My 25th Year.

I have been wanting to write this blog post for a while. Actually, I've wanted to write it since the inception of my blog back in October, but have been waiting for a day where I feel inspired to write it. I think my birthday might be a good day...


When J-Sak and I were flying over the Atlantic, to Europe on October 5th, I began thinking about life. You know how it is, 9 hours sitting in the same spot, everyone around you is conked out after their airplane meal and wine. It gives a person time to ponder. I am at a crossroads in my life right now, and the beginning of this crossroads began when I made the decision to leave Victoria, which has been my home for the past 4 years. Looking back, I cannot believe how influential that time in my life was for me. I often wonder what kind of person I would've become, or what experiences I would or would not have had if I had stayed in Edmonton throughout my university years.


There are certain years of a person's life that are big, monumental and will always be remembered. For the good and the bad. I think my year of being 25 was that kind of year for me. It's funny because, when you are in the moment of living, it is hard to see things for what they really are. I never really felt like the past 14 months were big for me when I was living through it, but when I look back, it's hard to believe what took place in a little over a year's time.


It started when a major relationship of mine completely disintegrated before my eyes in the fall of 2010, and that Christmas was the worst Christmas, hopefully, of my life. It was awful. Before Christmas though, in December of 2010, I had finally finished my undergraduate degree at UVic. It was the biggest feeling of relief for me and I was very excited to have completed all my coursework. I came home to Edmonton for the Christmas holidays and knew that when I went back to Victoria I was going to be broke and jobless. It created some anxiety and was a scary thought. Everyone was asking, "So now what?". Yeah. I wasn't too sure.


The job market in Victoria sucks, I'm just saying that now. High cost of living coupled with limited jobs, and low paying ones at that, make it tough in that city. I had made the decision in my mind that, if I did not have a job in Victoria by the end of February, I was going to make plans to move home after the soccer season wrapped up in March. While I was on holidays in Edmonton, I had seen a job posted on Craigslist Victoria for a temporary customer service position with the Victoria Symphony, and figured that I would apply for this job...even if it was only temporary. As soon as I returned to Vic, I marched down to the Symphony office and put in my application. I ended up getting an interview! Wow! That, in itself, felt like an accomplishment in Victoria's job market. Unfortunately, I did not get the position. I ended up working in a mind numbing retail job just to generate some sort of income while I looked for other work. I pounded the pavement for a good three weeks looking for work and nothing came of it. However, a few weeks after my initial interview with the Victoria Symphony, I got a call back saying that there was another opening for a CSR, as someone had been promoted within the staff. "Would I still like the job?" I was asked. Of course!! By the end of February, as I had set out to do, I was working full time at the Symphony with a great group of forward thinking people! It turned out, three months later, that I was asked to stay on board and become a full-time, permanent member of the VS team! This job experience turned out to be the best work experience of my life so far. I had a blast with the VS, learned some valuable skills, developed friendships with some ultra-kool kats, and, in many ways, it totally turned my life around in Victoria. It came at a perfect time. Coincidence? Fate? Someone was looking after me? I'm still thinking about that one.

VS Plaid Day! Lookin' mighty fine!

Another great VS theme day: Polka Dots!

 
June 2011. My whole family (Mum, Dad, Drew, Grandma, B and Peter) flew out to Victoria to be at my convocation. It was now official! I graduated from UVic with a BA in geography and I finally had my degree in my paws. It was a big celebration and great to have my whole family there to support me. A long road to the end and here it was! Even the Symphony surprised me with a lovely card and flowers, how nice!

Convocation...June 14, 2011

My Mexican sister, Begonia, and I in Vancouver...Easter weekend 2011

Inner Harbour @ Symphony Splash 2011

July 2011. Me, along with all the staff at the Symphony worked our asses off for Splash. What a great experience for me. I was so excited and proud to be part of an event like Splash! If you don't know what Splash is, check it out: http://www.victoriasymphony.ca/splash/. And, you should go sometime! Also, Yvette and I did our first sprint triathlon (all the events are half the distance of an Olympic triathlon) together! Woot!

My volunteers and I @ Symphony Splash 2011

Success! Sprint triathlon completed!

The first weekend of August came around and I had planned a mini vacay with my cousin, Ashley, in Toronto (she flew to TO from Edmonton and I met up with her coming from a Victoria flight). Perfect timing for a break as I was exhausted from Splash and triathlon training! Ashley had invited me to come with her to her friend's wedding and we spent a marvelous 4 days together, catching up and really talking about some good stuff. She is one of the closest people I have in my life, I'm so thankful to be so connected with her! That weekend she informed me that she had made the decision to pursue great opportunities in Australia for an indefinite amount of time (meaning she would not be back for a while) and she would be leaving in November. That weekend was a true blessing. Upon our departure from each other at the TO airport, saying goodbye was pretty tough because we did not know when we would see each other next and be able to spend some good, quality time together. But you know what that means? Um, hello, Australia trip?!

Bloor and Yonge St. WOOT!

Just chillin out in TO...looking badass in our badass shades...

 Because I spent the summer in Victoria, I was able to keep on playing soccer. I was on a couple of just-for-fun summer teams and felt like I was steadily improving at the game. I also felt like I was really gelling with my Castaways team and we had done well in the previous season, so we were moving up to Div 2 for the 2011-2012 season! I was also training to do a half-marathon sometime in the fall...not sure when...but I picked up running a couple of years ago and have come to really enjoy it.

Castaways Div 3...2010-2011

My soccer going away party. Such a fun night! Thanks to my awesome team!

Jeni and I had been talking about going to Europe together for quite sometime. We both knew we wanted to do some backpacking after finishing university and the fall of 2011 was a now-or-never time for J-Sak. I had to do it! I had been saving, bit by bit, for such a trip not knowing when it would happen. Full fledged planning started in the summer of 2011 and I came to the realization, bitter-sweet it was, that it was time to move on from Vic. Though I had a great job, a nice place to live, awesome friends and a crazy-fun soccer team, I knew in my heart that my life was not meant to be in Victoria...no matter how great the present seemed to be. Jeni and I booked our flight from Edmonton to Munich for October 5th. I also ran my very first half-marathon in Munich, Germany on October 10th. So, September proved to be a very emotional month. Saying goodbye and packing up my Victoria life was difficult, but essential, in order for me to explore other avenues of life.

Venice...November 2011

Barcelona...November 2011. With our lives on our backs!

And a year came in full circle...
I found myself on an international fight, Europe bound, for a two month whirlwind backpacking adventure with one of my closest friends (I've known her since grade 3 people!). I have been back in Edmonton for two weeks now...staring my 26th birthday in the face. I never would've guessed that I would have done all that in a year! It came with some very low times and some very high times. The future is still very unknown at this point...a little bit scary, I have to say. But exciting at the same time. I am thankful for all this year has given me...there is no doubt that I am a stronger and happier person because of it all.


Now, I've got to go blow out 26 candles and get another big year underway! Thanks to all who are reading...