I'm back in PEI. This is Sunday and I was able to sleep in until 11:30am...which is really only 8:30am Alberta time. Last week was a whirlwind of activity.

Sunday I flew from PEI to Fort McMurray. I left in the evening and arrived around 11:30pm in good spirits. Considering it was 2:30am PEI time my good mood was a bit surprising. I had a great sleep and went to an interview at 11:30am on Monday. Spent until 3pm being interviewed and meeting staff. Everyone was wonderful and they seem like a great group of people. Flew to Calgary Monday evening.

Tuesday I had the pleasure of visiting with friends all day. My 9:30am coffee chat lasted until almost 12noon and if I hadn't already booked lunch plans for 12 I'm sure the chat would have lasted longer. It was one of those chats where you cover a variety of topics and just enjoy the conversation and where it takes you. Thanks K. The lunch was also wonderful...catching up with a former GV'er and chatting about India then and now. She 'gets me' and my career choices/decisions so it was nice to chat with someone about that as well. I headed back downtown after lunch and wandered for a bit...then I did something that still surprises me a bit...I got a battery for my watch. This may not seem like an extraordinary event but I haven't worn a watch since January 2005 so for me it was quite out of the ordinary. The afternoon ended with meeting up with another pal from Edmonton who gave me a lift to the airport--which is a HUGE thing considering the distance and he even hung out with me until my shuttle to Banff left. Thank J--hope to see you again soon. Then I boarded the shuttle to Banff and met up with my friend Kim who quickly shuttled me off to supper with 8 of her friends.

There was lots of laughter coming from our table and again the conversation flowed so well covering a number of topics. The only time we could be silenced was when the next course came out and we took the first few bites. I crashed shortly after supper and it was an early night for us.

Wednesday we hiked up Turtle Mountain. It was really nice and the views of Banff are terrific. I highly recommend it. It isn't a really difficult hike but it is a lot of vertical movement. In the afternoon we wandered around Banff proper and made a couple of purchases...a box of chocolates for my kitten sitter and some of my favorite tea. Then a trip to the local Cold Stone Creamery at the local Tim Hortons...OMG...it was SOOOO good. I must go again...soon. I had the cake batter ice cream with brownie, pecans and caramel in it...WOW. I was in love with each mouthful. It's an expensive treat but worth the price of admission. The evening ended with a trip to the hot springs..my first...finally! It was a great Banff day.

Thursday Kim and headed to Calgary where we did a wee bit of shopping and then off to a movie in the afternoon. Then the long road back to the airport. I hopped a flight back up to Fort McMurray. Another interview Friday morning and by noon I was free. I rented a car and spent the rest of the day driving around Fort McMurray looking for apartments. I viewed one and wasn't overly impressed with what I saw. The view was nice but it was on the small side and old. There are two types of places in Fort McMurray...old and new...this was old. Old means cheaper....so guess I will be looking at the new.

Yep, you probably read that right. I'm looking for an apartment in Fort McMurray! On Wednesday morning I received a verbal offer from the company I met with on Monday and I verbally accepted. When I arrived back from the interview Friday morning I had the actual offer in my in box. I am happy to accept it. I'll pass out the details later in the week...once they have the actual documents signed and sent in....but for now, yes, I have a new job in Fort McMurray and I will likely be starting on June 6. Whoo hooo!!!

It's 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon here in PEI...I work at the movie theatre in 45 minutes and should really get my act in gear.

Today, Monday...I am in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo...better known as Fort McMurray. I flew in last night for an interview and will fly to Calgary tonight. I'm excited and nervous. I'll be in Alberta all week. More updates later in the week...I'm hungry!

As usual this will all be a bit backwards and not necessarily in any order...but here it is...you may want to go to the bathroom first, grab a cup of coffee, etc it's a long post. The writing is taken directly from my journals and is not edited for content, spelling or sense. Anything appearing in [ ] square brackets is something I have added to the notes after the fact.

The notes start with the Friday before my trip..April 9th (I think)

Breakfast in Montreal.
Taxi. Wait. Doors open. Emerging from the interior of the plane that had cradled me to sleep for the past 1.5 hours. The horizon is a very deep pinky orange the kind of colours that point towards a sun filled day. Montreal is silhouted against the canvas of colour and the hill with the statue of Mary stands tall.

