Yes, I made it! I have been officially 18 for almost two hours now!
Hopefully it is a great day. It surely will be.
Can't wait to buy my first drink or lotto ticket! Can't believe I am now an adult.
Unreal.
I have another exciting opportunity to tell you about, but should get some sleep.
This ipod touch i bought myself isn't good for my sleeping schedule. It's 2am.
Stay posted, goodnight, and cheers to being 18!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Update On Japan/University/Other Exciting Things Take Two
Not sure what's wrong with my blog right now to be honest, but I'm going to try update again.
I have decided to take my 'carer' with me to Japan. She is like a grandmother to me and has been working with me for almost ten years. She was really excited when I asked her and immediately said yes. It will be great to go with her and experience Japan. I'm glad I can reward her with something like this, as she really deserves it.
Speaking of Japan, I am going to a meeting tonight to meet Ryan and his mum and to sort out dates etc. It should be cool.
We may be doing various activities such as:
Universal Studios Japan
Meeting the Mayor (or deputy) of Kurashiki
Shopping at the Aeon Kurashiki shopping centre
Ohara Museum
Kojima Seto Ohashi Bridge
Pegasus Candle-Making
Mitsubishi Factory visit
Hiroshima/Miyajima visit
Farewell Party
It all sounds very exciting. I can't wait!
As for University, I have had a look at my timetable and it's actually not too bad. It's kind of annoying though, as I often have a couple of lectures in the morning and then a couple in the afternoon. My Thursdays are particularly busy. In the second semester I go from 10am to 7pm. Madness!
In other news, 'Aussie James' and I are writing a novel together. As his nickname suggests, he's from Australia and he also has CP. We came up with the idea of writing a book together, and hope that it will enable us to meet. It would be nice to get a decent profit out of it too, but I guess we'll finish writing it first to see where it goes. Our biggest ambition is to send it on Oprah, meet on her show, and go global (think we can do it?!). It's keeping us both busy and entertained, and I'm really enjoying writing it. We've written about 22,000 words and are about halfway done. It's a great feeling!
Oh, and I also turn 18 on Saturday the sixth, so I am looking forward to celebrating with James and my twin brother, and the rest of the family, and buying my first drink/lotto ticket.
Hopefully this blog post is easier to read than the last. Thanks for all the congratulations on my Japan post. I'll be sure to keep you updated!
I have decided to take my 'carer' with me to Japan. She is like a grandmother to me and has been working with me for almost ten years. She was really excited when I asked her and immediately said yes. It will be great to go with her and experience Japan. I'm glad I can reward her with something like this, as she really deserves it.
Speaking of Japan, I am going to a meeting tonight to meet Ryan and his mum and to sort out dates etc. It should be cool.
We may be doing various activities such as:
Universal Studios Japan
Meeting the Mayor (or deputy) of Kurashiki
Shopping at the Aeon Kurashiki shopping centre
Ohara Museum
Kojima Seto Ohashi Bridge
Pegasus Candle-Making
Mitsubishi Factory visit
Hiroshima/Miyajima visit
Farewell Party
It all sounds very exciting. I can't wait!
As for University, I have had a look at my timetable and it's actually not too bad. It's kind of annoying though, as I often have a couple of lectures in the morning and then a couple in the afternoon. My Thursdays are particularly busy. In the second semester I go from 10am to 7pm. Madness!
In other news, 'Aussie James' and I are writing a novel together. As his nickname suggests, he's from Australia and he also has CP. We came up with the idea of writing a book together, and hope that it will enable us to meet. It would be nice to get a decent profit out of it too, but I guess we'll finish writing it first to see where it goes. Our biggest ambition is to send it on Oprah, meet on her show, and go global (think we can do it?!). It's keeping us both busy and entertained, and I'm really enjoying writing it. We've written about 22,000 words and are about halfway done. It's a great feeling!
Oh, and I also turn 18 on Saturday the sixth, so I am looking forward to celebrating with James and my twin brother, and the rest of the family, and buying my first drink/lotto ticket.
Hopefully this blog post is easier to read than the last. Thanks for all the congratulations on my Japan post. I'll be sure to keep you updated!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Japan-Bound
I received some very, very, very exciting news earlier in the week, telling me I'd been selected to go on a Youth with Disabilities Exchange to Japan! I filled in the application form in early December, not really expecting anything to come out of it, and then on Monday I had an interview for it. I didn't think the interview went so well, so I wasn't really expecting to be chosen, but on Tuesday I got a phone call that I had been!
