Yoh! I can't believe that these past 5 months have flown by as quickly as they have. I have made so many memories, and have met so many incredible people that I will never forget. There is no question that this trip has changed my life. I have seen so many things that I would have never seen before, and have learned to appreciate life so much more. It would take forever to list all of the experiences from these 5 months, and to be honest, I don't like writing that much! I would like to say thank you to everyone who made this trip possible, whether here in South Africa, or home in Canada.
Firstly the Get Ahead College staff and students, I have never felt so welcomed into a school! Every student was cheerful, regardless of the home they came from that morning, or the struggles they face on a daily basis. The staff was so approachable and helpful, teaching me so many things about their culture, themselves and their country. It really was a learning experience.
Secondly to my newly met South African friends, I had such a blast! Right from the first weekend in Numbers (we went there right?) I had so much fun. I thought it was going to be a quiet 5 months where I would just focus on the school and get in shape for the beaches of Europe. Well, so much for that. Here I am sitting with a beer belly that rivals first year university due to all the beer and meat at all of the braais. Of course it wasn't just about the partying, we also had some amazing weekends away, going places like Morgan Bay, Hogsback, Coffee Bay, etc. And of course the road trip to Cape Town with Batman and Catwoman (shotty best man/maid of honor at your wedding). Thank you to all of you guys and girls!
And of course how could I not thank all of the friends back home who kept in touch with me and made me feel like I was missed. It is surprisingly tough going to a country where you don't know anyone, and the friends you make there you have only known for a short time. My Canadian friends definitely made it more enjoyable having someone to share some of the experiences with. Can't wait to get back and see all of you!
Without question I couldn't have done this without my family either, they supported me through all of it, so thank you to all of them!
Not much else to say, other than Europe, watch out, here I come!
Friday, 8 June 2012
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
20 Things I Should Have Known at 20
1. The world is trying to keep you stupid. From bank fees to interest rates to miracle diets, people who are not educated are easier to get money from and easier to lead. Educate yourself as much as possible for wealth, independence, and happiness.
2. Do not have faith in institutions to educate you. By the time they build the curriculum, it’s likely that the system is outdated– sometimes utterly broken. You both learn and get respect from people worth getting it from by leading and doing, not by following.
3. Read as much as you can. Learn to speed read with high retention. Emerson Spartz taught me this while I was at a Summit Series event. If he reads 2-3 books a week, you can read one.
4. Connect with everyone, all the time. Be genuine about it. Learn to find something you like in each person, and then speak to that thing.
5. Don’t waste time being shy. Shyness is the belief that your emotions should be the arbitrators of your decision making process when the opposite is actually true.
6. If you feel weird about something during a relationship, that’s usually what you end up breaking up over.
7. Have as much contact as possible with older people. Personally, I met people at Podcamps. My friend Greg, at the age of 13, met his first future employer sitting next to him on a plane. The reason this is so valuable is because people your age don’t usually have the decision-making ability to help you very much. Also they know almost everything you will learn later, so ask them.
8. Find people that are cooler than you and hang out with them too. This and the corollary are both important: “don’t attempt to be average inside your group. Continuously attempt to be cooler than them (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.).”
9. You will become more conservative over time. This is just a fact. Those you surround yourself with create a kind of “bubble” that pushes you to support the status quo. For this reason, you need to do your craziest stuff NOW. Later on, you’ll become too afraid. Trust me.
10. Reduce all expenses as much as possible. I mean it. This creates a safety net that will allow you to do the crazier shit I mentioned above.
11. Instead of getting status through objects (which provide only temporary boosts), do it through experiences. In other words, a trip to Paris is a better choice than a new wardrobe. Studies show this also boosts happiness.
12. While you are living on the cheap, solve the money problem. Use the internet, because it’s like a cool little machine that helps you do your bidding. If you are currently living paycheck to paycheck, extend that to three weeks instead of two. Then, as you get better, you can think a month ahead, then three months, then six, and finally a year ahead. (The goal is to get to a point where you are thinking 5 years ahead.)
13. Learn to program.
14. Get a six-pack (or get thin, whatever your goal is) while you are young. Your hormones are in a better place to help you do this at a younger age. Don’t waste this opportunity, trust me.
15. Learn to cook. This will make everything much easier and it turns food from a chore + expensive habit into a pleasant + frugal one. I’m a big Jamie Oliver fan, but whatever you like is fine.
16. Sleep well. This and cooking will help with the six pack. If you think “I can sleep when I’m dead” or “I have too much to do to sleep,” I have news for you: you are INEFFICIENT, and sleep deprivation isn’t helping.
