Brand Spankin New

Hello there friends, family, pets, and familiar acquaintances!


So this is it, my blog. I feel like it's a long time coming at this point. I've always wanted to start a blog but never really had an excuse or reason to do so. Seeing as how most of the time it would have just been filled with my random ramblings regarding all facets of life...I felt like it would not have been of much interest to too many people and therefore never pursued it further than a thought. Recent events in my life, namely my impending trip to England to live and work for two years, have made me finally feel the need to start web-logging my life.


Now, you're probably asking yourself, "Self, why does Erik need a blog? He can just as easily make his feelings known through such revolutions in social networking as Facebook and Twitter." Well, let me first address your concerns by saying that I WILL be utilizing these forms of communication and thereby keeping Mark Zuckerberg above the billion dollar mark in income (once you go billionaire you never want to be a millionaire again, right?). Facebook is obviously the best place to create a group in order to post photos of my two year adventure and thus I will be using it for just that. Twitter is great for random updates regarding day-to-day events as they happen and seeing as how I won't always have ready access to a computer (especially tripping in Europe) I feel Twitter is a good tool to utilize to keep connected with friends and family. Although not everybody has Twitter....I highly encourage it's usage for this purpose but it's entirely your choice and I was not paid by Twitter to deliver this message. The phone is also an easy way to relate my stories from across the pond, but as my parents can attest I am not always that prompt on making said phone calls to relate stories. Plus, a blog makes it easier to discuss and talk about things on a daily basis before I forget details and then have to try to squeeze everything that's happened within a short phone call.


Now that this has been established, I want to discuss basically what this blog is going to involve. As most people know, I'm moving to London, England to live and work for two years as a teacher. Although I will know a couple of people there (what up Geoff and Dani) I am essentially going alone, living with people I do not know in a completely unfamiliar area of the world. With all of these ingredients (I smell a sitcom!) there are sure to be stories of adventure to be told everyday and I thus plan on using this blog to relate them to people. With England's easy accessibility to the rest of Europe (a flight to Sweden is 10 pounds!) I plan on relating not only my impressions of London but on the rest of Europe as well. Hopefully these can give people a bit of an idea as to what I'm up to over the coming months.


However, I heed this warning as well. I am definitely one who feels entitled to his own opinion (as most people should) and I will also be using this blog to not only relate my opinions and impressions of the various locations I will be living and working in; but I will also be discussing my thoughts on things including but not limited to: teaching, people, movies, books, television, sports (definitely this one), style, clothes, government, etc. There's a lot of different things going on in this world and I hopefully will have things to say as they happen. Nobody needs to feel obliged to read these opinion related blogs but they will be there if merely for the ability to vent my frustrations or joys on anything.


I know what else you're probably thinking....and yes, I know I'm not actually in London right now (although I'm close to London, Ontario....which doesn't REALLY count but it's something.) I am actually currently sitting on the deck in my backyard, sucking down a Blue Light, and listening to my parents and brother discuss the possibilities for dinner tonight. Basically I'm saying that there won't be very many posts within the next little while but I'll throw something on here if I feel so inclined to do so before my departure. The posts can also be posted on Facebook, which I'll be doing every time I write something so that people who do not have a profile on Blogger can relate their feelings and also have ready updates as to when I'm posting something.


I hope you all enjoy reading about my adventures as I'm sure I'll have writing about them. Although it sucks leaving friends and family behind, I really look forward to this next chapter in my life and I hope some of those said friends and family will visit at some point to contribute stories to be included in this blog.


Cheers!