I have been in Canada and exactly in Orangeville (approx. 1 hour of Toronto) for 2 weeks now. I am a volunteer (resident in training) for 3 months at the International Taoist Tai Chi Centre. People have been wondering as I have been a little out of computer and email touch…but I just have been really really busy. It is only 2 weeks, but it seems so much longer already as so much has been going on.

When I first arrived, I was a gardener, getting weeds out and doing some house cleaning. It is really busy time of the year here as we have lots of important workshops going on. This week we are over 550!! So we have been preparing for this the last 2 weeks.

Then last weekend I went to Montreal for a Grand Opening of one of our building in Quebec (Canada Eastern Region Centre). It has been just an amazing weekend with lots of people coming just for sharing a great moment together. I helped out in the kitchen chopping lots of vegetables and the best of all has been being a Dragon leg !! in the parade we did in the streets around the location. It was just so much fun. Our Dragon is 50 legs long…it is the longest in North America….it is pretty fun loading him in and out of the truck I can assure you…especially if you are only 20 people!! He is resident in Orangeville at the Centre but he loves to travel around and show of his beautiful smile!! We also had a Lion Dance in front of the building…and of course Taoist Tai Chi demonstrations and a great Jai for lunch and amazing Lobster Banquet at the end of the day. We also danced folkloric old Québec dance…so looooads of fun!! I was totally tired at the end of the weekend as we run around a lot, did a lot and had little sleep, but it was so much worth it as we had a lot of great times and laughs….how many times in your life can you say: “I was a Dragon Leg!!!”???

Then since Saturday and the CIT week (workshop for Taoist Tai Chi instructors in training) I have been amongst other thing a Barista at the coffee corner we have to do some fundraising….So little by little I am learning to make Espresso, Espresso Doble, Cappuccino, Mochaccino, Caffé Latte, Macchiato…and so much more…my Italian friends: you can be proud of me for sure!!!…at least I hope 

Of course between all of this I am doing Tai Chi, Chanting, Meditation. I also went for a walk the other day in the little nearby forest…and it was so quiet and so nice. It always amazes me here as it could be super busy and have lots of people around…but you always manage to find peace and quietness whenever you need it…and I love the energy here. It is just so great so far to be here and sure we work hard but in a so much different way than I am used to do…sure it gets pretty speedy around eating time especially when we have 550 or 800 mouths to feed….but it is always with big smiles on everyone faces and you always have people willing to help out whenever needed with an open heart, mind and open arms.