17. Get a reminder app for everything. Do not trust your own brain for your memory. Do not trust it for what you “feel like” you should be doing. Trust only the reminder app. I use RE.minder and Action Method.
18. Choose something huge to do, as well as allowing the waves of opportunity to help you along. If you don’t set goals, some stuff may happen, but if you do choose, lots more will.
19. Get known for one thing. Spend like 5 years doing it instead of flopping around all over the place. If you want to shift afterwards, go ahead. Like I said, choose something.
20. Don’t try to “fix” anyone. Instead, look for someone who isn’t broken.
Written by: Julian Smith inoveryourhead.netson Spartz
3. Read as much as you can. Learn to speed read with high retention. Emerson Spartz taught me this while I was at a Summit Series event. If he reads 2-3 books a week, you can read one.
4. Connect with everyone, all the time. Be genuine about it. Learn to find something you like in each person, and then speak to that thing.
5. Don’t waste time being shy. Shyness is the belief that your emotions should be the arbitrators of your decision making process when the opposite is actually true.
6. If you feel weird about something during a relationship, that’s usually what you end up breaking up over.
7. Have as much contact as possible with older people. Personally, I met people at Podcamps. My friend Greg, at the age of 13, met his first future employer sitting next to him on a plane. The reason this is so valuable is because people your age don’t usually have the decision-making ability to help you very much. Also they know almost everything you will learn later, so ask them.
8. Find people that are cooler than you and hang out with them too. This and the corollary are both important: “don’t attempt to be average inside your group. Continuously attempt to be cooler than them (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.).”
9. You will become more conservative over time. This is just a fact. Those you surround yourself with create a kind of “bubble” that pushes you to support the status quo. For this reason, you need to do your craziest stuff NOW. Later on, you’ll become too afraid. Trust me.
10. Reduce all expenses as much as possible. I mean it. This creates a safety net that will allow you to do the crazier shit I mentioned above.
11. Instead of getting status through objects (which provide only temporary boosts), do it through experiences. In other words, a trip to Paris is a better choice than a new wardrobe. Studies show this also boosts happiness.
12. While you are living on the cheap, solve the money problem. Use the internet, because it’s like a cool little machine that helps you do your bidding. If you are currently living paycheck to paycheck, extend that to three weeks instead of two. Then, as you get better, you can think a month ahead, then three months, then six, and finally a year ahead. (The goal is to get to a point where you are thinking 5 years ahead.)
13. Learn to program.
14. Get a six-pack (or get thin, whatever your goal is) while you are young. Your hormones are in a better place to help you do this at a younger age. Don’t waste this opportunity, trust me.
15. Learn to cook. This will make everything much easier and it turns food from a chore + expensive habit into a pleasant + frugal one. I’m a big Jamie Oliver fan, but whatever you like is fine.
16. Sleep well. This and cooking will help with the six pack. If you think “I can sleep when I’m dead” or “I have too much to do to sleep,” I have news for you: you are INEFFICIENT, and sleep deprivation isn’t helping.
17. Get a reminder app for everything. Do not trust your own brain for your memory. Do not trust it for what you “feel like” you should be doing. Trust only the reminder app. I use RE.minder and Action Method.
18. Choose something huge to do, as well as allowing the waves of opportunity to help you along. If you don’t set goals, some stuff may happen, but if you do choose, lots more will.
19. Get known for one thing. Spend like 5 years doing it instead of flopping around all over the place. If you want to shift afterwards, go ahead. Like I said, choose something.
20. Don’t try to “fix” anyone. Instead, look for someone who isn’t broken.
Written by: Julian Smith inoveryourhead.netson Spartz
Monday, 28 May 2012
Hike up Long Hill
This past Sunday, my roommate and I decided to go for an adventure and try to climb Long Hill, a large hill right behind out house. We set out around 4, thinking it would be a 2 hour hike, getting home as the sun was setting. After almost 2 hours of bushwhacking we were only 3/4s of the way up and had to turn back down rather than being lost on a hill full of baboons and other wild animals. Luckily we were able to get a couple nice shots, including the Twizza Mansion. Overall a fun time!
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| Sunset from Long Hill Queenstown, South Africa |
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| Twizza Mansion Queenstown, South Africa |
Friday, 25 May 2012
Photo of the Day - 6 days worth!
Been slacking off a bit with the blogging, but I have still be taking the pictures. So here are the past 5 days in photos!
