waking up as september ends

I didn't know what to expect from the first month.

Starting a new life niche is kind of like walking around in a daydream. Your surroundings have an uncanny familiarity, but everything is strange and new at the same time.

There's nothing that culturally shocking about Montreal. Yes, people kiss eachother on the cheeks as a greeting, and yes most things are in French. But there are also a lot of insular pockets of anglo-worlds, where you either are so used to the simple french phrases of everyday life that you don't notice people are speaking in french, or, people just speak plain old english. Apparently, anglo-ness is carried like an aura that Francophones can sense from a distance.

I suppose the only culture shock is the sheer volume and mass of cultural activities in the city. Rallies, protests, street performing spiderman (weirdos) are at home on every corner.



On Sunday I decided to check out one of Montreals most [in]famous cultural happenings, Tamtams. Tamtams is a weekly drum circle that takes place at the north-east base of Mont Royal, where the mountain turns into the oh-so artsy Plateau neighbourhood. The drum circle consisted of about 50 drummers on bleachers and dancers spinning below them. There were lots of pot-smoking moms bouncing their babies to the beat, and many shirtless men yelling random vowels to a rhythmic pulse. We watched for a few minutes, but quickly moved on to more exciting things.

In the middle of the forest, just out of earshot of the drums, is a medieval warfare club. All the warriors have weapons made of what looked to be plastic/cardboard covered in duct tape, and wear varying amounts of fighting gear from metallica t-shirts to hooded capes, to full-out metal face masks. It was creepy and fascinating at the same time.

After a huge bowl of Bouillabase at a little bistro, and a peruse of a pumpkin market, I took the Metro home to delve yet again into season 2 of Lost.

***



There's a Ugandan Ph.D student named William who always comes to use the phone and the computers during my shift at the learning centre. He speaks to his family in rapid Swahili, and have been really pleased to realize I can understand him perfectly. I let him know that I speak it too, and we have been having some nice conversations in the language that I didn't know if I would get the chance to use again. Just speaking it brings back so many memories, and I am really, really hoping I can go back one day.

I recently found out, however, that Rob and Sam are going to Mwanza very soon to work on the same project that I did. I am unbelievably excited for them, and a little sad that I can't go with them. I can't wait to speak Swahili with them when they get back in January.

***

And as for Montreal fashion. As for now I can only window shop longingly, but I did manage to accrue a few pairs of new jeans before I arrived from my favourite jean store in Burlington.

My favourite, and the surprisingly most wearable pair are the dark denim skinny jeans. They are called 'skinny' mom, not tapered, and I vow to never get a pair so narrow I have to pull them inside out to get them off. But...they do look pretty 'sharp' (as my grandpa would put it), and go with a wide range of outfits and shoes. Click here to read from someone who agrees.

That's it for now, as I try to do some readings, and gear up for a visit to London this weekend.

beaucoup de magique

I told myself (and Jenn, for that matter) that I would resolve to be a more consistent blogger. Seeing as my part-time job entails sitting at a desk with no tasks more laborious than signing out readings and videos for people, I have found myself with ample time to waste online.

One of my favourite bloggers has given up her blog in lieu of a more comprehensive city life site. This lady now has a very cool space about all things NYC as she knows them.

I am inspired by her idea of exploring a city and sharing her findings, and I would like to do the same. I've always wanted to live in Montreal, and as addictive as DVDs of tv shows can be, I'm forcing myself to live up to my dreams of living it up.

So, I might as well lay out the things I plan to uncover. To begin...


1) Start taking guitar lessons again, and start to inch my way into the local music scene.

2) Attend as many affordable concerts as possible

3) Find the best teahouse, coffee shop, bar, lounge, pub, bistro and restaurant within the area.

(side note, Fairmount Bagels and Schwartz's Charcuterie make up the best bagel place and deli, respectively)

4) Work on the old French (I'm looking for a language exchange partner)

and, oh yes,

5) School work, of course.

And now, the last of my europe photos.

NICE

what's that you say, old chap?

This past weekend was a nice respite from what has been a pretty serious last week or so.

I'll begin with the obvious, although I don't want to linger. Dawson College and the horrific, very sad shooting. I walked outside at about 1pm and could not figure out why all the streets were blocked off, or why dozen of police cruisers were speeding past me. After eavesdropping in on several peoples' cell phone conversations outside Concordia's downtown campus, I had heard the basics of the grave news. 3 blocks away, Mr. Gill had done something terrible.

