The Secrets of Mt. Estekwalan

This weekend I went on a walk...

I had seen this mountain on my drive from Kelowna to Kamloops, back in March. It the big mountain to the right of the highway as you drive through Falkland.

After two completely separate events of me seeing the mountain, and a month later hearing about a website with areas for hiking in the area, I unintentionally came across a trail for the mountain!

On my way up the hill, I met a goat. He told me he was the Goat King. He knew the ways of the mountain, and offered to show me around.

He took me to spring upon which hundreds of wildflowers grew.

We travelled higher and some impressive views started to appear...

He took me through the forest to some volcanic rock formations.

Just around the corner to the top of a ledge...

Arose a marvelous view the country side! (This is the Paxton Valley and the Chase-Falkland Connector Road which travels through it).

The Goat King introduced me to interesting people, telling me that some people hike up the mountain just for something to do on a Saturday afternoon!

He tried to take a picture of me, but I am a little taller than he is...

We had to ask the other people to take my picture, looking towards Falkland, and Vernon in the distance.

What a view from the top!

The Goat King showed me some of his favourite flowers upon his favourite ledge.

And that was that! I had an amazing day exploring new areas, making new friends, and spending time with old friends, while experiencing some beautiful weather and great views!

It's all about what you do with your time...

Hi All!
Here is a little photo update from the previous month! It is amazing that as of 3 days ago, I have already been back in the country for 2 months!
As far as settling in goes, I would say that I am quite settled. But yet, life keeps changing. Maybe that is not part of settling in, but just a part of life. Now that I typed that, I seems way too obvious.
One of the bigger challenges that I am facing right now is work, or a lack of it. I haven't found a job yet, and it sometimes get really stressful! But then things happen, where I know God is providing and taking care of me, even in this situation.
An upside to not having to work, has been being able to reconnect with so many people, volunteer here and there, and then enjoy that super beautiful spring that we have had in Kamloops for almost a month (right up to these last two days... which have been a little chillier than I had grown accustomed to).
So here is a compilation of the past weeks, in pictures:

The opportunity to reunite with high-school friends!

The opportunity to hike in the sunny spring weather.

The opportunity to hang out with new friends!

The opportunity to visit with old friends!

The opportunity to celebrate a good friend's wedding!

The opportunity to travel with an Austrian!

The opportunity to visit family!

The opportunity to laugh with loved ones.

The opportunity to enjoy creation with family from all over the world!

The opportunity to have friends from far away stop in town!

There are so many opportunities to enjoy that wouldn't have happened or taken place if I was working!

So I am on a mission to enjoy the time that I have while I am not busy, because I know it will come soon!

Random Pictures and Stories...

HI

As I was writing the last post, I had mentioned that I had been writing another post, but instead got rid of that and ended up writing NOT what I had originally intended to write about. So, to finish that last post, I wanted to now post the photos that I had wanted to post. This post is now a random collection of photos from through out the past week. Especially the last one. Here they are!


Part 1:
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to take part in the Indian Festival of Colours. There are several stories that make up the history of this tradition, stemming from religion to a celebration of the season to just fun!
For me it was a really cool chance to celebrate and take part in this cultural experience. We danced, threw colours at each other, and then danced some more!
Here is more to the story, if you wanted to read up on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi

Part 2:
The Bachlorette and Wedding Shower!
Another reason to celebrate, the upcoming marriage of a really good friend! What fun we had dressing up as Bride's Maids and going to a semi-fancy restaurant to eat. Not to mention hitting up Wal-Mart after! At the restaurant, we were even placed at the table that was right in the centre as customers walked into the place... oh dear. The next day was much more relaxed, as it was the Wedding shower. That was a neat chance to talk with ladies and hear more experienced thoughts of marriage. So great to hear them pray for and bless my bride-to-be-friend too!

Oh yes. Wal-Mart.

The Wedding Shower.

 Part 3:
Lesson from inexperienced, independent student, attempting to live on her own:
Never open a container of  'charged' whipped-cream, even if it is believed to NOT have pressure inside.

A time for everything...

Hello,

I was going to write a nice cheery blog about all of these parties that I have been to in the past two days, but then I got news of the passing of two people today. One of these people I have known since I was born. And though I don't know him so well, he has been a family friend for a very long time. At this time last year, he was told he had 4 weeks to live because of severe lung cancer. Instead he lived for a whole year, even regaining the ability to continue biking again (his passion).  He recently went back to his native Austria and there he passed away. 

