Merry Christmas and welcome back to my blog!
What a time has happened in this little house! Most of life in Katimavik is self directed and it is up to us to keep our days busy and make sure that things happen and are planned out right. And often, we need to plan on the fly if/when a plan falls through. Its an important skill to have: both making plans and reworking them.
We had an interesting if not unconventional Christmas. Since every one had different traditions, we tried to cover as many as we could. We watched the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, read Twas The Night Before Christmas, and stayed up all night to open presents at way to early. I believe that the actual time I began opening presents was 4 am. Which is acceptable simply because it was 8 am at home, when my real family was opening their presents, a country away. It was a bizarre feeling.
Every one has things about Christmas that just develop into your family as the years go by. For me, every Christmas eve, we play a board game and look at Christmas lights. I really missed that.. It was nights like that that I really really missed some of the things about home. One thing was my bed. The beds in Katimavik aren't exactly luxury. Metal bunk beds with plastic mattresses. I miss my bed at home, the one with a little groove where I like to lay each night, and the pillows that I arrange just so. I miss the easy understanding of how a day works in my house hold. Like I said, Katimavik day is never solid in plans.
Currently, a big topic of conversation is the Murder Mystery Party we have planned for New Years Eve. (this is a plan I know will come through. I worked way to hard on it for it to fall though!) I, with the much needed and very appreciated help of my three helpers, wrote the whole nights plot. Characters, costumes, drama, its all starting to come out after I gave out the character bios last night. I am so excited to see it come to a head by friday night! I will try to keep this more updated (and I know I say that every time).
Much Love
Every day is a new adventure, so No worries
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Day One Hundred and One
I've lived in small towns before, but Vanderhoof is a town unlike any other. For one thing, it has the most churches per capita in all of Canada. Also, it has a store where you can get gel nails and body piercings and hair cuts. Just the oddities you can find along the few streets, make living here interesting and dull at the same time. But that's not what I'm writing about today.
Last night, I was out for a walk with Kurtis and Bruce when a dog, just taller than knee high to me, came bounding up to us. He was uncollared, unmarked, and one of the most freindly beasts I have ever met. He was just eager for attention. Being who I am with my soft spot for any animal (except leeches. Those do not deserve life.), had to stop to pet him. He had ice all through his coat and his paws were red and raw from the ice, salt and sand on the streets. The dog was black and white with black speckles covering his legs and white patches. The whole walk home, he followed us, running back and forth, wanting to play. The three of us fell in love with the little scamp, gave him some food and water and named him Rascal. He made me realize how much I missed feeling a dog's fur and enjoying their company. Even though we only saw the stray dog we named Rascal for a bit, he already decided that Kurtis was the Alpha male, and I was the Alpha female. Kurtis would give him some food, and Rascal would curl up on my feet. He was the most loving dog I have met in a long time. It made me sad that I was able to go inside to the warm, carpetted house, while Rascal had to sleep outside.
Today, I accompanied my boss, Reg, to the local College, CNC, for an anti-racism seminar. Reg led it and told all about racism in Canada, the idea of a Melting Pot, his own experiances and what Vanderhoof is doing about the problems here in town. It was very informative and moving. To hear him talk about it, the conviction he feels, makes you want to do somethign and make a change in your life, and hopefully, in the lives of those around us.
I am learning a lot about a lot of things here. Actually, I'm learning a lot more than I thought I would in a town of 4000. I've learned about myself, and what is important to me. I know now that performance, and music is way more important than I thought. I know that I need my time alone just as much as I need it with people.f I know that, in the grand scheme of things, I have it really good in the life I have been dealt. I see kids everyday that are fatherless, nearly homeless, abused, abusive or any combination. They aren't bad kids, they are just kids that have been dealt a bad hand. Kids only know what they learn at home, from parents, or with their friends. Think of that the next time you think "They are just a bad person", chances there is a reason behind it all.
Learn to love
Love to laugh
Laugh to learn
Take it in turn
Take it in stride
Take it all in
~Anonymous
Everyday is a new adventure, so No Worries
Last night, I was out for a walk with Kurtis and Bruce when a dog, just taller than knee high to me, came bounding up to us. He was uncollared, unmarked, and one of the most freindly beasts I have ever met. He was just eager for attention. Being who I am with my soft spot for any animal (except leeches. Those do not deserve life.), had to stop to pet him. He had ice all through his coat and his paws were red and raw from the ice, salt and sand on the streets. The dog was black and white with black speckles covering his legs and white patches. The whole walk home, he followed us, running back and forth, wanting to play. The three of us fell in love with the little scamp, gave him some food and water and named him Rascal. He made me realize how much I missed feeling a dog's fur and enjoying their company. Even though we only saw the stray dog we named Rascal for a bit, he already decided that Kurtis was the Alpha male, and I was the Alpha female. Kurtis would give him some food, and Rascal would curl up on my feet. He was the most loving dog I have met in a long time. It made me sad that I was able to go inside to the warm, carpetted house, while Rascal had to sleep outside.
Today, I accompanied my boss, Reg, to the local College, CNC, for an anti-racism seminar. Reg led it and told all about racism in Canada, the idea of a Melting Pot, his own experiances and what Vanderhoof is doing about the problems here in town. It was very informative and moving. To hear him talk about it, the conviction he feels, makes you want to do somethign and make a change in your life, and hopefully, in the lives of those around us.
I am learning a lot about a lot of things here. Actually, I'm learning a lot more than I thought I would in a town of 4000. I've learned about myself, and what is important to me. I know now that performance, and music is way more important than I thought. I know that I need my time alone just as much as I need it with people.f I know that, in the grand scheme of things, I have it really good in the life I have been dealt. I see kids everyday that are fatherless, nearly homeless, abused, abusive or any combination. They aren't bad kids, they are just kids that have been dealt a bad hand. Kids only know what they learn at home, from parents, or with their friends. Think of that the next time you think "They are just a bad person", chances there is a reason behind it all.
Learn to love
Love to laugh
Laugh to learn
Take it in turn
Take it in stride
Take it all in
~Anonymous
Everyday is a new adventure, so No Worries
Friday, December 10, 2010
Day Ninety Five
From where I sit at my work desk, I have a veiw of the high way that runs through the humble town of Vanderhoof. I am alone at work today as Reg, my boss and only co-worker, is out of the office today on other business. The highway I see before me is known as the "Highway of Tears." It has earned this name because of natives who would hitch hike from one town to the next and are picked up by shady characters. Vanderhoof is a town that has seen a lot of sorrow, but has a rising out look nonetheless. One of the main factors to this rising outlook is the organization I currently volunteer for.
It is called the Good Neighbour Commitee and it is doing a lot for this community. Right now I am in the "Neighbourhood Space" that the GNC set up as both headquarters for Volunteer Vanderhoof (which I set up the wiki for http://www.neighbourhoodwikispace.wikispaces.com/) and also as a place for Youth to come after school. It is a safeplace where the kids trust Reg and can enjoy a cup of coffee, a game of pool and, on occasion, live music. The work being done by the GNC here at the Neighbourhood Space is obvious when you see how happy the kids are to come here and spend time with their freinds.
Vanderhoof is very small. In about 20 minutes you can walk from one end of the town clear to the other with no trouble. It is the sort of town where every one knows everyone else, and where every one drives Ford trucks. They are welcoming to Katimavik and are eager to have us help them in any way we can. We literally have people knocking on our door with volunteer opportunities. Literally.
Last night we got out and saw Mulan Jr. put on by the Vanderhoof's Children Theatre. It was the most adorable thing I think I have ever seen. And I actually saw a lot of theatre potential in a few of the kids. The little boy who played Mushoo, the little red dragon (DRAG-ON, not lizard, I don't do that tongue thing ssshhtthhh) made me crack up laughing more times than I could count. Also the little girl, who couldn't have been more than 12 who played Mulan had a voice that promised to develop into a beautiful singing voice. They are STARS! (As my PL, Melissa, would say)
That is about all I have to report on Vanderhoof as of yet. I will definitly try to keep up on this a little better.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
It is called the Good Neighbour Commitee and it is doing a lot for this community. Right now I am in the "Neighbourhood Space" that the GNC set up as both headquarters for Volunteer Vanderhoof (which I set up the wiki for http://www.neighbourhoodwikispace.wikispaces.com/) and also as a place for Youth to come after school. It is a safeplace where the kids trust Reg and can enjoy a cup of coffee, a game of pool and, on occasion, live music. The work being done by the GNC here at the Neighbourhood Space is obvious when you see how happy the kids are to come here and spend time with their freinds.
