Life here.... is simple, easy, peaceful. Even though we put in some 15 hour work days, and did work of some kind every day of the week. So, why is it so relaxing? Well I think I've narrowed it down to a few key reasons:
A) The small town environment. I rarely ever check my cell phone, let alone carry it on me. Because everyone I would want to get a hold of, I always know where to find them or when I will see them next. And if they are not with me, chances are they are within 200m or a 2 minute walk.
B) No TV. It is extremely rare for the TV to get turned on. If it does, it is usually one of the boys watching TV late at night, or us working late on a Friday or Saturday night and put a movie on in the background while we work. But with no TV, AND no cell phone (or barely), there is no distractions or unnecessary chatter in the background of everything. It's blissful. This also makes for very peaceful relaxing mornings, quietly siting at the table in the sunlight, reading the news websites, sipping my Lady Gray tea and eating my Mango.
C) With this, it means there is MUCH more time for so many more activities, and much less time on FB and in front of the computer. In this last week alone we have gone on a 2h hike twice, gone swimming at Le Gouille twice, and done yoga twice. We have eaten every lunch and supper together, at the table. And amazing healthy food might I add. We have also had pedicure, Will & Grace, and girl talk nights, and a BBQ gathering of all of our collective friends here. This is all in one week might I add, on top of insane work schedules and ridiculous near impossible deadlines, that leave Jo, Nino and I locked up in a bedroom working like mad until the last possible moment where we have to emerge and join everyone else at the BBQ, that we were hosting.
D) Another reason, and quite possible the most important, on top of having music playing all the time (no radio + no TV = no adds, just fantastic international music), is Johannah. That woman is amazing. She is quite literally my new hero. And Jo, if you stumble across my blog and read this, I mean every word of what I'm about to say, or rather write. She is so energetic, enthusiastic, positive, caring, nurturing, accepting, flexible, inclusive, approachable and driven. At the age of 50, she has the spirit and the looks of someone decades younger, the crazy/silly-ness of someone even younger than that, but has accomplished things, particularly career-wise that most people can't even dream of. She started her own consulting practice, and today she drafts treaties to be signed at symposiums gathering the top brilliant minds in diverse fields around the world. She has projects ongoing with seven national governments. She does business, advising, proposals and more treaties for top international organisations including but not limited to the UN. All while being one of the most down to earth people I have ever met. For example, I had a hard time/bad moment the other day and ended up breaking down in my room, and she just knew that I was upset, and why I was upset, and came to my room and sat there with me, comforting me as I tried to pull myself together. There is literally like 3 people on this planet that have a) wanted to or been able to comfort me b) that I have been comfortable enough with to let them in the room. I just feel so privileged to have this opportunity to get to know her, to work with her, and live along side her.
All that being said, as you can imagine, life has been busy. Actually today, tonight, is probably one of the first FREE evening I've had, and I plan to spend probably an hour of it on the phone with Morgan, whom I haven't spoken to since 2010! The reason we have a free evening? Because we spent from 9:30am to 2:30pm, straight, packing, moving, and cleaning to move downstairs. Then when we finished, more cleaning. Because Sonja, our landlord, is a self titled Cleaning Gastapo. Then when we finally finished everything, we ate lunch, then unpacked and settled in. No more than 5 minutes after this was finished, since it was gorgeous and sunny out, and we were sweaty from the day, Juraj, Olivia and I went for a swim with Jo and the girls. After this was finished, we all went home, took a hot shower, and here we are now with me sitting on the couch writing this blog while Juraj and Olivia scrounge together enough food to make supper. Because obviously all grocery stores are closed on Sunday, and as we buy the food fresh that day to cook, we never ever remember to buy food in advance for Sunday. However, as Juraj, Olivia and Nino are such AMAZING fantastic cooks, even with no ingredients, we are still having a Tomato and Olive Torte. Olivia even makes fresh, ridiculously heathy and delicious muffins, or granola, or some other snack, every day. She rocks. For lunch we always have this huge fantastic salad, different ingredients daily, sometimes with some fresh smoked salmon on the side with a herb cream cheese spread and fresh dark bread from the bakery. I know I said this last blog, but I literally don't want to leave.
Side notes:
1) Here is a tour of our new place for the rest of the summer :)
2) The title is obviously inspired by the McDonalds slogan. The reasoning is that we have been coming up with these great quotes or slogans out of the blue this week, only to realize a few moments later that they are a Telus or Mastercard quote....Long live capitalism....
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