Sick with a full house

My last couple days in France were a complete bust..

The weekend I spent in Paris (obviously), but then starting Sunday night I wasn't feeling very good, and so commenced by 2 days of fever and a week of sickness. Which means I spent Monday-Wednesday in bed-rest as I literally could not move anywhere with the high fever and headaches I was experiencing. I was kind of dreading my 8-hour flight on Thursday afternoon back into Canada, as I really did not know how I'd survive. Luckily my fever went away, but everything else was full-blown sickness action. 

I survived. But the plane ride was not fun. I couldn't sleep at all because it just was not the time for sleep, and planes are pretty uncomfortable when you're in economy class (I hear first class is different, but unfortunately I don't shit money). 

So I've already spent 4 days at home. I must say it is so lovely to be surrounded by your own family. No need to worry about much, and I am always surrounded by animals! My parents now have 4 dogs... when will they stop?? I thought 5 cats was bad enough. Perhaps that's their maximum, always stop at 5. Wait no, we have 9 horses.. Oh god, I would not survive with 9 dogs, 9 cats on the otherhand... think of all the purring!! It would be cat heaven for me. Anyways, needless to say, I was very excited to see my puppies! 

But that's all I've really done at home. Home life is kind of boring. There's no Paris, or Eiffel Tower, or car at my dispense. We did get to go to a Christmas orchestra recital today, which was pretty fun. But in a couple of days time I'll be busy with Toronto stuff. 

Also my parents and I happened to get into a conversation I really did not want to have. I had to break them the bad news that's been haunting me, but they were actually very supportive! Like very supportive! I did not feel like such a failure after having talked with them. I am so glad they brought it up, especially after I was so scared in mentioning anything and have been completely avoiding "future" talks. 

Anyways my internet is acting up so I hope this post actually posts. I hate it when I write a full post, press the publish button, and have everything disappear and never publish... It's kind of heart-breaking when I've written such a heartfelt piece and everything disappears into cyber space and I've got to try and remember what I wrote to rewrite everything. 

I'm tired. I've been waking up at 4am for the days I've been here. Damn jetlag! 

I was supposed to be at the beach today...

... and that's when we had guests invite themselves over. While my mom cannot say no.

Now I remember when I used ot be like that. Just let people walk all over me, not being able to say "no" to people, and therefore people would take advantage of me. I don't know how but I got over it. Yes, every now and again, I get intimidated by people, but most of the time I am not afraid to say exactly when I am unhappy with someone/ something. I am not sure whether this has to do with confidence or self-realization; whatever you want to call it really.

Anyways...

I am working on some projects that will hopefully be finished before I set off to Alberta. Soon!! Working on it.. ish... I procrastinate if people haven't noticed :).

ISI Canada

Quick, shameless plug, for a company I am starting with a couple of other cool kids from university. Check it out. Especially if you are in Ontario. It's a really great project with insane potential!

www.isicanada.org

P.S. Blog post to come tonight. 

Happy Birthday Canada

Yesterday was Canada Day. It was awesome.
We went on a boat (with my flippy floppies) and I didn't lose my phone!!

Happy Birthday Canada.

Stay High (Tove Lo)

At this moment, yes, right this minute, I am leaving Ottawa. I am on my way to Toronto, so I can spend 6 hours there until I get to bus it home. 

These past couple of days have been amazing. Each day we did something different, but yet the same, but it was all so much fun. I haven't laughed this hard until I cried, I haven't shared my soul so truthfully to feel better, and I haven't felt so welcomed as if I am part of the family. 

Some background:

My friend Kristina and I have been friends for quite sometime. I've known her since my first couple of years in Canada, through our Russian ballet school in Toronto. Ballet was the place I went to escape my reality. This was the place that I had friends, that I felt welcome, that I felt like people actually accepted me there. Elementary school wasn't necessarily the easiest time for me. When I went to ballet I felt like I could be myself, I could escape from trying to pretend to be this other person so I could have friends, so I could fit in. 

Every minute I spent during this trip I felt this wonderful feeling that I cannot explain. I could be myself. Not that I am not myself all the time [now], but I could be more free, unleash the "real" me, to a full 100%. 

I cannot wait to see this wonderful family again. 

[To explain the number of pictures of me:] 

[we took about 500 throughout the entire weekend, not all of me of course]

I was a "model" for a day. Kristina is a photographer, she loves taking pictures. I think she really has a talent, all pictures no matter how what face I made, turned out beautiful. 

