Creating Solidarity (in the Philippines)

I am back from my looooooonngg hiatus, which I am going to call (and rightfully so as you will be informed upon my return from overseas) my sabbatical.

Yet, as I announce my return, I also must announce my departure for the Philippines. For two weeks I will be travelling with the international development organization, Development and Peace
I will be on a solidarity trip with youth across Canada learning about the work being done by partner organizations in the Philippines to help themselves out of poverty and towards governance.

Follow our blog while I'm there! And please keep our group and those we are connecting with in your hearts and minds.

Vancouver --> Teipei --> Manila, here we come!

The End of My Getaway

My visits to the mainland keep coming up unexpectedly for me. They have all been invitations so relevant to who I am known to be (the Chapter's Volunteer Appreciation Day from my last time in Van) and who I am becoming (this weekend in Sorrento as a week for D&P).
So this weekend has not actually been a true getaway for me. It has taken me away from my studying desk at home, but it has not been a means of me wanting to avoid my studies as an academic. Rather, it was the beginning of fulfilling my duties as a youth member of Development and Peace.

So, Sorrento. The heart of the Shuswap, offering me another beach to run on, and another lake to contemplate by...
The stillness of a 7a.m. morning by the water


The afternoon back at the beach with another new filipino family. The weather was as incredible as it looked. I ran down the hill to meet them there. I felt really weightless and free because I had stepped outside of myself and recorder a video speaking on my thoughts of D&P, particular how I support their mandate to educate Canadians on the issues of the Global South. Using my voice has been a challenge for me - this was my first big step in making myself more visible.

The long drive that brought me closer to home brought me some painful clogged-ear moments, but was well worth it. Weaving between the mountains and taking in our beautiful landscape.
I arrived in Kamloops by flying over those mountains. I made my way home at ground level.
A visit to Merritt - a place I thought I would potentially never visit (a place a school friend currently lives in. I wouldn't even have known of its existence if it were not for him and his visit to Victoria last fall).

A visit to Hope, B.C.'s McDonalds, where I made a pledge. First of all, not only did I not order a burger, but I made a decision to enjoy my last medium fries.
Yup. I'm acting on my decision to actually make healthier decisions. Not just think about them. The motivation came from my surprise at how much I enjoyed a salad I made for myself earlier last week. I had enjoyed it so much that I wanted to lick the bowl clean. I didn't lick the bowl clean because although I was by myself, I still found it offensive. I realized that the need to eat well was actually becoming a want for me.
So, goodbye McDonald's french fries. It's been a great relationship, but you're no good for me.

Let the Games Begin

It's about 7 days into exam period now and I am experiencing the usual symptoms of head ache and stomach ache that accompany the added stress to my life.

Yet somehow, these terrible days have brought back the fitness guru in me. I have made a fitness comeback. I have ran all the days of the week, and managed to lift weights of the weight you would have expected of me in my goodlife tonka truck days of last summer.
I attribute this success to the team player attitude of my housemate who remembered and took me up on our tye dye run.
Be seen. Be heard. That's how we did.

After this public tye dye display, I am now about one step away from becoming a "granola." If you're not familiar with this label, it's ok. I wasn't until reading my marketing textbook. Granola: an individual who is always finding ways to take care of the earth and their fellow citizens. Also likened to the hippie type.

Having finally learned how to cook and bake has added great quality to my life, in that I have another way to find stress relief during these terrible days.
I even invented something:

I shall call it "Katrina's Sweet Salsa Bread:"
1) Preheat oven to 220 degrees
2) Cut crusty bread (that you purchased at Thrifty's Dollar Days for $1) into as many diagonal pieces as you like
3) Spread margarine and then sprinkle quite liberally with garlic salt
4) Place in oven and complete a relatively small and simple task (like loading laundry)
5) Remove bread from oven and place fresh avocado (organic if you can) slices
6) Spoon (also organic) mango salsa over avocado slices
7) Share with your awesome housemates (but keep the best pieces to yourself of course)

I thought I loved the Victoria airport with all its scenic windows, but I think I now love Vancouver airport more for its free wifi - If not for YVR, I could not blog while transferring flights.

This is my first commute by air within the province.
Location:Sorrento (near Kamloops), B.C.
Temperature: 26 degrees.
Purpose: D&P Regional Meeting (and that's all the details I can share in confidence)
The timing of this could not have been any more perfect being the middle of exams and all - but I am truly blessed to have these life experiences.

