Week Twenty Eight: No More Squeaky Doors For Our Neighbours.

My roommate and I recently moved, and we’re loving our new place. However, since it is an older building, the hinges on the doors seemed to be squeaking a lot. Since I ALWAYS have WD-40 close to my disposal (those who know me well knows that this is true), I gave all the doors in our apartment a good spray down. Good as new.

Then, when we first met our neighbours as they were stepping out of their apartment, I noticed that their door also seemed like it was one coming straight out of The Crypt Keeper. So I decided to bring out my trustee WD-40 and spray their hinges as well.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

Now they won’t have to fear imagining the worst sound ever every time they step in or out of their apartment.

G. 

Week Twenty Seven: Helping Out with a Scholarship Fundraising Car Wash.

On Sunday, my friend Seb called me up to see if I felt like giving a hand with a car wash that his friend was organizing. It was a pretty relaxing Sunday, I didn’t have too much on the go. Why not? I said. When I got into Seb’s car, he explained to me that his friend’s dad passed away about three years ago. Since then, his friend has been dedicated to raise funds for a $1000 financial aid scholarship he created in honour of his dad.

When we got to the Saint Laurent Complex, there were already a couple of friends with their cars lined up to support this cause, some offering up 20 dollar bills per wash. Seb and I stayed for a couple hours, but I was informed that from around 11am to 3pm, they raised a total of $175. It was one of three car washes that was organized.

Instagram: genesguin. #k4kproject

Truly inspirational.

G.

Week Twenty Six: Rallying Shopping Carts at the Pharmacy.

This week, when I was at Shopper’s, I noticed a ton of shopping carts scattered everywhere around the entrance. It seemed like a pretty busy night for them so I thought I might help out. I gathered all the carts and placed them in a neat row to hopefully simplify one employee’s evening.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

Might have not been a grand gesture, but in my opinion, it’s the little thing that counts and mean more.

G. 

Week Twenty Five: Recycling an Abandoned Box of Trash.

This week I was biking through Sandy Hill, and saw this apartment building with a box full of trash on the front step. Anyone who knows the area, knows that at times there can be some messy students that forget to pick up after themselves. I decided to get rid of that eye sore and recycle or throw out all the contents from the box.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

It may not have been a lot, but it’s one less box of trash lying around.

G.    

Week Twenty Four: Father’s Day Card by Mail.

To follow up last month’s Mother’s Day gesture, I decided to do the same for my papa. My father might not be fully aware of how much of an influence he’s had in my life, but every day I owe him for instilling in me the passion I now have for music and the arts. I also included one of the oldest picks I own in the card to show him my appreciation for taking the time to show me how to play guitar. 

To fathers everywhere, thank you for your continuous inspiration.

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Happy Father’s Day!

G. 

Week Twenty Three: Weeding a Flowerbed at the University of Ottawa.

As I was walking by the University this week, I noticed that the flowerbeds were really starting to flourish. I also noticed that there were some weeds that were taking away from the full potential prettiness of these said beds. I weeded an area, thinking that it might alleviate the landscaper’s work load by just a little the next day. 

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

I left with a green thumb and the satisfaction that I might have helped someone out just a bit.

G.

Week Twenty Two: Sending a Card to a Friend’s Family Overseas.

I’ve been feeling rather nostalgic of my travels lately. So this week, I decided to write a nice letter to some people who mean a lot to me overseas to let them know that I was thinking about them.

When I was working in France in the summer of 2011, I decided to make the most of my sojourn and travel around Europe (obviously). I got along really well with one of my coworkers and one long weekend, she invited me along a trip to visit her parents in Saint Jean de Luz in the south western part of France. Her parents were amongst the nicest people I have ever met and accommodated to my every need and then some. They brought me around town, suggested some sites to go see, cooked for me, provided some family recipes and even packed me a lunch so I wouldn’t starve on my way back to Paris on the TGV (the high-speed trains in France). That weekend, I brought them a small gift from Paris to thank them, and have been sending them Christmas cards every year, but I thought it would be nice to send them a small letter two summers later to reiterate how much I appreciated their hospitality.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject 

Again, just because I have been thinking about my travels, a couple of pictures from my trip:

My coworker Caroline and I. 

The beautiful beaches of Saint Jean de Luz.

Enjoying the view.

The famous montagne Basque de la Rhune. 

Supper table.

Supper one night: Muscles in a white wine
and cream sauce with rice.

The very French lunch they packed for me:
a piece of baguette, cheese and a patisserie. 

I feel like I learnt a lot from them in terms of hosting and I have every intention to continue to make it a part of my lifestyle and to pay it forward.

G.