Portland, Wally world and NYC

so after San Fran i few up to Portland to spend a few days with my lovely american family the Torkelsens. it was really nice just to chill out for a few days and to spend time with Darla after the rush of so long. on thursday i headed up to Walla Walla university where most of the Big Lake staff attend. it was so great to see everyone as I didn't get to say goodbye to many people with the rush evacuation from Camp. we had heaps of fun catching up and i'm so glad that i made the effort to go up there. Now i'm chilling out in NYC with Ash Lyon from RYLA. she is being so lovely in putting me up and showing me around. today was my first day in New York. Ash and I slept in an then went to a cute little cafe called Alice's tea cup for brunch after a coffee stop at starbucks. before heading into times square for some shopping and then back to the apartment to get ready to head out to broadway to see Mary Poppins with one of Ash's work friends Tara who was just lovely. the show was AMAZING. loved it SO much. and then we headed out for dinner at supershake. i love the area that Ash lives in- if you have ever seen 'You've got Mail' then you will know where i am staying right now. :D so tomorrow we are heading out again to do fabulous fun things and i am so excited! I will post some photos soon! :)

BLYC photos!

PUC - St Helena - San Francisco

well the last few days have been quite lovely. as most of my trip has been! after LA, Jason and I caught the train north and spent a few days at his grandparents house near PUC (Pacific Union College) where Jason went to school. which was cool to see after hearing so many stories. we also went to St Helena, i will have to put up some pictures soon, it was such a gorgeous town! we visited a beautiful winery and had a look in all the little cute stores before going home to have dinner with one of his old teachers and his grandparents (who were away while we were there unfortunately, but kindly let us stay in their house!) next door neighbours who were just lovely! we had a divine puerto rican style mexican dinner, it was SO good. then the next morning they drove us to Vallejo where we caught the ferry to pier 39- Fishermans warf in San Francisco! :D i have now seen Alcatraz, and the golden gate bridge! :) we spent a lovely arvo checking out pier 39- so much to see! before heading to the airport, Jason fly's out home tomorrow, leaving me all alone. :( so i'll spend the day checking out San Fran by myself before heading back up to portland by train. pray for safe travels for both of us- i have a 18+ hour train ride to look forwards to!
well i hope you enjoyed the pics, there will be more coming soon when i finally desize them so that they will upload! :)

San Francisco! :D

Photo time! :) images from fun times in Portland and LA :)

LA- Disneyland, parkour, surfing USA

Well it's my last day in LA. Been here for a very fun week now. Spent most of the time here out with Erin at Loma Linda area. It was so good to see her again after all this time. On Wednesday night we drove out past Hollywood an went to a Parkour gym that Jason has been dreaming about for a long time. It was good fun an Jason an a few of the guys at the gym gave us our first lesson! It was alot of fun so I may have to find somewhere at home to keep learning. :) I found the trick stuff the most fun however! Friday was Disneyland day, Erin has to work unfortunately but Bry joined Cora, Jason an I for the day. We had so much fun, despite Pirates ride being closed (our collective favorite ride) Saturday Erin an I had some lovely girl time alone when Cora an Jason hit up Laguna beach with Billy, another Big Lake person from 06 an Jason's old roomie at college. We finished the day by heading to a Hens of one of Erins old college buddies, it was lovely to finally meet these girls that I had heard so much about an seen in photos an some even talked too on skype occasionally. They were all so lovely. Sunday Billy took the four of us an his friend Jarrat to the beach where they took us surfin, it wasn't the best surf, but it was still alot of fun despite the cold! That night we hit up Laguna for some gelato after our delicious Mexican dinner. I'm in live with that town, I could spend hours there going through all the art galleries! Yesterday Cora left us for home, an so Jason an I are staying with Bry for two nights before heading up to San Franscisco an PUC where he went to college. Last night we stopped by Bry's boy KC work for some drinks an a chat before hitting up a movie in the grove. Now were chilling out at the grove again while Bry has an audition then we are going to spend the arvo chilling before Merton up with KC at Santa Monica pier for dinner an drinks. Tomorrow morning we train up to San Fran. So pray for safe travels an someone to pick us up! So excited to explore San Fran! :) it's going to be amazing. Much love to you all. X

Fires, evacuation, so starts the travel portion!

