A White Christmas..

Hi everyone, Sorry it's been such a long time in between posts. I am working a lot more than I was in November, having moved departments within the hotel. I now work in Central Reservations, which is where we book guests into our hotels. It's a much better job, and I am enjoying it much more than front desk. My hours are still a little erratic so I don't get as much spare time to blog, in between sleep, work and trying to stay fit.

Anyway, since our last blog, Christmas and New Years have come and gone, and we've had some great experiences here. Along with a cold snap that came through southern Alberta, we experienced nearly two weeks of weather under -30. Walking to work became a lesson in survival and out-running hypothermia. Any exposed skin becomes frost-bitten, so you end up looking like an afgan in a burka, just to get to work!

There was also snow... lots and lots of snow. At one stage we had so much snow that cars outside were nearly completely buried under it. I love waking up and looking out the window to see this kind of thing. It really reminds you of how different Canada is to Australia.
You adapt to the cold quicker than you'd think. The week after the cold snap we had a swing from -45 to -4, and the change felt like a summer's day. Christmas day was about -12, which was fairly comfortable.

We went over to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on Christmas eve with some friends from work. Stu had to work til 11pm, so I went over earlier to see the light displays they had put up. JPL spends approx $50,000 a year on Christmas lights and Decorations. It's insane.

You drive through the entrance and there are literally dozens and dozens of massive trees covered in lights. All throughout the property they have Christmas displays and decorations on show. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is the most expensive place to stay in Jasper. The queen stays here when she comes over every few years. She stays in a cabin that is worth $12,000 per night!! Our tour guide graciously drove us around the property and showed us the cabins, staff accom and general layout of the cabin side of JPL. By this stage Stu had joined us and we got to see some elk face to face, from the safety of a car!
Anyway, we had planned to skate on the frozen lake outside JPL (Lake Mildred), but it turns out they don't do night skating anymore. We will definitely be doing that another day though!

An elk, at JPL.. about 2 metres away! I'd be just shorter than the stone pillar.

Stu in front of one of many massive, elaborate Christmas trees at JPL

Hanging out with Fred and Barney, local residents at JPL. These are roughly to scale as well!

Our little tree and the tonnes of gifts from family!

Christmas day was lovely. Thank you so much to our families for sending out gifts over, they made for such a great reminder of home. It snowed on Christmas morning. Stu and I took our time waking up, making "brunch" of bacon and eggs on toast. We opened our gifts and lazed around a bit, before heading over to Anthony's Restaurant (one of our hotel's restaurants) and enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner that was so amazing we just couldn't fit it all in! We walked home in -26 degrees (and I nearly died of hypothermia..) and spent the rest of the night cuddled up watching movies and resting. It was a really nice, relaxing day and despite the cold the snow made it magical!

Stu at Athony's Restaurant for Christmas Dinner

Ice sculptures outside the Sawridge Inn on Christmas Eve

New Year's eve was a bit of a non-event, Stu was working til 11, and he didn't finish up til just before 12, so I spent the night watching tv and making resolutions :o)
Anyway, I will upload a ton of our Christmas/New Year's-related pics for you to enjoy. We miss you all and hope you had a great Chrissy!
lv beth. x

Wearing the sock-puppet mittens Stu got me for Christmas, in front of the oiler's blanket I got for him..

My Snowboarding Marmot... he's so cute!!

The Fireplace at the JPL dining room where we had dinner. Note the giant Bison head..

Us, Christmas 2008

2 Years Strong.

Today, November the 19th 2008 marks my two year anniversary with Stuart.
For those of you who don't know our history, Stuart and I met through a friend while I was studying my arts degree at the CCC School Of Creative Arts on Sydney's northern beaches.
Stuart was living in Melbourne at the time.
Stu and I on our 3rd date, November 23rd 2006
When we first started to feel things for each other it presented a can of worms that I didn't think was avoidable. Long distance relationships are hard at the best of times, let alone when you're both students with limited resources and finances. Yet, somehow in my heart I knew it was worth the effort.

My primary love languages are touch and quality time, so I couldn't comprehend how I would go with a long distance sort of relationship. The distance wasn't all we had to overcome either. Our lives were so different, and yet there was a tangible connection too special to ignore.

