One thing i really like about having this job, is i get PAID. This makes saving up for my trip a lot easier and less painful. For those who don't know, i work at Xental marketing. Yes, I'm a telemarketer and yes i know you HATE to hear from me. but i don't think i met a single person who liked their first few jobs (or most jobs). I also deliver flyers for the Hamilton Spectator.
I just picked up my paycheck and with that sitting in my bank i have about $400 saved or %8 (I'm a math geek, give me a break, besides i think it looks better). All i can say is WOW GOD IS AWESOME! I do find it funny though, it was about 1 year ago i found out i was going to Ukraine for the first time. and i only just finished paying for my First trip a few weeks ago. so in other words, for the past year most of my money has been going towards Ukraine :P
I look forward to the day when i finally have this money saved so i can spend it on other things (like moving out and paying bills).
I also like to set small goals here and there, they don't have to be very big or special. but today my goal is to get a Blog reader from Italy, lets see if i can get one :) If any of you guys know someone in Italy, pass this on to them :P
Paul
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Just realized
Hey everyone :) i keep checking the stats on my blog, and I'm surprised on how many people i don't even know are reading it (that includes you 7 people from USA) :).
I was walking to school before my exam this morning and i realized i have posted two blogs and i still haven't really said why i want to go back to Ukraine, for how long, or any information on those lines what so ever LOL
Well to understand on why i want to go back theres two big parts to it. You need to understand a little of my past, and you need to understand what these kids are going through and how awesome they are about it.
I didn't grow up in the best home, i was never hit, almost never yelled at(unless i did something stupid, i was a brat) but right off the bat for me things were messed up. I am a product of rape, theres not much else about it but at the age of 16 my mom was raped and I'm here today because of it. My mom has never tried to get rid of my because of it. Other then the first 6 months or so of her pregnancy, she got drunk A LOT, threw herself down stairs, and other "home remades" of dealing with a pregnancy.
So i grew up with out knowing a Father (other than God, but even that was a little shaky for the first bit of my life). I never grew up with a lot of money either, when i was in grade 2 or 3, we moved across Canada to Alberta and I'm pretty sure dirt was worth more than what we had. We started out in a few womans shelters until my mom could get a job, and find a place to live (remember by this time she is now a single mother at the age of 21 with 2 kids). so we moved to Millwoods Alberta, my mom was working two jobs and we had next to nothing.
I really didn't help, even though by the age of 6 or 7 i was able to cook a full meal and clean, i started to get into trouble. i got into setting fires, and stealing, and tricking people to give me stuff (i was a cute kid back then, it was a lot easier for me). I was an angry child, and i didn't know who to be angery at because it wasn't anyones fault. so i stole, set fires and so on.
when i was 8 or 9, we met who i call my dad (or daddy-o when i want something) He was probably the first good thing i could count on in my life, and things got better (but not with out A LOT of work). I'm still not perfect, im far from it. and i can go into much more detail on how messed up my life was and is, but this is what you need to know for now.
The kids i want to work with in Ukraine are coming from similar backgrounds, their parents are out of the picture or don't care, they have next to nothing, and all they want is something sturdy to count on. When i was in Ukraine for the first time, i saw these kids who have maybe one or two toys that they can call their own, and are living in an orphanage or a rehab center. But the thing is, with these kids they only want one thing. they want to be "normal", get good grades in school, get a good job, and grow up and have a good life and family. In Canada we all have that chance (you can debate it if you want, but I'm standing by it), and if you work hard you can get a good job, have a good family and a good life. I found in Ukraine, people go to school, and its a struggle every step of the way. when they get a job, its a struggle to save money and stay ahead. When they have a family its a struggle to keep it together, because of so many "out side forces".
I found that i can relate to these kids, because i have struggled through school, i have struggled to have a good family and life, and i have seen people struggle to get a good job. To them, i came through everything they have to, to me they are superheros.
Thanks for reading you guys it means a lot :)
and as a gift i give you this
I was walking to school before my exam this morning and i realized i have posted two blogs and i still haven't really said why i want to go back to Ukraine, for how long, or any information on those lines what so ever LOL
Well to understand on why i want to go back theres two big parts to it. You need to understand a little of my past, and you need to understand what these kids are going through and how awesome they are about it.
I didn't grow up in the best home, i was never hit, almost never yelled at(unless i did something stupid, i was a brat) but right off the bat for me things were messed up. I am a product of rape, theres not much else about it but at the age of 16 my mom was raped and I'm here today because of it. My mom has never tried to get rid of my because of it. Other then the first 6 months or so of her pregnancy, she got drunk A LOT, threw herself down stairs, and other "home remades" of dealing with a pregnancy.
So i grew up with out knowing a Father (other than God, but even that was a little shaky for the first bit of my life). I never grew up with a lot of money either, when i was in grade 2 or 3, we moved across Canada to Alberta and I'm pretty sure dirt was worth more than what we had. We started out in a few womans shelters until my mom could get a job, and find a place to live (remember by this time she is now a single mother at the age of 21 with 2 kids). so we moved to Millwoods Alberta, my mom was working two jobs and we had next to nothing.