Vanderhoof is very small. In about 20 minutes you can walk from one end of the town clear to the other with no trouble. It is the sort of town where every one knows everyone else, and where every one drives Ford trucks. They are welcoming to Katimavik and are eager to have us help them in any way we can. We literally have people knocking on our door with volunteer opportunities. Literally.
Last night we got out and saw Mulan Jr. put on by the Vanderhoof's Children Theatre. It was the most adorable thing I think I have ever seen. And I actually saw a lot of theatre potential in a few of the kids. The little boy who played Mushoo, the little red dragon (DRAG-ON, not lizard, I don't do that tongue thing ssshhtthhh) made me crack up laughing more times than I could count. Also the little girl, who couldn't have been more than 12 who played Mulan had a voice that promised to develop into a beautiful singing voice. They are STARS! (As my PL, Melissa, would say)
That is about all I have to report on Vanderhoof as of yet. I will definitly try to keep up on this a little better.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Day Eighty Eight
Hey, look at that. I have made it to Vanderhoof BC!
We arrived right on time, although the last leg of the journey was excruciating. We met the Quesnel (pronouncd Quen-el, took me a while to get that one!) group at the Prince George airport after an hour of waiting, then boarded a school bus (yup, a yellow, old school, straight up school bus) with them to Quesnel (1 hour and 30 minutes), back to Prince George (1 hour 30 minutes) then to Vanderhoof (1 hour). Thats right, four hours on that bus. It was freezing cold and very uncomfortable. Couple that with the fact of our sleeplessness, time change, irritability and you have a recipe for very cranky teenagers. We were exhausted by the time we reached our destination.
Kellie and I managed to get the room we had been dreaming of. I love my bed. It is very comfortable but seems to be missing something home made (hint hint, mother.. Haha). The house is huge in comparisson to our last one and the bathrooms and kitchen have so much counterspace, it feels like a mansion to me.
It comes with a guitar and two air hockey tables. I feel spoiled that I get to live here. Katimavik has really made me appreciate everything my parents have worked towards giving us. It is a lot of work for a home like mine in New Brunswick.
My Grandmother has a saying: You can do anything for a day, and I am learning that this is very true. Day by day we can get through not that badly, but when I look back, I get tired tinking of how much I have put into this project and this life. It is draining to know about everything that we have dealt with as a group. But we make it through easily because we all got eachother's backs.
Everyday is a new adventure, so No Worries
We arrived right on time, although the last leg of the journey was excruciating. We met the Quesnel (pronouncd Quen-el, took me a while to get that one!) group at the Prince George airport after an hour of waiting, then boarded a school bus (yup, a yellow, old school, straight up school bus) with them to Quesnel (1 hour and 30 minutes), back to Prince George (1 hour 30 minutes) then to Vanderhoof (1 hour). Thats right, four hours on that bus. It was freezing cold and very uncomfortable. Couple that with the fact of our sleeplessness, time change, irritability and you have a recipe for very cranky teenagers. We were exhausted by the time we reached our destination.
Kellie and I managed to get the room we had been dreaming of. I love my bed. It is very comfortable but seems to be missing something home made (hint hint, mother.. Haha). The house is huge in comparisson to our last one and the bathrooms and kitchen have so much counterspace, it feels like a mansion to me.
It comes with a guitar and two air hockey tables. I feel spoiled that I get to live here. Katimavik has really made me appreciate everything my parents have worked towards giving us. It is a lot of work for a home like mine in New Brunswick.
My Grandmother has a saying: You can do anything for a day, and I am learning that this is very true. Day by day we can get through not that badly, but when I look back, I get tired tinking of how much I have put into this project and this life. It is draining to know about everything that we have dealt with as a group. But we make it through easily because we all got eachother's backs.
Everyday is a new adventure, so No Worries
Day Eighty Six
Here I sit, in the Vancouver Airport. I have eleven people's carry ons strewn around me, as I sit on the floor next to the garbage bin. From here we are to fly Prince George, and board a bus to Vanderhoof. We are schedualed to arrive at our new home at 9:30, local time, but to us it will feel like much later. This morning, yesterday morning.. I don't remember any more.. We left at 2 in the morning, on a greyhound bus with all the other groups. We drove three hours (three hours that I don't remember since I passed out on the guy beside me as soon as we boarded the bus) destined for Montreal Airport.
Saying good-bye to the other groups was hard. Such bonds were built over the the three months between the houses. Our Project Co-ordinator, the woman in charge of the three groups, said that she had never seen three houses get along so well. I cried a little saying good bye to Beauport and Levis. I know that I will have to see some of them again.
Katimavik is such a family that while in the airports, if we saw the tell tale orange and green Circle square (or even just a large group of lost looking kids or age) we would slyly say "Katimavik?" just loud enough so they would hear us. We always were greeted with a smile and often hugs. I am sure that this will continue as long as Katimavik does.
We still have five hours of travel left which really doesn't sound like much, but when you consider we have already traveled for around ten hours, and I am running on 2 hours of sleep for 30 hours, I am exhausted and I feel like I will never reach Vanderhoof, I will just go on buses and planes for the rest of my shuffled life.
Living in Quebec City for so long has atuned my ears to listen for English as a sign that some one is talking to me. Because of this, now that I am in British Columbia, and the official language is again English, I feel like I am eavesdropping on all the conversations around me. This level of comprehensionis bizzare.
My plane is boarding soon, and after this hour and a half flight, an hour lay over, and a four hour bus drive, I will again be "home". Wish me luck
Everyday is a new adventure, so No worries
Saying good-bye to the other groups was hard. Such bonds were built over the the three months between the houses. Our Project Co-ordinator, the woman in charge of the three groups, said that she had never seen three houses get along so well. I cried a little saying good bye to Beauport and Levis. I know that I will have to see some of them again.
Katimavik is such a family that while in the airports, if we saw the tell tale orange and green Circle square (or even just a large group of lost looking kids or age) we would slyly say "Katimavik?" just loud enough so they would hear us. We always were greeted with a smile and often hugs. I am sure that this will continue as long as Katimavik does.
We still have five hours of travel left which really doesn't sound like much, but when you consider we have already traveled for around ten hours, and I am running on 2 hours of sleep for 30 hours, I am exhausted and I feel like I will never reach Vanderhoof, I will just go on buses and planes for the rest of my shuffled life.
Living in Quebec City for so long has atuned my ears to listen for English as a sign that some one is talking to me. Because of this, now that I am in British Columbia, and the official language is again English, I feel like I am eavesdropping on all the conversations around me. This level of comprehensionis bizzare.
My plane is boarding soon, and after this hour and a half flight, an hour lay over, and a four hour bus drive, I will again be "home". Wish me luck
Everyday is a new adventure, so No worries
Day Eighty Four
This evening, all three Katima-houses have congregated at a Chalet out in the outskirts of the city. This unassuming building is now the temporary home of 31 teenagers. It is loud and busy, but we have made it our summer camp, even in the dread of winter. Here we are debriefing on our adventures thus far in Katimavik, evaluating our project leaders, and preparing for the next stop. It is bitter sweet to be leaving the house in Ste. Foy as it has become a true home to us. It was the place that we looked forward to returning to after a hard day. We are comfortable there. We loved it. Now we are almost homeless, knowing that we are not to return to the crayon box. Having the other groups here is great. We are such freinds that I couldn't imagine this rotation with out them. Both the Beauport and Levis, or rather Maple Creek and Kamloops now (that was weird to type) are great freinds to us.
Packing up the house was strange. Taking the photos down, stripping beds, emptying drawers. Cleansing the house of our group made it seem just so unreal. My room, stripped and bland, looked like a prison cell. A prison cell that we still wanted to stay in. Walking around the house, the walls were echoing, the floors were mopped, it was bizarre. Our house as not dirty, but it was never that clean. It had an un-lived in feeling that we had never felt in that tiny house before.
