I know I went to University for five fun-filled, hard-working years, but somehow the end result of working in the engineering field was never a goal. Sure, the degree was a goal, insomuch that it was proof that I'd learned something. I studied engineering for the sake of studying it, and I enjoyed it immensely. I learned about so many things I was interested in, that I was interested in things that I didn't even know existed until a couple years ago, and I pursued those interests with passion.
But now, I'm supposed to be a good little graduate and find a job, make some money, pay off my student loans and join the working world. Sounds like a drag, sounds so... responsible. Sure, I'm responsible enough to myself to get a degree, but I'm more interested in learning than I am in working for the man. Sure, I would have loved to go back to school, learn something different, new and challenging. But I felt it was time to move on. I'd been going to school for 17 years, it was the only way of life that I'd ever really known. It was time to learn in a different way than I was used to learning.
There was never really a choice in what I'd be doing after high school: I was going to University, even though there were so many other possibilities, this is something I'd never really questioned. I knew about trade schools and technical diplomas, but they just weren't for me. Univerisity was to high school what middle school is to elementary: a continuation. I am a student, and I will always be.
It's been over a year since I graduated, an I haven't been doing engineering work. I am employed as an engineer, but my temporary job is not challenging or engaging - it's not even related to my course of studies. In the miserable job market, I had decided to travel, saved up some money and have been making plans to leave at the end of September. The person I want to visit in Australia will be there until February 10. I've just been offered an extension on that contract until March, working in the electrical department. I don't know what to do.
Yes, I know it's been more than a week since we got back, but I haven't been too inclined to sit in front of a computer with the beautiful weather we've been having! In fact, I still don't but there are other things I want to post after this and since I said I would be putting up some details about our trip, I'll stay true to my word. Look at the pictures here.
Day 1: Leave Edmonton ...Eventually
Jesse and I get a phone call from James and Janet telling us that there is no way they will actually be ready to leave town on Saturday, so instead of starting the trip, we helped them pack up the truck. There was no way we were about to wait past Sunday!
Day 1: Take 2 - Leave Edmonton ...Really!
We finally made it out of town by 3:30pm, with CB radios to talk between the cars on a cloudy day. About an hour later, Janet passes a slow moving truck; that's the last we see of her until Grand Prairie. Luckily we were able to figure out what was going on through the message service James had intelligently set up. Since it was still relatively early, we decided to keep going to Fort St. John's for the night. We arrived at midnight local time, in the rain, and found a decently cheap motel for the night.
Day 2: Hot Springs and Motorhomes
Monday morning was rainy, but Jesse and I were so happy that we didn't need to go into work, the weather didn't phase us. We had to stop for about 20 minutes at the top of a hill for road construction. After one SUV had come up the hill, they kept us waiting for another few minutes. Finally the long line of RVs and Motorhomes were allowed to pass the construction - they were working on an area of a bridge no more than 3 car lengths long!!
We passed a bear, and Janet made us turn around so we could take pictures of it! We finally got to Liard Hot Springs after what seemed like an interminal drive through lovely mountains. It was a short stop, however, and after relaxing for a short while, filling our stomachs and the fuel tanks, we were back on the road to Watson Lake where we stayed at the lovely Air Force Lodge.
Day 3: Tire Troubles
It took a little longer to get going from Watson Lake, what with all the attractions like the sign post forest! I also lost my camera when getting out of the truck the night before. Luckily someone had found it and brought it in, saving it from the rain and the tire trucks in the morning. We weren't travelling very long (maybe 2 hours) before one of the rear tires went flat and we noticed the front ones were threadbare! We made it to the next town where we spent the next 3.5 hours waiting to get the tires replaced before being able to get on our way again. We managed to get Janet mostly moved before realizing that it was 10:30pm and way past time for dinner. The sun didn't dip behind the mountain until after 11pm!
