Day 12, Friday, July 22: Depart for the USA

Talked to Katie last night and she's excited about coming home. She's made some friends and they have already promised to see each other once they get home (thankfully they don't live too far away). They had to get up at 4am and be on the bus by 4:30am. I got a text this morning, she's at the airport shopping. Of course.

I can't wait to see her! What an amazing experience.

The last note from Lyly:

Our last day in Canada was bittersweet. While we have enjoyed the trip immensely, everyone is looking forward to going home and seeing family. 

We spent the morning at the Parliament Building on Vancouver Island. It is a huge, beautiful building set in front of the harbor. As we walked through the building, our docent explained how the Canadian government works. 

Fun Fact: Did you know that when Canadians vote for their prime minister, they don't vote for a specific person, they vote for the party? Once a party has been chosen, the members of the party choose the prime minister. 

We had lunch at the Empress Hotel. It was a high tea luncheon with lovely scones, finger sandwiches, cookies, and tea. Although unused to the dainty food, even the boys admitted that it was fun to enjoy high tea. 

After our ferry ride back to Vancouver, we headed for Stanley Park. Stanley Park is famous for the section with totem poles. The totem poles stand tall with all kinds of animals or people carved into the wood. Each totem tells a story and the most important person in the story is always placed at the top of the pole. The totems were amazing. 

We ended our day with a little party to say thank you to Miss Chelsea. The students got a chance to say why they like Chelsea and give her the best of their "Goodwill Gifts." It was a nice way to say farewell to Chelsea and Canada. 

Lastly, I wanted to remind everyone that we will be arriving on Air Canada, flight #560, at 10:52 am. I have been told that we will actually be going through customs in Vancouver not San Francisco. So please be at the airport no later than 11:00 am to pick up your child. 

It's been a pleasure having your children on this journey.         

People to People Itinerary

Pack up your bags one last time, say your goodbyes to your Field Instructor, and board your motor coach to the Vancouver Airport.

On your flight home, reflect on your journey, your new understanding of Western Canadian culture, and expanded horizons as a Student Ambassador. Welcome home!

Day 11, Thursday, July 21: Vancouver, British Columbia

Last night - Pizza in the Park!

Not a peep from Katie yesterday. After reading Lyly's note (below), I see why. They ran the kids ragged with so much fun and activity! I admit, I am starting to get the travel bug. Everything they are doing sounds so darn fun.

Here's Lyly's note:

Today was one of the best days of the entire program!

We woke up early and headed for Wild Play-Tree Go. Upon arrival we were split into two groups and given a demonstration on how to put on a harness. Then the students were led into the forest where an entire obstacle course was built up in the trees. Each station was built approximately 10-12 feet high and once you were on the course, there was no going back down. There was a wooden swing, hanging branches, zip lines, wooden tubes, and nets to climb between each tree station. Out of 45 students, we had a total of 42 complete the entire course. It was so much fun to watch the students flying through the course like a bunch of monkeys. When they had completed the course, most students begged us to go again but unfortunately there was no time. :)

The adults were not allowed on the student obstacle course but were given the option to go bungee jumping. Although petrified of heights, I am happy to say that I managed to conquer my fear and join Chelsea and Celia on the journey to bungee jumping. The jump is completed on a bridge that is 150 feet over a river. I have to admit that it was probably the most terrifying thing I have ever done in my life and I screamed the entire way down. However, I did have to ask the guy working the bridge to push me off the platform. :) It was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. So if you ever get the opportunity to check bungee jumping off your bucket list, do it!

After a dinner of pizza in the park, we headed for whale watching. The boat was very large and had two decks that students were able to maneuver around. We had two biologists, Lars and Jackie, during the ride out to sea that could answer any questions about whales. At the beginning of the boat ride, Jackie had informed the group that we might not see any whales. The boat had been out on two previous rides throughout the day with no success. Keeping this in mind, the students settled in for a fun boat ride.

They got a kick out of scampering around on the decks, getting sprayed with ocean water, and generally just talking and laughing. Imagine our surprise when we got to the lookout point, that we saw an entire pod of Orca whales! The captain informed us that there are 44 whales in this particular pod. The whales were swimming all around our boat and we saw 37 breaches.