I can understand why many people are interested in his online journal; it's fascinating to have a rare peek into the mind of a killer. But I don't want to give any of my time to his warped legacy.

On Sunday we went for a walk, and I paid my respects to Anastasia Desousa, and my fingers are crossed for the others in critical condition. My thoughts are with the families.

***

Grad school itself can be pretty "serious" as well. I mean, in most cases taking oneself seriously is a prerequisite to "be" a grad student, or so it can seem at times. Although there are lots of scarf-wearers to be seen, no posh/pretentious intellectual has started a cigar-smoking, cognac sipping club or anything...yet. Actually, a lot of people in my program are very laid back, socially conscious, and just plain friendly.

No one has organized any social functions since the first 5 a 7 (the one where the lethal combo of a large coffee and bottomless sangria left me talking faster and more than ever before, and actually causing one shy PhD student to back away slowly). So, it looks like Brian and I will be taking the reigns socially speaking. One guy drove us home from class today, after I broke my shoe and was walking with a bare foot, and a lot of others have expressed enthusiasm for going out. By no means is it like Western, or like home, where close proximity of homes allows you to just pop over for visits.

But it is Montreal, and this city is made for fun.

We had a really good time with our weekend visitors. Luckily, they made it out here while the weather was still warm, and the streets were packed with super fashonistas. I am dreading the winter. Jordan stole the show with his airbrushed orca cast (see above), which earned him the nickname "Mr. Roboto" from many randoms. Talk about making lemonade with lemons!

I have discovered a great Korean grocery store around the corner. I may buy everything there when my scholarship bling finally comes through. They have pickled plums and little fruit sculptures made of red bean paste. One of these days I'm going to have to start a side project cooking blog. Seriously, it's a life-long obession that is only going to get more intense now that I have international grocery stores at my fingertips.

Time to feed my LOST obsession while drinking lipton's apricot-flavoured white tea. It's really lovely.

overdue italy photos

FLORENCE


sunset over the river arno




michelangelo's duomo


il duomo




demeter


outside the galleria dell'academia




il ponte vecchio


sunset on the piazelle michelangelo



ROME










the ancient city


piazza venezia


ceiling in the vatican museum




vatican city from above


swiss guards

hidden gems...


rome's city park


the tiber river


piazza del popolo


santa maria della grazia


the ecstasy of st thersa

royal mountain city, and a changing life

( i have no idea why this post screwed up the layout)

So much has happened in the last week, and two things have irreversibly changed my life.

To begin, my beloved grandpa passed away last Saturday, as I was en route to Montreal. Needless to say, my family and I turned around and went to Burlington to be with the rest of the family. The next few days were filled with grief, certainly and overwhelmingly, but also with a celebration of my grandpa's life.

He was a good, peaceful, simple and paitient man. He loved his family, he loved to golf, and he had an incomparable sense of humour. He always had time for everyone in his family, and we will never stop thinking about, or loving him.

He would be happy to know that his family, and a huge amount of his friends came together to remember his life.


my brothers, cousins, and me

Now, I am living in Montreal and I am officially a grad student. What does this entail? Well, first of all, I have never lived so close to so many things, and so many people. It's fascinating, and a cornucopia of observation opps.

Our building is full of international students, and I never know which language I will hear when I step in the elevator with new people. The same goes for the neighbourhood, and the city as a whole. It is really refreshing to be surrounded by so many people who have such diverse backgrounds and interests.

There are 3 grocery stores, 3 drugstores, 2 dollar stores, a post office, a Winners, an IMAX theatre, and at least 6 coffee shops, and countless bars and restaurants within 5 minutes of my building. Not to mention that Crescent st and other exciting areas are just blocks away. Never in my life have I had such variety, or activity just footsteps from my door. I don't know where to start exploring, but I'm sure the area will become very familiar quickly.

More than ever, Montreal is a city renowned for its odd juxtapositions. "Contact" strip hideaways flank family restaurants, and smoked meat joints sit below vegetarian buffets. Homeless people rest outside of Holt renfrew, while old Montreal is just south of a huge and modern international convention centre. Every employee easily alternates between French and English, and French TV is starting to sound like English to my ears (slowly, that is).

