Dixon Reunion

I think that many of you who have made your way to this website know, or at least have heard of, my oldest best friend/swimming sensation, Stephanie Dixon. Whenever we're together we love to tell anyone that will listen that we practically knew each other before we were born, as I was in my mum's stomache when she delivered Steph almost 23 years ago. She is a swimmer currently in the midst of a psych degree at the University of Victoria, BC, and is the most modest person I've ever met, and so I've decided to dedicate this posting to her.

Steph arrived at the BCN airport last Sunday straight from an unbelievable 3 weeks in South Africa. Her time there was full of intense highs and lows. Despite being really under the weather for about a month before reaching Durban, SA, Steph managed to take 7 medals for Canada, and broke her own world record in the 100 backstroke. Not too shabby if you ask me,....

Here is a good article about her recent swimming: http://www.swimming.ca/swimming/index_e.aspx?ArticleID=3641
Also, see this website if you're interested in keeping up with her results, and what continent she's on,.... I'm honestly never quite sure.

Then, since she had already promised to visit me over here for new years, she decided to travel around South Africa before coming to Spain. From what I've heard, travelling anywhere within this continent seems to be an ultimate eye-opening experience; something that will profoundly change your view on life. I suppose this is true of travelling in general, but Africa manages to bring this to an extreme. The desperate mentality driven from the poverty in South Africa was not something that could be prepared for, and some of the stories she has told me are horrific, to the point of almost being unbelievable.

Seeing her has been absolutely wonderful, as I think the last time we saw each other was last Christmas! We've had some great talks, and although we'll both be away from home this holiday, we know that we are 2 of the most extremely lucky girls in this entire world. We will try to just focus on that, and our surroundings over the next week, as opposed to what's going on at home :) Steph, who is more Spanish than I could ever hope to be and truly belongs here, will travel up to the Basque country to visit a friend of her's for Christmas. Then we will meet back here December 27th, only to be joined by the final third of our traditional New Years trio (Howorun!).

How is it December 20th today??? It's Christmas in 5 days?! I feel like I'm in a time warp,... or that someone is pulling a prank on me, and that it's really not even December at all.

I will post some pictures of us next time.

Steph, I'm so happy you're here!

Congrads Kath on being done exams! You made it :)

~ Bon Nadal! ~

(catalan for Merry Christmas)