"Home! Let me go home!
Home is wherever I'm with you"
~Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
And now I am. I am home. We left at 4:20 am from our house in Kelowna and split at the airport. I said hello to Kamloops (the group formerly known as Levis) and Vernon. New friends, old friends and roommates mingled on the greyhound bus till we inevitably split, bit by bit into our new adventures. In the airport, where I had to say goodbye to the ragtag family of Katima-survivors, I was unprepared for the last bit of adventure Katimavik had in store for me.
The plan was supposed to be Kelowna-Vancouver-Montreal-Fredericton all in one day. While Mariah, Sandy, Nicole, Allana and I waited in the airport as the last of the katimakids to leave, Mariah, Sandy and I watched as our flight got more and more delayed. So delayed, in fact, that Mariah and I started to worry about making our connecting flight. The agent assured us that there was no reason to worry, and that the connection will most likely be made. So we sat back down and awaited our flight. Eventually our boarding call was made. We filed on like good little passengers and flew out to Vancouver.
After I woke up, and we landed in Vancouver, Mariah and I booked it to the gate for Montreal. We found it. About two seconds to late. They had just pulled the corridor away and were preparing to taxi to take off. I felt like crying. Again, we talked to an agent. He took our information, gave us tickets for free food and told us to return after we had a bite to eat. When we did, he gave us each a ticket to the next flight to Montreal. A flight that left at 4 and arrived at 11:45. We were also given hotel and meal vouchers. That`s right. A free night in Montreal, Quebec. I contacted Élie, my katimavik boyfriend, and told him of my predicament. Before I knew it, I was in the Montreal airport, waiting to be picked up by the boy I haven`t seen in months.
Eventually, I returned to the airport. I had one flight left until I got home. I boarded the Air Canada Jazz, I was filled with the strangest emotions. I wanted to cry because I was leaving, I wanted to dance because I finished it, I wanted to scream because I was heading back to the real world and I wanted to sleep because i hadn`t in three days. Coming over Fredericton, I watched for the river. When I saw the great white streak cutting through the dark green forests, I knew I was home. This time coming home felt much better, much more right. I smiled as I came off the plane.
The last piece of Katimalife was the lost luggage that was found by one of the agents who spied the katima-tag on my suitcase. She heard my telling my Mum the stories of my six new bracelets, and recognised my vocabulary or houses, house managers and protocols, and brought out my suitcase. Might have been one of the best coincidences in a while.
I am home for real this time. This is the end of an adventure but the start of an unwritted chapter. Lets see where this one takes us, shall we?
Everyday is a new adventure, so No worries
Friday, March 04, 2011
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Day One Hundred and Seventy Six
The number of days astounds me. Especially when you consider that at 4am , I, along with the Kelowna group, Vernon group, and Kamloops group, will get on a bus that takes us to our last stop as Katimavik Participants. Its scary to think that as soon as we step off the bus and into the airport, we will become Alumni. We are the new Past Participants that will be the newest out come of the program. Terrifying.
Today is our last day and it is spent filling paper work, finishing cleaning and then going out to eat. Looking around this house, it reminds me of Quebec. How all the walls were bare and all the bunks were stripped. Its a strange sight. The girls' room, which held 6 girls lives, is now emptied. We talk about what we will do when we get home, and what we will miss about life in Katimavik. As Nicole so eloquently put, she will miss "Hair in the sink, curfews, unauthorized rides, CCK and protocols." We clearly do not use sarcasm in Katimavik.
Fun fact of the day is that Levis became Kamloops and now I get to see them again. A little visit back to my old cluster in Quebec is very much welcome right now. I will be able to talk to people who know my group, my real group. I love Kelowna, but I left my heart in Vanderhoof. As boring as Vanderhoof is, I miss it dearly. Just going to the Bean, and Fields and regular trips to the Post Office.
Now I'm looking at heading home. I know that my friends are missing me, and I can't wait to go back to them. Through this program, I learned who my real friends are. The ones that like me enough to go out of their way to see me and keep me updated. I can't wait to get home.
