The air is cold --- maybe 2 degrees Celsius --- and there’s a soft breeze. The waves in the bay of Cuverville Island --- located in the Antarctic Errera Channel --- bobble gently against the yellow fibreglass of my kayak. The ocean has a midnight blue colour, turning to steel closer to shore. The scene is framed with snow-capped mountains--- to the west the 3800 feet high Rongé Mountain and to the east the 4900 feet Arctowski Peninsula --- and huge glaciers that range from pure white high above me to azure- and denim blue where the ice abruptly ends. Along [View Full Entry]

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With the rain pouring down (35 mm a day!) and a set sun, what's a gal supposed to do but go for 50 min. jog along the harbour after being cooped up inside the house the whole day? About 30 min. into the run, the thus far relentless pour of rain seemed to easy off just a little, inspiring some dog owners to come out of their shelter and let their four-footed friends out for a run. I was fixated on the sound of my shoes splashing in the puddles when I spotted a head wading through the water in the [View Full Entry]

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Hi everybody, Here are some more stories from the far West. Things have been looking up. My lower back seems to have healed somewhat with a decrease in pain flares and general uncomfortableness (wow, what a word!). Of course, it took me some opium-based pain killers and a period of withdrawal to get there... but, oh well . I got back my MRI results in the mean time. Amazingly, they show nothing! So, the question remains... What the hell is causing me to have such pains? What's causing the weakness in my legs, the loss of sensation and control over my [View Full Entry]

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Hi Guys, Good to hear from you all (???) Anyway, thought I'd write another blog and tell the tales of Canada. Let's start at my study, which will soon come to an end. Only 7 more days to go. Then, I'm done collecting data and it's time to analyze all the answers. A daunting task, and even though I'm curious, I'm not really looking forward to processing it all. I fear the maze of statistics, the feeling of being overwhelmed with numbers, alpha's, correlations and the 1000 different buttons that make up the SPSS statistical program. If you don't hear anything [View Full Entry]

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Hi everyb! Howz Holland? How has the outdoor climbing, sea kayaking, watching the seals, otters, bald eagles and deer been? Oh wait, Im confused. Thats not in Holland! Thats here! :P Well, had my first Thanksgiving. Tried the pumpkin pie, cheese cake and vegetarian turkey. All good, I can tell ya. Although Thanksgiving here isn as big of a deal as it is in the States. I went to my professors place and had dinner with him, his wife and daughter and most of the other grad students. It was fun, cozy and easy going. Good times. Well, what else? Went [View Full Entry]

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And the days sweep by... I know I haven't been keeping up with this blog... My sincere apologies. So what have I been up to? Well, my study is finally up and running and I had my very first participants this morning! It was quite a hassle to get where I was going.. I mean, I have to apply to post documents online, I have to apply for approval, I have to apply to apply... Just a whole world of bureaucratic rules and policies that seem to have bypassed their goal. Oh well. All is fine now. I just hope to [View Full Entry]

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Well Hi Everybody! Made it back safe and sound from Seattle, USA. It was quite the trip, I can tell. It all started at customs... You should have seen the look on the face of the customs officer. Can´t really blame him though, I gave all the right answers: C: Purpose of your visit? S: I'm seeing a friend. C: And what do you know him of? S: Facebook. C: Have you have met him? S: No. C: Do you know where he lives? S: No. C: Have you ever been to America? S: No. C: Sooo, you're going to a [View Full Entry]

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Hi Peeps, Well, the chevy has made it to the car graveyard I'm afraid. I received an email from ICBC. They reviewed the case and thought the rear axe might be damaged as well, leading them to decide it was best I handed the car in as soon as possible. Although I tried to be brave about, I was a bit relieved to have an excuse to get rid of the car. It´s not a good feeling to drive around, praying your won´t die within the next five minutes. So, I drove it to the claim centre and said goodbye to [View Full Entry]

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Hi everybody, Quickly check out all the pictures that made the final cut and deserved a place on www.sphotos.nl. Check under 'Canada' to see all the amazing shots taken on our travels. If anyone is interested in my whereabouts in Canada, this is my address: Sandra Lucas 720 Catherine street Victoria BC V9A3T8 Canada Feel free to send me all the peanut butter you can! Hugs and kisses, San [View Full Entry]

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Dear Diary, Just a quick note. Today, I visited the University of Victoria for the first time. It really is a small village on its own. Small but cozy. We have our own cinema, drug market, super market, dentist, chiropractor, book store, library, computer shop, café's and restaurants, taxi terminals and bus station, not to mention two churches. It's Uvic Ville with 20.000 new residents each year and over 5000 staff members. I finally got to meet my professor and the other students I'll be working with; a group of 7 young women ranging from fresh years to people finishing their [View Full Entry]

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