Circles

Decided I should make another effort to blip something for the WBC theme of Circles. I don't know why I didn't think of this print initially.
In 1994 I was very fortunate to go on a work exchange to Australia. Daryle, an Aboriginal professor from Yunggorendi had come to UBC on an exchange, and there was interest in someone from NITEP, the program I worked with, going to Australia to share information. I felt awkward because I'm not Aboriginal, but no one else was able to go and the Aboriginal people I worked with were fine with me representing the program. G came with me, and we spent three weeks in Adelaide visiting Aboriginal programs at universities and schools. We then went to Alice Springs to meet Aboriginal educators there and spent a week visiting other programs and schools. We were struck by the similarities in the history of the Indigenous people here and there and the work being done in both of our countries for cultural and language revitalization and improvements in education for Indigenous children. This experience was not only rewarding intellectually and educationally but also on a deep personal level. We made lifelong friends.
In Adelaide, we were hosted by three families, and it was wonderful to be welcomed into their homes and meet their families. Daryle's father was a powerful and influential Aboriginal politician, and was warm and welcoming like the rest of the family. Daryl took us to his home community of Raukkan. Daryle has come back to Canada a few times and we try to stay in touch. He's very involved with his community and politics as well as his work at the uni and spending time with his beautiful family.
Lester, another prof at Flinders at the time, and his family are very close to us. Lester took us on a Dreaming Trail, which was such a privilege. We were at a conference in Albuquerque in 1996 with Daryle and Lester, and Lester got a call that wife Joanne was in labour. He left immediately. His older daughter was born just a few months after our Krista. His younger daughter is a year older than Kalyn. Lester was a visiting prof at UBC for a year and it was great to have them closer. They've met our family and visited us a few times on Salt Spring. Lester and I ran in the 10K Sun Run in Vancouver - and being much younger and faster, he had to wait quite awhile at the finish for me! Their girls call us Nana and Papa, and they're absolutely a part of our family.
We also had two weeks to travel a bit after Alice Springs and went to Uluru, King's Canyon, Cairns, and down the east coast. A trip of a lifetime.
We bought this print to remind us of our connections in Australia and the colours of that amazing land. I'd love to go back one day. In some ways, it would be like going home. I felt completely at ease there, thanks to the people who made us feel so welcomed.
So - Circles. The circle of family and friendships. The important things in life.