Jennifer

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: The year I lived and worked in Amsterdam, when I was 19 years old. I left my worries at home, and had a year of wild and crazy times. My eyes were opened to how good life can be, and how big the world is.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: I worry about not doing enough, being enough, and having enough.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I would go to the ocean to find some blue whales, maybe to the California coast. I would take my entire family.

Wilma

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Spending time with my 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. (I'm going to visit some of them in Toronto in December.)

Q: What do you worry about?
A: I try not to worry, I keep busy instead. I've been volunteering at Winnipeg Harvest for 14 years.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Toronto to see my grandchildren and I would take my son.

Jill

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: Going on a family trip to Mexico with my husband, parents and sister. It was our last big trip before we had our baby.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Making a future for my family; making the right decisions for my son.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to South America: Paraguay and Brasil, where my husband has family. I'd take my husband Chris and son Rollin.

Billy

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Going to Fun Mountain Waterslide Park as a kid. I remember being at the top of the slide, about to go down, and I thought, "I wish this day would last forever."

Q: What do you worry about?
A: I worry about weird things growing on me; small growths and changes in my body.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: New York City, and I'd take my girlfriend.

Meagan

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: The first summer my boyfriend and I spent together. We started hanging out with my brother and sister and we all got closer as friends.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Where my boyfriend and I will end up living, because our families live in two different provinces.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Europe, and take my boyfriend, my mom and my sister.

Becky

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Traveling in Barbados.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: School and money.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Australia and take my best friend.

Sara

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: When I went to Africa with my mom.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My baby's health and safe arrival.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I would go to Zambia with my boyfriend to meet his family.

Isabella

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: Watching a Dora movie.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: If my mama and papa be mad at me.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to the Turtle Museum. I'd take my friend Marjie and we'd fly in an airplane together.

Chatra

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When I first arrived in Winnipeg from Nepal one month ago, seeing all of the different kinds of people.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: I worry about having a better future, finding a job, and getting to America where I have family.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Pennsylvania, America to see my family. I'd go on my own.

Stephanie

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Taking piano lessons.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My family.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to England and take my friend.

Darcy

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Going to London a few years ago. It was sort of a honeymoon thing.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Financial stuff, my house falling apart.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to the Orient and take my wife.

Kaley

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Whenever I'm with my friend or boyfriend, just hanging out.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Not much right now.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Hawaii. I'm not sure who I would take but I wouldn't go alone.

Rebeka

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When I went on a high school trip to France and Spain.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: School, getting everything done on time.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Europe with my best friend. (In fact, we're planning a trip for this summer.)

Jessica

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Going to a summer camp.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: A lot of things, especially money.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Europe and take my best friend.

Erwin

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Mountain biking down the Ohbejoyful trail in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Eternity worries me (like a good Mennonite boy).

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd travel into eternity to check out my worries. This would be a solo journey.

Rod

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Snorkeling in Barbadoes in 2003. It was my first experience of snorkeling.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Not being able to feel accepted.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?

A: I'd go to Barbados with my wife and kids.

Ericson

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When I'm with my family.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Losing my family.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd take my family and go back home, to the Philippines.

Jason

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Swimming in the ocean.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: I hope the world doesn't end.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Cancun and take my wife.

Jen

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When I went on a road trip on my own, from Winnipeg to San Diego, a couple of years ago.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: a) I work with kids, and so I worry about incompetent people who work with kids, not fighting for their rights. b) I worry about my transience, I don't know where I'll be in five years. c) I worry about not living a life according to my morals and values, and always standing up for what I believe in. and d) I worry about dying alone.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to China where my mom grew up, and India where my dad grew up. I'd take a friend, or a partner (if I had one), who is adventurous and open-minded.

Brad

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Whenever I'm traveling. (I go to Mexico almost every year to visit my family.)

Q: What do you worry about?

A: Being able to follow through with what my dreams are.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd travel to Japan and take my best friend and my boyfriend.

Shawn

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Snowmobiling at my uncle's farm.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My family.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Amsterdam and bring my friend Brett.

Brett

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: Whenever I'm doing Cadets Survival stuff.

Q: What do you worry about?

A: Dying.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go, and who would you take?
A: I'd go to China and take my friend Shawn.

Angelu

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Whenever I'm with my dog, Wacky.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My grades.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?

