The final days in Lethbridge

Debriefing, looking back on the last three months. Heartache, despair, happiness, anger, love, everything has happened to our group within these last three months so reflection on all these events is good. I find Katimavik is very reflective they love to make us look in on ourselves for some inner reflection. So the past few days have been a fluster of activity.

Our debriefing started with us taking two pictures the other day. We took a picture of ourselves how we felt at the start of the program. I don't have the photo but when I do I will put it up. It was hilarious seeing it, no one was standing close together, everyone was apart. I was hiding behind cole and looking at my feet. Everyone was...well strangers. Then in the second photo, we were all sitting together hugging, smiling, happy. I saw the pictures and I have to admit that it's true. We did do a complete 180 degree turn. Our group of teenage strangers, now some of the closest people alive.

Another debriefing activity was a leaf, a stick, and a rock. We gathered one of each of these items and then you had to say one thing you wanted to leave behind(leaf) one thing you wanted to stick with you (Stick) and one thing that rocked (rock) It was sweet, for my leaf I said I wanted to leave my shyness/awkwardness behind. I mean I'm not as shy as I was at the start of the program but I still want to work on that. The one thing that rocked was my job being able to hold the birds, I remember when we were learning how to hold them, and Willie and myself kept passing Mario back and forth, like we were playing catch (we didn't throw the bird, no worries) The stick for me had to be that I know that if we get in a bad state (like some people did once) and need help I know that my whole group will be there helping me and protecting me.

A debriefing activity that we did last night was the coolest I think. It was a bead activity, we all picked beads that we believed represented everyone in our group and then presented it to the others. So in the end you would have 10 other beads representing you. I have my beads and the story behind them below.
Jaz's bead-a closed shell because at the start you were more closed up and now you have opened up so much more so we're able to see the inside and see how beautiful you are
Sterlings blue bead- small little black because you tried to hide in the background and not be noticed.
Helenas bead- star because youre a star
Connors white and pinkish bead- the bead is kind and nice, its also a very pretty bead
Kristens gem like bead- because you are a gem to us
Jills flowery big bead- flowery and bright because you are bright and flowery.
Willies wood block- you know why, we work together
Morgans button- Its a button because you aren't a bead. Buttons are important. The group wouldn't be here without you, you are the button of our katimavik sweater
Cedrics small cylinder black one- representing how I was at the start of the program and how I have changed now. The black representing how in the background I was because of my shyness
Coles beadshell because I am from bc and we have the better ocean

Then cleaning the whole house, and now I am waiting for the bus to pick us up in two hours...probably going to go clean some more

Next blog post in QUEBEC CITY!

Last day of work

This is my last view of Birds of Prey, probably for a really long while. Taken as we were leaving work for the last time.

My last two weeks at work were interesting. We watered trees, cleaned out nest boxes(This took an eternity because there were so many! They are all over the centre and the centre is massive!) raked, got stung by a wasp...AGAIN!(It hurts by the way, on my foot my thigh, and thumb this summer! Argh!) Pretty much every odd job they could find for us!

My last day was crazy and hectic. We got to work and had to clean out the gift shop/kitchen(Where they have a fridge of dead chicks, a sink, etc.) because Bing the baby short eared owl had left a mess in the kitchen, so bird poop everywhere! So I cleaned the kitchen and Willie cleaned the messy gift shop. Cleaning the kitchen meant scraping the poop off the floor, then using a scrub brush to get the rest of it off, then finally taking a mop to finish cleaning it. IT TOOK ALL MORNING!

The afternoon we had to fill in a review/assessment of our work habits with our work supervisor. Then we gave Marianne our gift for her, and she laughed and said she would have our reference letters and a small gift for us tuesday (At our goodbye party) We watered trees as well. We got to help out in the freezer (where they put the dead things that the birds eat) This involved throwing dead frozen ducks around, hauling large bags of frozen fish, and throwing hunks of butcher meat around the place. The weirdest thing ever is there is a stack of dead birds of prey in the corner, like ones that were brought into the centre to determine a cause of death and ones that people tried to save but the centre had to put them down. Then we got to go into the Mouse House, scaping mouse poop out of trays, what fun. Then work was over...Im done at birds of prey...weird to think

Billeting (August 26th to September 9th)

Billeting Round One Can we just tell head office that we did billeting but instead just go off camping or something for two weeks...please?