Our apartment started off looking bare and unorganized, but is steadily shaping up to be a pretty relaxing place to start the day and come home to. The rooftop view is just awesome.


still a mess

I've gone from 6 other roommates, to a summer sleeping amongst strangers, to the comfort of my parents' home, to now a new arrangement of just two. It is nice, I have to say. It's easier to keep a fridge organized when it's this way, that's for sure. Although I will definitely miss seeing Gill's perfectly organized stir fry veggies on the shelves. It's nice to stock a fridge with my favourite foods and still have room for Brian's Boreal beer.



Last friday was Brian's birthday, so we hosted a night here with Romy, Sabrina, Marshall, and a new friend, Amanda, all of whom are also recent Montrealers. Very cool to be able to spend time together in a completely new environment. A night of lots of wine, the new Dears album, and a trip to Brutopia for raspberry beer made it into a peachy bday celebration.

And what's it like to be a grad student? Well, the reading lists are pretty substantial, but a lot of familiar MIT material is making an appearance. It's too hard to tell how it's going to evolve over the semester, but it seems pretty damn interesting. Lots of cool people in our 18-person program. And, from the looks of it, the dept has a pretty active social scene as well, beginning with drinks at La Sala Rossa tomorrow evening with students and profs. At this point it's still all first impressions, but I get a good feeling from it all. I'm not TAing any classes, and instead work at the Learning Centre. The job consists of sitting at the main desk, signing out readings or videos for people, opening or closing the lab at the beginning or end of a shift, and spending time looking up user reviews on new beauty projects at my leisure. Pretty sweet deal!

Best of luck with early september, everyone.

update soon

human skin is porous / the world flows through like the wind / the faster you run, the more things that you've done / so to run is to pull it all in



I just seem to put my foot in the door and have a couple decent sleeps to recharge, before the time arrives to head out. I don't unpack suitcases, because it will just make me less organized. I'm glad to see alex will sympathize with me very shortly as well.

I'm off to Montreal tomorrow morning. Among the most important things i'm taking 'with' me (and I never thought I'd say this) is this blog. Although it's gone for periods without updates, and some updates have been less than thrilling, it has been a fairly consistent record of sorts for the last couple years. Those who know me well know that I am obsessive when it comes to journal-keeping, and so my actual private notebook/scrapbooks will be coming with me as well. But this...not only has this blog been with me to Tanzania, it has come with me on all my travels, and even waited paitiently through the hectic, neglected weeks/months of the school year. Its readership may not be vast, but my readers seem to be loyal, and that is something I appreciate. I look forward to coming back here throughout the times to come.

I promise to be candid and creative.

I don't know what shape this will take throughout the academic year. Hell, I don't even know how the academic year will shape up. My profs are ready for me to be on the road to PhD land, and I'm barely scraping together the courage for my masters. I am happy to stay put in one city for a while, but I know my travel addiction will come creeping back soon enough.

The weeks since I've returned from Europe have been just what I needed; I've spent time with family and friends...and slept in my own bed instead of shared hostel rooms. Hostelling is great, but on the nights where your room is filled with the bodily stenches of others, or you find someone else's half-smoked, moist joint under your clearly-unchanged linens, or the unairconditioned temperatures steadily rise, you are ready for some alone time.

Speaking of alone time, Brian is already moved into Montreal and is unpacking boxes as we speak. He's also been threatening to have the whole place covered in skull posters by the time I arrive. We shall see how the decor unravels itself.

So, my former roomies and I are all split up in different cities: Monteal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Washington, DC for the next bit. It's going to be tough being apart, but having girls in all area codes will make for more interesting stories of bilingualism, the trials of commuter courses, and global politics.

I've got so much material swimming in my head for a novel or two. I love being in Owen Sound. Not only is it good to be with my fam, but there is an endless source of character inspiration to be found simply by wandering the streets. E.g the lady with the single, 3 foot long, 6 inch wide dreadlock that looks like a racoon hanging down her back. My hairdresser today said this lady is 'legendary' around town. It's a sight to see, that's what it is.

I plugged my new guitar in for the first time today. I borrowed an amp from a 10-year-old and he made my day. It sounds incredible! Seriously, I may be lacking in any skill right now, but the second I plugged it in, I felt born to play the electric guitar.

Time to go and pack up my things.