Silent. Peaceful. Bliss. Nothing to do but listen. I’m sitting in my backyard, on the back deck with a glass of wine, mint candy and my headphones laying on the table beside my ball cap. I look out to my Mom’s garden that she has rejuvenated from the winter and everything is popping with some fresh mulch & colourful plants. I also see my neighbours backyards, the crispy smell of charcoal from a barbeque smoking nearby and the birds chirping in the distance. This is my bliss and relaxation of zoning out from the world around me. Does anyone else have their new “staycation” they can go to, similar to mine? lol I don’t take this for granted because it’s not very often that I, not even my family, get to enjoy what I just described above. After a long day or week, I try to make it a point to come and sit outside for twenty to thirty minutes to just enjoy that silent bliss and take it all in. It helps you whine down from the day and into the night, before going to bed. I, along with anyone else who is working or stuck at home, has gotten into the habit that your days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months. It’s already June, can you believe that?! April & May flew right by it seems. So having a day or two, or a place to go to press pause and take some time for yourself is a great way to rest, relax, reenergize and reset for what’s to come next.
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CHRISTMAS IS FINALLY HERE! You have no idea how long I and everyone in my program have waited for Christmas break... we have been to HELL and back, to say the least (hence the title). A condensed semester due to coming back late from co-op, making it 10 weeks of straight school, no reading week and having fast turnovers for weekly assignments, projects, midterms and finals. You’d be looking forward to a three-week break as well if you were in our shoes, haha! It got to the point where even the professors were losing it. From the lectures to grading our marks and having to use the STUDENT HANDBOOK because of how long we waited to get our marks back (weeks later). Don’t get me wrong I like the majority of them and they are all great. However, the one class we had was the icing on top of the cake. Maybe it came out the wrong way or it’s because we were talking about two different topics at once but our professor said very quickly, “Well, then the cruise ship can’t land”. That has been the definition of this entire semester, to say the least. It’s just been an inside joke ever since and if something went wrong, it was our go-to catchphrase. Speaking of inside jokes, I had a great group of friends that I did all of my projects with or complained to about everything and anything that happened this semester (and they did the same). The number of case studies, assignments and small projects we had to do was insane and all we did was “type type type” every night. It wasn’t as bad as the cruise ship, but we could still make a joke about how we were endlessly typing away. Small things like that kept us going and all we did the majority of the time was have a laugh. That’s all you could do. You got a 60% on the midterm, the prof talked about a microwave for 30 minutes (I’m not kidding, I could recite it for you), you got perfect on a presentation you didn’t even speak through or “the cruise ship can’t land”... even though we’re about to sink it no doubt haha! On a positive note though, we actually had some fun and interesting projects throughout this semester. We were able to put together a nine-day itinerary & tour of a destination or place anywhere in the world. Created a restaurant from the ground up, from the initial designs, menu and even scheduling staff to work. Have mock trials of acting as a current supervisor in the hospitality and tourism industry, applying what we took from co-op or in-class. Participating in an Indigenous event through a speaking series by Tanya Talaga that brought more light and truth to this major topic in Canada. So in the end, it balanced out by having a good but intense semester overall. What I took away from this semester though is that time management, organization and communication are all key skills to have. What really came in handy and I encourage future or current students in college/uni to be able to do is bullshit really well. I know I shouldn’t be encouraging that but believe me, it’s a great skill to have. You also get AWESOME marks if you do it really really well and you are able to type a mile a minute (type type type) LOL! I’m just glad this semester is over and can’t wait to finish my last semester in this program come January. It’s going to be one hell of a ride, I’m sure. The cruise ship also may never land or at least until April when we all graduate. I’ll keep you updated on what other catchphrases we hear or come up with. However, it’ll be nice to go back to a normal 14-week semester. I just hope that I’ll be able to pass Accounting…. again. I’ll now be accepting applications for tutors as well bahaha! What can I say about a beautiful and surreal place that I’ve been lucky enough to live/work and also call my homeland. It’s crazy to think that 5 ½ months have come and gone so fast and that my time here has ended. It’s bittersweet to leave a place that you’ve made your second home for this short time but have to go back to reality, in a sense, where your whole “other life” is. Coming into a place where I don’t know a single person, nervous about the job and thinking I won’t survive being isolated, I had the best time of my life! I was able to meet so many people from around the world and even from different provinces within Canada. All starting with a simple Hello or Hi, just by sitting down and starting a conversation about the most random things. I never thought I would feel more welcomed and