I had an epiphany this morning and I'm going to follow through on it. I realized that I'm Dutch (I know, strange realization, but still). I'm Dutch and hold a valid Dutch passport. This means I can work in the Netherlands with no visa or work permits.

This June (first two weeks, day to be decided) I will be flying from BC (maybe Seattle depending on cost) to London, England. After that, I'll take a day or two (or however long it takes) to travel to the Netherlands. I will have plans to have a job when I get there (tourism or the Canadian embassy, depending on what's available for an english speaker). My plans include making some money, finding an apartment, getting in touch with my extended family and old family friends, and getting my degree for free.

Before I can go anywhere, I need money. $6,000 or more to be exact. I will be selling my car (not yet, it's a good way to get around right now) along with some other things I own. With my current employment situation and selling personal items, chances I'll meet my goal by the day of my flight are slim.

EDIT
To find out how to help me raise $6,000+ take a look at this [link] and + the article to spread the word.
/EDIT

Will you help me make the trip and have an adventure of a lifetime?

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Winter Plans:
save for Marketing at College

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visit my stock account, ~lostock

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Clubs:

This week... this month...

I need a job...

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Winter Plans:
save for Marketing at College

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visit my stock account, ~lostock

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Clubs:

Today is November 11th. As most of you will know, today is a day of remembrance. In Canada, it's called Remembrance Day, in the US it's called Veteran's day. Both names are valid. Today is the day we remember our veterans. Today is the day we remember the sacrifice soldiers have made to protect us and our neighbors around the world.

For me, Remembrance day is a day of reflection. I reflect on what's happened in the last year. I reflect on what my father's sacrificed and what other friends of mine have sacrificed. Last Remembrance Day I had just found out I was one step closer joining the military, the navy. It was also a day I was sick (I passed out a couple times and although people told me I should sit in the car, I knelt the rest of the ceremony because I didn't want to miss it). Since then, I've been released from the military. My brother is one step closer to being a wonderful officer and my dad is one step closer to the honorable colonel and war veteran retirement. A friend of mine saw combat dealing with the Somalian Pirates. And my boyfriend's almost finished his second phase of training. Another friend of mine has shipped off to Afghanistan and a third friend is working on completing university to begin officer training.

A lot has happened, more than what's happened close to me. I stand by my words of past years and I look forward to standing between my father and boyfriend at today's ceremony, my only regret that I couldn't be in uniform with them.

As some of you may know, I'm thinking about rejoining the military. If I don't get a decent job in the next couple weeks, it may throw me over the line and make me want to rejoin.

To conclude, I offer you two videos, two songs, one by me and one by someone famous.

Soldier by Shawn Hlookoff



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Winter Plans:
save for Marketing at College

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visit my stock account, ~lostock

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Clubs:

Last week, I posted a journal that was rather cryptic but asked if I should rejoin the military. I'm asking that again now, but I'll give you the background information.

A year ago, I joined the military in a brand new entrance plan where they would pay for my college and I would graduate with a rank incentive. I failed out of college and had to change my trade. Last summer I was sent to Basic Training. I only lasted 4 days on Platoon. I was released because I couldn't meet the minimum fitness standard needed to stay at Basic. The minimum I failed? Pushups. I needed to be able to do two and I only managed one.

Since coming home, I've managed to find one part time job, no where else will hire me (I don't know why). That part time job isn't giving me enough hours. So, when it comes time to pay the bills, I have to depend on my boyfriend who I live with.

Should I decide to rejoin, there are a few different factors that must be taken into consideration. Firstly: before I even reapply, I need to make sure that I can do those two minimum pushups and that I'm in a situation where I will continue to work out and not lose those pushups. Secondly: If I rejoin, it would be a temporary job. I would serve out my contract and save every penny so when I release I will be able to afford university and maybe have some left over to start my business. Thirdly: I have food allergies, some of them severe, and, in the Navy and at Basic, that can be an issue which limits food choices and can affect your health. For the three weeks I was there last summer, it was hard for me to eat anywhere need right.

I honestly not sure if I could manage relying on other people until I find something stable here. By the same token, I'm not sure I can feasibly gain the strength I need in a short time and I'm not sure if I can deal with Basic right now.

Another note to hear would be that my dad is a high ranking officer in the air force, my mom is retired air force officer, my brother is an officer in the air force and my sister would be a medic if she hadn't had an accident which resulted in a major injury the week she was accepted. I have cousins in the military and RCMP as well as a family history in the military.

So, all that considered, should I rejoin the military?

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Fall Plans:
save for Marketing at College

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visit my stock account, ~lostock

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Clubs:

Do you know the legends of jade and money trees? They're Chinese, and OLD.

Jade

Chinese legend holds that Jade is a powerful stone, you keep it by you and it protects you from physical injury and warns you of physical injury done to those close to you. An old Chinese man told me two stories. One of a little boy. He fell out of a third story window one day and stood up and walked away as though nothing had happened. Later that day, the Jade Buddha pendant he wore around his neck cracked in two. The second story of an old woman. She wore a Bracelet of Chinese Jade (it's white with light green streaks in it) for most of her life. One day it tuned yellow and brown. Later, she found out her son had passed away.

It's odd to think that a stone should be able to have such power, yet, how else do you explain things like that?

My own story? When I lived in Alaska, I bought a piece of Jade. Just a small broken polished piece of jade. For probably close to a year after I bought it, it sat in my pocket, every day. After that, it went into my wallet. If I think real hard, every single physical injury I have ever had has happened when I haven't had my wallet, and therefore my Jade, with me. I know people will say that that's just chance and luck, but, you have to believe something, right?

The Money Tree

Chinese legend holds that if you have a money tree in front of a door or window, it will bring money into your home so long as it is healthy. When it dies, money will leave your home.

It's a cute legend and the money tree is a beautiful plant. People could welcome it into their homes even if they didn't believe the legend.

My story? When I moved out of my parent's house and into an apartment, a friend of mine gave me a money tree and told me the legend. It had two stalks, two branches. It lived quite well while in my apartment, and then moved to my boyfriend's place a little before I went to Basic Training. While I was there, something happened to the Tree and one of the branches broke. When I came home, we started having financial issues, but we could still get by. (At this point I'd moved in with my boyfriend and it was now our apartment). A few weeks ago though, my cat knocked the Tree over and broke the second branch. The Money Tree was now dead. It made me sad because I liked the Tree for it's aesthetic look and wanted to take care of it (which is rare, I normally end up killing all plants and flowers that come into my house). Unfortunately, it was around this time that I started getting fewer and fewer shifts and I got my last paycheck for barely $100. Money seemed to be flowing out of the house. I know we won't be able to live long like this and I have been looking for a new job. I had my first interview yesterday and my second today. Yesterday, after my interview, I took my resume to a copy shop and made a bunch of copies, spreading them to all the businesses on the way back to the car (it was a good 8 or 9 blocks at least). My last stop before the car was a little jade shop. An old Chinese man was minding the shop for his son the owner. I left him my resume and asked him about the many Money Trees around the shop. We talked and I told him my story. He gave me a branch and told me how to care for it before I transplant it. It's sitting in a glass on the dining room table. Hopefully now this will be my change of luck.

Now you know the stories of Jade and the Money Tree. I just wanted to share with you. Also, people were wondering what's going on in my life right now, and they can read the Money Tree story to find out.

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Fall Plans:
save for the wedding
save for Marketing at College

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visit my stock account, ~lostock

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Clubs: