I am already preparing for my first midterm, which hits October 4th and is all about Linguistics. We had our first test in the same and I pulled off and even B- (70%). Pretty good, but far to average for my expectations of myself. I am not in school here, learning to be average--I want to excel! I mean, I know all this stuff, or I should, as all of the material is before me; I just need to figure out how to put the puzzle together.
Basically a whole month has gone by since I moved. I can not believe it! It feels like a lot longer. I mean, of course I miss home, of course I miss my family and friends, my job--everything. But I'm figuring it out, and it makes me feel all the more adult. I've made so many changes already, all for the better, and I can not wait for my loved ones to see me and to show them how I've succeeded thus far.
I went for a job interview for Starbucks the other day, and it went very well. I will know by Monday if I have a job there or not; please, please, please pray! I've also been making friends with far less difficulty. Well sort of. Although my LAS class is my favorite, the people certainly are not as friendly as those in my other two classes. The teacher rocks though: he was born in Brazil and grew up there and in Scotland, emigrated to Canada and has a thick English accent, as both of his folks were English (though he never once stepped foot on the Motherland's soil).
He is a doll.
My weekend plans this week are not yet made. Opps! No, I think I am going out for coffee with one of my Spanish classmates. Maybe We'll watch a movie here too, or something. My landlord's folks are flying in from Edmonton in a couple of hours, so this place is is going to be bustling with people.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Filtered
It has been a hard week. Throughout the past week there have been so many times when my brain has literally not stopped processing data from one morning to the next. Sleep has not been easy because of such a problem, and as result, my I've been feeling a little ill. Not too bad, but defiantly not 100%. My stomach has been reeling and churning, body aching, and feeling sore-throaty in the morning. Yech. Needless to say, this has been the week the weather changed to ran from sun.
Linguistics has begun to make more sense, though the course is not looking more like Chem in its formations and equations. The lexical component of the course has begun to stress me out, but apparently that is perfectly normal and will only get worse before it gets better and as we go through the course.
Latin American Studies has proven, so far, to be...so much more eye opening than I expected. It has shocked me how "Europeanized" our educational system really is. The blatant disregard for such a prominent part of the world is disgusting! And even worse is how we, as North Americans justify the abuse of Latin America. Allbeit, Canada is far better than the States and the damage has been done and was committed centuries ago. But, in the educational system I was brought up in, we did not learn about our other fellow Americans. We were taught about anti-communism controls put in place there, without also addressing the fact that communism would work far better in most Latin American countries than a democracy (did the USA not convert to a communist-like policy during the Great Depression to get back up on its economical feet? Why can the L.A. countries employ the same right of self-government? Oh yeah, the USA is, in most L.A. countries, allowed to step in and change up the govn't whenever they feel like it. Even now! Sick! Actually, Haiti was the 3rd established republic, right after the USA, and no one cares. Columbus landed at Hispaniola (now Haiti and D.R.) in 1482, long before anyone even knew about the USA, but the US use that same date to claim their discovery. Needless to say, LAS has really started to open my eyes to see just how filtered my education has been.
I've been making friends, however, and have weekend plans prospering and study times set. Yeah! I can't believe how much more positive it has made me.
This week, I have also manged to find a church that interests me. It seems like it might be a solid deal, and I am definitely going for a second time. It is MB, which is different than my previous "denomination," but I don't necessarily care so much about what they call themselves as much as I do care about what they're preaching, and this group of people seem to put God at the head of everything. It is a young church too, both age wise and people wise. They are still growing, and as of yet, seemingly don't have a building. Right now they are meeting in a theater in one of the cinemas in town. Sweet. Check its site out: www.vintage242church.com
I also have several job prospects. The most promising looks to be Starbucks, but a waitressing job might be in the works too. I have a third interview next Wednesday afternoon; praying, and praying, and praying that all goes well with that!
The guys factor is getting a little more rosy too. They seem to be more attractive now than they were 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, there seems to be this underlying pressure to be with a significant other. Almost every one of the girls in all of my classes is dating, not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that I suppose. But it does have that wonderful effect of making me feel nakedly single. I mean, there are a few guys out there with whom I wish our relationship were perhaps a bit different and maybe a couple super hot guys at school here, but in in University solely for the purpose of getting educated enough to move thousands of miles from here without destroying a culture. That is why I am here (and I have, admittedly, been finding it necessary to remind myself of that fact); I don't plan on walking away with a hubby after 4 years. Not that I'll turn a guy away if he seems like a good match, but I need a guy willing and able to have a life with me that works as much with my goals as mine do with his. Otherwise it is simply unfair to one or the other, and that would break my heart either way.
Anyway, that is my rant for making me feel better about being single at the moment.
I have a TESL Association meeting in 4 hours; it is a "club" for people interested in teaching English as a second language here or abroad. It basically provides an outlet for people to network with each other and hear some real life experiences and help each other get their goals in motion. While I am not planning on beginning my career for another 4 years, it might prove very useful. I think it might be worth my time to join the club. We shall see.
That is, I think, about all worth mentioning for now. I'll let you know when my life starts to get interesting again!
