This last week has been mostly about the studying for midterms and all possible forms of procrastination to avoid such brain work. Successful strategies have included shopping downtown, going out for pub lunches, trips to the coffee shop and the well placed bank holiday on Monday, when Canada celebrated their thanksgiving of 2008.
It’s pretty much identical to American thanksgiving, only a month or so earlier; something to do with harvest and being further north in the world….. So, a lot of turkey, yams (aka sweet potatoes), cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and wine. I had been adopted by one of my course mates in her bid to cook her first thanksgiving dinner away from home, with the help of a number of friends. Between all of us it was pretty successful; everyone wished they had their stretchiest trousers on while continuing to attempt to consume all that was left, the sign of a good meal I think!
All in all there were 20 people sat round the dinner table and I found myself becoming a bit of shrinking violet. Over the last few weeks I sometimes find myself getting very frustrated with my social skills; back home I’m generally pretty good at chatting away in groups of people no matter how large or small. Over here, shyness occasionally sets in, which is a bizarre concept to me. I’m hoping it’s something that’ll pass pretty quickly, I wonder if it is something to do with cultural differences…... Time will tell I suppose! I do think it’s about time I stopped compulsively comparing everything. At the moment I probably say the phrase “back home we….” far too many times a day so I think it’s time to take things at face value as they are over here and not digress in to thinking about the Edinburgh version of things I’ve put on hold for a year.
Aside from minor niggles everything is still going really well, unfortunately the Edinburgh contingent at UBC has declined somewhat and we’re now at a total of three people having gone home. One for visa related reasons, and the other two due to course complications which resulted in the need to complete third year in Edinburgh in order to pass. Not something you want to hear having already studied in Vancouver for 6 weeks!
Yesterday it was the Canadian general election; predictably, the conservative party retained leadership in a minority government (no significant changes there) which renders much of the process unnecessary - it being the third election in four years. With that completed all eyes are now turned to the presidential election across the border in the States which take place in three weeks time.
My eyes are currently focussed on the end of the week… birthday celebrations for a friend involving a night out downtown, and a very early start the following morning (5am!) to work on some hut and trail maintenance with the varsity outdoors club over the weekend. Busy times if all goes to plan, but I’m not complaining!