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
Today is our last day and it is spent filling paper work, finishing cleaning and then going out to eat. Looking around this house, it reminds me of Quebec. How all the walls were bare and all the bunks were stripped. Its a strange sight. The girls' room, which held 6 girls lives, is now emptied. We talk about what we will do when we get home, and what we will miss about life in Katimavik. As Nicole so eloquently put, she will miss "Hair in the sink, curfews, unauthorized rides, CCK and protocols." We clearly do not use sarcasm in Katimavik.
Fun fact of the day is that Levis became Kamloops and now I get to see them again. A little visit back to my old cluster in Quebec is very much welcome right now. I will be able to talk to people who know my group, my real group. I love Kelowna, but I left my heart in Vanderhoof. As boring as Vanderhoof is, I miss it dearly. Just going to the Bean, and Fields and regular trips to the Post Office.
Now I'm looking at heading home. I know that my friends are missing me, and I can't wait to go back to them. Through this program, I learned who my real friends are. The ones that like me enough to go out of their way to see me and keep me updated. I can't wait to get home.
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Day One Hundred and Seventy Three
I have almost survived my week of House Manager. Today was probably the worst so far, and once today is over, I know that I can get through the last of it all.
Since the entire Okanogan region of Katimavik is closing after this rotation, we have to empty our entire house. That means cleaning, washing, dusting, vacuuming every possible surface and cloth in the house. Sheets, towels, cloths and linens are constantly being washed, dried, folded, boxed and inventoried, while all the food is being evaluated, planned, composted and prepared. We have been cleaning all day and there just doesn't seem to be a foreseeable end. There is always more to do and I can already feel my self running out of steam. I have new respect for my Grammy in her almost OCD cleaning.
Tonight we are going to a Global Music Festival, where we will kinda volunteer but mostly enjoy the shows and enjoy our last bit of Kelowna. As it stands, we have 3 sleeps left here. I can't wait to go home for real now.
During the week, we went to a speaker by the name of Micheal Chikwanine, former child soldier. I was overwhelmed with the emotion and the horror he spoke about. He described the terrible two weeks he was forced to train with the Rebel Soldiers. At the end of his presentation, I had the chance to talk to him. He told us about a program called Me to We. It is a volunteer program where you go to a developing country for two to three weeks and help in many different ways. I was so inspired by his speech and the out comes of the program that I got in touch with my sister and we are going to try to plan for us and a small team of our friends to fund raise and then go to one of these countries. The opportunities in the Me to We are amazing. Kenya, India, China, Ecuador, or Mexico. I can't wait to start planning this with her.
The time to go home is coming up so fast, I can feel the tension in my house. I never fully settled in to this new group and I think that was partly a self preservation move on my part. Why get attached to a whole new group of katimakids when I have to leave so soon? I am just ready to get on with my real life and return to my good old little Fredericton.
The high lights of this week is that I discovered how to play my previously washed Ipod and Jessica found my laptop power cord! Also, coming up, I have arranged to meet with Élie in the Montreal Airport and hopefully see a few other of my old Katima-friends along the way. I am sure that through all the airports and bus stops, I will see others from my past Kaima-life that recognise the orange pin on my tuque or the red hair that will inevitably be in the standard "I'm traveling for 15 hours straight" pony tail.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries
Since the entire Okanogan region of Katimavik is closing after this rotation, we have to empty our entire house. That means cleaning, washing, dusting, vacuuming every possible surface and cloth in the house. Sheets, towels, cloths and linens are constantly being washed, dried, folded, boxed and inventoried, while all the food is being evaluated, planned, composted and prepared. We have been cleaning all day and there just doesn't seem to be a foreseeable end. There is always more to do and I can already feel my self running out of steam. I have new respect for my Grammy in her almost OCD cleaning.
Tonight we are going to a Global Music Festival, where we will kinda volunteer but mostly enjoy the shows and enjoy our last bit of Kelowna. As it stands, we have 3 sleeps left here. I can't wait to go home for real now.
During the week, we went to a speaker by the name of Micheal Chikwanine, former child soldier. I was overwhelmed with the emotion and the horror he spoke about. He described the terrible two weeks he was forced to train with the Rebel Soldiers. At the end of his presentation, I had the chance to talk to him. He told us about a program called Me to We. It is a volunteer program where you go to a developing country for two to three weeks and help in many different ways. I was so inspired by his speech and the out comes of the program that I got in touch with my sister and we are going to try to plan for us and a small team of our friends to fund raise and then go to one of these countries. The opportunities in the Me to We are amazing. Kenya, India, China, Ecuador, or Mexico. I can't wait to start planning this with her.