I'm a little embarrased, as I am wearing a mint lululemon wrap. It matches too well with my mint City of Guelph tote. Oops! At least my D&P friend will spot me easily in Kamloops.

XOXO Perhaps I'll buy meself a postcard.

GoodDay, GoodNight

Another early rise. I got as far as sending some emails before deciding it was better to rest longer than study more.

Experienced a right place, wrong time situation. If given the choice between Starbucks and Tims I always go for the Tims. More for my buck.
So today I decided I was going to try the Breakfast B.E.L.T. combo. Not only would I get a roll-up-the-rim medium cup (of H.C.), but I would also have a delicious twelve grain bagel to eat half of at the time (and the rest for lunch), but I would also have a trail mix cookie to eat immediately before my exam (so my stomach won't grumble an hour in - my greatest exam writing fear).
But... my H.C. did not come in a roll-up-the-rim mug. Why? Because the last one had been handed out before me.
Right place. Wrong time.

Also experienced a right place, right time situation. Woke up (from my regular Saturday afternoon nap) just in time to wash out my tie dye shirt - MY FIRST EVERY TIEDYE SHIRT. Made it at school on Friday under a tent being attacked by hail for a fundraiser for St. Vincent de Paul. I did the traditional cinnamon bun style, yet managed to create a spiral pattern. Awesome.
I think this one's going to become some sort of t-shirt dress.


I figured since I was washing out my tyedye shirt in the tub, I may as well handwash my handwash only clothes. I love Woolite. Definitely worth the extra money. Hoping they'll come out with green initiatives.
But handwashing is quite the process:
1) Fill tub with cold cold water and 1/2 cup of Woolite liquid.
2) Soak clothes individually for 3 minutes.
3) -go and check your email and send emails in between
4) Gently squueze out suds
5) Roll item in towel to remove excess water
6) Lay flat to dry (or hand from your bathtub like I do)



The first personal recipe I am going to share with you is my cantaloupe smoothie.
Light. Refreshing. So good. So good that I made one for Becca and Rob too.
1) Fill the bottom of your mini-blender with as many frozen cantaloupe cubes as you like. About 6-8 is good.
2) Add water until about 1/3 of the cantaloupe cubes are immersed
3) Add 2% vanilla yogurt (Island Farms to be exact) until just above the cantaloupe cubes
4) Blend!
5) Enjoy!


Finally today, a sunny day with a temperature to parallel it. It wasn't as cold as the last days have been! So it was time to take my picture for the Blush contest. Basically, until April 15th, Blush, one of my favourite downtown Guelph boutiques is taking entries for their contest. Blush ladies can coordinate Blush purchases and post their pic on the Blush website to win gift certificates to- of course- Blush! Just entered mine, and it should be on their website soon.
http://www.blushshop.ca/#/Contest/
Did my best to co-ordinate what I had here with me in B.C.
But, could I actually pull this outfit off in public?


Very spontaneous attendance at a UVic concert tonight. Choir and Orchestra, Janos Sandor's (conductor) farewell concert after 15 years of conducting at UVic.
Turned out to be the concert my fellow ushers have been talking about recently.
Also turned out to be a great performance. The pieces were selections of the best operas for choir and orchestra.
The best musical performances, when I am sitting in the audience and not on stage myself, always leave me questioning the "What Ifs?"
What if I had actually continued pursuing music and wholewheartedly dropped the sciences and rowing to put the necessary time in to be as talented and skilled?
What if I was still singing in Symphonic Choirs?
What if I had the time to just keep playing?
What if I had not gone to tonight's performance. I would have missed out.

15 Days

There is a reason why people who live in Victoria always greet the bus drivers and thank them at their stops. Bus drivers here are just nice. It's that simple.
They don't get upset when you accidentally signal your stop too early (I didn't do it. Some other UVic student I recognized).
And I very much admire their ability to selectively choose to ignore drunken res. students on the number 4 to downtown. There was no escaping them tonight.

I actually had to use my circle scarf for what I had originally seen it advertised on SweetSpot. One end became a hood for me, the other end was used to keep my little hands warm (until I had to use them to hold my umbrella to protect me from the rain and wind). It was just cold tonight, and most of today.



And so begins 15 days of hell. I will keep my head above water and get through this somehow. It isn't anything I haven't brought onto myself. I don't even get a break between the end of my finals and beginning of my summer semester, but such is life, and I'm lucky to be here, I know.