Fun Fact: A breach is when a whale jumps up out of the water and flops back down on their side. Thus creating a huge splash of water. It was such an awesome sight to see! However, Murphy's Law dictated that every time I took a picture, the whale had already disappeared down under the water. :)

Needless to say, we got back to the dorm very late after a fun-packed day and everyone was ready for a good night's sleep. 

People to People Itinerary

Embark on an extensive tour of Victoria's Parliament and legislative grounds. Here you will experience the architectural majesty of the Parliament Buildings and learn about Canada's parliamentary process.

At noon, you will enjoy a unique experience at the world-renowned Empress Hotel, indulging in an elegant lunch while attending a traditional Elizabethan Tea. Note: Your People to People polo and khaki's are required attire for your experience at the Empress.

Say farewell to Vancouver Island as you catch the ferry back to the mainland.

Start your exploration of Vancouver in the expansive Stanley Park; Walk along the waterfront, see the Lion's Gate Bridge from Prospect Point and learn about the intricately carved totem poles made by the coastal First Nation tribes. If you're lucky, you may have the chance to catch a cricket match in progress on of the park's pitches.

Travel back in time as you walk down the cobblestone streets of historic Gastown in downtown Vancouver.

This evening, you will check into the University of British Columbia (UBC): the largest university in the province; it is also among the most scenic campuses surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides.

The Parliament Building in Victoria.

The Empress Hotel (for tea!).

The Lion's Gate Bridge from Prospect Point.

Gastown!

 The university from above!

Day 10, Wednesday, July 20: Victoria, British Columbia

I got a five second call from Katie last night. She was totally out of breath and sounded excited. They were shopping(!) in Victoria and she needed a purchase authorization - "bye mom!" was the last thing I heard.

YES! She was so happy and clearly having a great time. She had texted earlier in the day as she was desperately trying not to watch in the "in-coach" movie, "Harry Potter" because we agreed we would watch the movies until we read the books and neither of us has read them yet - so she was working hard not to compromise our agreement! What a kid!

PS: I did find our copy of the first Harry Potter book. I think I know what we are doing when she gets home.


Here's the note from Lyly about yesterday!

Today was another long bus ride to Vancouver Island. We did stop at Bridal Falls for lunch. 

Bridal Falls is actually in the middle of a Canadian rainforest. When all the sack lunches had been consumed, the entire group headed for a hike up to the waterfall. Along the way, Chelsea gave us some facts about the rainforest. 

Fun Fact: Did you know that the Canadian Rainforest weighs three times the amount of a rainforest in South America? The falls themselves were beautiful. Seeing the water tumbling down over the side of the mountain was absolutely breathtaking. 

We reached the ferry crossing by mid afternoon and most students were surprised when our entire bus drove right onto the ferry. They seemed to really enjoy the experience of riding a ferry across to Vancouver Island. 

After dinner we had some extra time, so students were able to do some shopping in downtown Victoria.

People to People Itinerary

Your first adventure is Tree-GO, an amazing climbing activity set high above a massive Douglas fir forest. The course takes about 2 hours and includes ziplines, suspended bridges, scramble nets and swinging logs.

Afterwards, visit the nearby Petroglyph Park where you will learn about petroglyphs and the early First Nations people who created them.

Venture off to see the amazing sites at Ocean Discovery, in Sidney, where you will learn about the unique ecosystem of the Salish Sea at the tropical aquarium and marine education centre.

Tonight's dinner theme is 'Pizza in the Park'; this is a light but fun evening of games, making new friendships and of course, PIZZA!

Following dinner, head out onto the Straits of Georgia to search for pods, (or family groups), of Orcas also known as Killer Whales! During your time on the boat, you will learn about the habitat and behavior of these majestic creatures while seeing them in their natural environment.

TreeGo!

I think this is the entrance to the Petroglyph Park they are touring.

We can only hope they get to see something this amazing! 

Day 9, Tuesday, July 19: Victoria, British Columbia

Katie's new wolf.

I talked to Katie last night and she sounded great! She's not homesick anymore and she's looking forward to Victoria today and seeing us on Friday. She bought a little wolf stuffy and absolutely loved meeting the wolves yesterday.