Well i know it has been awhile aince my last post. But things at camp just got so busy!! I can't believe how fast 3 months flew past!!! Time sure does fly when you are having fun!! I miss everyone from camp so freaking much!! They were all amazingly awesome ppl an fortunately my travel plans mean that I will get to see most of them at least once more before I leave the states! But let me tell you- what a summer! If you remember correctly the first week of camp was cancelled due to too much snow, well last sat we got evacuated from camp due to a fire being less than 2 miles away from us. So that was fun! Haha was in the middle of our sat programme an we get told- get out! So we all ran back to our cabins, chucked everything in bags an then cars, then I had to drive someone's car out to the netting place by myself, get a lift back in then load 14 horses an help drive them out! With fire'ys all lining up with their pitchforks over their shoulders looking the world like the 7 dwarfs I couldn't help but laugh! So these last few days instead of being at camp Jason an I have been staying at his best friends parents house, they have been so lovely 2 us! An today the traveling adventure starts as we leave for LA today! :D I'm very excited, an altho these last few days have been lovely to chill out an relax I miss camp so freaking much!! It's so weird not having 100's of ppl around all the time!! Not 2 mention not working with horses every single day as I have been for the last 3 months!! Tho I am enjoying beig clean an not smelling for the first time in 3 months 2!!

So at 9:35 ish this evening I will be arriving in LA to spend some LONG awaited tome with one Erin Abston (my bestie from BLYC last time, it has been 4 years since we have seen each other so I am SO freaking excited!) an Bry from Perth. It is going to be amazing! So please keep Jason, Cora an I in your prayers for safe travels as we fly out today an go an explore LA. Things on the list of stuff to do are Disneyland of course! Surfing an hanging out at the beach, going to a Parkour gym for Jason, an general fun, if I'm lucky I can hope some dancing!!

Well that's all I have time for. I should get up an get mo if as there is alot to do between now an leaving! Some more pics will be coming soon! :)

the end is come and gone and near all at once

so camps are over, the normal ordinary summer camps that is, yesterday we had our staff retreat, which was amazing amounts of fun- we hit up jump sky high, an place the trampolines and foam pits and dodge ball trampoline courts- well i'm sure you get the point, it was alot of fun, we were all doing flips into the foam pit. then after a lovely picnic lunch at someones beautiful house where they had 10 kittens that everyone was running around after we hit a wings and waves, and indoor water park. it was pretty fun, the hot tub was amazing, and the wave pool and one or two of the slides was pretty fun so we were there for a few hours before all heading to taco bell for dinner where half the staff have no left us to do other things for the rest of the summer. :( was so sad to say goodbye to some of them not knowing when i am going to see them again! fortunately most go to walla walla where i am planning on visiting as part of my travels. so now we are having our day off, me Bee, Alyssa and Jason are hitting up Eugene for some chill time at Bee's house and shopping, its nice to go somewhere different other than Bend, even though i do love Sisters and Bend alot. so tomorrow we start bonus weeks, so 3 more weeks left of camp. there are quite a few people staying for the first week but then i think quite alot more people are leaving. :( week three we only have 4 people in the corral which is going to be interesting with 21 horses to look after. fortunately 3 of us are old hands and Jason who is joining us knows what he is doing, but after having 8 people to look after the 21 horses its going to be quite different!

i have started planning my trip for the rest of the time that i am allowed to stay in the states, which is pretty exciting!!! then off to see Larissa in England. its going to be very hard to leave here though, i have made so many amazing friends here again.

so heres to the last 7 weeks that i have in the States- how time flies!

photos!!!:D

BLYC- rodeo, rainy days and aussie time! :)

sorry it has been awhile lovelies! just having far too much fun. here is a quick update! :)

last weekend was camp meeting where i got to catch up with a couple of people from BLYC last time which was fabulous!! this week the weather has been pretty horrible, so while it was good for us to get a little break from work, it wasn't so much fun for the kids who couldn't do the activities that they had signed up to do, or the counselors who had to deal with them. and then the horses were acting up for the rest of the week which isn't so much fun for us. so keep us in your prayers for good weather! i don't need any more bruises or rope burns! otherwise still having a fabulous time- getting to know more of the staff which is fabulous, and makes for great days off. speaking of which we are having an Aussie day off this week! so so SO excited. its going to be nice to be able to speak and be understood. i can't believe how fast the summer is going, its crazy thats for sure! but with bonus weeks its still another 3 weeks of camp and then 30 days of travelling. :D so its not too bad when i look at it like that. although i have to admit to being a little homesick this past week (shock horror i know!!! please don't all die from shock) so if you have Viber on your phones (get it if you don't) you may get a random call or txt from me. :D

exciting news is that we are starting a rodeo here at Big Lake. i am completely over the moon about this and totally in my element planning it all out! but please keep us in your prayers as we practice certain things such as barrel racing, pole bending, jumping and vaulting. i wont explain the last one, just pray for safety and not too many bruises! but it is going to be fabulous! unfortunately i can't use any of my horses so i will be riding ones that are not overly familiar too me which makes it slightly more difficult. maybe by the end of the summer i will have our rescue horse ride-able as he would be brilliant if only he would stop shaking when people got on him and didn't try to take off. although he is getting much better, i get so angry when i see the whip scars on him, he is such a beautiful horse and loves cuddles to death! :) i will do my best to upload some pics soon, although our biglake internet haunt doesn't seem to allow me to upload pics i am sorry! i do try every week! but i will keep trying and hopefully this weeks D-O with real internet i will have a better chance!!