I don't know all the details yet, but it's in March for ten days, and I get to take a support person with me. I haven't decided who to take yet, but I have a person in mind who would really like to go, I think. Originally I was looking at taking James, but I got an email last night saying caregivers had to be over 20, so he was too young. It's a shame as he was really keen, but it's probably for the best with the whole different gender thing.
We are going to a place called Kurashiki, Christchurch's sister city. A boy with an intellectual disability has been chosen to go as well, so it will be nice getting to know him.
Anyway, that's my exciting news. Life keeps getting more exciting!
I don't know all the details yet, but it's in March for ten days, and I get to take a support person with me. I haven't decided who to take yet, but I have a person in mind who would really like to go, I think. Originally I was looking at taking James, but I got an email last night saying caregivers had to be over 20, so he was too young. It's a shame as he was really keen, but it's probably for the best with the whole different gender thing.
We are going to a place called Kurashiki, Christchurch's sister city. A boy with an intellectual disability has been chosen to go as well, so it will be nice getting to know him.
Anyway, that's my exciting news. Life keeps getting more exciting!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Good People
I find myself so often complaining about people and their ignorance, or reading about others complaining. It's no surprise. I mean, there are a lot of ignorant idiots out there. The kind that park in disabled parking spots, or that make fun and exclude others because of their disability. But, naturally, there are some good people too.
Take, for example, the lady that kindly cut up my friend's pizza for her the other day when her and I went out for lunch. She has CP too and was struggling to cut the pizza so that she could pick it up and eat it. This lady was just another customer who happened to see that we were struggling, and man, did her help impact on me! I hadn't seen such a selfless act for a long time.
Then today when I went to discuss my needs (note takers, exam accommodations etc) for this year and to pay my fees to complete the enrollment process at university, the lady who helped us not only answered all the questions about university, but also showed me where the lockers were and offered to take me around my lecture rooms next week. She was really nice and understanding, and not patronising at all. I really appreciated that.
I ended having to go to the bank to get a bank cheque so that I could pay my fees, and the lady at the bank was really friendly and nice too. She gave me information about a tertiary bank account I can switch over to, and made getting the cheque really easy and trouble-free for me. Then she wished me luck for my studies, and told me that I'll do well. I appreciated that, too.
As if that wasn't enough goodness, a young girl at the university helped my mum, sister and I to find our way to the student association building after I had paid my fees (let's just say my bank balance has gone down quite considerably). I went to get my photo taken for my student card, but stupidly didn't bring any ID so we'll have to go back tomorrow.
Anyway, I just wanted to make a post saying how good people can be for a change. I am really looking forward to the coming year, as so far it has been great and hassle-free. Here's to hoping I meet many more great people, and have many great experiences.
Take, for example, the lady that kindly cut up my friend's pizza for her the other day when her and I went out for lunch. She has CP too and was struggling to cut the pizza so that she could pick it up and eat it. This lady was just another customer who happened to see that we were struggling, and man, did her help impact on me! I hadn't seen such a selfless act for a long time.
Then today when I went to discuss my needs (note takers, exam accommodations etc) for this year and to pay my fees to complete the enrollment process at university, the lady who helped us not only answered all the questions about university, but also showed me where the lockers were and offered to take me around my lecture rooms next week. She was really nice and understanding, and not patronising at all. I really appreciated that.
I ended having to go to the bank to get a bank cheque so that I could pay my fees, and the lady at the bank was really friendly and nice too. She gave me information about a tertiary bank account I can switch over to, and made getting the cheque really easy and trouble-free for me. Then she wished me luck for my studies, and told me that I'll do well. I appreciated that, too.
As if that wasn't enough goodness, a young girl at the university helped my mum, sister and I to find our way to the student association building after I had paid my fees (let's just say my bank balance has gone down quite considerably). I went to get my photo taken for my student card, but stupidly didn't bring any ID so we'll have to go back tomorrow.
Anyway, I just wanted to make a post saying how good people can be for a change. I am really looking forward to the coming year, as so far it has been great and hassle-free. Here's to hoping I meet many more great people, and have many great experiences.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
When Life Gives You Lemons
Throw them in its face and say "I PASSED MY EXAMS AND GOT ACCEPTED INTO UNIVERSITY!"