I noticed she's using new expressions - clearly adopted from her new friends - and for crapsake, she sounds older! How can that happen in just two weeks? They had Canadian Barbecue last night and I told her I didn't realize the barbecued Canadians. She must miss my sense of humor!

They have a long bus ride today but that doesn't seem to be a problem. She just wants to make sure they have a chance to shop in Victoria! 

The kids at Rogers Pass.

The note from Lyly about yesterday:

Today was a long bus ride with activities interspersed throughout the day. 

Our first stop of the day was at the Northern Wildlife Centre. At the Centre they currently have 5 adults and 2 pups. The pups were safely hidden in the den and never ventured out so we didn't see them. After our interpreter gave his talk about wolves, one of the owners came out to see if we could howl. She informed us that unlike dogs, wolves howl one continuous long note, they do not bark or yip. So as a group, the students started to howl. Once the wolves listened for a minute, they joined in and we stopped. Maya and Wiley, a male and female, continued howling for quite some time. It was awesome to hear! 

Fun Fact: Wolves often eat only one large meal a week. They gulp their food (hair, bones, meat, etc.) down all at once. As a result, wolves are very fast eaters. Wiley has been known to wolf down an entire frozen chicken in 10 seconds. Hence the term "Wolfing your food down". When they travel in packs, the alpha male and alpha female run with their tails pointing straight up, while the other wolves run with their tails pointing down. This helps to determine the dominate wolves vs the rest of the pack. 

Our 2nd stop of the day was at Craigellachie. It is the spot where the Canadian Pacific Railway pounded in the last spike in 1885. This last spike represented the melding of the East to the West, thus providing a way to travel between the two territories. 

After dinner we went to a room at Kelowna University and an archeology professor taught us about "Stone Technology". Each student was given a piece of obsidian and a small piece of antler bone. The professor showed us how to work the rock to form an arrowhead or some sort of tool. The students seemed to really enjoy working the rock. 

Every few days the leaders collect the students' journals to make sure that they are writing about their experiences. So with the students' permission, I thought I would share a few journal entries with you. Keep in mind, I did not change any grammar or sentence structures. :)
 Excerpt from the journal of Andrew Nguyen: "Peyto Lake was named after a man named Crazy Bill Peyto. When Peyto had land, he dug holes and put bears in. Then he covered the holes with grass. If intruders sneaked into Peyto's land, they would be eaten by the bears. Peyto also liked to take mountain lions and let them go in bars to see what people would do." 

Excerpt from the journal of Sarah Dubbs: "...Next we played two Indian games. One was the Screaming Game and the other was a gambling game. They were really fun! I can't wait to show them to my friends. I especially loved the game where we ran while screaming. (A.K.A. "The Screaming Game") I'm sure everyone loved these games and if they do, add me to the list!"

People to People Itinerary

From Kelowna you'll travel over the scenic Coquihalla Highway making your way to Victoria. You will stop at the beautiful Bridal Falls for lunch.

From Vancouver, you'll hop on the ferry and cross the Strait of Georgia to Victoria.

Next up is a haunting visit to the aristocratic Craigdarroch Castle. Here you'll tour a spooky mansion built in the 1890's by the richest man in British Columbia.

Bridal Falls in British Columbia.

Not sure if this is their exact ferry, but it's close! Pretty awesome looking!

Does this castle look scary to you? It's gorgeous!

Day 8, Monday, July 18: Kelowna, British Columbia

Katie called last night - she was in high spirits and said she wasn't really feeling homesick anymore. I could hear the happy voices behind her and she said it's been like a giant slumber party almost every night. They stay up talking and having a good time.

Katie sent along her picture today that made me very happy (can it be that she looks older already?!).

Lyly sent a couple photos from the Tipi Camp that I just posted. She also sent the two below from Bow Lake and the glacier. Katie said the hot spring water was really hot but it sound like it worked perfectly for Lyly! 


Here's Lyly's note (and the itinerary below the two pics):

Today we woke up really early to get to the ice glaciers. It was a three hour drive and most students slept or wrote in their journals the entire way.  

We arrived at the glaciers and were immediately transferred to an Ice Explorer. The tires alone are almost 6 feet tall and the cab towers over you. It is very intimidating to stand next to the truck. These trucks are made to take very steep climbs up or down without flipping over. The students seemed to really enjoy riding the ice explorer and made all kinds of noise as we headed down the steep incline. As we approached the glacier, it got visibly colder and colder. 

