November 30, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized
Alright kids, I’m officially up to $3 000. Amazing! Isn’t the upcoming holiday season making you feel like giving back to the planet for all that it’s given us?
lululemon was wild times on Friday night, as Spring Garden Road was open until midnight and people wanted so badly to spend their hard-earned dollars on luon pants. And spend they did! Fastest five hours of my life. ( www.lululemon.com , for those of you who are confused!) I also went to a new yoga class at Breathing Space on Wednesday night, taught by Jenny Kierstead, which was totally wonderful and elevating.
Also, the Metro Centre exploded last night, and I was there. Neil Young had something to do with it. But I’m not sure he really means it when he says “just singing a song won’t change the world”. I’m still floating today.
A cameo by Nick J completed the weekend, though it feels like we only got to spend four minutes together before he headed back to Toronto to lay the smack down on this round of U of T exams. I’ll leave you with this image:
an oldie but a goodie.
Today’s episode is dedicated to the Heenans, for their incredible love and support. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I hope that you’re all well! I’m thriving and working hard, and I hope you’re all feeling fulfilled too.
November 25, 2008
· Filed under Back in Halifax - Fall 2008
I’m so so pleased that Halifax is blanketed in snow. Things are picking up at the toy store (Santa’s as busy as I am these days), and, though I’m just getting started, the lululemon team seems so fantastic.
Chris J making dog trails in the back yard
Fund-raising is going pretty slowly these days, though. (But a huge thanks to Tom John for his donation!) I know that we’re approaching the holiday season, and the world at large seems to be freaking out about all things financial. But I’m working hard, and I’m still optimistic. Oh, and here’s an extra-exciting piece of mail that I recently received:
Wow, that came out way larger than I anticipated. But it renewed my excitement, and I like to look at it and remember that they really do want me to be there, and that I’m so grateful for this opportunity. Aaand that I’m not going to let anyone down. And remember… donations will be rewarded with photos of cute Vondrozo kids and wonderful snail mail over the next year!
I hope you are all well. Totally send me an email, and tell me what you’re up to. liz.johnson10@gmail.com .
xoxoxoxooxoxoxox
November 15, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized
Hi again all,
My mom has been telling me for a while that I should do this, but I keep forgetting! I know that not everyone is blog-literate, so I’ll explain a teeny bit how to read it. My latest post will always be at the top of the page, so, as my dad pointed out, to some folks it might seem like you’re reading back in time. Sigh. But I’ve divided my entries up into a few categories (Explore Programme Madagascar 2008, Back in Halifax Fall 2008), which you can see under “categories” in the menu on the right of the screen. To read about my time in Madagascar this past summer, click on the Explore Programme category, and it will take you to an archive of just those entries. I hope that helps!
It’s funny, I know that time always seems to be flying by faster than we’d like, but never has that been more true than now that I’m fund-raising with a deadline (albeit a self-imposed one). I’m working a million hours a week at the toy store, and on top of that, I’m starting at lululemon next week! I’m really looking forward to it, as I loved being part of the lulu world in Toronto. But yes, I will be on the go ALL the time. That’s how I like it. My biggest challenge this week has been making time to do yoga. And I need it more than ever!
So yes, I’ve been working oodles, but I’ve also been sending letters out into the world to ask/beg for donations. I’ve been looking around at organizations as well (I’ve sent a big fat envelope to the Rotary Club), and I’m entirely optimistic about this endeavour. It’s tough going, but I offer my most sincere thanks to those of you who have donated so far. I have a long way to go, but every little email I get from Paypal puts an extra spring in my step!
As the fall gets colder and my mittens become my constant companions, I am reminded often of the following photo, so I’ll leave you with this lovely image. (It’s the Gendarmerie on a gorgeous sunny day in Vondrozo, right across from Ryan’s house!)
November 1, 2008
· Filed under Back in Halifax - Fall 2008, Donate!
Hello again fans,
Today is Halloween, and I took advantage by dressing as a silver-plated robot at the toy store. (Though, it was suggested to me that I look more like a “person from the future” than a robot… they said the same last year when I was supposed to be an Alpha from Brave New World. Uncultured swine…) I’ve been working tons lately, which has kept me super busy, but I managed to go to 20 hot yoga classes this month, which feels pretty wonderful. I feel on top of my game. And my Environmental Ethics class at Dal is going swimmingly – I’m currently writing my research paper on – what else? – the implementation of protected areas in Madagascar and subsequent effects on subsistence farmers. The coolest part is that I get to use our report as a source! (The paper that we wrote during our last days in Tana to analyze the data from our household surveys.)
In other news, Ryan’s in Fianarantsoa for a few days, and it’s exciting to hear about his adventures as a “gasy fotsy” (white Malagasy dude), since he hardly qualifies as a vazaha anymore. I can’t wait to get back to Madagascar! Ahhh.
And Sarah’s WWF page is up, too!
http://www.panda.org/how_you_can_help/volunteer/volunteer/volunteer_stories/madagascar/vondrozo_forest/sarah_lafond/index.cfm
Hope that you’re all well, and please keep the donations coming! The universe will send good karma your way, you will receive photos of cute Vondrozo kids in the mail over the next year, and I will love you forever.
