Happy Turkey

It's thanksgiving weekend and we are both feeling fairly home-sick; We miss you all like crazy.

Living here a Strathcona we have fallen into an interesting community of people that act as a sort of stand in family since we all are kilometers, provinces and even countries away from those we love. I have to say, it is one of the most incredible communities to be apart of; there is a mind-set of self sufficiency here - in their own way everyone has something to contribute to an off the grid, do-it-yourself way of living. There is also an amazing diversity of people coming from all types of backgrounds and experience. Finally, there is the common tread of love for nature and outdoor sports that connects us all.

Strathcona as a organization runs mostly off-the-grid as we said in early posts, but its really the people within the organization that show the true nature of self-proficiency. Every day I am amazed but the amount and diversity of knowledge that is available here; There are people who are making their own bow and arrows, well practiced at tracking animals (there was two people that even had their group of students track and find a small herd of elk as part of a "survival skills" weekend), and then smoke the meat and work the hides of the animals they kill. There are people canning and preserving the fruit they pick off of the trees on-site (all done outdoors on portable propane burners). There is wood being milled on-site from trees stolen from logging sites or fallen selectively from the forests around the lodge and building being made from them. On the weekends it is not uncommon to find groups of people together knitting, working on hand-made looms and doing crochet (there is probably more toques then people kickin' around). On upper property there is a massive garden with everything from turnips and green beans to quinoa is planted and have cared for all summer by staff (there are gardens that are grown just for use by the lodge as well). The list of skills and knowledge goes on and on - its truly amazing how much there is to learn just from the people around us. Its so compelling being part of a place that could stake it out on it own if need be.

The diversity of people here adds so much character (and a lot of entertainment) to the lodge. There are Germans, English, French and French Canadian, Kiwi's, Aussies, a half dozen languages able to be spoken and lots of world travelers. The East coasters are quite the group of people to hang out with; they certainly know how to party and can be overheard yabbering nearly uncomperhensively about lobster fishing and making screech; I learnt that "Git cho' marble out o' cho' mouth, boay" [get your marbles out of your mouth, boy] means "stop swearing", various entertaining swears in french, and "havin' a time" is an appropriate response when someone asks you how you are. I also found out that things I say like, "give'er" (as in we will really have to give'er to get there in time) give me away as an Albertan. Go figure.

As far as proficiency in outdoor sports there is so much skill and talent here. Most people are strong in the water sports - kayaking, canoeing, and even some people that can sail. However there are still a lot of people that are strong in the mountain sports- climbing, hiking, ski/snowboarding. No matter what you love to do above all, everyone just loves to be in nature and to find that intimacy with it through the sports we do. This is a community of people that gather around bugs and get excited about rainbows and thunderstorms- It is so wonderful.

So know, as much as we are missing our friends and family back at home, we are learning so much and are surrounded by a great community of people. We are in a great place. Happy Turkey, and we are looking forward to seeing you again soon.