As the world turns...

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 get enough participants by the second week of November.

Oh yeah, mark this day peeps: the 17th of March will be the day that I graduate!!! I will be officially handed my diploma and free to roam the globe! How's that?!

I was in Saltspring this weekend, visiting the apple festival and shooting photo's with Ron Watts, one of Canada's best photographers and an old friend I met while travelling. We had a great time. I got to see Saltspring, meet the community and his lovely wife Donna who does great art! We talked lots and I learned some new things, like how to work with HDR in photomatix. Here's gift for under the Christmas tree!!! Adobe Photomatix! Great program.

Also, I met some people who'll hire wwooffers. Eej?! Well, a wwoofer is a Willing Worker On Organic Farms. In exchange for about 4 hours of work each day on the property, you'll get free housing and food. A great means to look for a job in the area if I don't manage to find one before December. Also, there are some people looking for house sitters which might be an option as well.

Saltspring is pretty unique to my opinion. Not only is the community very close, warm and helpful. Everybody seems to join in to make sure the island is as natural as possible. Take Ron's house for example: he decomposes his own food and recycles of course. next to that, his water system is designed in such a way that he spends less than a dollar a day on water. He's now working with an architect to build a new home, even more environmental friendly that his studio now. Pretty cool. I guess the people on Saltspring have to be pretty self supporting. When snow comes in, power can be cut off for days with no possibilities to even take the car out of the drive way.

So, what alse did I do?

Well, I picked fruit growing by the side of the road with some friends. We managed to collect 8 kg! I went to a potluck where everybody brings her/his own dish which will be shared with the rest. I went climbing outdoors with one of my climbing buddies here. Guess I'll have enough to entertain me over here ;)

I can also tell about the eccentric people of Victoria. Now, you might think Holland has some weirdos, but check these guys out:

A woman with flowers braided through her hair and stitched on her clothes. She was riding a bike which was completely decorated with all kinds of flowers. I had a hard time looking for the steel frame of the bike.

The local Bum. He pushes his bike and cart through our neighbourhood every day, looking for empty cans or bottles he can deliver at the grocery store for some change. If that doesn't make you wonder, check the real deer skull on the back of his cart.

Another guy riding his bike through town. Hair messed up, jeans torn and he probably hadn't had a shower for weeks. The thing that made it really strange was the absence of his hands on the steering wheel as he risked life and limbs crossing the down town area with the speed of light. I guess he was too busy playing his guitar while doing it.

One day a fat guy in a blue shirt passed me by on his bike. He was covered in bird pooh! That might have had something to do with the Ara parrot hitching a ride on his shoulders.

So everything is fine, except for my health maybe. My massage therapist discovered my right hip was somewhat dislocated! Go figure! It probably has been like that for years, causing the frequent lower back pains I've been having. So, I went to the chiropractor who give a weeee bit of pressure and everything just cracked! Gruesome sound. The chiropractor was in shock. So we had a talk. I needed to get x-rayed before any further treatment (did that last friday). He's just weary hearing what kind of compliants I have and how my backed cracked like it did. Tuesday, I'll hear the results.

Hope you're all doing well. Come and visit me sometimes!!!
Cheers and love
Sandra

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Part of trip: Canada

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