| I always keep my eyes open for interesting | | | | shock of coming back to Canada was harsh. I |
| people, and Krista Scott just absolutely grabbed | | | | went from + 30 degrees to -25 degrees. I had |
| my attention. I first met Krista 2 days ago on a | | | | also gone through this amazing adventure, while |
| whitewater kayaking weekend where she | | | | life for my friends had pretty much stayed the |
| accompanied our group to do our first kayaking | | | | same. It was difficult to adjust when I came back. |
| lessons on the Ottawa River. In the van she told | | | | But it gave me the idea to take an ESL (Teaching |
| us that she recently did a 13 month trip to | | | | English at a Second Language) program to get |
| Australia where she did all sorts of harvest work | | | | myself an international career.3) Please tell us |
| in different locations. She also mentioned that she | | | | about the ESL program that you took.The |
| completed an ESL program at the university and | | | | brochure for Trent University's ESL program |
| is heading off for her first teaching assignment to | | | | literally fell into my lap one day. I decided to take |
| Vietnam this fall. I knew at that stage that this | | | | a one-year program at Trent in Peterborough |
| was a very interesting young woman and I | | | | (Ontario). It's a great program, it's 2 semesters |
| decided I would get to know her a bit | | | | long and includes 100 hours of theory and 20 |
| better.Krista is a very cute young woman, always | | | | hours of practical teaching. The classes were |
| in a good mood and sporting a great smile. Later | | | | small, there were only 10 of us. Most of my |
| that evening, Krista gave a special performance | | | | co-students were retirees who were launching |
| after sunset at the campground of something | | | | second careeers.4) You have plans to go on your |
| called "poise", a former Martial art developed by | | | | first ESL teaching assignment to Vietnam. What's |
| the Maori people that involves the rhythmic | | | | in store for you?In the first year after graduating |
| twirling of two long wires that have a wick at the | | | | you don't have a lot of choice with ESL since you |
| end that is set on fire. One of her co-workers | | | | don't have real teaching experience yet. I wanted |
| was playing the bongos and the performance did | | | | to go to Vietnam, but I figured I would more |
| have a very aboriginal feel to it. The image that is | | | | easily be able to go to Korea or Japan where |
| created in the dark is of circles of fires whirling | | | | there is a big demand for certified ESL teachers. |
| around the performer in perfect coordination with | | | | Contrary to China, in these 2 countries you |
| the rhythm.So without further ado, here is Krista | | | | definitely need credentials to work in ESL. Through |
| Scott, a very adventurous, endearing young | | | | a stroke of luck I found out that one of my |
| woman, as you will discover yourself.1) Please tell | | | | friend's parents lives in Vietnam and he will be able |
| us about yourself.I am 25 years old and I'm | | | | to make some local connections for me and I am |
| originally from Cobourg, Ontario. I have always | | | | planning to head over there in September. I don't |
| loved the outdoors and loved to play outside. | | | | know exactly yet where I am going to go, but I |
| When I finished high school I wasn't ready for | | | | am sure I will find my first ESL assignment with |
| university. I went travelling to the prairies and | | | | his help.5) You learned how to do "poise" (an |
| started working in a restaurant in Regina. I met a | | | | impressive twirling of 2 long wires whose ends |
| lot of cool people along the way. From there I | | | | have a wick that is set on fire) in Australia, tell us |
| went west to work in Alberta as well as in | | | | more about that.Poise was originally a martial art |
| Whistler, B.C. There I worked in a grocery store | | | | used by the Maori people and it involves two |
| and at Boston Pizza and spent the rest of my | | | | wires with a wick at the end that is set on fire. |
| time snowboarding. I also ran into a lot of Aussies | | | | Then at night you twirl the wires in different |
| there. I knew this was a place that was going to | | | | patterns around your body, usually set to music |
| suck you in with its addictive lifestyle, so I decided | | | | or drums. I met some people in Australia who |
| to head home. Based on my friendships with | | | | taught me some pretty good moves and I have |
| these people from Australia, I decided to get a | | | | been performing occasionally in public or |
| working visa for that country, something that | | | | entertaining people on the campground with it. It's |
| was pretty easy to get for a Canadian citizen. I | | | | a really fun thing to do.6) You now work as an |
| had decided I wanted to go to Australia to travel | | | | intern for this adventure travel company called |
| and work there for a year.2) Please tell us about | | | | Equinox. What do you do there, how did you get |
| your 13 month adventure in Australia.After a | | | | the job?The way I landed this job was another |
| couple of stopovers in Alaska and Hong Kong I | | | | one of these chance encounters. I was actually |
| landed in Australia. In Alaska I had a chance to | | | | supposed to do a 6-week road trip out to |
| see the Aurora Borealis, while Hong Kong struck | | | | Eastern Canada with a friend of mine. One day |
| me as a very busy and smoggy place. But the | | | | my brother and I went to a pub and ended up |
| airport is on an island, which was really interesting.I | | | | chatting to Blair, who is the manager at Equinox' |
| landed in Sydney and headed over to New South | | | | rafting location on the Ottawa River. He had just |
| Wales to link up with a girl I had met at Whistler. I | | | | lost an intern, so he asked me if I would be |
| bought a 1984 Toyota Tourago camping van | | | | interested. It sounded great so my friend and I |
| which had a flat nose because the engine was | | | | decided to postpone the road trip and I am |
| right under the seat. I had a tent and a stove and | | | | working right now as an intern for Equinox from |
| I lived out of the van. During this time I realized | | | | mid-May to September until I go to Vietnam. |
| for the first time how little you need to live. I | | | | Right now I am working as a cook and I also help |
| often slept on the roof of the van, looking at the | | | | out with the kayaking courses.I love being here, |
