A1

So you know how sometimes you try new things and you absolutely hate it? And it's made so much worse by the fact that you built it up in your head over a period of days, weeks or in my case even months?

It just sucks so much and you're lonely because you don't know anybody and the whole combination makes you feel like you're struggling and you don't want to feel like that because you love your life and it's really good?

That's sort of how I've felt with this internship. Ups and downs, not quite what I expected, disappointment sometimes in the newsroom, wanting to do more, be given more responsibility and not really getting it.

Your parents always (or should always) say to tough it out. That it's just the first day, couple of days or even week. It will get better, it usually does. Well it did and it is and it's not because I'm getting used to it (although that certainly helps) it's because I'm putting out ideas, asking for permission, just doing what I think should be done and then asking people's thoughts on the final product.

I've struggled this week. Struggled with being assigned stories I didn't feel were stories, with not being able to really delve into news issues I thought were worth pursuing and with adjusting to a new place where I know a grand total of one person and am lonely.

But it started to get better. I started to get better and Friday was one of those days where things go really well and you're happy about it but you're mostly happy about how you have things to look forward to.

And I do.

Not having a car = blessing in disguise.

Turns out not being able to drive to the water plant for a tour or attending technical pressers about (almost) nothing because I don't have a car is pretty handy. Instead I get a normal lunch time and I sit at a desk chair and do interviews and get the chance to look at additional things that I might want to pitch as stories, which is sort of the whole point of internships in my opinion - working yourself up to feeling confident in the newsroom and being able to pitch your own ideas and better yet, have them well received.

I took a little bit of a vacation from my Toronto/Ottawa life and mostly ignored everyone out East so I could focus a bit more on having fun out West (and I am!).

Friday I pitched and am now working on a feature idea about the closures of several womens' centres in the Okanagan valley and I lined up several interviews for next week.

Saturday Andrea and I adventured out to the nut farm in West Kelowna and then had lunch and a bit of a walk at a nice bakery in Peachland. We were all dressed and ready to hike but got rained out so instead we wandered around the Westland strip malls and went to see a movie.

After, I went for an extended walk/exploration along the little creeks and rivers that lead to the lake by the marina and listened to music, which I think makes walks about ten million times more enjoyable.

Then I spent my Saturday evening watching Beauty and the Beast. Yup, it's true. But it was wonderful and I'm not ashamed (I think).

Today, I'm tying up some loose ends, lazing around in bed and maybe I'll tackle cleaning my room.

Tomorrow? Andrea and I are taking an advance look at Canada's newest zipline. Supposedly it is Canada's highest and fastest zipline and we get to ride it for free all in the name of journalism (we're quite happy).

Best news of all to share? My story (that I pitched myself before the press releases came out) made front page. A1.

And now off I go, to gear up for what is certainly going to be a busy, long, fun, crazy week.

Missing all my Torontonians,
Jane

PS, more photos... click here! (and scroll to the end if you've already seen the first set)
PPS two weeks until I go visit Nat and Granny in Victoria
PPPS three weeks until Rob comes out west to visit me!