PGO Guide Training

Coloma, California

Wow! what an intense week! And totally worth it!  I was so tired by the end of the loooonnnng rafting week I think I slept for 2 days straight when I got home. (Seriously, they were a blur!) I thought about how I can share all of my 10 days worth of experience and quite frankly, the entry would probably never get posted. There is so much to share and just so little time as I begrudgingly found out. So, a glimpse of my training seems very appropriate.

Well, here it is folks, a glimpse of my PGO white water rafting  basic training....

This is my most memorable run and my biggest highlight (out of the many) of my whole experience. I had to put all the pictures the photographer captured in (you'll see why...) Just posting a few pictures here and there didn't seem to do the experience justice. This is my run on a rapid called Hospital Bar in the Gorge run of the South Fork of the American River. :-D If you scroll quickly through the pictures, I won't be offended, I understand. This is mainly for my purposes.

Here I am guiding this boat at the beginning of this rapid calling a, "FORWARD!"

Here is Dustin, sitting next to me,  leaning over to tell me that I just took the very conservative route, meaning I pretty much missed the rapid. (whoops!)

I still wanted to try and get in it though...

And everyone was still smiling.

Until now. I'm not sure what Danny, a fellow guide-ling, was thinking in this moment but I'm pretty sure he saw what was coming....

Notice how my mom and Jake are leaning in together? Yeah. I'm pretty sure they were bracing for impact. Meanwhile Jeremy seems to be having a grand 'ole time...

This rock, my friends, is called Catcher's Mitt. And it caught a hold of my boat pretty good. Catcher's Mitt is known to catch many a-boat for those who take it conservative (whether intentional or not). If you notice Dustin's (back left of boat) hand gesture he is calling the command, "HIGH-SIDE!" We call a High-side to keep the boat from flipping. That means everyone goes to the "High" side of the Boat.

And here I am copying Dustin's command. You learn from the master right?

My family are just enjoying the experience.

Especially Sam. I am so glad they were enjoying themselves.

Here is Dustin coaching me on what possible ways we can get off Catcher's Mitt and which ways to try first. I'm smiling here cause I have no clue! It was one of those moments where you could just laugh or cry. I chose to laugh. Whatever humor there is in the situation helped me to move into problem-solving mode. Crying would just cause me to shut-down and ball up.

So, under the coaching of Dustin, I try a turn (as pictured above). That didn't work. (meanwhile everyone was laughing and cracking jokes.) Then I tried moving people to the back to get the weight off the rock. As I had people doing that, our gracious photographer who took these pictures said, "May I offer a suggestion?" Dustin, "Yeah." Photographer, "Don't move to the back. Stay up front." So we all begin to move to the front of the boat.....

After getting up there,  Dustin says, "Its like taking a family photo!" (and here it is in the above picture.) :-) There couldn't have been a more odd yet perfect moment while perched on a rock in Class III waters. That's what I call enjoying the moment no matter what the situation is.

Now it was time to get off Catcher's Mitt.

"Back to positions!.... if you can."

Notice Danny on the right side of the picture. Yeah, he's half in and half out of the boat and asking for help.

I kept calling out, "Somebody help Danny!" and then decided I should help Danny too cause I thought we were in the clear... Ha! Little did I know....

BAM!!! The boat flips on its side.

All I was thinking at this point was Self Preservation. Earlier in the week we practiced flip drills in an Eddy (slower/still water). I knew I had a hard time pulling myself into the boat so if this boat completely flipped over, I wanted to make sure I was at least in a good spot to find something to grab to climb on top of the bottom.

I didn't know Dustin held on to that rock. I'm pretty sure that what kept us from completely flipping.

And there goes the majority of my crew. This is what we address in our safety talk "what to do in the event when you are no longer a paddler and now a swimmer...."

Check out Jeremy (white T-shirt). I love his expression! I enlarged the picture so you can see it a little better.

And we land "Butter-Side up." Phew!

Most of my crew got to have an "Out-of-Boat-Experience." (Thankfully it wasn't all of my crew.)

Honestly, I think we all did great. Both the swimmers and the rescuers.

Poor Danny had just got into the boat (as shown in the previous pictures) and was now knocked back out. AND he had to pull himself in 'cause I was rescuing my mom first (which, by the way, was awesomely cool to do!). Sorry, Danny! I knew you could do it! :-D

They say that there are two types of guides, those who have flipped their boats and those who will. I have the privilege of having my first "half" flip documented. This day was the most memorable for me because I learned to laugh when things don't go as planned. Laughter diminished my fear. Fear had always (and still does a little to be honest) froze me in place and I wouldn't do anything when things get choppy. Dustin taught me that day to just do something in these moments. If I make a mistake, I can learn from it. Its not the end of the world. I have had a lot of cleaner runs (beautiful even) than this one. But this is the one that makes me smile the most. Its the one I learned the most on. And it was the most requested to see.