The second person. I have never met. But she is the mother of a very dear friend. I met this friend in Spain two years ago, and we had so many good times together. Shortly after coming home from Spain her mother was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that causes the body to slowly stop functioning, and eventually can't support itself. This afternoon I heard that she passed away.

My heart goes out to both of these families... to the daughter and sons and the husband and wife who both remain. 

Life is full of contrasts. Literally, I had already begun to write the post I intended to put online, here was the opening line, "Well, life has been pretty fun these past few days! Such happiness there is, in celebrating good things, and having some good fun with good people!"

Ironic, isn't it? Sobering and humbling. 

Life is full of lessons, and uncertainties... 

So, I will leave off with an excerpt of verses from Ecclesiastes (a book of contrasts at it's best!)

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 

A time to be born, a time to die.

A time to plant, a time to harvest.

A time to kill, and a time to heal.

A time to cry and a time to laugh

A time to cry and a time to laugh,

A time to grieve and a time to dance."

             - Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

life is BEAUTIFUL

3 weeks in...

Hello again,
As I promised in my last blog update, I would continue posting here even when I was home, so....

It's official, today I have been home already for 3 weeks! In a way, that makes me sad. But considering how quickly that time passed, I must be pretty busy!
In the last post, I had also promised to tell about moving... Now that is a big job!
The day after arriving home (even after getting home at 3:30am), I was quick to start unpacking all of my stuff because I wanted to get settled in as soon as possible. Well, I just became exhausted after that, and I guess there is STILL stuff that I am organizing, 3 weeks later! It is definitely a lot of work moving stuff around to just how I like it, organizing myself in the city (doing things like changing my address and mailing address- just to name a few things), and then seeing people! There is a lot to catch up on when one hasn't seen a friend for 6 months. I still feel like there are a lot of people I need to meet and catch up with, but it is really great to see them all. I guess, I can be thankful I don't have a job yet, so that I have time to see people! Though, I have tried (a little...) to get a job. I've handed out THREE resumes! But I think it needs more than that. You would think that between not having a job and living on my own, I would have the time to get everything that I want to done. It hasn't happened yet. But I guess I could always have a long list of things to do. I've actually been feeling in the past days that I need to intentionally set time aside to be quiet.
Well, that's one good thing about living alone, it's always quiet here!
Yes, sometimes I do feel lonely in this living situation, but it definitely already challenging me to rely more and more God and be comfortable with his presence and his presence alone.

Another good thing:
I have been a lot of places on my own lately (for example, sitting in church before the service starts) and it is so neat how many people I have met! Rather than sitting with a sister, I am free to talk with others, or they start conversations with me. Even in Tim Hortons, when I stand in line and I am on my own, I've had many more conversations with strangers. It is very cool!

I sure hope that these stories don't get boring because I'm not travelling anymore.
I think I can usually find something pretty interesting (at least for me it is!) to write about!

Gute nacht!
Christi

BOXES

and more BOXES!

Auf Wiedersehen...

Hi Everyone!

Here is a post, at long last.
Where to start.. I have been sitting here for the past few days, having Planet Earth episodes play in the background while sorting through pictures. That has been a big task! But I am also thankful that I again have a computer to be able to write blog posts and sort pictures. So to fill you all in...
I have been home for the past 2 weeks and 3 days. These past weeks have gone by incredibly fast because I have been so busy seeing people and organizing life back in Canada and settling in, in general. But more to come on that in the next days.
During my last few weeks in Austria... I was not in Austria. Like I had said, I went travelling to Poland and England. These were both great experiences. In truth, I would not have gone to Poland if I had not met so many wonderful people from Poland while in Innsbruck. But I was invited to their homes, so I took advantage of it! I definitely came away from Poland with a new appreciation for the country. All of the people that I met were so hospitable and ready to share their country with me! I got the chance to go to a museum called, "The Uprising Museum". This showcased Poland's struggles during WWII and during Communism to stay patriotic, while being forced to support those who were in control at the two different times. It gave a really good and valuable insight to what the people had to deal with, and why they really want to welcome people into their country now and show the world what people they really. I am really glad that I did go to Poland!
After that, I attempted to get to England and visit my good friend Amy. In saying attempted, I mean that I missed my flight there all because of one little stamp. Oh golly.... what and adventure. Have you ever gone through the same security and customs gates 4 times in one day?! They are only meant to be passed through ONCE!
But eventually I did get there, and I am so glad that I did (I had nearly contemplated not going!). My purpose in England was to visit my friend and hang out for a few days! That we did, and cooked many good meals and enjoyed each other's company. As one touristy thing, we went to see the birth town of Shakespeare. That was a nice peaceful town, which I am sure it is the opposite of in summer when all the tourists arrive! We enjoyed the day strolling around and taking pictures. While in England I also met a lot of great people from within my friend's church. It is a great town and I can see what draws her and other people to that church!
After my travelling was done, I flew back to Innsbruck where I spent my final night with Sophi and many others! Wow- what a blessing it was to be surrounded by so many people who meant so much to me. It really is amazing how God can work and bring so many people into your life. I was then reading one of my first blog posts and thought back to my first night in Innsbruck...
The next day I was PRIVILEGED to show Sophi around Innsbruck, and all the places I had been hanging out in for the past 5 months! I then spent the night at her hotel and we spent the next day (our last day together in Austria!) paragliding! It was Sophi's idea! But we had been planning it for a long time and praying for good weather. We got more that good weather- it was a beautifully sunny day, gorgeous!
And then I continued on my journey home, with a night's stop over in Linz, at my friend, Bella's house. I was invited to her birthday party, which happened to be on the same night, and the next day she showed me her city! I had to see as much of Austria as I could in the little time I had left, obviously!