Once on the glacier students were allowed to walk around, look at the glacier up-close, and fill their water bottles. The water flowing off the glacier was so clear and tasted really fresh. Several students asked me how they could bring some water home to share with their families. Unfortunately, I had to tell them it was not possible. :( 

Once we headed back for the lodge/museum, Jillian (the explorer driver) gave us a mini lesson about glaciers. Fun Fact: Did you know that although every year the glacier is growing and moving forward, it is also continuing to lose 30 feet of ice? Eventually glaciers may disappear if we don't take care of them. Also Canada has the only Triple Continental Divide in the world. Which means that the water flowing off the glacier is flowing into three different oceans. 

On our way back to Banfafafa we stopped at the world famous Lake Louise to take a group picture in front of the beautiful blue water. After dinner, students enjoyed learning the history of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from a retired Sargent. They asked all kinds of questions about his uniform and duties. 

Last we sat in the warm Sulfur Springs. The temperature was 102 degrees and felt great on our achy muscles. Tomorrow we have a big bus ride and will howl with the wolves!

The picture was named Bow Lake but her write up says Lake Louise. Who knows! It's still great.

On the glacier!

People to People Itinerary

Continuing westward today, you journey into the heart of the Canadian Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Along the way, stop in Golden at the Northern Lights Wildlife Centre to learn about Grey Wolves and howl with them.

Visit Roger's Pass Interpretive Center, in Glacier National Park, and learn how avalanche control has evolved over the years to keep the rail and highway routes across the pass open. You will also learn about the diverse wildlife that calls this region of 400 glaciers home.

Take in the history at one of Canada's most significant landmarks, the Golden Spike; this was the final spike driven into the Canadian Pacific Railway at Craigellachie in 1855. This event marked the beginning of a new Golden age for Canada, free of the long reign of natural disasters, financial crises and rebellion that plagued her shores in years past.

Tonight, you stay on the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBC-O) campus in the beautiful lakeside town of Kelowna.

Enjoy a BBQ dinner followed by a stone tool demonstration from a renowned archaeologist, during which you have the opportunity to hold stone tools that are over 600,000 years old. Try your hand at making your own obsidian arrowhead!

Okay, I am a little jealous she gets to learn about these wolves.

The Last Spike in a town who's name I can't spell!

The University Commons - wonder if they will be open?

Day 7, Sunday, July 17: Banff, Alberta

She sent me a picture!

Quick text from Katie last night - apparently the day was terrific and even her homesickness had backed off a bit (yeah!). She sent along this picture - which I absolutely love - and I was able to figure out it is at the falls in the Banff National Park.

Lyly sent a note early this morning, here's what's up:

This morning we left Tipi Camp and headed for Banff. Chelsea, our delegation manager played a trick on the students. Chelsea told the students the locals called it Banfafafa and we should too! So throughout today I heard students referring to Banfafafa. :)

On our bus ride we stopped at Okotoks Rock and learned where the term "Indian Giver" came from.

Fun Fact: Napi the trickster was the creator of the Blackfoot People. One day Napi gave a cloak to a big rock and it made the rock really happy. After several days Napi decided he wanted the cloak back and the rock said "no!" Napi tried to enlist the other animals to help him get the cloak away from the rock but they would not help him. He finally convinced a hawk to help him. The hawk picked up the rock and flew away with it. The hawk dropped the rock to the ground and it broke in half. To this day you can see Napi's rock. Hence the term Indian Giver.

Once in Banfafafa we enjoyed pizza by the Bowe River Falls and then trekked back to the YWCA. Students enjoyed shopping in downtown Banfafafa and a gondola ride to the top of Sulpher Mountain. The scenery was breathtaking. We are looking forward to tasting the water at the glaciers tomorrow.

People to People Itinerary

This morning is all about glaciers. Learn about these vast sheets of ice created on the landscape by thousands of years of snow accumulating and compacting. Over time, the sheer size and weight of the glacier causes it to move down slope making the glacier look like a river of ice coming down the mountain.

