Ch-Ch-Changes

Long time no see, friends! 

I wanted to write a blog post a lot sooner, and have even half-written a few drafts, but I’ve felt a little funny about it because so many things were happening that I didn’t know where to begin, and it seemed a little impersonal to reveal big news over the Interwebs. I ended up texting most of y’all, which also felt impersonal, so I don’t know if I made the right call on that one. This post will be scattered and in bullet format because I’m having trouble finding any other way to convey this information, and will have almost no photos because I no longer have my personal photographer, Morgan, by my side, but hopefully subsequent (will I write more in the future??) blog posts will be better. 

On immigrating:

• The Border Guards do not want to hear that you’re moving in, so I maaaaaaay have fudged the truth when I assured them that, without a doubt, me, my van/house, and all my worldly possessions were not, in fact, moving to Canada but I would definitely be returning back to the States in December when my tourist visa expired. Do I have an American address? Oh, no, I just ended my lease in New York. And who are you visiting in Canada? Um, that would be my partner. He hasn’t proposed yet but I do think marriage is on the table. Oh, but I’m sure not any time soon.
• My work permit and permanent residence applications have been sent to Immigration, but processing times will likely be 6-12 months or more. I won’t be working for quite some time, nor will I have that sweet, sweet free health care until my permanent residency is approved. I’m not too worried about the wait, but it does mean that I can’t really leave the country. If I leave and they don’t let me back in (which I guess is a real possibility, given the Border Guards' general attitude towards prospective-immigrants), I’ll have to reapply and the clock starts over again (not ideal). That said, the Canadian border is seemingly open, and I am always open for visitors (read: please come see me I miss you all terribly)!

On Vancouver: 

• From my balcony I see the North Shore Mountains and the ocean is just a 10 minute walk away. The streets and the air are clean, and the bums who live at the park next door are a little loud but overall pretty friendly. There are so many dogs here. The summer is gorgeous and I have a reluctant tolerance for the rain (ask me again in February, when the locals have assured me that I’ll want to hang myself for all the rain we’ll get). 

• I don’t want to be dramatic, but I have not enjoyed driving in Vancouver so far. Drivers here are simultaneously too aggressive and too passive; the roads don’t seem to have been designed with any semblance of optimal traffic flow in mind; only half of the major intersections have traffic lights which makes it impossible to cross anything; and no one knows how to parallel park. Not to mention gas is literally DOUBLE the price as it is in the States. Public transit doesn't seem like a very viable option either. Luckily, I live within walking of most of the things I need, but I was surprised to have this be such a sticking-point.

On the climbing:

• We weren’t able to do a whole lot of bouldering this season, but from what I have experienced so far, it is STOUT. For weeks, I was bailing on V1s and struggle-bussing on V2s. I was eventually able to send two V4s and I feel pretty proud of that. I’m hoping it’s just a matter of getting used to the rock and the problems here, and not that US bouldering (worse but more probable, I) is soft.
• Y’all, sport climbing is pretty fun. I know what I said before, but a consistent and solid belay partner really does make all the difference it seems, and I have been incredibly lucky to find one in Jamie (he did pull a tendon in early August (not great climbing-partner-beta, FYI), but he’s well on the road to recovery now). We’ve been doing a lot of falling-practice and drills, and I’ve still a ways to go, but my head-game has significantly improved over the course of the last few months. So much so that I decided to lead 30 pitches to celebrate my 30th birthday in September. That was 10 hours and 1,802 feet of climbing in one day; Jamie patiently belaying and force-feeding me chocolate throughout; feet screaming and tears falling by the end. I never thought I’d be physically or mentally capable of accomplishing something like that, but I felt myself digging down deep within me to keep pulling (making a lot of attractive grunting noises in the process). It was the first time in a long time that I’ve felt like I was really pushing my own limits, and it was the most perfect way to ring in my third decade alive and my first summer in Canada. 10/10 would recommend. 

• The rainy season (and by “season” I guess I mean the next 6 months??) has begun, which marks the end of my outdoor climbing days until next Spring. We might get lucky and get a few dry-enough days during the Fall/Winter, but it’s better for my emotional well-being if I don’t get my hopes up. Don’t feel bad for me though (well, you can feel a little bad), because this just means more time in the gym to GET SWOLL (cue the Rocky theme music and an intense training montage). Buckle up for Round Two of obscenely huge and veiny arms while I get ready for my second summer in Squamish and maaaaaaaybe even a state-side cameo if my immigration status gets an upgrade. I’ll keep you posted. 

On being married:

• When I was young, I daydreamed about marriage. I was one of those odd gals with a Wedding Diary where I would make notes about what I wanted for my wedding (definitely gotta play “Hot in Herre” by Nelly, and I want those cupcakes I saw on Pinterest that are decorated with fondant succulents on top instead of a wedding cake (very edgy)). In high school, I thought I’d be married by the time I turned 22. After college, I began to realize that growing up in a small, conservative, religious, military town was coloring my perception of the normal progression of things. After a while, I even started to think that marriage might not even be in the cards for me anymore. Try as I might to convince her otherwise, my (divorced) mom thought that maybe it was her fault that I was an old spinster; that she had given me a bad example of what being married looked like. In truth, I think it was my growing pessimism towards the patriarchal institution and, in general, the capitalist regime that was swaying my opinion (classic). 
• I was a bit nervous to tell you all. Not that I was given any indication that anybody would disapprove, but it does seem a little 90 Day Fiance and I was a little worried that my decision wouldn’t be taken seriously or would be judged as naive and rushed. And maybe it’s because I told you all through text, but the news seemed to be taken almost in stride with only a little fanfare, and I think that’s exactly what I needed at the time. I do, however, expect more to-do when we throw our Anniver-Ceremony next year (July 21st--save the date!). 
• It’s been two months, but feels like it’s been no time and all the time at the same time. There are moments when I forget that I’m married (it still feels weird to say it), but it also feels like I’ve always been married and always been here with Jamie. It feels mostly the same as being in a not-married relationship on the day-to-day, and only when I think about the future do I find that it feels very different. I’m not going to bore you with sappy romance, but Jamie is amazing and things are really, really great. 

In other news:

• I'm volunteering as a Unit Leader for a local Girl Guides of Canada unit (like the Girl Scouts of America, but (un)fortunately with less cookies). I’m with a group of 12-14 year olds who are super fun and have made me feel really welcome. We’ve gone on a soggy camping trip (complete with flashlight tag, s'mores, and tie-dye), where I learned that Vancouverites have approximately 47 different words for rain and they learned I am a charades-master. There are plans of snowshoeing and DNA extraction and Halloween-themed camp stove cooking in the future, and I am pretty excited to see where it goes.
• I started doing parkour! Clumsy as I am, you wouldn’t think I’d be very good at it--and you’d be right! My knees are currently a lovely shade of mauve and I’ve got some bumpy shins from clipping a rail last week, but it’s so fun and challenging that I don’t mind it too much. I’m embarrassed about trying to film myself doing anything, but I’ll try to overcome the fear and do it anyway. Anything for my fans.
• I've gotten very experimental in the kitchen with exceedingly positive results. See below for Tofish and Chips (putting the British in British Columbia) and a Nacho Waffle loaded with refried beans, house-made faux-rizo, and fresh slaw.

Maybe I'll make this a monthly thing? Who knows what will be worth talking about, but I've missed writing. It makes me feel a little bit closer to you, my far-off friends. I think about you all every day, in no small part because my coffee table is a giant picture frame covered in reminders. See you soon! XOXO