompanied by snack and inspiration movies) was an arts project of a collage silhouette of ourselves as girls. Once the project was complete, we interviewed each girl with her collage and spliced them together to make our own inspirational movie. Check it out!

Poutine Day!

The two lovely ladies of La Belle Province turned our Friday into a Poutine Day! We watched [most of] a french movie and ate some most delicious poutine. Yum!

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Grey Sleeves

So, on Thanksgiving Monday a couple group members we spending time at Green Sleeves. Green Sleeves has quickly become the George Street bar of choice, because of it's like music and tasty food.

But that night there was no music, in fact there was hardly any people. George Street has a repuation for being packed 7 nights a week -at least until 2am- and yet it was empty.

However, this was a blessing, because there was no line up to see THE GREY CUP at Green Sleeves. We didn't no it was going to be there but as the roar of support for the Roughriders echoed through George Street, I held the Grey Cup. I think Claire has a picture.

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The East Coast Trail

Last night our old back-up host mother, and my fellow co-worker, Patricia invited my counterpart and myself for a hike. We joined Sheila (another important Marguerite's Place worker) and her old counterpart pair who stayed at her house for the hike.

The 6 of us trekked from the name of a place I forgot to the name of a place I never knew.

We plan to go back next Monday with a picnic.

As for Grandpa's next question... Yes, the East Coast Trail is similar to the West Coast Trail that you mastered. The difference being that you pass through 35 different communities along the way to break up the rugged-ness. We did see at least 10 backpackers.

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Giving Means Fundraising

The two pictures above are related to our "Giving Means" Project. This is a sustainable development intiative.

Partnered with a Youth Club in Saltpond, we will fundraise 4,650$ for their youth run bakery.

Part of our fundraising is our event, ExtravaGHANAza: A Night on the Gold Coast. The picture of the tickets that I designed, and which Gifty and I cut, is above. The night will have a dinner, show, 50/50 raffle, and silent auction.

Part two (of many) is out cookbook, everyone contributes a recipe and together we make a cook that we sell for 10$. No word on if we plan on shipping these out side of St. John's

There is an online donation link that I will post later.

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Duck Race

This Sunday a number of us volunteered at the family fun-day and Duck Race at Rennie's River.

Hot dogs, music, and games awaited us, but the hilight -of course- was the duck race.

The winner won a trip to New York, sensing a potential conflict of interest, I didn't buy a ticket.

Conflict of interest?! What am I saying?
Ghana>New York
St. John's>New York

Picking up all the stranded ducks made for a fun day of volunteering.

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Morning in Mount Pearl

I know it's just condensed water vapour, but those clouds just look so nice...

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(B)Logbook

In case of intermittent internet in Ghana, or wildly hectic weeks, or other blog neglect, there is a solution. The Sister Blog to Niki's Days: Canada World Youth, would be our group blog found at:

http://cwy-jcm.com/logbook-ghana-st-johns/

That will be a reliable source of events, as pretty much all of our group events will have some write up, be it in English, French, Fante, or Twi. Heads up, there is no Google translate for Fante or Twi, so maybe just rely on pictures for that one.

Women's Cafe Night with Karla Pilgrim

People were flocking to Marguerite's Place last night. There's a special event at the end of each month, and for September it was Karla Pilgrim.

She's a singer-song writer who supposedly got pretty far on Canadian Idol. As for last night she was play for a room of 30 lucky women, including out group.

I sat in the front row and recorded this for you.

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Mundy Pond

Just thought I'd share this sight, no praticular reason...

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Tah-chin

On Wednesday night some of the group member had signed up for an Indian cooking class, that we later learned was an Iranian cooking class. This was by no means a disappointment.
The class was put on by The Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador (or MWONL). The cooking class itself was held at Marguerite's Place, so I spent a huge portion of the day there.
The meal itself was a delicious Iranian dish called Tah-chin. It would be like a saffron rice dish with chicken, except with a most notable twist. It was cooked in a deep dish on stove stop, then in the oven. The rice on the edges turned crispy and dry. When the dish is done it's turned upside down and served as what is literally a rice cake. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside.
Now if you're like me, you've never bothered to eat the crispy rice, bevause it resembles uncooked rice. Or maybe you're like my counterpart, Janice, and that is the best part.


Tah-Chin e Morgh (Chicken Tah-Chin)
By Leila Mikaeli (Iranian cook)
Ingredients:

• 3 cups basmati rice.
• 1 large onion
• 4 egg yolks
  4 tbsp butter
• 350 gms boneless Chicken breast

