Welcome to Camrose!

Well, after nearly 2 months of being incognito ( and i do apologize!) I am back on the world wide web and I must say it feels great!!

I arrived in Alberta on July 22nd and spent one week in the midst of nowhere at a place called Morris Meadows. We had ( in we, I mean myself and the other participants from Canada World youth on the Alberta/Bolivia exchange) a solid week of getting to know each other, the supervisors and the program better while mentally preparing ourselves for what lay ahead in dear old Camrose. I will not lie, there are times I wish we were still there, getting fed by Sid Morris, the current owner whose family has owned the ranch and its vast lands since 1903 and having dance offs in the Carriage House. However, I will not bore you with what was. Instead I will try my best to paint a picture of Camrosian life in the next few paragraphs.

First and foremost, Camrose is a small town of about 16,000, one hour north of Edmonton. It has one public library, not including the University's facilities, a massive walmart and liquor stores on every other corner. It's population is mainly elderly people awaiting there fate and it's angst youth have a seemingly growing drug problem. The few people and businesses here that choose to be different can be seen suffering out their choices amongst the drones of highly religious, egosticially conservative, truly country masses and probably rethinking their main problem of choosing this town as their home.

It does have it's perks and I will not be the big bad city wolf. It has beautiful green spaces, mainly nice people ( although bleeding with fake kindness) and is exactly the kind of place that Canada World Youth need to focus their attention on while in Canada. There are tons of community projects and initiatives going on and being built upon and a strong need for volunteers.

I specifically have been placed to volunteer at the "Hip" radio station in town, Cam fm 98.1 as well as work with a Lady named Bonnie building eco-friendly living spaces just outside of town. Will this be my niche? who's to say, however, i think its about high time i find out!
As my time is about to run out I leave with these parting words.....Camrose, the Rose city..without roses.

D