So read on if you want to hear the horror story that is my billeting experience.

Well let's start off with the first week i was here. Friday after we met with the MP of lethbridge we all trucked it back to the house and waited for our billets to show up. Jill and I were running around the house trying to keep a lid on all the mess being house managers and all but to no avail. Then all of the sudden we kept dropping like flies. First it was Kristen and Morgan's billets arriving, then Cedrics, then Jill's, then jaz's, then sterlings, finally it was just me helena and connor left. Sadly Cole wasn't there since he had to work (poor thing missed out on our pizza lunch since his work desperately needed him that day) Then my billets came...I should have know right then and there that it wouldn't be the fairy tale happy perfect experience that I had played it up to be in my head. The two children a one and a half year old and four year old were in the back of the car, the dad (who shall henceforth be known as billet dad, and billet kids) grabbed my stuff and out we walked with him slipping his nice new 140 dollar check into his pocket. The children didn't even say hello to me. When we were driving to their home the only thing he said to me was "I hope you like waterbeds". Trust me I about screamed for him to turn the car around at that moment... if only I did. He brings my suitcase downstairs where I am staying. I feel like harry Potter, seriously though I was in a storage room with a water bed. My dresser is non-existant, and all of my clothes were piled in my suitcase until the day I left. He tells me to settle in and unpack my things (where would I unpack them?) then I go upstairs. CHAOS! The children leave their toys everywhere and when I tried to put them away the kids got mad saying they were still playing with them even though they had left them nearly two hours ago. Dinner that night was white cheddar noodles, he kept telling me sorry we just came back from banff, and We didn't even know if we were getting a boy or a girl! He also kept calling me Teagan for the first week I was here...whenever I corrected him he would just nod. (He since corrected this, finally he learned the first letter of my name!) But anyways then he shows me the television, and it is like 7 o'clock by now. I sit down next to him on the sofa trying to be social, he hands me the remote gets up and leaves while saying "Have fun" (authors note: HE DIDN"T COME BACK FOR TWO HOURS! I don't want to watch tv for two whole hours!) I pretty much lost it there. The next morning I get up (were on saturday if you kiddies are paying attention) its early, the kids are so loud in the morning pouding upstairs and running all over the place. I eat breakfast, and then the plan is to go to the farmers market. we get to the farmers market and spend 10 minutes there, seriously!? We get home and the kids are going to have a playdate. Cool, I will not have to hang out with this child any longer. No playdate....its almost three o'clock I have had this child hit me repeatedly with her stuffed animal, kick me in the leg, and blow over and over into my face. I have never wanted to hit a child more in my life, although I did restrain myself and not raise my hand. At three I was like AH helk no! (there was an expletive in there by the way) I leave the house (awkwardly) and then meet up with Jill and Cole. Bawl my eyes out, and say that I never want to go back to that house ever. Realize I have to go back if I want to stay out, go back and ask if I can stay out. Then don't return until 11 that night. We went to the Katimahouse. I cried on the front steps, asking if we could please just return (It was only the second day after all) When i went home they were in front of the television watching tv. I went to bed. Sunday I got left alone with my billet dad, he didn't want to do anything so I read all day, then in the evening I went out with my friends. At least the weekend was over, maybe during the week they would have something to do...WRONG! I tried being here, but it gets so boring when all they want to do is watch that damn television. So I ditched a lot of the time after work and supper/dinner.