Taking a picture every day has been somewhat challenging, since when I remember that I need to take a picture, I don't always have something cool to photograph. I have been carrying my camera with me which makes it a lot easier. Can't wait to keep it up!
May 20th, 2012
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| Two children cheering on Queens College King Williams Town, South Africa |
May 21st, 2012
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| Ice on a Fountain Queenstown, South Africa |
May 22nd, 2012
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| Queenstown, taken from Get Ahead College South Africa |
May 23rd, 2012
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| Sunrise from Get Ahead College Queenstown, South Africa |
May 24th, 2012
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| Hadida Bird seen from my window Queenstown, South Africa |
May 25th, 2012
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| Downtown Queenstown South Africa |
Taking a picture every day has been somewhat challenging, since when I remember that I need to take a picture, I don't always have something cool to photograph. I have been carrying my camera with me which makes it a lot easier. Can't wait to keep it up!
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Friday, 18 May 2012
Photo of the Day -Jello Shots!
It's my roommate's Birthday party down here in South Africa, so of course jello shots are a necessity. Really easy to make, all you need is some jello and some vodka. Add 1 cup of boiling water to the jello mix, stir until it all dissolves, and then add 3/4 cup of vodka and 1/4 cup of cold water/ice. Pour into shot glasses and wait a couple hours for it to set!
Life is a highway...
As I have been writing this blog, it has occurred to me that this isn't just about getting 80 things checked off a list. This is about living life to its utmost potential. There's a saying that every man dies, but not every man lives. So its time to get out there and live it up!
I have decided that I need to pay more attention to all the amazing sights around me, so in order to do this, I am going to try and take a picture each day of something that I think is awesome. While I may not update this blog each day, I am going to try and take at least one picture each day. We'll see how it goes!
To get started, here is a collection of pictures I have taken over the past few months while here in South Africa.
I have decided that I need to pay more attention to all the amazing sights around me, so in order to do this, I am going to try and take a picture each day of something that I think is awesome. While I may not update this blog each day, I am going to try and take at least one picture each day. We'll see how it goes!
To get started, here is a collection of pictures I have taken over the past few months while here in South Africa.
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| The Sun rising over Long Hill Queenstown, South Africa |
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| The "Edge" Hogsback, South Africa |
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| Local Fisherman Morgan Bay, South Africa |
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| Mother and Child Coffee Bay, South Africa |
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| Sunset Morgan Bay, South Africa |
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| The Wild Coast Coffee Bay, South Africa |
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| Pumbaa Queenstown, South Africa |
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| Madonna Waterfall Hogsback, South Africa |
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| Hangklip Hill Queenstown, South Africa |
And finally my first "Daily Picture"
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| Queenstown, South Africa |
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
The Garden Route in less than 40 pictures
After sorting through over 1700 pictures taken along my road trip down the Garden Route, I realized that there was some amazing shots! So here is my top 40 favourite pictures from the trip!
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| A cold Castle at SuperTubes, Jeffreys Bay |
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| Waves at the Knysna Heads |
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| Zipline in the Tsitsikamma Forest |
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| Mossel Bay, South Africa |
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| Enjoying the view, Mossel Bay |
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| Flower in rocks, Cape Agulas (Africa's southern most point) |
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| Pet seal in Cape Town |
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| Island Vibe Jeffrey's Bay |
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| Ocean Snail, Jeffrey's Bay |
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| SuperTubes, Jeffreys Bay |
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| Local Surfer in Jeffrey's Bay |
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| Seagulls in Jeffrey's Bay |
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| Surfing at Jeffrey's Bay |
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| Bloukrans Bridge, Storms River |
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| Bungee Jumping off the Bloukrans Bridge |
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| Knysna Heads |
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| Knysna Heads |
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| Local fisher, Knysna |
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| Local with a cuttle fish, Knysna |
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| Crazy Laughing Man! Knysna |
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| Local man reeling in a giant sting ray, Knysna |
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| On the road between Knysna and Oudtshoorn |
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| Kango Caves |
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| Rhinos, near Mossel Bay |
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| African Sunset |
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| Cape Town |
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| Sunset from Signal Hill, Cape Town |
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| Sunset from Signal Hill, Cape Town |
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| Ragged Tooth Shark at the Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town |
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| Penguin at the Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town |
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| Elephant Ride, near Mossel Bay |
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| Elephant Ride, near Mossel Bay |
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| Wild Elephant, Addo Elephant Park |
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| SuperTubes, Jeffreys Bay |
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| Local fishermen at Knysna Heads |
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| Local fishermen at Knysna Heads |
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| Amazing views along the Garden Route |
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| African Sunset |
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