Monday, December 22, 2008

Reason #3, Why I'm Going to Vietnam to Volunteer

Because I'll be so much closer to Jeannette.

It's true. I want to marry her. We will be on the same continent again.

Wine and Dine and Raffle Fundaiser: Success!

Thanks again to my brother, my family and my friends for making the dinner and a raffle a big success! We ended up raising over $650!

Here are the winners for the 13 prizes:

1 - Basket from Bath and Body Works full of skin care products (worth 150$) - Hoa (ticket # 105430)
2 - Basket from Bath and Body Works full of skin care products (worth 150$) - Simon B. (ticket # 105439)
3 - $25 gift card from Chapters - Marcel (ticket # 105369)
4 - $25 gift card from Chapters - Patrick C. (ticket # 105269)
5 - $25 gift card from Chapters - Patrick C. (ticket # 105264)
6 - 750ml bottle of Blue Lagoon - Gilles M. (ticket # 105171)
7 - Woman's medium dress from Nicky B Collection - Mary (ticket # 105444)
8 - Alternative Apparel Floral Thermal - My Mom (ticket # 105241)
9 - $10 gift card from Second Cup - Marcel (ticket # 105362)
10 - $10 gift certificate from Elio's Restaurant - Linda D. (ticket # 105222)
11 - Large Luggage from Victorinox Swiss Army - Nina B. (ticket # 105158)
12 - $50 gift certificate for dance lessons at Studio Arc-en-Ciel - Linda D. (ticket # 105228)
13 - Men's dress shirt and tie from Reprt Collection - Unclaimed (ticket #105199)


There are also more gifts that were drawn as door prizes:

1 - Gift basket full of skin care products from Bath and Body Works and C.O. Bigelow (worth 150$ each)
1 - 50$ Gift Certificates for dance lessons with a well-known studio
1 - Women's Blouse from Nicky B Collection (size small)
1 - Fallen Pryde Thermal
1 - A chosen article from the Fallen Pryde Collection
1 - Pair of Tickets to see DJ Victor Calderone on December 20th, and a bottle of vodka at the club
1 - Pair of tickets for DJ Victor Calderone (without the vodka)
1 -750 ml Hypnotiq
1 - 25$ Gift Card for HBC (the Bay, Zellers, Déco-Decoverte)
1 - 20$ Gift certificate for Elio's Italian Restaurant


All together, the prizes were worth over $1000! Ideally, we should at least recovered the costs of these gifts, but they were all donated, and we were able to still raise a good amount.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Countdown: 3 Weeks

Everything is pretty much coming along fine. Today was my last day of work. I can now focus my energies on packing my stuff and making last minute arrangements. My room-mate Jasmine's boyfriend will be moving in for the four months I'll be gone, and so I'll have to clear out some stuff from my bedroom.

I'll also be able to come up with my 'volunteer's work plan'. Basically, because I've organised this all myself, I have a lot of freedom in terms of what I'll actually be doing. I'll be looking at all their activities on their website, as well as some documents that they've sent me. I've found a couple old volunteer offers on their website, and so I will structure a sort of proposal that will outline exactly where I would like to help and what my capabilities are in those areas. I really have to look at where I want to be in 5 years, and how this experience can help me achieve those goals. Not as easy as it sounds.

I found this awesome resource from Idealist.org, the International Volunteerism Resource Centre. They have a whole section on the pros and cons of joining a volunteer organisation, or going it alone. And there's a whole section about tips and advice on organising it by oneself and on fundraising. It would have been helpful had I come across it earlier, but I feel like I've done a pretty good job.

I have still to organise a place to stay while I'm there, but I've decided not to stay with a Vietnamese family that I've been in contact with. I think that I would enjoy it a lot more if I stayed with expats who are experiencing the same thing.

Learning Vietnamese is going alright. I've kind of been stuck on lesson 6. I soaked up the first four lessons like a sponge, and now I find myself repeating the last couple lessons over and over again. The lessons have been getting more and more bizarre. I now know how to ask a woman if she'd like to eat at my place... no wonder I'm having a hard time learning, I have no interest in that!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Haircut Fundraiser: Haircut-a-Thon a Success!