The time to go home is coming up so fast, I can feel the tension in my house. I never fully settled in to this new group and I think that was partly a self preservation move on my part. Why get attached to a whole new group of katimakids when I have to leave so soon? I am just ready to get on with my real life and return to my good old little Fredericton.
The high lights of this week is that I discovered how to play my previously washed Ipod and Jessica found my laptop power cord! Also, coming up, I have arranged to meet with Élie in the Montreal Airport and hopefully see a few other of my old Katima-friends along the way. I am sure that through all the airports and bus stops, I will see others from my past Kaima-life that recognise the orange pin on my tuque or the red hair that will inevitably be in the standard "I'm traveling for 15 hours straight" pony tail.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Day One Hundred and Sixty Three
I have now been in the Kelowna Katimavik House for two full weeks, and I am half way through my stay here. It's funny you know. Outside of Katimavik, if someone were to tell me I was going to stay away from home for a month, I would have made a big deal of it. A whole month they were gonna send we away! And now, here, staying for a month, it is like nothing. I decided to come because four weeks to round out my program is just a hop skip and jump through the calender. And it truly feels like that but more at the same time.
Scientists figured it out. Katimavik's 9 month program gave the participant ten years of life experience. I cam attest that the new 6 month program gives no less. You have to figure out things faster. Get your act, your group and yourself together faster. I am so happy I did this program.
Last weekend, I had my third 48 hours off. If any katima-kids are reading this, they understand how great that sounds. For this time around I decided I did not want to stay in the house as I did with both my breaks in my last group. This weekend, I went to Vernon. The trip there was fantastically cheap. I was able to use the free city bus pass to ride the city bus all the way to Vernon. So when I say "fantastically cheap", I really mean "free." I spent the weekend with the Katimavik Group in Vernon at their motel rooms. We joked about the incredible sketch factor of our motel, stayed up to wee hours of the morning, and enjoyed our weekend off. On the second day, me and Emily, a gorgeous blond from Ontario, had our epic adventure.
It started off with having breakfast at Denny's (it was my first time and I wasn't all that impressed). While the group decided to go skiing, Emily and I decided to economize our little money and explore the down town. Eric told us of a small mountain we could climb that had an amazing view. We went up and down the hard way because that was our style, and built miniature igloos on the top of the mountain. Our next destination was the center of the city. Emily wanted to show me the few sights that Vernon held for us. We ate the most delicious pizza, wandered the streets, waited at a bus stop for 20 minutes, wandered into a toy store to kill time, and walked out in time to see ALL the buses leave from the stop. In all fairness, the toy store was fascinating. They had a huge showcase of these tiny animals. Emily and I scoured the shelves, finding animals that meant something to us, whether it was from childhood (Emily's budgie named Blue Sky) or recent life (My tiger, Petite Tigre) or simply reminded us of our friends (Junaid's wolf). We loved scanning the shelves, blurting out the animals we found interesting. At the end of it we had picked up the three animals I aforementioned plus two more. Two foxes, one white, one red, sat among the small zoo we planned to purchase. These foxes, the same but different, represented Emily and I. While we were in the same boat on many things (migraines, writing, travel) we were different. The red and white foxes were tiny reminders of the bond we built over the two weekends we had spent together. We carry the foxes with us on our Katimavik journey now, no matter how close we are to the end. They tell us that we will always have a friend who is the same but different. Our journey continued to contain candy on the top of a different mountain in the night, being in the beginning of a horror story, riding in the back of a Lexus, going to a bizarre bonfire and collapsing into bed only to hear that the Katimavik house had lost all their power. Junaid and his sister, who originally planned on sleeping at the house, now were to crash on our floor. Emily and I smiled because we felt like this was the only logical end to our Epic Day of Epic Adventures.
We now have exactly 14 days till the end of our rotation and our program. I am keeping in touch with Jessica and we talk like old high school friends on the phone at all hours. I miss her something awful, and she does me, but we both know that we have amazing lives ahead of us, and as for me, I'm just happy I get to be a part of her story.