I make my way through the airport to Gate #1 it all looks very familiar. I sigh. It's good for my soul to travel. With 1.5 hours before my next flight I have time for a proper sit down breakfast. I enter the restaurant and the smell of ketchup accosts my nostrils. For some reason I find that odd.

Taxi. Wait. Doors emerging now at the Toronto airport and the recognition that I flew out of the gate I am arriving in when I went to India in 2008. That must be a good sign.

I stop at the Foreign money exchange giving up my precious Canadian dollars for Euros to spend in Paris. I contemplate taking a taxi from the airport this time--to see Paris from the ground. Much more expensive then the metro but one I may indulge in--for the experience. I will spend my other days emerging from the underground (in Paris).

In a flash my Euros in hand I head for the taxi stand and am off to my interview. The VP can't meet with me for a couple of hours and I settle in to do some work from what is still my day job. The interview passes in a blur and I'm not sure if I'm just tired or tired of interviews. This makes 4 for the week and I have another one tonight that is scheduled to start the minute the plane touches down. TIRED.

When the lunch interview is over I quickly move towards the airport. 'final boarding' meets me at the gate. BUT, I've made it and I know for certain I will be in Ch'town at end of day. [Which was a good thing considering all I had left to do before my trip.]

As I write this I'm sitting on a Beech--not a BEACH. It's a small aircraft 19 seats I think. 2 seats per row--every seat a window and an aisle seat. I've flown on a lot of these up North. They are cold, drafty, noisy and reliable. Tomorrow I leave for Paris and I can  hardly wait. I am looking forward to the break from work. Next time I decide to take on a Habitat trip I must have a steady job. [Last minute travel details and trying to interview, research, etc for interviews is not a good mix.]

***
(from memory). I got off the plane and called my 7pm interview to say give me 5 minutes to get home and we can start. I get home and open a bottle of wine. I pour a glass and take the call for the interview. She asks if I want a few minutes to grab a coffee. I smile to myself and say, 'I'm ok, I have a cup of tea brewing.' I enjoy the interview which might seem like an odd statement, but the conversation is good and I'm feeling relaxed. Which was the total opposite of my lunch time interrogation. I had time to reflect on the interview in Mississauga when flying back to PEI and it didn't feel like the right fit. The new boss reminded me too much of the old boss....out of the frying pan...into the fire.

It turns out I didn't need to worry about the opportunity. During my travels they emailed and said I didn't get the job. While it would have been great to stay in the Maritime's I was relieved to not be getting into a work environment that would certainly have eaten me alive.

***
Saturday...the day I was to leave for Paris/India.
I was up early and managed to get most of the things on my to do list done. What I didn't get done was a few of the things I had told my team members to do...get copies of passport, etc and leave copies of credit cards somewhere. LOL. Do as I say, not as I do. My sister, niece and nephew showed up early afternoon to take me to the airport. They showed great patience as I was still not able to leave. I needed a shower and a couple of last minute things to do before I could lock the door and leave the cats behind. I had a chat with them privately before I left...about behaving, not destroying the apartment, not getting us kicked out of the building and that they would be well taken care of. I also said I would be back. I don't think they fully understood.

***
(from notes in Paris) It's Monday just before noon. I'm eating at Chicken Corner. I saw it 5 years ago. It's handy. I'm hungry. I've just spent the better part of two hours wandering around a cemetery. The same one I found last time by accident--this time on purpose. It's fabulous--which may seem like an odd way to describe a cemetery. I'm in the Paris groove today. Yesterday was wretched. I spent the equivalent of 1 nights accommodation on a taxi ride to my hotel. I haven't had a tour of Paris and I thought it would be nice to see more of the city--I was wrong. Lesson learned. [The drive was around the outskirts of the city and most of the view was hidden behind tall concrete walls. The driver had no idea where he was going and kept looking at the small local map I printed from the hotel website and I wasn't in the mood to help him practice his English.]

I couldn't check in at the hotel so I changed into a t-shirt in the breakfast room and hit the street. I spent the better part of the next hour looking for a toilet and an open restaurant. I saw a great open market and some nice buildings but after lunch finally made my way back to the hotel--checked in and took a very long nap.