P.S. For my 2nd Cousin: I am going to take some pics of school tonight, fingers crossed, and hope post them here in the next day or so. They won't be too pretty though, as the sky is gray and miserable. But the trees are still mostly green!
Linguistics has begun to make more sense, though the course is not looking more like Chem in its formations and equations. The lexical component of the course has begun to stress me out, but apparently that is perfectly normal and will only get worse before it gets better and as we go through the course.
Latin American Studies has proven, so far, to be...so much more eye opening than I expected. It has shocked me how "Europeanized" our educational system really is. The blatant disregard for such a prominent part of the world is disgusting! And even worse is how we, as North Americans justify the abuse of Latin America. Allbeit, Canada is far better than the States and the damage has been done and was committed centuries ago. But, in the educational system I was brought up in, we did not learn about our other fellow Americans. We were taught about anti-communism controls put in place there, without also addressing the fact that communism would work far better in most Latin American countries than a democracy (did the USA not convert to a communist-like policy during the Great Depression to get back up on its economical feet? Why can the L.A. countries employ the same right of self-government? Oh yeah, the USA is, in most L.A. countries, allowed to step in and change up the govn't whenever they feel like it. Even now! Sick! Actually, Haiti was the 3rd established republic, right after the USA, and no one cares. Columbus landed at Hispaniola (now Haiti and D.R.) in 1482, long before anyone even knew about the USA, but the US use that same date to claim their discovery. Needless to say, LAS has really started to open my eyes to see just how filtered my education has been.
I've been making friends, however, and have weekend plans prospering and study times set. Yeah! I can't believe how much more positive it has made me.
This week, I have also manged to find a church that interests me. It seems like it might be a solid deal, and I am definitely going for a second time. It is MB, which is different than my previous "denomination," but I don't necessarily care so much about what they call themselves as much as I do care about what they're preaching, and this group of people seem to put God at the head of everything. It is a young church too, both age wise and people wise. They are still growing, and as of yet, seemingly don't have a building. Right now they are meeting in a theater in one of the cinemas in town. Sweet. Check its site out: www.vintage242church.com
I also have several job prospects. The most promising looks to be Starbucks, but a waitressing job might be in the works too. I have a third interview next Wednesday afternoon; praying, and praying, and praying that all goes well with that!
The guys factor is getting a little more rosy too. They seem to be more attractive now than they were 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, there seems to be this underlying pressure to be with a significant other. Almost every one of the girls in all of my classes is dating, not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that I suppose. But it does have that wonderful effect of making me feel nakedly single. I mean, there are a few guys out there with whom I wish our relationship were perhaps a bit different and maybe a couple super hot guys at school here, but in in University solely for the purpose of getting educated enough to move thousands of miles from here without destroying a culture. That is why I am here (and I have, admittedly, been finding it necessary to remind myself of that fact); I don't plan on walking away with a hubby after 4 years. Not that I'll turn a guy away if he seems like a good match, but I need a guy willing and able to have a life with me that works as much with my goals as mine do with his. Otherwise it is simply unfair to one or the other, and that would break my heart either way.
Anyway, that is my rant for making me feel better about being single at the moment.
I have a TESL Association meeting in 4 hours; it is a "club" for people interested in teaching English as a second language here or abroad. It basically provides an outlet for people to network with each other and hear some real life experiences and help each other get their goals in motion. While I am not planning on beginning my career for another 4 years, it might prove very useful. I think it might be worth my time to join the club. We shall see.
That is, I think, about all worth mentioning for now. I'll let you know when my life starts to get interesting again!
P.S. For my 2nd Cousin: I am going to take some pics of school tonight, fingers crossed, and hope post them here in the next day or so. They won't be too pretty though, as the sky is gray and miserable. But the trees are still mostly green!
Friday, September 07, 2007
My New House
For the sake of Dad, I thought I would take a couple more pictures of my new house and post them here. Have no fear, I have never lived so richly!
The crazy washing machines that I have absolutley no idea how to work.
The living room and main entrance upstairs. This is shared space, not mine.
Our shared family room adjacent to the kitchen.
The kitchen. I love it! They want me to simply rifle through the pantry and eat anything I want. Still not used to that!
My den; a space all my own. Downstairs on ground level (of a 3 story house). I haven't yet had the time to really make it my own. I did, however, tidy up the thousands of textbooks and other books. You'd think I wasn't a student! Oh, the books on the table are just for one class, and there are to more on the right ledge by the stereo that go with them. All except one, I suppose, which is a lovely contribution by my second cousin out east. But that is he smallest book on the top of the giant stack. I have 4 more giant texts on top of those!
The crazy washing machines that I have absolutley no idea how to work.
The living room and main entrance upstairs. This is shared space, not mine.
Our shared family room adjacent to the kitchen.
The kitchen. I love it! They want me to simply rifle through the pantry and eat anything I want. Still not used to that!