I have to go to work soon. I am half way through my last week of work. Next week I have been handed the nightmarish task of House Manager. I don't want to leave my job. I have made friends there and the residents are always happy to see me in the day. I will miss many of them.
But as we know, Every day is a new adventure, So no worries
Scientists figured it out. Katimavik's 9 month program gave the participant ten years of life experience. I cam attest that the new 6 month program gives no less. You have to figure out things faster. Get your act, your group and yourself together faster. I am so happy I did this program.
Last weekend, I had my third 48 hours off. If any katima-kids are reading this, they understand how great that sounds. For this time around I decided I did not want to stay in the house as I did with both my breaks in my last group. This weekend, I went to Vernon. The trip there was fantastically cheap. I was able to use the free city bus pass to ride the city bus all the way to Vernon. So when I say "fantastically cheap", I really mean "free." I spent the weekend with the Katimavik Group in Vernon at their motel rooms. We joked about the incredible sketch factor of our motel, stayed up to wee hours of the morning, and enjoyed our weekend off. On the second day, me and Emily, a gorgeous blond from Ontario, had our epic adventure.
It started off with having breakfast at Denny's (it was my first time and I wasn't all that impressed). While the group decided to go skiing, Emily and I decided to economize our little money and explore the down town. Eric told us of a small mountain we could climb that had an amazing view. We went up and down the hard way because that was our style, and built miniature igloos on the top of the mountain. Our next destination was the center of the city. Emily wanted to show me the few sights that Vernon held for us. We ate the most delicious pizza, wandered the streets, waited at a bus stop for 20 minutes, wandered into a toy store to kill time, and walked out in time to see ALL the buses leave from the stop. In all fairness, the toy store was fascinating. They had a huge showcase of these tiny animals. Emily and I scoured the shelves, finding animals that meant something to us, whether it was from childhood (Emily's budgie named Blue Sky) or recent life (My tiger, Petite Tigre) or simply reminded us of our friends (Junaid's wolf). We loved scanning the shelves, blurting out the animals we found interesting. At the end of it we had picked up the three animals I aforementioned plus two more. Two foxes, one white, one red, sat among the small zoo we planned to purchase. These foxes, the same but different, represented Emily and I. While we were in the same boat on many things (migraines, writing, travel) we were different. The red and white foxes were tiny reminders of the bond we built over the two weekends we had spent together. We carry the foxes with us on our Katimavik journey now, no matter how close we are to the end. They tell us that we will always have a friend who is the same but different. Our journey continued to contain candy on the top of a different mountain in the night, being in the beginning of a horror story, riding in the back of a Lexus, going to a bizarre bonfire and collapsing into bed only to hear that the Katimavik house had lost all their power. Junaid and his sister, who originally planned on sleeping at the house, now were to crash on our floor. Emily and I smiled because we felt like this was the only logical end to our Epic Day of Epic Adventures.
We now have exactly 14 days till the end of our rotation and our program. I am keeping in touch with Jessica and we talk like old high school friends on the phone at all hours. I miss her something awful, and she does me, but we both know that we have amazing lives ahead of us, and as for me, I'm just happy I get to be a part of her story.
I have to go to work soon. I am half way through my last week of work. Next week I have been handed the nightmarish task of House Manager. I don't want to leave my job. I have made friends there and the residents are always happy to see me in the day. I will miss many of them.
But as we know, Every day is a new adventure, So no worries
Friday, February 04, 2011
Day One Hundred and Fifty One
Kelowna BC. is my new home. Nicole, Amilie, Jessica, Katelynn, Mariah and Yannick are my new group. Sun Pointe Village is my new job. Welcome to my new life.
I arrived on Monday night and went through a whirlwind of meetings. My new group and PL received me well enough and I am beginning to settle into my new environment. While the group is vastly different from my last, they are the same in that they are all just trying to get along and enjoy their time in the west and in the program.
