A word from our supporters.

And by that, I mean encouragement from outside sources.

After sharing my blog with some friends, I got an encouraging response! Here's some direct quoting from Liz. Liz and I have been members of the same nerdy forum for about five years. We've actually never met in person, but I'm still very, very grateful for such positive feedback!

"I just read the beginning of the introductory post in your blog, and I have to say, I am very jealous that you're going to Cape Breton! I went there on family vacation when I was little and my whole family and I were in the love with the island and the people. You're very lucky to be going there!

I remember the Cabot trail, which you have to go on! It's a coastal road that runs through the mountains and you can drive or bike on it (though you have to be really advanced biker!). When I was there there was a whale museum with binoculars, and when we looked through them at the ocean we saw whales.

We went to a ceildh and it was the best part of our trip. I don't know how we found it, but it was in a little village and there were a bunch of local people there, and Natalie McMaster was playing. The people were all very welcoming and we all danced to Celtic music and ate oat cakes and tea.

Overall, I just remember it as a very warm, welcoming place. Actually I was just talking the other day about how I'd like to move to the maritimes, and Cape Breton is my favourite part of the maritimes. "

It's wonderful to get this kind of encouragement from friends!

Actually, how about a hat-tip to all the people from the aforementioned forum? I posted a few days ago that I was feeling anxious about such complicated travel, and I got some very helpful responses (usernames abbreviated to protect the fantastic).

"The two most important things I do to deal with travel anxiety are:
- wear clothes that are soft and comforting and make me feel safe
- arrange ahead of time with 2 or 3 trusted friends that I may call them while travelling if I need someone to talk to." -SW

"Think about it this way - you're going to do it right? So there's no point in freaking out about it, because it's going to happen. Plus once you get it over with then you're done and you can just be there and settle in!" -LB

"If it helps, I like to write out a very detailed schedule of what to do. Include phone numbers, names, times... I keep it with me at all times." -CF

"What I like to do when traveling is bring a notebook or journal, and in it, I write very detailed instructions of what all I will need to do. Then I can follow along and check them off, and also re-read it to be sure I know what is going on. Maybe you could also put a few soothing quotes or small poems with the instructions in your notebook/piece of paper to re-read as you travel." -A

"Just approach those nasty airports with confidence, maybe think of it as a contest between you and bad luck. Don't let the bad vibes win! There's nothing that can stop you, and just remind yourself of the awesome adventure that is waiting for you at a new school, and all the fantastic people you're sure to meet this semester." -CC

Sadly, I couldn't quote everyone. A lot of people responded to that particular plea for help, which is not a bad problem to have. Can you believe what wonderful, loving people these folks are? I've never met ANY of them and they still give the best advice.

A very, very special hat-tip to the lovely Sarah McNamara, one of my followers and a very dear friend who I also met on this site. I could fill a book with all the good advice Sarah has given me, and won't even try to do her justice here with just a few lines.

Thanks again, guys, for everything. You've seen me through all sorts of tough times since the eighth grade.

Keep reading! Three days!

Love,

Maggie

How appropriate!

Reasons I should probably own this shirt:

1. I'm a Minnesotan.

2. My mom's side of the family is French-Canadian, so I do have a few pints of Canadian blood in me.

3. Did I mention I'm going to Canada?

4. Blog title. Duh.

Hat-tip to world-traveler and Minnesotan Emily Wold for posting the link to Uffdatees.com on her facebook.

Ready or not...

Here I come...

And here we have it! The beginning of the Great White Blog about my Great White Adventures in the Great White North! Long story short, I'm off to Canada! I'll be on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, where I will spend four months at Cape Breton University, a school numbering about 3,000 students. For a map, scroll down. All the way. For a list of my courses, take a peek to your right.

I'm merely four days away from my departure, in which I will board a plane, fly to New York, board another plane, fly to Halifax, stay in a hotel, take a bus to Sydney, take a cab to the university, and hopefully find someone to help me into my dorm, all while lugging two suitcases and trying to remember where I packed my toothbrush.

So yeah. I'm a little anxious.

Once I dive in, I'll be fine. I'm a people person and the polar opposite of shy, so leaping into a new culture sounds like my dream come true. It's all the opportunities for flight delays, overlooked reservations, and poorly timed vomiting that makes me nervous. For the curious, I have experienced at least two of these things on my last three trips. And the vomit wasn't always mine.

Until then, I'm creating an OCDesque travel itinerary, stuffing all of my Comfort Books into a carry-on, and packing my suitcases. Wish me luck, and keep reading!

Love,

Maggie