It is funny looking back on my first month in Winnipeg, it has been filled with countless new faces and names, and upon introducing myself as "new here," within a moment notice I am warned about the winters. This courtesy warning is given often as if I thought coming to Winnipeg meant a suntan year round accompanied by mild and enjoyable climates. Yes, I knew about the outrageous winters, the insane wind and temperatures not for the timid prior to booking my flights and despite these characteristics I have committed myself to three years in the winter wonderland of Winnipeg.
My experience in Manitoba, (Which happens to be the FIRST time I've ever been in the prairies) has been enjoyable. I have had the privileged of watching my first prairie sunset on a farm, on a hay bale with good-new-friends. I've invested in what I believe to be a really (really) good winter coat, and a pair of sorel's. Winter wear I've always been able to avoid investing in while living in BC, so... I am set. Thankfully this first month has been mild!
This weekend marks my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and there are tiny cracks forming in my heart when I get phone calls from my loving family wishing me to be there with them at our Cabin in the BC boonies. Every year for the past 10-15? (I've lost track) years we have packed up our things and loaded ourselves into our vehicles and scooted ourselves up to our Cabin just outside of 100 mile house. What makes this experience so wonderful is the lack of technology to vi for our attention. It is just good -old fashioned family time, spent around a fire, the living room, a turkey...spent together. I am finding resemblances of 100 mile in Winnipeg... Maybe it is the dry chill in the air and the leaves clapping in the wind as if joining in on the thanksgiving celebrations? This similarity is both comforting and upsetting. I found myself desperately wishing for a teleporter today, as I tried to busy myself with activities for one. This has been a day of thought, and thankfulness. I've decided, instead of dwelling on the absence of my family, I am going to be thankful to have such a wonderful family to miss. I am thankful for the grey day it was, because it highlighted the yellow hues of leaves and made the surprise of sunshine later in the day that much more appreciated, I am thankful for the tall oak trees that shield my little white house and all the millions of leaves that have trickled down to the ground to create a "fun-must-do" activity for a boring Saturday night. I am thankful for new friends that have been kind to a new-comer and old friends that have supported me in this adventure.
I'll try not to go two months before posting again!
Happy Thanksgiving.
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