Cooking chicken at the open air market. mmm, smelled good.

You could buy almost anything here from bras to ribbons to food and more.

Olives by the bucket full.

When I woke it was to go look for a flea market--antiques--which disappointed as it was just a flea market. Oh well.  Everything was starting to close and I quickly headed to a market for cheese, meat, grapes, water and then to a bakery for a loaf of fresh bread (baguette). I sat on my bed in the hotel and feasted--then slept for 12 hours.

Today[Monday] is much better and I am finding my bearings. For breakfast I had a pain au chocolate and coke 'light'. Leave it to the French to take the high calorie croissant to the next level by putting chocolate inside and serving it for breakfast. It's afternoon now and I am simply wandering.

A short break in a nice park and I'm off to wander more. I just did something stupid. I popped my bag over my back going up the escalator out of the subway and except for a nice man who shouted I would have been the victim of a pick pocket. I generally keep the bag up front when people are near--they managed to get the zipper open. Rookie mistake on my part. What they didn't know was that my wallet was attached to the bag and they would only have managed to get my notebook--not my cash. I'm now sitting at the top of the Arc d'triumphe (sp?) the view is great in all directions. I just paid 9.50 euros for this view and the privilege of getting dizzy while walking up the steps. Worth the walk? Yep. I wandered down to the Eiffel tower, took a look at the crowd and said 'non'. It sounds a bit cras but--been there--done that. I may go some morning but I'm not concerned if I don't. [go up the tower for the view]

View from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Everyone was hamming it up for the cameras.

Some of the 284 stairs I climbed up and down during my visit...dizzy.

Ate a crepe with chocolate at the bridge covering the Sienne at the feet of the Eiffel Tower. It was good. More wandering and a stop for groceries and back to the hotel.
***
The most expensive thing in Paris--liquids. My tea is 4.20 euros [which is about $5.90 CDN] But if I have guessed correctly it is my favorite tea. It is. Not as strong as I would brew it...but my familiar smoky taste is there. I'm sipping tea, sitting in a cafe in Paris. Life is good. It's a bit chilly today enough that I have though of going back to get my coat--but haven't yet. [I did go and buy myself a scarf though and wrapped it around me for warmth. I had on bright pink sneakers, blue jeans, a soft green t-shirt, my travel backpack and a bright green scarf. I'm lucky I didn't get kicked out of Paris for having bad fashion sense.] There are a few hardy Parisians sitting outside today. They huddle together and whisper for warmth.

I've picked up a couple of small souvenirs for others and a trio of prints for myself. [I will later regret this decision--they are mass produced and I have shoppers regret even now.] Everything reminds me of India and I'm waiting to score in country. Scarves, fabric, spices. A few hours later and I'm at the Notre Dame Cathedral. The sun is finally out and I'm soaking it in. I'm not sure why I'm here--I didn't want the tour--I will just sit and relax. There are tons of people around including a group of kids wearing those glow in the dark safety vests.

A woman on the train had a gorgeous coat. It was a black trench coat but then there are sections of colour and these great buttons--different buttons in the same jewel tones on the coat. I want it. As she gets up and I see the back is different too. [I drew a sketch of the coat. Not that I will ever get this coat but I still remember and like it.]
****
[I'm playing with the kittens while re-typing my notes. They are having a wonderful time. I have windows open and they run and jump from one window to the next up and down the hall chasing their feather boa or just each other...ah, kittens....love 'em.]
***
[Tuesday in Paris] In some ways today was a bust. A couple of things I was looking for are either closed or were not all they were reported to be. As tomorrow--Wednesday is my last day in Paris I'm heading back to a friendly area with cobble stone streets and a very 'Parisian neighborhood' kind of feel. At the moment I am on the subway headed once again to the Eiffel tower. It will be dark in an hour and the lights are quite nice. I'm not a fan of being out at night in a strange city but I have my route mapped out and I feel confident. My feet are killing me. A lot of walking today and considering how flat Paris is--a lot of hills and stairs. Supper was what should now be known as--the usual. These people cater to singles [single people] lunch meat with 2 slices in a package. Yes!

The park I hung out in for a bit on my first day.

 The Cemetary map.

