It's been a while. A month to be exact. So what have I been up to lately? What could I possibly be doing that is more important than updating you? A little something I like to call "family time". To start off, I went off camping in Banff for a week, sleeping in a tent filled with individuals who apparently can't control their respiratory structures from vibrating. How is it that everyone else in my family snores? "But Michelle, maybe you do, it's not like you can tell when you're asleep." Now now, young stranger, let me tell you; I've been around long enough and have been told on multiple accounts that when I sleep, you can hardly even hear me breathe (inappropriate jokes not applicable here :) ). Not impressed? Just wait until you find yourself sleeping beside a blaring speaker phone that ceases to stop. Then you'll appreciate rarities such as myself. ;)
It's been some time since you've seen pictures, so let me show you the beauty of Banff, Canada. Makes me wonder why I insisted on travelling halfway across the world when my own country offers this. Mandatory tourist picture at Lake Lousie. It's inevitable; don't fight it. And come on, why would you?
Me on the ice glacial field with my best buddy of the trip, Malibu. Did I almost fall on the ice being dragged by him on our "walk"? Only every other step of the way. I need to start lifting. I knew using water bottles as weights had its downfalls, haha. But it's times like this that makes me want to settle down in a calming neighbourhood like Yaletown and live in a chic beige and white colour based studio apartment with my beloved canine who is obviously potty trained and cleans after himself. Maybe a little far fetched but hey, a girl can dream.
Look at this! That reflection in the lake. Phew, what a sight. This was taken right before dusk was settling in, and according to the parents, this is incomparable to how it was in the early morning. "I've never seen anything like it in my life before"-Mama. I can't put in my two cents because I was fast asleep in the back seat at that hour, daydreaming about my perfect life in Yaletown.
So what did I exactly do during my time on this camping trip? A lot of sleeping in the car, chatting at the camp fire, eating of dumplings, and sightseeing. Eddy (my brother) and I shared a lot of good laughs over the most outrageous topics and it made me realize happiness can truly come from the simplest things. Towards the end of the trip, I was itching to get home to take an unnecessarily long hot shower and sleep on my therapeutic memory foam bed.
I don't think I've ever mention my other family member in my blog, but I have a younger sister, Kelly, who you may call mini Michelle because she looks identical to me when I was her age. Creepy? Very. You try watching a younger version of yourself growing up. A little Benjamin Button-esqe if you ask me. Anywho, the reason I brought up mini Michelle is that last week, she managed to break her arm. This is of no surprise to anyone in the family because the term "resting" and "sitting still" does not exist in her world. Alright, you have to admit though, this is kind of cute.
Left: mini Michelle at 3 years old when she broke her right arm jumping off the bed onto an exercise ball.
Right: last week when she broke her left arm doing a cartwheel.
Bravo mini Michelle, Bravo!
But honestly, aside from the usual catching up with friends which has been delightful to say the least, I've been missing Rome; a lot. It's usual for girls to get all sappy and emotional about small things (yes yes, blame it on the hormones) but I'd like to think I rarely do. Why get caught up in the past when you should be living the moment? However, in this case, it's easier said than done, especially when I just had the best 6 months of my life in Rome. Leaving behind my Italian family, my exchange friends, and my Roman home was one of the most heartbreaking moments. I was driving one day and a song that I heard regularly in Rome came on and I almost burst into tears. Am I having a emotional breakdown? What's going on here? Am I a girl or something? Pathetic.
What's helping me through this transition is knowing that my next adventure is just around the corner :) What am I referring to? This goes back two months ago when I was travelling in Croatia. I was working on my resume one night and saw a marketing Co-op opportunity that triggered a tiny light bulb in my head. Why? Oh I don't know, maybe because the job was based in Hong Kong!!! I robotically sent in my resume and cover letter, with the slightest sign of hope because I knew I lacked one of the biggest advantages for this job: the ability to speak Cantonese. Not knowing how it all happened, two interviews later and I was offered the position. Yeeeeeee!!! Training starts next week and in October, they'll be sending me to Hong Kong for 7 months. I may also be setting a record for taking the longest time to obtain a bachelor's degree. I had to send in an appeal letter to extend my graduation; that's how rare I am. Two exchanges, two years worth of co-op work terms and a double major...is there anything else I can do to extend my stay???
Since I'm leaving soon again, it's been nice relaxing at home. I read on the lawn, bake muffins, do Kelly's hair, memorizee SAT vocabs with Eddy and watch Friends (classic). Last week I was really caught up in a thriller (borderline horror, at least in my world) novel called "Syndrome E". Let's just say the back of my neck hair was on full alert and I was bundled up in my blankets all day long. I don't want to spoil the book but essentially, it's about a mysterious film that was discovered with subliminal messages and hidden meanings in it that causes the viewer to feel uneasy, disgusted and disturbed. Picture a more neurosciency and less horror version of "The Ring" (or not because I've actually never seen the movie). The first 2/3 of the book is so intense I resisted putting it down even though I physically couldn't handle the disturbing and highly graphical scenes. I would recommend the book but the last 1/3 is a little flat and I felt as if I had to finish it just to end it. Either way, it felt pervertedly refreshing to have a book control my emotions like that.
Stay tuned as I will continue to blog while I prepare my big leave for Hong Kong!
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