Things I Learned from Great Big Sea

Not sure how I'm going to tie a Canadian folk-rock band to a blog about my summer in Ecuador? Just you wait.

I have been a fan of Great Big Sea since a friend introduced me to them in high school. Since then I have been to four concerts, bought a few cds, and downloaded a bunch of their songs onto my ipod. They play a few different styles of music, some original and some traditional folk songs. The band members are all very talented singers and musicians, and super charismatic (especially Alan . . . he's my favourite). Even if you aren't really into their style of music, I really recommend checking out a concert. They play very interactive shows and have so much energy. Their love of the music just pours out of them into the audience. But enough gushing. I'll get to the point.

Great Big Sea have some excellent songs with poignant things to say, and some of them reminded me of the whole Beyond Borders experience. So here goes.

All together, you and me, a single note don't make a melody (Love Me Tonight)
This one is pretty obvious. For me, it's been really great to have so many different perspectives and personalities represented in BB. If we all felt exactly the same way about things, or thought alike, or had similar ideas, we wouldn't have had the same experiences. All the different views thrown together is what really made the program great.

Anything worth having is worth some sacrifice (Shines Right Through Me)
I think we can all relate to this. We've had to give up a lot to be in this program: time, money, energy, classes that may have been better used as required courses, and three months of our summer. It hasn't always been easy, but we wouldn't have done it if we didn't think it would have all been worth it in the end.

Move along, I believe there's something beautiful to see, move along I believe there's something beautiful just waiting for you and me (Something Beautiful)
For me at least, this process hasn't been easy. There has been the odd time where it has taken all of my strength just to put one foot in front of the other. But, similarly to the last example, at the end it will be so worth it because all this effort will be reflected in an unforgettable summer. We are almost there! The beauty is just around the corner.

This is my one small step, this is my walk on the moon (Walk on the Moon)
I think this one is my favourite. It's a really pretty song, but I also really like the message. The song talks about how the astronauts must have been scared s***less when they stepped out of that spaceship when they first stepped onto the moon, but then they got to see the world from a whole new perspective (okay, so I paraphrased a little). And that walk on the moon started with one tiny step. Same goes for us. In the scope of the world, our trips this summer is just a small little blip in the radar, but in our own lives it's a big deal 'walk on the moon', so to speak. And it wouldn't have been possible without that first step.

This is here, this is now, it's the moment that we live for and we just can't live without, it's all clear to me now, we've already started dying, and our time is running out (Here and Now)
I know this one seems depressing, but I don't mean it that way. But if you look our lives simply as periods of time on earth, most of us are 1/4 of the way through our lives, give or take. Truth be told, as soon as you're born you're already dying. And I'm not trying to be dark or macabre here, but I just mean that we only have a finite amount of time on earth, and it's our loss (and fault) if we don't do our best to truly live while we have the chance. This summer is one way for us to experience the world as we never have before, and may never again. So live it up!!

Well judging from the quasi-philosophical and semi-deep tone that piece took, you may be able to tell it is stupid late (or early . . . lol). I may have said it differently in the harsh light of day, but the sentiment remains the same. Live while you're alive, make sacrifices and take risks.