Way to confuse a poor city girl...

So yesterday's my birthday and I'm feeling a bit lonely because most of my host family isn't around...so I go to the beach by myself for a swim. I swim out to this floating dock to sit and enjoy the hot sun, and then comes another circumstance where a local offers to take me out on his boat! I'm originally feeling more willing since the other guy turned out so nice (and turned out to be the boyfriend of someone my friends know!)...but I'm alone so this time I have a harder time telling whether he's trying to be friendly or pick me up! He's kinda weird with thess hippyish phrases like "it's all about love and happiness," so I'm not exactly relating well to this guy....Later though, he tells me I'm pretty and that I have nice legs so I decide I better not take this guy's number. Darn! He likes to fish for dungeness crab...

25th Birthday Wish

It's my birthday this Saturday, and I can't believe I'm turning 25. This is the first time in my life I have felt a little scared of being my age. When I was younger I was thrilled to be getting older, because it always felt like I was heading towards maturity--my childhood life goal!

Anyways, for this year, my birthday wish is to be able to buy a a young woman in my church a good keyboard so she can learn piano. Her dad had promised he would give her one at her last year's birthday but he never showed up. She doesn't own one and she is taking lessons through a special organization that allows eager youth to have free lessons.

Out on the boat to Two-Tree Island

So we took up the guy's offer to go out on his little boat. We had a splendid time! He took us across the water to what he calls "Two-Tree Island" and another island right beside it and we watched the sunset as we built a fire, roasted marshmallows, and steamed freshly caught crab. It was the best crab I've had in years! So tender, and he even brought butter and garlic to melt by the fire and dip our crab in. They swam but I didn't (it was already dark and cold!)...and I got to see the plankton "phosphorescence"! It was like I was cinderella's fairy godmother, when I swished my hand through the water, there was this amazing sparkling train behind it! I hate sounding cheesy, but it was really a magical night.

It's beautiful here!

This weekend we went camping and kayaked in Porpoise Bay. We saw a lot of seals really close to our kayaks. Our tent ended up having no cover so we used tarps to keep us from getting wet but thankfully it didn't rain at all this weekend! Today we went for a crazy bike ride with Spencer and then for a swim in Trout Lake. The others are pictures of Sechelt and Gibsons. The weather was beautiful today.

Small Town Happenings

You know you are in a small town when someone says to you, "You're not from around here, are you? I don't recognize you," and, "Hey, I like showing newcomers around on my boat, here's my phone number!" Because my friend has a husband who can "protect us", I think we are going to take up the offer of a boat ride at night to watch the phosfluorescence.

Yesterday I went to this beautiful place called "Secret Beach" in Gibsons, where you get a >180 view of the water and the gulf islands. It was so beautiful, that we stayed till it was nearly dark and couldn't find the proper path back so we trespassed on private property to find our way back to the car! As we were climbing through these people's yard, we came within 10 feet of a doe! I think that doe in backyards are also a common occurrence out here.

Tomorrow I'm going camping with my friends in Porpoise Bay. Looking forward to that!!

From circumcision to bike precision

Yesterday I removed a mole and watched my tutor use what look like torture contraptions to perform a circumcision. Although the baby had anaesthesia, it was harrowing to see the baby scream during the entire procedure. However, as soon as his leg straps were removed and he was redressed, he fell asleep.
The host family I am staying with is a family with three teens aged 15, 16, and 18. They are a lot of fun. The youngest, Spencer, took me on an insane mountain biking trail through a beautiful park. He would not allow me to walk my bike up the hill that I thought I would die going up...but when we got to the top it was worth it, because we got to go through this awesome rocky trail downhill through trees even through a creek! He was so fast that he would go down the trail, walk back up to a jump, and take the jump again, all in the time of me going down the hill once. He is going to go to a provincial race next weekend in Whistler. I think I may even allow him to take me up there again sometime.

Virgin Surgeon

Yesterday was my first day on my "Rural Family Practice" rotation on the coast of BC. It was a very busy day! I have a wonderful family doctor to work with, very kind with a great sense of humour and a good teacher. I finally had the opportunity to put in some stiches (never did before!) and take out staples. Later I got to "scrub up" and be an assistant to the surgeon in the OR! He is known as the general surgeon who hates to do surgery. Sad predicament for him I suppose. He said it was a rather dull surgery (umbilical herniation) on which to lose my "surgery virginity"! I was amused. I admit that although some hate the OR and surgery, I like it. Eek my battery is running out so I'm going to post this one.