Here are some photos taken a few days prior. Too many to publish individually. Will try and post on a regular basis so you can look at the m directly and won't have to go back and forth between links.
https://picasaweb.google.com/112081396612640517482/BryceCanyon?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Bryce Canyon has treated me very well so far. I'm grateful to be here. The first few days were a bit confusing as I adjusted to new surroundings, from the 9000+ feet altitude to not knowing what work I would be doing here. At first I was asked to work a Night Porter position, as they no longer needed another dishwasher. This entailed working overnight in the kitchen, cleaning. I said I would do whatever it was they needed most and began to plan out my activities for a nocturnal schedule. Then a morning dishwasher had to leave to go back to school, so I filled her position. I'm glad I did, as I have worked overnights before, and not being a natural night person, it can be very hard. From working alone, to the odd sleeping schedule, it can be difficult. But that did not happen, so now I'm working in what they call the dishpit. I work with a girl from Georgia named Kim. She's traveled the world despite seeming young, having worked on cruise ships for many years. She tells me stories of working on a ship that is on fire. They seal off the portions of the ship on fire so as to cut off its oxygen supply. When pirates attacked, the captain simply turned the ship, causing the pirates consternation due to the size of the ship's wake. From being mistaken for an American sporsored prostitute for the military from not wearing a burkka in the Middle East, the shadiness of Cairo, the rudeness of the French, she's seen much and is an inspiration. Even better, she's always got a smile and a laugh for every one it seems. I enjoy working with her as she is also a hard worker, which is good to have with you. The work is good too. During the day its steady mostly. In the afternoons it gets a bit crazy, but I don't mind. It gets my metabolism moving in high gear, which I enjoy. But I also enjoy sitting down after its all said and done, having done my best to try and leave a clean space for the next shift.
The canyon is gorgeous. No matter how tired I am, I am a five minute walk from the canyon's rim. The last two days I've been up early enough to watch the sunrise. Its like watching the formal beginning of a new day, as if the sun is coming out to say "Okay, I'm here, you all can get on with it! Stop staring at me." Actually, I think he enjoys the attention and surely does paint pretty skies. Pictures coming soon.
There are lots of trails to walk from short hikes to overnight hikes. Each trail is an adventure, if for nothing else than to watch where your mind goes, from where it starts, where it meanders to, to where it ends. When you finish the excursion, you are somewhere different.
My roommate just quit. He was a line cook and was not getting along well with one of the other workers. He walked off the line this morning. Very agitated at first, he came around soon after. He had some work lined up at Park City so thankfully he had somewhere to go, and was optimistic about what came next, and not having to go to a place that upset him everyday. The same worker who so exasperated him came up to me later in the cafeteria and regaled me with the tale of making him quit. It was hard not to get angry at him. Everyone seems to have their sides to the story. I don't feel like I should be taking sides, just keeping to myself, listening, hoping the best for everyone involved.
One of the perks we have is a bus shuttle that goes around the park to various viewing/hiking spots and outside the park to nearby shops and hotels. One of the hotels has a swimming pool and jacuzzi that as Lodge employees, we can use for free. Its probably the nicest pool I've been in and the fact that there is a jacuzzi is amazing. Its also a nice way to get away from the park from time to time. There is also a general store, where you can buy tourist articles, food, supplies, etc. I love that pool. Went swimming today and its like a balm for my body and mind. A chlorinated balm. When I got out of the jacuzzi I felt like a piece of spaghetti. I then went to the little art shop that sells Native American artifacts and bought a book of Navajo Sand Paintings that has some colored illustrations in it I plan to use as decorations. I also picked up some tacks to put them up with, some dried fruit, and chamomile and mint tea.
It took a few days to acclimate. Physically and emotionally. It was a bit hard at first, as they didn't need me working for the first few days. This was nice as it gave me plenty of time to explore the park and trails. I was having a hard time sleeping though, mostly from nerves and the lack of exhaustion that I seem to need to sleep well. But I started working and things have started to fall into place quickly. I'm happy to be here. A chipmunk in the room who just ran off with a graham cracker. I love the chipmunks. You can't see them and not be happy about them.
I hope to post regularly, so check back every so often for pictures and words. Thanks for reading.
For more information on Bryce Canyon, read this wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Canyon_National_Park
Jamie
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