A New Quote I Love

Richmond, California
 
I found this quote while on a friend's page. I just love it.

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love.” - Neil Gaiman

Yes, I have felt much like Mr. Gaiman here. However, because of this, I have gotten to know myself more. Like, getting to know how strong I really am. Even strong enough to let myself "fall in-love" again. .. when I'm ready. :-)

Massage and PGO Guide Training Begins

Richmond, California

Got a massage for the first time last week. First time I've ever paid for one from a professional. They offer them for a $1/minute and I had to take advantage. I could spend at least $10 right? I asked Galina, the massage therapist, if she would focus on my shoulders and neck because thats where I tend to get knots. By the end of the ten minutes, I felt loose and tingly in that area. My favorite part was when she pulled on my arms and shook them. That felt goood. Galina said I have a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck. That didn't surprise me. I think they may be what triggers  my migraines. You know whats weird, earlier today, I felt stressed and sleepy over small things that seemed to have piled up. After the massage, I felt pretty relaxed and less grumpy. I must hold the stress in my body. Especially the shoulders and neck. I'd like to find out what a full body massage will be like. Its around $100 for a full hour full body.... hmmm.... I'll have to look into it and research it...
 
On another note, I started my Guide Training with Project GO. So far, its been awesome! The story to come after I complete training.

No Internship

Richmond, California

As a follow up to the blog before last. I, unfortunately, did not get the internship I wanted in San Louis Obispo. My rejection letter took longer than I expected to come. It was a very nice rejection letter. They told me it was a tough choice to make and had to go with another candidate that was a little more qualified. Aww...thats sweet but....ouch. Well, I'd rather be let down gently than bluntly or not at all (which I've had before). Anywho, I was disappointed (more than I thought I'd be actually) but happy and grateful that it faded fast. I am a firm believer in God and that he has a plan for each of us. His plans are usually better than mine. I usually end up pretty sad and miserable when I try to force my way. But when I follow His plan, His way and in His timing, things always seem to work out. Even when I don't get it at first. I try to think of one of my favorite hymns during these confusing times, Lead Kindly Light,  Hymn # 97 in the LDS hymn book. "Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene--one step enough for me."

Blog Makeover and Bollywood night: Bride and Prejudice

Richmond, California

So cool thing happened when I logged in today. NEW BACKGROUNDS!!! :-D YAY!!! There was this little tab that came up with all these options of backgounds. I was so excited. I've been wanting to "makeover" my blog for a while but didn't know how. If anyone has tips for me for customizing blogs, they would be GREATLY appreciated. :)

I watched the funniest movie I have seen as of late. Every Friday night is movie night for the Richmond 3rd Singles ward. Tonight was Bollywood night hosted by the Botts. They made an Indian dish (sooo delicious!!!) while we watched Bride and Prejudice. Yes, thats right, folks, an adaptaion of Jane Austin's novel Pride and Prejudice. It directed by the same director who did Bend It Like Beckham. What made it so funny was these random songs in at random moments in the movie. It just made me  like it so much more! It made me laugh! I don't mean that in a rude sense because I think it was meant to be real funny. It worked. I love the dances in there too. It was so funny, just about everyone in the room were bouncing their shoulders like they were in the movie. I think its going to be a trend in the Ward for a while. I know I'll be doing it. (For those who don't know me that well, I love to move, especially dancing.)

I also love this movie for two other reasons:

1.  It brought back some fond childhood memories of going over to one of my best friend's house growing up, Sandeep (Sanny) and learning about her culture. We have been friends since Kindergarten. Man, I miss her. I haven't seen her since we graduated high-school in 2003. She left to study medicine in India and I left for school in Idaho. 
2. It is so fitting for a singles ward. I like to categorize people who attend a singles ward are typically in two stages in their life: either preparing for a mission for the church or trying to find that true love you hope to spend the rest of eternity with. Sometimes, you are just tired of playing the game of love and its nice to have something nice to help you laugh about it.  Like this movie. :-)

WARNING: There is a scene with a guy wearing a thong. Its fairly brief and can easily skip by pressing the fast forward button for about two seconds. For those who don't like to see that stuff, you can do that if you still want to see the movie.

Utah, Internship Finalist, and Brother Comming Home

Utah; San Louis Obispo, California; Richmond, California

Its getting up to a month since my last post. I have so much I want to share. I have taken a couple adventures lately and its a little hard to compact them into one post. But here it goes....