• 1 cup or 300 mls  plain yoghurt
   4 tbsp oil plus a pinch of saffron
   Lime juice and salt to taste
Preparation:
• Skin the chicken and cut into medium size pieces.
• Take a tsp of lime juice, a pinch of salt, mix well and marinate in the fridge for a few hours.
• Beat the eggs yolks, combine with the yogurt, and add a pinch of salt and the saffron.
• Pre-soak the rice a few hours.
7.  Heat the oil in a large pan with a lid
8. Next, add half the yoghurt mixture.
9. Add a layer of rice and press down into the yoghurt
Add the rice cook until it becomes soft to bite.
The rice should become long but not fluffy.
Remove from the heat and drain. 2.
Add the rice cook until it becomes soft to bite.
The rice should become long but not fluffy.
Remove from the heat and drain.
Boil a large pan of water; add a teaspoon of salt,
and a teaspoon of butter.
 Method:
5. Add the chicken, a pinch of salt and fry till golden.
6. Remove the chicken and set aside.
10. Add a layer of chicken and then another layer of both yoghurt and rice and continue until all the ingredients have been used.
11. After you add each layer, press down gently before you add the next.
12. Cook on a low heat for about 90 minutes to 2 hours. The longer you leave it the better the crust (Tah-dig) will be.
                     

Miss Representation at MUN

In addition to the landslide of activities we've been involved in (which posts will be made when pictures become available) we attended a movie screening tonight.

Not your typical movie. Presented at Memorial University with assistance from Marguerite's Place tonights documentary was Miss Representation.

It's a documentary film about the portrayal of women in the media. Before you think whatever you plan on thinking about this particular movie, watch the trailer, and see for yourself.


Miss Representation Trailer

Concert at The Ship

Friday night was spent at The Ship Pub, at least for those of us who made it.
One of the bands playing that night was my host father, Dean's band, Vegas Lounge Lizard (find them on facebook).

A very impressive show all around.

Haunted Hike

St. John's ghost stories came alive in our activity of the night. A walking tour of some of the sites of paranormal wonder, lead ,of course, by a most fitting guide.

Seek the truth at: www.hauntedhike.com

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Storm and Work

The theme of life since Tuesday has been two parts. Hurricane Leslie and the formal beginnng of our work placements.

No matter how badly each Cwy-syto volunteer had craved the opportunity to dive-in and embrace the first day of work, no one did. They schools -and several other buildings- were closed Tuesday for the storm. Sure enough the weren't kidding. We lost power that morning and we only got it back a few hours ago. Stuff was blowing around, trees had fallen down, it was serious stuff.

Wednesday became our new first day of work. It was quite a success from my point of view. I've thoroughly enjoyed the two days I've spent there.

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Work Partner Reveal

Yesterday's workshop on Educational Activity Day's (EAD's) finished off with the work partner reveal.

Since it would be too easy to just tell us where we were working, we had to eat it out of a cup of Jell-o. Yes, the answer to our biggest question was written on a piece of paper, sealed in tape, and then sealed in Jell-o.

After furiously consuming the grape Jell-o I can now tell you I'll be working at . . .

Marguerite's Place!

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Volunteer Placements

Hey just wanted to give a quick run through of the volunteer placements we met with today and yesterday.

1. Eastern Health
2. For the Love of Learning
3. St. John's Community Family Services
4. Refugee Immigrant Advisory Council
5. Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador
6. Independent Living Resource Center
7. YMCA
8. MacMorran Community Center
9. Association for New Canadians
10. Marguarite's Place
11. Bridges to Hope

I could never possibly give each organization the attention they deserve in such a short blog post. Nothing is that simple. For the most part, to simplify...


1. Eastern Health: Nursing home assistance
2. For the Love of Learning: Arts with at risk youth
3. St. John's Community Family Services: Hot lunch/ Breakfast programs
4. Refugee Immigrant Advisory Council: Cultural event planning/ skills training
5. Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador: Exactly what it sounds like!
6. Independent Living Resource Center:Variety of programs for people with disabilities
7. YMCA: fitness programs and administrative work
8. MacMorran Community Center: Programs and services for low income families (lot's of food!)
9. Association for New Canadians: Assistance with after school clubs for new Canadian youth and children/skills training
10. Marguarite's Place: women's center (not shelter), serving food and planning events
11. Bridges to Hope: dull the effects of poverty, prepare home cooked meals, bake fresh bread, toy lending library, and Christmas Hampers


I have five or more summary points for each organization that I plan to bring to tomorrows speed dating style interviews! Yay!

The Start of Cegep

As few of you probably know, this Canada World Youth Exchange is partnered with Cegep Marie Victorin to provide academic accredidation to it's participants. Meaning at the end of 6 months we will deliver a portfolio to Cegep Marie Victorin, it will be marked, and if all goes well each volunteer will recieve a Certification in Cross Cultural Relations and Community Development.

Today marked day one as a student at Cegep, we recieved our portfolios. This will undoubtably require time and the ability to focus in a variety of environment. So, today I went to start filling out the first few pages, and it didn't take long for my host family's 2 year old to take notice and bring over his trucks to play. When I'm not playing with him I'll have to make time for paperwork.

I'm still having a great time!

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Cape Spear

It was another beautiful day in St. John's.

Today, we visited the beautiful Cape Spear. By "we" I mean my counterpart and host family!

Because, us participants have been staying with host families since our arrival in St. John's on Friday.

I'll keep you posted on info about volunteer placements. The fog around this mystery should lift tomorrow.