inclusive not only in the workplace but personally too. I’ve also made lasting memories with strangers that I now call friends. Endless amounts of laughs and stories that I could share but would be talking until I’m blue in the face haha! Instead, some of my favourite highlights would be when Sarah & Katie would be on Validator and be the sassiest ladies towards guests and not give a single fuck LOL Also, even though we all have to deal with questions from guests, my absolute favourite was when a guest asked Isla if the glacier was upstairs in the freezer…. I couldn’t stop laughing. To be frank, I have loved every single moment working with my Guest Services team. From day in and day out, we would be ready for shit to hit the fan in the morning or talk about how an awesome day we had. It’s never the same day and that’s what has made it so much fun. Certain people don’t realize what we do and think it’s a piece of cake. Yes, some positions are but not all. Especially in a high-stress environment like this or coordinating 56-200 people within a matter of 15 mins, on a good day. This is probably one of the best groups of people and teams I’ve been lucky enough to work within any job that I will truly miss. My all-time favourite memory from being here is the CANADA day party…. OH the CANADA day party. I started drinking at 7 pm (I think) and woke up the next morning at 7 am. Everything in between is a faint memory or blur but I can confirm that I drank over 3L of Simonoff Ice, had a very bad hangover and was in the bathroom for the majority of the morning. However, it was a great time to relax, socialize and let loose with the GS team and every other department. Then, we have the drivers... I’ve loved working with everyone one of them and will miss the long days at the loading/transfer bays, but there were some interesting times. It was never a dull day or a smooth day unless someone messed up a bay, an explorer goes down or has the wrong group get on the bus. There are many stories I could share but my top 2 or at least the ones that would reoccur is Elliott not being able to park an Ice Explorer if his life depended on it for the first week or two he was on….he’s fine now but just needs to remember his bays. I also can’t forget how I’ve had some near misses being hit or run over by our great driving team… especially when Riley didn’t have the parking brake on and began to reverse with me leaning on the door HAHA! I’ve never seen him move so fast. And let’s not forget the SATURDAYS Brett and I have had together singing SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY all day long lol! I will for sure being saying that every Saturday after leaving- guaranteed. But before I say goodbye to this amazing place, I will say this. How do I sum up something you really don’t want to end. It’s a mixture of feels that we all knew was coming but didn’t realize how FAST! I’m happy to be leaving and going back home to see everyone and tell them about this amazing experience, but it’s sad to say goodbye to the people who have been my second family and have grown and spent literally EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH haha! But also, knowing that it might be a while before you are going to see them all again, makes it even worse. I can’t put into words how grateful and lucky I have been to be given this opportunity, I’m walking away with so many new friends, experiences and SO many memories from my time out in the Rockies. I’ve also been able to learn some new skills not only about the job field but about myself too. I’ve grown as a person so much these past few months that I wouldn’t be surprised that when I return home, people will notice a difference in me. As Hannah Pratt said to me at the beginning of the season and how I’m feeling right now, “You are a CHAMPION”. See you next time Alberta. Life in the Canadian Rockies has been an amazing experience so far. I never thought I’d fall in love with a place so fast. It’s hard to believe I’m going on 2 months being out here and have 4 months to go. Living and working in the mountains is something not everyone can say but also can’t complain about since you’re waking up to a beautiful view every day. The only downfall, at least for me, is that you are isolated from civilization and warm weather at the Columbia Icefield. However, I get to work with a fantastic group of people, who are hilarious, caring and kind. I was able to call them my friends within 2 days of being here. I’ve never experienced that before in a workplace. You also have people from all over Canada but majority of them are coming from parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. I guess I need to start planning some trips to come and see everyone after we’re done for the season. Maybe starting within my own country but also it’d be smart to go to the farthest point and work my way back…. We’ll see haha! I’ve learnt some new things about different cultures, places and lifestyles as well. But have told some things about Canada that some people may not know much about or have misconceptions. For the most part though, we’ve had lots of laughs, a few drinks and great stories to share after an eventful day at work….. Even though we tell guests that we just sit around doing puzzles, reading in our spare time, when they are actually our entertainment! The best part of it all, is you just go with the flow out here. No worrying or drama. You just relax. Go into town on your days off, have a nice cold drink in the sun or even have a campfire after a long day at work. Hell, you hardly know what day it is half the time because you’re not worried about a thing that’s going on or too hungover to remember anything at all haha! I use it. You use it. We all use it. It’s probably the most common thing we all have in common.
