I'm back!

Hey guys,

Sorry for the (massive) lack of updates as of late... life's been very hectic! Anyway, Dawna and I have officially moved to Masan, South Korea to teach English... and we've opened up a(nother) blog up at dawnagilad.blogspot.com!

Add the blog to your bookmarks as it's the main blog I'll probably be updating from...

And thanks to all for the well-wishes on this journey of ours... it's helped us along the way.

mmm, life

Okay, so this is *ideally* how I'd like the next few years of my life to work out.

1. Go to South Korea with Dawna in August 07 for a year and return in August 08. Our time there would have paid off our university debts and made us some extra bucks.

2. Upon returning to Canada, live somewhere with Dawna until January/February of 09. The time here would be spent with me working full-time somewhere and saving up some cash. I'll also be training for my cross-Canada walk/bike-ride with Bryson.

3. Fly out somewhere east with Bryson (either Nova Scotia or Newfoundland) and start the walk right after we touch the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Walk/bike ride across Canada starting in January or February of 09. *Hopefully* wrap up the journey somewhere around June or July of 2009 in British Columbia by taking a dive into the Pacific Ocean.

5. Find a way home (probably fly) to Ontario, spend a week or so here and then fly out to El Salvador to learn Spanish at the Escuela Guazapa. Dawna and Sasha would have been here for a month or two already, and I would have joined them on the whole thing. Spend 6mo-1year in El Salvador.

6. After El Salvador, move back to Canada and get my Masters Degree (either in Ottawa, or somewhere in BC) in International Development, or something similar.

7. Get married somewhere.

This of course, can change anytime.

Walking, walking, walking

Okay, it's official. Bryson and I are walking across Canada in Spring 2009 (although this might change). We are starting out in the East and ending up in the West.

Wow!

Holy crap, I'm engaged! This... is... awesome.

Exciting Times in Waterloo

So I'm here in Waterloo and Bryson is at work. This means I'm here at his apartment... by myself.

So let me guide you through a little story called "Entertaining Oneself."


I'm Bored :(



Oh wait, I found my 4th Corona!



Is that the Hookah Dawna bought me from India? Should I smoke some of this non-intoxicating heavenly substance?



I sure should!



Mmm, bliss in the form of delicious smoke!



I'm so not bored! :)


... and repeat for 3 hours till Bryson gets home.

Greetings from Canada!

Hey, apologies for the lack of updates about the Venezuela trip. I got back to Canada a few days ago and am still settling in, but as soon as I get a chance and get all the pictures uploaded (within a week), I'll update with all the stories.

But in other (bigger) news, Dawna and I are officially engaged! It happened yesterday and we're both ecstatic! Once again, i'll post more details surrounding the situation within the week.

All I can say is that I'm really happy right now. Now to just let my mom know about the non-Jewish woman I plan on marrying. Uh oh.

nueva entrada

i´m in venezuela right now... i feel g-d everywhere... i love my team, the people here, and the weather.

as i type this, i´m in a little beautiful town called san sebastien... its about 2 hours away from caracas.

venezuela is NOT scary like everyone seems to believe.

please pray for us along our 30 day journey.

god bless

South America

Oh. My. God. It's happening soon. I'll be in Venezuela in three days. Keep checking this blog as it'll be the OFFICIAL PLACE OF ALL THINGS GILAD AND VENEZUELA!

So yea, if you can, throw out some prayers for the following things:
- mine and my teams health and safety
- the people we will be helping
- my team not hating me

Buenos Noches.

Top xx List of Things That I Need To Do Before I Die...

1. Successfully lead my team (or a team) to Venezuela.
2. Return to Modesto, California and help New Hope.
3. Make sure I hike to Port Dover with Bryson (and possibly Dave W)
4. Backpack/walk across Canada. Start off by dipping my leg (ala Terry Fox) into the Atlantic Ocean and finishing up (ala not Terry Fox, unfortunately) by dipping my leg into the Pacific Ocean.
5. Spend at least 1 month living in each continent.
6. Get married to an incredible woman who I am madly in love with (got the second part of that covered already)
7. Return to Israel on my own terms (i.e. not on an organized trip).
8. Convince my parents that in most cases, I know what's better for me than they do.
9. Attend a Toronto Raptors Finals NBA Championship game.
10. Be the best man at at least one of my friends' weddings.
11. Get to know my little sister.
12. Learn Spanish.
13. Get as close to God as is humanly possible on my part.
14. Read the entire Bible/Torah/Quran.
15. Backpack across Europe.
16. Become a wine conoisseur.
17. Learn to play an instrument, properly.
18. Forgive my father.
19. Forgive my uncle.
20. Repay my parents in some way.

I don't know which way I'm going... I don't know which way I've come...

Hold my hand inside your hands... I need someone who understands. I need someone, someone who hears. For you i've waited all these years.

**

I was totally planning on writing a post on the absolute depressive side of getting robbed. Of having someone tear through your room, go through your personal belongings and steal those things which are worth most to you. This awful event recently plagued our student house...

And then this song came on by Coldplay. It's funny how little things like songs can lift you up through the thickest of moods... through the most dreadful of moments... and help you formulate a clean, healthy & loving thought. I've been very fortunate over the last little while to meet some beautiful people in this world... and particularily... to meet a strong and passionate woman whose drive for making this world a better place not only helps others, but inspires me to do the same. I'm very lucky to have formed the strongest of bonds with Dawna... someone who I see salvation through.

When things get stolen... when close friends cut deep... when family members don't understand... when i'm at my absolute lowest with no where to go... I still have Dawna.

I've always considered her my personal angel. She's lifted me up from the gutters... from a world of awful thoughts, actions and goals, to a place where I can see God through a clearer light.

Here's to the greatest person i've ever met.

Well, it's finally here...

My real blog with real thoughts. More to come!