I love my new job. I am working at Sun Pointe Village with Jessica. It is a very nice and well organized retirement home and assisted living program. There are five "communities" in the Village, and where you are placed depends on the level of care you require. For example, in Belgo, which is one of my favorite places to visit, the men and women their have a higher level of Dementia. One woman, Ann, came to me and placed her tiny, veined hand on my arm and said "Your father is a great pilot. He'll be fine. My husband knows him. He's getting too old to fly now, but he keeps at it. You'll be safe. How old is your daughter?" I must have reminded her of some one she once knew, since my father is most definitely not a pilot, and I certainly do not have a daughter. Then there is the Joe Rich community. This is the independent living area. These are the people that are capable of taking care of themselves. In this community lives a few people of interest. One is Harold. He was born in 1910. Yes, he is one hundred years old and lives independently. And I have to say, he looks very (well relatively) young for his age.
The last woman I want to tell you about is a woman I met just yesterday. Her name is Maria and she was born in Yugoslavia. She told me about her life and about the five years she spent in a concentration camp in Russia. She told me about how they gave them nothing but quilted pants and a shirt for the winter time because all year long they would work, often outside, for eight hours. She showed me the twisted wire barrettes they made to keep their hair our of their faces while they worked. Her stories were amazing and I listened with more attentiveness than I had ever given to a teacher in all my years of study.
I am learning a lot of things here, many I did not anticipate. I have learned what love is, and what it is to be independent. I am learning to ask for help when I need it (although I am still more stubborn than need be). I am learning to let go and move on, even if I don't feel that the issue has met justice. I am learning how to be an adult while I can still make all the mistakes of a teenager.
There is only three weeks left of the program, and I will be grateful to be able to return home "for real". But as we know, there is no going back, only going on. So hopefully this time, when I leave my katimalives behind me, I will be able to look back and say "Yup, I did the right thing all along."
There is a new adventure everyday, so no worries.
I arrived on Monday night and went through a whirlwind of meetings. My new group and PL received me well enough and I am beginning to settle into my new environment. While the group is vastly different from my last, they are the same in that they are all just trying to get along and enjoy their time in the west and in the program.
I love my new job. I am working at Sun Pointe Village with Jessica. It is a very nice and well organized retirement home and assisted living program. There are five "communities" in the Village, and where you are placed depends on the level of care you require. For example, in Belgo, which is one of my favorite places to visit, the men and women their have a higher level of Dementia. One woman, Ann, came to me and placed her tiny, veined hand on my arm and said "Your father is a great pilot. He'll be fine. My husband knows him. He's getting too old to fly now, but he keeps at it. You'll be safe. How old is your daughter?" I must have reminded her of some one she once knew, since my father is most definitely not a pilot, and I certainly do not have a daughter. Then there is the Joe Rich community. This is the independent living area. These are the people that are capable of taking care of themselves. In this community lives a few people of interest. One is Harold. He was born in 1910. Yes, he is one hundred years old and lives independently. And I have to say, he looks very (well relatively) young for his age.
The last woman I want to tell you about is a woman I met just yesterday. Her name is Maria and she was born in Yugoslavia. She told me about her life and about the five years she spent in a concentration camp in Russia. She told me about how they gave them nothing but quilted pants and a shirt for the winter time because all year long they would work, often outside, for eight hours. She showed me the twisted wire barrettes they made to keep their hair our of their faces while they worked. Her stories were amazing and I listened with more attentiveness than I had ever given to a teacher in all my years of study.
I am learning a lot of things here, many I did not anticipate. I have learned what love is, and what it is to be independent. I am learning to ask for help when I need it (although I am still more stubborn than need be). I am learning to let go and move on, even if I don't feel that the issue has met justice. I am learning how to be an adult while I can still make all the mistakes of a teenager.
There is only three weeks left of the program, and I will be grateful to be able to return home "for real". But as we know, there is no going back, only going on. So hopefully this time, when I leave my katimalives behind me, I will be able to look back and say "Yup, I did the right thing all along."
There is a new adventure everyday, so no worries.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Day One Hundred and Fourty Six
And now, readers, for the fourth time in my Katima-life, my entire belongings are packed into a navy suitcase and a black book bag. Tomorrow, at ten am, at the Fredericton Airport, I depart. Once again, and any Katimakid can relate to this, I will be in the transitional state of homelessness. This time, for the first time actually, I am traveling the whole length alone. I don't have Stephen to sit beside, I don't have Kellie to chase around, and I don't have the lovely Jessica to stand beside me and cry as we line up for my flight. I only have myself to keep me on time, and find the gates. I only hope I don't end up some where weird, like Punta Cana or Vanderhoof (actually I wouldn't mind either of those destinations). But I know that I will get to Kelowna, one way or another.
