Joe Is Back in NOTL

It is official; my Canada World Youth journey has come to an end. Over. Kaput. From the whole application and interview process, to the fundraising two-thousand dollars, to meeting the group in Edmonton, to the English teaching in China and the maintenance work at the museum in Saskatchewan and to everything in-between, it has been one hell of a ride I will never forget! It was sad to see everyone leave at the airport - but I was happy to have made some really awesome friends - friends that I plan to keep in touch with. Hey, if I ever find myself in random places like Victoria, North Alberta, Montreal or even as far away as China, I'll always have those special people I can count on to crash at their place. Muahaha. Actually, if plans work out, then three of my good chums from the program are coming down to Niagara to hang out for a bit. Already!

It's been three days since I have come home, and everything seems.... Eerily the same. I entered my room to find my day calendar flipped open to the page that said 'Fly off to Edmonton', and my unwashed clothes in the hamper. So, the washroom is painted like the inside of a pumpkin, and I am lacking a canine figure... But it seems like nothing has changed with my family and friends. And you know what? I really like it. It's nice to slow down and take a big breath. Soon I will start applying to jobs, and before I know it I will be in university. Yes yes yes, I need to save up for tuition big time, but for the moment (maybe two weeks give or take), I will embrace my inner three-toed sloth.

The 3 Stages of Coming Home (Represented by Isaac, Tom, Nicole and Joe):

Stage 1: The program is over, and so is my life

I was quite depressed when I said goodbye to my friends from across the world. I sat in the plane by my lonesome self, and would turn around when I thought I heard the laugh or some other small noise that sounded like someone very familiar. I was actually really nervous walking through the airport fretting over what I would say to my parents, and worrying about the most obscure things. The general feeling was low, scarred, and a tad bit sweaty from carrying my gargantuan luggage around.

Stage 2: Okay, so maybe it is nice to have my bed back

What was with all the worrying about seeing my parents again? After a sappy reunion at the airport - where bystanders laughed at my blubbering mom as the three of us embraced - we went home for an awesome meal of vegetable soup, samosas, and cheese and crackers. No fat and fuzzy greeting at the newly painted yellow door, which will be hard to get used to, but it was great to chill with the parental units, talk to my friends on the phone, and enjoy the moisture that is in the air of South Ontario. Note: If you ever find yourself in Saskatchewan, bring moisturizer, and lots of it!


Stage 3: Exciting plans for the future! The ACEs are reunited! I have my life back!

Waaahooooo! I had forgotten what good food had tasted like (food plays a very important role in my life); dang my parents can cook! I'm working on putting together my photo album for the program, and that has been pretty fun. Being the bad influence I am, Isaac ended up skipping part of school AND rowing so that we could hang out with Thom and Nicole all night for a crepe eating good time. Man, I forgot how good it is to hang out with the guys! Just like old times complete with mandatory video game playing. Yesssss. With six months before me until I live it up in Guelph, I am currently deciding which path of action to take - and it is an exciting one! I'm applying for a job tomorrow as a parking meter officer, and I think I will start training for a ten-mile race in July at.... Newfoundland! How cool is that? I'll work on some small art projects in the meanwhile, and see if the humane society needs and extra hand with anything. I haven't seen the love of my life in 7 months (that being my orthodontist), and I am going up to Guelph on the weekend to see my grandma, sister and cousins. If any CWY friends are reading this, yes I am going to demonstrate the Ba Shan Wu for them. Being back home is much more exciting than I thought it would be!Of course, I do still feel a bit strange being out of the program though. I miss my little CP, Song Song. I miss circle checks, EADs and CADs. I'm sure that people who never were in CWY had no clue what I just meant... Which is why I will always be in the underground Canada World Youth cult. Or, alumini. Whatever you want to call it... But someday, I would like to work for them. Whether it is just volunteer work selecting participants, or if it is an actual contract as a project supervisor. It would all be cool. Okay, so maybe it is not as interesting as going to Kosovo for two years to teach... But we can't ALL be like Terri, can we?

Okay, time to go crash in my little nest. I suppose that I will come out of the woodworks tomorrow to see some other friends and run some errands. Wan an (good night). Sweet, I haven't forgotten all of my mandarin yet....

-Joe