IMPORTANT NEWS!

THIS JUST IN!

We are now on Indiegogo, this is a website that helps fund all kinds of projects such as movies, food, art, writing... But here's the deal, it's up to YOU, the followers to check out the project on Indiegogo, contribute, and encourage all you friends, family, and favourite travellers to do the same!

The link for our documentary film project is: http://www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc

While on the site make sure to check out all the other projects that are being featured. So many of them are so interesting and creative!

Today has been such a productive day. While dad and I were looking at the Eurail website last night, we noticed some small print that says you cannot purchase Eurail passes while in Europe. Oh no! It was totally my plan to buy my pass when I got to Paris. When I called to find out more information and see if I could get the pass rushed to my house overnight, the representative on the phone became very stressed about the time crunch. Luckily, I had my problem-solver-hat on this morning and asked the gentleman if there were any outlets in Ottawa that would sell me a pass on the spot. Yes, there are! Conveniently, the place he referred me was Adventure Travel on Richmond Rd. which is located directly across from Mountain Equipment Coop; also on my list of places to go. The pass I chose is the 3 country pass that goes between France, Switzerland, and Italy; cannot wait to consume authentic italian everything!

Bought my pass at Adventure Travel, made a return at Bushtukah, purchased proper hiking pants and a pack rain cover. Four things checked off the trip to do list! Score!

But seriously ya'll, help a sister out and share this link with everybody on you Facebook, email and phone list: http://www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc

Thanks so much, you are all amazing!

Time is Short!

Finally, after wishing and hoping it would happen, I was able to spend this past weekend in Sudbury, Ontario. Left a rainy Ottawa behind on Friday at 12:01 a.m., and arrived in a blizzard in Sudbury at 6:30 a.m. It is my feeling that taking the Greyhound is a must on the life experience list; double trouble if you get the opportunity to stop in Chalk River on route to your destination.

I am so fortunate to have such wonderful friends in my life! They love me even when I get a random cold and lose my voice... regardless, I had a wonderful time with them. It has been so long since the last time Caitlin and I got together! So grateful to both her and Derek for taking me in for the weekend. Thanks so much, ya'll rock!

Was also able to spent some quality time with my good pal Michelle. She is graduating this year and is moving to Barrie, Ont. in a few weeks to start an amazing life with her love, Alex and their two cats Nancy and Steven. We even got into talks about her introducing me to Wasaga Beach in the summer... road trip!

Jacqueline, the lovely woman who helped me survive college at Cambrian, was also in town. Unfortunately we weren't able to spend much time together, but we were able to share a pretty wicked hug. Her hugs have miraculous powers, and I felt my blues melt away as we embraced.

I've been trying to deconstruct my new found love for Sudbury. Honestly, when I was there its charms escaped me. All I could focus on was the landscape composed mainly of the black road, grey rocks, dirty snow and an overcast sky. Now that I've graduated and moved home, I definitely have a stronger appreciation for that city and also am somewhat drawn to it. The familiarity of the place makes me feel so at home, nowhere do I feel lost or disoriented. I know the bars, and on what nights they are busy... I even know where to find a spicy eggplant pizza on a whole wheat crust or a Bela Lugosi sandwich for a reasonable price (both, of course, can be found at the Laughing Buddha).

Going there this past weekend I think I've finally discovered what it is I like the most about Sudbury; there are no surprises. Of course there are surprises, but what I mean is that I know what to expect from the place... So now, I love it. Not to worry mom and dad (they read this blog!), I will not be moving to Sudbury. Just know that I will be finding reasons to return there every so often throughout the next few years.

Another thing I love completely is Facebook. It is a miracle to a military brat such as myself. Facebook has given me the opportunity to reconnect with so many wonderful people that I have encountered through my life. It has become a primary method of contact with so many of my friends, particularly those who live abroad. One of those friends being Laurene, who I met in first year at Laurentian. She was there on exchange from France. Last time I went to Spain I was able to visit her in Bordeaux, France where she lives now.

My awesome friend Laurene is going to meet me in Paris on March 28th! Not only will she meet me there, she is actually going to pick me up from the airport at 8 a.m. when I arrive. She and her boyfriend have recently become engaged, so I will be meeting him as well.