well love to you all. i must hurry to bed so i don't get caught by nightwatch and have to do early morning kitchen duty! hope you are all well and safe and sending lots of hugs and love your ways! xox

D-O, (Day Off)

So excited to have a day off!! hitting up Sisters and Bend with Bek and Jazzy, Brittany, Joanna and Sarah. sisters coffee house, then floating down the river in Bend, hopefully some shopping and MEAT! so excited to be away from campers for a little while and to just chill and not have to worry about where i am supposed to be and at what time so i don't get kitchen duty! missing staff training but its also good to be getting into the swing of camp and having more of a purpose. I have made a full recovery it seems from my little head dive of Juneau, so not more limping and i can see straight. so i had a few days off work from thurs to sunday. but monday i was back into it and teaching my first class how to ride (eek!) it seems to be going well altho its a steep learning curve and i try and figure out what i should be doing. no one has fallen or hurt themselves yet so that is a big relief! camp in general is going fabulously, and soon we should know whether or not we have the pack trip next week or not. i hope i do as the adventurers scare me they are so small! and im already sick of walking in circles! but i don't think my chances are that good unfortunately. i am going to be turning off my phone as its being too expensive. but i will still be able to check in on my days off and to call through Viber on my iphone whenever i have wifi. hope all is well down under! think of me enjoying the sunshine when its cold and rainy! haha eating watermelon and staring at beautiful lakes and snow capped mountains. :)

Stage 3- BLYC- family fun day, horses an staff training

So today we only had a half day, the afternoon we spent chilling playing mini golf an temping bowling an messig around on the bumper cars so it was awesome fun. Looking forwards to the staff banquet tomorrow night- tropical paradise theme! Altho the snow is melting it really isn't 'tropical' in the slightest! our staff video is done an looks awesome even if I so say so myself! Haha we had fun having snow fights, messing around with the horses, pushing trees over ect. All set to an awesome aussie band called Jinja Safari. There's not much to say as I only wrote a few days ago. But things are going well an am having fun. Our horse assignments are fairly set, I have Tucker an Juneau which I am very happy about! So is shaping up to be a fabulous summer! (altho the weather could be a little warmer! But I'm sure that will happen) I am thinking of you all an are hoping that you are all well. Aending much love.

Stage 3- BLYC, horse battles, singing prayers, fun an games

So I can't remember the last time I posted. Or what it was, I think I did once in Pastor Montes cabin, but so much has happened since then! Meeting new people an making friends. The weather is slowly warming up with is LOVELY! It's melting allthat snow which is awesome. Staff trainig is full on but going well. Though were all exhausted an were glad for the sabbath yesterday an the afternoon off today! Me, Bek, Jason an Kevin (two guys from 06) are chilling out in Sisters an Bend today so can't wait to hit up taco bell an red robin! We got our horse assignments the other day, I didn't get Spice, but I'm loving working with Juneau, though all my horses are challenging I think Juneau an I have a real connection, she's getting less flighty around me. Bonita is also a bit nervous but she's a sweety an Tucker is going to be my biggest challenge this summer so well see how thy goes, as he an I have a bit of a personality clash. I love the wranglers, they are all lovely an Brian is getting less shy around me an Bek, our Aussie ways have been a little overwhelming for some people, but most love it an everyone else is getting used to our accents an ways of speaking. I disnt bring my laptop today so still no photos, but I will try an remember for next time! I'll also take some of my babies an Beks so you can put names to faces! Im not sure how I survived 5 years away from here. I just feel like I'm home, that I'm exactly where I need to be right now. Well Im going to go an enjoy my day off! Love to you all. I am still alive an well, albeit with a few battle scars from Juneau, but I won so I wear them proudly! Haha x