But now we are onto our next rotation, our next adventure. As a group,we will take what ever Vanderhoof has to throw at us :)
Every day is a new adventure, so No Worries
Packing up the house was strange. Taking the photos down, stripping beds, emptying drawers. Cleansing the house of our group made it seem just so unreal. My room, stripped and bland, looked like a prison cell. A prison cell that we still wanted to stay in. Walking around the house, the walls were echoing, the floors were mopped, it was bizarre. Our house as not dirty, but it was never that clean. It had an un-lived in feeling that we had never felt in that tiny house before.
But now we are onto our next rotation, our next adventure. As a group,we will take what ever Vanderhoof has to throw at us :)
Every day is a new adventure, so No Worries
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Day Eighty Two
Work is over now, and we are getting into the debriefing/packing mode. But first, we should probably clean up the toilet paper, blown-up condoms, packs of chips, and discarded felt. Or I could explain the reasoning behind it all. I choose the second.
Stephane's birthday is coming up, and since we aren't able to celebrate it properly with him on the day, we celebrated it last night. As a special treat, Stephane made us supper. We came down stairs to a huge spread layed out across our tables of meat, vegetables, cheese, pickles, rice, and fondue pots. It was absolutly delicious. We ate more than our fills, then craftily got Stephane out of the house.
Frantically, the ten of us (Kaley took Stephane out for a walk to discuss some (made up) problems she was having) ran around "decorating" the house. We blew up the few balloons with "Bonne Fete"scrawled across them we were able to scavenge, and when those ran out, we broke open the condom tin and used those as balloons. They were oddly translucent, slippery and only slightly phallus shaped when inflated. But when you are in Katimavik, you learn to improvise. That sort of thinking is probably what led us to our next decoration idea: toilet paper streamers. Using electrical tape (yes, electrical tape) we strung up the T.P. and the balloons ("Bonne Fete" and other wise) all over our house.
As Anna put it "I'm pretty sure we are the only ones who would actually TP our own house." That's Katimavik for you.
Soon, once the strobe light was in place that is, we ran and hid in the entrance room, and anxiously awaited Stephane's arrival. When the door opened, we all jumped out, up, in and shoated "SURPRISE!" and started a rambling chorus of Happy Birthday in French.
We then led him in to the dining room where two cakes in the shape of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (or Turtle Ninjas if you are Kellie, love that girl) faces were waiting for him. He looked like a little kid. As he opened his presents, he kept thanking us. He said that this was the best birthday he has had in a long time. We were so happy that we were able to make him enjoy his birthday.
Today is the start of our Debriefing. We have hoops to jump through, papers to write, and activities to participate in. Its bitter sweet. I love Quebec, and have thoroughly enjoyed it, but I feel like Quebec has so much more to teach me, and I have so much more to discover that our departure is premature. Yet on the other hand, I am setting out on another adventure. One that will no doubt be as amazing as we make it, and with a group like this, how could it be anything but?
Katimavik has showed me that I can be independent, yet accept help. It has taught me that group dynamics don't always have to bite us in the behind. I have learned so much that I don't know if any one can really appreciate how much this type of an experiance can change you.
I can see my life changing in front of my eyes, and I have these people, these places, these months to thank.
My parents are coming tomorrow. The snow is making me anxious for them to travel, but I cannot wait for my parents black Malibu to come rollng down my little street. It will be surreal to have my real life and my Katima-life mingle like that.
Living in this crayon box, you can sometimes forget that there is a world beyond it, one with out Katima-rules. It will be strange to go back to it.. eventually
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries.
Stephane's birthday is coming up, and since we aren't able to celebrate it properly with him on the day, we celebrated it last night. As a special treat, Stephane made us supper. We came down stairs to a huge spread layed out across our tables of meat, vegetables, cheese, pickles, rice, and fondue pots. It was absolutly delicious. We ate more than our fills, then craftily got Stephane out of the house.
Frantically, the ten of us (Kaley took Stephane out for a walk to discuss some (made up) problems she was having) ran around "decorating" the house. We blew up the few balloons with "Bonne Fete"scrawled across them we were able to scavenge, and when those ran out, we broke open the condom tin and used those as balloons. They were oddly translucent, slippery and only slightly phallus shaped when inflated. But when you are in Katimavik, you learn to improvise. That sort of thinking is probably what led us to our next decoration idea: toilet paper streamers. Using electrical tape (yes, electrical tape) we strung up the T.P. and the balloons ("Bonne Fete" and other wise) all over our house.
As Anna put it "I'm pretty sure we are the only ones who would actually TP our own house." That's Katimavik for you.
Soon, once the strobe light was in place that is, we ran and hid in the entrance room, and anxiously awaited Stephane's arrival. When the door opened, we all jumped out, up, in and shoated "SURPRISE!" and started a rambling chorus of Happy Birthday in French.
We then led him in to the dining room where two cakes in the shape of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (or Turtle Ninjas if you are Kellie, love that girl) faces were waiting for him. He looked like a little kid. As he opened his presents, he kept thanking us. He said that this was the best birthday he has had in a long time. We were so happy that we were able to make him enjoy his birthday.
Today is the start of our Debriefing. We have hoops to jump through, papers to write, and activities to participate in. Its bitter sweet. I love Quebec, and have thoroughly enjoyed it, but I feel like Quebec has so much more to teach me, and I have so much more to discover that our departure is premature. Yet on the other hand, I am setting out on another adventure. One that will no doubt be as amazing as we make it, and with a group like this, how could it be anything but?
Katimavik has showed me that I can be independent, yet accept help. It has taught me that group dynamics don't always have to bite us in the behind. I have learned so much that I don't know if any one can really appreciate how much this type of an experiance can change you.
I can see my life changing in front of my eyes, and I have these people, these places, these months to thank.
My parents are coming tomorrow. The snow is making me anxious for them to travel, but I cannot wait for my parents black Malibu to come rollng down my little street. It will be surreal to have my real life and my Katima-life mingle like that.
Living in this crayon box, you can sometimes forget that there is a world beyond it, one with out Katima-rules. It will be strange to go back to it.. eventually
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Day Seventy Five
I have been slackingon the blog posts, and for that I apologize. The good news is that soon we will be in Vanderhoof, and I won't have those nasty things like going out and having fun to get in th way of my blog. I Joke.
Today was actually an amazing day. We were up at 8 (early for a Saturday morning in Katmavik) and were greeted with the first snow fall of the year. By the time I was up, there was already a good 2 cm on the ground. It was the white, packy snow that allowed for snowballs to be made and then thrown. While the wite fresh blanket made me think of home, it also made me remember how much I hate snow. I am really not a ski bunny.
By 10 o'clock, we were all piling into the Katimavan on our way to a little bit of volunteering. Little did I know that I was about to fall in love.
We arrived at the SPCA half an hour before it even opened, so we had to wait a while. From where we were waiting, we could already hear the dogs barking, eager for the day to start. Once we got in, it was a mad dash to get to the dogs and choose the one we wanted to walk. There were little dogs, puppies, black dogs hyper dogs an so many others. One interesting girl that caught my eye was a little skinny brown dog, not older than a year. She had the most startling eyes I have ever seen on a canine. But in the next room I saw her. Her name was Pacha, and I loved her right a way. She was a medium sized dog and stood just taller than my knee. Shehad intelligent, human-like eyes and was completely covered in three inch long white hair with a black patch on each ear and covering her nub-like tail. While she did bark when in her pen, once we were out in the snow, running around, she was a true gentle giant. She was strong, but did not pull, ran beside me, not with me. She didn't pay much mind to the dogs making a ruckus around us, just wanted to be with me.
Bruce and I stopped for a minute to pat her, and give her "some lovings". Pacha really enjoyed it ad bgan to lean into us. Since we were already in a very precarious position, her added weight just toppled us over. She ended up laying on top of us both, our butts in the snow, and none of us seemed to mind. Pacha just layed there, soaking up all the attention.
I could tell she was the type of dog to climb into bed with you at night or to let you cry into her long fur. I wanted to take her home so badly and not return this sweet girl back into the loud, cement enclosure.
Please, when looking for a pet, don't let pride get in the way of considering the pound and shelters as an option. My family adopted Maddy, our neurotic, ridiculous, loved, "pure-bred mutt" from a shelter ten years ago, and I couldn't imgine my chldhood with out her. All shelter dogs come with such a personality that is so unique, that it is a crime that some are as crowded as they are.