This one has to be one of my favourites! 

We went out of drinks. 

Canada Day is coming up soon! 

So depending on when you are reading this, Happy Canada Day! 

We go up, then come down

Right now I am in Ottawa but I will be doing a #tbt type of post (yes, yes I know it isnt thursday).

So this past Sunday I drove from my place to Wonderland. It took about an hour or so (I may have been going fast), but I finally got there, in my non-air conditioned diesel car that I borrowed from my brother.
It was an amazing trip.
We laughed. We rode rollercoasters. We ate food (and got an extra pizza because ours had hair on it).

I want to spend as much time with my friends as I possible can before I leave for a year.

Look how happy we look to be waiting in line.

For the next couple days I am in Ottawa staying at this beautiful girls house. We've known each other for quite some time now. We met at a ballet school I went to when I first came to Canada. We've already reminisced through many memories and continue to laugh and create new memories again. 

Everyone had a successful day, my sister caught some fish, I caught some fish...

...my phone went scuba diving.

Now let me tell you a story:

Mom: "Hey Ana, want to go boating?"

Me: "Definitely, let me just take my phone so I can take pictures"

The boats motor starts to rumble, as we set off from the dock.

Me: "Oh look some ducks"

*Takes phone out of pocket. Holds with 2 flimsy hands*

Me: "Theres baby chicks! Let me get a little closer"

Phone: "What a wonderful hot day. Wow this water is so beautiful and clear. Ohh look at that a fish. How convenient that I am not held very tightly. I can finally be FREE!" *bounces of side of boat* "Ouch that hurt a little but who cares I can go swimming...... x.x"

And that is how I lost my phone to the fishies.

I am sure they are enjoying taking selfies of themselves.

The last photo I ever took with my phone, the happy days:

How will I ever Tinder??? Wait.. screw that... HOW WILL I INSTAGRAM?! 

Well hopefully new phone tomorrow. I've been searching on Kijiji for the past 3 days. I better get that phone tomorrow. 4s baby! What an upgrade. 

Till next time. 

Adventures at home/ приключения на тракторе

A couple of days ago my dad took me further up the land, in a tractor, to show me some ruffed grouse eggs and cool looking trees. 

Childhood fears of the dentist

Today I was supposed to go to the dentist to remove one wisdom tooth. 

This is me preparing for the battle:

I have a very huge fear of dentists. I get really nervous knowing something more major than a cleaning will happen. I am not sure why. I've never had any bad experiences. I just really hate the sound of the drill, and people looking into my mouth. 

Anyways, so I go to the dentist, I wait 3 hours... yeah I am not kidding, 3 hours. Only to enter the dentist's office, sit in the seat, and leave. Yup. I did not get my wisdom teeth removed. Why? Because the surgeon said there was no point just yet. I have grad coming up next week, they are not bothering me, and insurance cannot cover all four. He says I should wait till next year. 3 hours for that... 

Oh but something interesting did happen. When entering the dentists office two guys stood outside smoking, one decides to ask me "how are you doing" in a creepy, kind of way. Now let me paint you a picture, these guys had muscle shirts on, underwear showing, and a lot of "bros" and "yo". Then they happen to walk in right behind me.... great. We wait there together for 3 hours. They then start asking me things like how old I am (they were 23/22... apparently, they looked and acted about 17), whether I am Russian, my name, little things. 

Anyways after I am finished my chat with the surgeon, I walk out to meet the two again - Aaron and Sean. One, Aaron, happens to hand me an appointment card. Instead of an appointment he has his name and last name written on it. At the same time he says "Add me on Facebook". 

Well that was interesting. 

At least I still have all my teeth, for a year for sure. 

Be proud of your smile, no matter how crooked your teeth are, how many teeth you are missing, the space you have between your teeth, every smile is beautiful! 

Sun Models

Today was such a beautiful day. Sunny. No mosquitoes. No blackflies.

My little sister had a piano lesson today, so we had to drive 45 minutes from our place to the next city (the much bigger city, where there is an actual mall, and subdivisions, you know real things that are usually found in cities). My mom then treated us to ice-cream and we took photographs. I wanted some photographs for the blog and instagram (cause I'm hip like that) and my sister and mom decided to join in.

We're a pretty cool family... just saying. I love when we have "girls only" days.