On Sunday my first ever film, 'GUARD TEAM' was shown at the Wakefield International Film Festival (WIFF) up in Wakefield, Quebec. My film is a little rough, especially in the sound department; however, I am so proud and grateful to have been selected to screen my short film at the festival. Thank you to Brenda and Robert Rooney for spearheading such a great event!

Time is short, and I have only 13 days til my departure for Europe. In this time I have so much to accomplish that now, it's really starting to hit me. All I can think at this point is to "just keep swimming", as a wise fish once said.

Crazy Busy!

Since the last post I have been running around like a mad woman!

Friday= Doctor's appointment, at which i was prescribed a vaccine called Menactra to prevent meningitis. Have yet to actually fill the prescription; shots are the worst! The evening was then spent leading a Standard First Aid recertification course for some of my fellow staff members. SFA is such an amazing course to teach; so many bad jokes to be made all while spreading lifesaving knowledge! When I got home that evening I made a spontaneous and amazing decision: I will see Lady Gaga perform at Scotiabank Place this Sunday.

And so, a cheap ticket was purchased and my weekend became instantly incredible.

Saturday= Class all morning; sat by the window and therefore accomplished very little. All this was immediately proceeded by flu-like symptoms and me going home early. Of course, feeling crappy then resulted in an afternoon of Gravol and sleep. I don't even remember what happened Saturday night... what I do recall involves lots of cuddling with Bentley, my crazed bichon frise.

Sunday= Me and dad's glorious return to Sunday A.M. Adult badminton and the Goulbourn Recreation Complex. There was a massive snow dump the night before, so the roads were in terrible shape; this worked to our advantage because attendance was lower than usual to our favourite Sunday sport. We played 6 games in a row without any breaks! Once we got home I prepared report cards for my swim students, went to work for a few hours, took the fastest shower and got ready for Lady Gaga! Completely honest, the show was incredible. My ticket had me seated off to the side at the top of the nosebleeds, so I went 2 rows up to the top of the arena, pulled up a folding chair and sat at a better angle in the cement walkway. I don't think I have ever been so visually stimulated, assaulted, charmed... all at once! One of the concert highlights was right at the beginning when Gaga was having mic problems. A stage hand handed her a working mic into which she declared "At least now you know I don't f***ing lip sync". She kept expressing her deep appreciation to her fans, and also kept saying inspirational messages to the crowd about following your dreams even when other try to bring you down.

(Photo cred: Greg Kolz, fan photo from March 6, 2011 concert at Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, ON. Photo retrieved from www.ottawacitizen.com. If only I had been this close to the stage!)

When I am asked about where I am going at the end of March, the reactions aren't all positive. Half the time people will look surprised when I tell them about the Camino and ask me why I am going on this immense hike, if I've been training to prepare, or if I have thought about how hard a hike like this will be. Others will tell me how great the trip sounds, ask where I will be travelling, and share stories of their experiences abroad. To be completely frank, trying to leave the more negative comments out of my head has been difficult lately. I feel such immense pressure coming from my program and my family that the negative is seeping in. Can I complete my work on time? Will I forget a crucial element in attempting to be successful? Can I be successful in a time crunch such as this?

This is going to sound corny; however, going to the Lady Gaga concert was a truly uplifting experience. Her message made a connection with me, and her music keeps me wanting to dance and smile. She is completely over the top, but when she spoke of keeping your eye on your goal and not letting others get in the way... that is exactly what I need to do!

Honourable mention to one of the funniest websites I have seen in a while... http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com is absolutely amazing! My abs thank you for the great laugh-workout they just received...

I promise to never let 5 days go by between posts ever again! Thanks for following Tasha, Tatyana and my journey!

Autobiography: Tasha

Introducing my best friend, Tasha Abel. Here is her mini autobiography:

I am finishing my second round of school and am ready to start travelling again after an eight month hiatus. This will be my third time to Spain and you could assume that my Spanish would be much better then it is.

In September I was ready to take a break from travel life to focus on my career and be with my family, but alas, I could not knock such an amazing opportunity. I have my whole life to work and as for the family bit, just bring a member along with you!

I have travelled extensively which is probably the reason that I was asked to join Nicole on this trip. I will be our go-to person for map-minding, blister treater and just all round moral and mood booster. My experience ranges from outdoor activities, South American journey's, partying hard down under and assisting in keeping kids alive everywhere inbetween with various work contracts.