(And I guess that this all applies to cats as well, but I hate cats, and they hate me, so think what you will of the felines...)
We now have one week left of work until leaving for BC. It is such a surreal feeling that I am leaving again. Fredericton was bad enough, but I feel that I have so much more to see and experiance while I'm here. I'm certainly not ready to leave Quebec.
Every day is a new adventure, so No Worries
Today was actually an amazing day. We were up at 8 (early for a Saturday morning in Katmavik) and were greeted with the first snow fall of the year. By the time I was up, there was already a good 2 cm on the ground. It was the white, packy snow that allowed for snowballs to be made and then thrown. While the wite fresh blanket made me think of home, it also made me remember how much I hate snow. I am really not a ski bunny.
By 10 o'clock, we were all piling into the Katimavan on our way to a little bit of volunteering. Little did I know that I was about to fall in love.
We arrived at the SPCA half an hour before it even opened, so we had to wait a while. From where we were waiting, we could already hear the dogs barking, eager for the day to start. Once we got in, it was a mad dash to get to the dogs and choose the one we wanted to walk. There were little dogs, puppies, black dogs hyper dogs an so many others. One interesting girl that caught my eye was a little skinny brown dog, not older than a year. She had the most startling eyes I have ever seen on a canine. But in the next room I saw her. Her name was Pacha, and I loved her right a way. She was a medium sized dog and stood just taller than my knee. Shehad intelligent, human-like eyes and was completely covered in three inch long white hair with a black patch on each ear and covering her nub-like tail. While she did bark when in her pen, once we were out in the snow, running around, she was a true gentle giant. She was strong, but did not pull, ran beside me, not with me. She didn't pay much mind to the dogs making a ruckus around us, just wanted to be with me.
Bruce and I stopped for a minute to pat her, and give her "some lovings". Pacha really enjoyed it ad bgan to lean into us. Since we were already in a very precarious position, her added weight just toppled us over. She ended up laying on top of us both, our butts in the snow, and none of us seemed to mind. Pacha just layed there, soaking up all the attention.
I could tell she was the type of dog to climb into bed with you at night or to let you cry into her long fur. I wanted to take her home so badly and not return this sweet girl back into the loud, cement enclosure.
Please, when looking for a pet, don't let pride get in the way of considering the pound and shelters as an option. My family adopted Maddy, our neurotic, ridiculous, loved, "pure-bred mutt" from a shelter ten years ago, and I couldn't imgine my chldhood with out her. All shelter dogs come with such a personality that is so unique, that it is a crime that some are as crowded as they are.
(And I guess that this all applies to cats as well, but I hate cats, and they hate me, so think what you will of the felines...)
We now have one week left of work until leaving for BC. It is such a surreal feeling that I am leaving again. Fredericton was bad enough, but I feel that I have so much more to see and experiance while I'm here. I'm certainly not ready to leave Quebec.
Every day is a new adventure, so No Worries
Monday, November 15, 2010
Day Seventy
We have returned from billetting and it took no time at all to feel like a family once again. Within the first day, we were back to our loud, messy selves. The first night was full of stories and descriptions of our billet houses and families. It made me so happy to see all of them again.
Thursday,we all left work early to go out to a camp ground for volunteering. Our job was as simple as picking up sticks. In fact, that was our exact job. A trailor would pull up and it was up to the three katima-groups in the area to fill it with fallen branches (or trees in some cases) from the area. Once filled, we were to pick up an arm-full of the remaining sticks and follow the trailor to a cliff and throw all the colected wood over the edge. It was oddly entertaining. The only down side was the sudden and severe sore throat that struck me while working.
This past weekend, we spent in Montreal. It was amazing, save for the sore throat that developed into full on illness. We visited a botanical garden with very friendly squirrels, the Science Center of Montreal (the current exhibit was Sex: A Tell All Exhibition), Mount Royal, the Holocaust Museum and St. Joseph's Oratory. I was unable to enjoy the last one since I stayed in the Van to sleep and not die. But the other things we did were so much fun, it made up for it. The Holocaust museum was so interesting.
Montreal is a beautiful city
I am now home sick, so please excuse me while I go take yet another nap
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries.
Thursday,we all left work early to go out to a camp ground for volunteering. Our job was as simple as picking up sticks. In fact, that was our exact job. A trailor would pull up and it was up to the three katima-groups in the area to fill it with fallen branches (or trees in some cases) from the area. Once filled, we were to pick up an arm-full of the remaining sticks and follow the trailor to a cliff and throw all the colected wood over the edge. It was oddly entertaining. The only down side was the sudden and severe sore throat that struck me while working.
This past weekend, we spent in Montreal. It was amazing, save for the sore throat that developed into full on illness. We visited a botanical garden with very friendly squirrels, the Science Center of Montreal (the current exhibit was Sex: A Tell All Exhibition), Mount Royal, the Holocaust Museum and St. Joseph's Oratory. I was unable to enjoy the last one since I stayed in the Van to sleep and not die. But the other things we did were so much fun, it made up for it. The Holocaust museum was so interesting.
Montreal is a beautiful city
I am now home sick, so please excuse me while I go take yet another nap
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Day Fifty Seven
In exaclty one month from this moment, my group and I will be settling into our new Katimahome in Vanderhoof, British Columbia. If the idea of leaving Fredericton was making me nervous, the idea of leaving Quebc, and the home we have here is absolutly daunting! It was hard enough getting to know everyone, including our PL Stephane, and our house, only to have to leave him and it for the next unsuspecting group.
At work, I am more and more working for the Friperee, a second hand store that gives things away for free. Today, while loading a large cart into the store, a man came up to ask the woman in charge some questions. He explained that he needed some clothes because he was hitchhiking to Halifax. So what was the problem here? He explained it all in perfect English. It was clear that neither of them knew what to do, and I was able to translate for them. I feel so useful when this sort of situation comes up because, even if I have a very limited vocabulary in French, I know how to word things so that I use the word I do know.
If you read my last blog (which you all did, of course :P ) youwill know that I am currently living in a billet family in the community. There are some definite perks to billetting. The first is the food. I don't have to cook it, and they are very pleased when we, Kellie and I are billetted together, help with the dishes. Also is the fact of the bread. The soft, chewable, evenly pre-cut bread. If you have ever had home made bread from scratch, you will know that it is a skill to make good bread. This knowledge leads you to conclude that if you have a group of eleven teenagers in a house, none that have baked bread before, you will know that the home made bread will not be very dependable, and since we do not buy bread, but make all that we need, store baugh bread seems like a once in a Katimalife time treat. Also, we have time to kick back and just be teenagers again. Most of the time in Katimavik, when we aren't working that is, is spent in meetings, planning commities, or out in the community. So when we come here to a billet house, we can relax and remember what a "normal" life is like.
That being said, I miss my Katimavik group terribly. There is a group of us that live relativly close to each other so we see each other fairly often through the two weeks. But, I miss those that aren't close. If you check my phone right now, 9 out the 10 most recently texted contacts are katimavik people (with the 1 out of 10 being my mother).We are so close, we aren't just a group, or a team, Katimavik is a family.
This weekend is my last days with the billet family, and the next weekend, my group and I are off to Montreal for the weekend. I am very much looking forward to that!
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries.
At work, I am more and more working for the Friperee, a second hand store that gives things away for free. Today, while loading a large cart into the store, a man came up to ask the woman in charge some questions. He explained that he needed some clothes because he was hitchhiking to Halifax. So what was the problem here? He explained it all in perfect English. It was clear that neither of them knew what to do, and I was able to translate for them. I feel so useful when this sort of situation comes up because, even if I have a very limited vocabulary in French, I know how to word things so that I use the word I do know.
If you read my last blog (which you all did, of course :P ) youwill know that I am currently living in a billet family in the community. There are some definite perks to billetting. The first is the food. I don't have to cook it, and they are very pleased when we, Kellie and I are billetted together, help with the dishes. Also is the fact of the bread. The soft, chewable, evenly pre-cut bread. If you have ever had home made bread from scratch, you will know that it is a skill to make good bread. This knowledge leads you to conclude that if you have a group of eleven teenagers in a house, none that have baked bread before, you will know that the home made bread will not be very dependable, and since we do not buy bread, but make all that we need, store baugh bread seems like a once in a Katimalife time treat. Also, we have time to kick back and just be teenagers again. Most of the time in Katimavik, when we aren't working that is, is spent in meetings, planning commities, or out in the community. So when we come here to a billet house, we can relax and remember what a "normal" life is like.