I'm early and the sun hasn't set yet. It's chilly again though this time I am wearing my coat and new scarf so I resemble a pumpkin. I will need a warm drink before this is over..or before it starts. There are other people around bundled, huddled and waiting. The hawkers are by every 30 seconds or so. They have ET's {Eiffel Towers] on round chains and jingle them as they walk. I passed a dozen or so enroute from the subway and from here on my cold bench I've said no to a dozen more. The first few lights are on but it is still too bright to see anything. I'm sitting at the bottom of the West pillar. The number of people is less than during the day but still a good crowd. The sun has dipped below the horizon-barely. My head is getting sore from shaking no. [to the hawkers/vendors who kept walking by offering me great deals] The military is on site. They are here during the day too. They do a lot of picture posing and the gaggle of girls at the next bench are whistling at them--which makes one of them strut more. It is comical. I'd move around if I thought I'd get my seat back--and the stone under my bottom is now warm. [so I stayed put]

It is as I remembered it--Paris. It is a beautiful city and every metro station I emerge from looks like Paris. I have avoided one section that has modern high rises. I have no need to visit so I will continue my old Paris tour and enjoy my last few hours as I try to mentally prepare myself for the next stage--leading the group in India. The employment situation for the most part has been forgotten and since I've only checked email once--Canada is forgotten.

***
Wednesday morning--I think.I know its Wednesday but I really do not know what time it is. At the moment I am sitting at the Sacuer d'coure (sp???)[Basilique du Sacré-Cœur] I went in a round about way to get here--3 trains--the 1st and 3rd belonging to the same line. Last nights metro trip was partially above ground and I had hoped for some photos. That didn't happen--but the view was just as good.

I'm walking up and down flights of stairs over cobble stoned streets and thru throngs of tourists but the views are worth it. I've bought a couple pieces of art and told myself no more--but indulged once again--a portrait of me. It's a water colour and I really like it. It was odd to sit out on an open street surrounded by tourist and to be staring off in one direction while this man stared at me and created art. People stopped to watch and I very much wanted to see how it was coming. There was a young boy beside me having a drawing done of himself he sat stiff and looked awkward--I quickly figured I must look the same. I was so very happy with the portrait I could have boarded a plane and flown home...trip complete. LOL.

It must be noon. I've starving but much warmer since I have been sitting in this church warming up. I've finally made it back to the bottom of the hill and found a place for lunch much to the delight of my stomach. I've opted for a Tex mex restaurant--the realization of no beef for the next two weeks has sent me craving a burger. It will be interesting to see what the French do to a hamburger. [I will quickly realize just how true that statement was.] I order the burger well done. With the purchase of the portrait today I'm almost out of cash. Lunch should empty my walled--no biggie, a trip to the debit machine and I'll be good to go, I was just hoping to avoid it...but I just had to have my portrait done. [I still do not regret this btw, and even as I sit here I am debating having it professionally framed ASAP.] The French are not concerned with carbs. The bread is SOOO good and everyone has some. You buy it fresh from the bakery every day and it comes in different lengths and you can get different flavours--last nights had olives in it. It was yummy. If you watch them [Parisians] closely sometimes you can catch them sneak a bite of the fresh loaf as they walk down the street. They buy sandwiches at the bakeries, sweets and of course bread. The bread is sold in a paper bag and generally shows out the top end. The prices and styles vary so I expect finding 'the' bakery for you is a process.

So...the burger. LOL. My mistake...should have read the menu better. I had ordered hashbrown patties instead of a bun. What I thought I had ordered was a burger with french fries on the burger. It was greasy and not worth the 12.50 euro I paid for it. Oh well...I'll get a crepe later to make up for it. Mmmmm, crepe. And now...hmmm, more wandering I guess and then to try and get to bed early--I have a 5am wake up call. UGH.

***
And that basically ends Paris. I wrote on the other blog about the am wake up call, etc....so the next installment will probably be on the other blog...with pictures and more text added to what I had already written.


That's enough for today. Between my laziness, sickness, waffles at my sisters and the general slowness of the computer it has taken all day to get this much done...more pictures at some point.

Hi! You might remember me...I used to post here. Well, I'm back in Canada and still alive and will resume posting in the next day or two. Lots of photos to share and lots of tales to tell.