Yes, that is the next hit fate had for me. This twist leads me not back to my hopeful and waiting group, but to a different group, in a different town. I will be joining a very small group in Kelowna BC. So when I said good bye to my best friends in Vanderhoof, correcting ourselves to say "see you when you get back" rather than "Good bye"' little did I know that I would not be rejoining them after all.
Readers, please know that I fought to return to where I belonged, but when it came down to it; my choices were stay home or go to Kelowna.
To recap, I have spent three months in Ste-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, Two months and two weeks in Vanderhoof, Nechako Valley, British Columbia, Two weeks in Fredericton, York County, New Bruswick and will now spend one month in Kelowna, British Columbia.
I will have a new house, new PL, new group, new roommates, new town, new job, new collective project, new, new, new, new... Its terrifying and exciting, wearing and rejuvenating all at once. All I can do now is hold my head up, and give everything that I can to this new group. Who knows? Maybe Kelowna, Kamloops (the group formerly known as Levis), and Vanderhoof can get together for Debriefing. Just like the chalet in Quebec, three houses coming together to end the rotation on a "bon" note, as Anna would say.
Remember Pheobe from Magic School bus? The annoying chick who always said "At my old school..." Yeah. Her. I can only imagine that that's what I will sound like talking of group 21157, "in my old group..."
But they were a great group, and I am proud to say that I got to meet those crazy and wonderful people. I know that I will always have friends all over Canada because I got to meet them. And I hope that I made an impact on their lives, a positive one, one they will remember. Because, what's more flattering than to be remembered as a great person? There's very little I can think of.
It's been a long two weeks home, and I set out early tomorrow for a brand new adventure.
Every day holds a new adventure, so No Worries.
Yes, that is the next hit fate had for me. This twist leads me not back to my hopeful and waiting group, but to a different group, in a different town. I will be joining a very small group in Kelowna BC. So when I said good bye to my best friends in Vanderhoof, correcting ourselves to say "see you when you get back" rather than "Good bye"' little did I know that I would not be rejoining them after all.
Readers, please know that I fought to return to where I belonged, but when it came down to it; my choices were stay home or go to Kelowna.
To recap, I have spent three months in Ste-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, Two months and two weeks in Vanderhoof, Nechako Valley, British Columbia, Two weeks in Fredericton, York County, New Bruswick and will now spend one month in Kelowna, British Columbia.
I will have a new house, new PL, new group, new roommates, new town, new job, new collective project, new, new, new, new... Its terrifying and exciting, wearing and rejuvenating all at once. All I can do now is hold my head up, and give everything that I can to this new group. Who knows? Maybe Kelowna, Kamloops (the group formerly known as Levis), and Vanderhoof can get together for Debriefing. Just like the chalet in Quebec, three houses coming together to end the rotation on a "bon" note, as Anna would say.
Remember Pheobe from Magic School bus? The annoying chick who always said "At my old school..." Yeah. Her. I can only imagine that that's what I will sound like talking of group 21157, "in my old group..."
But they were a great group, and I am proud to say that I got to meet those crazy and wonderful people. I know that I will always have friends all over Canada because I got to meet them. And I hope that I made an impact on their lives, a positive one, one they will remember. Because, what's more flattering than to be remembered as a great person? There's very little I can think of.
It's been a long two weeks home, and I set out early tomorrow for a brand new adventure.
Every day holds a new adventure, so No Worries.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Day One Hundred and Thirty Four
My surroundings have changed a little since my last post, and I am sorry for the lack of up dates, I'm a terrible blogger, so unresponsible. But I promise that I was busy and not just slacking off.
Since changing jobs, I have been much happier going to work everyday. Driving the Zamboni and sharpening skates is much more entertaining than sitting alone, at a desk, all day. But I haven't been to work in a while. I have been kinda sick. Sick with worry, sick with migranes, same diff. The difference being that they send you home on medical leave with the latter (and don't really do much for the first) . So that being said, for me the 15th was a day that I woke up in Prince George at 4 am local time (which translates into 8am here time) and fell asleep in Fredericton at 1 am here time (9pm BC time) as you can tell, my time schedual is still messed up. I have never been one to over sleep, so for me to be sleeping until 12 o'clock if you let me, c'est vraiment bizzare.