Photos by Reese


The Haircut-a-Thon organised by my brother was a success! We managed to raise $139 to my Vietnam internship fund.

We had an awesome hairdresser, John Paliotti come and offer haircuts with a price range of 25-40$ depending on hair length. For every haircut, 10$ went to the Vietnam fund.

I made vegan coconut espresso-chocolate chip cookies and my mother made pizzele that we served to people. As well, we sold mimosas for 2$ each.

It was pretty easy to organise, my brother had organised everything using a Facebook event. People clicked on 'Attending' for the event, and my brother asked them to pick a time for the appointment. They were pretty much back-to-back.


I've been wondering what reason my brother has taken an interest in me going to Vietnam, and why he has chosen to help me so much (as you can see in his blog, hot guys and Victoria Beckham is more his cup of tea). In any case, I'm very thankful for his help, as well as John Paliotti and all the friends who supported this event.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Reason #46, Why I'm Going to Vietnam to Volunteer


Because people think I'm a volunteer anyway.


Some people seem to think that because my job involves promoting recycling and 'environmentalism' that I surely cannot be paid! I've been asked "do you get paid to do this?" by about 5 people a month. Every now and then there's a "You're not paid to do this, are you?".

I mean, there are tonnes of people out there looking for real jobs...

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Waffles and Fundraising - The Perfect Combo


It started with a George Forman G5 Next Grilleration Grill. This amazing machine was sitting in a box in my parents basement. As with every single gadget my parents buy (including the fruit dehydration appliance I bought my mom when I was 10, and she never used), it had never even been opened. This sweet machine has five interchangable panels that can turn it instantly from a pannini press to a griddle to a waffle iron.

When you are vegan, there are certain things that very rarely come across. For some unknown reason. waffles is just one of those things. I suspect it's because it requires a device that usually only makes - waffles. I can tell you when the last time I had waffles: Jeannette and I went to New York City in 2004 and ate brunch at the Candle Café. And I can tell you, they were not the best (and I later found out their dinners are amazing).

The night I took home the G5, I decided i was making waffles for dinner. I called my fellow culinary friend Sarah, who though does not cook regularly, loves cooking together and is adventurous enough to try almost anything. I instantly become hooked. But something lacked in the recipe I found. It lacked the essence of a Belgian waffle (which I found out includes 'butter', sugar chunks, 'butter', yeast and 'butter').

I found an amazing recipe and then announced a waffle party would be going down the upcoming Saturday. It was the success of this waffle party which brought many friends together under one roof enjoying the warm butteryness of smooth waffles interrupted only by the occasional crunchy sugary clump that reminds you that life can sometimes be rewarding.

Okay, sorry I got lost there. It was actually Simon, who suggested that I could use the mesmerizing waffle as a fundraising tool. Why not make brunch for people, and ask them for a donation in return? Everyone loves brunch!

I made a Facebook group, and set up 5 brunch events until I leave for Vietnam. Every week, the brunch changes: waffles, pancakes, scrambled tofu and cornbread, french toast. I ask for minimum $10 for the full brunch (including coffee, fruit and juice) and minimum $15 for the full brunch and 2 mimosas. If my friends want more mimosas, they are $2.50 each.

I would say that the brunches have been very successful (I've raised $275 from three brunches with around 7 people each time). It's been great having people come together for brunch, and even greater to know that there are people that support you.

Great big thanks to everyone who has come to a brunch over the past month!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Roadblock #1 : Costs

It is not cheap. Nothing is cheap. And going to a far away country to volunteer for 4 months is not an exception. My original budget estimates brought in the total cost to around $3,000 Canadian. I wish. Much like government expenditures, my budget has totally 'mega-hospitalled' to $4,000.

Here's a rough list of what I have estimated and spent already:

Airline ticket 1900
Travel clinic 194
Travel Visa 197
Rent in Vietnam 800
Food 400
Transport, other, etc 300
Health Insurance 250
Last Minute Items 100

total 4141


While I have incredible saving capabilities which allow me to save up money pretty fast, time limits and a relatively low paying job require more super-hero abilities.

Or fundraising.