A week in Victoria went a whole lot faster than I expected. I left here last week after a visit to FSJ hospital for a kidney infection. So on antibiotics, and feeling more rotten than good, I landed in Victoria in the late evening and was assigned a room which, praises be, I didn't have to share with anyone (thanks Stew). I made up my bed and unpacked in a matter of a few moments and prepared to renew some relationships from a year ago. I then hit my bed and tried to get a decent night's sleep. I have to say that the life of the sorority is not something I fit well into and so for most of the week I felt like a fish out of water. J, we will call him, my travelling companion from Hudson's Hope was a blessing, because he has an easy way about him and helped my awkwardness many times. I was up at 5:30 am the next morning to shower and prepare for class which was to start at 7:45 am sharp. I had breakfast at the mess hall at 6:00 am and began my ritual of yogurt and fruit for breakfast. Class began with filling out and signing contracts for the week. I will get paid for this course that I took! still find that to be a surprise. We started in right away. The courses that I took were Advanced Dispute Resolution and Non-violent Crisis Intervention. Both were exacting and both were immensely fulfilling. I think the only complaint is that I hate roll playing (I have never been an actress). I find roll playing to reach too deep into my inner turmoil and draw out things best left buried where they belong. It doesn't help that the feminine psychy rears its ugly head at particular times of the month. Though the moon was not full I felt the workings of the monthlys heavy on me about mid-week when roll playing was at it height. At one point I was reduced to tears and embarrassed for it. I don't like to be in the limelight and there I sat for all eyes to bear witness to my discomfort... ugh!
The second part of the week was better with Non-violent Crisis Intervention. I thoroughly enjoyed getting the ideas behind that course. I also thought that the actual deflecting exercises were brilliant. I came away reassured that what I try to do in a melt down with teenagers (mostly my own) is the correct method and the courses gave me some strategies to deal with kids that are difficult and unresponsive. Believe me, as a Mom wih two teenagers (one almost) the course is a great way of aiding you and balancing you as a rounded human.
After hours was a different thing altogether. I spent a lot of time working on my book reports for my Master Spinner level 2 homework. I am pleased to say that I have finished all six book reports and I have several of the other research questions done too. Thanks to Hubby, I was able to use a laptop and get all my work done. I went shopping and spent way too much money on beading supplies. The great thing about Victoria is the great down town area where cool and nifty shops abound. The last day there I spent and afternoon in Market Square poking about in the shops there. I found a great fudge shop and brought home a log of something that I can't remeber the name of. It was nougat with cherries and raisins and nuts in it rolled in caramel and pecan nuts.... with the way I love nougat it was yum! I bought Hubby a hat made of waxed cotton and looked like the hat that Indiana Jones wore in the movies. The girls got braclets from an East Indian clothing shop and I wish I could have afforded a sari for them. J and I had challenged each other to tattoos but we both didn't feel that the tattoo shop we went to was what we were looking for so in the end we decided to wait until we could do a tattoo and get exactly what we wanted. Dinner out happened twice. Once at a Thai place and the other at a Curry East Indian joint. Both restaurants had great food. The highlight of the trip I think though was the opportunity to go to the Tournament of Hearts and see the curlers for real. The curling was amazing and the whole experience was top notch. I did have to choose between the Tournament of Hearts and the night that everybody went out for dinner. But in hind sight it wasn't so bad. I think there was too much flirty crap that went on for my enjoyment. The most disappointing about it was that my WO and his wife were there and for the second year in a row and I have not had the opportunity to meet her and socialize with them both. I would have liked to do that. I did hear that some of my fellow class mates were outrageous in their behaviour after over indulging in booze. I did that years ago in my college days and I don't feel I have anything else to proove. I am glad to say that the politics of such an event are beyond me and I am always glad to forgo people politics and machinations..... that is what makes me a loner. I am happy to be just me and not have to worry about who is flirting with this one or that one or who is sucking up to this one or that one.... it is kind of sad to watch.
This trip has been an eye opener for me and I have discovered that I am too hard on myself and certainly too analytical. I need to just live and let the others take care of themselves. People who are out to proove something usually only just end up hurting themselves. I have decided to stay away from people who don't deserve my friendship and loyalty, and enjoy the ones who do. In the end my friendship is good and I am a worthy friend and companion. I renewed relationships and solidified others, and in the end hopefully built a little respect among the ones who took the time to get to know me. A little self discovery is good from time to time.
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