So I promised Stu that once I'd finished my degree I would move to Melbourne so we could be together.

There were so many times I felt like giving up on my studies to be with him, but I also made a promise to God - that I wouldn't leave college until I had finished what I started. It was never the love of music, the friends, the ease of my position and influence that kept me in Sydney, it was always my word. And again, my word is what caused me to pack up my life and follow my heart once my studies were completed nearly 16 months later..
Stu and I in Melbourne. 5th January 2007.

Today we are celebrating our anniversary in Canada, in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. The temperature is -14 outside, and the views (and the altitude here) take your breath away. But what truly captures me, truly renders me breathless and speechless, is this gift I have. Because I stayed true to my promise, because I put God's purpose first in my life, He has blessed me so much by giving me Stuart.

Stuart's 22nd birthday, March 14th 2007. I surprised him by flying down to Melbourne.

Stuart Walker - the special (very, very special!) man who was made in such a way to put up with, understand and love me always.

Today I am grateful for Him.

Stu and I on our 1 year anniversary in Sydney. Nov 19th 2007

I just thought I'd share this with whomever chooses to read this little note. I am blessed to be loved by Stu, and to get to share this part of my life story with him.

I never thought it would happen to me... but it has.
Cheers for that, God.
Beth. x

Today, Our 2 year anniversary. November 19th 2008.

More Snow!!!!

Yep, you guessed it, more snow.

SNOW!!!!

Hi everybody, all is well here in Jasper with Stu and I.

This Thursday just gone we had SNOW!!!!! It snows a little here in the fall, but not much, so to see the streets covered and the snow falling heavily enough to make snowballs here was quite exciting!!! Stu and I were both working at the time, but I ran outside to take some photos. These photos were taken about 15 minutes after the snow started to fall, and by the time we finished work at 11pm, the streets were blanketed in the most beautiful, soft, powdery snow I've ever seen. The roads get very icy after the snow is ground into the asphalt by cars, so walking home was an exercise in balance and sliding!

Stu and I went out with some friends after work and ended up walking home through the town at 1am, throwing snowballs and writing in the snow on a few car windows. (read: Stu wrote words like "poop" and "pee pee" on every car.)

We tested out our new snow boots, and to my pleasure they turned out to be very comfortable and warm, although it was only about -5 out at the time. The town of Jasper is so peaceful and beautiful when covered in snow, every stretch of ground was pure white. The snow here is so soft and powdery, not like the hard icy, wet stuff you get in Aus. Making a snow ball is like picking up a piece of Styrofoam! Stu and I took turns throwing them at signs, street lights, even jasper, the town mascot. Of course we didn't throw them at each other, it was too cold. That will have to wait for another day.

We were both very excited about the snow, but I am in no hurry to make it happen again. Once winter kicks in we'll have plenty and it will stay around for months. It is definitely starting to get verrrrry colllld here in Jasper.

Me and Malorie, a fellow employee out in the snow!

I am however looking forward to seeing the town lit up for Christmas with all the lights and snow. I think it'll be quite special!

In other news, Stu and I are wondering if we should leave Jasper to work in Banff or Fernie - two other ski resort towns in Canada. Banff has a little more to offer than Jasper does, and we are not too sure about our employers here in Jasper. More on that another time though. We will keep you posted.

We will post more pics of the snow as it falls, you can be sure to see a lot of them in the coming months!!!
We miss you all,
b. x

Hey to all our Australian and American friends,
Just a quick blog to let you know that as of yesterday we are now 18 hours behind Australia as daylight savings has come to an end.
We are now on Mountain Time, which means we are plus 6 hours, minus one day. So right now it is 10am in Jasper, Canada, which means it will be 4am in Sydney and Melbourne.
So if you're looking to skype us, call or text the best times for you to do it are between 12pm - 5pm Australia time as that will be 6pm - 11pm the day before here in Canada. We get free incoming calls after 6pm in Canada, otherwise we get charged the same rate to receive a call as to make it.

We've been here in Canada for one month yesterday by the way. Do you miss us? :oP
Lots of love...
x

Jasper to Hinton.

