It has been a cold winter in Alberta, so the opportunity to head off to Florida was perfect timing! However, our booking for this could have been thought out a bit better. The course was Starting on May 1st, but when we booked the course, we didn’t realize that Karsyn's wedding reception (Kari’s oldest daughter and Carolyn was the emcee for the event) would be the Saturday before. Generally for travelling schools we tend to get there the day before so we can check out the set up and location and to make sure we know where we are going (if you have read the rest of our travelling blogs you will understand why we need to do that). Well this wasn’t going to be the case for going to Wellington Florida. Luckily, our beautiful host Sasha was willing to work with us and send us pictures of how the set up was so we felt a little better about getting there so late. So we got up and headed straight to the airport after a beautiful reception and about 4 hours of sleep. Off to Florida we went!
We didn’t get in until later in the evening and had to find our Air B&B in the dark. Which is never a great idea for us as we get fairly lost during the day. But we actually made it without too much issue.
We had a cute little place that was about 20 min from the arena and had a nice little patio with a small fountain and patio set. Just perfect for us! We got unpacked, had a nice shower and then went to bed. As we flopped onto the beds to fall into a deep sleep, we quickly realized that these beds were not beds for “flopping”. They were in fact, the hardest beds in the world. About as soft as damp plywood. But as tired as we were, it didn’t even matter. Now one of the most interesting things when we go to all of these places are the different sounds. Wellington was no different. As we laid down to rest our tired eyes… this sound started. We still don’t know what was creating the sound, but it was something like a woman half crying and half heavy breathing. Kari actually thought that it was Carolyn in pain with her back on the ridiculously hard bed. The sound remains unidentified, but still definitely creepy.
After a (somewhat) restful sleep. We got up bright eyed (after the under eye de puffer roll on that we have learned to depend on) and ready for our day! We got packed up and into the car and for some reason, Carolyn kept thinking we were back in Australia! Every time we turned, her immediate instinct was to turn onto the wrong side of the road. It took her three days to get into the fact that she was still in North America!
We arrived at a decent time to Sasha’s place in enough time to see that they have prepared BEAUTIFULLY! Not only with the set up of the classroom, but with FOOD! And we LOVE FOOD! Her lovely husband Doug, a natural horsemanship trainer, was a HUGE help that kept everything running smoothly as well! Not to mention the horses. Some big horses live at their place but absolutely beautiful horses and fantastic dispositions!
We met the group of soon to be facilitators and we were off and running! We had an incredibly dynamic group of women in the course and loved the stories and interactions form each.
As we headed out to run our first client program we were introduced to the heat… the hot hot heat! As the typical Canadians that we are, this lead to massive complaining about the heat and the various places that we are sweating from. But the heat took a side note to the flies! Now we have flied at home, but NOTHING like this! Apparently we came at the worst time ever for flies. They would surround us and bounce off of our eyeballs and faces during the courses. They were relentless!!!!!! When we would go home at night, we because thankful for the lack of flies and all of the little lizards that were around. They were so cute! Plus! They ate the flies! Another distinct bonus!
Katie, one of our past facilitators, was attending parts of the course as well as she was getting another team member certified. One night, since she had no homework, she came over. Well we were a little foul as we had gotten some irritating emails though. Katie to the rescue! She brought a game called Speak Out, where you have to put these odd mouthpieces in and try to say certain phrases. This was exactly what we needed! We LAUGHED and LAUGHED until our bellies hurt! Sometimes laughter truly is the best medicine!
On the fourth day we were introduced to Florida rain. We do get rain at home, but generally not a downpour like this! The skies opened up and dumped BUCKETS of water down upon us! Luckily not during a program, but we had to run to our car (not far away at all) and were SOAKED just in that little amount of time! When it rains, it pours in Florida! We tend to packed based on what we think that we will need when we go away. When we go somewhere hot, we always pack a bathing suit. Especially if we are going near an ocean. Very very rarely do we ever actually use these. In fact, in all of our traveling, twice have we broken out the swim suits. But one thing we always need is a coat. Kari has her favourite coat that she almost lost once before in Australia and ever since she has been pretty diligent about where her coat is. Well, not
this trip. Since it was so warm out we tended to eat on patios. Kari always brought her coat - just in case. Well on day four, at about 8:30 at night, Kari realizes she hasn’t seen her coat in a few days. Sure enough, it is nowhere to be found. We begin retracing the steps. All the way back to the first day of the course. We had gone out for dinner and the coat had not been seen since. Sure enough, we called the restaurant and it was still there! Happiness is! Kari told the group about being so happy that no one took it. They put it in perspective for us. “Kari, it is hot here. Nobody wants your coat!” Every trip we go on we try to see something that we couldn’t see at home. This trip was the Safari nearby! This was a conservation facility that you could drive through to see the animals. Lion, emus, rhinos and monkeys! What a cool place!
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