My first few months back in Kingston were busy as I readjusted to school and found a rhythm with work and volunteering. I also I was coming down from all the excitement that surrounded the Olympics. I was traveling most weekends, and working overtime to stay on top of my school work. Now that I have settled into the flow of things and I have had some extra time to take up new activities.

And I literally mean activities - that is the name of our group name on Facebook.

At least once a week the group has an organized fun activity, from a concert to a day trip to Wolfe Island. Throughout the rest of the week we have our day to day activities. I am a part of three separate group chats on Facebook. A climbing group, a squash group and a kite boarding group. It has been refreshing and exciting to take up these new sports and work at developing skills for fun.

Our climbing group has really challenged me. I am the newest to the sport, and do not know anything about climbing technique. However, between my friends and the other climbers I am learning a lot every night that I go. Each week the goal is to climb three times, however Thursday nights it is an important ritual. We all meet at the climbing gym at 6pm, and climb for a solid hour and a half. Mostly bouldering, but sometimes we add some top roping as well. There is 6 of us. Each member of the group has different strengths and different struggles. After an hour and a half when are arms and core are starting to feel weak, and I have not completed a route in while we all take part in a 15 minute core work out. Sometimes we add in push ups and pull ups as well. By the time 8 pm roles around we are ready to get out of there and get some food.

We all head back to my place for a family dinner at my place where sometimes we get lost in the conversation and next thing we know its 11pm.

Kiteboarding is the second activity I have taken up. Yes despite the plummeting temperatures and the frigid water of Lake Ontario I am finally learning how to fly a kite. This is definitely one of my bucket list activities, so I am thrilled to have some talented friends teach me.

The plan is to learn this winter, in the snow, on my snowboard. I have flown my kite on shore a couple times now. It is interesting to switch from sailing to kiting. The kite has so much power, and learning to harness and control that is so different to controlling a sailboat... even a skiff. I cannot wait to become an active member of the Kingston kiteboarding community.

I have not yet played a game of squash. Though I am a member of a chat group called Acorn Spaghetti and Butternut. The group has many games a week, and I just need to find time to attend one.

It is great to be a part of a group of people that is so active and adventurous. I am excited to see what we get up to in the New Year!

The Activities Group (Kingston)