I went to Utah a couple weeks ago. A friend invited me to go canyoneering and I was very tempted. After looking at my budget and schedule, I saw that it was possible and I thought, "why not?" I also have quite a few friends to chill with while the frineds comming from Idaho to do canyoneering were traveling. I got to meet one of my friend's girlfriend and I'm now wondering why it took us so long to meet. She is so easy to be around and get to know. I hope I get to run into them more.... maybe at their wedding, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.... Another friend of mine I reconnected with is a mission companion, Sister Myers. She was leaving for London that week. Talk about great timing!! We reminisced about the mission and how/where we are today. Through her I got to reconnect with a family I found and taught who she later baptized. I hadn't seen nor talked to them since I left the mission. Thats about 3 years ago. Myers and I both seemed to need this suprise visit. It kind of help refocus the direction of our lives.


Strangely, and honestly, I had a much better time spending time with the friends in UT more than the ones who invited me. The canyoneer-ers were mostly couples and it was a guy who invited me. It wasn't until I was in the car that I bagan to feel pretty awkward.... Everyone was pretty much paired off and I felt like the 5th or 7th wheel or something to people I didn't know that well. This was also a bit of wake-up call to me. A couple years ago, I felt like I fit in with this group. Now, I've moved back home and getting into California life and they too have moved in a different direction. I guess I wanted to go back to the college days. You know, rewind. But, alas, my present is in California and who knows whats in my future!

That being said, I came home from Utah to find out I'm a finalist for an internship I want in San Louis Obispo, CA, at an Outdoor school. Wow! really? what an honor and a bit of an ego boost. So, the following weekend after driving 12 hours from Utah, I took another 8 hours driving to and from SLO for a site visit and an in-person interview. Needless to say, I'm a little bit sick of driving and am anxious to hear if I got the internship or not at the end of this week.


In other news, my baby bro, Jacob, is back! Ye-yah!!! He was in Hawaii studying Marine Biology. He's now decided he wants to go into architecture and CA has better schools for that. So we get to keep him. :D Right now, my assignment with a temp agency is at Alta bates Herrick Campus in downtown Berkeley. Its about 5 blocks from the BART (Bay Area Rapid Tranist), a train like the subway, station so I can walk. My car will just sit around, so i gave my car to Jake as long has he can drop me off and pick me up from the BART station. I think it works out pretty good. I don't have to drive, I get to actually interact with people other than in traffic, and I get to bond a bit with jake. and Jake gets to have a car to do what he needs and wants to do. He seems happy and that makes me happy.

Project GO

Coloma, CA

I went white water rafting! Exciting! I applied to do white water guide training with a non-profit organization Called Project Great Outdoors (aka Project Go, aka PGO) this year. They work with under-served youth and take them down the river all the while facilitating the experience. Of course, I was very attracted to this venue and wanted to learn their methods.

Orignially, I had been accepted to do Spring Training (I know, snow melt, its cold) but it got canceled due to lack of participants. It just wouldn’t work budget-wise. So I’m doing Summer guide training instead and got invited to the rusty-guide training in honor of canceled spring guide training. Let me just say, Wow! What an experience! I tore off the corner of my thumbnail. Totally worth it!

The first day, felt like a crash course of instructions (rightfully so since this was for rusty guides) The trainers and the rusty guides were so patient with us “green guidelings.” Kurt, who I was with the first day, seemed like a river sage. (He is also the main guy in charge at PGO.) I learned so much by just watching and listening to him. What struck me pretty profound was his ability to keep his composure. Toward the end of our river run another boat got wrapped on a rock and he calmly directs us to the eddy and cooly says, “This is just stressing me a little and I want to make sure they are ok.” What? He’s stressed? If he didn’t say so, I wouldn’t have guessed. That was a good lesson to me in how to conduct yourself when situations get a little harry. Its something I plan on practicing more. After getting some “stick-time” (being the guide of the raft), I learned just how hard it can be to keep your composure.

The second day I got to learn under the hand of Dustin, one of the trainers for guide training. This is where I got to take everything I learned the day before from Kurt and got it fine-tuned by Dustin. He helped me get through some rapids by calling out commands for me while I focused on trying to keep the “magic” angle of the boat. That helped a lot since both of those were still really new to me. I got a lot of helpful technical tips that allowed me to be more powerful when maneuvering the boat. It was real exciting when I felt the boat move by one stroke alone. It felt more natural and I began to really like that guide seat and less intimidated by it. :-D Watch out Summer Training! Here I come!
My new friend and fellow guideling, Sara.
The river where we took out at Camp Lotus.
The boats drying before being rolled up.
The best part after a full day of rafting, laying out to deflate the boat.