This Monday, I got a volunteer job to work as a seller of the charity tickets in Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), where a great horse race was held. Actually, before this job, I have already volunteered twice for Variety, one of the most famous children’s charities in the world. This time, my job is selling the “50-50” tickets. Just like what it shows on the name, the “50 - 50” ticket donates half of the ticket earning to charity and takes only another half as its revenue.

Since this is my first time to work as a seller, I worried about the possible communication problem when I sell the tickets to the customers. Reviewing my past, neither did I have the selling experiences, nor did I provide the great communication abilities in this kind of event. To relieve my tenseness, I tried to persuade myself that after conquering the difficulties, I would not only become an active person, but also get more familiar with Canadian society.

I had my partner Aki, a Japanese boy, to assist me to complete this job. At first, we were very frustrate to see that no one wants to buy our ticket and even no one would like to know what 50-50 tickets are for. This situation pushed us to find a better solution to solve the problem in front of us. We, thus, yelled in front of the public, and provided some little stickers as presents. Both of the ways worked a lot for us and brought a lot of income and donation for the charity institute. Finally, we earned more than one thousand dollars in just one afternoon. I was so proud that I have overcome such a tough job, and also have learnt some valuable experiences as a good seller.

Nothing is difficult if I have enough enthusiasm and power to do it! In the past, I even didn’t dare to talk with a stranger, but I found my confidence after this volunteer job. I do believe that I will have more and more progress if I keep on serving in the volunteer enterprise.

PS: 

 Variety, the Children's Charity was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 10, 1927 when a group of eleven men involved in show business set up a social club which they named the "Variety Club". On Christmas Eve 1928, a small baby was left on the steps of a movie theatre, with a note reading:

"Please take care of my baby. Her name is Catherine. I can no longer take care of her. I have eight others. My husband is out of work. She was born on Thanksgiving Day. I have always heard of the goodness of showbusiness people and pray to God that you will look after her. Signed, a heartbroken mother."

Since efforts to trace the mother failed, the members of the Variety Club undertook to fund the child's living expenses and education. Later the club decided to raise funds for other disadvantaged children.

(Aug 3, Friday, Sunny, Commercial Drive Residence)

I have never had this kind of experience, holding tough assignments and a plenty of trivial works, especially in the first week of my new program.

Moving home to Commercial Drive in order to get closer to my university, I have to borrow a U-hall as large as two regular trucks. With the help of this huge machine from UBC to Commercial Drive, I took three times to deliver my stuffs. After one whole day moving, I could totally feel so tied and have determined to say no more move again within the next semester. Simultaneously, I was surprised that I have already moved as a minimum of 6 times in my first year in Vancouver, which is so awful that I began to feel extremely uncomfortable when I heard the word “move”.

Meanwhile, my orientation in SFU has been taken since Jul 1^st. Suddenly, a new era for me was staged in my life, which is not only a challenge to me, but also an opportunity to learn updated knowledge and a mass of skills. Fortunately, I was trained with piles of academic skills in my previous program. Despite of this, I could definitely taste the pressure from the first week, and I was urgent to prepare my academic skills and language study for my master degree.

For the benefit from MEd program, I may get 20 hour/ week to work off-campus after receiving the work-permit. Now I am looking for some part-time off-campus jobs in Vancouver. As I know, finding a job is not an easy thing and working here is even more difficult, I have already put "working" in my schedule since this month, and I am trying my best to work harder and harder after getting a job. Besides, I have received the offer from Variety, the Children Charity, to work as a volunteer in PNE next Monday. My work is to sell the 50-50 tickets in order to collect the donation for the disabled children, and I hope I will successfully achieve the assignment. So, from now on, I may also start my new career as an employee.

这几天一直下雨，我想起来去年，登陆温哥华的时候，在飞机上看到的那一场雨。

突然之间要离开这个地方，离开我熟悉的UBC，对我来说有些残忍。

想到再也不能天天去地下室吃我最爱的中国菜，也不能经常去ubc的麦当劳只点一杯Sundae坐在窗边看风景，也不能心情不好的时候就走一百多级台阶去wreck beach坐在海边把那些烦恼都抛到九霄云外，甚至也没机会再去u-hill那边的森林散步，去FSC的Tim-Hortons买早餐，坐在18层自家公寓楼里俯视整个生机盎然的校园，突然，很想很想留下来。

之前的几次搬家，对我来说都不算什么，因为搬来搬去家还在ubc，现在却要搬去一个陌生的社区，不知道去哪里买菜吃饭，也不知道去新的学校方不方便，竟然觉得好象要跟我之前的所有生活来一个告别。

今天一个和我之前一样读igspp的女孩过来看房子，说9月份开学也想住这边。真的就像我当时一样，什么都不知道，也不大敢开口说英文，对ubc也不熟悉。但是好象希望赶快找到一个安定的地方安家，然后开始学业。

当时的我也是一样，回想起来，这一年我也是成长了许多。不再会每次都受骗上当，也不再会经常被人家欺负，更是不再会感觉孤立无助，虽然现在一样还是漂泊人生，可是也许是我对自己更加有信心了，好象没什么困难是没办法克服的了。

上次FANNY的妈妈过来这边，帮刚刚登陆温哥华的FANNY什么都安顿好，她看着我说，她觉得我也像她的小孩一样，一个人在这边，最重要就是要照顾好自己。然后就给我蒸了一大笼馒头吃。因为最近吃素，完全没有陷的馒头，吃起来也竟然觉得特别的香。

下个星期就要又一次的搬家了，从99路的这一头搬到那一头。这边实在有太多我熟悉和留恋的地方了。今天又去吃一次这家麦当劳，吃的时候，心里头还一直在安慰自己说，renfew那边也有麦当劳哦，却竟然觉得再没有比这家麦当劳更好吃的麦当劳了。

离开的时候，心情也变的跟这几天绵绵的细雨一样，潮湿而焦灼。

我只能说，再见，ubc，再见！