Yeah, so I got my exam results yesterday, and I found out I Achieved with Merit (only 20% in my level did) and that I have been given acceptance into university.
Woooohoo. I have been so worried about this for ages, and now it's all over and I can finally rest in knowing that I will for sure be starting uni next month.
Pretty exciting! I am stoked!
Also, thanks to Carla for nominating me for the Lemonade Award. I appreciate it! :)
Yeah, so I got my exam results yesterday, and I found out I Achieved with Merit (only 20% in my level did) and that I have been given acceptance into university.
Woooohoo. I have been so worried about this for ages, and now it's all over and I can finally rest in knowing that I will for sure be starting uni next month.
Pretty exciting! I am stoked!
Also, thanks to Carla for nominating me for the Lemonade Award. I appreciate it! :)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Makes You Think
I often come across people more disabled than I am at functions, events, or even the internet, and every time it really makes me think about things.
I often feel depressed and down, like being disabled is such a curse as it restricts me from doing so much, but then when I come across these people, I think to myself 'well, jeez. At least I can get myself dressed independently, and at least I can shower myself, and at least I can go to the gym/walk for short distances. All of these things these people cannot do.
And then I come across caringbridge pages and blogs, and distressed, worried parents so often write about having to be in the hospital over Christmas, and they express their deepest fear: that their child has got limited time left. That upsets me so much. I can see they have such love for their children, and then having to face and be in such a scary situation, where they are taken away from them really makes me grateful for who I am and what I have.
I want to make an apology to any readers on here that have thought "Gosh. Why does she complain so much about such little things? She should be grateful for everything she can do." I'm sorry for making my life seem so bad sometimes when it's actually not. I sincerly hope that things get easier for all of you worse off than me soon, and I really hope I haven't offended any of you.
Life just seems so daunting at times. I feel as if I'm all alone, and that no one understands, but I know that's not true at all. The future does scare me a lot, but I realise my fears are minute compared to some of yours.
So yeah. I've just been thinking. I apologise for my bad attitude and for not being more grateful.
I often feel depressed and down, like being disabled is such a curse as it restricts me from doing so much, but then when I come across these people, I think to myself 'well, jeez. At least I can get myself dressed independently, and at least I can shower myself, and at least I can go to the gym/walk for short distances. All of these things these people cannot do.
And then I come across caringbridge pages and blogs, and distressed, worried parents so often write about having to be in the hospital over Christmas, and they express their deepest fear: that their child has got limited time left. That upsets me so much. I can see they have such love for their children, and then having to face and be in such a scary situation, where they are taken away from them really makes me grateful for who I am and what I have.
I want to make an apology to any readers on here that have thought "Gosh. Why does she complain so much about such little things? She should be grateful for everything she can do." I'm sorry for making my life seem so bad sometimes when it's actually not. I sincerly hope that things get easier for all of you worse off than me soon, and I really hope I haven't offended any of you.
Life just seems so daunting at times. I feel as if I'm all alone, and that no one understands, but I know that's not true at all. The future does scare me a lot, but I realise my fears are minute compared to some of yours.
So yeah. I've just been thinking. I apologise for my bad attitude and for not being more grateful.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Impatient
So, we've made it 2010. This is the year I turn 18, and can therefore legally drink, vote, and buy cigarettes and lotto tickets. This is also the year I start university. This is the year I become an adult, not a child, but a fully legal adult, and that scares me. A lot.
But it also excites me hugely. I'm so impatient to start university. So impatient to learn and do new things and meet new people. And then I think, 'what if that doesn't happen? what if nothing changes, and I don't meet any new people, or make any new friends?' I think that, above everything, is the most frightening thought of all. So many people I've talked to have said that they didn't make any more friends in university than they did in high school, so why would I be different?
Still, I'm still hopeful. For now.
I hope you all have a wonderful 2010. Make the most of it!
But it also excites me hugely. I'm so impatient to start university. So impatient to learn and do new things and meet new people. And then I think, 'what if that doesn't happen? what if nothing changes, and I don't meet any new people, or make any new friends?' I think that, above everything, is the most frightening thought of all. So many people I've talked to have said that they didn't make any more friends in university than they did in high school, so why would I be different?
Still, I'm still hopeful. For now.
I hope you all have a wonderful 2010. Make the most of it!
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