Second week, Friday night I stayed in and watched some weird foreign film called Apron Strings, and then something called community (a funny nbc show). I don't like just sitting there watching television! Saturday I spent the whole day playing with the kids (who when their parents are there are the nicest little things in the whole world) big surprise we stayed inside all day...no wait they went to a family breakfast and surprise surprise I wasn't invitied. So I was home alone for like two hours. Saturday night I just read a book. Seriously I was bored out of my mind here. Sunday big surprise here, NOTHING TO DO AT ALL! My billets went couch shopping I was invited but no, that wont let me experience my host city. I disappeared at five until 10 then went to bed. I tried sleeping in but to no avail. The kids upstairs woke me up. And wait get this Monday was a holiday so I had to spend it with them! Please kill me now! It was the most boring time in my life. We went to the park with the children, fun times. Then we were going to go for lunch but sadly the restaurant that they wanted was closed, so that was a no go. Then that night I went out with the gang and we chilled in a park and had a nice long chat, about a lot of things. Also the Japanese Exchange student arrived monday, she took forever in the bathroom, its like having 12 people using it! (Joke in relation to the fact that at our katima house there is only one bathroom) Tuesday night I hung out with the family. yeah not exciting but I feel like I should. The dad gave me some crystal deoderant that apparently is the best thing ever (I don't know if he is being nice or saying that I smell) We watched Rango, and me feeling tired went to bed right away. Wednesday it was work then yoga then call my parents then bed. Thank goodness I got to spend all the rest of the week working, wednesday night was yoga, friday night was home so IM DONE BILLETING!

On a bright note, the billet mom cooks amazingly, and she leaves me snacks in my room. (She is the silver lining of this hateful, horrible experience.) She also packed my lunch in the morning, and gave me chocolate. Apparently food is the answer to my heart. <3 The bad thing is she worked in the evenings and was hardly ever home.

Billeting hopefully you turn out better in Quebec. My group (mostly Willie) keeps telling me that I will get a WAY better family in Quebec City. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

BANFF

The girls of group 41164, with our lovely Project Leader Erin. (Helena, Me, Morgan, Jill, Kristen, Erin, and in front Jaz) We are in front of Lake Louise.

So here is the deal with going to Banff. You have to do a protocol for trips like this, and fill out information on EVERYTHING! It is the worst thing in the world, Helena and I had to write the protocol for Banff. It was a painful process and everyone was getting upset at us, and yelling at us when stupid things went wrong. We sent it in a week ago(Not our fault, no one gave us the list of what they wanted *cough cough projects committee), even though they are supposed to be submitted 20 days in advance. The day we were supposed to go we didn't even know if our protocol was going to be accepted.

I get home from work Friday, and quickly eat and jump in the van. We drive all the way to Canmore and stay the night there. (The canmore group was very nice, we are sad that when we go to Quebec City they stay here in Canmore because they are eco living) Saturday we drive to Banff. We go straight to our campsite in Lake Louise. Then we tour around lake Louise being tourists. After Lake Louise we drove back to Banff. Banff is truly beautiful. It is the perfect winter wonderland, its has a cottage like feel to all of the buildings in the town. We got to spend an hour in Banff, I bought delicious fudge and just enjoyed the beauty of banff. (I want to take my twin there one day:) ) We decided that it would be a good idea to climb/hike Sulphur Mountain. That involved me pushing my body up it. It was so tiring, it took us 2 and a half hours. My COAST teachers would be proud of me! (Any COAST kid, it was way worse than the devils staircase!) While we were trudging up the mountain it started snowing...in September. We get to the top and see mountain goats and a beautiful view. It was freezing, and I was already wearing a lot of layers (long johns, fleece pants, wool socks, a sweater, a jacket, a t-shirt) We took a group picture, and then wandered to the gondola. It was a two and a half hour hike up the mountain, yet it was an eight minute gondola ride down. But it was rewarding we went to the Banff Hot springs afterwards. Sunday we did a hike around Lake Louise (Just a small walk around) and then did canoeing! I love to canoe, aw Bowron Lakes! But the guy I was paddling with said he knew how to steer and so I let him. BIG MISTAKE! He kept zigzaging and not knowing how to turn, or what a J-stroke was. So I told him I would steer and then we switched positions, much better. Although he kept trying to correct my steering, I wanted to yell at this boy to stop! It was frustrating, I know how to steer a canoe buddy! After that we went back to the Canmore house and chilled there for a few hours. Then we drove back to lovely lethbridge getting there at around elevenish.

