Water, Wishes and Winter

Having visited Victoria Falls when I was younger, its competition had to be checked out whilst I was within the vicinity.  Niagara Falls.

Well.  Lots of water.  Lots of grey.  Lots of blue ponchos.  Not quite as high or as impressive as its African counterpart.  However, obviously it is quite a sight and made a change from the slow moving, smooth canal of Ottawa. 

As to the town of Niagara Falls.  No need to be going to that place again... Looming hotels.  Tacky arcades.  Casinos.  Not quite my thing.  Also, the fact that the Falls were lit up at night was just bizarre.  Indeed, it made a rather nice sight from the luxurious double queen bed hotel room we were staying in.  Yet, it’s a natural wonder and pretty impressive on its own.  No need to try (and fail) to make it into a Las Vegas of some sort.

Nevertheless, it had to be done and the Falls themselves were a beauty (particularly once the sun came out and you could actually distinguish between the water, the mist and the sky which was appreciated...).  

Oh and while we were on our trip there, it seemed like an obvious and logical time to visit Hooters.  Interesting...  Don't think it would be my first choice of establishment to work at (naturally, its only just because their uniform of orange that would do just nothing for my complexion.  Wouldn't mind a pair of their great, big white and woolly socks though).  But anyhow, another 'experience' ticked off that list of mine.

Also, I have purchased my first set of ice skates!  None of the pretty white ones, oh no.  Hardcore ice-hockey ones.  Not sure my talent will match them though.  But the free campus ice-rink is to be visited and I’ll test whether those lessons from when I was nine have left me with any skills of some kind.  (doubtful to say the least)

And Halloween is fast approaching and don’t we know it.  It’s pretty much like another Christmas out here.  Decorations are going up.  Good old Timmy Hortons has its Halloween themed doughnuts.  Apparently, one outfit is not enough as the partying supposedly continues all weekend. (debatable with about three deadlines two days later).  However, the epic place of ‘Value Village’ (think a charity shop version of TK Maxx. Overwhelming) was visited, full-on Disney princess ball dresses tried on (childhood wish realised.  Come-at-me Snow White's Evil Stepmother kind of thing), and a child’s butterfly costume complete with hood was purchased.  Going to be the best Halloween ever...

But it has finally started.  Winter.  People said this would happen by Halloween.  Pretty much glove and scarf weather (i.e. as bad as England gets but this is only the start out here).  The thermometer is saying hello to zero.  Excellent.  Oh and I’ve decided to go camping for four days.  In the snow (no joke).  Should be interesting.  And if I happen to accidentally fall in while canoeing on this trip, it shall make the whole thing that little bit more of an adventure I’m certain... Hoping to survive with all fingers and toes intact.

Plaid and Pumpkin Pie

My first Canadian Thanksgiving. Tick. (One may tick that box twice to be precise actually).  Kind of felt like Christmas. Except without roast potatoes (the alternative offer of mashed instead), bread sauce (the pièce de résistance), presents, a tree and my own family. 

What I find just brilliant about the whole thing is that no one is really sure why they celebrate it out here.  The Americans go on about the pilgrims and all that.  Here, its ‘umm the harvest maybe?’, ‘Another holiday?’ or just the honest thing of ‘any excuse to eat turkey and lots of food?’ (The last reason being my personal favourite).  And indeed a lot of food was eaten.  Pumpkin pie was tried for the first time – I am a fan.

So one of the trips had me seeing saw more of the Canadian countryside than ever before.  And it was great.  To me, the wide and rippling lake, the rust and ochre coloured leaves, and the setting sun were pretty much divine.  Couple that with being surrounded by Canadians all night, a constant country music playlist and ‘plaid’ (that’s checked to you and me) shirts was rather hilarious and an experience to say the least.  I’ve never really been able to notice what makes a Canadian accent different to that of the Americans... this weekend that all changed.  I heard it.  It definitely exists. (One step closer to discovering the real Canada...)

In other news, I am now a member of Carleton’s Glee Club.  I went there.  Is it like the show? I hear you cry out.  Umm well, we sing and apparently have routines to perform with them, so interpret that as you will... My other thanksgiving was a friend from Glee but this time with an Italian twist.  Being in a proper home and surrounded by a big family again was a bit of an ‘ohhh where are mine..?’ moment.  Nevertheless, it made a delightful change from the student bubble and my one concrete-walled corridor and single room.

I feel like Canada is being discovered inch by inch.  The Ottawa Valleys, done.  This coming weekend Niagara Falls shall next be conquered.  The week after, exploring the Algonquin Park by canoe.  In the meantime, Carleton is a big fan of setting constant essays and assignments so that shall be my entertainment between adventures. 

Rain and Routine

This time last year, being a number for the weekend, running in the rain and attempting team challenges, whilst being yelled at by people in uniform in pretty much a foreign language (in other words, OTC selection).  This time last week, cycling through the sunny streets and along the sparkling river of Montreal, munching on crepes and embracing wholeheartedly being ‘those tourists’.  This weekend, writing essays, watching the rain pour down and basically trying to save money due to the slightly terrifying speed at which it is being spent. 

Life is settling into a routine of two days of mental amounts of lecture hours and coffee-making, a few days off with feeling like it’s a Sunday, the token night out, a subsequent hangover day and varying attempts at reading/writing essays, all with the highlight of meal times with unlimited amounts of food at caf.  Each meal is an occasion (with only 9 a week, one must be skilful at which meals are chosen to attend).  A standard visit includes several trips around all the stations, a collection of 4 to 5 plates and bowls with copious mugs of tea (while trying not to drop my overflowing bowl of yoghurt and granola all over myself and the floor...yeah, debatable success with that...)

Anyway, to one of the top-times of my life out here so far.  The trip to Canadian France.  Montreal.  We arrived at our hostel and were pleasantly surprised at the marble, flowers and polished wood – it was going to be a plush stay... however, being pointed over the road we discovered our room was disappointingly that of the standard hostel – the rickety bunk beds, the dodgy looking sofa, and disintegrating walls.  But we’re students so can’t complain much and we survived (just) so that’s the main thing. 

Our stay consisted of cafe visits, poutine-eating, delightful restaurants, delicious crepes, meanderings through the cobbled streets, amusement from street-entertainers, visiting an old friend, copious photo opportunities and the highlight of renting bikes.  A breeze blowing, singing songs from The Sound of Music as we cruised along, and basically having the feeling of ‘this is the life’ sums it up well.  We had heard great things of the nightlife there and thus, it was experienced to the full by all (with matching consequential hangovers).  Alors, tres successful and no doubt it shall be visited again sometime in the future.   

Despite staying in Ottawa this week, it has been busy and filled with a birthday trip to the supposed second best burger restaurant in Canada.  Was scrumptious indeed.  Yet another visit to our student bar (I think us Brits/Aussies are gaining a reputation – not one time has gone by without one of us being kicked out... Take them to Timepiece and I don’t think a single person would not be thrown out.  Although, they sure know how to grind out here...and how to make every single person around that excited couple be battered around by their untameable enthusiasm.  Lucky us...).  Plus a much needed shopping trip (including my most expensive fro-yo to date.  Worth it), with the classic cultural purchase of friendship bracelets. Cool kids and we know it.  

The Indian summer we were privileged to experience for the majority of my first month has finally come to an end.  Heartbreak.  Now begins the descent into ‘Fall’ with its turning leaves, dropping temperature and arrival of rain.  Furthermore, with people already planning Halloween outfits (my days, are they keen for it out here), it feels like I might as well be flying home for Christmas next week.