It has been a while since my last post here and I’m sure you have been wondering where I have been, or maybe not. The truth is I have tried to sit down and write this many times, even now it has taken me a few hours(more like days) to actually put the words on the page so to speak. I don’t know I just lost the blog bug for a while but it’s a new year and so time to start again. So here it goes, back to the blog. I can’t believe that this year is over, something I say at the start of each new year, but this year it really is true. So much has happened this year that I can’t quite believe. I thought I would give you a little run down of what I have been up to over these past 12 months and a little on my plans for the next 12. So grab a cuppa or whatever is your beverage of choice and let’s get started.

I started the year in Ireland working in Skechers show shop which I have to admit writing that now it seems like a lifetime ago. It was great to learn some new skills and meet some new people but I always had this feeling in my heart that it was not where I was meant to be. I want to travel the world and do all manner of crazy jobs that make me happy. Don’t get me wrong it was a great place for that time in my life but not something that I want to do for a long time. It wasn’t long before I was on my next adventure to France to work at American Village Camps. Over the next 3 months, I got to work with some of the most amazing doing some crazy things, from dirt goblins to cavemen, we really did put our imaginations into full swing and got to live like kids for a while. There is just something about camp that has a special place in my heart and I never want to lose it.

Coming home from France I was already thinking about my next move and adventure. It was already planned for a while but I decided to take the leap and move to Canada. With my visa in hand and a suitcase packed to the brim, my first stop was Nova Scotia where my love with camp was once again rekindled. Working for Tim Horton’s Children Camp right on the Atlantic Ocean was amazing. I got to meet so many amazing new people and grow in my skills as a counselor. It was a tough summer emotionally for me but in the end, I came out as a stronger person and a better counselor. I got to do so many activities, learned new skills and has such interesting new experiences(pooping in a hole in the forest for one was a new thing). It once again reminded me why I love camp so much because even though it was a tough summer I still had an awesome summer that I will never forget.

From there I headed to Toronto on a 4-day road trip which was fun, getting me to my next adventure of Camp Robin Hood. It was great to be back for the fall season getting to work with friends both old and new. I also got to work with the mentors who are grade 12 and help them to see how they can make an impact which was really cool. As I said I got to reunite with old friends from last year which was amazing and I also got to meet new and amazing people making new friendships that will last. Coming towards the end of camp was where my plan for Canada had stopped so the anxiety levels were kicking in as I would soon be jobless and homeless in a foreign country which is never a good thing. Luckily I had met some amazing people and I was kind of adopted by my friend’s family who I have been staying with for the past while which has been amazing.

I was on the job search applying for anything and everything while I was at camp and it paid off. Just when we finished I got an interview for UPS for one job but ended up getting hired for another. I was hired as a driver helper for the Christmas season which was fun. I was basically in the truck with the driver helping to scan and deliver packages to homes and businesses. My driver was pretty cool which made the job easier as they were basically the only person you saw for the whole day. We were both a bit worried at the start as neither of us was very chatty but as the weeks went on we grew to know each other better and were cracking jokes left, right and center. It was great to get the job and it was perfect timing but it definitely made me see that being a postman or delivery man is not for me.

This all led up to Christmas which was crazy. It was the first Christmas that I would spend away from home which was sad but also exciting as it meant that it would be something new and new memories would be made. We finished work about 4 days before Christmas which was nice as it meant I could relax and get into the Christmas spirit a little more. As I said I was kind of adopted by my friends family who kindly took me in when I needed it and I will forever be grateful to them. Even though I was not home it was nice to spend Christmas with someone, even if it was not the traditional Christmas I was used to it was great. I was on turkey duty which is a big task but after my years of watching mam get up at 7am to put the turkey in, I had to learn a thing or two (my good friend google also helped). It turned out great and dinner was a success. I got to stuff my self silly which is a Christmas tradition no matter where you are.

Coming to Canada for Christmas I thought for sure that I was guaranteed a white Christmas but unfortunately, it was not so. We had a little on Christmas Eve and the ground was white so I am taking it. With snow comes all the winter activities which I have never really got to do with there not being any snow really in Ireland. We went ice-skating a few times which is not my forte, Bambi on ice is me but the is one winter activity I have always wanted to do but haven’t and that is…..SNOWBOARDING. I finally got to realize that dream this Christmas which was great. The first day I spent most of my time on my butt, which was very sore the next day, but gradually I got better. I can now kind of turn but it is only the beginning, I can’t wait to work on it and get better.

Now it is a new year and I am starting it in a new country. I am still getting used to being away from home and get the occasional bout of homesickness but that’s all normal. I am settling in the life in Canada and I love it. I will keep you up to date with my escapades here and hopefully, tales of me shredding it down a mountain like a bad-ass but baby steps for the moment. That’s the end of my essay but I hope you will continue with me on this Candian adventure with me.

Emma

xx