dreaming over the ocean

so, today i kinda realized what it is like to be home. it is amazing to be here, but is is also strange to be in such an odd place of transition. home, but not quite home (staying at a friend's place). here, but not quite here (montreal in 20 days!). so much to do (savour vancouver), but nothing to do (no work, no school!). and, it is funny, because I know that the older I get, and the more times that I do this, the easier it is, but i also know that it is not easy. it is not easy to miss the kids that I have just spent 2 months with. it is not easy to try to explain the experience, but know that people just do not understand. it is not easy to arrive back into technology. vanity. ease of life. and think back about what i just experienced and what i just saw. it is not always easy not to be surrounded by people who share the same faith as you. it is not easy to know that big transitions are knocking on my door. but, it is also nice to be here. it is nice to see my friends, and ...

so, back in vancouver. being a hermit for a least a day while i get un-tired, and a little less overwhelmed. sorry I have not been able to update while I have been away in florida, and onto Haiti... computer access has been... well... limited? to say the least!? (can we talk about the 400+ emails in my inbox?!) It has been a fantastically amazing summer, with lots of stories. challenges. love. miracles. life changes. I am happy to be back, and will be so excited to be able to share some of the adventures!

Hiking in oregon! Shawnigan race report! Fun at BenJammin Mauss's house in tacoma washington this past week!

so, turns out that I have a sweet new little video cam-corder. Thank you soooo much to the unnamed, super generous client who gave it to me as a going away gift. The still photos are not the high point (it only gets about 3 mgpxl for the still shots), but i am not complaining in anyway possible. so, enjoy. THese are some photos from the last week: shawnigan lake tri, and washington state, and portland. wowza! oh, and ps... I now also have a youtube site... now, i don't know how to direct you to it, but my user name is "roweramo" :) Hike today, up "Dog mountain" in the columbia river gorge... risha and bradley and i post hike, today, just finishing eating ice-cream! Zach, at the waterfall of the hike yesterday, in the columbia river gorge. just at a different spot. BICYCLE FREEDOM! (in the distance you can see the beautiful mt rainier...) this is at a park in tacoma called preservation point. my beautiful neice makayla, and I, after the Shawnigan lake Tri, la...

So, it is pretty crazy that I am writing, and am thinking about the next couple days. I wish that I could have the time to update more these days because there is so much going on, but since my computer got stolen, it makes it far harder to do. There is just wayyyy to much to cover in such a short time, so I will do my best to get a post today, and another post before I head out to Florida, on the front end of my trip to Haiti... I am currently sitting in Tacoma, Washington, beside one of my best friend's, Zach. I arrived yesterday, after a great last week in Vancouver and on the Island. Last week, I had my convocation, my last day at work, the packing and moving, and my final race until at least august. I have had a crazy time of just going and going and going, and it has been a little crazy. It is amazing to me to think that I now can sign my name Amelia Payne, M.Sc. it is crazy to think that in a week I am going to be in charge of 27 eager teenagers going to a developing country...

so, what a week, what a week. there is so much to tell, not enough time, and limited resources! My basement suite looks like a hurricane has hit , except that it still has walls standing up. this whole "packing up to move across the country when I don't own a car" thing is quite amazing! I had friends over last night for a small pot-luck, and honestly, I am not sure when I am going to get the chance to get together with some of them again. and, that makes me sad. I am going to miss people, that's for sure. I am heading over to edmonton tonight , on a last minute road trip. I have recruited people off of craigslist to shard the ride with, but I will be driving all the way though. The purpose of the trip is to go and visit my older sister, Rebecca. I miss her a lot, and for health reasons, she is not able to travel. And, so I came to the dawning realization that if i do not go now, it may be another year before I have the chance to see her. And, so that is important for...

Last night, I went to a Joel Plaskett concert. at a small-ish venue (the Vogue theater downtown), but large enough for there to be a good crowd. I felt like the concert should have been held outside, in the sun, in a park. if you ever have the chance to see him, please do, 'cause he is amazing. he is from Halifax, and has a voice that hits right to your soul. And, in addition, he is super funny, and brings along his father on tour to play with him, and the girl who he "fell in love with her voice." in my head, i think he fell in love with her. 'cause when they sing a duet, it sure sounds great. but, i read on wikipedia, that he is in love with a artist, not a musician. I went with Audrey, and friends. and, there was a point when I got really sad, 'cause I am going to miss them. lots. i am getting nervous about leaving, and moving. today, i am doing a presentation at my church, to talk about my trip. both after the 9:30 service, and the 11:15 service. I...