Snow

I tamed the beastie on my head today! Got my haircut where Courtney suggested (Merci boucoup!) at an adorable little salon off St-Denis. Justine thinned it out so my curls would behave and trimmed my bangs. Here is a picture with my old-timey webcam filter that makes me look like I've got some yarn in my teeth:

I shopped for some layer today at my favorite boutique, Cul-De-Sac. The woman who works there is amazing. She loves her job and takes the time to get to know you and help you with what would look good for you. The store consists of cheap used or vintage items, more expensive reworked items, or just new fairly inexpensive clothes. I did some walking around to enjoy the fall and found something Graham and I had stumbled on before during a walk. Check it out Robertson clan:





It snowed yesterday!! I was just getting off the metro and suddenly it started falling, confused at first I stopped mid-stride in an intersection. Dazed and googly eyed with a dopey smile on my face I wandered around marveling at the stuff for a good half hour. I can't remember experiencing getting snowed on and I've been telling people that. Though, now that I think about it, it did happen during a tahoe trip at Andrea's cabin - so I'm a liar. But it seems completely different when you're just walking around the city. Snow falling on everyone and all the big buildings. It was so beautiful that these tears formed in my eyes. Very sentimental of me but it made me so happy that I was in another country, experiencing something so simple yet magical.

I tried to take a picture but my camera doesn't recognize the flakes.

The snow definitely made up for the week of midterms and an awful score on my French oral exam. Something about that bad grade really energized me, though. I'm going to the French speaking practice tea times that the school offers and I'm bringing that grade up for the final. Just you wait Prof Roch!

I'm going to take it easy this weekend and work on writing letters and reworking my play for it's final presentation next Tuesday. Lazy weekend of movies, roomies, and hopefully some Halloween cupcake decorating and pumpkin carving.

Family, even though I've little snow experience, I connect it with the holidays and it made me very nostalgic for Christmas, Emma's smile, and all you little buggers. I miss you very much.

Love,
B

Rumpus

Pictures from Thanksgiving are in!

Judith was taking the picture so she isn't in it but this was our Thanksgiving crew. Started off with some AMAZING squash soup and homemade bread, coupled with something I made: a scrumptious pomegranate, hot apple cider (Thanks Canadian Food Network). This was at Guido's house , Tim's twin and the guy looking away from the camera. The feast included a chicken, pumpkin pie, salads, mashed potatoes, stuffed peppers, cornbread, polenta crust pizza, Indian spinach bread, and manicotti. So much goodnessssss!

Mom sent me a wooden centerpiece ready to be colored. Cardy did the honors. Mom also sent eternal (polyester) maple leaves that we used to decorate the table. This the lovely Emilia, from Finland, and of course, myself - lookin full.

After the meal there has been talk of having big meals every two weeks. I hope this happens because I think it will make winters really fun. Plus, I really like cooking if it means I can cook for others. If it's only for myself, I've no motivation.

Speaking of food. Thank you thank you for my package G&G!! I love that gigantic scarf and I shamelessly lived off of Top Ramen (which is only called ramen here) for the past few days. Also, side note for G Bain - I found some oriental flavor here! So you don't need to keep sending it unless you want to - which is fine with me. Anyway, I've been holed up in my room writing (go figure) for my writing courses, handling midterms, and generally being an anti-socialite. I even gave up watching a band, a very good one, just down the street in order to write on a Saturday night. Dedication, I guess. After my French oral exam on Thursday I'll feel a lot less stressed and things will go back to normal: you know, semi-regular sleeping habits, varied meals, actually doing my laundry instead of thinking about it.

I did allow myself to go out and watch Where the Wild Things Are with Cardy and her sister, who was visiting. Was a bit disjointed for me, but I don't know what I was expecting for a movie based entirely on a book from my childhood. Overall made me tear up from nostalgia a few times. Mom, do we have a recording of G Bain reading this? I hope so, because that's how I remember it. A very beautiful work with an awesome soundtrack. I listen to the track used for the "wild rumpus" in the mornings to get me pumped for school.

Movies are $12.50 here. I'll stick to the dollar cinema and the underground $5 cinema du parc from here on out, thanks.

Oh yeah, and here is our ridiculously cute roommate picture. Toronto, Montréal, California, Alberta. California looks like she has a stick up her butt because she couldn't keep a straight face.

