Still up to stuff!

Just to keep this blog somewhat alive, I should tell you what I'm up to these days. Apart from work, here in Ottawa, I've just finished taking my TESOL certification course to teach English as a second language. The Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival (Chamberfest) is in full swing here, and I've been volunteering at and attending many concerts, including Trio Alla Grande, Les Voix Baroque, Constantinople Ensemble, Fredrica von Stade, Ensemble Caprice, Ludis Modalis, the Tokyo String Quartet, and lectures by musicologist Harry Halbriech, among others. It's amazing to have such an intimate festival with so many huge names of classical music, especially as a volunteer - I find myself having casual conversations with Stewart Goodyear, Roman Borys, Jessie Parker and more! Once the festival ends and Harry gets back from England (oh yeah, did I mention my brother Harry is in England with scouts right now?) on August 8th we'll be hitting the road to the East Coast to see the Atlantic Ocean and our friends there. Mom and Dad'll be leaving me there, on PEI, for a CWY reunion with as many of the participants from our exchange as we can rally, then I'll be coming back to Ottawa with Edith and Andrea. A day or two later, on September 1st, I'll be hoping on a plane to Victoria, BC, to get ready for college at Camosun the following week! Phew!