Sometimes I wonder why I try. I took so much pride the other week in writing The Plan for each of my parents
For Mom - reasons why she should ride the motorcycle
For Dad - reasons why he should be physically active to manage the effects of smoking (I wasn't even asking him to quit!). I even gave him a training plan.
I really thought I would motivate some change here, and that I was finally applying my skills to my family, whom I should have always been putting first. It's pulling teeth. It makes me sad.

Back to the Island - A New Journey Begins

Today I start my journey back to Victoria. It consists of a one hour ferry ride from Powell River to Comox, and a four hour Greyhound ride from Courtenay to Victoria.

Since getting away from the hometown I have been frequent in my travelling. Flights at least twice a year, when some are lucky to go at all, let alone ever leave the places they call home. Frequent bus-ing, skytrain-ing, ferry-ing, subway-ing, bicycyle-ing, walk-ing.

I'm getting all my necessary internet uses for today out of the way now, before I reach home in 11-hours.

The first task was to complete my new blog. It resulted out of a commitment I made to Development and Peace of how I will educate others about the organization and the work I will have done for them throgh my solidarity trip with them to the Philippines. It gave me a reason to actually start a blog, as I mentioned the other day, that has a real, distinct focus and purpose to it.
So check it out, follow it, and spread the good word around:

klaqu-globalmind.blogspot.com

A Change Is Gonna Come

Yup. I keep changing my blog layout. I really liked the most recent one, but have had to change it, because I have found something else to blog about that is more than just a diary-like update of the going-ons in my life, and the most recent layout was just perfect for it. You'll see.... my new blog: a global mind.

Running on the beach is hard. Beautiful. But hard. I kept picturing myself rolling on my ankle from the unevenness of the rocks, and the noise from my shoes was ruining the sound of the tide for me. But not many people get to run on the beach often, or at all for that matter, so I can get used to it. The beach was Powell River, a home I frequent when I can.

Dogsitting duty for my new cousin, Ginger. 8 weeks old and 19 lbs. Did I mention she is incredibly cute and smart? How can you not fall in love with a soft puppy who loves you no matter what and falls asleep in your arms or lap? You can't. It's impossible.

Counting Sheep

My 7:30p.m. Tim Horton's coffee has succeeded in keeping me up all night. Perhaps I will repeat this process tomorrow if I decide to redeem my free coffee from my first Roll-Up-the-Rim Win! I think I'm 1 for 3 or 1 for 4 at this point.

Who knows if I will be able to easily catch at least 2 hours of sleep tonight. I feel like I could run hills up and down my street right now. (That, actually, would probably make me exhausted enough to fall right asleep.)

Did you know that as an undergraduate student at UVic you can borrow up to 75 books at a time from the library? Right now I've been taking out 3 a day, and am up to 6. It would take me 23 days to accomplish the unthinkable.

This time next week will be the dawn of the last day of class, and for many of my high school friends, mark the end of the university career. Many are excited to be done. Some have expressed to me their sadness over not being in university anymore. I could easily trade places with them. One more year. Then what?

Hail, Holy Queen

Of all the prayers you go through when praying the rosary, Hail, Holy Queen is my favourite one. That's why I look forward to that final bead of the rosary, not because it signifies the end of the final decade (of 5), but because I get to complete my prayers with the one that speaks to me the most. (It's funny how I first struggled to remember the last two lines of this prayer when vowing to pray the rosary every day for Lent. That quickly changed)

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this exile show unto us

the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Today I completed my 40 days of praying the rosary. It's a couple of days early as Lent really actually becomes a 45 day season, due to all the Sundays, which apparently meant that each week one could take a one day break from the Lenten sacrifices? I'd never heard of this before, and will just go on as if I hadn't. I feel like taking a break defeats the purpose of the personal challenge. But I suppose that even when you go on some diets, there are some days of grace.

Overall, it's been a success. I know now that praying the rosary is not something you can just rush through, and can easily become monotonous and lose its meaning if you break your focus, which is why each daily mystery should not be ignored.

There were times over the last few weeks when I replaced my rosary prayer with my before-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep prayer, and would doze off or completely fall asleep, so I learned to create a better environment for my mind as well.

I get to hang up my rosary now, but it is not in the corner of my closet with my necklaces, it's on my cork board where I can see it, because I feel comfortable taking it with me now and finding time for it when I or somebody may need some prayers.

As for my other two challenges:

-I commented on my consumerism the other day and am continuing to break out of the mold. Again, I think I am becoming closer to developing better habits.