Today we rented a car and drove to the nearby town of Hinton, Alberta to do some much needed clothes shopping. The town of Jasper does have clothing stores, however the range and style of clothing here is limited and also quite over-priced. So we organised to rent a car and travel to Hinton with a girl named Ashlee, who came over from Australia with us on the plane.

Geike St, just outside the hotel I work for. Note the snow on the parked cars.

We got up "early" (**in contrast to our 5:45am wake up for work, this was a sleep in of sorts) and walked to the rental place through the heaviest snowfall we have seen so far. This was by no means heavy by Jasper standards, but it was constant enough to be covered in snow by the time we arrived. Also, the ground was lightly covered in white powder, which we hadn't seen before! On our way down Connaught Drive we came across some geese crossing the road. They were so funny! They all waddled in unison and at the sight of an oncoming car, the "boss" goose let out a short honk to warn his friends about the traffic. It was very amusing to Stu and I, and was the first time we'd seen geese in town.

Stu, walking on the crunchy snow.

By the time we finally arrived at Avis my black jacket was covered in white flecks. It did sort of look like a bad case of dandruff, except it was all over me! We have figured out that we must be adjusting to the cold temperatures here, as this morning when we saw the current temperature was -1, Stu thought "oh, that's not cold," and decided not to take his warm jacket, instead opting for his aussie adidas jacket. A decision which he later regretted, but the mentality is definitely adjusting to the cold. Most mornings when we walk to work the puddles on the street have turned completely to ice, but we walk to work in little more than a hoodie.

Our friends, crossing the road.

When we got our rental car, we noticed it was covered in ice and snow that had frozen all over the windscreen and back window, as well as the roof. Being 25 meant I was the driver, and my immediate habit was to get into the car on the right hand side, with the keys in hand, ready to go... until I realised there was no steering wheel on that side and sheepishly got out. Stu laughed, but I think he would have done exactly the same thing! :oP

For the first part of the trip, we had to drive through Jasper to pick Ashlee up from the staff accomodation she lives in, which is just out the back of the Lobstick lodge, my hotel. It was so weird turning onto the opposite side of the road, and getting used to the turning lanes being different. Stu was fairly nervous about me driving (**as if! Whatever boy, I'm a way better driver!**) and gave me fairly continuous prompts until I promptly told him to shut up. hehe. We picked up Ash and were on our way.
The trip to Hinton is a good one, taking approximately 45 minutes in total, so it was a nice drive, even though it was fairly snowy in Jasper. The roads were clear and fairly straight so even though we were on the other side of the road to driving in Australia, it wasn't half as stressful as we thought. The overtaking lane here is on the left too, so that took some adjusting to.

And of course, in typical Canadian tradition, the views were spectacular. The drive is straight through Jasper National Park, which is the biggest National park in Canada. We followed the Athabasca River along, winding in and out with new mountain ranges every 2 minutes or so.
Some of these views just take your breath away. It feels almost like you're watching a movie, but then you remember you're looking at it in person and it just overwhelms you. I know it sounds corny but it really leaves you speechless of God's creation. I just keep thinking how amazing it is that he did this in 7 days... And it turned out so darn beautiful! I can't really get my head around it.. or Him. ha!






When we arrived in Hinton, we weren't greeted by much. The Mall Walmart was situated in wasn't much bigger than ringwood square or warriewood, although the Walmart experience was quite interesting. It's a lot like big W, but with a few very noteable differences, and wasn't as big as we were expecting it to be, although it's likely to be a small outlet, being in a small town. As mentioned in the previous blog, Halloween is next week and we are quite enjoying the new experience, even though Halloween doesn't mean anything to us. I've changed my shifts so I will be working Halloween night, as some of my co-workers really wanted to get all dressed up and go out trick or treating. Walmart had a decent range of costumes, although most of the female ones were limited to witches, ghosts or princesses. All of which are incredibly stereotypical. But Ash managed to get a very cool Cleopatra costume, which will look great on her. They must really go all out here in Canada for holidays.. Thanksgiving was a big affair and now with Halloween.. Not to mention the incredible amounts of what can only be described as "Christmas Crap" that they sell, all year round here in Jasper. Although I am most definitely looking forward to a white Christmas, and seeing the snow lined streets lit up with decorations and lights!

