As I say goodbye to Dean at Helsinki airport and board my first plane of the day, destination – Geneva, I feel weird…by the time I board my second flight, destination – Montreal, im pretty sick. After informing my flight attendant on the second plane of my seat change and the reason for it, im asked if im so sick that they will have to redirect the plane to another destination half way through the flight…now id have liked to be a fly on the wall to see my face after that comeback from the Air Canada flight attendant (said in all seriousness), but as all I could raise was a meek smile as he turns and walks off to get me a secret 1.5ltr bottle of water (hid under his jacket – I kid you not), I start doubting myself and the fact im even on this plane, do I even want to go to Canada? All that immediately goes to the back of my mind as I unbuckle and walk in a hurried manner to the back of the plane – again.
7.5 long hours later, a long queue in customs (where I was eyeing up the Hilton next door through the roof windows- it felt like it was a necessary fantasy), an airport bus into the heart of Montreal and its central bus station, and a 2.5hr wait at the station for the only bus to the Val Morin area – during this time, I literally fall apart. Its not glamourous, YES its pathetic. There is a lot of sighing, tears, more woe is me, more visits to the toilet, before a phone call to London where Dean and Tessa both get to pacify and calm me while they are standing in the tissue aisle of Sainsburys (D had just arrived back in London). Id all but picked myself up, and my bottom lip by the time I boarded the bus for Val Morin (my bottom lip had originally hit the floor when I was told this bus trip would take 2.5hrs – there are many stops you see dear, ahhh such a nice lady (its an hour car ride from the airport to the ashram). A final taxi ride from the bus stop to the ashram, and its a big sigh, as I fall onto my bunk bed in one of the staff rooms.
After three days in a daze I finally say – WOW IM IN CANADA!!
The Sivananda Ashram in the heart of Val Morin is BEAUTIFUL, what can I say, its totally different than the South Indian Ashram (of course) im used to in so many ways. I am here for the month of August doing Karma Yoga (Selfless service) and I am one of 50 Karma Yogi staff here – apparently this is, maybe, the biggest staff they have ever had here, and its wonderful to be a part of such a diverse and supportive group. The energy from the staff is high, and we are all looking forward to the very first Worldwide Sivananda Teachers Training Reunion which is being held here in mid August.
Everyone is given a job for the day, or for the week at the staff meeting every morning, and although I start off working in reception (which with my cotton wool head and my past experience COULDNT have been more confusing, bare in mind its also all done by hand – no computers) but then am given a more challenging task, and many say, more Karma burning job of “House Keeping”!! Its tough work, but we all work hard in all our jobs to get things done, and try not to be too attached to our jobs…ahhh the likes and dislikes…I find myself also serving food at the two meal times daily, which I enjoy (probably not really supposed to say that but…), and its a good way of meeting, and serving everyone.
The days can be really varied, and your job can change in an instant. On the days building up to the reunion I find myself getting all creative with fellow Yogi’s doing the decorations for the main stage (that industrial staple gun sure is addictive), hanging flags up from the main gate to the marquee (I got tank top marks it took so long and was hot hot), ohh and being told all staff needed to meet at 11.30 the day before the reunion started because we had to, and I quote, “Move a big tent”. When your a Karma Yogi you learn to question nothing and just get on with things, and thats exactly what we did when 50 of us pilled into cars and drove off in the direction of “said tent” before our convoy pulled into the local “GO CART PARK”…See, this wouldnt happen in India…Yes I did win my race 🙂 – ohh competitive me!!
During the next 3 days, I worked the front reception, being a “Meeter greeter” with my fellow yogi’s. Yep we were in charge of checking and welcoming in all the teachers coming in for the reunion. During the 3 days we had 350 people in the ashram which created a wonderful busy energy. The satsang’s (Meditation/Chanting/Talk) we had twice a day were so uplifting for all guests and staff alike, we were all so happy to be a part of it.
Getting back to normal after it finished took a little adjusting – it was so quiet, but once again I was back on reception with the lovely Siva Ram, and FINALLY, I understood how it all functioned in its crazy way and I wasnt too afraid to answer that mad reception phone anymore – ahhh sorry swami who?
In fact after the reunion, things just ticked along nicely. Friendships seemed to be deepened, going out to our “local” french cafe La Vagabonde in Val David for hot chocolate and pastries became almost a daily necessity/luxury, and after Gauri (our fellow karma yogi) moved out of our shared cabin, we turned the mezzanine part of the cabin into a lounge – NICE…(yes I never did get to use my new tent as first thought).
It was very hard to say goodbye to everyone at the end of my month. It was a big learning curve for me, and I hope that I can return again soon to do more Karma Yoga in beautiful Val Morin.
WheresRu 