As I am writing this blog entry, a few things are happening. Firstly, the House of Reps is currently voting on the health care bill. I do hope it passes! Second, my adventures of this week, academic and otherwise, have thoroughly exhausted me and I am incapable of reading the book that I have to read for class. And lastly, I have a hot cup of Ribena at my side, a slight home comfort that is even more pleasant due to the falling of a late-spring snow outside.
This week has been interesting. Monday was dominated by a horrible migraine, whereas Tuesday was controlled by a lovely article critique for my class on the USSR. I have another one to do next week, but it usually only takes a couple hours to finish. Wednesday, I did some more homework, studied for my test on Thursday, and had dinner at Leah's house. Groceries were done on the way over, as she lives a couple blocks down from Maxi, the cheapest supermarket here. Thursday, I was in school for most of the day, whether in class, writing up some homework, or doing some law research.
Friday was certainly a lot more fun. I did some homework, as normal, but not a whole lot. I then went out to dinner with Lauren and Camille to an irish pub. I had fish and chips, and then Camille and I went to go see "Blindside". The movie was really, really good and served as an inspiration to the better side of humanity.
Saturday, I was able to complete a tiny bit more of homework, along with some preparations for the evening's festivites. Camille, Cameron, his friend Kate, and I all went and saw Bonnie's production of the "Vagina Monologues". It was really quite funny at times, emotional at others, and overall, a great show. Drinks and dancing followed, and I had a lovely night. (the taxi ride home was a plus, and I felt so rich being in a car.....having sat in one perhaps twice in 4 months).
And now today, incapable of finishing any homework due to being completely exhausted from the week, I am taking a day off. Homework can be postponed, and I will no doubt finish all my assignments. Afterall, I don't arrive in California for another 5 weeks, which in comparison to the 7 months that I have already been here, in more than miniscule.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
A month later, and spring is all around
So soon enough, it will have been exactly one month since my last blog entry. I know that my goal of weekly uploads has failed miserably, but I blame school! hahah
I know that this wasn't perhaps the best course of action seeing as I cannot remember anything running up to my trip to Toronto, which was a good two week's worth of time. Oh well.
I left for Toronto on the Megabus on the first friday morning of my Spring Break! (or my Reading Week, as it is called in Canada because they actually give you a ton of work to do during it). It hadn't really snowed much at all down in Toronto, and naturally, the day that I arrive is the first real snow! Having borrowed my friend Tim's backpack, which reminds me, I still have to give back, I was well prepared for the journey. Upon arrival in the relatively comfortable and clean hostel, I went out with some people also staying there and we went to local Toronto brewery, the Steam Whistle. We got free samples, and the tour was quite informative. Despite being clobbered by snow thanks to a passing car on the way there, I had a nice time. I spent the rest of the evening getting to know people at the hostel, because I was super tired from the long bus ride down.
Saturday I went for a walk up to the University of Toronto and the hip neighbourhood surrounding it. It was still lightly snowing, which made for quite a pleasant experience. In the afternoon, I met up with Fauve at an art gallery. The exhibit was really cool, and included a nice variety of art types. After a nice coffee at a really fancy coffee shop, I headed back to the hostel to get ready to go out with my friend Aparna from Amador! We went out with some of her international student friends, which was a great laugh. The gay club we went to was super fancy, albeit not too expensive. I had a really nice time.
Sunday I took a bus tour of Toronto that came included in my hostel package. Seeing as it was the middle of winter and that Canada was playing the US that afternoon for Olympic gold, it was me and two other people. It was a really good way to see everything in the city, as well as hear about some of the historical facts tied to it. In the afternoon, I went up the CN Tower! The view was incredible!!!!!! Here is a photo to make you slightly jealous, having not been up the tallest free-standing structure in the world.
After the tour, truth be told, I took a nap instead of watching the game. Not being the biggest fan of hockey, I figured that I would learn of the score afterwards. Boy did I! I went searching for Chipotle, the only one in Canada and the closest one outside of my Boston to Montreal, I came across people celebrating in the street. The fans took over the main street in Toronto, and then Dundas Sq! (a mini version of Times square). It was such a cultural experience, and probably the most Canadian experience that I have had this entire year haha.
The next day, I went to Niagara Falls with Fauve! The tour was also included in the price of the hostel, and it was amazing! By far my favourite part of the trip, we had a fantastic time. Between conversation on the bus on the way to Niagara Falls, and just the pure surrealness of being there.....it was truly a day to remember! If you ever manage to make it there, do try. It is well worth it. The falls are so powerful, and each season would provide a different view. Winter was beautiful in its own right, with ice forming at the base of the Falls. As a hint though, see them from the Canadian side: the view is much better!!!!!!