That being said, I miss my Katimavik group terribly. There is a group of us that live relativly close to each other so we see each other fairly often through the two weeks. But, I miss those that aren't close. If you check my phone right now, 9 out the 10 most recently texted contacts are katimavik people (with the 1 out of 10 being my mother).We are so close, we aren't just a group, or a team, Katimavik is a family.
This weekend is my last days with the billet family, and the next weekend, my group and I are off to Montreal for the weekend. I am very much looking forward to that!
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Day Forty Eight
Now it is currently almost 4 o'clock in Quebec City, and I am still in my pajamas, have my entire wardrobe sprawled over my floor, and have Emmanuel laying in my bed. I am in the midst of packing for the week of billetting, wherein I leave the tiny, colourful, yet oddly comforting house to go live in the house of some one in the community. I am billetting with someone from the group, so I won't be entirely alone, but I am a little nervous for the amount of French.
Last night was a Katimavik Haloween party. All three Katima-groups from the area gathered at the Levis house and had an amazing night. We had a pumpkin carving contest, a giant game of Loup-Garou, and then onto a Ghost Tour of Quebec. The Gost tour was full of real stories of the criminal history of Quebec. I found it so interesting. After that, the night was complete with a moon lit stroll of Old Quebec.
Today, instead of packing for two weeks of billetting, I called my sister and we had a really great convorsation. Usually, my sister and I have the usual only-talk-when-neccesary-did-you-take-my-shoes relationship. But since I have been gone, it has been easier for us to talk. I really enjoyed talking with her and sharing with her the experiances I have been through in the short month and a half I have been absent.
Funny Story from the Party last night.
Since Levis is so far fom Quebec City, my group didn't really really know the Levis group. As I was getting to know the group, I introduced myself to one very tall guy. The following conversation took place shortly after:
Me: Hello, My name is Irene.
Jordon: Jordon, you're name is Irene?
Me: ...Yea?
Jordon: Do you have a blog?
Me: *stunned face*
Jordon: Yeah, I googled Katimavik, an I found your blog. Its good.
Me: oh, thanks.
Hilirously awkward, also it is the first time that my writing has preceded me. It was interesting.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Last night was a Katimavik Haloween party. All three Katima-groups from the area gathered at the Levis house and had an amazing night. We had a pumpkin carving contest, a giant game of Loup-Garou, and then onto a Ghost Tour of Quebec. The Gost tour was full of real stories of the criminal history of Quebec. I found it so interesting. After that, the night was complete with a moon lit stroll of Old Quebec.
Today, instead of packing for two weeks of billetting, I called my sister and we had a really great convorsation. Usually, my sister and I have the usual only-talk-when-neccesary-did-you-take-my-shoes relationship. But since I have been gone, it has been easier for us to talk. I really enjoyed talking with her and sharing with her the experiances I have been through in the short month and a half I have been absent.
Funny Story from the Party last night.
Since Levis is so far fom Quebec City, my group didn't really really know the Levis group. As I was getting to know the group, I introduced myself to one very tall guy. The following conversation took place shortly after:
Me: Hello, My name is Irene.
Jordon: Jordon, you're name is Irene?
Me: ...Yea?
Jordon: Do you have a blog?
Me: *stunned face*
Jordon: Yeah, I googled Katimavik, an I found your blog. Its good.
Me: oh, thanks.
Hilirously awkward, also it is the first time that my writing has preceded me. It was interesting.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day Fourty Three
Hello. I would like to start this post off as an official appology. Firstly, I apologize to my faithful readers who informed me that I as a blogger have been shirking my responsabilities and it is time for a new post (Mum). And secondly, I would like to apologize in advance for the terrible spelling and typing. There seems to be a strange lag on my keyboard. But here goes nothing!
At work, I have been moved back into the Laundry Room because I, as a girl, cannot be in the Men's shower room. Which makes complete sense to me, I am just sad because being moved back into Laundry Room is very disappointing. Although, the laundry does have its upsides. For example, for any one that watches The Big Bang theory will know what a FlipFold is (for those that don't, its the folding board that wonderfully OCD Sheldon uses to fold hos laundry). Today, I found one and got to keep it. Best day in the Laundry yet.
The last couple days have been so full of activity, I can barely start to describe it all.
For example, with the deportation of our Arnaud we got a new volunteer. His name is Emmanuel and he arrived last night. It is hard to think of integrating a new person into this very tight and complicated group, but I am sure that with the already limited space, we will have no choice but to. He seems alright so far, but my communication with him is limited because he is totally francophone and I am a anglophone pretending to try to learn the language.
Another thing that transpired yesterday was the addition of another piercing to my body. Kurtis was kind enough to accompany me to a near by piercing place. There, I got my sixth piercing. Now, along with two lobe piercing, one upper lobe, two cartilege peircngs that make an industrial, and now my first surface peircing, my belly button is pierced! It didn't hurt as much as I expected, but, since I am who I am even in Quebec, I still passed out. Kurtis wasn't allowed behind the sheet with me, but when the piercer saw that I was going out, she indicated to him to get himself here and fast. All I remeber is looking up at Kurtis and saying "I'm about to pass out now." and right on cue, I did. When I came back, I thought I was back in Fredericton, in White Lotus, the peircing shop in town (since that is where I usually pass out from peircings...) but upon recognising Kurtis's presence, I knew that couldn't be the case. All the informtion came rushing back and then I noticed the 16-gauge curved bar with a glittering jade green gem in the center of my belly. I was ecstatic.
I have been through a lot in the past few weeks, most specifically in the mos recent week. My life has a tendecy of going through the strangest loops. Everything will line up for a few months, then, everything in the same week will explode and re-aligne. I am now in the re-alignement stage. I feel very emotionally, mentally and just about spirituallydrained. I am working on getting myself back together,and I know that I have freinds here that are willing to help me pick up the pieces.
Every day is a new adventure, So no worries
At work, I have been moved back into the Laundry Room because I, as a girl, cannot be in the Men's shower room. Which makes complete sense to me, I am just sad because being moved back into Laundry Room is very disappointing. Although, the laundry does have its upsides. For example, for any one that watches The Big Bang theory will know what a FlipFold is (for those that don't, its the folding board that wonderfully OCD Sheldon uses to fold hos laundry). Today, I found one and got to keep it. Best day in the Laundry yet.
The last couple days have been so full of activity, I can barely start to describe it all.
For example, with the deportation of our Arnaud we got a new volunteer. His name is Emmanuel and he arrived last night. It is hard to think of integrating a new person into this very tight and complicated group, but I am sure that with the already limited space, we will have no choice but to. He seems alright so far, but my communication with him is limited because he is totally francophone and I am a anglophone pretending to try to learn the language.
Another thing that transpired yesterday was the addition of another piercing to my body. Kurtis was kind enough to accompany me to a near by piercing place. There, I got my sixth piercing. Now, along with two lobe piercing, one upper lobe, two cartilege peircngs that make an industrial, and now my first surface peircing, my belly button is pierced! It didn't hurt as much as I expected, but, since I am who I am even in Quebec, I still passed out. Kurtis wasn't allowed behind the sheet with me, but when the piercer saw that I was going out, she indicated to him to get himself here and fast. All I remeber is looking up at Kurtis and saying "I'm about to pass out now." and right on cue, I did. When I came back, I thought I was back in Fredericton, in White Lotus, the peircing shop in town (since that is where I usually pass out from peircings...) but upon recognising Kurtis's presence, I knew that couldn't be the case. All the informtion came rushing back and then I noticed the 16-gauge curved bar with a glittering jade green gem in the center of my belly. I was ecstatic.
I have been through a lot in the past few weeks, most specifically in the mos recent week. My life has a tendecy of going through the strangest loops. Everything will line up for a few months, then, everything in the same week will explode and re-aligne. I am now in the re-alignement stage. I feel very emotionally, mentally and just about spirituallydrained. I am working on getting myself back together,and I know that I have freinds here that are willing to help me pick up the pieces.