I then spent the next few days in NiederOesterreich with my family, from both sides. (I also got a visit from my friend Jennifer. We spent 2 nights in Vienna together!). I made sure to visit everyone again, for the last time. Everyone asked when I would be back again, and it got me thinking. Hopefully when I finally finish my degree (in 3-4 years), but who knows what may happen?
It was really hard to leave all of the friends and family I had gotten close to. Especially some family that I have never had that strong of a relationships with before in my life! It was such a special time, and I don't know when I will be back, or what situation may bring me back.

As I have been back in Kamloops, many people have asked what the best part of the trip was. How can one easily answer that question? There were so many things, including the friends that I made, the church that I was able to be a part of, and the relationships with family members that I was able to build.
Oh yes, who could forget the courses that I took (and actually learned a lot from), the extra travelling that I was able to do, and the cultures that I learned of.

Here is a glimpse of my travels!

First stop: Bielsko Biala with my friend from Innsbruck, Rafal

Next: Krakow (With my travel partner and Finnish friend, Aliisa. We shown around the city for free by Rafal's friend, Franko).

Poland

The Canadian Embassy in Warsaw!

Warsaw's Old City (which is very small due to so much damage from WWII)

Those tough British woman! While I sat on the sidelines with layers of jackets, scarves and mitts, they stripped to their skirts and played 'hockey'!

Shakespeare's home in Stratford-Upon-Avon

Amy and I

Sophi in Innsbruck!

Paragliding! (I suited up identical to Sophi when she was done her flight)

Schladming from above.

Braving the winds of Vienna to climb the tower of the Cathedral (Stephensdom) with Jennifer

Vienna

Schonbrunn (Vienna)

Anne (my cousin) and I in front of Schonbrunn

Goodbye AUSTRIA

Auf Wiedersehen!

(Almost forgot) Valentine's Day!

Hello!
Today was my last FULL day in Innsbruck! Which means that tomorrow I will be leaving for my two weeks of travels! I will be in Austria for one, staying with my grandmother who is so kindly hosting my friend and I. Then we are continuing northeast to Poland, where we'll be staying for one night in Bielso-Biala with a friend from Innsbruck. The next day we continue to Warsaw and stay another 4 night with my other friend who I met in Innsbruck. THEN after that, my travel partner flies home to Finland and I'll be flying to England for 6 days to visit my dear Canadian friend, Amy! I am very excited for my travels, but at the same time it makes me look more forward to being home and not living out of a suitcase. But, I am certain that my travelling will be fun, and I am so excited for whatever adventures God may have in store for me and my friends.
I just ask you to pray for safety for wisdom for us as we travel. I always get a little nervous before setting out on one of these journeys and to a new country that I have never travelled through.
Love you all, and may God bless you today!
Christi

P.S.
And how could I forget? HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
I did nearly forget because it is not huge here in Austria, like it is in Canada. But it is a good day to think about and be thankful for those we love!

P.P.S.
I will be returning to Innsbruck for one more night, at the end of my travels, just not a full day! But it's not quite goodbye Innsbruck just yet...

 We had a lovely walk in the falling snow- look at those blue eyes of Finland, America and Canada!

And Thursday morning was my last 'full' day in Innsbruck. What a sunrise!

 And what a beautiful day! Doesn't this look a little bit like lego?

And to top it all off, a gorgeous sunset!