out and about

hey all,

so this past weekend was a much needed rest for myself and Beck. i didn't wake up until 1:30pm on Saturday! yes, i was tired after my first week of work and having just moved to a new city. thankfully, our weekend was extremely laid back, and we found ourselves in them more "cultural" of Calgary in the Kensington Area.

so, i finally was able to take a couple photos of the Seed to show you where i am working. but, i didn't take as many or as good of shots as i would have liked to because we had some guests outside of our buildings, and i didn't want them to think i was taking pictures of them and feel threatened in anyway. but this building is known as the Creative Centre (R). This is where we have employment services, educational services (like upgrading, or getting your grade 12 equivalency, or even painting!). this other building is our guests services building, also known as Street Level (L). this is where the main activities of the Seed actually take place. as you can see, there are many levels, and they all consist of a few industrial size kitchens, eating area, sleeping area, two transitional housing levels (male and female), The Seed Store where guests can come and pick out a new outfit for free, showers, and a whole lot more stuff. aand, the building that i work in..well, isn't posted because it's just like any other building.

work is going well. this week, im spending most of my days researching organizations who will fund two educational programs that the Seed offers to our guests...the GED program and Storefront, which is an intro to university level humanities classes. it's really neat because profs from local colleges and even retired profs come and teach the students! i've read a couple stories already about how life changing these programs are because it just boosts one's self confidence. i am, however, wishing i was able to interact more with our guests. but i don't think i'll be able to do that on work time...so we'll see how i can squeeze that in cos im usually exhausted at the end of the day. the other day i was sent out to put out some posters about the Stampede BBQ that the Seed is hosting, and i was able to chat with some of our guests in the parking lot for a bit...interacting with them just reminds me that the office stuff that i do really is worthwhile.

interesting observations:

- i've seen someone display a Vancouver Canucks jersey, shirt, banner at least once every three days...so im not totally surrounded by Flame-rs

- the weather here is really really frustrating because it goes from crazy hot to crazy cold in an hour..makes dressing yourself very difficult!

- people don't line up to get into a bus...or at least that's what i've seen everytime at this one station, Whitehorn Station, and the bus stop infront of my house....they just lump together, and all "fight" to get in when the doors open. i stay back and wonder "if we all just stood in a line...we'd get into the bus waaaaay faster!"

oh yes, Beck and i are moving to a friend's apartment this weekened, so that will be my more permanent housing during the rest of my time in Calgary...and it's much closer to work...so that's good.

last nite, a few people who are also summer students like myself went to a lounge called the Beat Niq to catch Vancouver's The October Trio. it was a great show, and some good times were had.

much love,

dL