You're a What, doing What?!

What I left behind in Canada

Hey Team,

I thought I would give you a quick life update. It’s been just under two months since I cried three-plus times on the plane ride(s) from South America to Canada. Surprisingly, it hasn’t been the a terribly hard transition back to reality; I think this has something to do with the constant trying-not-to-worry-about-my-dwindling-bank-account factor.

What I came home to

I have had the pleasure of staying in Calgary over Christmas with my sisters, their partners and my mum, including my brand new niece, Natalie. I even babysat her All by Myself a couple times (in half an hour stints, but if you know me you know that’s pretty impressive)! I’m sorry if I didn’t make any effort together with many people for a visit over that time period. My ambition to be social was at an all time low and to be honest I’m not actually sure why that was. I think I was trying to retain the travel high and keep the denial going.

It is nice to be back, but I understand now that my desire is to not remain in Canada, or one place, permanently. My goal is to do whatever needs to be done to experience new places, new cultures and, of course, volunteer internationally. Hugo and I have driven Josie, my yellow Sunfire, 750 KM to our new hometown (I use this term loosely), Vanderhoof. The small town is about an hour away from my sister and my dad, which works out quite well. I am lucky enough to be welcomed into some long time friends home, which is a beautiful farm house situated on 150 acres about 15 KM outside of Vanderhoof.  I spend much time outside snowshoeing or cross country skiing on the property and have signed up  to help out at the volunteer run thrift store.

I have also just accepted a temporary HR position at the Canfor Sawmill which I will be starting shortly, so it looks like I will be living here for the next 12-18 months. It’s an ironic position given my lifestyle, but a good friend once told me that resources like this aren’t going away anytime soon so we should be a part of it so we can understand how we can create alternative and realistic solutions and truly understand what is going on. This and that it’s great money that will go towards volunteer traveling. I am still on a plant based diet and am seriously contemplating going vegan, but we shall see. I do have a love for cheese.

Christmas Ski Trip

I don’t anticipate on ever settling down, really. I know the natural response has been and will be that when I meet the right guy, find the right job, find the perfect town blah blah blah, it will happen. But I’m not sure that that is true. I’ve decided that I wasn’t meant to follow the societal norms of western living. I’m quite content with Hugo and I am finally finding my own way in life. If I meet someone, we will live this way together. While traveling, everyday it was an I-Love-My-Life kind of day and I intend to keep that good vibe going. Life is too short to live unhappily – This is your year.

I don’t have anything too serious planned for the future, I have signed up for the Quesnel Women’s Half Marathon in the fall, which I will be running for a cause. I haven’t decided what the cause will be but when I do I will be sure to let everyone know, I will take any recommendations on societies/activities to run for, in which my donations will be directed to that foundation. I am also in the process of hiking the West Coast Trail with my cousin and a girlfriend and will provide you on more details once decisions are more concrete. I also really want to try naked yoga. And seeing as this is my blog, it's completely acceptable, and I am quite comfortable saying this.

Travel wise, I would like to be on the move within 18 months, and as for place I really have no concrete plans. Australia, Europe, Asia have all been ideas recently, but I’m quite indecisive (surprise). Regardless of where, I will be traveling for a purpose again, so I will be volunteering. I’m currently looking into volunteering at monasteries, perhaps teaching English or generally helping out in some way.

I would love to hear what everyone else is up to. Please feel free to forward the email on, or let me know if you’d no longer like my life updates for reasons related to too much gloating.

Smiles,

Kirstin

Some of us aren’t meant to belong. Some of us have to turn the world up-side-down and shake the hell out of it until we make our own place in it. – Elisabeth Lowell