-Swearing. I certainly do think the words and sometimes they do slip. But they are not directed at others anymore. And when I hear others swearing, my heart drops to the floor and I have to cast down my eyes. It's a shame that it can define how others are, but I can't change everyone - the challenge was first to change myself, and I feel like a more dignified individual.

I read all of Shane Koyczan's poems in his book "Visiting Hours" yesterday. It's true that he has the capacity to break your heart and then mend it. Make you laugh and make you cry. I will not post the words of them here, because it is important to experience his words by hearing them as well.

So go to

www.houseofparlance.com/VisitingHours/

and listen to one today.

If you only have time for one (prepare to want to listen to them all), then let the one be: Visiting Hours

Earthly Hour

I was not able to fully participate in Earth Hour last night as I was in a theatre watching the 3D Alice in Wonderland (with my free movie ticket, as apparently I had enough Scene points!). The theatre was great in that it took certain measures to participate in the hour as much as it could - turning off certain screens in the lobby, etc. Yet, I found an opportunity to do it on my own today.
Day 38 of praying my rosary for Lent. This time, by candlelight. Why I haven't done it by candlelight before, I'm not sure. But it is more effective than just lying in bed with the lights off, as I have tended to lose track of thought or simply just fall asleep on other days.
This small practice was so easy, so simple, and created a really relaxing, tranquil atmosphere. Ate Laura's right. Why can't we have earth hour every day? Reading by candlelight. Dinner by candlelight. Blogging by candlelight. I think I am still legitimately being earthly right now as my laptop is NOT plugged in and running under it's ecoMode of battery power.

I think I am coming close to reducing my consumerism. I did only what I came to do in Vancouver this weekend. No window shopping (as it can lead to actual shopping) along my travels. No purchasing of food on the ferry if I was not actually hungry. Nothing unecessary. My only two purchases were well thought out.

The first, Shane Koyczan's poetry book "Visiting Hours." If you don't know him, all you need to do is YouTube his name and you'll realize that he was that poet from the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics. I discovered him at Hillside Festival last summer, when I was introduced to slam poetry. This was the first book signing I have ever attended. Rather low-key, as this was a private event for volunteers. It was really nice to be honored in this way for work that they say we do not get recognized enough for. I have never felt more gratitude and thanks than from the co-ordinators and actual people I have served here in my volunteer placements in B.C.

I found a place for my Thank You card (made by a B.C. student) and (empty, because I ate the chocolate wrapped in gold foil) medal, right along my window ledge between the framed pictures of me and my favourite peoples.

The second purchase, the Vancouver Art Gallery's catalogue of Leonardo daVinci's manuscripts of the human body. Such intricate work of the muscles, bones, and nerves. Science is art, and this man proved that. I'm proud of what is now replacing my anatomy textbook. I would like to propose that introductory anatomy courses be taught with da Vinci's drawings as the material we study from. I question why it hasn't been taught this way from the beginning.

Consumerism. It will always exist as we need it even for the bare necessities of life. But it can be optimized through making it local, and finding ways to parallel demands with needing less, but actually receiving more. The challenge for me, and a serious one, is being able to focus it fully on needs only. It will be more about sticking to living simply than living on a tight budget for me right now.

I have moved on to a new story to captivate me and that has already been bringing me to tears in its first chapter: "Stones Into Schools" by Greg Mortensen. A continuation of "Three Cups of Tea" and developing Pakistan and now Afghanistan through educating their children. Stories like this are really becoming a focus for me, and will likely remain one as I continue with work that is trying to create solidarity with the people struggling with poverty and employment - those deeply lacking the freedom to practice their human rights. I'm being called to think more globally now - these are really new beginnings for me.

Just a thought, something to try. I hadn't done this in a while and wanted to see how the results would differ. Maybe you will think I am a nerd, or loser, or both. And if so, well, we all are, aren't we?

Today, I googled my name. And the results were indeed different in that there were a considerable amount more of them, and that they were dominated by rowing links. And they were all the real me, not some other Katrina out there with the same last name.

Blessed

Blessed: A positive adjective for the events of today.

Slept in until 5a.m. (see previous post to see why this would be considered a sleep-in for me), because I put my phone on vibrate. I value those nights (when you can afford then the next morning) when you are able to just go to bed and wake up when your body is ready. This is how I know that 6 hours of sleep is adequate for me at this stage of my life.

Blessed because I have access to the necessities in life to make this okay for me.

