Mocking Bird l Vancouver Film Photographer » Canada

Elk and Moose and Bears, Oh My!

Amanda — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:50:12 +0000

The weary travellers have returned and I have so much to tell you about our little Canadian road trip. Before I do, I wanted to share some Polaroids from one of the most amazing weeks I’ve had in a long time. I feel one with nature like I never have before.

Canada Here I Come!

Amanda — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:20:12 +0000

I‘m going a little stir crazy because I’m cooped up inside and apparently it’s 25 degrees outside. It’s the dead of winter, what on earth is going on?! Vancouver you better have pretty mountains and good things for me to take photos of!

Can you find my Moosey friend?

Oh yeah, I’m a Canadian resident now!

I’m an immigrant! It’s such a weird thing to think about. I need to process it a little more and then I am sure I will come back here with my fabulous thoughts on the matter. Should we be celebrating? I think the real Canadian needs to take me out to dinner or something. If he’s the real Canadian now, I guess that makes me ‘the fake Canadian‘?

Come back later tonight/early tomorrow(Nth Hemispherians) for my part 2 follow up to How I Make Dreamy, Film Like Photos.

First Steps Towards The Move

Amanda — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:14:26 +0000

So, as mentioned the Amanda is going to be a Canadian Visa is almost approved. Once we received that letter, my mind started ticking over, thinking about all the dozens of things we need to start organising.

How does one even contemplate moving their life across the planet? I don’t know how you did it, sweetie! The Canadian moved his life to Australia almost 4 years ago and now it’s my turn. I have the next 2 weeks off work and I am going to try and make good use of that time.

Our plan is to move to Canada in October sometime, which means I have about 3 months to get my act into gear.

The first step was buying some luggage in the mid year sales. I of course wanted to buy something gorgeous to have me jet setting in style, however this trip is about getting as much stuff in my bags as possible. So, I went with sturdy, large and good quality instead. I purchased the Antler Translite series and may even go back and get another.

Now I just need to figure out what to put in them! Making the decisions about what to take and what to leave behind is going to be the death of me. I’ll need a case just for my cameras!

Have you ever done a big move and had to decide what precious possessions to leave behind?

Image by Carol Texas Ranger

33 Today

Amanda — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:17:52 +0000

And was I spoiled.

I will admit, I love birthdays. I love celebrating other people’s birthdays and enjoy celebrating with loved ones on my own.

It was a rather eventful day. Birthday wishes and love from family, friends and work colleagues, bunches of flowers, cakes, a lovely dinner at my favourite Italian restaurant, a beautiful Oroton bag from my Mum and an iPod Touch from Sean (!) plus…

A new interactive whiteboard was installed in my classroom.
Something exciting developed and is itching closer to do with the Polaroid book- more on that soon.
I WAS PRETTY MUCH APPROVED AS A CANADIAN RESIDENT!!!!!

All on my birthday! It looks as though I just have one last step in the Permanent Resident Visa and then it seems that it will be officially approved. Excited! Shocked! We were not expecting it this quick. I’m tired…what a day.

Choices Are Scary

Amanda — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:09:35 +0000

Over the next 4 to 5 months, I will be packing up my life as I know it and moving to the other side of the world. I am of course excited but also a little nervous, maybe even a lot nervous.

I got an email tonight telling me that to be accredited to teach in British Columbia, I may have to take an English Literature course. The thought of going back to uni and studying literature is actually something I would love to do more of, but the fact that I would supposedly need to do this, baffles me. I have been teaching for 10 years, am quite skilled in the areas of teaching reading and writing and focus my everyday around children’s literature, so this “rule” seems a little silly.

I was more concerned that I would be required to teach French, as Canada is obviously a bi-lingual country but it turns out that I don’t have to (kinda disappointing actually!).

So, if it comes down to me not being able to teach straight away, I am going to have to earn a living some other way. The Canadian thinks this time in my life would be the perfect opportunity for me to give photography a go…you know, as an actual job type thingie.

My options are as follows:

Wait tables while studying literature course, eventually teach.
Start up children’s photography business in city that is not my own.
Learn how to cook, be housegirlfriend, wander aimlessly.
Panic.

Have you had experience in finding work overseas or relocating? I would love any advice people have.

A New Beginning

Amanda — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:00:03 +0000

SAME OLD NAME, SAME OLD ME, just new pages to write upon.

It’s like buying a brand new Moleskine; a brand new Moleskine with milky pages whispering your name each time you run your fingers over them. Fresh new pages waiting for you to swirl over with a fine tipped felt pen.

I haven’t written properly on my blog since October last year. I needed a break, needed to find something new to be inspired by and needed to want to write. I knew that the time would come that I would want to write again, so here I am.

I hope to write about the things that I find inspiring, of course will write about all things photography, share new ideas and internet finds, and to keep a diary of sorts of my upcoming move to Canada. Yes, the Canadian and I are currently awaiting to hear if we have been approved for a spousal visa. The application process is a gruelling one and we have done the hard part, now we just have to wait. It’s a long road ahead but hopefully one that is full of excitement, happy anticipation and a successful final result!

Thanks for stopping by.