Chamberfest Week 1

Well my first week of working Chamberfest has been absolutely incredible! So many incredible things. Some I could talk about, others I can't talk about, but all of them absolutely wonderful! When I was first given this job, I had so many people wishing me good luck and telling me that I was brave for taking this job, needless to say I became slightly concerned that I was in over my head. While I've had some very frustrating moments, none lasted very long and for the most part this has been the most incredible experience yet! I'm getting the opportunity to make some very wonderful friends and meet some absolutely amazing musicians! It's been quite the experience!

It took me a few days to get my staff pass (so that people didn't look at me funny when I tried walking into a concert without a ticket), and I only found my office today (I've just been setting up shop in the church kitchen to do my work before now). And I've finally gotten the hang of how to get from one festival venue to the next even with all the construction downtown and the one way streets (things that a country girl should never be forced to worry about!) I've also figured out all the restaurants and coffee shops in the area. It only took a week but I think I've got it now.

There are concerts and talks and events going on at all hours of the day and night, it's amazing! Over 100 concerts in 2 weeks! Seriously, calculate that, it's a lot!

So while this festival has been one massive joy ride, that's not the only thing that's turning my life upside down. I'm also not living at home for the duration of this festival. I'm also not in a house where there are parents at all. I'm staying at a friends house while his parents are away in Sweden. I'm also not the only one staying there, another friend of ours is also living in the house for a few days. Suddenly we're living in a 2 story, 5 bedroom house with a huge backyard and an in-ground pool and we are the adults. It's like a bunch of university students getting a luxury apartment together! It's been pretty neat. Some night's we'll have friends over to swim or play video games and cards, and it's really nice.

Also, there are times where we've started running the house like we're a family. Today one of the boys who lives at the house (16 years old) had an appointment that he needed to go to, and his brother was gone to work. The other friend of ours living in the house and myself started comparing schedules and figuring out who would bring him to his appointment, we started figuring out when everyone will be home for dinner tonight, and just altogether started sounding like a married couple with a 16 year old kid. It was sad but absolutely hilarious!

I even forgot my pass for work today and this friend drove downtown to bring it to me. My boss thought it was pretty funny too.

Needless to say, just everything about this week is becoming quite the experience. It's interesting to see what it would be like to live away from home and have a daily job with long hours. I'm not sure I'm ready for this to be my everyday life just yet, but I like being able to see in this short span of time that I can make it on my own and start getting a feeling for what it would be like.

Chamberfest week 2 - Bring it!!

Tay

Exceeding Expectations

This past year has been a challenge to myself that I didn't falter from. I exceeded so many expectations that others put towards me and that I put towards myself. This past year I stopped accepting what people told me and I started proving people wrong! I hope that 2013 will be another challenge-accepted year for me and that I come out stronger by the end!

People always told me that I was too scared to stand up for myself, that I would put up with people that mistreated me all through high school because I was too afraid to lose friends. Well that changed. I said goodbye to some people I once held dear in my heart simply because I realized that they were never truly friends anyways. I discovered that I would rather be alone than be with people who didn't care.

I did what every child dreams of, and got in with the "popular" crowed at University and just as quickly, I realized how fake they were and could proudly say that I walked away from them all too.

I started acting like an adult, letting my mom know when I would be out instead of asking her if it was ok.

I found the areas in my life that I wasn't happy with and I took steps towards getting help to making changes in my life.

I had a 20 seconds of courage moment in the summer and walked up and talked to complete strangers because I thought they were cute, and I survived total embarrassment in front of them too.

I didn't let that embarrassment bring me down and I surprised myself by doing it again, more than once.

People that my old friends told me I'd never have a chance with, told me they liked me and I've made friends out of.

Guys that my friends told me I would never have the courage to talk to, I've hung out with.

Courses that I was sure I was going to fail going into them, I've passed.

I've stopped letting people walk all over me, I've been working 3 jobs and full time school, and still find the time to volunteer at church.



I spoke to the man who inspired me to become a musician and composer, Howard Shore.


I've stopped relying on people to do things with me, if I want to do them, I've gone alone. Only I am responsible for my own happiness!

I've done so much more in my life this year than anyone ever thought that I would. I survived my first car accident, paid for my own recovery, and made decisions about my life without consulting anyone. It's sad to say that at 21 I finally feel like I grew up a little this year.

So here's to 2013 and all that it holds in store for me. I will exceed my own expectations once again, and I will blow people away with how much I will achieve!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

-Tay

All in my Imagination

So as I went to sign up for my University classes, I was told that I couldn't sign up for some of my courses because I didn't have a 3rd year standing.

Excuse me?

I do believe that this is my third year of University unless I've imagined a whole year in there somewhere?

I think school got things really messed up this time! It's going to be fun sorting this one out!