The sleep-in meant a late gym arrival allowing a 20 minute workout prior to my shift. It can be done:

2 min. warm-up skip

Intervals (3 sets of)

-8 burpees (modified so that your feet are on the Bosu when you go into the plank position), followed by

-kneeling to standing on the Bosu (one foot up, other foot up, one knee down, other knee down) 10 starting on each knee, followed by

-1 minute of mountain climbers

Cool down stretch behind the desk.

Blessed because with conviction one can accomplish all that is important to them in each day. (It's not about finding the time, it's about making the time)

Also during shift-time completed reading Paul Hawken's "Blessed Unrest," an excellent eye-opener and introduction to me of the social movement that exists worldwide and that we all have a duty to be a part of. I say duty because there is a need to restore the conditions of the world we live in (environmental, political, economical....) - this earth that has ownership over us as the substance that makes us here has been cycled through it and comes from it.

I do feel that I "rescued" this book as the original hardcover release had been reduced to a mere 7.99 at Chapters.

How do you not act upon an opportunity like that?

And it is even more appropriate at this time, now that I am preparing for my Solidarity Trip. This is bound to be unlike any volunteer experience I have ever had before. It will be about creating direct relations with the people of the Philippines as they communicate to us the reality of their poverty. And the responsibility is then for us to bring their realities home to Canada, to call our communities to action:

http://youth.devp.org/just-youth/solidarity-trips/

Images of B.C. whilst on the ferry. Spring really is here as the decks were lined with British Columbians enjoying the fresh air and cool breeze.

Blessed because I live in a country that gives me the freedom of mobility, to choose my destination and arrive there safely.

4 a.m.

Except for today (7a.m., I decided ONE day could be a sleep-in) and Monday (3a.m. due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances), I have developed the habits of a senior person.
Why? My academic career depends on me completing all my readings and assignments for these 6 courses I have accrued.
I still set unrealistic goals for what I try to get done each day. Every line is filled in my agenda book, with added bullets notifying me of what I still need to complete, and arrows redirecting some of my tasks. It's always been this way with me. And the works always gets done in good time.
But this 4a.m. wake-up that is unrelated to rowing, coaching, or personal training work, is very, very new.

I won't be watching very much T.V. now as I won't have knitting to support the sedentary feel of it. I am a single project at a time knitter, and after completing my first armwarmers, cannot afford more yarn at this time.
Perhaps I will substitute the knitting for exercising and/or stretching during the watching of T.V. - it's really only Ugly Betty I look forward to these days, and Ellen, of course.

These armwarmers will also be a gift for an unnamed individual.

I'll be playing Easter Bunny today on campus (which is very appropriate for our campus, considering we actually have bunnies everywhere - the babies are appearing again). My banana bread with chocolate chips and blueberries, as promised for my faith study group. They have probably forgotten that I would make it for one of our sessions, and now that today is the last session, I should definitely own up.



I have been waiting rather unpatiently for my package of goodness to complement my love for eating! Mother knows exactly how to take care of me.
Apparently it actually arrived two days ago, I just didn't notice the notice until yesterday. Thus, I had to walk all the way up the hill, a quick 2 min. bus ride to the post office, at which the lady announced, whoa, this one's heavy!, from the back. Which made me feel a little nauseated considering I had to get back the way I came.
Maybe she's a little weak? Maybe I still am a tank? It was definitely less than 20 lbs.
The trip back was easy compared to most grocery runs.

This is the second time I have received a package from my mother with an excessive amount of stamps and taping. I don't think the stamps was the post office's doing, but I don't want to make any unsupported accusations here. But I do suspect my mother had something to do with it. If so, she spend far too much extra time and money pasting 33 stamps on there. I love it though. So unique.
And finally, I found a perpetual calendar to place all those birthdays so I never forget. The good finds are always when you're not actually seeking them out. They tend to find you, in my experiences.


When I finally opened the package, check it out:
Pocky, dried mangoes, maple syrup, stew mix, sunflower seeds, brittle, fudge, polvoron.
Half for me, half for Ate Anna.
But I can't indulge. I have to make it last, and surprisingly so far I have only eaten a corner of fudge and one Pocky. For me, that's rather impressive.

My latest meal venture: pilaf (made of orzo, rice, onions, and garlic), with my touch of protein (pork loin cubes and mushrooms). The butter (2 tablespoons worth, which is not bad as this fed me for a good 4 days) made all the difference.

And finally, acceptance. The sweet relief of a rewarded effort, but the true rewards are yet to come.

