Well, it's been one hell of an adjustment period. I've been in the country for just over a month now, and I'm still adjusting from life abroad. Maybe with other folks it takes less time than this, I'm uncertain. All I know is that for me, every waking moment of my life I wish I was still travelling.
Which is strange, because I was so ready to come home, for weeks and weeks while I was in Asia.
I spent two weeks in Vancouver after I came home, visiting friends and family (as many as I could in the time allotted to me, anyhow) - and I even managed to squeeze in a brief foray to the Island with Tim for a couple of days. The first week or so upon returning north to Smithers was a whirlwind, and now that things are settling down, I'm finding myself more and more unable to cope with the empty spaces and general lack of friends and family to talk to.
I did just spend three months in one of the most populated places on Earth. It still unnerves me sometimes to be driving down some of the backroads here, and seeing nothing but wide open, mountainous spaces completely devoid of people. It's gorgeous, I'll grant that. But I'm having a hell of a time adapting.
I've been doing quite a bit to keep busy, though it's never enough when one wakes up in the same bed day after day. Within a few days of arriving, Damon and I moved into our new house. It's only a temporary place, as the owners are in the process of selling, and just needed someone to live there in the meantime. We're those 'meantime' people. I disliked it at first, but it's fastly growing on me. The previous owners (our landlords) are a bit...artistic, and so, each room in our three bedroom rancher on a 1/4 acre is painted a different colour. My bedroom is crimson and green, the kitchen is bright orange with misplaced blue mosaic tiles on the walls. The dining room is green, with nearly-invisible hearts and stars painted in a slightly lighter colour over top. The spare room is Dr. Suess-style green and blue, the bathroom is blue and brown, the living room crimson and beige (and poorly painted, I might add) ...and Damon's room is beige and green.
Despite the colour...quirks...the house has grown on us. Our living room is a bit of a joke - neither of us have any real furniture (having sold mine prior to moving in November), so we have a flat-screen TV which doubles as Damon's computer monitor, four game consoles (NES, N64, Sega Gen, and PS3) ...six throw pillows, a Thai axe pillow, and an old lady armchair. We've grown accustomed to 'camping' out on the floor. A couch would be nice, though.
I promptly renewed my license and then went for my driver's test - so I can now legally drive solo, which is both unnerving and fantastic. I truly do enjoy biking and walking everywhere, though I'll admit to having used the car a few times to go places at night, like aquafit, or my drawing class.
Speaking of, I snagged myself a gym pass almost right away, and I've been going to aquafit at night when I feel up to it. The class is really good, and a decent workout. Just recently, I signed up for life drawing lessons at the Art Gallery as well, so I have that for a month. A nude model poses for us, and we draw her, receiving instruction on the best ways to do so. I've only had one class so far, but I really enjoy it. In a nervous fit, I even asked the model if she'd pose for me in front of the camera so I can practice portraiture, and she said yes. Now, I just have to figure out how/what/when/where-slash-work up the nerve to walk into the shop she owns to talk to her again.
Most of my time is spent reading, or painting and drawing (I've completed one of each in the last couple of weeks). I've also gone cooking mad. I cook...all the time. I just can't get over being able to cook again, after eating out for three months. I truly cannot even grasp at the words designed to express my joy of cooking. I haven't eaten out once since returning to Smithers.
In addition to this, I've given up sugar for Lent. I'm far too apathetic to be religious, so don't think for a moment I'm doing it for that reason. Lent was a reasonable frame of time, and I rather like the concept of giving up something you love (why do we need anything, really?) ...so I've given up sugar. That means no white sugar, brown sugar, cane syrup, stevia, dextrose, maltodextrin, molasses, or anything else which means sugar. Because I realize what a nazi I'm being about this, I've given myself two leeway items. Honey, and fruit. It was initially maple syrup and agave as well, but I've weeded those out.
And you know what? The body goes through withdrawal when you remove all sugar. And you know what else? Sugar is in everything. I have to read the label on every single item I purchase in the store, and I can't eat multitudes of things: crackers, all cereal, obvious desserts like cake and cookies, frozen hashbrows, packaged veggie burgers, sauces, SOY SAUCE (of all things!), and many others. It's challenging, but I'm sticking it through. Once in a while I get a sugar craving really badly, but I'm learning to moderate it with nut butters. Honestly, my cure to my sweet tooth is a nut butter mixed with dark cocoa. It's almost like chocolate, and the fats satisfy my craving.