Day 4: Moving not traveling
We drove around Whitehorse before getting organized to move the rest of the stuff into storage. Whitehorse reminded us of Jasper - like a resort town. We busied ourselves painting the bathroom until the wee hours of the morning
Day 5: The Return Trip Begins!
We noticed a few interesting looking stops on the way to Whitehorse and decided to take the time to check them out on the way back. Rancheria Falls was a short 0.5km hike away from the highway, and well worth the trip. whirlpool Canyon was some rapids that were visible from the truck. The guy filling up our tank in Contact Creek didn't put the gas cap back on the truck, be we didn't notice until we stopped at Liard again. Luckily the gas station there had one that fit, so we continued on to the Poplars campground to tent for the night.
Day 6: Let's get home already
Another late start, but eight or nine hours of driving got us to Grande Prairie. It felt wonderful to be back in "civilization" again! Since it was only 400km to Edmonton, and only 10pm, we continued on to get home and sleep in our own beds again. And to check our email.
I made it home safely! The road didn't kill me, the bears didn't maul me and even though the midnight sunset threw me off a bit, I'm still relatively healthy. Yes, I'm back from the roadtrip to Whitehorse, Yukon. I made a short travel journal, which I'll post with pictures in the near future.
In the meantime, everyone should be out tomorrow night to celebrate the summer solstice with some kind of festive summery activities! I know it's not til Sunday, but we working folk make do with what we can...
My workstation and my home computers are very dissimilar. If they were cars, my own computers would be custom built with steering, brakes, handling and interior layout that I picked out personally to suit my tastes and needs. At work, I would be driving the assembly line model from five years ago, where I was able to chose the colour and stereo button layout. I'd be able to tell that power locks and windows, AC and GPS navigation were available, but I wouldn't be allowed to use them. Which car would you prefer to drive.
The difference is so vast that I can spend an entire day at the computer at work, then an entire evening at my own computer. I enjoy using my computer; it's comfortable to me. I feel that this is an important characteristics of computer use that most workplaces overlook. I don't want to change my habits and conform to the way this machine works when it can be customized to suit my needs. The machine was built for human use, so why make humans conform to the rigid structure imposed by the machine?
This leads to some interesting questions about human behaviour. We are innovative and build structures and machines to assist us, but do we adapt our habits to suit the mass-produced one-size-fits-all variety of technology? Could someone recognize it in their own behaviors? It's just another aspect of the impact of technology that should be questioned before accepting every innovation as a blessing, every tool as helpful. In what subtle ways do the things we use change us?
Jesse and I get a phone call from James and Janet telling us that there is no way they will actually be ready to leave town on Saturday, so instead of starting the trip, we helped them pack up the truck. There was no way we were about to wait past Sunday!
We finally made it out of town by 3:30pm, with CB radios to talk between the cars on a cloudy day. About an hour later, Janet passes a slow moving truck; that's the last we see of her until Grand Prairie. Luckily we were able to figure out what was going on through the message service James had intelligently set up. Since it was still relatively early, we decided to keep going to Fort St. John's for the night. We arrived at midnight local time, in the rain, and found a decently cheap motel for the night.
Monday morning was rainy, but Jesse and I were so happy that we didn't need to go into work, the weather didn't phase us. We had to stop for about 20 minutes at the top of a hill for road construction. After one SUV had come up the hill, they kept us waiting for another few minutes. Finally the long line of RVs and Motorhomes were allowed to pass the construction - they were working on an area of a bridge no more than 3 car lengths long!!
It took a little longer to get going from Watson Lake, what with all the attractions like the sign post forest! I also lost my camera when getting out of the truck the night before. Luckily someone had found it and brought it in, saving it from the rain and the tire trucks in the morning. We weren't travelling very long (maybe 2 hours) before one of the rear tires went flat and we noticed the front ones were threadbare! We made it to the next town where we spent the next 3.5 hours waiting to get the tires replaced before being able to get on our way again. We managed to get Janet mostly moved before realizing that it was 10:30pm and way past time for dinner. The sun didn't dip 
