Destinytion: You never know where life will lead you.

Human beings are funny creatures. Of course I am speaking quite subjectively when I assume others, like myself, are accustomed to and comforted by routine. I never used to be this way when I would go on short, time specific vacations. I was eager to explore and wanted nothing to do with things that were familiar to me.

But over the past few years my life has been scattered and inconsistent; A never ending adventure. My playful spirit has dampened and I find myself craving comfort. I notice this especially when I am in a new city. For the first couple days, I gravitate to the bakeries that resemble ones I’ve been to before and no matter how good the local coffee is, there’s nothing like a McCafe. A familiar taste amongst unfamiliar surroundings.

Wolf always used to harp on me for this, poking fun at the ‘city girl’ in me. But it wasn’t until a couple days ago, when I passed up his kind offer for a McDonald’s Sunday and suggested the authentic gelato across the street, that I realized I felt comfortable in my surroundings again and was ready to explore.

I haven’t been blogging lately, part of that was stress and part, lack of inspiration. For a while, everything I had been working towards felt hopeless. I panicked and retreated as my world seemed to crumble around me. After a teary Christmas, I pondered flying back to Canada and giving up, but the thing is...no matter how difficult your situation, there’s always a door to walk through. It might not lead directly to your destination, but do we really know where we are going anyway? Why not let destiny carve your destination?

I think when it comes down to it, that’s what life is really about. Walking through the doors that swing open and treading the waters even when they get a little rough. The world has a lot to offer, and if we get too comfortable, we retreat to the ‘known’ and become afraid of change and afraid of uncertainty. If we do that...then what are we really learning about ourselves?

My adventure still hasn’t stopped, if anything it’s about to get a little more rash and wild. I can honestly say that I never had any intention of being where I am and becoming who I am today. A couple years ago I imagined myself as a high school teacher, working comfortably and maybe starting a family of my own....But then, life happened, and I kept saying yes to the opportunities that presented themselves. I have Wolf to thank for that. Now I’m a 25 years old foreigner, hell bent on becoming a legitimate climber, struggling to make ends meet and chasing my dreams like a child.

Sometimes I struggle to find purpose in what I am doing or feel valued. It’s tough being a foreigner...sometimes you just have to mould into the slots assigned to you and say yes. Take everything with not a grain, but a pinch of salt and see it as experience. 

“Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.”

Pondering our next moves with my partner in crime in Kalymnos

Enjoying some glühwein and Christmas lights.

Dec 29, 2014: The expiration date of my Schengen tourist visa. Since Austria had denied me a working permit, I had applied for a German working permit before heading off to Kalymnos. I anticipated a 4 week application processing period, but when I returned I learned that they had ‘lost’ my application.

It was a stressful Christmas in Austria, and to add to it, my first christmas away from home. I packed my bags on December 28th and headed to Munich, not knowing if I would be sent back to Canada immediately or if someone would find the kindness to grant me some sort of magic visa that day. I didn’t even know if I would get to say goodbye to Wolf, who was working in Vienna at the time.

Waiting, with others, for the KVR to open at 7am

I headed into the KVR to find out that I had been staying in the Schengen zone illegally without even knowing it. My heart fluttered as I was weaved through different offices and officials, picking up pieces of their German conversations. Eventually, I was sat down in front of a very pleasant young man who asked me to explain my situation and I was granted a ‘short term stay visa,’ which gave me a grace period to get my $*** together. I would have to re-submit my working visa application and start from scratch.

Dec. 31, 2014: I was so happy I could cry. The future became less foggy and I began to see the possibility of building a life here in Munich. I returned back to Vienna to spend New Years Eve with Wolf and celebrated my permission to stay in Europe!

Setting with super cool volumes at Munich west!

Jan 1, 2015: Things were looking up. I was soon to be employed at possibly the most renowned bouldering facility in the world! I had endless terrain to train my little heart out and I met an amazing group of climbers who welcomed me with open arms and unending kindness! I volunteered at Boulderwelt while awaiting my working permission and commuted about once a week back to Vienna to visit Wolf...and to slowly move my belongings, by bus, to Munich.

The amazing competition wall at Stuntwerk, Köln

Jan 10, 2015: I headed to the private opening of Stuntwerk in Köln with the Boulderwelt team. I was lucky enough to chat with Udo Neumann (the person whom I look up to most in the climbing world, athletes included) and climb unique parkour style boulders! It was an impressive event with free beer, food and a killer DJ that made climbers boogie until 5am. Everyone brought a sleeping bag and crashed on the matts until 8am, when the public opening of Stuntwerk began. 

A final goodbye to 18 Hainburgerstraße, 33.

Jan 13: 2015: The combination of route setting, testing and training got the best of me. I re-injured my right shoulder and couldn’t climb for 3 weeks.  Route setting became especially hard and I had to learn how to drill with my left hand. 

At least the snow felt like home!

Feb 2, 2015: Climbing felt hopeless and life felt chaotic. Slowly, I realized just how expensive and impossible a life would be in Munich. I headed back to Vienna for the week to help Wolf move out of our flat and paint the walls white. With heavy hearts we locked up and closed the door on a chapter of our lives forever. 

Feb 9, 2015: Naturally, the biggest snowstorm to hit Austria that winter landed on our day of departure.Despite massive train delays and soggy toes, we arrived in Munich in one piece. 

Wolf guarding our bags on the U6 train.

Feb 12, 2015: My acceptance of the Head Coaching Position at the Calgary Climbing Center became official, and ironically, so had my working visa. Just when I thought I would be settled, I caught another curve ball. Munich, yet again, will be another temporary home... 

I think I’m going to grab a McCafe...

Celebrating my 24th birthday with Sundays  in Zurich, Switzerland

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Jelisa Dunbar

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