I have been accepted as 1 of 10 young Canadians (although I'll be the second oldests at 22 when we depart) travelling to the Philippines (the mother country of the parents) in August as a Solidarity Trip participant for Development and Peace ( www.devp.org ). More info. to come.

Spring Forward to April Showers

The rain is relentless right now. Came just in time as I was arriving home for the day, and has not stopped since.

I've been doing a lot of business communications this weekend over renting out our entire, humongous, lovely house to 4 new lucky tenants. The emails and phone calls are constant, and we had a bit of an open house today. I've never considered read estate before. And still don't really.

But I do know that I am becoming my mother's daughter. Why? Because the notion of having visitors this weekend made me feel like welcoming my guests with food. So I baked my now perfected banana bread, as muffins (minus the blueberries, keep the chocolate chips). And they liked them very much, thank you.

I also mastered another meal this weekend. Salmon burger topped with marble cheese, fried onions, mushrooms, and red pepper. On a whole wheat bun of course.

And, another accomplishment as a reward for doing a fantastic job on my business assignments this week. I finished the shawl. Originally intended for me because the colour choice is very me, but I feel really good about giving it away to someone (it's a surprise, so no naming names at this point).

I Like Cats, But I'm Definitely a Dog Person

Before Reading Break, I almost owned a cat named Brooklyn. That did not work out because pets are not allowed in my current living arragements.
In t-1 month, I would have been living with awesome new housemates with the softest prettiest cat named...(I forget, but I know it starts with a J and is a boys name for a girl). That will not work out because I cannot move out in April.
All reasons set aside, it must truly be because I am a dog person. I love Golden Retrievers. And unless I train Guide Dogs first, I intend to own one myself. Ever since Mama Nor and Papa Boss had Daisy, and now Kayla, I have been hit with the disease.
So... I present to you Ginger, the newest addition to the Bittle family, and my new cousin.

I am lucky enough to live on the island, and have been on along the way on my cousin's drive to see their Ginger. Ginger is a red retriever and her daddy is a gorgeous red one too - so we hope she will grow up to be daddy's girl.
There were 5 other little puppies, I wanted one for myself! Especially the one that was reaching out for me....aww. But I don't have the resources at this time - it's not the right time in my life as a not-so-starving (because I can cook and prepare food now!) student.



Me and my new cousin Ginger. See how tiny they are?



My organic spaghetti pasta smothered in organic fettucini sauce (courtesy of Planet Organic by my house - I'm not actually a huge organic nut - when the price is right, I'm so there) and mushrooms, onions, black pepper, and garlic salt.
I'm proud of my creations and creativity (although it's my fancy way of saying resourcefulness) because they are actually starting to taste good (in terms of texture) and right (in terms of flavourful).
Plus, I don't feel like I have to drag myself to cook anymore out of it 'wasting time.' I want to feel like I actually eat meals and not just snacks.

Eggcetera

My housemates did a pretty fantastic job consuming my food items reaching the end of their shelf-lives while I was away in Vancouver and Honduras for that week and a half.
All that I really had to take care of were 6 eggs by the end of today.
So what can you do with six eggs?
-5 pieces of french toast for Friday breakfast and evening snack (2 eggs)
-2 large pancakes for Sunday breakfast and brunch (1 egg)
-14 Very Berry muffins for the week (I hope!) (1 egg)
-2 hardboiled eggs (1 diced and ready in Monday's salad, the other? As is?) (2 eggs)
Thus, nothing was wasted.

Perhaps I may make my way towards Downtown Vic tonight as I'm sure we're all still celebrating. Lot's red and white, hockey jerseys, and honking cars at Quadra-McKenzie alone during my one hour of being out of the house today after the Gold Medal Win!

7 Days in Honduras

I have been home for two and a half days nows. And for the last two and a half days I have been distracted by the Olympics - especially Men's Hockey... I'm very tempted to be in Van for the Games this weekend, but will likely just head to a Cineplex and watch Live on the big screen.
Also the last two days I have been plagued (mildly with the virus that spread amongst our Brigade group) with how to summarize my Brigade! The Internet cafe at our lodgings was far too slow for updating throughout so here it all is picture-book-style:

Feb.15
Arrived at Tegucigalpa - one bus from Tsawwassen to Seattle, one flight from Seattle to Atlanta, another flight from Atlanta to Honduras later. We actually started our travel on Feb. 14th.
Now functioning on EST - hometime, yet I always get jet-lagged. I tried, I really tried to sleep on our RedEye, but no dice.

