Third week down

Hi guys!

So this past week and weekend has been yet another adventure. I have been hiking like no other since I have been here. Which makes me stop and think, I really take advantage of all the beauty and nature that my surrounding offer me back home. I have always loved to be outdoors but being here has really opened my eyes to how much I really love and enjoy it. And I know that I am going to take this back home with me.

This past weekend I went on a camping trip with the ORTM (Outdoor, recreation, and tourism management) group, at this place called Eskers. Eskers is about 30mins out of Prince George, so it wasn't too far but a ways out of town. It was beautiful. People are really not allowed to camp at Eskers Park, it is only opened certain hours of the day to the public, (just so they can preserve the forest and park.) But the ORTM program was lucky enough to get a grant from the park for this past weekend. They let us camp in a meadow, (out of the public eye) and let us help them with an event Saturday. Saturday the park rangers of Eskers had an event for the public to come and experience some of the things that Eskers has to offer and us ORTM students got to helped with that. Where we were camped was walking distance to where the event was held, so we got there a few hours earlier and some of the rangers talked to us about Eskers and some job opportunities.Then we got to get in a hike before everyone else got there. So some of the events they had were a short guided hike or a really long hike, a mushroom hike and a GPS hike (which I did,) then they had a set up for the children, where they could paint and do arts and crafts. The GPS hike was a lot of fun, we had one of the ORTM 4th yr. students guide the hike and show us how to us a GPS and use coordinates. Then after the full day of events we just cooked out, made smores and we all learned a new game called mafia. That night was so much fun and our camping spot was gorgeous. When it would start getting dark the fog would just creep in. It was so beautiful and natural, I loved it.

 These past three weeks have been unbelievable. At times I have to stop and "smell the roses." I just think, "Am I really in Canada? Am I really doing and experiencing all of this? Is this really happening to me?" I couldn't be more thankful to have this opportunity. And these past few days have been really hard on me because I am really starting to miss my family, friends, and my Conrad. It's not that I am homesick, I mean I do miss home but not to the point I wanna just pick up and leave, but I just miss the physical part of my family, friends and Conrad. I just miss holding my nephews in my arms, I miss coming home to Conrad and our evenings together, I miss kicking back with my mom and sister and just being ditsy. But at the same time I look at my calendar in my dorm room and the time is flying by already.

I didn't think to much of blogs at first but I like it. I am glad that I can share my experience and feelings with you all while I am on my journey, (even if no one reads it that is still fine with me, at least I can release some of my thoughts onto the keyboard.) Well I better put this one to bed for now, so until next time take care!!

Sounds good!

Glad you are having a great time.  We are actively promoting UNBC and have two solid prospects for next year...1 for Spring and 1 for Fall.  I look forward to more pictures of your classes and experiences outside of school.  My big question is, "Are you ready for Winter?!"  Have fun and learn a lot, Jozie.  - Mr. B

Second week down!

Hello!

So this past week as been another crazy fun week! And I got into the class I was wanting. It is something totally different than what I have ever taken but I love it so far. It is and intro to film, the basics of films and analyzing movies. Not too bad for another week.

Today (Sunday) is my roommate/friend from  Denmarks'  birthday! So  Friday morning we started one of her many surprises, with a happy birthday sign in our dorm. That evening we went out to the lake that we went to our first week here and built a fire, quite a bit of people from campus showed up. Then yesterday we went on another hike just by the university. And today we surprised her with breakfast and a gift bag full of goodies and ballons. Then for dinner she cooked us a traditional Denmark dish, which was soo delicious!

My roommates have been so amazing and awesome! We get along so well and living with them so far has been unexplainable. I am glad that I have them, if  I didn't I probably would be really really homesick. But I can't wait to see what this next week brings me, I know it will be another adventure though! But till then take care!!

Love,
Jozi!

First week down!

Hello!

So my first week flew by! At times it did seem to drag but looking back, it didn't seem like it has been a week already. I have finally went to all of my classes now and I love them, except one. UNBC starts their classes on Wednesdays which we start on Thursdays, so that kind of threw me off on my weekdays.

As for my HRTM colleague's know how our program works (such as; the professors and classes and whatnot.) Well their program here is called the ORTM program, I guess. ORTM stands for Outdoor, Recreation, and Tourism management. So they have their way of not thinking but they have their own little groove just like us HRTM students do. So the class I don't like is an ORTM 300 level class. I thought it wouldn't be that challenging because I am a fourth year student (as the students up here say.) But yesterday was my first class in that class and I was blown away. Maybe it is just me personally but writing is not my strongest suite. That class requires so much writing, it is not even funny. There is a fifteen page paper due by Nov. and on top of that there is a journal he wants us to write each week up to four to five pages, a week!! So hopefully I can figure this situation out.

But other than that it has been amazing so far! I couldn't ask for better roommates, we all click and stick together. This past weekend we went on two hikes in different locations and it was just unbelievable. I can't really explain it but I will post some pictures also. UNBC is a small university but they always have some event going on. And this university is also known as the "green" university in Canada. They are all about recycling and and environmentally friendly which is really cool to see and experience it. But I have lots of reading to do so till next time take care!

 This hike was on Sunday. We went to this "secret spot" that only a few people know about. It was about 30 mins. out of Prince George.

This hike was on Saturday at L.C. Gun Park. We hiked for two hours and it is on like a mountain ridge that overlooks Prince George. It was gorgeous!

Arriving to Canada/UNBC

Well hello all!

So today is my second full day here at UNBC. The journey was a long, exciting, and tiring. I left New Mexico Aug. 30 and flew to Seattle, WA with my boyfriend, his name is Conrad. His sister lives in Tacoma, WA so we stayed with her for two and half days, then rented a car and drove all the way to Prince George in British Columbia. It was about a fourteen hour drive, it would have been a few hours faster but we took our time and just took in all of the scenery and natural beauty Canada has. One of the stops we made was at the famous Hell's Gate Airtram. We rode the tramway and went on the bridge in Fraser Canyon, that was really cool.

When we finally got to Prince George we drove around town and seen what it was like and trying to find the university at the same time. The university is located on top of a little mountain ridge, it is so beautiful and a lot smaller than I imagined. But I like the size of the university and the dorms, it is a perfect size to get to know a lot of new people but not too big where I can get lost easily. When we got to the dorms I met my roommates who were very welcoming. There are only two buildings of dorms. One is called Keyoh and the one I'm in is called Neyoh. They house about five hundred people in each, so not too many but still a lot.

Yesterday was my first full day at UNBC and my roommates and I all had a bonding day. We went to Wal-Mart and bought groceries, spent the rest of day hanging out in our dorm talking, learning about each other and having lots of laughs. Then later that night most of the people in both of the dorms all went to a lake near by (walking distance) and hanged out by a fire. It was such an awesome day! And today I just finished putting all my stuff away in my room and went to an international/exchange orientation with my new friend from Denmark. I want to keep each blog to a minimum size, but this is the first one so it's a little longer than I thought. But tomorrow is my first official day of school! I am a little nervous but excited to see what there class sessions are like! So stay tuned!! :)

Best wishes,
Jozi