I really didn't help, even though by the age of 6 or 7 i was able to cook a full meal and clean, i started to get into trouble. i got into setting fires, and stealing, and tricking people to give me stuff (i was a cute kid back then, it was a lot easier for me). I was an angry child, and i didn't know who to be angery at because it wasn't anyones fault. so i stole, set fires and so on.
when i was 8 or 9, we met who i call my dad (or daddy-o when i want something) He was probably the first good thing i could count on in my life, and things got better (but not with out A LOT of work). I'm still not perfect, im far from it. and i can go into much more detail on how messed up my life was and is, but this is what you need to know for now.
The kids i want to work with in Ukraine are coming from similar backgrounds, their parents are out of the picture or don't care, they have next to nothing, and all they want is something sturdy to count on. When i was in Ukraine for the first time, i saw these kids who have maybe one or two toys that they can call their own, and are living in an orphanage or a rehab center. But the thing is, with these kids they only want one thing. they want to be "normal", get good grades in school, get a good job, and grow up and have a good life and family. In Canada we all have that chance (you can debate it if you want, but I'm standing by it), and if you work hard you can get a good job, have a good family and a good life. I found in Ukraine, people go to school, and its a struggle every step of the way. when they get a job, its a struggle to save money and stay ahead. When they have a family its a struggle to keep it together, because of so many "out side forces".
I found that i can relate to these kids, because i have struggled through school, i have struggled to have a good family and life, and i have seen people struggle to get a good job. To them, i came through everything they have to, to me they are superheros.
Thanks for reading you guys it means a lot :)
and as a gift i give you this
Monday, January 24, 2011
Chapter One
First of all this is pretty awesome, i just started this Blog YESTERDAY and people from all over the WORLD are reading it! *insert dance here* thanks so much you guys (including the mystery person in the US, i can't think of anyone in the US).
Over the past few days i have really noticed on how many opportunities i have been given to take a leader position in some way or another; theres me being asked to help run a table at Alpha, doing a peer tutoring class next semester and help teach grade nine ESL math, Being a member of "Link Crew", and few smaller things here and there. If there is one thing i have learned it is that i rather enjoy being in a role of a leader. I'm still rather new to the whole concept, but it's interesting.
If a form of authority says you are to lead *insert group needing to be lead here* you don't have much of a choice to say no(in my mind at least, i don't say "no" really well). But just because I'm in a form of authority people look at you different. At school i am something called a "Link Crew Leader". Long story short, i help the grade nines get used to high school. Some of the Grade Nines i have listened to me more then their own teachers or even parents(I'm not sure if thats good, but I'll go along with it). I'm not doing anything special, just pointing a few students in the right direction when they are lost in the school or talk to them when I'm speaking to a class. But because I'm "In Charge"(hahah) they listen to me.
I'm not sure if God is leading me towards to be a better leader or not. But for the time being i will sit back, enjoy, and NOT FIGHT. Like i have newly discovered. I lost my "Comfort Box" some where is Ukraine, might as well explore the new area and see whats around.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Intro
I am now keeping a log if you will on my growth spiritually, as the days to me leaving for Ukraine comes closer. There's not going to be much in this Blog other then that (unless something erks me). I'll try to keep this blog up to date as things happen. but since this is just an intro i will introduce my self :)
Theres not much to me, I'm a 17 year old teenager and i like to think I'm pretty "normal", but as the days go by i learn that I'm more and more different. i don't want to go too far into my life story right now(thats for a later day) but what i can tell you is that the days between October 20, 2010 and November 3, 2010 changed my life. That was when i went on my first mission trip to Ukraine. I went with 10 AWESOME people and i think i grew more in those 2 weeks then i have ever grown in my 17 years. The kids and the people there really touched me, and because of that I'm working on going back for 6 months after i graduate.
This is what the Blog is about, as the days go by I will be talking more about the trip i was on and more on what i discover about myself as i get closer to Ukraine. Because I'm going to be honest here, just getting the funds and skills i need for the trip is a learning processes all on its own.
By the way. the "color code" i have set up is more for me than you. Don't try to figure it out, if you do good job but theres no secret message or anything. its just me organizing my thoughts.
Theres not much to me, I'm a 17 year old teenager and i like to think I'm pretty "normal", but as the days go by i learn that I'm more and more different. i don't want to go too far into my life story right now(thats for a later day) but what i can tell you is that the days between October 20, 2010 and November 3, 2010 changed my life. That was when i went on my first mission trip to Ukraine. I went with 10 AWESOME people and i think i grew more in those 2 weeks then i have ever grown in my 17 years. The kids and the people there really touched me, and because of that I'm working on going back for 6 months after i graduate.
This is what the Blog is about, as the days go by I will be talking more about the trip i was on and more on what i discover about myself as i get closer to Ukraine. Because I'm going to be honest here, just getting the funds and skills i need for the trip is a learning processes all on its own.
By the way. the "color code" i have set up is more for me than you. Don't try to figure it out, if you do good job but theres no secret message or anything. its just me organizing my thoughts.
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