I am looking forward to setting out on my first trip with people. The dynamics and interactions we will face will definately be written about. I am excited to face new challenges including not jumping on a bus whenever I feel like it and learning to be considerate of people's feelings. Good thing I am starting with my little sis and best friend.

-Tasha A.

Go March!

As mentioned in a previous entry, I love preparation; especially when it comes to travelling to foreign places. By the way, for me, going to Montreal or Toronto is considered foreign. Any place that is unfamiliar becomes a 'foreign' place (that definitely includes Wal-Marts with more than 40 aisles).

Anyways, I digress... Preparation! Booking flights well in advance, studying bus routes and subway maps, identifying hostels, guide books and dictionaries, and reading Harry Potter Y La Piedra Filosofal by la senora J.K. Rowlings. Reading spanish books was all the rage with travellers in the hostels I stayed at in Madrid back in 2009. Besides, my beginner spanish textbook is in Midland, Ontario (*ahem* Tatyana start studying!), so to brush up I am waiting for my new HP book to arrive.

My parents have been telling their friends about the Camino trip, and they keep saying I can speak spanish. Not so, but I do know key phrases such as 'where is the bathroom', 'I am drunk', 'do I know you?', 'Good Lord!'... among others.

Continuing with the preparation theme, Tasha texted me today saying that she is assuming the role of first aider on the trip. My response: "Blister patrol!". Keeping our feet healthy is going to be one of the biggest priorities and challenges while on the pilgrimage. Foot related first aid materials that have been recommended to me by former pilgrims are as follows:

• Antibiotic ointment
• Silicone tube-things for toes (these were highly recommended and can be found at drug stores with all the foot care contraptions)
• Thick padded bandages
• Tylenol
• Sterile needle (for draining blisters)
• Duct tape
• Medical tape
• Nail clippers (an important preventative measure)
• Good hiking shoes/synthetic socks (also very important!)

Part of the foot health plan also include comfortable, breathable time-off-the-trail shoes. This means I need to decided between bringing crocs or flip-flops...probably an internal debate that will result in me taking both!

If you know of any suggestions when it comes to foot care essentials, let me know by posting a comment below or by tracking me down on Facebook and spamming my wall... I am always willing to learn.

Wow, foot care. Riveting stuff... look for it in the DVD menu under special features!

Lightening the Load

Okay, here's the deal. I love my ipod, and I don't mean just a little bit. It comes with me everywhere. It was purchased in 2007 as a present to myself after a challenging summer spent working at an oppressive (to the staff) summer camp in the Shenandoah Mountains. It's a classic 80G video black ipod. The question remains... would anyone like to buy an 80G video ipod classic?

Since volunteering at the Prime Time conference, I'm th

inking perhaps I should step it up and get an ipod touch. Here's where getting a touch could be a good idea: eliminates the need for a full on computer because it has wifi capabilities, can have Skype added so no requirement for a phone, it can play music, take small HD video, and looks cool. Basically it would take 4 devices' (ipod, flip cam, computer, cell phone) place and would therefore be more spatially smart. The price seems decent at $229, considering 4 years ago I payed closer to $400 for my classic. I may need to poll some friends about this decision... Facebook, I'm coming to you for answers!

Being prepared is my thing. I absolutely love researching before doing to eliminate unpleasant surprises or plot twists... So when researching the Camino, I came across an advice page that suggested carrying approximately 10% of your body weight or less while doing the pilgrimage. The reasoning behind this figure is of course to avoid injury. Because I am a the master of preparation, this also means I tend not to be a light packer; this poses a challenge, and brings me back to the ipod thing. How much weight am I really saving by purchasing an ipod? Is it wise to put all your bets on one piece of technology? What if it gets lost or stolen?

In addition to selling my classic, I've been considering listing my dog as well. Who knew Bentley, my bichon frise, would actually try to consume a maple chair.

(Dog for sale?)

Sadly, I will not be going to Sudbury, Ont. this weekend. Found out that Laurentian is having their reading week now too; therefore, most of my buddies are back at home relaxing! All the years I went to LU, I cannot recall my reading break and Algonquin's to ever have coincided. This year we all just got "lucky" I suppose.

That's all for tonight, bringing the destructive demon to meet a bull mastiff tomorrow. Perhaps he will be able to put Bentley in his place!