Banff was fun, and an amazing experience. I cannot believe that I actually pulled it off and planned it. Everyone seemed to have a good time. (Although house managers forgot a lot of things, so we went kind of hungy. They forgot a pot...so everything was cold...I ate apples and trail mix all weekend)

Nine days left in Lethbridge
two days left of work (Wednesday, and Friday-House managing tuesday and thursday)
Donating blood on the 27th
Travel day 28th information
Leaving Lethbridge at 2:30
getting to Calgary airport 5:35
Plane leaving Calgary 9:30
Arriving in Edmonton 10:16
Leaving for Quebec City 13:30
arriving in Quebec City with a layover in Toronto 20:52
It will be a long day

Alberta Birds of Prey

Willie and I with the Member of Parliament of Lethbridge Jim Hillyer.

My work:D

The ducks, although they did try to make a jailbreak the other day...I love them they are so cute. Putting food on your stomach and letting them eat it, it feels like they're tickling you!(This was one of the kids at our summer camps favourite things to do)

This here is little Mario. He is five/six years old and a burrowing owl. He was born at the centre as part of the burrowing owls breeding project. Unfortunately he won't be released but will be used as an educational tool for people visiting the centre. He is the nicest bird in the whole world!

This is a baby burrowing owl with no name right now. He is only a few months old.

This is where I get to eat lunch, well this is my view. It is overlooking a pond at the side of the centre. Ah the views, too bad they don't compare to my mountains of B.C.

Of course me holding little Mario all by myself. Notice no glove?! Yeah, cause I work there one of the things I get to enjoy...his talons aren't that sharp its like if someone was grabbing onto you and their nails are touching your skin, no big deal. I love mario:)

My work has been so amazing. I am lucky to have been placed here almost two and a half months ago. With eight days left of work I realized that I havent really posted much about my work. So here it is. I work at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre located in Coaldale which is a twenty minute drive from Lethbridge. I have worked there from July 15th until September 23rd, Monday thru friday. I get picked up at 8:20ish, and then work until five and get dropped off at the Katimavik house at five twenty ish. For the first week of work I got to work at a summer camp! The kids got to learn about birds, build bird boxes, plant little plants, go looking for pond creatures, do some steve spangler science stuff, play games, and feed the ducks. It was a fun and hectic first week of work but it was tons of fun. The next week we just did misc. work. Cleaning the bird baths, raking, weeding, cleaning, a little bit of everything. Then we were asked to water trees, so thats what we did most of the summer. Although we did get to spend some time with the birds. We cleaned out their compartments, their baths and changed their baths. Then towards the middle of august we finally got to hold some birds, we learned the knot needed to tie them to their perches and got to hold the burrowing owls. So for the last few weeks we have been holding burrowing owls. Now the centre is closed though, so I have no idea what we are going to be doing. Although one of the things we are probably going to do is prepare the nestboxes for the next season. meaning clean them out, bleach them, write down what nest was in there, and then tape it shut. Always a new adventure. I am sad its almost ending but hey its life, at least I got to enjoy this experience. How many other people can say they get to work here? Spray off eagles? hold burrowing/barn/great horned owls? skin chicks for flight demonstrations? See an immature bald eagle fly in a flight demonstration? Have ducks eat food off their stomach? See these amazing birds everyday?! I'm going to miss my job!

Katima Famjam

I love my Katimavik family...so here is a look at our time in katimavik via group pictures!!!

Our first day together in galt gardens..oh how we've all grown up *tear

Here is us at the end of july at the Heritage Acres antique farm festival's BARN DANCE! (notice the plaid) finally Jill has arrived:) In order of appearance, Erin our lovely PL, Cedric (Quebec), Kristen (Ontario), Morgan (Quebec, originally PEI), Sterling (Ontario), Willie (Ontario), Cole (British Columbia), Connor (Ontario), Me (British Columbia), Helena (Ontario), Jill (Saskatchewan) and Jaz aka Yartiza in front (Quebec). Now I will never have to repeat that...although I probably will:)

Taken last week after our volunteering at the Dunk Tank. Notice me being so freakishly short...I was bending over slightly since I didn't want to cover someones face (I thought, and still do, I was taller) We are missing Jill and Jaz since they disappeared to get mini donuts...

Well thats a review of our group in group pictures! ONE A MONTH! Now only 27 more days until Quebec...15 or so more days working at birds of prey, eight more days of billeting (Post about that after billeting), and I still have to post about us meeting the MP of lethbridge (With pictures hopefully) Buzy buzy...but seriously I just want to finish billeting and go back to the Katimavik house!