Stage 3- Big Lake, snow, horses and friends

Well I have been here at Big Lake (BLYC) for 2 full days now (we arrived on sunday arvo). We started training with the horses monday morning and have done two full days and two evenings of Parelli training, which has been challenging but very useful and well sometimes fun! but i can really see the difference in the horses i was working with in the end! we get our horse assignments for the summer tomorrow, so wish me luck in getting Spice and Juneau! the two big goey girls. :) the wranglers are all really lovely, nicole and kelsey are darlings that Bek and I get along with fabulously! and it has been so amazingly good to catch up with old staff members!! though we're all pretty busy so i havn't had too much time to catch up with them all extensively yet. though that will happen soon i'm sure. tomomrrow the rest of the staff arrive, so then staff training really starts!! next sunday the kids arrive so that will be fun. really looking fowards to hitting up Bend (the second closest town an hour away- Sisters is only half an hour but doesn't have much in it) and bring on the Taco Bell and Red Robin!!

well hopefully soon (probably when I get into Bend) I will try and upload some pics to show you all the snow (we have an iceberg in the corral. and some of the snow is up to the roof!!) but its not as bad as i was expecting, though we do have alot of creeks running through camp! I havn't been brave enough to test the temperature of the water yet though!

Stage 2- (Portland) Basketball, photoshoots and bluegrass

well its been lovely have a few days to settle in, spend some time with my american family- the wonderful Torkelsens, getting to know the boys again- who are all very into and good at basketball, (i have been to a basketball game every night since i arrived for one boy or another!) though i tell you what, i have never seen anyone eat as much as those boys do! it makes cooking a challenge for someone like me who comes from a predominately female family! Brandon left the other night on his way to Greece for summer school, and Bek finally arrived from Australia yesterday afternoon and Darla and Monte headed away for some alone/connection time before summer camp leaving 3 aussies and two american boys- should be fun!! haha

Today we heading to church, and awesome church where they played bluegrass songs and they had real coffee and food! i was so impressed!!! it was a lovely church called the city sanctuary and i ran into Christina Perry from camp 5 years ago and Jason Robinson as well which totally made my day! of course we headed home and made haystacks- apparently its sabbath lunch food everywhere in the world!

Tomorrow Bek and I will be on our way to camp, so this will probably be my last blog post for awhile, and fb will be even less so. although when i finish editing the photos from the two photoshoots of the Torkelsen family i will post them up (we had to do two as the light was bad in the first and the boys were messing around too much!) it was hilarious, but didn't result in many good pictures, though when they want to the boys are very easy to photograph!

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday, giving me my first view of the beautiful snow capped mountain thats you can see from the back yard between the stately pine trees. as beautiful as it is, I can only hope that the sunshine will help melt some of that snow! though it is raining again today of course. got to keep that greenness going!

Stage 2- (Portland) Starbucks, greenery and Elk

So after a stressful wait in Sydney airport to see if I would get on a flight (which obviously I did, thanks to the wonderful Qantas staff who looked after me so well) and then a long, cramped and practically sleepless 14 hour flight to LAX (thanks to the two big guys beside me who took up all my room and the kid behind me that delighted in making lots of noise and was constantly banging on my chair) i arrived, made my way through customs and found my alaskan airlines flight dad had booked for me when we knew I was on my way out of sydney. I made my first purchase in america- which i'm sure you can all guess what that was! yep, Starbucks ;) a delicious Mocha Coconut Frappe to be exact.

After a nap all the way from LA to Portland I arrived to find Monte and Calvin Chuang there to pick me up, much to my relief as couldn't be sure if dad had gotten through to let them know I was arriving early. but there they were and Calvin made us a lovely dinner before we all headed over to see Chad's basketball game (which they won in the last quarter). after which i went and had myself 13.5 hours sleep! and I'm STILL tired. but just chilling today, which is nice after all the stress and travel over the last few weeks and days.

I am loving the greenery, the cheap EVERYTHING, the beautiful countryside (they had an Elk in the backyard yesterday before I got here!) and looking forwards to it finally getting warmer- at the moment is cloudy, occasionally raining and only a little warmer than Perth's winter. I am told by Monte that there is now only 50 inches of snow at camp, so it is melting...slowly (thats still a meter and a half!) so I'm hoping for sunny warm days to melt the rest of it between now and sunday but I'm not too optimistic! haha

For those of you who know Monte and Darla Torkelsen, they are very well. the boys are growing up fast! Brandon is heading over to Greece for summer school tomorrow for six weeks which is very exciting, and I believe that Chad and Trent will be coming to work at camp this summer. The boys all tower over me now, even Trent who is an 8th Grader. but they are all well albeit very cheeky! I will post photos soon as Darla has asked me to take some family photos before Brandon leaves.

Stage 1- Sydney (Photos)