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Flying to St. John's

I'm starting to write this from 12304 feet, 14 minutes away from my new home in St. John's.

Our debrief camp has ended. We wrapped up the fun with a campfire that I will surely never forget. Marshmellows, music, singing, dancing, ghost stories, and a chorus of stars lead by a full moon.

We filled out our evaluations and were on a bus to Halifax by 2:30. As much as I'd love to look out the window and tell you how inspiring St. John's is, I'm now understand the “It's cloudy” thing I always hear about. Dark, stormy and you can't see a thing. Sounds like an advenrture.

The First Milestone

The past few days have made up our volunteer orientation camp in beautiful Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

Here we have met as a group, formed a group, and branched off into our counterparts. There has been a storm of information and an over use of the word "housekeeping".

It has been fun and challenging. Each day offers something unique, and while it has only been a few days, there has been a lot of growth.

Defining hot and cold, spicy and not spicy, and well dressed have shown us the cultural differences between Canada and Ghana. But talking about our expectations for the program and for one another have only highlighted how we are all looking for the same thing.

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Canada World Youth

Hello friends, family and fans.

It's another one of those... she's going somewhere, and doing something

The rumors are true, I'm going on Canada World Youth. Now, hopefully most of your a familiar with this through my fundraising. It wasn't a hoax to acquire your money, it an actual honest-to-goodness not-for-profit. I heard several warnings that it could be a scam (and while I could still be proved horribly wrong) from some of you, but it would have to be pretty elaborate by this point.

Canada World Youth -as I have told many of you- is a CIDA funded volunteer exchange organization. Out of the exchange programs they offer I applied for the Youth Leaders in Action.Which is....

"In the Youth Leaders in Action program, a team of 9 young Canadians and 9 young people from a partner country spend 6 months together doing volunteer work:

• 3 months in a Canadian community
• 3 months in a community in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, or Latin America

Each young Canadian is matched with a participant from the exchange country for the entire period.
This is a unique opportunity to become involved as a volunteer, discover other cultures, learn another language, and become a true citizen of the world!"


Don't be embarrassed if I told you where I was going and you forgot (except for you mum, you should be embarrassed if you forgot). It's three months in St. John's, Newfoundland, and three months in Saltpond, Ghana.

As some personal background on these places...

St. John's - Grade 11 Planning project on your life life after high school. I had to come up with a study, a career, and two universities I would apply to. After much agonizing, a classmate point out that my mark is not effect by my future ability to follow through with these juvenile plans. And that's how I got on the mailing list for Hawaii Pacific University, and Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's. It wasn't the universities that appealed so much as the locations. Hawaii was tropical, but St. John's was exotic. Years go by and that brother of mine winds up in St. Johns and tells me I'd love it. As if I didn't know. But I really didn't know just how much. Even if it brotherly fabricated lies, I take delight in the Newfoundland of my mind. Let's just list the 4 enjoyable rumors I've heard from everyone who hears me even so much as mutter Newfoundland.

1. The most friendly people they've ever encountered.
2. Celtic music as far as the ear can hear.
3. Battered cod tongues and other weird food (my passion)
4. Wildlife that hasn't been destroyed (I'm told this little beauty was wiped off the West Coast but still thrives off the coast of Newfoundland)

Ghana - During the span of only a few months, Ghana developed a reputation in my world towards the end of grade 12. Not only did I actually see it on the map for the first time, but I heard what must have been a 20 minute lecture from my best friend, Dana's, brother, Michael, about why this was the best place to live. Then not long after it came up in a Planning 12 lunch time presentation by Lattitude (formerly GAP). The organization offers gap year exchanges for a fixed cost, with the exception of Ghana. Ghana actually costs more, as far as I hear its for a better experience. As horizons grow and I hear more about the world Ghana just keeps coming up. So let's hear the 4 enjoyable rumors I've heard from everyone who hears me so much as mutter Ghana.

1. The most friendly people they've ever encountered.
2. Great music, art, dance and history.
3. Fufu and other amazing dishes.
4. A very unique (from a British Columbian point of view) physical landscape.

Could the stars have a aligned more perfectly then to offer me this exchange? Yes, actually.

Try it's also a women's program and an AEC program!

Now to explain...

A women's program is a Canada World Youth exchange where all the participants are women and they focus and issues around women and women's health. Most of you know that I'm an awful feminist, but that's why this is a wonderful opperunity to learn something I know nothing about!

An AEC program offers an accreditation for completing a portfolio during the program. I only have speculation on what the diploma is in, and what AEC actually stands for, but I'm sure things will sort themselves out.



This blog itself is going to be a little different for those of you who read my Katimavik blog, at least I hope it is. Since this program is going to involve a lot of making the most of my time, seizing the day, jumping in the lake one more time, and other adventure slogans I'm looking for something more brief. but frequent. As opposed to keeping a lengthy journal of my time, I want to give more little adventures in the moment, hopefully with lot of pictures!

With that I welcome you to follow my adventure as much as your schedule and my allows. So, let's let the fun begin!