The motorbikes of Tegucigalpa. I would love to traverse around the windy mountains with my Dad one day, but that may not be safe even though we could pass as Hondurans.

We stuffed our luggages and ourselves (all 28 of ourselves) into our bus - with a rosary hanging off the rear-view just like my fam!

Outside our lodgings at the top, the very top, of our side of the mountain. All we did was climb. And I was concerned about not getting adequate exercise....


Feb. 16
Visited the Sociadad of Nuevo Paraiso.


Gate to Clinica Santa Rosa de Lima.

We ate across from the clinic the first day. This day we saw what lay beyond.
Kindergartners all the way up to high school as well as the church I would attend on Sunday.
The kindergartners' teacher allowed them all to come and play with us in their cute matching uniforms. We all held hands and walked/danced around in a circle while they sang super cathy Spanish songs. The girl to my front had the cutest smile, and her best friend to my back, Claudia (pronounced Clou-Dee-A with much conviction) sang loudly, clearly, and with the cutest dimples. My girls.

My girls are the second and third from the left. Only caught the end of their song. Clearly I also did not have much experiencing doing video with my iPod at this point either. Yup. That's my finger in the corner.

Short little vid. of this cutie with her lollipop. She danced and sang solo for ALL OF US earlier too. No shame. Only joy with this one.

A map of Honduras painted outside one of the baby houses.


Brigade 1
My assignment this day was shadowing Dr. Ronda in the doctor consultation station.
Picked up on a lot of the Spanish terms - I love how it can be so related to Tagalog- and saw a lot of the same cases. Some very sad cases. But some very good sights of teeth in a lot of the children.



(Top) Walking behind my home visit team. Just a short walk down the street, but this ladies vericose ulcer was terrible enough that mobility was not an option.
(Bottom) The view from the consultation area. Donations handout out from the building. Charla given in the circular area.


Served over 440 patients this day.



Brigade 2
Served over 600 patients this day!


My view from the pharmacy - my specialty.

Spent the afternoon unexpectedly in the Dental Room.


(Top) Some of my last patients of the day. They loved learning how to brush teeth on Pedro.
(Bottom) The ninos with their cute wool tuques outside the room. They loved having pictures taken of them, and I loved saying Hola to them in between my dental education...in Spanish. I learned a lot of Spanish this day.

Brigade 3

Served over 300 patients this day.

Pharmacy again! Counting pills that arrived last night close to 11p.m. We were exhausted by that point so were left to do it in the morning.

Patients receiving their medications in the bags mec donated to us! Thanks, mec!

Afternoon again in the Dental Room. This time, I was pulling teeth! Four of them to be exact. Two on the bottom. Two on the top. All increasing in difficulty and size.

Jose Luis was the assisstant to the assisstant (me).

The first tooth I pulled! A baby compared to the ones to follow.

I have so much more respect for dentists. Having to deal with getting patients through the pain that you have to cause them, and having to find the right spot to clamp the tooth, and having to keep the proper amount of torque (slow movements, yet with a death grip) throughout. Makes me sweat again just thinking of it. It gets quite physical.

Tribesty's super awesome shield. The goggles he had on earlier were enough to make me smile; I have no idea where he found this one. Cleaning out our spit basin at the end of the day. It's actually not as nauseating to look at as I thought it would be. All the spittle....ewww.

Apparently we were a good team. It was tough running the show with only two people.

Brigade 4

Served over 100 patients. Our smallest brigade, but these people needed the help the most.

Beautiful scenery here, way up in the mountains. Quite the lengthy ride to get here.

If I showed any signs of the "sickness," it was today.

Dizziness. Headache. (Maybe some mild diarrhea. Sorry, but that's how the story goes). So it was a good thing I was in donations.

I was excited about this job. Being able to match people with glasses, clothes, and toys.

They look you in the eyes when they say their "Gracias" and you cannot help but smile and wish you couuld give them more.

The hermanos! The first children I noticed when we arrived. Always holding hands. We made sure they received some wicked goods.

Sunday the 19th

Our "day off."

I did not really get a sleep-in as I was up by 6:45am getting ready for mass.

We even got to enjoy the breakfast which we thought we would miss - pancakes too. Something familiar.

Got some video of singing during Communion. These people love to sing. I would argue that they actually pray 3-4X every time they sing, as opposed to the standard of 2X.

Did not quite understand it all but knew the flow. Loved how the priest got the children (so many of them!) involved, as they answered with their Si''s and No's.

