Desperados

For some reason when people find out that your a part of CWY they want to give you things.

Today a friend of my host family gave us a dozen Tequila Infused beers.

Awesome!

Pow Wowza

I just got home from the Hobbema reserve and holy moly it was neato! In the center of the room there was a HUGE pile of food. Everyone was instructed to bring a container and fork to eat, and a bag for all the extra food so nothing went to eat. Three elders, and 10 or so servers sat in a circle around the food. A peace pipe was lit and passed clockwise around the circle. everyone had a puff and smudged. The food was passed out (always clockwise, starting from the east) untill all was gone. once it was blessed everyone began to eat. Once the food was gone a group of 10 sat in the middle of the room and sang and played drums. this lasted for about a minute, and after a minutes break they would start again. Everytime the music started a dance circle would form.

We were told that often a powwow goes on untill early the next morning.

Overdue Update

It's been a while since I've updated blog...

This past week my host family took my counter part and I to the mountains! We stayed in a place called the Rocky Mountain Ski Chalet outide of Banff in Canmore. We traveled to a bunch of places and saw a zillion(wow!) waterfalls.

We hiked a for an afternoon at a place called Johnson's Canyon. The trail followed along side a stream that has eroded a nice deep canyon complete with water falls, and pools filled with bright blue water! Neato!

We also went to Lake Louise. One of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. I'll have you note me in the water. I'll also have you note the glacier on the top of the mountain melting, being the sole source of water in Lake Louise...

Also I finally have a job! Hurray! 2 days a week, for 6 hours or so.... life is hard.

In the mornings I work at the soup kitchen, and in the afternoon I work at the Salvation Army thrift store! The hardest part about work is NOT taking home junk. When I'm bored I tend to waste money.. and at 1/2 price for volunteers... and the most expensive thing in the store being around 5 bucks.... meh we'll see how things go.

Since my current family is leaving for a month to travel the world Simon and I get a new host family, which we met last night. They seem like very nice people...but the most important thing is that they also have a hot tub...and ALSO make thier own wine!! Yay!!

Anyway, I'm off to Hobbema the near by Cree indian reserve for a pow wow. Food,dancing, peace pipe, sweat lodge, and all that jazz.

- Squating Dog

Yummy yummy cake for Simon

I made a birthday cake for Simon today!

Hurray for Cake!

OOL SETS 3.0

After a long hard morning doing what ever it is that we do, the stress had built up and the only solution was to buy slushies and add a little something extra...

On another note I pass this advertisment every day on my travels...

Tomorrow me and an African get to go to the market and beg strangers for a host family that we can live with for the next 2 1/2 months! Wish us luck!

Lazy Sunday

I earned this sweet ribbon for participating in the Terry Fox run this morning.

I also invested a smooth 50 cents in a sticker machine and got this witty bumper sticker...

A true Canadian eh?

Today I manged to hit up the two thrift shops in Wetaskiwin, and managed to buy a real Canadain accessory to show the Africans.

This bad boy cost me a buck at the "Salvation Army blow out sale."

I've yet to take it off, which is sad because it smells like it's been in someones basment for the last 10 years...

Sweet Ride

So this will be my mode of transportation for the next three months. She's not the cutest chick in town, but she has big tires for the snow and a rack in the back for what ever I need to take home...

Bonus!

Sometimes knowing the right person helps...

Our host family took us to a gym where they thought they could get us a group rate at yoga, or rock climbing, but all we got were $50 worth of boston Pizza cupons. Aparently the owner of the gym also owns the local BP.

Wow $50.. thats almost enough for an app and a drink at BP!

A long hard day...

Life in Wetaskiwin is hard...
Between sleeping in and teaching my counterpart Simon to ride a bike I managed to squeeze in some time for the bare escentuals...

Wine cellar

Living room hot tub

Simon from Kenya

Chadwick enjoying some homemade vinho

I will try and keep this blog updated with my future struggles.

The best money can buy!

Now that I have bought a pair of Birkenstocks I basicly sleep in them....