sparrow and owl

I’ll write again soon.

I’m sitting in a park somewhere in Vancouver waiting for the right moment to approach the building my interview will take place in. I walked past and noticed you have to ring a buzzer to be allowed inside so timing is crucial. I’m probably 40 minutes too early but only 30-25 if you count being promptly 10-15 minutes early/on time for interview standards.
I’m trying not to be nervous. I’m trying to convince myself I’m excited for the opportunity, which I am.  I’m trying not to be sweaty from my walk from the skytrain.

The crows here are massive.

Brave too.
I prepared as much as possible. I can keep trying to guess the questions, the layout, the numbers but I think it’s unhealthy.
I sincerely hope my mind connects with my mouth.
I see mountains in the distance with 13 minutes to go.
In ten I will probably start walking.
Lots of people pass through this park which makes me feel less of a creeper. It’s a different neighbourhood but it’d definitely not the lower east side. I will be ok.
Here goes.

Some time later….

I wrote down what I remembered of the interview questions

What brought you to love
Public speaking
What is violence
How would you engage youth who are being disruptive
What media related experience can I bring to the group
How it would benefit me
What I could bring to love
Leadership and letting others take the reins
What is my biggest challenge in this role
Did I know what types of violence youth were experiencing
Let me know tomorrow
Send Bruce my telephone number
Outreach program two youth going to schools sometimes small groups once in awhile large

The Friday After

Hello Stephanie,

I want to thank you very much for applying for the Program Facilitator position and for taking time to come in for an interview.  You are a strong candidate.  I regret to inform you we are unable to hire you at this time. We had to give the position to someone whose combination of skills and experience was an even better fit for the position.

I am sure that your initiative, commitment to creative empowerment and ongoing development through real experience will allow you to do amazing things for the community.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

thank you

Monday

Thank you for getting back to me. I was hoping that you could elaborate on the combination of skills and experience the other candidate possessed which made them a better fit. It would be a great way of understanding how I can move forward in the non-profit world.

Thank you for your time.

+

Hello Stephanie,

The successful candidate had more extensive experience with youth serving social justice based media empowerment organizations and more direct on the ground experience working with and facilitating groups of marginalized and diverse at risk youth.

The candidate was also most highly recommended by the youth interviewers.

I hope this helps.  Be well,

today I am 25. for the first time.

(the most delicious meal, vegetarian chili, we had on our trip from Kathy’s Kountry Kitchen between Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and Thunder Bay)

We’re listening to the CBC’s  Main Ingredient while we drive through the Saskatchewan prairies. I have never really listened to the CBC before but this time I can’t help but get involved in the debate (what will our food look like in 50 years). Earlier in Manitoba, Matt saw a yellow plane flying in circles low to the ground. Sure enough it was spraying pesticides on a field of crops. It freaks me out how little control we have over what we are putting in our bodies and how oblivious everyone seems to be to the issues. It’s not just food either. It’s what we absorb in to our skin the air we breathe and the preventative medicines were forced to take. People don’t like to think that there are patterns and connections here but more and more, frighteningly so, it is quite clear.

My friend Erin has a berry farm in Buckhorn, Ontario. They grow the best strawberries I’ve ever tasted in my life among tons of other produce. Whenever Erin and I talk we always end up talking business because it’s fascinating and fun and important and the farm is her life. We are always discussing the impact of capitalism, in big and small ways, and what the world will be like if we don’t acknowledge how fast our resources are running out and how important farmers are.

Basically we talk about everything stemming from this…

As we drive through these provinces, I’m beginning to realize how unique their farm is, and how southern Ontario is really very different than the rest of Canada.

So as we pass through Saskatchewan’s lakes and fields of wheat, listening to various professors and scientists around the world describing genetically modified food and chemically engineered food that will taste like meat as a solution to our problems, I’m becoming increasingly agitated. If sociology taught me anything, these band-aid solutions don’t and will not solve the problem.

So what do we do? I feel helpless. I’m going to a new city where I don’t know of any farmers or farmers markets. I don’t even know what’s available anywhere near my city. Should we become vegetarians? Can we afford to buy good, unaltered, safe food?

I don’t know….

We could check out CSA’s in our area. They are community shared/based agricultural programs that you can be a part of. Basically, from what I understand, you pay up front for a whole summer or half of a summer and every week you pick up a box of delicious, local, produce, but it’s different for every farm. Places like Circle Organic in Ontario will even email you recipes so you know of wonderful meals to cook with the amazing produce you just picked up! Check out the video Matt made about the farm here called How To Build Community.

As long as we’re open minded and making conscious decisions in the right direction, I think we’re off to a good start. Maybe Erin will hook me up with more info.

To learn more about the issues continue your education by watching the documentary Food Inc. It will probably blow your mind.

If you visit their website they seem to have ways you can get involved and much more insight than I provided. Read their ten simple things you can do if you feel lost like me.

We joked that once we crossed the border the landscape would just fall flat. We were right. Thank god we listened to our experienced friends and family when they said appreciate Ontario. As much as we needed to be out of the province for this experience to feel real, I do miss the rolling hills and ever changing scenery. Right now were travelling along Highway 1 or the Trans Canada Highway headed for Winnipeg. It really is one long straight away and the tree line has officially disappeared. The highway signage is different and the other drivers rarely signal to change lanes. At one point we thought it was raining. Looking around at strange people in the cars (Manitobans are all weird!) beside and ahead of us we realized that it had rained and the wet droplets continuously spraying the windshield was the spray up from the tires rushing through leftover puddles. All I can think is thank god we are headed to our hotel because all I want in life is a shower.

I am a grease monkey.

I think we’re dehydrated too because my skin itches like crazy.

Next stop, Winnipeg.

Our first night camping in Chutes Provincial Park and we were cold. Freezing cold. It didn’t help that our air mattress we had lovingly filled with air deflated by the time we got back from our walk to the waterfalls. Did I mention the ground was pretty hard and uncomfortable?

Here are some pretty pictures.

When the last silhouetted canoe passed by as the sun set we headed into our tent for a good nights rest. We’d been up since five thirty AM and driving for at least ten hours with little sleep from the night before so needless to say, we needed it. This time we were warm but there was a strange rustling outside our door. Of course the first thing that comes to mind is bear, than deer, than psychotic loaner biker neighbour man. Who would hear our screams?

In reality everyone would because although it’s pretty remote up here, our tent sites are very close together.

So I was pretty freaking scared at this point. It’s one of those half asleep moments where you know it’s the wind but you can’t stop picturing someones or somethings handpaw  feeling for the zipper and you can’t move because you’re freaking terrified so you just lay there and listen. Eventually Matt woke up too and we assured ourselves it was the wind as at this stage our rainfly door was violently thrashing against our tent.

I was still scared but Matt went out to try and lesson up the madness because there was no way we would be able to sleep. He was all smiles when he popped his head back in the tent. It was gorgeous outside. He was so enthralled by this scene he took a whizz by moonlight (away from our tent/living area). It was really nice for two in the morning and especially when you thought there was a wind storm or axe murderer after you. I even managed to take a few photos although I’m still learning the manual features of my camera.

I’m sure my tent neighbours thought I was insane if they happened to have been woken up by my rumbling in the van for things like a tripod. I apologize, but it was so cool! We ended up opening our rain fly, tying it back and securing the sides with rocks to prevent the wind from terrifying us again or loosing anymore sleep. It was actually totally peaceful after that and we fell asleep listening to the wind blowing through the trees and the waves of the lake crashing softly against the shore.