Jack-o-lanterns. The electrical kind. On sale. Buy now!

The biggest noticable difference between Walmart and big W? That would be the guns. Yes. I'm not kidding. They sell guns and ammunition at walmart. Granted, it's mainly hunting rifles (and paintball guns!) but never-the-less, Guns. We are definitely not in Australia anymore. It's funny, you adjust to so many cultural differences, but I don't think I'll ever stop feeling weird about the ready access to guns. I'm glad that's not something we do in Aus.

guns, anyone?

Stu, Ash and myself got some amazing bargains at Walmart, including some much needed thermals and snow boots for the coming winter. We will definitely be keen to head back there again, but it will have to wait for some other payday! We spent a lot of money, but we got 3 massive bags full of clothes and shoes in exchange, so in my opinion, it was definitely worth the trip!

McDonalds gets into the Halloween spirit.

We headed over to a familiar sight, the golden arches (**we are so world class**) for lunch, and it would probably be the nicest most un-mcdonalds-looking-McDonalds I've ever seen. Ash and I tried the baked apple pie, which is soo much nicer than the Aussie deep fried version! McDonalds is a rare treat as there is not one in Jasper. Not that there's not a steady barrage of deep fried, artery clogging options to choose from, but either way it was nice to eat something a little more familiar.

Our new friend Ashlee!

We had a quick look throughout the mall and then realised we had to make tracks back to Jasper to return the rental. So off we went. We made it back juuust in time (**ok, maybe 10 minutes late!**) and caught a cab home. SO, today, I:

1. Drove a left-side drive car on the right-hand side of the road safely.
2. Shopped at Walmart.
3. Watched an ice hockey game.
4. Spent way too much money!

And tonight, we are heading out to watch the local ice hockey team the Jasper Wolves play at the activity center. (yes, I spelt it that way deliberately because that's what it is here.) What a good day!
Also, write to us!! PO box 2253, Jasper, AB, Canada T0E-1E0.

Lv b.

P.s.... one cool thing about Walmart I forgot to mention? They sell the following:

Yep. Scrubs.

Can-eh-dian Traditions and other etc.

Today I found out that you don't need to have any money whatsoever in order to truly experience Canadian culture.

This morning Stu and I spent nearly 2 hours hollowing out the insides of 15 rather large pumpkins at work. By hand. Halloween is next Friday, and the owners/ directors of our hotel chain are in town checking in on their investment and some clever fellow decided it would "look nice" to use jack-o-lanterns as table centre-pieces for their rather exclusive dinner. We hollowed out 15 pumpkins with little more than a paring knife and two soup spoons. And no, I'm not even kidding.

It's been nearly 7 hours now and every now and then I can still smell it or I'll find a piece of pumpkin in my hair.

Stu is only too happy to never see another pumpkin again. I on the other hand, am now craving pumpkin soup, promptly followed by a big warm slice of pumpkin pie. :oP We had pou-getti for dinner though. It's a variation of a Canadian dish called Poutine. Poutine is french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. Don't knock it till you try it. Pou-getti is fries covered in meat sauce and cheese. A single serving of Poutine at KFC here is 970 calories. Yep.

Tomorrow we will engage in another cultural activity... driving on the right hand side of the road. We will be driving to a nearby small town named Hinton, where we will witness and indulge in the great North American tradition of shopping at Walmart. (**I will try to act like I'm not excited because that would make me such a tourist, but secretly I'm stoked and can't wait**) We are hoping to see some bears on the drive... hopefully not ON the road and definitely not ON our car.

We are definitely feeling more comfortable in the culture here now, unfortunately it's becoming an inevitable fact that our accents are going to change eventually, even if only slightly, but to be understood by a lot of Canadians here you really have to emphasize your R's... which obviously goes against all Australian accent-isms. C'est la Vie....
Anyway, This was only meant to be a short blog.... so I'll go now.
So in the words of our friendly Can-eh-dians, See ya later eh?