Every day is a new adventure, So no worries
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Day Twenty Eight
Most of my blogging has been basedon my home life, but there is so much more to it all. For instance, I am working at a shelter called Le Maison du Lauberiviere. It is mainly a men's shelter where they can come in and detox if they need to, get a hot meal, a shower and, with the help of the freindly staff, get thier feet underneath them again.
For the first few weeks, I was stuck in the "Bouanderie" or the laundry room. It was boring, but work at the very least. Recently, I got moved up into the office where my main duties involveopening lockers and looking stupid when I don't understand the french. On rare days, I get to do something useful.
Today for example, a man came in and said in plain, un-accented french "I need a bed, or a room." He clearly did not speak any French at all. My boss, Gil (a teddy bear, I am told) speaks even less English. The task of translation was delegated to the only person in the room who had a prayer of communication. I managed to get the point across to Gil, after which, he communicated to me about what information he needed from him. I felt very accomplished and useful. The useful feeling was a new one and a welcome one after spending three weeks folding laundry.
I also get to meet some of the most interesting people. New people are always coming into Laubriviere. Today a man named Yao Alla appeared in the locker room. Standing at atleast 6'4", and very black, he is hard to miss. He was born on the Ivory Coast, speaks three languages fluently, and studied in France and vacationed in London, England. He was a facinating person, and I could have talked to him all day just to learn his story. I never got the whole thing, just that little bit, but I know that he will go on to have more interesting stories happen to him. He's just that type of an energy.
I hope this blog is living up to what I had promised. I have never kept a blog before, and have had barely any number of people read my writing. It is almost strange to write an email, essentially, to the whole of the internet. I hope it is at least interesting over a coffee or in avoiding work.
I am emotionally drained today, so that might be why this entry is a little more meloncholy and less of my usual style. I promise that the regular and observant Irene will be back on track in time for the next installment of this...series?
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
For the first few weeks, I was stuck in the "Bouanderie" or the laundry room. It was boring, but work at the very least. Recently, I got moved up into the office where my main duties involveopening lockers and looking stupid when I don't understand the french. On rare days, I get to do something useful.
Today for example, a man came in and said in plain, un-accented french "I need a bed, or a room." He clearly did not speak any French at all. My boss, Gil (a teddy bear, I am told) speaks even less English. The task of translation was delegated to the only person in the room who had a prayer of communication. I managed to get the point across to Gil, after which, he communicated to me about what information he needed from him. I felt very accomplished and useful. The useful feeling was a new one and a welcome one after spending three weeks folding laundry.
I also get to meet some of the most interesting people. New people are always coming into Laubriviere. Today a man named Yao Alla appeared in the locker room. Standing at atleast 6'4", and very black, he is hard to miss. He was born on the Ivory Coast, speaks three languages fluently, and studied in France and vacationed in London, England. He was a facinating person, and I could have talked to him all day just to learn his story. I never got the whole thing, just that little bit, but I know that he will go on to have more interesting stories happen to him. He's just that type of an energy.
I hope this blog is living up to what I had promised. I have never kept a blog before, and have had barely any number of people read my writing. It is almost strange to write an email, essentially, to the whole of the internet. I hope it is at least interesting over a coffee or in avoiding work.
I am emotionally drained today, so that might be why this entry is a little more meloncholy and less of my usual style. I promise that the regular and observant Irene will be back on track in time for the next installment of this...series?
Everyday is a new adventure, so no worries
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Day Twenty Three
I sit here, in the little off shoot from our living room we have dubbed the "reading room" and begin to think. I look like a struggling artist or perhaps a naive student in this dimly lit, pathetically furnished room. I have my cup of tea made with a tea bag that arrived today from my nearly psychic mother who some how knew I was getting a cold, and needed something warm. The tea bags were accompanied by an assortment of items almost as good as the hugs I am missing at home. An english puzzle book, nearly a commodity in Quebec, a few packsof gum, a bit of money (very appreciated when living on an allowance of 3 dollars a day) and safety pins rounded out the care package. I cannot thank my mother enough. This house has been compared to a frat house with the lack of personal space (which is a foreign concept in a house of 12), laundry every where and the wonderful randomness that manages to find its way on the the internets.
Our house suffered a saddening blow this week with the sudden departure of Arnaud. His skinny, white, nerdy behind is certainly missed from the complex group dynamic. We will be getting a replacment (who statistically has to be a francophone male, but we'll see) some time next week. Its a big topic of conversation in the house. How will the new person fit in? Will they think we are crazy? Will we scare them off? CAN we scare them off? We are constantly thinking of new ways to initiate him into our little family. Right now it is to blindfold everyone, have everyone except him take off the blind fold and lead him through an obsticle course. Hey, we had to do it.
This morning, we had our french class for all the poor little anglophones. Only four out of nine were awake, and the teacher was arriving in five minutes. We clearly had a crisis on our hands. So the obviouse solution was to walk into each room, and gently get them up for the day. But the more fun solution would be to each arm ourselves with a metal spoon and a large pot and stand in the hall way and CRASH the pots and SCREAM as loud as we could! Kellie came blundering out of the room (from the top bunk) a-cursing our existance.
It was a moment for this history books
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Our house suffered a saddening blow this week with the sudden departure of Arnaud. His skinny, white, nerdy behind is certainly missed from the complex group dynamic. We will be getting a replacment (who statistically has to be a francophone male, but we'll see) some time next week. Its a big topic of conversation in the house. How will the new person fit in? Will they think we are crazy? Will we scare them off? CAN we scare them off? We are constantly thinking of new ways to initiate him into our little family. Right now it is to blindfold everyone, have everyone except him take off the blind fold and lead him through an obsticle course. Hey, we had to do it.
This morning, we had our french class for all the poor little anglophones. Only four out of nine were awake, and the teacher was arriving in five minutes. We clearly had a crisis on our hands. So the obviouse solution was to walk into each room, and gently get them up for the day. But the more fun solution would be to each arm ourselves with a metal spoon and a large pot and stand in the hall way and CRASH the pots and SCREAM as loud as we could! Kellie came blundering out of the room (from the top bunk) a-cursing our existance.
It was a moment for this history books
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Day Eighteen
What a whirlwind these days have been.Still house managaer, so I sometimes forget about the world outside of our Katimavik house. On my free time one night this week, myself, Anna from Calgary, Bruce from Belleville, and Kaley from Logan Lake went down town. The sights we saw and the shops we visited were some of the most amazing I have seen. On the top of the plains of Abraham, there is a rail that you stand by (or infront of if you are Irene or Bruce) and the Chateaux Frontinac is completely lit and it is beautiful. The river is to the right, the city is to the left, the moon is full and the city lights are just shimmering. Absolutly breath taking. The thing that made the night complete was the steep hill that jutted out and down.Bruce and I took one look at it and knew: before we left, we were sliding down that hill! We did. And it was unforgettable. The world whirls around so quickly that once you finally stop rolling (after catching air time, and ruining your clothes) you have to try and convince your self that the sky is up and you will not fall into it by laying on the grass. The light pollution blocks out most of the starry detail, but there are the brave and brighter stars still poke through. A different sort of night sky than I am used to, but beautiful nonetheless.
We have a visitor right now in the house. Arnaud's girlfriend is here, and she is fitting in well. It is nice to have a fresh face here after being with the same people for almost three weeks.
Trying to cook for twelve people every night is really difficult. You have to be sure not to accidentally use the ingrediants that will be needed for the next night. Which is exactly what happened last night..
My house is very nerdy. We discuss retro video games, pokemon, and internet memes that have died out long ago. Most popular meme in this house? Peanut butter jelly time!
Funny Story:
When? Last night
Where? At the Star Club
Who? Kurtis
What? We were trying to get to another place in the club, which has mirrors covering all the walls. We reached a small clearing, and our exit was blocked by a mirror. I, not wanting to walk head long into a mirror, stopped. Kurtis, later using the excuse of tiredness, didn't. All I could do was stand and watch as he tries to get around a guy that he thought was getting in his way. He really tried to "beef himself out". Upon his realization, he spunaround with a completely stunned look on his face. Literally the funniest experiance of the night.
A new adventure everyday, so no worries.
We have a visitor right now in the house. Arnaud's girlfriend is here, and she is fitting in well. It is nice to have a fresh face here after being with the same people for almost three weeks.