A: I'd go to the Philippines and take my boyfriend.

Shauna

Unfortunately for some reason my photo of Shauna disappeared! I decided to post this one anyway, partly because it was such a great conversation and I want it documented, and also because I know Shauna will be checking this out. (Sorry Shauna!) Trust me people, she's a beautiful woman and she had a very cute tiny puppy with her.

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: The first day I met my fiance on the Greyhound bus. We randomly bumped into each other at the gym six months later and have now been together for ten years.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: I'm not really a worrier. It's more, 'water of a duck's back', than about worrying for me.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Paris with my fiance.

Lola

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When all of my relatives are together, singing and playing instruments.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My family. The future and safety of my children.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Uganda (my other home, where my husband is), and I'd take our son Oren.

Analisa

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: When I married my husband and realized I could have sleepovers with him for the rest of our lives together.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: What don't I worry about? I worry about car accidents all the time. I can see death in everything.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Tahiti, to a hut on the water with my husband and two boys. But then I'd worry that my kids would fall into the water and drown.

Barbara

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Going to Cuba with my boyfriend recently. Especially the day trip to Havana.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: At my age, I start to worry about my life coming to an end. (I had a brain tumor last year, but I'm glad I'm okay now.)

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Paris with my boyfriend.

Dave

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: My years at the University of Manitoba, from 20-22 years old.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: All of the things I shouldn't. Because I can't do anything about it or don't want to do anything about it.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: The Maritimes, because it's peaceful and the people are nice. I'd go alone.

Jesse

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Kayaking with the Beluga whales in Churchill.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: People dying.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Fiji with my girlfriend.

Kai

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: I try to have fun everyday, at work, with friends, playing in my band.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Myself and my family. (They are all in Burma.)

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go, and who would you take?
A: I'd go see my mom in Burma, I'd take a friend.

Mariah

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Being in my first (and last) school play last year.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Finding my place in life.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go, and who would you take?
A: I'd backpack through Europe and take my little sister.

Jackie

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: Tobogganing on New Year's Eve.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My non-profit work not having enough funding.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: Cypress and Lebanon with my husband Lucas.

Ten Weeks

This morning I talked to Rob. I arrived at work today in a particularly down mood. I'm feeling so sad these days, with the anniversary of my mom's death hanging in my weary bones, in the position of the sun in the sky, in my broken heart. But I was early for work and determined to get through the day, so I sauntered by the food court to see if there were any potentials for an early-hour interview. Then I saw Rob, a middle-aged, long-haired, kind-faced man, sitting alone in the sun with a cup of coffee. Perfect. I approached him, he reluctantly welcomed me, and what followed was a stepping out of my own pain, and into the story of this human. Regular and real like me. Rob had beautiful responses. I learned that he's a hunter and a fisher, that he loves his kids, and that he worries about the people in his life too much. "Add that, 'I worry too much!'", he said with a laugh. Rob asked me, "Why are you doing this?" As I got up to leave I said, "To get into other peoples' heads, and out of my own." He smiled.

Rob is one of the many folks I talk to who didn't want his photo taken. Respect. No problem. Although there's part of me that wants to share every connection I have, maybe it's good that I get to keep some of these stories all to my own heart.

If there's anything that has surprised me after doing this daily for the past 10 weeks, it's how ready people are to connect and soften and share super personal things. Even when there is an initial bristle (sometimes coming from me too), the smile and story opens with the first question I ask. I walk away from these conversations feeling more alive and connected 100% of the time.

I began this project for my own sanity. As I told Rob, it is meant to push me outside of myself, to continue to strengthen my compassion for others in spite of my own shit, and to help me remember that I am not alone in joy or in sorrow. We are travelling together.

Also, regular people are the most special.

Sandy

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: I've been lucky and have had lots of fun. Laughing so hard that my stomach hurts when I wake up the next morning. The last time was recently when I was out with friends.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Stupid things. Like me or something not being good enough.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you bring?
A: An all-inclusive resort down south. I'd take as many friends and family as could fit in the plane.

Allyssa

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: Going on a trip to Banff last summer.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: School and my future.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: Hawaii with my boyfriend.

Vida

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When we went out of the city last summer. (It was my first summer here, away from the Philipeanes.)

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My future and my studies.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to the beaches in the Philipeanes and I would take my classmates.