Thunder Bay

Hi everybody! I'm posting this from THUNDER BAYYYY!!!! It's been five weeks, or maybe a bit more since I last updated? NOT COOL! There's probably a lot of Summerside stuff I should update about, but I'll stick with Thunder Bay, since that's what I know is new right now, and I've got my other blog to update after this, and people to respond to.

Okay, so my new work placement is at the RFDA, which stands for the Regional Food Distribution Association. Basically, it's the food bank for food banks. Since I already had two years volunteering regularly at Guelph Food Bank, my resume actually looked pretty impressive to them, and when they got me they said I was "the perfect man for the job" and likened me working with them as a promotion, since they're bigger than any singular food bank.

I get all the free food I can eat and a full lunch HOUR (Community Connections only gave me a half-hour).

Last weekend, we had the first food drive in Ontario (food drive sounds like a common word, but it was at least the first something in Ontario), and I was the one that prepared every single box for it. Even if it was grunt work, it was nice to be a part of a pivotal task in a somewhat historic moment. I doubt people will remember "the box-maker of Ontario's first food drive" but whatever.

I'm the new chairperson at the Katima-house! I ousted my best friend and greatest teacher for the position over here. I challenged him at the last moment and was voted in 4-1. The chairperson is kind of like the most authoritative position a participant can have.

I spent all the money I was given for Katimavik... So now the other participants can know me as I am in my usual financial position. Oh well, I guess we all have to learn these kinds of life lessons.

And... my luggage was lost coming over the plane to Thunder Bay. I get $100 because it's been over 48 hours, and if it's over 91 days, they'll reimburse me for what was in the luggage.

It's kind of freeing not to be tied down to material possessions. Everyone thinks I'm stupid for saying that. I am upset, but like, I have six shirts, two sweaters, two pairs of pants, a bathing suit, six pairs of underwear, and six pairs of socks, and I haven't had to spend a penny out of pocket. I have to spend $55 by the end of this week even, because my $100 reimbursement is on a timeline. Point is, I'll have luggage to spare.

A Katimavik group from Yellow Knife came up. We had them assess mine and Pierre's beards, and they said mine was longer and coarser, but his was more full. I'll take that! It's better than losing in every category. I guess beard growing IS something you can make up for after you start to lose.

The Thunder Bay house is way larger than the Summerside one. It's got two living rooms and THREE BATHROOMS! That puts the person-to-bathroom ratio three-to-one. That's like back home! A lot better than Summerside's nine-to-one.

Summerside felt like it didn't have a lot of city life, and not a lot of natural life either. Thunder Bay has both. I barely miss the ocean even, because we have LAKE SUPERIOR, which has it's own tide!

And, unlike Summerside, the people around here are rude, just like people are supposed to be!

...That last bit was a joke. I'll miss the people of Summerside.

We didn't have any summer in Summerside. I wonder if we'll have any thunder storms in Thunder Bay.