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 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. 

Week Twelve: Surprise Gifting for a Friend.

Lately, I found myself being surrounded by really good friends and appreciating every moment of it. Friends who put up with your stupid and insignificant problems, your ridiculous assumptions and your never ending rants. Friends who genuinely ask you how your day went and who know exactly how you feel at all times. So when I spotted this fridge magnet that instantly made me think of one my main girls,I thought - I need to get this for her.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

The gift of great friends deserves spontaneous gifting in return sometimes. 

G.