Things Get Better Over Time

What do you think this blog is all about?  I could be talking about fine wine or teacher expertise.  Nope.  You are so wrong.  What I will be talking about today is CAMPING.

I am on holidays with my family, driving up north to visit the in-laws.  What we decided to do was CAMP en route.  BLAH.  To be completely honest, camping is not my favorite activity.

First, my parents are Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong and camping was questionable at best.  I mean, we ate spaghetti with ketchup.  I am not judging, I’m just saying.

Second, camping with my husband is NOT camping… it’s more like compromising.  Oh, we do not have any matches, let’s rub two sticks together.  A couple nights being cold, hungry, and ill-prepared provides no reinforcement to “the participant” that camping might be fun.

In 2010 and 2011, I was invited be a part of Pulling Together.  Pulling Together is a 9-day canoe journey that involves canoeing and CAMPING.  Big difference… it is all organized and each night ends with a HUGE catered banquet involving salmon and other yummy food.

The Pulling Together Journey is a phenomenal experience not easily described in words.  I loved it and the Journey involved a complete immersion into the camping experience.  I have learned lots about myself, families, community, culture, canoeing… and yes, camping.

My faith in the camping has been restored.  How do I know?  On our drive up to Prince Rupert, we camped for one night in Hope, BC and one in Prince George.  Although we still lacked air mattresses, firewood, and a propane tank for the gas stove… I had fun.

Things get better over time.  The circumstances of the “Younghusband” camping experience still remained the same (i.e. missing equipment), my attitude changed.  A change in perspective, changed the way I feel about CAMPING.  You see, people can change.