Fauve and I ate lunch at the Rainforest Café, which we just happened to stumble upon. Afterwards, our tour took us to a really cute town called Niagara-on-the-Lake, a small village that was established my Loyalists during the American Revolution. Those rebels to the south were not viewed so highly back then....or perhaps now....haha. I found a Scottish shop while I was there, so naturally I had to buy haggis!!!!! Completely worth it considering that it was slightly cheaper than in California.
I ended my trip to Toronto with a hostel-wide trip to the pub. Good times is all I can say!
Well, after the trip to the rather Americanized city of Toronto, I was back in Montreal. I spent the next couple of days procrastinating on homework, and avoiding my responsibilities as a student. I certainly paid dearly for my actions, and I have spent the past week with my nose to the books trying to make up for lost time. This weekend was also Bonnie's birthday which I spent ice skating with her and some of her old roommates. Camille and I then went and saw Lauren perform at her dance department, then joined up for Bonnie's party afterwards. Let's just say I ended this week sligtly hungover.
So that's that....6 weeks left. This week should be slightly less stressful academically, but still no walk in the park. My article report, combined with the book analysis that I still have to finish, is not making me too happy. But hey, Spring is in the air!
I know that this wasn't perhaps the best course of action seeing as I cannot remember anything running up to my trip to Toronto, which was a good two week's worth of time. Oh well.
I left for Toronto on the Megabus on the first friday morning of my Spring Break! (or my Reading Week, as it is called in Canada because they actually give you a ton of work to do during it). It hadn't really snowed much at all down in Toronto, and naturally, the day that I arrive is the first real snow! Having borrowed my friend Tim's backpack, which reminds me, I still have to give back, I was well prepared for the journey. Upon arrival in the relatively comfortable and clean hostel, I went out with some people also staying there and we went to local Toronto brewery, the Steam Whistle. We got free samples, and the tour was quite informative. Despite being clobbered by snow thanks to a passing car on the way there, I had a nice time. I spent the rest of the evening getting to know people at the hostel, because I was super tired from the long bus ride down.
Saturday I went for a walk up to the University of Toronto and the hip neighbourhood surrounding it. It was still lightly snowing, which made for quite a pleasant experience. In the afternoon, I met up with Fauve at an art gallery. The exhibit was really cool, and included a nice variety of art types. After a nice coffee at a really fancy coffee shop, I headed back to the hostel to get ready to go out with my friend Aparna from Amador! We went out with some of her international student friends, which was a great laugh. The gay club we went to was super fancy, albeit not too expensive. I had a really nice time.
Sunday I took a bus tour of Toronto that came included in my hostel package. Seeing as it was the middle of winter and that Canada was playing the US that afternoon for Olympic gold, it was me and two other people. It was a really good way to see everything in the city, as well as hear about some of the historical facts tied to it. In the afternoon, I went up the CN Tower! The view was incredible!!!!!! Here is a photo to make you slightly jealous, having not been up the tallest free-standing structure in the world.
After the tour, truth be told, I took a nap instead of watching the game. Not being the biggest fan of hockey, I figured that I would learn of the score afterwards. Boy did I! I went searching for Chipotle, the only one in Canada and the closest one outside of my Boston to Montreal, I came across people celebrating in the street. The fans took over the main street in Toronto, and then Dundas Sq! (a mini version of Times square). It was such a cultural experience, and probably the most Canadian experience that I have had this entire year haha.
The next day, I went to Niagara Falls with Fauve! The tour was also included in the price of the hostel, and it was amazing! By far my favourite part of the trip, we had a fantastic time. Between conversation on the bus on the way to Niagara Falls, and just the pure surrealness of being there.....it was truly a day to remember! If you ever manage to make it there, do try. It is well worth it. The falls are so powerful, and each season would provide a different view. Winter was beautiful in its own right, with ice forming at the base of the Falls. As a hint though, see them from the Canadian side: the view is much better!!!!!!
Fauve and I ate lunch at the Rainforest Café, which we just happened to stumble upon. Afterwards, our tour took us to a really cute town called Niagara-on-the-Lake, a small village that was established my Loyalists during the American Revolution. Those rebels to the south were not viewed so highly back then....or perhaps now....haha. I found a Scottish shop while I was there, so naturally I had to buy haggis!!!!! Completely worth it considering that it was slightly cheaper than in California.
I ended my trip to Toronto with a hostel-wide trip to the pub. Good times is all I can say!
Well, after the trip to the rather Americanized city of Toronto, I was back in Montreal. I spent the next couple of days procrastinating on homework, and avoiding my responsibilities as a student. I certainly paid dearly for my actions, and I have spent the past week with my nose to the books trying to make up for lost time. This weekend was also Bonnie's birthday which I spent ice skating with her and some of her old roommates. Camille and I then went and saw Lauren perform at her dance department, then joined up for Bonnie's party afterwards. Let's just say I ended this week sligtly hungover.
So that's that....6 weeks left. This week should be slightly less stressful academically, but still no walk in the park. My article report, combined with the book analysis that I still have to finish, is not making me too happy. But hey, Spring is in the air!
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