October 2005
Tuesday 18th of October, La
salle
Ontario
Back since yesterday from a 10 day
trip on the corridorpass. A train pass that allows you to go from
Windsor to Quebec City
and make all stops in between.
It was super to see all the cities
and all the colours. Visited some really nice markets, and saw some
amazing architecture on my city trotting.
I went in one way up to Quebec City to start there and gradually came
down via Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
and the Niagara Falls before heading
back to Windsor.
Tomorrow will be painful day, as I
will leave here early to take a bus to Detroit, from where I’ll wait for my plain to
Dallas, wait for 4 hours again to
jump on the 2nd plain to Vancouver…
Time goes back 4 hours, so for me it
will be late while there it will actually only be 7pm or
so…
The first two weeks here in
Canada were
great, I had a wonderful time being with my family, joining them to
there sport activities and went to follow one of my aunt’s courses,
she is a professor at the University of Windsor where she teaches
sport science.
I’m very proud to see my cousins
doing what there doing. And my uncle was very happy to tell me loads
of things, the do’s and not to do’s around here… some history and
guidance towards the beautiful places where we went for walks. And
than last not least, BLINKER.
There black lab, a super dog, had
loads of fun with him…
And it’s just eye-opening to see what
there up to compared with what Belgium would have to
offer. Differences and comparisons, a thing of
travelling.
Canada is a truly amazing country, so big and so well taken
care of.
I’ve witnessed several places where
America and
Canada where just
a 200 metres apart (Windsor and
Niagara
Falls) and the difference between the two of
them is just remarkable.
So many trees, everything is pretty
loaded with natural aspects giving it the finishing touch.
America on the other hand
contains lots of construction, even unattractive forms and colours
for there industrial buildings and riverbeds… not want to sound too
criticising…? But it’s just a fact.
Toronto was huge and
nice because I got back in touch with Megan, one of the Hut wardens
back in New
Zealand. She lives in Toronto and just got back from a years travel
around Australia
and New
Zealand. So it was great to talk
with her about our findings and what it is like for her to be back
home…
We agreed on a lot of aspects; how do
we get back out there, while still having a budget, a kind of work
or career next to that.
So many things we want to see in this
world and how are we going to fit it in and what comes
first?
The lucky person me was invited to
stay over one night and enjoy this delicious dinner her mom prepared
for us.
We ended up going together to the
Niagara
Falls the following day, which was great! She
new the place a bit and so could take me to some spots a bit away
from it which where truly beautiful too.
Pretty impressive; the Niagara Falls, so big and yet they where
silent???
That night I got to see my family
again, and close to my departure too Vancouver…
The last place for me before coming
back home…
Sunday 23rd of October,
Victoria BC
2 more days and I fly to London, while the lucky me here is able to stay
with Jeremy, another fellow hut warden in Victoria.
Jeremy is a great kid and his family and he welcomed me in their
home for my last couple of days in BC.
When I arrived in Vancouver it
was just amazing how energetic I got from all the lovely people and
the great friendly atmosphere around.
Vancouver is a nice
city; I was lucky with the weather and could enjoy my day walking
through Stanley Park and the downtown
area…
Staying in a big hostel I got to talk
to some nice people, but headed of for the Island on the next day.
Jeremy picked me up from the
Ferry.
I’ve been spoiled ever
since.
Early morning on Saturday I jumped in
my clothes to go for an amazing walk up the hill with Jeremy’s dad
(Rob) and dog (Maloa). From the top we had these amazing views of
Victoria and surrounding bay and
the Olympic Mountain range just at the other side (belonging to the
US).
After that awakening hike, Jeremy and
I took the car to drive up the west coast of Vancouver Island. We walked around Botanical
beach and Sumoumbrio Beach, where in the thick mist
and high tide still people were surfing and big driftwood logs were
being washed to the shore.
The colours became so much more alive
thanks to the wet fog and thick clouds around us.
As we were already very wet walking
thought the rain, it didn’t matter to risk more humidity to walk up
to this amazing waterfall in the rainforest of the Island.
We had to climb under and over fallen
trees, hurry ourselves trough pass ways where the waves washed in
and out and finally discover this 10 meter high waterfall coming
down in an open roof cave like place, with walls covered in shining
green moss.
I had a great day, just
beautiful.
I’m glad to be here, rather than in
the city, just much more peace and nature, which I
love.
Today we were almost taken along by a
whale spotting zodiac, to go and observe the killer whales and
humpbacks that are abundant around here, but the water are too wild
and perhaps I get the chance to go along tomorrow. I hope so. I went
to see the golden stream, where the famous salmon swims up to lay
there eggs and die, rotting away.
Huge fish, gliding through the
stream, as if it is no effort at all for them staying still in the
fast flowing stream water.
We saw 4 Bolden eagles from far away
and a red tailed hawk.
And again, still just amazing without
a doubt the intense colours of the maple trees, through the green
mossy giant cedar trees rainforest.
But…
It is time to go home. I can feel the
excitement of seeing all friends and family again
And it might sound funny, but I’m up
for a holiday. Some vacation, relaxation…
Tired, exhausted and born again…
hehe.
I’m happy with what I’ve done and
seen, got to know and could experience.
There hasn’t been a year so amazing
and inspiring as this one.
I’m happy to see you all again soon,
excited to see how you’re all doing and what you’ve been up
too.
I guess it might be my final text,
maybe not.
A slot will follow, for sure… but for
that I will need to live it first.
Right now it’s a strange feeling, a
combination of satisfaction and delightfulness with excitement and
fatigue, a fulfilled spirit…?
A happy camper!
Wednesday 2nd of
November
I
got home safe and sound.
Isn’t it a great feeling; ‘knowing you realized the
whole trip as planned, coming back home in one peace and seeing
family and friends again’…
So great…
And strange…
Friday my mom, brother, Stephanie, Martine and Stella
were waiting for me with a big welcoming sign… I was so excited…
some of my luggage wasn’t arriving and so I had to wait for an hour
before I could walk through the doors and make my first steps back
on Belgian property…
The next day family and friends where invited to come
for a drink, some cake and tortilla’s. I was literally covered in
flowers and kisses, big smiles from all.
Saturday night a surprise party was given where all
other friends where invited and a lot of beers where served…
delicious Belgian beers, a very nice party with lots of fun and
crazy moments. Thanks to my sweetest mom, who has been organizing
this for me.
I
had to wait until Monday to see my dad, who came back from china
that day.
Was so good to see him and we went for nice dinner all
to getter with my sister, brother and Aminata.
The reintroduction of an endangered specie… he he (It will never work).
And so I’m getting back into my usual rhythm, free as
a bird, trying to organize all my pictures and stories.
A
lot of people wonder what my next steps are going to be, well… I
wonder myself a little as well.
As much delightful and wonderful places I’ve seen, it
is hard for me to say what the best place was and where I’ll be
going next…
I’m going to apply for some opportunities I’ve come
across on my way, and also here in Belgium I might get
something for in the mean while.
But a set plan isn’t downloaded yet, there’s no
stress, only to many ideas and desires that need some
structure…lot’s of structure…
Lot’s of things I
hear from my friends and family;
-
It has gone so quick, a year… as if you weren’t gone for that
long,
-
I still look exactly the same and I guess lot’s of them are proud of
me
-
Where are you going next?
So I guess it’s no surprise for anyone to know I’ll be
going out there again.
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