Trying to cook for twelve people every night is really difficult. You have to be sure not to accidentally use the ingrediants that will be needed for the next night. Which is exactly what happened last night..
My house is very nerdy. We discuss retro video games, pokemon, and internet memes that have died out long ago. Most popular meme in this house? Peanut butter jelly time!
Funny Story:
When? Last night
Where? At the Star Club
Who? Kurtis
What? We were trying to get to another place in the club, which has mirrors covering all the walls. We reached a small clearing, and our exit was blocked by a mirror. I, not wanting to walk head long into a mirror, stopped. Kurtis, later using the excuse of tiredness, didn't. All I could do was stand and watch as he tries to get around a guy that he thought was getting in his way. He really tried to "beef himself out". Upon his realization, he spunaround with a completely stunned look on his face. Literally the funniest experiance of the night.
A new adventure everyday, so no worries.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Day Fourteen
Aujourd'hui j'ai le "house manager" et je nettoiller et cuisiner tout le jour.
Look! I'm learning (broken) French!
During each week, two people are designated as the House Managers. This happens to be my unlucky week. My house managing partner is a guy from Montreal named Arnaud. We get along quite weel, but the fact of staying home everyday to cook and clean is just aweful! Its clearly a blessing that I was born in this era of working moms and stay at home dads. I could never be satisfied with being a housewife.
Although I am learning some really cool new things. Right now, I have three loaves of cinnamon bread rising on the counter, and the dough for the biscuits ready to bake for the home made soup we will have for dinner.
In Katimavik, we make anything we can, and if we can make it, we do not buy it. We learned to make our own bread and I have to say, it is really hard to do!! So sticky and the dough gets everywhere and there is nothing I can do about it.
These are the things I hope to improve and be able to take away from this experiance. I will be more self sufficient than I ever thought possible. As one of my roommates, Kaley, put it "Katimavik is the half-way house of life" and it is true. It is teaching me to keep my enviroment clean, to communicate with people, to cook, and most importantly, to be completely and totaly responsible for myself.
I miss my family, of course, and I was lucky enough to chat with my mother and sister last night. At the same time, I am enjoying the different type of freedom this is giving me. It is a freedom that comes with responsabilities farther than "clean your room so you can stay out past 10". Its more like "do this now so you can enjoy the down time much easier." (upon hindsight, they are the same thing)
I'm rambling, and my bread is ready to be put in the oven, So i'll leave you with that.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Look! I'm learning (broken) French!
During each week, two people are designated as the House Managers. This happens to be my unlucky week. My house managing partner is a guy from Montreal named Arnaud. We get along quite weel, but the fact of staying home everyday to cook and clean is just aweful! Its clearly a blessing that I was born in this era of working moms and stay at home dads. I could never be satisfied with being a housewife.
Although I am learning some really cool new things. Right now, I have three loaves of cinnamon bread rising on the counter, and the dough for the biscuits ready to bake for the home made soup we will have for dinner.
In Katimavik, we make anything we can, and if we can make it, we do not buy it. We learned to make our own bread and I have to say, it is really hard to do!! So sticky and the dough gets everywhere and there is nothing I can do about it.
These are the things I hope to improve and be able to take away from this experiance. I will be more self sufficient than I ever thought possible. As one of my roommates, Kaley, put it "Katimavik is the half-way house of life" and it is true. It is teaching me to keep my enviroment clean, to communicate with people, to cook, and most importantly, to be completely and totaly responsible for myself.
I miss my family, of course, and I was lucky enough to chat with my mother and sister last night. At the same time, I am enjoying the different type of freedom this is giving me. It is a freedom that comes with responsabilities farther than "clean your room so you can stay out past 10". Its more like "do this now so you can enjoy the down time much easier." (upon hindsight, they are the same thing)
I'm rambling, and my bread is ready to be put in the oven, So i'll leave you with that.
Every day is a new adventure, so no worries.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Day Eight
The last day I posted was only three days ago, but already so much has changed.
We toured the work placements and explored some of the downtown. I also had my first taste of Night Life. Being from Fredericton NB, and at the same time being 18, I had yet to go to a bar or club, and last night both those things changed. First a bar, then we went to a night club at a center known as (are you ready for this?) The Clap. I didn't want to sit down much in "The Clap"... But I actually had a really fun time. Dancing and letting go for a bit was so freeing and I enjoyed it as much as I could. (Dear Mum and Dad, I didn't drink to much. Just enough to see what it's all about. FYI not a fan of beer...)
Today was our first day at work. I surprised myself with the amout of french I was able to come up with. Entire bits of conversations were in French on my part.
A la travaille, j'ai travaille dans la jardin. That means at work, I worked in the garden! I'm already learning French. AND ITS DAY 8! I am really enjoying this. As I have mentioned before, my housemates are great. They are the best group, with such a variety, it is better than I could have asked for. And as Kurtis (from Ottawa, no surprise) puts it "We are awesome, especially Kurtis." Clearly there are ego problems in the House. But we willsort them out.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
We toured the work placements and explored some of the downtown. I also had my first taste of Night Life. Being from Fredericton NB, and at the same time being 18, I had yet to go to a bar or club, and last night both those things changed. First a bar, then we went to a night club at a center known as (are you ready for this?) The Clap. I didn't want to sit down much in "The Clap"... But I actually had a really fun time. Dancing and letting go for a bit was so freeing and I enjoyed it as much as I could. (Dear Mum and Dad, I didn't drink to much. Just enough to see what it's all about. FYI not a fan of beer...)
Today was our first day at work. I surprised myself with the amout of french I was able to come up with. Entire bits of conversations were in French on my part.
A la travaille, j'ai travaille dans la jardin. That means at work, I worked in the garden! I'm already learning French. AND ITS DAY 8! I am really enjoying this. As I have mentioned before, my housemates are great. They are the best group, with such a variety, it is better than I could have asked for. And as Kurtis (from Ottawa, no surprise) puts it "We are awesome, especially Kurtis." Clearly there are ego problems in the House. But we willsort them out.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Day Five
My group has already become very close. The eleven of us are always talking, cooking, playing games and usually laughing. Last night, we took the bus with our new bus passes and went down town, and Toto, we aren't in Kansas any more. For those of you who don't know, the Fredericton downtown is about three blocks long and two blocks deep, so when little me got into downtown Quebec City, it felt like it stretched on for days! There was every type of store you could want, and almost every fourth store sold Gelato. Yum! The streets were lined with people going in and out of traffic, there was lights everywhere, it was brilliant! After downtown, a few people talked about going clubbing or to a bar, but I chickened out and stayed in with Arnaud, Kurtis, Anna, Bruce and Kaley to watch Across the Universe only to sing along bady and fall asleep before the end of the movie.
The days so far have been really interesting. Its all about the rules and expected behaviours and getting to know each other. We are really good at the last one.
The other day we were doing something with the two other Katima-groups in the area. One in Beauparte and one in La Vie. We all congregated at the Beauparte house,and realized how little and cramped our house is. We have now taken to affectionatly calling our house a "Crayon Box". A. because it is tiny and not a lot of elbow room, and also because in every room there is at least one wall that is a different colour than the rest. For example, the room I am in right now houses three of the girls, is 10 feet by 15 feet approximatly and has three white walls and one blue one. The whole house is like this. Its great.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
The days so far have been really interesting. Its all about the rules and expected behaviours and getting to know each other. We are really good at the last one.
The other day we were doing something with the two other Katima-groups in the area. One in Beauparte and one in La Vie. We all congregated at the Beauparte house,and realized how little and cramped our house is. We have now taken to affectionatly calling our house a "Crayon Box". A. because it is tiny and not a lot of elbow room, and also because in every room there is at least one wall that is a different colour than the rest. For example, the room I am in right now houses three of the girls, is 10 feet by 15 feet approximatly and has three white walls and one blue one. The whole house is like this. Its great.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Day One
Yesterday I got onto the bus at Acadian Bus Lines in Fredericton, and set out on the first leg of my six month journey. Luckily there was another travellor from the area going to Katimavik. Steven and I sat beside each other for the length of the 10 hour bus ride. It was long, but enjoyable for the most part. We found we had some things in common so we were able to chat. I feel like the ride would have been quite a bit shorter had it not been for the constant stops of the bus, dropping off packages and parcels. We were rather excited when we hit the Quebec border.
