Sunday, January 24, 2010

La vie glacée

So, as in the case of my grocery shopping, this blog is most likely going to become a solid weekly affair. This week in classes wasn't anything too special, despite the amount of reading assigned. It is rather a lot, along with all the papers that I have been given too. However, I also only have one exam during finals weeks, as the rest of my grades is determined by term papers. When I take a step back, I realise that it really isn't all too bad, just time consuming.

In other news, I have, of course, been researching post-graduate options this past few weeks. While some options moved to the front of the line, others did not make the cut and were quickly dropped. I am still planning on applying to two or three CSU's for the teaching credential program, but one certain Masters program came to the front recently. I emailed the graduate advisor for the french department at University of Nevada, Reno about a program that I heard about through a friend (sidenote: Thank's Leah, and Emily!) I had a few questions about the program, as well as a teaching assistantship position that required a different application. Her response was the following: APPLY NOW! Long story short, let's just pretend that the application for the TA job and the Masters is due on Feb 15th. I jumped on what seems like a great opportunity, including a reasonable stipend, and UNR employee tuition rates. I finished the application on Friday, having received the email back on Tuesday night. My reason for moving so fast? I wanted this upstart of an application to be out of the way before all my papers for cette session d'hiver kick in. Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed for that one!

As the application took up quite a bit of time, I didn't really do much non school related this week with a few exceptions. On Tuesday night, I headed to Leah's place and we had a great chicken dinner! Thursday, Bonnie came over and we went out for drinks at Sky Bar, and watched a drag show. Friday involved my weekly trip to Maxi for groceries, as well as a late night movie with Lauren, Morris, and Cameron.

Saturday night was IGLOOFEST! Essentially, its a big outdoor rave in the middle of winter! There were ice sculptures, a bar made out of ice (see pic with SAQ bar for details), along with a "dance floor" AKA frozen mud in front of stage. It was maybe around -10C, somewhere in the low teen's Fahrenheit. Even weirder was dacning in full winter gear, beanie (or a toque as they are called in Canada) and scarf included. It was tons of fun, although due to homework and tiredness, I went home early and had some hot cocoa with Bonnie and Camille.

Here are some photos of Igloofest:




Sunday was a nice day. I woke up early, and did some homework. Then, during the calm before our RAIN storm, rather sad considering its January in Canada as it should be snow, Leah and I went ice skating in Vieux Montréal. I decided that the purchase of skates was no longer required, as the amount of times that they would be used wasn't worth it. So I shoved on a rented pair, and off we went. Initially, getting our bearing, we stayed on the artificial section. But then the naturally frozen canal was open for business so we hopped onto that instead. It was much bumpier, yes, but also a lot less busy to overall, it was a lot safer. Plus, you could only skate on certain parts. Danger non existant. Overall, a nice week! As of tomorrow, I have three months left in Montréal. I cant quite believe that I have been writing from this desk for more than five months now.....

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Long time no see.....new semester

So it has officially been over a month since I last updated this blog! I feel so sad to disappoint all my avid readers.......hahahahha. Anyway.....

Last time I was writing about finals, snowstorms, etc. I cant believe how long ago that was! I will try my best to go in chronologocial order.

I finished my last final on the 17 of December. Overall, I think my tests went relatively well, considering they were all essay questions, and were all in french. I finished up the semester will dinner chez Gabrielle, and we watched a movie whose name I cannot remember, unfortunately. I spent friday sleeping in, packing, then headed over to Cameron's for his atheist Christmas party. Saturday was essentially just a bunch of lazing around until I got in the taxi to head to the airport. One pleasant conversation with mon chauffeur later, I was in line at the airport. A unique trait of Canadian airports is that US customs is located IN CANADA. You pass by it before you even board your flight. So after the initial check in queue, then the line for security, and finally customs, it takes at least an hour and a half on a GOOD DAY! Beware all those travelling during busy periods. Anywhere between 2 to 3 hours advance arrival is advised! I had a layover in Minneapolis, and my internal clock was thrown off dramatically as I was hoping time zones with both flights at night. At around midnight, I landed in SFO, just in time to see the beginning hours of Dad's birthday. Not too shabby!

The trip home was fantastic, to say the least. It was nice being back home, driving a car, seeing the family and friends, and spending time in a familiar environment. Seeing CALIFORNIA lisence plates, as silly as it is, was a novelty. Christmas went by well; I got a new cell phone! Its really cool, one of those with a the keyboard and the touch screen etc. I'm excited to use it properly once I move home. I also got to see almost everyone at least once over Christmas break, including late night visits to Wendy's :) Had to keep the tradition!

I also got to go out to SF twice to visit Dione, DJ, and AJ. First time, we all had dinner and spent the next day down in Pacifica, CA. I really love that town, along with its tidepools which we most definately visited. Next came CHIPOTLE! Oh my gosh! Having a good heavy burrito was amazing, despite the fact that I wasn't able to finish it. Clearly, being abroad since long has shrunk my stomach. I went home a wee bit early, had dinner, and spent a night at the movies with Mum and Dad. I must've seen more than 4 movies during the two weeks that I was home, and I was more than happy to! Great times :) New Years was spent in SF, with good friends and good fireworks. Jan. 4th came a bit too fast, and I came back to Montréal on the red eye flight via Toronto (officially the worst airport ever by the way. Not laid out well at all).

I had two days to get back onto East Coast time, and now I am back in classes. This semester I am taking a 6-unit French Grammar class, Political System of the USSR, Social and Political Movements of Québec, and the Municipal Political System of Montréal. Surprisingly, my course choices were my original ones, and I am more than happy with all of them. While I have close to 100 pages of papers this semester, I only have one final exam on April 22nd. I will officially be done with my year abroad in 3 months.....scary thought! Good news is that I'll be back home before May Day!

Coming back was definately interesting. It was good seeing my good friends here, and I wasted no time in running to Tim Hortons for hot chocolate, or going out for a drink of alcohol. That's where I am at the moment: enjoy the beginning of the semester, accompanied by good friend, good hot chocolate, and the occasional boisson alcoolisée!

Note Bene: Heat Wave In January. We reached 36F (2c) two days in a row on Friday and Saturday!