Since giving up sugar, I have more reserved energy throughout the day, and I had started sleeping better. I've also given up wheat for the most part, as an experiment to find out if I'm intolerant or not. I'm beginning to believe I'm not, but either way, the added bonus of removing the two largest source of carbs from my diet is that I think I'm losing size. I was a bit over-the-top about it when I came home from Asia, having clearly gone up a waist size, but now when I look in the mirror, I don't feel as disgusted at myself. Sadly, I still feel I have a long way to go in obtaining what I consider to be a 'proper fitness level'.
Damon and I together have done a few little things - we went camping in Prince Rupert, and we attempted to cross country ski. Well...I attempted. I'm apparently terrified of skiing. We've been snowshoeing and hiking as well. He's in camp right now though, and I haven't made any friends here in Smithers yet, so I've been really lonely. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, and a hard time sleeping at night because of it. I'm making due as best as I can, and Damon's family have been nice enough to stop by on occasion or invite me out for walks (like a lonely puppy).
Don't get me wrong, I have been having fun - there's just only so much solo fun you can have before having other people around becomes a nice thought.
Which is strange, because I was so ready to come home, for weeks and weeks while I was in Asia.
I spent two weeks in Vancouver after I came home, visiting friends and family (as many as I could in the time allotted to me, anyhow) - and I even managed to squeeze in a brief foray to the Island with Tim for a couple of days. The first week or so upon returning north to Smithers was a whirlwind, and now that things are settling down, I'm finding myself more and more unable to cope with the empty spaces and general lack of friends and family to talk to.
I did just spend three months in one of the most populated places on Earth. It still unnerves me sometimes to be driving down some of the backroads here, and seeing nothing but wide open, mountainous spaces completely devoid of people. It's gorgeous, I'll grant that. But I'm having a hell of a time adapting.
Our beta fish. We've named him Two-Fish.
Despite the colour...quirks...the house has grown on us. Our living room is a bit of a joke - neither of us have any real furniture (having sold mine prior to moving in November), so we have a flat-screen TV which doubles as Damon's computer monitor, four game consoles (NES, N64, Sega Gen, and PS3) ...six throw pillows, a Thai axe pillow, and an old lady armchair. We've grown accustomed to 'camping' out on the floor. A couch would be nice, though.
I promptly renewed my license and then went for my driver's test - so I can now legally drive solo, which is both unnerving and fantastic. I truly do enjoy biking and walking everywhere, though I'll admit to having used the car a few times to go places at night, like aquafit, or my drawing class.
Speaking of, I snagged myself a gym pass almost right away, and I've been going to aquafit at night when I feel up to it. The class is really good, and a decent workout. Just recently, I signed up for life drawing lessons at the Art Gallery as well, so I have that for a month. A nude model poses for us, and we draw her, receiving instruction on the best ways to do so. I've only had one class so far, but I really enjoy it. In a nervous fit, I even asked the model if she'd pose for me in front of the camera so I can practice portraiture, and she said yes. Now, I just have to figure out how/what/when/where-slash-work up the nerve to walk into the shop she owns to talk to her again.
Most of my time is spent reading, or painting and drawing (I've completed one of each in the last couple of weeks). I've also gone cooking mad. I cook...all the time. I just can't get over being able to cook again, after eating out for three months. I truly cannot even grasp at the words designed to express my joy of cooking. I haven't eaten out once since returning to Smithers.
Naturally sweetened buckwheat muffins
Spelt pancakes with coconut and coconut oil
Some homemade Indian food...it was ALMOST right.
Homemade gluten-free crackers. They're seriously delicious, and full of good stuff like chia and pumpkin seed and flax. A quote from the website I got the recipe from: "You ever see a tired bird? I didn't think so."
Buckwheat pancakes for me, Bacon pancakes for Damon, on International Pancake Day (the last day I was allowed to eat sugar!)
The drawing I did.
Since giving up sugar, I have more reserved energy throughout the day, and I had started sleeping better. I've also given up wheat for the most part, as an experiment to find out if I'm intolerant or not. I'm beginning to believe I'm not, but either way, the added bonus of removing the two largest source of carbs from my diet is that I think I'm losing size. I was a bit over-the-top about it when I came home from Asia, having clearly gone up a waist size, but now when I look in the mirror, I don't feel as disgusted at myself. Sadly, I still feel I have a long way to go in obtaining what I consider to be a 'proper fitness level'.
A few camping shots.
Snowshoeing!
Don't get me wrong, I have been having fun - there's just only so much solo fun you can have before having other people around becomes a nice thought.
Making face love to my new lens, the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II.
Anybody want to road trip up to see me? I can make tasty treats.
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