Social Media. It’s also one of the first things we ask about after we’ve met a person. “Oh, let me add you on Snapchat” or “What’s your Instagram handle?”. It’s sad, but that's the way it’s headed nowadays. More technology, more posting and more sharing. However, when do we start asking ourselves…. is this an addiction? The reason I say that is because this particular topic has become an ongoing conversation over the years and noticing more people are glued to their phones, constantly on their social media platforms. Aimlessly scrolling or sharing content for their followers to see how GREAT their life is when in reality it isn’t. I’ll admit that I do it too but have gotten better within the past year. When are we not on social media?! It’s crazy to think that 10-15 years ago we were just discovering how we can advance technology and apply it to our daily lives. Now looking back, it’s like we’re in a completely different world where we grew up with it. Instead, we use to go OUTSIDE after school or dinner and PLAY or EXERCISE until it was 9 pm at night. Now it’s no longer a “cool thing” to do, as my brother would say. How times have changed, am I right?! However, I came across a TED TALK video of how social media is becoming an addiction and I thought this described the overall topic perfectly. The video is by Leslie Coutterand who explains her story of how she was in this “dream conditioning” state, realizing how she and others needed to come to the realization that you can’t stay in this condition forever. How she learned about this “dream conditioning” was by looking at a poster in the Zimbabwe jungle, thinking it was her (since she’s been a model) and wondering if that was really her life. However, little did she know it wasn’t but it was her desired life rather than her real life. She talked about how “I had to question my identity at this point. I created an avatar life based on the attention and validation of others”. By living this luxurious and extravagant life, she didn’t realize that she was living in another world with this different lifestyle. It’s how this “dream conditioning” works. You think you’re living this great life, up until you see it first hand and take a step back for a moment. Now realizing what you’ve become and what the world thinks of you. Afterwards, she “looked at the world with a sense of purpose”. Now being able to see her former self from a different mindset and point of view. Seeing the two people that she had and has become, in order for her to understand the difference better. Going onto say “with my like and share buttons, I was taking part in a system that initially made me unfulfilled and secure and addicted”. She then questioned the purpose of why she was posting in the first place and what did she get out of it, other than being rewarded by it. And this is where I ask even myself sometimes before posting or sharing something. Am I posting it because it’s interesting, lack of attention or just because? “The social platform that was originally set up with the best of intention, became quickly the largest, most powerful social conditioner of all time. It’s pushing everyone to display their ideal life and to watch their ideal peers”. How she got away from being addicted or trying to get away of who and what she had become, she “self-reflected, medication and self-love. The more I started to accept and love myself, the more my compassion expanded”. This is particularly why we criticize and pick apart everything about us or take to heart what people say/think about us more and more nowadays. It’s not right, nor is it healthy for us to let it happen either. Statistics she said were that “our current social media consumption can lead us to depression, addiction, self-doubt and unhappiness”. It’s crazy to think that this THING that started years ago has led to this. It’s unbelievable but true when you’re given the cold hard facts. “When you become famous, it’s like losing your virginity again”- Antoni Porowski If you think you have met or heard from a genuine, humble or inspiring celebrity….think again. ‘A Night with Antoni Porowski' that Niagara College hosted was an amazing night to not only see a favourite Canadian celebrity of mine but to also hear the raw truth of how he got to where he is today. As well as telling funny stories, talking about Queer Eye and how he drinks an assistive amount of coffee! Antoni is a kind and humble person that will care about you but also make fun of you at the same time. How he talked about the topics we discussed, you could see how passionate he is on each one. It’s amazing. Talking about how, “[we] are all the same. Be nice to each other”- Antoni. How we cannot treat others badly or be disrespectful. Rather treating everyone equally and especially in the LGBTQ community, where still 70 countries do not accept it and 8 have death penalties. He also admitted, “[it] took me a really long time to understand what pride means”- Antoni. Along with that, he was asked a question about if he liked Atlanta vs Kansas City (because of the different filming locations for Queer Eye), saying that Atlanta was better because he’s never seen a more diverse and respectful city with the number of different cultures and skin types there are. Going on to say, “[treat] other people with kindness. Really try and remember that. We need more of it.”- Antoni. He later talked about how he would change certain things from his life when he was in his young 20s. Realizing that you can’t plan for your future or think you have it all sorted out. Saying, “I had seven different plans as to what I was gonna do. And the fact that I’m sitting here in this chair right now, was not part of my plan. Everything is going to figure itself out. You’re going to be just fine.”- Antoni. So, we all think that we have to have our lives planned out to a T, but in fact, that might be the dead opposite, or at least for him it was. However, it’s funny that he mentioned this because I keep telling myself this too. You would like to have your life all planned out but it’s okay not knowing what’s next. As well, I see more and more students who are coming out of high school, either dropping out of college/university 1st year or taking an extra year of high school. The reason being that A. they don’t know what they want to do. B. because they thought they were on the right, planned out path but they weren’t. And that’s just life. You aren’t a failure but need to take this as an opportunity and learn from it. I’ve personally been in this position before and I learned from it, took it as an opportunity and now have my eyes set on a new path that I see myself succeeding in. So, it’s okay to have seven different plans like Antoni said, but you’ll never know which plan will actually work. It also gives you a side of relief because even celebrities didn’t know what the hell they were doing either haha! The last thing Antoni said that stuck with me is, “[when] I look back at my early 20’s I wish I wasn’t so hard on myself… really enjoy the time you have… be grateful for your country you’ve been given.”- Antoni. For me personally, it gives me a sigh of relief that I’m not the only one who thinks that we’re all hard on ourselves sometimes and we should recognize that more often. But also being able to real it in and change our ways a bit too. Living in the moment, having fun and experiencing life to the fullest. We also need to appreciate what’s been given to us and not take it for granted. With what’s going on in the world and in our lives, you need to stop, think and realize more on what you have in front of you compared to other people in the world who don’t have a dollar to their name. He even admitted that although he has lived in the United States for over a decade, you do not feel ‘free’ as much as you do when you're in Canada. Take a minute to think about that. That is our neighbours to the south and they are a 1st world country too…. it’s not that shocking but still scary to think of it that way and hear that from a person who is a bit higher up than the rest of us. Be grateful for what you have. Be humble and kind. Treat people the way you want to be treated. |
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June 2020
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