Lifelong Learner

And we're back in business! My laptop turns on, though the battery is completely dead, thus the cord has now been duct taped to the computer so that I don't lose absolutely everything I'm doing every time I shift position in my chair and knock out the cord. Aaah life. Reading week was great, J and L, two very wonderful friends of mine from the program, wandered all over the island with some friends of ours from Port, Charlotte and Tlell. We dug some giant holes, moved some really big logs, hiked, kayaked, played music and ate a LOT of deer. I've added killing and dismembering animals to my rather extensive list of things I want to learn to do.

Speaking of learning, J and L have taken me under their wings in an attempt to teach me trees. There are only twelve local species of tree here and only five of those are easy to come by. Despite all this I am a suuuuper slow learner when it comes to plant life. So we went for a hike and I had to gather all the little cones and needles and take pictures to test myself with.

Spruce. The bark is like scales and it has nice long cones.

Hemlock. Line-y bark with funny little tiny needles.

Red cedar. Beautiful lined bark with leafy needles.

Alder, the only deciduous of the common trees. It has dorky little cones and...well, doesn't look like an evergreen :)

Now I'm working on ferns. This one has little 'thumbs' on the bottom of the leaves...which I think makes it a sword fern. This is a work in progress.

There are also pines on the island to round out the common five trees but apparently I don't have a picture of a pine. I'm definitely going to fail the final exam.

We started a new class this Monday: First Nations and Forests. So far it's been great, but exhausting. Lots of really amazing guest speakers with incredible stories to tell. We also took a trip up to Old Massett today for the first day of the Embridge consultations. Really interesting to watch that unfold here. Lots of work coming up with projects and readings and so on. Should be an intense three weeks.

In other news, I mentioned some big changes in my life. One of them is that I've decided on stay in Charlotte beyond the end of the program. I haven't committed at all to how long but I've got a job lined up for the summer months to give myself time to make more connections here and figure out where I'd like to go. It's weird to be operating without a five-year plan but it also feels really good and very freeing. There is also a lot of sadness for the things I'm leaving behind but I spend most of most days with a gigantic smile on my face. I've also talked to my landlord and secured my beautiful home, so I have a job and a place to live. Not shabby eh? L is also thinking of staying, at least for the summer, so she currently has first dibs on the second bedroom in the house.

Life is just the most unexpected thing, isn't it?

Masset, BC.