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Published: August 20th 2008
It has been a hectic couple months since leaving the Liberty. I left yearning to just relax and enjoy being home. It's been good, but it certainly hasn't been restful.
Only a few days after getting back to Canada, I took off again, though I at least stayed within the borders. I was back on a bus, tour guiding. I spent one week in Quebec City, then another in Ottawa. Those tours seem so long ago now. It was hectic, it was tiring, but I loved it. I love being up at the front of the bus, leading the pack through the city streets, gathering them around me to tell stories. One day, while in Quebec City, I'd just finished leading the group in a re-enactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. A student walked along beside me and she said, "I'm having so much fun! You know, Jeanette, I thought this trip was going to be fun, but I thought there was going to be lots of boring stuff too. But there isn't. It's all fun. And I think that's because of you." I thanked her and then just thought to myself, "Wow. I've still got it."
Amongst all the work that is a part of touring, I got to see friends from the company whom I hadn't seen in months, or even a year. And I made a point of having little moments to myself in the cities that I love: shopped in Simons (the best department store in Quebec), had late-night poutine, savoured maple butter on homemade bread out along the Beaupre Coast, stood behind the Parliament Buildings and looked down on the Ottawa River, strolled along the Dufferin Terrace.
During the days between tours, I stayed in Toronto with a kind and generous friend. Back to couch-surfing! Squeezed in dinners and lunches with various friends in the city. Wished I had time for more visits.
Then I rushed back home and was off to camp. My 14th summer at Centauri, I spent the entire summer as an arts program director. I taught dance, musical theatre, musical theatre dance, then theatre over the four sessions. I'm really proud of the work I did with the campers in my programs this year. I learned just how much I can push my students, how they like the challenge and what incredible work they can
do. What was especially exciting for me though, was that I didn't just feel like a teacher, I felt like an artist again. I taught my campers skills and things about the arts, but I also created artistic work with them that I'm really proud of and excited about. I feel like I grew as a director and a choreographer. I remembered that I have talent and skills and knowledge and it feels so good and fulfilling to put that to use. And I need to figure out how to do that more.
And now? Surely I'm not updating my blog just to write about what I'm doing at home . . .
While I'd sworn that I'd get to the end of camp and just collapse, relax, you know, not work for more than a couple days between contracts, I'm about to take off again. This Saturday, I'll be signing onto another ship. This time, the Carnival Glory. I've been asked to fill in for 4 weeks to allow another director to get a proper vacation break. Six month contracts are major commitments, that I'm just not ready for having not yet relaxed from the last. But
four weeks will be lovely. I'll work and when I'm not, I just want to enjoy time to myself - reading in the cabin, watching DVDs, going to the gym - the sort of simple things I haven't had time for. And of course, there will be great ports I'll be visiting where I'll swim, dive, lie on the beach and maybe find some adventures awaiting.
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swills82
Sarah Willett
LOVE the pictures!
I'll have to steal them from you at some point. Will you be posting on Facebook? I quite enjoy them. Oh the shark. My Aunt will be so happy that we put it to good use. Good luck this next month Aunt Nettah! Be sure to send me your work e-mail (yes, I forget it already), as I'm sure I'll have TONS of questions for you in the next week or two! Happy Sailing!