Saint Francis of Assissi was sang in Spanish. Just as beautiful, if not, more.

Was hoping to catch it unnoticed, but the young girls in the pew in front had their eyes on me by the end.

The one with the cute pigtails kept grabbing for my hand throughout mass.

Very intimate people, EVERYONE was out of their seats, hugging you, kissing you, more than just handshakes and "Peace be with you"s during sharing the sign of peace.

Santa Lucia

Valle de Angeles, ready to pack-it-up and go.

Got everything I was looking for. A hammock! With just enough lempiras left to enjoy the best ice cream there is.

Check us out! The GMB! You'd never know most of us were terribly sick at some point during the week.

Moving scenery if you're interested in Honduras as the sun goes down. One with some Spanish radio in the background. Another with the silence of our sleepy selves:

Our surprise from Moises. Lessons and songs from his schoolteacher.

Final Day

Goodbye Honduras.

Ready for another full day of travelling.

Me and our view from the top.

With Glowing Hearts

It's pretty sweet to be able to say I've been there. That I was here to experience the Olympics at home. It's so much like World Youth Day when you've got all these people from different countries, dressed the same, for the same big event.
You see the families out together, the support for their individual countries - but being at home, being a host to everyone is really cool.
The city is so alive and what makes us unique as Canadians is really everywhere.
The rain was not an issue for anyone today and tonight, which is the only way to be here in B.C.
Today may be all I get in terms of immersing myself in the Olympics, as tomorrow is off to Honduras! Meeting my group at 12:30p.m. on this side.
I'm satisfied with what I got to see today. Really wish I hadn't forgotten my red mitts at home on the island.

Standing on Robson underneath the ZipTrek. Definitely would have done it myself, if the line-up was not so long and actually moved. We got some pics with the dogsled and at the free pic booth by accident, which was a good find at the Pacific Centre festivities.
Mr. Da Vinci will have to wait until after the Olympics when I don't have to worry about waiting in a long line to see his works.


The Richmond O-Zone. Bedouin Soundclash on the stage. Interesting cover of Fever and Stand By Me as a prelude to their classic hit.
Super Nice tribute to Jenn Heil for the Silver!
Great way of keeping us Canadians involved and in spirit as "back-up singers" with the audience O Canada! a capella at the end. Oh yeah, it rained the whole way through.


It's finalized now. My Lenten list:
Giving Up On:
-cursing (with the hopes for it to last past-40 days)
-spending (with the exception of the necessities of life like food, and movies because that is really a sole form of social activity for me here. So..no makeup, books/mags, CDs, etc. Honduras is also an exception as spending money has already been taken out and much of it are thank you gifts to my generous friends and family)
Giving In To:
-praying the Rosary daily for someone (I've created a Top 40 Hit List to get me through the 40 days)
This coming Wednesday is Day 1.

t-3 Days

I have knots in my stomach and want to vomit at the thought that I left my USB in the library computer today. When you plug it in it goes behind the screen and I mentally told myself you have to remember to take it out, and still forgot. I really do hope that good people were around and did not take it for keeps, especially when seeing that someone's keys were attached.

My biathlon was a success. Although it made me realize that a regular commute to school is quite the workout as opposed to the friendly commute. Only twenty minutes to run there and about the same to bike back due to drivers who are too careless and lazy to signal. I can't read your minds people, and there' s no way I'm biking in front of your car when I don't know which way you're about to turn.

I rewarded myself with a mushroom and cheese omelet and some more banana bread. This is what was left of last night's masterpiece as of 10am this morning. It was the best I have made thus far, with Rob's help and his plantain bananas. Nice and moist, good density and the perfect amount of crunch you would ever desire on the bottom....

3 days until our journey to Honduras begins. Everything is really coming together now. I love that part about preparing for a trip.
Check it. My Behavioural Medicine Lab team is awesome. Their donatinos are spilling onto the floor now.

And the gift I have waited for the most. Donations from St John's Parish. Received box number 3 today - the final one. Now a running total of 118! Sweet. Friday morning is going to hurt lugging all my stuff to school.

I can't believe Advent begins next week. Father Dean mentioned that next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and reminded us to begin thinking about what we would like to give up or do.
I'd like to find something to give up as well as something to do.
I know for sure I'm giving up cursing. My potty mouth is rather disgraceful, so this is something I hope can extend beyond the forty days.
As for something to do, I've got 6 more days to figure that one out.