Monday, March 5, 2012

A little Homesick: Newfoundland, Canada

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(Picture is taken at a Newfoundland landmark… “Goobies”. There is such a place)

You would think by the title of my post that I was a first year college student living away from home for the first time. This is not the case; I have actually lived in the United States and away from my favorite place on earth, Newfoundland, for what will be 10 years this summer. Geeze, I’m getting old.

The truth is the past year has been filled with some really big and exciting events and some very sad and frustrating realities. Getting married ranks right up there in the most exciting of things, along with really pushing for the start of the bakery, qualifying for the Boston Marathon at my first marathon, and just missing by one place qualifying for the World Championships for Ironman 70.3!

However more recently life has thrown some very sad and frustrating realties into my world. Within a three week period I have lost two friends. Neither of whom should have left us so early, and both who are missed dearly. What has made life even more frustrating is that I could not and still cannot travel home to Newfoundland to mourn with friends because of my current immigration status. Due to the process of my visa being adjusted to a permanent resident I am in a state of limbo, whereby if I leave the USA I would not be permitted re-entry. Did you ever see the movie with Tom Hanks, The Terminal?… That’s kinda like me right now.

So with the loss of a dear Newfoundlander, it has made me think a lot about home. There is truly no place on earth like Newfoundland. Any Newf, or person who has visited there can attest to this.

So, since I’m feeling kinda sad these days, I present you the picture homage of what I’m missing so badly. 

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(20 years later. Fishing with my Dad)

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Ever since I was a littler girl, whenever I was getting stressed out from school or competitive sports, my dad would take my brother and I camping and fishing… just to get away from it all. Pop, it’s about that time again.

If for some reason we couldn’t make a trip out of it, I would still go outside because that’s what calms me down. All of these are pictures from home.

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I was blessed to grow up in a family where camping, fishing, and every kind of outside activity was encouraged. I am now fortunate again to have a Hubby who can understands both what it is to live away from home for so long AND how much mental decompression there is with just being outside. Some of our first dates (correction, “non-dates”, were camping and kayaking trips). So when I finally brought him home to Newfoundland, he caught a real insight to what made me this way!

More pictures of camping in NFLD… with an American (gasp).

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However, the difference in camping at home with anyone other than a Newfie, is that we have a lot of explaining to do about why some things are the way they are…

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This sign was actually posted in the bathroom of a Provincial Parks information building.

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Why do we sell these things?

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They don’t have that kind at Panera Bread!

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Who is this “Tim Horton”??

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How did that house get out there?

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Really?

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Reeeally?IMG_9798

Reeeeeeeeeeally?

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With all of his questions answered, he was hooked. Turns out he likes this place “Newfoundland” too!

Signal HillWhenever we go back, we always visit the place he proposed! So now you might get the picture of why I miss home.

What about you? Are you living away from “home”? Ever miss being a kid again?

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Thanks for reading!

***Don’t forget about the Cupcake Toppers Giveaway, entries close at 11:59pm Tuesday night!***

16 comments:

Victoria said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss and can't even imagine how difficult and painful it is for you to not even be able to back to Newfoundland to say goodbye.

It's also very normal to miss home even more at times like this; you don't sound at all like a college freshman.

cheryl said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Your home is beautiful

Jayne said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'm so sorry - the visa status thing just makes it all so much worse! Any idea when that will all be finalized? Your pictures are gorgeous. Love the pictures of you and your dad. Mine used to take me fishing too. :)

Tami said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

It must be difficult to deal with all this.....I hope that the memories you have of your friends can help you through these difficult days and when all your paperwork goes through you can travel home.
I feel some what lucky. As a child we vacation in new Hampshire and I went to college there and now I live here. I am halo that I grew p in my childhood town, close to Boston, etc but being here in the "country" just feels right.

Thisis my favorite little poem, it's from w.h. Auden and was in the movie four weddings and a funeral


Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Lisa said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Ireland is my home away from home, all of my family lives there except for me and my mom. I try and make it back every other year, every year it twice a year like I did growing up, is just not feasible with how pricey everything is there!!! Some of your pics of Newfoundland look a LOT like parts of Ireland, makes me miss home now too!
I'm sorry your so homesick now, but hopefully your visa/resident staus will get cleared up soon and you can go visit very soon!

Bobbie said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

@Lisa
Yep, Newfoundland and Ireland might as well be an extension of one another! I haven't traveled over there yet, but it is definitely on the bucket list!

Jenny Davidson said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Beautiful pictures! Sorry for your losses - that's tough. Hope visa status is soon resolved (I know it can take way too long!).

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'm so sorry that you have lost two dear friends and can't imagine how you feel being stuck in *limbo* and not being able to get home to say your final goodbyes.

Thank you for sharing these pictures. I lived in Newfoundland for seven years. My ex is from St. John's and they spent every summer and long weekend in Maher's at their cabins. Your photos bring back a lot of memories.

Molly said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Timbits!!! <3!

I'm so sorry for the losses of your friends. I hope you can get back sooner rather than later - especially summer when I know it's nice there!

I would never have expected it but I live in my hometown again, just 2 blocks from my high school (which my 3 sisters all attend right now).

Gorgeous photos as always!

Kris said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

So sorry to hear about the loss of your friends, and it must be very hard not being able to travel home right now.

I was born in Illinois, grew up in Arizona from the time I was 8, and have lived in California for almost 17 years. I still call Illinois "home", it's where my family is. And I still get homesick occasionally too. Rather than wishing I lived there tho...I wish they'd all move closer to me. :)

Wendy said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Lovely photos and amazing that you have a place you call "home."

I grew up as a Navy brat, and the concept of "home" is quite foreign. My dad actually spent a fair amount of years working for the Canadian Navy and loved each moment of it (his nickname is Grandpa Canada). The trips to St. John's were always a highlight (along with Halifax and Victoria).

Just enjoy each moment.

Perhaps a tribute or memory baked good will emerge from this.

Peace.

Alli said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'm sorry I didn't get to read this sooner! Thank you for sharing your awesome homeland (btw, I know we're supposed to be friends b/c I kinda have an obsession with moose, we'll talk). And on a more serious note, I am very sad that you could not properly mourn the loss of those close to you because of some silly rule/regulation. I'm sorry for your loss and hope you're doing okay.

Liz said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Huh, I didn't realize you were from Newfoundland. All of the pictures look so, so beautiful!

Canterbury Cakes said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

So sorry to hear of the loss of your friends. It must be so hard not being able to return to mourn their passing. Newfoundland looks to have absolutely stunning scenery; it's no wonder that you love being outdoors - who wouldn't want to get out to look at all that natural gorgeousness as much as possible.
I too live away from 'home', although still in the same country at least, but it's still tricky to get back to see everyone. The modern age offers so many wonderful opportunities for travel but the big sacrifice is distance from the ones we love. I hope the visa situation is resolved quickly so that you can start going back home again!

Gillian said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I came across this post searching "homesick newfoundland" in Google. I'm from NL as well and am feeling quite homesick (living in BC) and I loved looking at your photos!

Alanna said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Aw, this gives me such warm feelings of our little Rock.
I'm so sorry for your loss, I hope you can make it back to the island soon.

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