Travel along the Icefields Parkway, which is recognized as one of the most scenic routes in the world. This highway provides the opportunity to see grizzly bears, mountain goats, lynx, fox and sheep. Along the way you'll also see Eisenhower Peak and hear the story of how this mountain received its name.

Arrive at the Columbia Icefields, where you will load up in specialized vehicles for a ride on the Athabasca Glacier. Half way up the 3.75 mile long glacier, you can get out of your vehicle and run around on the ice, which is hundreds of yards thick. Make sure to bring an empty water bottle so you can taste some of the purest water available on the planet.

Lunch is at the Brewster Lodge located at the foot of the glacier. Then it is time to head back to Banff, making a few stops along the way to see some waterfalls and the powder blue waters of Peyto Lake.

In Banff tonight you will meet one of Canada's Mounties who will describe the history and culture of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This evening, have a relaxing soak in the hot springs at the base of Sulphur Mountain while enjoying the setting sun and alpenglow.

Eisenhower Peak - I have no idea why they named this after our President...I sense a story here.

The glacier - stunning.

I doubt they will meet this guy! But I loved the picture and backdrop!

Day 6, Saturday, July 16: Banff, Alberta

So windy she looks bald! (Go UCSB!)

No word from Katie last night other than a text during the day saying Smashed In Buffalo Head was amazing and weird. She also sent along this picture.

She said it's incredibly windy (that's why her badge is plastered to her neck). She's also wearing a new turquoise turtle necklace she got in Calgary. It looks pretty cool.

We didn't get any word from Lyly on Friday and then a two-fer came through this morning. I added her Friday note to the Friday's blog (read it here) and then here's the one for this morning!

Note from Lyly: 

On morning two at Tipi Camp we headed for the Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

At the museum, Edwin was our guide. Edwin is 100% Blackfoot and very knowledgeable. He took us on a tour of the museum and then onto the "Kill Site". The museum is built into the cliff directly next to where the buffalo were run over the side.

Edwin taught us how the People would take several days to set up the path that the buffalo would run. They would dress in wolf and buffalo skins to slowly guide the herd towards the cliff. It took a lot of time and patience. When they were close enough, everyone would jump up and start yelling and running. The herd would stampede right over the cliff and then the People would run down to kill any buffalo that were still alive. Although graphic, it was really interesting to listen to Edwin.

After lunch we saw a dance demonstration. There was an older woman's dance, a young woman covered with bells, and a warrior dance. Each dancer was covered from head to toe in full regalia and the colors were beautiful. We also had a special visitor. It was a little girl, less than 2 years old, who also danced around with the adults. Her father told me that she can't even talk but she loves to dance. She was so cute. I was able to video tape every dance so you will be able to see the demonstration.

At the end, our students were given the opportunity to try dancing. There is nothing better in life than seeing children laughing, dancing, and enjoying themselves. I loved it!

We spent the last few hours before dinner going on a hike and learning native games. Elijah, the warrior dancer, took us on a hike across the vast acreage. Along the way we saw an old buffalo pond and the windy hill. The windy hill was at the top of one mountain range. You could look down over the cliff and see the river winding through the valley. It was such beautiful scenery. However, the students favorite thing was the wind. The wind was so strong at the top of the hill that if you opened up your jacket, the wind would catch it like a sail and pull you backwards. The students antics were hilarious to watch. Then we went back to the camp for games.

Riel, the camp owner, taught the students two games. One was a yelling games. Students would run as fast as they could , yelling at the top of their lungs. Whoever crossed the finish line first won. The other game involved sticks and bones. Be sure to ask your child all about it when they get home.

After a dinner of buffalo stew and bannock (fried bread), students enjoyed sharing their favorite event at tipi camp around a roaring fire. We all laughed, danced and shared great stories. Students went to bed eager to travel to Banff. 

People to People Itinerary

Say goodbye to your new friends as you leave the tipi camp behind. Along your journey to Banff, stop to see the massive glacial erratic known as the Okotoks Rock.

Once you arrive in Banff, settle into your accommodations before you take the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain. If the views on the way up aren't enough to do it, the landscape you see from the top will surely make your jaw drop open in amazement.

Dinner tonight is in the Summit Restaurant, surrounded by the crest of the Rocky Mountains.

That's the rock!

Yep, that's the gondola!

Okay - my kid is going to freak!