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I cannot live and work overseas without coming to Canada at least once a year. This gives me the chance to see friends and family as well as soak in the familiar things from home. This is why I have up to now only accepted one-year volunteer postings, and it has worked out well for me. This time, I was in Quebec from May 4 to June 17 2008 and this page contains journal entries of my time home.
May 13, 2008
Let's play hockey guys!
We are now back in Québec since May 3rd, and it has been a blessing. We managed to make it through customs with 2 trolleys, 6 hockey bags, Roxy's cage on top and Rémi in tow. Ouff. The first week was quite hectic getting Rémi his Medical Insurance card, sending in the form for a new passport for me, trying to do my income tax return then giving up and passing on the responsibility to a proper accountant, etc. I spent most of my time with family, getting to know my niece Jessica who has grown up much, my sister and my parents. I went to Ann's place for dinner and Rémi played with her 3 year old son who is already a big hockey fan. So they enjoyed putting on the helmet and playing hockey in the house. During the week, Rémi is back at the same daycare as last year, so he knows the kids and has a great time. I also met up with friends downtown on Sunday for a 5 à 7 and caught up on news. Now a new week has begun with more things to do - changing Rémi's name, returning my laptop computer which has little things breaking down, returning Roxy's clipper, etc. I have been eating a bit too much as well - pies, ice cream, sushi, real chicken, pizza, shish-taouk, salmon - yummmm! Gee it feels good to be back!
June 5, 2008
Living life to the fullest!
Well, we have now been in Québec for over 4 weeks already, and time is just flying by so fast! I just signed the contract yesterday for a one-year mandate in Nepal as Communication Advisor working with the Fair Trade Group Nepal. The departure date is set now for June 17th, arrival 2 days later! In the meantime, Rémi goes to daycare everyday and meets his 10 little friends for the day, while dad runs around getting us ready to leave - changing our life insurance to a family coverage, submitting the name change request, medical appointments, moving our things from one storage to another, getting Roxy ready and certified to leave, shopping, getting a new passport, etc. It has been really nice spending time with friends and especially with family, my sister and niece. We have tried to do many fun activities like going to large indoor amusement parks, a safari, the Biodôme, camping, picnic, etc. The weather has been cool and cloudy mostly, but after 9 months of sun in Burkina, it is a welcomed relief. All my small appliances that broke down over the year are getting repaired - camera, laptop computer, clipper for Roxy. This is why I have not been able to update the web site... I am still waiting for my baby which is at the computer hospital! Stay tuned for new adventures in Nepal, and soon a brand new look for my web site!
June 13, 2008
The final countdown!
My, my... how time just flies by! Already just days away from departure and still running around trying to finish everything in time. Again, it has been great being back, spending time with friends who now have kids and my sister and niece. We went for a picnic, then to an indoor climbing complex for kids (Zig-Zag-Zoo), and many activities. Simple get-togethers are also fun to catch up and chat. Tomorrow is our farewell picnic in Lafontaine park tho the weather does not look promising. I just got back my laptop computer, got the camera fixed and bought a new one, got a new Roxy hair clipper and have started filling the bags. But now, instead of 32 kg bags, they can only be 23 kg! Dear God, what will I have to leave behind? Today, going "to town" to spend time with a dear friend, then off to a bar for a beer, then dinner. And before all that, some TLC (Tender loving care) with a massage. Life is hard (tho expensive!). See you soon Nepal!
June 16, 2008
Farewell picnic
Once again this year I thought it would be a good idea to have a picnic for one last chance to spend time with friends before leaving Québec. I hummed and hawed about where to hold this not-to-be-missed event, first thought was for Ile Ste-Hélène but then thinking that it was less accessible that the central Parc Lafontaine. So the latter won out. The weather forcast was not looking too good tho with possibility for showers and a storm. Still, I did not want a plan B in-case-of-rain and decided to just cross my fingers and hope for the best. And it was a great day. Thanks to the people who were able to make it - Jean-François, Sylvie, Marc, Daniel, Constance, Anne, Pierre, Mathieu. It was great seeing you all and Remi was telling me about this picnic again after-the-fact. And for those who couldn't make it, we'll take a rain cheque for next year? We will miss you all so much when we leave....
June 20, 2008
Travelling around the world...
Yep, June 17th was departure day at Dorval Airport with farewell to family and friends left behind. We had a very good time back home, and now I need to move on to my next mandate and get some money coming in! We managed to get all our bags checked in, and Roxy as well. Air Canada had said that I would have to pick her up in Frankfurt and check her in again at Gulf Air counter. But at the Dorval check-in counter, they said I could send her all the way. This would save me running around the airport with Rémi to get Roxy, and 600$ which would have been charged again. Ouff, once in Frankfurt and then in transit in Bharain, I checked to make sure that Roxy was following with our luggage.
At the security check in at Dorval, I found out that I could not carry on my perfume bottles if more then 100ml, and I held my cherished Hugo Boss and Issey Miyake, desperate to save them as well as my large maple butter container. So I went to the handicapped toilet and sprayed Hugo in a vitamin bottle, hoping to make it thru. This took forever and I just did not have the heart to repeat the exercise with Issey, so I hide as best as I could all my countreband. And went thru again. With Rémi as a great distraction (play the clown and look cute now!), we actually made it thru! Now I will know for the next time....