End of Chisasibi, Start of Steinbach, Post-Katimavik plans?

There were some moments this week where I missed Chisasibi, maybe just a little...

I thought for sure I'd cry when leaving, but I didn't. It's not the place I'll miss, it's the people.  But I'll be back next year I'm pretty sure!

Actually I've been thinking about post-Katimavik options and I'm rethinking going to school right away. I mean, heck, I'm only 19! And all my life I've wanted to do a volunteer project overseas kinda like that crazy adventurous sister of mine.  Well, I found some really neat projects in Costa Rica with Amerispan that I'm considering.  At some point I realized that I really want/ feel the need to learn Spanish (so that my one semester in high school doesn't go to waste) and also, I think it'll improve my French in some ways.  Also because one of my life goals is to learn four languages (everyone in Europe seems to do it, why can't I?) So what's three or so months learning it going to do me harm? NONE!  It'll just make the fourth language I learn even easier! I haven't decided what the fourth will be, but it could very easily be Cree for when I go back to Chisasibi next year! (again, these are really rough plans :S) 

I finally got to talk to my big bro last night!  Ceci m'a vraiment fait du plaisir.  It made me so happy :) I think I needed that touch from home.  This week I was house manager (did the cooking and cleaning) so I think I needed to hear from someone other than the 10 people I see every day.  Someone I knew, someone who was interested in what I had to say.  

So, I never really did a sum for y'all about Chisasibi.

How to sum three months into one...

Well, when I think vaguely, it seems like not a lot happened but we were always so busy that I didn't get a lot of time to think about it.  We were really lucky to be there during community Spirit month. It was a little busier and it made everything so much more fun!  Pajama day was my personal favourite- so many kids pointed at me in my Tweety onesie and smiled.  Painting faces at the arena and at the carnival were really fun too!

It was kind of too bad we were there in the winter in some ways, because it seems like a lot of people just stay in the house in the winter. On the other hand, there's, unfortunately, not a lot grass in Chisasibi (especially where we were living in Chinatown.) Nor are there a lot of trees (mostly only in clusters, not on each lawn like in Guelph) so I can only imagine that without the snow, the streets look a lot different. 

Katimavik... no regrets.

We used to say it all the time.  It might sound bad, but really, it just means that now is our time to try so many new things and open ourselves up to different ways of life.  Being open-minded is so important, especially while we're young and I really think living up North contributed a great deal to this kind of thinking because it's just so different.

I miss Chisasibi when I'm crossing a four-lane road.
I miss Chisaisbi when I see too many colours in front of me.

I miss Chisasibi when we can't go to Winnipeg because we have a 8-passenger van.

I miss Chisasibi when I have to choose which Oranges to buy.

I will miss Chisasibi when we all eat spaghetti with forks. (we didn't have enough in Chisasibi!)

But I'm in Steinbach now.
And thus far, it's not so bad.

Actually, it's been fantastic! Our neighbour, the third time I've lived beside someone named Rick (odd eh?) Has randomly come over to bring us cookies, sausage in a blanket and he even shared some firewood with us so we could have a campfire! :) Every time I've gone out for a run, I've said hello to a few people, who have all smiled.  I haven't worked yet, but I'm really looking forward to it!

We've also met a few other Katimavik groups, which is really nice!  Last weekend, we went to Winnipeg and I had a really good time with a few people who are in the group staying in St. Pierre. Then , we met up with the group who's staying in St. Boniface (both of which are french communities by the way) for a potluck. Afterwards, we went Rollerskating! Woooo!    This Tuesday, we also went to a Jazz club which was a lot of fun too!  There, we were allowed to have a few drinks (but not be visibly drunk of course.)  That we did and it was a really nice atmosphere. 

St. Pierre and Steinbach groups! At the ZOOOOOOO in Winnipeg :) Im in the pink on the far left.

Adorable meerkat

Me being silly, trying to be all ballet-y (and almost getting it- not quite though.) "softer hands!" (says  Yvonne, the dance expert)

"what are you lookin' at?"

Our PLs.  Goofs. haha.

Flamingos- makes me think of the picture of 45 or so at home. I dont remember it, but apparently Mom or Dad rented plastic flamingos for someone's birthday.

They have an ALBINO bison at the zoo. Apparently this is really rare!

This is at the museum in St. Boniface

Louis Riel- the founder of Manitoba.  He's a Métis who was brutally in the end for, well essentially for being Métis.

Ohhh yeah so retro.

Tammy and I at Rollerskating :) Sorry about this picture... Tom sucks.

Prarie Dog!  (a wild one!) At the zoo!

I appreciate so many of the little things so much more in Steinbach since we were in Chisasibi- like a greater variety of foods and more bowls!  and a THRIFT STORE! a big one- the size of Value Village in Guelph :O actually, maybe even bigger...