IBAAW

Okay, so my work placement is Co-Éco. It's an small environmental organization. The main project will be informing the citizens of La Pocatière about the compost system. From what I gather, the system involves brown trash-can-like containers, which people will put their organic waste inside. Then, the city will take it and turn it into adequate compost. Then it will be returned to the people, to be used in gardens. And it's all free to La Pocatière residents. I think I will really enjoy it because it's part office work, and part walking door-to-door to deliver information to the neighbourhood. In all cases, I will be speaking a lot of French which is my ultimate objective of La Pocatière. Also, I'm trying to be healthier, so the walking will be good, without getting me too heat striken, hopefully.

Our first two days here have been fantastic, so far! Yesterday, we toured the work places, and they're all great. The majority of them are outdoors, which everyone is really excited about. Steve, Nick, Sean and Joelle are working for City Hall, and they will be travelling around the city planting stuff. Gwobs and Anny will work at the Jardin Florale, taking care of the plants there. Jade will be working at the farm, with cows, sheep, horses and the new baby chickens. And Alex will be working at a center for les personnes âgées.

Last night we took a trip to the tattoo parlor, and Jade and Joelle got fleur-de-lys tattoos. Joelle's is on her foot. And Jade's is on her bum. But don't tell her I wrote that here, because she is SO SHY that we all saw her bum, ha ha. Oh, and Alex got her nipple pierced, which was interesting to watch!!! Ha ha ha. Ohh we are all so close now!

Today we had interviews which is obviously why we all have jobs now. They were in French, and the people I spoke with said my French was pretty good, so that was great!! Then, this afternoon, the rest of the cluster came over, and we went to the ITA (like an agricultural college, close to our house) and did a mini-Mass-O, to review the katima-rules, etc. Then we played ultimate frisbee, and like an idiot, I forgot my sunscreen AGAIN, and so now my sunburn has BLISTERED. It really sucks.

Tonight we met some new people. They're from Mexico, and are here to learn French, so that's cool. Joelle and Jade had fun learning some Spanish. And we were surprised to learn that Fred speaks a fair amount of Spanish as well.

Tomorrow will be a busy day as well. We start workshops at 9 am. Pretty much it will just be making committees, writing up a house contract/official languages contract, making our calendars, getting stuff organized, etc. Then that night we're probably going to go meet up with the rest of the cluster, in Trois Pistoles to see a free live show of some sort. Apparently they went last night and there was a cool guitar-playing-dude, and they had a lot of fun, so they invited us!

I'm not sure what we're doing Sunday and Monday, but it will be more workshops for sure. We're also going to decide who will be house managers this week. Then, on Tuesday work will start for everyone except the house managers, obviously.

Oh, and I'm no longer poor!!! I had only 50$ left, but my taxes came in and my mom put them into my account, plus 20$ more, so now I have 190$ again!!!! YESSSS. Ha ha ha.

So, that's what's up so far!!! I heard there was quite a dump of snow at home. Oh well. Ha ha. I guess I'll just have to enjoy +30 temperatures for everyone!!!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière