New Beginnings

Wow, its been awhile. I've had this constant gnawing in my head telling me there is something I need to do and it wasn't until today that I realized how long its been since I've written anything...I really long time and LOTS has happened (for those of you who are interested).

While I could go on and on about the last few months I'm going to keep this short and let you all know that this blog is going to change a bit and I'll you how and why, but first a little update.

By the time I realized I wasn't going to finish my thesis, I also realized that I needed a change of scenery. Funny how things work out for not more than a few days after making this realization I received an email regarding a job position in Victoria as an 'adventure therapist' with high risk youth. The Island has always been a solace for me and with Dustin out of jail and this amazing opportunity before me it was too hard to resist. I went for the interview and was hired, which was awesome; however, breaking the news to my, at that time, current employers was difficult. But I was smothered with compassion and joy for new beginnings and within a month I moved to Victoria.

Change of scenery is certainly what I got. Within two days of being in Victoria I started, what would turn out to be 20 straight days of training for my new job. And not just your regular 9-5, learn about the organization type of training, I was not that lucky. It was boot camp for midget redheads with bad tempers and grumpy morning syndrome. In 20 days I had to become a professional kayaker and wilderness first aid expert. My first day of this training was truly memorable.....

Imagine walking into a room full of people who know what they're doing and why they're there and you are as green as grass looking around the room like a deer caught in headlights. Question after question I wasn't getting anywhere except some bad looks and a water logged stomach from swallowing the sobs. After four hours of theory on weather systems, pressure systems, tides, currents and whatever else I didn't know anything about..... it was time to "get our gear and boats and get into the water to practice rolls, wet exits and rescues". I must have looked like the dumb kid in math class (once again) putting my hand up and saying "what gear"? Lucky enough my boss got some gear together for me and on I went to begin my paddling adventure. A couple days later we left Victoria for a five day kick-you-in-the-ass training on the West Coast with lots of wind, big waves and cold cold cold water.

Once again imagine waking up at 6:00 every morning and putting on a cold wetsuit soaked in sand, that doesn't fit you, then jumping into a kayak, which you don't know how to paddle, and while trying to keep up to all the other 'cool kids' in the group doing their rolls and surf with poise and grace, you look like a handicapped whale who lost its flippers and has a bad case of chronic seizures. Good times! I laugh about it now, but man was I balling behind big boulders every day pretending I was 'peeing', just so I wouldn't look like even more of a dork than originally thought.

But, as God would have it, I passed my practical and theory exams, which is pretty amazing considering my theory was ALL math.... yes, math, you need math to kayak... go figure Oh and weather, yes I am now a meterologist (almost). Anyways, I learned some amazing things and I made some pretty awesome friends along the way. I haven't been challenged like that in a long time and it forced me to confront some demons which is always good; however, the environment could have been a tad bit more supportive, you know? Water under the bridge, I finished and I'm proud of myself. But it wasn't over. The day after my kayak course ended I started my wilderness firstaid course....

Boy, am I the chick you want around when shit goes sideways in the bush let me tell ya'. Everything from a broken pelvis to flailing chests, trailing intestines and blisters I'm on it! 40 hours of torture that I won't get back, but the information could be useful when hell freezes over, or when the line-up to get into a B.C. emergency room becomes longer than the line-up to see the Pope (which is not that impossible).

Anyways, its all over and I passed all my courses and I am now a Kayak Guide/Program Facilitator/Youth Counsellor/Cook/Wilderness Medic/STELLAR DISH CLEANER!!!!

Last week I went on my first trip in the Gulf Islands and it made all the pain and doubt and beaten self-esteem worth it when I realized how truly blessed I am to have such an amazing opportunity this summer. I love the outdoors, I love water, I love camping, and I love kids. I love seeing them overcome challenge, build relationships with eachother and themselves, and push themselves to grow. This job does that. Last week we took 10 First Nations adults and we followed a traditional route through the Islands. We stayed on traditional land and had elders come to meet us each day to show us how to live as they're ancestors did. We learned how to smoke clams and salmon, we danced, sang and drummed everynight, we learned about traditional uses of plants and animals. My brain is so full of knowledge it blows me away.

There's so much I could say about the trip, but this is already long enough. But my goal is to write a blog for each trip I go on this summer and pass on knowledge that I learn to others. I don't do that enough and I believe its the only way that we can preserve what is powerful, true and sacred.

I added some pictures from the trip; hope you enjoy.

Autumn