Hi. I haven't forgotten you...I am sooooo busy. And not even busy getting ready for the trip--although today, Saturday I am finally doing that! My flight leaves at 5:30pm tonight!! Whoo hoo!

What have I been up to? Interviewing. I had an interview in Mississauga yesterday. I flew up early in the morning and back later that afternoon. It was a long, tiring day and I'm interviewed out. By the time my day ended I had done 5 interviews this week...5. I won't have an offer of a job from anyone before leaving on my trip but I am feeling optimistic that I will find something shortly after I arrive back from India. I have a whole post about the past few days but may not have time today to get to it...it's 12:30pm now and I started this note rather early this am...so it isn't looking good that you will get the full update on the past few days from me.

Thanks for all the well wishes and emails. I am very much looking forward to the trip and will do my best to leave the 'job thoughts' behind. Now I just need to focus on my trip and enjoying what Paris and Pondicherry bring me.

Monday again. The week/days are going so fast. I didn't get my laundry done on the weekend--yikes! I simply ran out of time on Sunday due to company. I had friends over for a tea party and it was delightful. Great to see my pals.

It's a busy week leading up to the start of my trip. I have supper at the folks tonight, I work Tuesday night, supper with co-workers on Wednesday, supper with Grammie on Thursday night and hopefully nothing on Friday cause I'm going to need to get my laundry done. LOL. Plus work during the day and of course some last  minute habitat things that I need to do before the trip. Oh the fun! Good thing I already have most of my travel clothes and things set aside. The only day that will be S-L-O-W is going to be Saturday. My flight isn't until 5:30pm so the day is likely going to move in slow motion.

The amount of prep I have put into Paris is so tiny as to not be significant. I even need to double check that I know where the hotel is and what subway stop to get off. All I want to do in Paris is wander around, take pictures and simply relax. No itinerary required. I can't wait. I'm so excited.

No news on the job front yet. Still working on all that. Yes, it would be great to stay on PEI but that is looking less and less likely. I think I came to accept that on the weekend. It's ok. I will try again in a few years. In the meantime wherever I end up there are sure to be more adventures and exciting things to see and do.

A nurse that I knew in Nunavut passed away on the weekend. She left behind many, many friends. It was sudden, but yet when I look back over the last year I don't think it was. In the last 12 months she and her husband took a grand vacation on the Queen Mary (I think) the royal, regal ship that goes from NYC to Europe. She visited her 'hometown' and made lots of other visits to old friends and old stomping grounds. She seemed to start doing more of things that she just wanted to do...a feisty lady to the end.

And now..I'm almost late for work--again. I never seem to have enough time in the morning. Ah.

April 1. April Fool's Day. No April Fool's jokes here...I'm not feeling clever enough to come up with any. I guess I could post that I'm moving to Alaska....but I tried that one on my mom Monday and it didn't work.  But wouldn't Alaska be neat?



Still no word back from the two interviews I had last month and well, I guess the outcome is pretty obvious at this moment. That's ok. Something will come along..right time, right place. It's just unfortunate that the timing is what it is. At the moment I would say I will have until end of May to find something before I am out of work. That is cutting it very tight with returning from over-seas.


I have two interviews yesterday. One for a job in Whitehorse which I will not be moving forward with. It had possibility but when she dropped the fact that there would be no relocation I'm afraid that is where I say no. The other position still has potential but is in Ft. McMurray. That isn't a no for me...it just means that I will need to leave the Island again.

I had hoped for another interview before I leave for India but I haven't heard back on it yet and there are only 5 working days left before I go...so it isn't looking good. Fingers crossed that I get a call and need to take a day off next week to interview for it.

Anyway...I leave next Saturday evening for Paris...and then on the following Thursday for India and am looking forward to both parts. I am very excited about the entire trip and still have so much to do with exchanging money and printing off information on my team to take with me...it will all get done. I only have two more shifts at the theatre before I go so that is also a good thing. Tonight is one and Tuesday night is the last one. I will be returning to them when I am back from India. I will have more free time when I return from India. My evenings have been filled with emails and interviews and research for the trip and it will lovely to have some of that time back.

Happy Friday.