I missed my home, I will be the first to confirm that, but right now, I miss my katima-home so much. The people that I met there are such dear freinds, even though that just in August, they were perfect strangers to me. I took a bus and three planes to get home, and had layovers in Vancouver and Montreal. In Vancouver, I had to say goodbye to a girl that I will never forget. She was spunky and cute, strong minded and loyal. I accompanied her to clubs, bars, second hand shops and even a tattoo parlour. Needless to say, we loved each other as strong as any friends could. She stood in line with me at my gate to fly to Montreal, and we looked just like hobos. Everything we couldn't pack (or didn't trust to pack) was on our backs, and we wandered the airportjust crying and dreading the boarding call for Flight 7970 to Montreal. I miss her so, and I hope she reads this.
As for the rest of the group, I am curious to see the photos and read the updates on facebook, but find it painful that I am not in the photos along side them. Katimavik is such a huge part of my life right now that I would be in a totally different place in my life, a totally different person, if I had taken my admittance to STU and put off or cancelled Katimavik. My group is amazing, once you walk into our home, you instantly feel comfortable. The ragtag couches and sad state of much of the house doesn't matter when you are watching a game of Ninja, or the boys (and me!) wrestling in the living room. I miss the most simple things too. Screaming SOUPER! to let the house know it is supper time, to having french dinners, I even miss the rukus at bedtime that keeps you up until unspeakable hours. It is good, bad, and ugly, but it is a part of the Katima-vie.
I am making the most of my time at home. Life cannot return to a "normal" state because I'm not sure that I know what that is now. I know that I have people to see and things to do before returning to my lovely group, but I am restless to get back nonetheless.
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
Since changing jobs, I have been much happier going to work everyday. Driving the Zamboni and sharpening skates is much more entertaining than sitting alone, at a desk, all day. But I haven't been to work in a while. I have been kinda sick. Sick with worry, sick with migranes, same diff. The difference being that they send you home on medical leave with the latter (and don't really do much for the first) . So that being said, for me the 15th was a day that I woke up in Prince George at 4 am local time (which translates into 8am here time) and fell asleep in Fredericton at 1 am here time (9pm BC time) as you can tell, my time schedual is still messed up. I have never been one to over sleep, so for me to be sleeping until 12 o'clock if you let me, c'est vraiment bizzare.
I missed my home, I will be the first to confirm that, but right now, I miss my katima-home so much. The people that I met there are such dear freinds, even though that just in August, they were perfect strangers to me. I took a bus and three planes to get home, and had layovers in Vancouver and Montreal. In Vancouver, I had to say goodbye to a girl that I will never forget. She was spunky and cute, strong minded and loyal. I accompanied her to clubs, bars, second hand shops and even a tattoo parlour. Needless to say, we loved each other as strong as any friends could. She stood in line with me at my gate to fly to Montreal, and we looked just like hobos. Everything we couldn't pack (or didn't trust to pack) was on our backs, and we wandered the airportjust crying and dreading the boarding call for Flight 7970 to Montreal. I miss her so, and I hope she reads this.
As for the rest of the group, I am curious to see the photos and read the updates on facebook, but find it painful that I am not in the photos along side them. Katimavik is such a huge part of my life right now that I would be in a totally different place in my life, a totally different person, if I had taken my admittance to STU and put off or cancelled Katimavik. My group is amazing, once you walk into our home, you instantly feel comfortable. The ragtag couches and sad state of much of the house doesn't matter when you are watching a game of Ninja, or the boys (and me!) wrestling in the living room. I miss the most simple things too. Screaming SOUPER! to let the house know it is supper time, to having french dinners, I even miss the rukus at bedtime that keeps you up until unspeakable hours. It is good, bad, and ugly, but it is a part of the Katima-vie.
I am making the most of my time at home. Life cannot return to a "normal" state because I'm not sure that I know what that is now. I know that I have people to see and things to do before returning to my lovely group, but I am restless to get back nonetheless.
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
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