May 10, 2013 - Friday

My bags are packed and I will be heading out on Highway 3 to Seven Persons School.  I have seen grain elevators, irrigation wheels, coulees and Cyprus Hills.  After travelling for about 90 minutes I received a very warm welcome from the teachers, staff and students of Seven Persons School.

The first session was at 10:30 a.m. with 73 grade 4 - 6 students.  Then we had a delicious pot luck lunch that the staff prepared.  After lunch I had my last two groups.  K-3 with 84 kids and then 65 grade 7 - 9 students.  The staff were impressed that I held the attention of the High School kids on a Friday afternoon. After telling them 7 tales my storytelling is now down for Alberta.  

This has been one of the most exciting experiences that I have done with storytelling.  The schools that I have visited are filled with warm, respectful young boys and girls.  In the mornings, if I arrived at the start of the day at a school I could hear the students singing Oh Canada.  I am not certain that the anthem is sung in schools in Montreal.  I met so many inspiring teachers, and children from all walks of life.  I was always on time and I was prepared.  Sometime mornings I arrived before the principal and staff.

The stories that I shared along the way were from Eastern Europe, Costa Rica, Hindu tales, and a French  Canadian Tale.  Through the telling of the old Jewish - Ukranian Folktale: "A Wonderful Life" I taught many of the students how they could re-tell this tale to their own families. The students of pre-k to grade 6 that I met on this tour all now know the sounds that are in this tale, and they all helped me tell the story by adding their own animal sounds.  Together they helped the tale unfold in their own unique creative way. In all I shared 19 stories with approximately 1,147 students over the week.  Not bad!  Well my plane is here, and it is time to head home.  Thank you Alberta for listening!  

Post script: the plane took off from Medicine Hat a little late.  The ride was a tad bumpy because of air stream pockets.  We landed in Calgary with only 10 minutes to my next connection.  I was asked to get off the plane before the others and a cart with a driver was waiting to whisk me to the terminal and then I was told to run.  I got to the plane but they said that I couldn't board unless they would have time to shift my bag over from one plane to the next.  Well within a few minutes I was given permission to board and the rest would soon be history.  The flight was uneventful but as I waited for my bag to come out on the carrousel I noticed that Jean Charest had been on my plane.....hmm - flying with a celeb!  I can't wait to do a tour like this again, but for now I will keep telling stories and look into getting my Chanukah story off to the publishing world to see if there is any interest in seeing my next dream come to fruition - a book of my own! 

May 9, 2013 - Thursday

My trusty chauffeur Richard picked me up at 8:10 this morning and he drove me to Coaldale.  We drove through Prairie land, he showed me irrigation systems, coulee, and talked to me about farming.  I did two sessions in Coaldale and the kids of all ages really enjoyed the storytelling.  One little girl lives on a farm and helps out with the chores.  One little boy lives on a sheep farm but he told me that his sisters do the work.  When we were done we drove to a German Bakery and bought sandwiches for the ride.  Delicious!  

We arrived in Enchant which pretty much only has a Main Street.  One school with grades right up to grade 9.  Today was a Mennonite holiday - Assention so none of the Mennonite kids were in school.  Some kids from another town, Lomond came instead.  I asked the children what was special about Enchant and they told me a whole bunch of things.  Enchant is 100 years old.  They have a great ice- cream parlour which is only open in the summer.  I think the kids from Lomond said that they had one paved road. These kids really loved my stories.  Even the grade 9 students were engaged.  

Tonight I had a delicious supper with Richard and his wife Alice.  They have both been most kind to me.  

One more school tomorrow and then I fly home.  I am looking forward to Seven Persons School tomorrow.

May 8, 2013 - Wednesday

The wind has picked up but it is still a glorious day in Edmonton.  Sleeping has not been the best in the Edmonton downtown Holiday Inn.  My room must be jinxed because the first night someone called in the middle of the night asking for Boston Pizza, and on the second night I was awakened by very loud female and male voices, groans, moans, loud expressive noises but lucky for me it was short lived....from what I could hear no more than a quickie!  Disrupted sleep.....last hour deep sleep, and then the alarm went off and a new day was about to begin.  

Evansdale School is a very large school with over 340 students.  I told stories to 300 of them in three separate sessions.  I even had a few grade two students sit in on a second session and they were thrilled.  One hundred little faces staring back at you as you take them on a journey is quite beautiful and very powerful.  They were hanging on my every word.  Evansdale School is a melting pot of the world.  Children from every walk of life, different challenges, different nationalities all sitting together.  They were wonderful.  The school was great and so were the teachers.  Everyone has been so welcoming.  

Pat Sparling and the music specialist took me out to lunch. Veggie wrap in a flat bread pita with a bottle of water and I am a happy camper.  The order is placed and I grab my bottle of water, throw it into my purse and I head for the washroom.  When I get to the table the two teachers are happily eating.  I am looking forward to the wrap. I spread the tzadziki around evenly and then I take a bite or two.  I notice something beige in the next bite....I think stir fried tofu in a veggie wrap....how lovely. I sink my teeth into that lovely tofu, I chew for a second or two and then I think.....wow! This kinda tastes like chicken.  Well I don't have to tell you what came next! Pat realizes that she is happily munching on my veggie wrap and I have gotten her chicken wrap.  No worries- back to the counter we go and a new veggie wrap is ordered.  I feel terrible that Pat has bought me two wraps but she says no problem- my son will be very happy to have the chicken wrap later!

