RickGailBerry

Aquas Caliente is the small town from which you get to the mountain city of Macchu Piccu. We had no idea what to expect from it except that accommodations were either backpacker or quite fancy (we chose the first option). When the train pulled in, after the lovely ride with Peru Rail from Ollantaytambo, it was a shock to your senses. Banff in the summer - times 10. Tourists, restaurants haranguing you to eat at their place, massage ladies waiting to relieve your tired body after your grueling day - souvenirs, markets, whew! One good thing is no cars - only buses. Plus the incredible location in the mountains. Finally found our hostel and were handed a roll of toilet paper and small soap upon check in. Small, moldy smelling room. The good thing was that ... read more

It's hard to believe that we have only been in this beautiful country of Peru for only a week. It took us a long time to get here (boring details) but left Canada on April 4 and arrived in Arequipa on April 6. Not an impressive start and the taxi driver asking for directions 3 times, but worth it when we finally got to our lovely B&B hostel. It is not in the busy historical centre where all the backpacker hostels are, but a quiet neighbourhood, close enough to walk (like 3 times a day!) to the centre. The hostel is the home of the owner and they were so kind to us. First day, we went to the main square to catch a free walking tour, but in fact were in the wrong square, so ... read more

Months slide into weeks, weeks fly into days and days zip by – before you know it, our time in Jinshitan is over and the end is here! Such mixed feelings- it is hard to put into words how we feel about leaving this fabulous community that has been home for three years. Today, Sunday July 1 is not only Canada Day, and our first day of summer holiday, but also the first official day of retirement for both of us. Although we are having a lovely time as at a 5 star hotel in Dalian, both Rick and I are pretty nervous about that and already wondering what and where our next jobs and adventures will be. Everything seems like limbo right now, but things will sort themselves out and we are both looking forward ... read more

Heading into the month of November, we are thinking of snow, wind, long underwear and heavy coats. Oh for the bliss of first year when we didn’t know what faced us in winter! But, compared to current temperatures of places that the people we love, we are in a heat wave in the low teens. Blizzards in the Maritimes, frigid temperatures in Peace River and skiing in Whistler makes us grateful for the prolonged fall that we seem to be having. On top of that, there is actually heat in the apartments! Heat is a relative thing though; with no control over thermostats, we take what they give us and have our own heaters going most of the day and night. Geoff’s place on the girl's campus seems to be nice and toasty without heaters still. ... read more

Our second year in China is quickly coming to a close- time has just flown and when we see friends and colleagues packing boxes and crates, we have mixed feelings. With the education system cutbacks in both BC and AB, not much chance of working there; so we might as well take advantage of the opportunities here. Therefore, as most of you know, we have signed another contract, with different positions in the school. It will be a real challenge for both of us and neither of us will in the classroom - Rick as vice principal and me 2nd in charge of the ESL. But Jim and Carrie, Peter and Dianne, Linda and Lynn - we will miss you so much - our potlucks, singing, going out for dinner, card playing group! It won't be ... read more