In this edition of A&A of a K-V, The Diagnosis, a Journey through the Not-So-Secret-But-Really-Flippin-Awesome Passageway, and Assorted Other Photos.

So, the diagnosis was early sinusitis/ viral URTI. So basically just a cold. I feel a bit better today, plus I got my voice back, so it should be about 2 more days of misery until I am reasonably healthy once again. Hurray. At least I keep my roommates amused with my foghorn-esque nose blowing technique.
I'm in the midst of repacking my suitcase for billeting... I must say it is a trillion times easier to pack for 9 days than for 9 months.
Here's a few more photos:

The upstairs girls room (my room); viewed from the doorway.
That blur is Lisette going to attack Jeanette with a pillow. It happens quite often.

And here's the view from the back wall.
That is my bed, and on the right side of the photo next to the dresser you can see the small door to the secret passageway!!!

Here is Ali going through the door... (yes, she has super long hair in this photo, but she actually just cut 9 inches off for cancer a few days ago, so now it's shoulder-length)

and through the first part of the passage... (it's not normally that bright. It's much more creepy and mysterious without a camera flash)

This is a more realistic representation of the light. There's Lisette peeking in through the door...

Ali going down the stairs that lead down to the dining room...

here's the steep stairs, and the door to the dining room.

Jon, Simon and I

a sweet Polaroid that Kara took (she has to buy the film on ebay)

Everybody crowded around the bathroom door to watch Ali chop off her hair...

Ali w/ new shortish hair, Gabrielle, and Kara

Yikes, Betty my Billet "Mom" is coming to pick me up in 2 hours, and my stuff is still strewn about everywhere.
I'll post again asap w/ more details on Billeting.
I hope everyone back home is healthier than I am!

This is my third day in a row staying home from work, which really sucks because i really like my job, plus i'm going to live with my first billet family for 9 days starting tomorrow and i feel absolutely disgusting. All i've done the past few days is sleep as much as possible, guzzle tea & water, and use up an entire roll of toilet paper blowing my nose. It's more than likely a run-of-the-mill cold, but i'm going to walk down to the walk-in clinic in about 10 minutes just in case. But before i do, i'll tell more about my billet fam. I only met them briefly at the Katima-House last night b/c we had a "billetting party"; basically a meet and greet with the billeting families before we go to live with them after work tomorrow. Anyway their names are Betty and Ramsey, and they are Mother and 13 year old son of Lebanese origin. Betty makes jewellery and is "a designer"... i think interior decorating or something. Ramsey is in grade 8, and is pretty hilarious. They seem like nice people, but i'm actually more nervous now that i've met them than i was before. Mostly i'm worried about running out of things to talk about. Also, Betty didn't seem too impressed that i am ill with a cold, so I MUST GET BETTER ASAP.
So, off to the clinic i go. I'll write more whence i return, if the blasted wireless internet decides to work.

PHOTOS!!!!

This is the whole cluster about to leave Mass-O and finally move into our houses.


This is me in the living room of our amazing house... I know I look grouchy but I guess that's my "concentrating" face. (taken by Simon)


This my group (before Alison arrived) on one of the reconstructed trestle bridges of the Kettle Valley Railway. It was a cold but gorgeous day for an 11k hike/walk.



And here's the group again at Misson Creek park. From left to right, the names are *drumroll* Kara, Lisette, Moi, Gabrielle(aka Gab/Ranger), Ron (in the elf hat), Simon, Jeanette, and John.


As soon as someone takes a photo of our "new" group (with Ali) I shall post it.

So, by now I believe I have proven myself to be THE WORST CORRESPONDENT IN THE WORLD! I think we can all agree that I will never make it as a Journalist. I'll never be able to make the deadlines.
Quick Headline: A new participant, Alison, is joining our group today!! Maude is picking her up from the airport this afternoon, so we have to wait untill after work to meet her. She will be rooming with Lisette, Jeanette and I. So far all we know about her is that she's from Ontario, she was once a vegetarian, she likes playing sports, and her favorite meal is Burgers & Fries.
I started my job(s) last week, which was awesome b/c I got super sick of being a House Manager (sweeping, mopping, dusting, cooking, washing). I don't start work untill 10:30 on mondays and wednesdays, whereas everyone else leaves the house by 9. Plus, the House Managers go grocery shopping on Monday morning, so I actually have the house to myself!!! It's so weird!!!
Umm umm umm what else can i blabber about... I know i have a lot to explain, but It's hard to determine where to start. OOH i know, i'll post a picture of the group, so you can put faces to the names.
Blast, it's not working right now. Ok then, I'll explain about House Managers. Each week 2 people stay home from work and are in charge of cleaning house and cooking all the meals. It was actually very draining; I must've swept the kitchen floor at least 6 times a day. But I was HM with Ron, who is an amazing cook, so all of our meals were pretty fantastic.
About our jobs: We all volunteer at Non Profit Organizations here in Kelowna. These include the Rec Centre, The Foodbank, Community Gardens, CRIS (in a nutshell, it's an organization that takes disabled people on hikes and bike rides), CNIB (provides resources and services to people with blindness or near blindness), the YMCA daycare program, and Boys and Girls Clubs (that's Me!) Everyone works about 7 hours a day, 5 days a week.
oh shoot, i have to go to work, and the internet crapped out (as usual) so i'll post this later.

~~~~~~~~ ....LATER.... ~~~~~~~~
Ok, so it's now 5:54pm, I'm back home after a fantastic day at work (I mostly chased the KinderCare kids around... they are speedy!!), I have met Alison (she seems super awesome), and I'm going to finally post this so i can go eat dinner. I also just realized i don't have any pictures of the whole group on my laptop, so I'll have to post a photo using the house computer.