Up With People - A Community Cookbook

Hi everyone,

I finally finished the fundraiser cookbook that I started a few months ago. It is full of delicious recipes from so many of my friends and family.

This cookbook is important because the proceeds I raise in selling it are helping me to participate in a program called Up With People. UWP allows me to travel around the world – the United States, Mexico, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe – while contributing my time to the communities we visit, and performing in a show that links theatre with social and global change. As well, I will be traveling with students from all over the world and have the incredible opportunity to represent Canada. It will certainly be an amazing experience.

If you go to the link found below, you'll be able to purchase the book directly from the website. There are two methods of purchasing the cookbook. You can either have it shipped directly to your home - The book costs $17.00 and shipping is around $10.00, so the overall cost is around $27.00. The other method is to download a copy of the book. This costs $23.00 in total. While this might seem like a lot, the proceeds, other than the cost of manufacturing, go towards my Up With People tuition.

If you have any questions, or if you want to hear more about my trip, please feel free to ask me!


http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/up-with-people---a-community-cookbook/7294235

Thank you so much,
Melissa

The countdown continues.

I think it's at 25 days now. Something like that. 25 days until I become a 'Global Citizen' while I travel with UWP.

I've been dreaming of this day for so long. I first learned about Up With People when I was 10 years old. They came through Regina and my family hosted two girls for a week. I remember being so excited about UWP. I learned the songs and when I saw the show, I knew I would one day be up there too. I remember looking UWP up on the Internet and reading all about it. When I found out it was for 6 months, I never thought I could do it! Now, I can hardly wait to be traveling for 6 months. I guess some things have changed since then.

The next time I thought about UWP - I mean really thought about it - was when I was in Grade 12, two years ago. I didn't quite know what I would be doing after I graduated. I applied and auditioned for theatre schools, but my mind kept going back to UWP. I applied, had an interview, and was accepted for the July 2007 tour. Then I found out I was accepted into York University for theatre - an offer that I couldn't refuse - and I had to tell UWP that I couldn't travel that year. Luckily, they said I still had a chance, when I was ready.

This leads me to December of this past year. The infamous strike at York. I knew I was in need of a change for next year. I needed to do something for me. To learn something that couldn't be taught at York, let alone any University. It was something I would learn on a global campus. I immediately emailed UWP and was accepted into the program once more. That decision has sent me on a whirlwind of fundraising, planning, packing, and dreaming about my trip.

Now, it's all I can think about. My Facebook is now filled with my new cast mates. It's so exciting to be able to talk to the people who will soon be my family. It's been 10 years now and I still cannot wait patiently enough for July 10th! While I still have lots to do, the countdown will keep going. Tomorrow will be 24 days!

I'm a little less wise.

Isn't it ironic that the first day with nice weather all week is the day I get two wisdom teeth removed?

I had the other two out last summer and, needless to say, I was NOT excited for today. It doesn't hurt too much right now - thank you pain medication - but I'm looking a little lopsided. I resemble Alvin and rest of his chipmunk brothers. Melissa and the Chipmunks. It could be a new show!!

Love!

Regina today, the world tomorrow!

Hey everyone!

So here I am in Regina! I was so excited to come back to the prairies, but it's a little anticlimactic. Firstly, the weather is less than desirable. It's raining right now and kind of chilly. Where is summer? You'd think that getting out of school at the end of May would at least give me nice weather, but oooooooh no! However, I can't complain because I'll be traveling with Up With People very soon! Just over a month until I arrive in Denver!
Yesterday was my 20th birthday! Thanks to everyone who wished me happy birthday! It's so weird to be 20 years old. I'm no longer a teen..it's nuts! I had a fun birthday at Mosaic this year. It was great to see friends who I haven't seen since Christmas and even last summer! One of the perks of being back in Regina I guess.

So I guess I should talk a little bit about Up With People. UWP is the main purpose of my blog. As you can probably tell, I have no idea how to write a blog, so bear with me haha!

While I'm traveling with UWP, I'll be doing community service/impact work and performing a show that is all about bringing people together and creating community and global awareness. I'll be representing Canada along the way.

The current schedule I have is the following, however it is still subject to change:

United States Dates
Denver, CO (Orientation & Staging) 10 July – 9 Aug
Aspen/Snowmass, CO 10 Aug –12 Aug
Montrose, CO 13 Aug – 16 Aug
Durango, CO 17 Aug – 23 Aug
Lake Havasu City, AZ 24 Aug – 30 Aug

Mexico Dates
Guadalajara 31 Aug – 6 Sept
Leon 7 Sept – 13 Sept
Veracruz 14 Sept – 20 Sept
Puebla 21 Sept – 27 Sept
Mexico City 28 Sept – 5 Oct

Europe Dates
Luleå, Sweden (Private show) 6 Oct – 8 Oct
Sundsvall, Sweden (Private show) 9 Oct – 13 Oct
Stockholm, Sweden (Private show) 14 Oct – 22 Oct
Vänersborg, Sweden (Private show) 23 Oct – 27 Oct
Denmark; Germany 28 Oct – 31 Oct
Warsaw, Poland (Private show) 1 Nov – 3 Nov
Zabrze, Poland (Private show) 4 Nov – 6 Nov
Germany; Denmark 7 Nov – 24 Nov
Odense, Denmark (Private show) 25 Nov – 27 Nov
Varberg, Sweden (Private show) 28 Nov – 2 Dec
Uppsala, Sweden 3 Dec- 7 Dec
Tampere Finland 8 Dec- 11 Dec
Sweden 12 Dec- 15 Dec

Crazy, right?! I can't wait to let you know about all of the things I'll be doing and seeing while I travel! I'll try my best to keep the blog up to date and include lots of pictures.

This post is kind of pointless, but I'm just getting used to blogging so hopefully my future posts will be better.

Thanks for reading!
Love,
Melissa