My favorite part of my kung fu year last year was the summer. It was then that I really got to know and enjoy my fellow Silent River students, because we were sharing kung fu experiences outside of our regular class room setting. Community parades, lion dances, competitions, community clean up projects, weapons and hand forms demo's: all of these events were opportunities to have fun getting to know young students, older students, students from the Onoway school, students from different belt level classes, young adult students returning from university studies, or studies abroad, older students returning from winter work up north, or down south.

The fact is that we are all a really interesting bunch. A microcosm of the community, the country, the world around us. Our advantage is that we share a common interests, similar personal goals, and empathy for eachother's personal journeys. You really can't get it much better than that. I see the summer, now, as an opportunity to enjoy the company of people I have come to respect and value. So as events come up, I find myself jumping in with enthusiasm.

This weekend was the beginning of what I anticipate as being a wonderful summer. A number of students participated in the trade show demo and lion dances. Some of my fellow participants are new faces, some familiar. I was glad to reconnect with Mr. Tymchuck, and as always, share a few laughs. And a little freindly rivalry from Onoway student, Sihing Lindstrom. I was awed by what Sifu Wilson has done for her small, but tight-knit children's class - what an amazing teacher she is. I was impressed by young Miss Prince as the Buddha in the lion dance. She clearly has talent in that area, and deserves some special mentorship from the likes of Sifu Robertson. I was proud of young Mr. Embury as the head in the young lion for the lion dance. He sets a great example for all his fellow young students, and he has a knack for adding a little special character to the whole show. It was wonderful and heartwarming to see students stepping forward for the first time in demo's: Mr. Estey continues to mature into and expemplary martial artist, and Krista Lowery's Lao Gar is truly amazing. I enjoyed watching our amazing young sifu Wonsiak herd her flock of tiny martial artists with such skill and confidence. And our leader - Sifu Playter was incredibly inspiring with his numchucks (did I spell that correctly?). Better than Bruce Lee . . . I'M SERIOUS!

Did I miss anyone?? Lots, I'm sure. There was the tall lady who watches her daughter in Sifu Wilson's class. It looks like she's finally decided to join up as well; she was wearing her white belt today. Excellent!! There were non-kung fu family members helping out. Honestly! They're around enough with us, they might as well join a class~! The Onoway gang, which are proving to be quite a defining force in our school. The sihings - wish them luck in their quest for black belt - the memory of my last summer also as a sihing is still fresh in my mind.

What a great bunch of people to be around. I am looking forward to the next summer event - THE TIGER CHALLENGE.

Claire Finnamore
Student Member - Silent River Kung Fu