Finally we arrived at a bus station in Ste-Foy where we were greeted by people wearing the orange and green Katima-shirts. Steven and I had to part ways there since I was going to Quebec City and he was on his way to La Vie. In the rag tag group of exhausted but excited travellors, there were two others going to the same house as myself. Jeremie (which I spell wrong thanks to my limited knowledge of the use of accents) from Gatineau and Kurtis from Ottawa. Varying language barriers kept converstation to nods and hand gestures. I know very little, very broken French, but am still able to catch bits of conversation and at the very least embarasse myself at a minimum.
Once at the Katima-house (as marked by the Katima-van parked outside of it) we were greeted by 9 enthusiastic and interesting people. I know that we will have a good time together. In total there are six girls and five guys. Many different characters but a surprisingly good mesh between us all. Even though it was late, we all stayed up to chat and learn about eachother. After a while the less fool-hardy of us went to bed, while the others stayed up to play card and board games and try to pretend the french is not going to be a problem. There is one solid francophone, two or three bilinguals and the rest know little to no french. Quebec will be fun.
There is no wireless internet so I don't know how often I will get a chance to blog, but I will try to get on here often! The next few days we are here at the house, but soon we will get our work placements. I am very excited for that, but for now am content to chill with my new friends in the brightly painted house.
A new adventure everyday, No worries
Finally we arrived at a bus station in Ste-Foy where we were greeted by people wearing the orange and green Katima-shirts. Steven and I had to part ways there since I was going to Quebec City and he was on his way to La Vie. In the rag tag group of exhausted but excited travellors, there were two others going to the same house as myself. Jeremie (which I spell wrong thanks to my limited knowledge of the use of accents) from Gatineau and Kurtis from Ottawa. Varying language barriers kept converstation to nods and hand gestures. I know very little, very broken French, but am still able to catch bits of conversation and at the very least embarasse myself at a minimum.
Once at the Katima-house (as marked by the Katima-van parked outside of it) we were greeted by 9 enthusiastic and interesting people. I know that we will have a good time together. In total there are six girls and five guys. Many different characters but a surprisingly good mesh between us all. Even though it was late, we all stayed up to chat and learn about eachother. After a while the less fool-hardy of us went to bed, while the others stayed up to play card and board games and try to pretend the french is not going to be a problem. There is one solid francophone, two or three bilinguals and the rest know little to no french. Quebec will be fun.
There is no wireless internet so I don't know how often I will get a chance to blog, but I will try to get on here often! The next few days we are here at the house, but soon we will get our work placements. I am very excited for that, but for now am content to chill with my new friends in the brightly painted house.
A new adventure everyday, No worries
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
One Day Before
Its September 7th, 11:58
I have exactly fourteen hours and 17 minutes until my bus rolls out of the station. I have no idea how it will go. Alone on the bus.
I have been trying to make the most of my last few days here. Thanks to my wonderful freinds, this last week has been wonderful. I went to the Frex today, and somehow it is not as exciting as I remember.
I have never been so reluctant to leave this city. I grew up here, and for the last 5 years at least, I have been dreaming of leaving it. Now I almost want to stay here. But I know that this trip will be the adventure I have been craving. My friends are all talking about studying and getting organized for class and school, and it makes me wonder if I am making the right choice by taking the year off to volunteer. But then I remember that this year gives me the chance to explore and see more of Canada before having to submit myself to the headache of school fees and tuition.
I will miss you Fredericton, I'll see you all on the flip side
A new adventure everyday, so no worries.
I have exactly fourteen hours and 17 minutes until my bus rolls out of the station. I have no idea how it will go. Alone on the bus.
I have been trying to make the most of my last few days here. Thanks to my wonderful freinds, this last week has been wonderful. I went to the Frex today, and somehow it is not as exciting as I remember.
I have never been so reluctant to leave this city. I grew up here, and for the last 5 years at least, I have been dreaming of leaving it. Now I almost want to stay here. But I know that this trip will be the adventure I have been craving. My friends are all talking about studying and getting organized for class and school, and it makes me wonder if I am making the right choice by taking the year off to volunteer. But then I remember that this year gives me the chance to explore and see more of Canada before having to submit myself to the headache of school fees and tuition.
I will miss you Fredericton, I'll see you all on the flip side
A new adventure everyday, so no worries.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
One Week Before
Dear Fredericton, I know we have known each other for a very long time, and we have had some good times. But I think that our relationship has run it's course, at least for now. I think that we should see other people.. What I'm trying to say is that I'm leaving you for Quebec. Don't take it personally...
Best of Love
Irene
As I sit here, in my now barren room, I begin to think about the magnitude of what I am about to do. Going away in September is nothing new to the just graduted. Countless coming-of-age books and movies are based on it *cough* Looking For Alaska *cough* but what I find over whelming is this: I was not born here, but I grew up here. I am so accustomed to Fredericton and the way it lives that, while growing up, my little sister and I were convinced that all cities have a river running through them. Emptying out my room was surreal. I found papers, books, pictures, even a few shirts that I had assumed long gone. I found bits of my past that I had hoped to forget...
Today is September first. In exactly seven days and 5 hours, I will be in the Acadian Bus terminal, with bags and family, just waiting for the first step in a six month adventure. Who knows what I will find! I have been to Quebec and Quebec City before, but never on my own.
In each Katimavik Group there are eleven volunteers. The breakdown goes: 2 from BC, 2 from the Prairies, 3 from Ontario, 3 from Quebec and one from the East Coast. That means that out of the eleven people there, I am the only representative from PEI, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrodour, and New Brunswick. I don't know why, but that idea just taunts me.
All I know is that I have to keep my head up and take everything one day at a time. I will up-date this as often as possible, and try to keep in touch with my East Coast friends.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
Best of Love
Irene
As I sit here, in my now barren room, I begin to think about the magnitude of what I am about to do. Going away in September is nothing new to the just graduted. Countless coming-of-age books and movies are based on it *cough* Looking For Alaska *cough* but what I find over whelming is this: I was not born here, but I grew up here. I am so accustomed to Fredericton and the way it lives that, while growing up, my little sister and I were convinced that all cities have a river running through them. Emptying out my room was surreal. I found papers, books, pictures, even a few shirts that I had assumed long gone. I found bits of my past that I had hoped to forget...
Today is September first. In exactly seven days and 5 hours, I will be in the Acadian Bus terminal, with bags and family, just waiting for the first step in a six month adventure. Who knows what I will find! I have been to Quebec and Quebec City before, but never on my own.
In each Katimavik Group there are eleven volunteers. The breakdown goes: 2 from BC, 2 from the Prairies, 3 from Ontario, 3 from Quebec and one from the East Coast. That means that out of the eleven people there, I am the only representative from PEI, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrodour, and New Brunswick. I don't know why, but that idea just taunts me.
All I know is that I have to keep my head up and take everything one day at a time. I will up-date this as often as possible, and try to keep in touch with my East Coast friends.
Every day a new adventure, so no worries.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
24 Days Before
Hello, and welcome to the first installment of what I hope to be a very successful Blog. I currently have 24 days until I board a bus that will take me into Quebec. I am starting to realize just what this experiance will mean. I am going to be leaving the house and city that I have grown up in. The houses, the familiar streets, the park, even the trees, I will miss all of this. But that fact does not change how I feel about my up coming departure. I have never been away from home for longer than a week at a time, so 6 months is a huge jump. Myself and ten other 17-21 year olds will be cooking and cleaning for ourselves for these six months. I have so many questions in my mind. Will I like the people? Will there be food for me to eat? Will they like me? Will I get a top bunk? These will all be quieted in time though. I know that once I arrive and we get the awkward ice breaking out of the way, Katimavik will be an unforgettable experiance. I have some freinds that have gone through or met through the program (as a billet house. PS. I encourage all of you to try and be a billet house for something at some point. The people you meet and the stories you hear are amazing!).
So, that being said, I hope this blog will keep you, my adoring fans (just kidding) up to date with my volunteer and independent experiance. Happy Reading!
So, that being said, I hope this blog will keep you, my adoring fans (just kidding) up to date with my volunteer and independent experiance. Happy Reading!
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