and I thought the boat would be bigger than it was . It was also a multi-purpose boat for fishing . At the time , I thought this boat could fit into the mouths of one of those bad boys , which , by the way , are fighting each other for mates at this time of year .
I had prepared all kinds of appetizers and brought sparkling wine and orange juice to make mimosas . The team was pumped and ready for an extraordinary adventure .
The day was overcast , which is unusual for Mazatlán , however — the sea looked calm . ( Hello ! It was the harbour !)
Once we got out onto the open sea , the waves started rolling . Monica started re-enacting Celine Dion ’ s famous song . The waves started to get higher , and we were on a proverbial roller-coaster with lots of screams and laughter . That is , until Anallely started heaving overboard and was all shades of green and yellow . Then it was Julieta ’ s turn , then Monica , and almost me . What was happening to my team building event ?!
Through all of this we did see the spectacular humpback whales — three actually travelling together ! We learned a lot about them through our guide .
All I heard Felipe say for four hours was “ Wow !” and “ Holy !” What really amazed me was the footprints they would leave on the sea . This is caused by their massive tails that propel them out of the water and , on the dive down , flatten the sea around them . Thus , they are called humpback footprints .
We also saw all kinds of birds , dolphins , and manta rays . There were only two other boats on
the ocean that day , so it was quite a humbling experience with nature .
Obviously , because of the turbulence of this somewhat small boat on the ocean , we did not imbibe in drink nor food .
Our stomachs settled when we arrived back in the harbour . We celebrated being alive and surviving yet another adventure in this incredible time on our planet .
We broke out the sparkling wine and appies until the captain kicked us off the boat . Anallely told us that for our next adventure , she would drive us anywhere in the world we wanted to go , but never again get in a boat !
Sometimes you never know how important moments are until they are over . When you have time to reflect , this is when you will say , “ Life is not the breaths you take , but the moments that take your breath away .” This , my friends , was one of them — Holy !
Lorianne Tenove was an educator and administrator in Calgary for thirty-nine years and also Education Director for the Tsuutína Nation . She once again tells of what it is like to be Head of Colegio Rex , Canadian International School in Mazatlán , Mexico , during a pandemic . Lorianne is now stranded on dry ground .
news & views SUMMER 2021 | 47