| stars.In South Australia I stayed in a working | | | | it's just like being a child. Work doesn't even feel |
| hostel that connected me to harvest work | | | | like work, we have so much fun here. There is so |
| opportunities. I found these places through the | | | | much freedom here, you don't have four walls |
| Lonely Planet guidebook, which was tremendously | | | | around you and people are just so friendly. I am |
| helpful. My first harvest work assignment was to | | | | learning so much. I am learning about the white |
| sort potatoes in a shed. This was midnight work | | | | water, how to read the river and I am picking up |
| since the potatoes' skins would crack during the | | | | the basics of river rafting and kayaking. One day I |
| day time. The heat was often stifling at 42 | | | | might want to become a river guide. I'd definitely |
| degrees Celsius. After the potato harvest I also | | | | like to come back next year after my ESL |
| harvested grapes and onions. In total I did about 3 | | | | assignment.7) Tell me about the lifestyle here at |
| months of harvest work there.At that time the | | | | this outdoor adventure camp.The lifestyle is very |
| engine in my camper van seized up and I had to | | | | basic which is great. We have 12 people here |
| buy a new engine. After it was fixed, together | | | | permanently, and just like some of my colleagues, |
| with 8 other people we decided to drive to | | | | I actually sleep in a tent. Other colleagues of mine |
| Central Australia and we visited Ayer's Rock | | | | actually have built a tree house and live there, and |
| (Uluru) and various other little towns in the area. I | | | | another co-worker of mine has created a shack |
| heard lots of outback stories from the locals while | | | | out of discarded materials that has a boat for a |
| we were there. We also went to a town called | | | | roof. It's a very simple life with basically no |
| Cooper Pedy, a place where everybody lives | | | | conveniences, no TV, no Internet. We get by |
| underground in caves since the weather is too | | | | with so little here.Hygiene is pretty basic, we |
| hot. We stayed in a hostel where the bunkbeds | | | | brush our teeth, comb our hair. There are no |
| were located in a cave. While I was there I also | | | | laundry facilities on site, so I just wash my t-shirts |
| talked to a group of Hell's Angels bikers, who | | | | in the shower.My work schedule is from 7 am to |
| seemed to be pretty cool people as long as you | | | | 7 pm. We get the rafting or kayaking gear ready, |
| didn't upset them.From there I went to the West | | | | go to the river, unload. Or when I am working in |
| Coast which is just a beautiful area. There you | | | | the kitchen, I am preparing the meals for the day. |
| can have all sorts of beaches to yourself. I went | | | | There are not a lot of rules here, but everything |
| to a place called Exmouth and from there I | | | | still seems to work.8) What are your plans for |
| explored the Nigaloo Reef which is unique since | | | | the future?Other than going to Vietnam to teach |
| the corals start right at the beach. The scenery is | | | | ESL I don't really have any long-term plans. I am |
| breathtaking. While there I did some harvest work | | | | a very spontaneous individual and I generally trust |
| and I ended up picking apples.Next I explored | | | | that I'll be in the right place at the right time. I |
| Northern Australia, including the cities of Cairns | | | | don't know what's in store for me. Friends have |
| and Darwin. There I got a surfboard and did lots | | | | often said you are like a missionary, you go to |
| of surfing.I explored places like Margaret River and | | | | different places, help out and don't get paid for |
| Esperance. My friend from Canada had joined me | | | | it.As far as ESL is concerned, I would be |
| and we stayed in hostels, parked by the side of | | | | interested to teach English in places like Bali or |
| the road, camped in caravan parks. At that time I | | | | Thailand, in small communities. I have also thought |
| realized that sometimes a hot shower goes a long | | | | of going to Africa, to help build schools. But people |
| way....Queensland was my next stop, it's a | | | | have warned me and said in places like these you |
| beautiful place with lush rainforest. I got myself a | | | | need to have money to be able to bribe people.I |
| job in banana harvesting, started working in the | | | | just love to help. Somehow I think it'll all come |
| shed, sorting bananas. Then I asked to work | | | | together. If I stay the happy person that I am |
| outside, which was very unusual for a woman. I | | | | somehow I think it will all work out.Thank you, |
| got to drive a 4x4 and cut down banans with a | | | | Krista, for your time. It's been great meeting such |
| machete. Harvest work is done about 80% by | | | | an energetic positive spirit. I wish you all the best |
| backpackers. The local harvest workers are a | | | | for your time in Vietnam and for anything that |
| different crowd of people and they sport some | | | | might happen for you afterwards. Stay in touch |
| amazing mullets. They are a little reserved at the | | | | and let us know how your first ESL assignment |
| beginning, but if you make an effort they are | | | | goes!Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website |
| really approachable.On the Gold Coast I met up | | | | called Travel and Transitions( Travel and |
| with the same people I had travelled with earlier, | | | | Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is |
| we mostly did surfing and bummed around the | | | | chock full of advice, tips, real life travel |
| area. We also checked out Frazier Island, did | | | | experiences, interviews with travellers and travel |
| some swimming with the sharks and some | | | | experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural |
| skydiving. I later told my dad that I went | | | | issues, contests and many other features. You will |
| skydiving and he said he would have really | | | | also find stories about life and the transitions that |
| worried about me if he had known. But when I | | | | we face as we go through our own personal |
| was back in Canada, my dad and I decided to go | | | | life-long journeys.Submit your own travel stories in |
| skydiving together and he really loved it. That | | | | our first travel story contest( and have a chance |
| was great.My last stop in Australia was Sydney | | | | to win an amazing adventure cruise on the |
| again from where I came home. The culture | | | | Amazon River. |