Edmonton is quite spread out so taxi is the mode of travel for me.  So long Edmonton, I am heading to the airport to fly back on a small plane to Calgary...two seats on either side of the aisle and propellors that zip round and round.  Just my luck the airplane to Lethbridge is even smaller and there is just one seat per person on each side of the aisle.  We can also see the pilot and the co-pilot as they fly the plane with the vibrating seats.  I watch one propellor whirl, not quite sure why the one on my side isn't whirling....patience I figure....yup!  Two are now whirling and we will soon be on our way.  Landing was fun too.  Woohoo I can see the runway out the front windshield as we head down to the tiny airstrip.  Don't miss the strip I think, land safely if you will.....and the captain does.  Welcome to Lethbridge....one of the tiniest airports I have seen in a long while!

May 7, 2013 - Tuesday

The Holiday Inn Express Downtown Edmonton is certainly no Hilton or Weston.  The hotel key works once, but not the second try. Back to the desk to ask for a new key and to change the room because of elevator noises but I am assured that I will be happier there than between a loud tv and someone going to the bathroom.  Back upstairs I go with my new key. Trouble getting onto the wifi no worries just call for help. Problem fixed, woohoo and two minutes later the system has failed again.  The room is heating up, the air conditioning isn't working.  It is now 10:00 a.m. And I am changing rooms.  Moving on up to 804 - gee I do hope it will be better.  Nicer room - not the best sleep and the alarm is set for 6 a.m.  

The alarm rings, it is time to bounce, breakfast and taxi is here by 7:30.  I am so worried about being late that II have never been so early in my life.  The next few hours will fly by in the blink of an eye.  Pr-k to grade 2 for an hour - jump in a taxi and go across town for another hour.  Great schools, great kids. As I am telling stories at the second school one little boy suddenly has a nose bleed.  I signal the teachers without skipping a beat in my story, then I notice another kid starting to throw up, I signal the teacher's without skipping a beat - talk about new experiences!  

When the stories are done the librarian whisks me back to the first school. More stories, more fun with grades 3-6.  Then I put my feet up and schmooz while I wait for my lovely host Natalie to bring me to her house for supper.  I now have a new friend on Facebook and a new friend in Edmonton.  What a super day and evening.  

I am exhausted but it is a great feeling.  I have three tellings tomorrow then I am off to the airport bound for Calgary and on to Lethbridge.  Gosh I hope the fun continues.  

May 6, 2013 - Monday

Omg! What an incredible day. I am sitting at the Calgary airport and catching my breath. The morning began early with a taxi pick up at 7:30 a.m. Calgary traffic dictates the early departure time and of course I want to be punctual! I arrived at St. Wilfrid Public School before the principal. Lovely people, warm greetings and a spot to park my suitcase with all of my new purchases.
The first session began at 9:00 a.m. with approximately 60 grade 1-3 students. What a hoot. I loved it especially their animal choices for the tale "What A Wonderful Life." They filled my story with an alligator, a bird, a lion and a chicken. It was so cute to see them all making the sounds and actions. The second hour was with students of grades 4-6. They were a great bunch of kids as well. I told them a mix of takes including a French Canadian Tale, Nasradeen the Mulla tales, a Costa Rican Tale, and Eastern European tales. There were 14 students that were chosen from Grade 1-6, whom I had the privilege to eat lunch with. Neat kids with cool names from around the world.
Then the librarian whisked me off to Airdrie Public Library for a storytelling session with 65 grade 1 students and adults. We were gathered in the City Council Chamber and I met the Mayor of Airdrie! Another great experience and then I was interviewed by Joel who will write an article on my visit to Airdrie. Stay tuned! Another chariot ride to the airport and now I am waiting for the plane. I kinda like the new punctual me!

May 5, 2013 -Sunday

I am up nice and early and getting ready for the long awaited storytelling tour. First stop is the PJ Library in Calgary. Kathie my chauffeur texts me to say she is here. I am on my way down I text back. I walk out the front door and discover that there is no one waiting for me. It seems that there are a few 71 Woodacres in the area. A few minutes later I meet Kathie Wainer director of the PJ LIbrary in Calgary for the first time after months of e-mails back and forth.
I told stories in a beautiful atrium at Jewish Family services in Calgary. There were approximately 20 Kids and 25 adults. The four stories that I told were very well received. I even had a chance to throw in a few finger plays for the very young. After a few goodbyes I was back home for lunch and more shopping. Boy do I ever love Aritzia.
The Calgary sunshine was beckoning us to be outdoors. My s-i-l and I went for a long walk in Fish Creek Park. The walk was wonderful - nature, ducks, paths that wouldn't end.... And then the question came-where are we? Do we know the way back? The signs are completely inefficient as they state you are here but then they do not indicate where here really is. Well 3 hours later we were completely off track. We ended up near the C train, walked along the highway. Took a short cut that ended up with barbed wire fence on either side. When we entered there were lovely white tailed deer. They looked at us, we looked at them. Hmmm! They knew that there was no exit-but we did not. So we walked through crunchy brush until we could walk no longer. We couldn't exit either. The thought of walking all the way back and having to face the deer was more than we could bare. As we walked back we found a break in the fence, quick let's just escape through the opening! A quick climb up an embankment and once again we walked and walked for miles. Three hours later we returned home, our lips were dry our mouths were parched but we were finally home. It is a good thing that the Calgary sun remains high in the sky even past 9:30 p.m.
Well tomorrow is another day so stay tuned to the whirlwind tour.

May 3,2013 - Friday

Last minute packing done by 2:00 a.m.
Early to rise - take off was at 8:30 a.m.
A little Timmy Cafe and it was take off.
Great flight, time to reflect on stories.
Flirting with a 9 month old in the seat diagonally across from me and watched a mom sign to old Macdonald had a farm. Now that was cool and gives me an idea for my mother goose program.
Great fun in the Aritzia store at the Chinook Mall, and now I am going out to meet a woman who I went to high school with back in the day in Ottawa.
Great start to an awesome storytelling week. This is all part of the fabric of the adventure. Stay tuned for more.....