makemylifeasong: The First Sunrise

From the first sunrise you see, you will be in Canada.

But Australia will always be in your heart.

I left Sydney in the morning coldness but with the warm feeling of a family's love in my heart. Somehow, I wasn't scared. I wasn't really excited either because excitement isn't really something that I'm very accomplished at. So, to me, new things are just another page in my life.

The journey to LA itself was uneventful although my seat partner was very interesting. He was a youngish finance person from the US who had been working on a project in Sydney for a month. Normally on a plane, I get some quiet time and don't really talk to my neighbour. This dude wouldn't stop talking to me. After multiple
hours, I finally started falling asleep (my normal entertainment for long trips) and he took the painfully obvious cue to be quiet. This gave me most of the remainder of the trip to myself although when we got close to landing he started up again.

LA had a surprise in store for me. I had just joined the immigration line when I heard my name called and saw familiar faces just behind me. Sienna and Elouise were in my queue! We had completely different flights the entire way from Sydney to Vancouver and somehow we met up in LA. It was a lovely surprise. LA is a terrible airport but thankfully my layover was long enough that having to ask for my gate number and take a late shuttle to get there wasn't even stressful and I made with a bit of time to spare. Apparently quiet travel was not in the
agenda for the day because on this flight I sat beside an elderly couple. The man asked me questions about what I was doing but he didn't talk as much as old mate on the first flight. Wow!

So Vancouver. Finally I am in Canada. The land of snow...or 35ºC. But really, there is so much to learn, to look forward to, to wonder about. O the thoughts that ran through my rather exhausted head as I waited for the the twins to get in and our pickup to arrive. I also observed...dogs in the airport??? Really?? Sooo many people coming to meet loved ones with flowers. That's a real thing?? I wish I could go get something to eat but I have sooooo much luggage that no, just no. I am not going anywhere with two suitcases a violin and a backpack. And so I waited.

Home for a Season

We drove home across Beautiful British Columbia in a thick cloud of smoke. Which meant that Beautiful British Columbia was hidden. Still, I can imagine the rugged beauty of the mountains which we drove through and the bright green of the 'forest' in Summer time.

The next day was Friday and we travellers were graciously granted the day 'off' to do just as much or as little as we pleased. After breakfast, Sienna, Elouise and I toured the campus. They showed me around and introduced me to everyone we met. They took me to find my room and helped me move my things up there. It's a sweet, white room with a pitched roof and not much furniture. It does have a private balcony which I have discovered is good for those hot nights where you want to catch every possible skeric of breeze. And here we'll address another issue, yes it's hot. The smoke has been keeping the temperature somewhat cooler because it acts like an insulate blanket but it's hot. And the nights are those kind where you wake up and you haven't even used a sheet. Ugh.

Big Camp

On Sabbath, the students in the Summer Program and a selection of staff travelled a few hours drive back towards Vancouver to go to BC Big Camp or Campmeeting as they call it. There, we joined the camp orchestra to accompany the hymns and then spent the rest of the day together. There were lots of ex students of Fountainview and other friends that the rest of the group caught up with. I spent the day starting to try and learn some names. Wow! That is one epic task.

The twins and some of their friends and I visited a beautiful spot near the camp ground. There was a river, railway tunnels, rocks, cliffs, friends and just beauty. You could almost forget about the smoke down there as it was somewhat filtered through the trees.

Sunday, everyone hopped on the buss again and we went to Seton Lake for the day. Almost everyone hopped in the water to wakeboard or just to swim but there was no way I was getting in. I would have, if the weather out of the water had of been hot but it was the coolest day so far and I'm a soft Aussie. I mean, that water was COLD!

And, Monday I started work. So far, I've got to say that I'm loving what I'm doing now and even the plans for the rest of the year sound super exciting. The last few days I have been printing and copying music. Just that. Putting it into folders ready to give to the students when they arrive. I'm super excited about the songs for the first concert we're doing and looking forward to being able to actually work with the students to bless others.

And so that brings me to today. No, I'm not homesick yet although I miss my Mummy & Daddy and others dearly. But everyone here is so fun and kind that making friends is easy and I can already imagine that leaving will be difficult.

Well that's me done.