Person Of The Week - Emily Griffiths

Emily is one of the most, mellow, un-selfish people I know. I am so happy for her. She just finished school and she got her 1st job as a fourth grade teacher. I really can't imagine subjecting myself to a classroom filled with kids. They would take me over and pound me in to an oblivion. You really have to be a Saint to be a teacher.

We have done some wild stuff together. Like hiking/skateboarding The Camino To Santiago with our folks. Six weeks of over 20k a day up and down mountains. She aint no wus.

More of Emily below!

Are you single?
Nope. I've been with George for. Five and a half years now. I've got a ring and everything.

Describe your personality?
I guess, I feel like there are several different versions of me floating around in here. Sometimes I'm really mellow, I like to listen to my folk music and just veg out. But other times I'm pretty hyper, kind of a nut, I talk way too fast and my brain's going a mile a minute. And then for those fortunate people who happen to catch me in the middle, there's the balance. Fairly upbeat, generally optimistic (I've been called a Pollyanna,) happy to be here and overall good company.

Do you work?
I've just been hired on for my first teaching contract in Vancouver, in a French Immersion grade four class. I'm extremely stoked, it's basically my dream job.

Any hobbies?
Yep. Singing, guitar, dabbling with other instruments (I'm currently working on the accordion and tin whistle.) I also really enjoy hiking, kayaking, generally exploring the great outdoors of our beautiful province. Besides that, I'm kind of in a computer game phase again these days. I can spend hours glued to my laptop if I'm not careful. Oh, and eating. I honestly believe that I love food more than anyone else I know, barring one relative.

What's your poison?
Since I've been with George, I'm mostly a rum girl. Which makes sense, because the first drink I ever remember trying was rum, in the Caribbean as a kid in some market. Other than that, I'm kind of a wineo as well (I prefer Spanish and Chillean reds.) And I can get seriously wound up on sugar. I once had a chocolate cake and a hot chocolate at Death by Chocolate and was completely psycho for about two hours.

Craziest drinkin' binge?
My first day in Chile, I was trying to drink enough to stay ahead of the new bugs in the water that my system hadn't gotten accustomed to yet. I mixed really cheap wine (and in Chile that's really saying something) with too much Pisco (their national drink - they actually have a national drink!) The next morning we drove for a few hours up these crazy winding roads to meet a cousin of George's where she was working in a school at a Whistler-like resort. I also had a fairly frightening run-in with some stolen wine, a passed-out friend and a shopping cart in high school, but luckily I myself remained sober enough to somewhat figure things out.

What is you favorite restaurant in Van?
Great question! I love Fets on the drive, also White Spot (how exciting, I know!) Other than that, I love Wazubees for the ambiance and the garlic mayo, and Bao Chao on Hastings at Slocan for their amazing, cheap, quick service and awesome Pho.

Music?
I really get into groups or artists and become kind of obsessive. So on the front burner I have Jewel, who I adore and who's so courageous with her voice. Also in the female voice department is Feist, who's pretty damn amazing. Also listening to a lot of Stephen Fearing, an Irish/Canadian folk singer who plays the best guitar you'll ever hear. Hmmm, big fan of the Barenaked Ladies, Moxy Fruvous, Great Big Sea, Spirit of the West. Some really folky groups like Old Blind Dogs and Stan Rogers. And I'm getting into a lot of French-Canadian music: les colocs, la Bottine Souriante, Mes Aïeux.

How did you get into wanting to be a teacher?
Well, although I'm actually a fifth generation teacher, I didn't think I'd end up here. I was going to be a stage actor...well I guess I changed my mind. I did my undergrad in English Literature, and somewhere along the way I realized I wanted to teach, and teach French Immersion at that. I've always connected with kids, always found the best parts of me come to life when I'm in some sort of performative role - I think teaching is a really interesting blend of being a performer and connecting with kids in a very intimate way. It's not about being in the limelight. but more a chance to share the best things about you and help kids find that in themselves too. As for French, I think languages open doors and broaden the ways in which we think, and French is such a fun language. And in terms of kids' development, languages and music (which is basically another language) really wake up parts of our brains that otherwise sit around snoozing...if that makes sense!

What inspires you?
People who really live life fully. I'm really satisfied with my life these days, but I certainly don't live every moment like it's my last. But you meet people who just seem to suck the marrow out of life and really spread that energy and improve every situation they walk into. I've met kids like that, teachers, friends, and I'm always really motivated and yeah, inspired by that. Especially people who've been dealt such a terrible hand and they just work right through that, they live joyfully and they work to leave the world a better place than they found it.

Any cool events or parties commin' up?
Hmm...well I dunno. There are some great open mics around town, for instance at the Purple Crab on Main. I played a set there a few weeks ago, and it's a pretty assortment of groups.

What are some of the best things about Vancouver?
The mix of big city, beautiful countryside, and the diversity from one area to another. Sometimes it amazes me that Commercial Drive and Point Grey are in the same city. It's hard to be bored in Vancouver. You can kayak in False Creek, wander around Stanley Park, plunk down on a park swing near the drive and just people watch. I guess my definition of Vancouver has expanded since I've been with George, who used to live on the North Shore. You put it all together, and it's a pretty wicked place to live.

What are the worst?
Kerrisdale. Everything closes at like 7, and you're grateful, 'cause everything's so lame to begin with! (I hate Kerrisdale, can you tell?)

What do you do about Vancouver's rainy days?
Well I've got an awesome yard and a covered porch, so it's always a great chance to grab a book and hot chocolate and do nothing. Rainy days in Vancouver are way better than rainy days in Dublin, that I know. Somehow we just don't have the same kind of rain. You don't get drenched to the bone much here.

Do you want to thank anyone?
You! Sarah rocksI Thanks so much for having me on your site, and thanks to the powers that be for arranging my life so nicely this past year. And thanks to my Zadie, my grandfather on my mom's side, who would have been 100 on July 6th. He taught us that you should always try to make the world a better place, and that when you see something that isn't right, you should do what you can to improve it.

Give me a good link to check out.
www.pandora.com
I'm so in love with this site!!!

Stay tuned for next week's Person Of the Week

If you would like to be the Person Of The Week email me sarah@beyondrobson.com