Three Hopeful Thoughts

Overwhelmed. Not going to lie. So I've taken a break to write a little. I've got midterms pounding at my door and I'm cowering in the corner trying to ignore them. Not doing so hot.

I think I'll refrain from taking French next semester. While I want to learn the language, and I enjoy taking the class (other than its time) I really don't think a six unit French course is doing me any favors right now. I'm a fourth year trying to finish my degree abroad. I've really got to focus on my writing courses. I can't give both chunks of my schedule enough time for the attention they deserve. If I do decide on staying for summer I will take a cheap french course at a language school and get a simple job (can't get anything that will involve me speaking with customers since I've no real French experience).



Picture I took today of my street - loving the yellows, reds, and oranges! Today it snowed. Just a little, to the point where you'd hardly notice, but enough to make me giggle and jump around like a little kid. While I'm not ready for snow it was really great being outside to witness the first little bits of the season.

I get a kick out of bundling up and accessorizing - something I could have done back home but never found that appealing. Apparently I really like hats and can't have enough. Still don't have a winter coat, but I suppose I should get one soon since winter seems to be coming early this year. I do, however, have long johns and warm socks now - and I'm wearing them right now.

Thanksgiving weekend was lovely. I mean, I really enjoyed spending time with my roommates and a few friends that I'd invited over. Lots of good food and a fun time.
Pictures to come soon.

OOOOh dear. I should be sleeping - it is 3:29 here. In the am. French quiz in 5 hours. I get test anxiety! I can't help it.

La Vie En Rose

Well it's getting cold, guys. I've yet to get some good shoes for this weather but the coats I have right now are fine. Luckily there are tons of thrift stores for boots and used shoes nearby, it's just a matter of taking the initiative to dig. I brought three pairs of shoes with me: sandals, black flats, and ked-like vans; neither of these are appropriate for the weather that sprung up. I don't think the squirrels were expecting it because I saw a dead one just outside our door, poor thing probably hadn't found shelter in time.

We have a mouse in the house but I bought some friendly mouse traps, though, nothing has come of it yet.

I can't believe it is October already! On October 12th it will be Canadian Thanksgiving (Why Monday? How do you digest and just start classes?). Anyway, we'll probably have a mini Thanksgiving feast this coming weekend.

On Thursday I went to a talk by Tomson Highway at the nearby McGill University. I'm really enjoying the Canadian theater scene because it seems pretty close knit and Montreal is such a great hub to be. I was very happy to go see him speak because I'd previously decided to write on him, so that was pretty exciting for me. Highway is an award winning Aboriginal playwright, pianist and composer (though the later two haven't gotten him any awards as far as I know) from Manitoba. He is a beautiful effeminate soul, a giggly ageless older man. I really dug what he had to say about his studies in mythology, languages, god(esses), and modern times. He was also, quite clearly a collector of bad jokes. Highway was born in a tent on a snow bank and he said this of the experience: I was born in a tent, that's why I'm so intense. This would have fallen flat if it weren't Highway because he giggled profusely, making the rest of us burst into giggles as well.
I've watched some of his discussions and he repeats the same jokes, which to me, makes him all the more charming. Anyway, I'm not here to write an article but I would suggest you check out some of what he has to say.

Watched my first Canadian hockey game this week! Ryan is a huge fan who tries to watch every game, Tim is a pretty big fan, and Cardy is kinda like me - likes it okay but doesn't know too much about it. We all hung out, ate poutine, and watched the Montreal Canadians beat the Toronto Maple Leaves on TV. I think I'll splurge on one game at some point just to see it in person. I've always liked hockey and I think it would be worth it to see the violence in person. Yeah...that's a big reason I like the sport.

A Festival called Pop Montreal was going on this week; bringing together art, music, and film. I didn't go to any shows because nothing was calling out to me but we did go dancing last night and today I went to the local artist and record sales. Got a few $1 CDs, some posters by a local artist for my bare walls, and some really cute mini pine cone earrings. I found a guy who did screen printing stencils of the street I live off of, I think I'll go back and buy one to remember the experience, my bus, and the 24 hour bagel shop. I could do it myself, but then I'd just be stealing his idea and it wouldn't turn out as nice.

I'm having a hard time writing for classes, I've got the first scene of a play due on Tuesday that keeps stressing me out because I keep staring at a blank screen. Wish me luck.