It has been confirmed from a number of sources that summer is over. I can hardly believe it as I am not really sure summer ever began, but as a scientist, I must believe the facts.
The fact is, our summer started with three weeks of intensive classes at Royal Roads University where I officially jumped into graduate student life (which actually means no life). I officially have five courses behind me and another eight or so to go by next May. My first year will culminate with a three week course in Uganda in early April after which we are let loose to start our thesis work. Even though summer was elusive this year, I have thoroughly enjoyed the classes I have taken so far and that, my friends, is why I haven't written a blog post in more than two months. My class work is so interesting and engaging that all of my creative energy has been used in writing papers. That and the fact that hardly anything worth writing about has occurred since I spend most of my time glued to the computer.
Darren has survived a summer of graveyard shifts and is now awake during day-light hours like the rest of us. I have officially reclaimed the bedroom as my study space now that it isn't used as a day-time sleeping sanctuary. Darren starts classes on Wednesday and along with studying maps, statistics and computers, he will be working two shifts a week at the hospital and a few shifts a week at our local Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC). The very MEC where I have been employed for the past 3 months. Our motto has been and remains, "Why work for different companies when you can work for the same one!". We work in different areas (me in cycling, Darren in backstock) but now we will both be tempted to buy outdoor gear we don't really need at really good prices. Darren also survived a summer of Ultimate with no major injuries and he is looking forward to the Fall season.
For me it is more of the same. I will be spending most of my time between work and study with a short break in October to attend NMSI's triennial conference in Bulgaria and Greece. My roommate during the conference, Jen, came up to visit us this August, during which time I did catch a glimpse of summer and spent a day in the lake and a night in a tree fort.
I suppose I should also mention that I did pass my motorcycle license exam and am now speeding (slightly faster than a scooter) down the roads of Victoria. It is far more fun than driving a car and less energy required than cycling, though I still ride my bike to work most days (too cheap to pay for motorcycle parking).
As for news following the accident, I talked to Clarisse this morning and her brother is able to stand but not walk. There is still one bone that has not healed but standing is good. Really good. Roy is now in Gamboula and the judicial aspects of the accident are in full swing. We are praying for a favorable outcome and for calm hearts and minds for all involved. We are especially praying for a righteous judge (there has got to be at least one in all of CAR) to hear the case. The nutrition centre is swamped with children (mostly refugee children of the Fulani) and the garden continues to help as it can. The nutrition garden is hopefully going to be the subject of my thesis work so stay tuned for more details.
It is also back to school time in CAR and we have sent the first wave of school fees off to our student in the capital. This is his final year of school so we are praying for wisdom and a good work ethic for him. We will be sending funds for the Gamboula kids shortly and anyone interested in helping is invited to email us or send a cheque as per the instructions on the side bar of this page. The peace process in the CAR has stalled (and is slipping backwards) so we are praying for peace in a renewed way.
All for now,
Ange