My den; a space all my own. Downstairs on ground level (of a 3 story house). I haven't yet had the time to really make it my own. I did, however, tidy up the thousands of textbooks and other books. You'd think I wasn't a student! Oh, the books on the table are just for one class, and there are to more on the right ledge by the stereo that go with them. All except one, I suppose, which is a lovely contribution by my second cousin out east. But that is he smallest book on the top of the giant stack. I have 4 more giant texts on top of those!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Freshman
Though not technically a whole week, I am done school until Monday--my first week of my first semester in university has come and gone. I've only had three days of class, but am already able to have a feel for how this semester is going to go.
Latin American Studies is likely to be the best class of the semester. The teacher is hilarious, the work load not too bad (though involving intensive reading and a massive term paper), and the subject is fascinating to me. Spanish is probably going to be next best; it involves lots of interaction between peers. However, it also requires at least 4 hours of computer work per week (2 of which I am to do in the language lab at the school somewhere), in addition to reading the text, and doing the workbook pages which relate to the text we're to read.
Lastly comes Linguistics. The course, so far, seems like it will prove to be quite challenging. The teacher is incredibly quiet, and though I sat at the front of the class, I still had a great deal of trouble following her. the professor also has a tendency to use highly grammatical language which is somewhat foreign to me. If it weren't for the fact that I know the course would be worth it, and 2nd year will be better, I might consider dropping it. For all you who don't know what Linguistics is, it is learning the descriptive science of language. So far, we're simply learning an incredible amount of grammar (something that was greatly omitted in my previous schooling...or so it seems) and soon we'll be learning basic syntax creation. It makes me sound smart, but as of yet, I have no idea what anything means. After all, I have only had a couple of classes of Linguistics.
Homesickness has so far mostly evaded me. That's not t say I don't deeply miss a great number of people, and don't wish my confidantes by my side at every minuet. I have not yet had a cup of coffee equal to that from Global Grounds. I miss my customers, and I miss my best friend's dog almost more than anyone else.
But this new place has been treating me well. My new landlords are unbelievably nice, my new house far more than I could have hoped for, and my new school better than any other I have seen. These factors have defiantly helped make the transition easier, and I am hoping to find a job soon and start feeling like I am part of a community again.
All in all, the adjustment to my new life has been going well. I haven't made any friends as of yet, but am getting to know more and more people everyday. Now, all I have to do is find people to go snowboarding with!
Latin American Studies is likely to be the best class of the semester. The teacher is hilarious, the work load not too bad (though involving intensive reading and a massive term paper), and the subject is fascinating to me. Spanish is probably going to be next best; it involves lots of interaction between peers. However, it also requires at least 4 hours of computer work per week (2 of which I am to do in the language lab at the school somewhere), in addition to reading the text, and doing the workbook pages which relate to the text we're to read.
Lastly comes Linguistics. The course, so far, seems like it will prove to be quite challenging. The teacher is incredibly quiet, and though I sat at the front of the class, I still had a great deal of trouble following her. the professor also has a tendency to use highly grammatical language which is somewhat foreign to me. If it weren't for the fact that I know the course would be worth it, and 2nd year will be better, I might consider dropping it. For all you who don't know what Linguistics is, it is learning the descriptive science of language. So far, we're simply learning an incredible amount of grammar (something that was greatly omitted in my previous schooling...or so it seems) and soon we'll be learning basic syntax creation. It makes me sound smart, but as of yet, I have no idea what anything means. After all, I have only had a couple of classes of Linguistics.
Homesickness has so far mostly evaded me. That's not t say I don't deeply miss a great number of people, and don't wish my confidantes by my side at every minuet. I have not yet had a cup of coffee equal to that from Global Grounds. I miss my customers, and I miss my best friend's dog almost more than anyone else.
But this new place has been treating me well. My new landlords are unbelievably nice, my new house far more than I could have hoped for, and my new school better than any other I have seen. These factors have defiantly helped make the transition easier, and I am hoping to find a job soon and start feeling like I am part of a community again.
All in all, the adjustment to my new life has been going well. I haven't made any friends as of yet, but am getting to know more and more people everyday. Now, all I have to do is find people to go snowboarding with!
Monday, September 03, 2007
A New Chapter
Well, it has happened. My friends have gone their way and left me here in Abbotsford. I officially live here. My land lords seem awesome, my house is so much more than I was expecting, and school seems like it will be tons of fun. I'll find out tomorrow.
So I have some pictures below. Check them out!
My new bedroom, or rather, about half of my new room. It is about twice the size f my old one.
My living space and me in the bathroom in the back. Trust me. It is far bigger than it looks!
All of my earthly belongings packed into Laura's new van. that was one full van!
On the ferry on the way back from Nanaimo. Andrew, me, Laura, and Curt.
The view from the my house, and walk to the bus stop. When they said I lived on the top of a hill, they sure meant it. It about a leisurely half hour walk down hill to the bus stop.
So I have some pictures below. Check them out!
My new bedroom, or rather, about half of my new room. It is about twice the size f my old one.
My living space and me in the bathroom in the back. Trust me. It is far bigger than it looks!
All of my earthly belongings packed into Laura's new van. that was one full van!
On the ferry on the way back from Nanaimo. Andrew, me, Laura, and Curt.
The view from the my house, and walk to the bus stop. When they said I lived on the top of a hill, they sure meant it. It about a leisurely half hour walk down hill to the bus stop.
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