Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays everyone!

This is my last post before I head off to Dusseldorf (my train leaves in 8 hours from now!). I am so happy to be finished everything up here and leave for a few days. I will try to post again before Christmas.

It is too late for me to think, so here is a video I took this evening. What you see here is a mass of Santas on Motorcycles! I was with my friends Cecilia, Anna and Olga looking at the window displays at Gallaries LaFayette, when the horns started honking, engines reving, and for the next 30 min Santas streamed by! It was quite a sight, but after a while we were really wishing it would stop since it was so loud! Enjoy.

fuzzy doorknob

Today was a generally uplifting day. The morning starting with me meeting my friend Rocio, also from Simon Fraser University for coffee. While on the metro she informed me she'd be 20 minutes late, so I dropped by school and checked my email before going to the meeting spot. Leaving the school I had randomly happy thoughts and a big smile on my face. Immediatly someone was like, "O hello!", thinking I was smiling at seeing them. I did know the person, but nearly didn't realize it until she passed.

While waiting for my friend to arrive (who called to say they'd be even more late), I had 6 people come and ask me for directions. I was happy that I knew where 3 of the streets were that were asked of me, and for the other 3 I offered that they look in my map. All 3 took me up on that offer, which was fun, since people usually don't take me up on that offer. It was nice to feel useful as I waited, to make me feel as though I was not just wasting my time standing in the rain.

Coffee with my friend was great too, as she showed me a great little place, that in the midst of St. Germain des Pres area, you can get a latte and pastry for 3 euros! Amazing price for that area. My classes also went well in the afternoon and I ran into a number of people I know, which I always like.

Finally, coming home, as I walked up my stairs, I noticed floor number 3 had a fuzzy black door knob. This is strange for a couple reasons: firstly, I never notice floor #3 as by the time I look up, I am usually already at floor #4, and secondly, who has a fuzzy doorknob? Finding this strange, I investigated further, and realized that in fact, it was a glove covering the door knob. I think to myself, "I have black gloves like that, how strange". I think some more, check my bag, and then realize it is infact my glove that I must have dropped that morning rushing out.

Conclusion: Mystery of the fuzzy doorknob solved!

Procrastination #3: ninja bro

For those of you who don't know, my little bro is a Ninja. Here is a sampling that he made in July of his 'moves'. I bet most reading this post have not seen this yet, so enjoy.

Despite technology, it just isn't the same...

Hello again,

This past week has been my first one with interent at my place, and with my phone that include FREE calling to European landlines and all phones in North America. With these 2 forms of communications I have been able to skype and call people. I was so excited about this prospect, but now that I have skyped and called people I realize, it is just not the same.

The issues that remain include:

• The time difference -- I am 9 hours ahead of everyone in Vancouver, so for people who work, I am only able to call before they leave for work, or perhaps at lunch, and then on weekends.
• Different billing systems -- Most of my friends in Vancouver, who do not work during the day, only have unlimited calling after 6 or 8pm. This means that even if they are free, they cannot speak to me due to a lack of minutes.
• Webcams -- Not enough people have them, and they are only applicable when someone is at home on Skype anyhow. I want to see facial expressions!
• Appointments -- I am quite free, but I am finding it hard to catch people. I have reached a billion answering machines though and really request people make them more interesting. I am sick of hearing: " so-and-so cannot come to the phone right now...", I get it, tell me something I don't know. Seriously, why not random trivia, songs, ect?
• Lack of time -- After we do make an appointment, I expect to have a decently lengthed conversation. Think of it as though we were going out for a quick cup of coffee at Starbucks or something. I understand people are busy with their "real" lives, or just had exams, but if we set a time and date for a conversation, it would be nice if you didn't have to leave after 20 minutes.
• Reciprocity -- Since I have the free calling and you don't, I am the one who has to make the calls. This does not mean however that you cannot send a message and request one though, or maybe even call! That is right, I have caller ID, and I can call back. I do not even know what my ringer sounds like!
• Few and far in between -- When I speak to you, even on the phone for an hour after 3 months, I cannot possible be updated on all that has past. I find it so dissatisfying talking to people, since after I do, I just realize how much has not been said! At least I realize there will be things to talk about with people when I return.

My knowledge of everyone and everything is quickly becoming outdated, and this fact is becoming very evident. I also, do not have enough time in my life here to keep up with the life I would have had at home, and must accept that. I do hope to see you all on skype, or have brief conversations, or for you to write me HUGE emails comprising of EVERYTHING (which still shall not satisfy my want to see some moving faces). I think I shall give up a bit now though, and if we connect, then that is good. It is just that knowing how unsatisfying it is, I will reduce my degree of effort. Anyways, happy holidays and congrats to everyone finishing up on your exams!

Plans

This has not been the most exciting week as I have been spending a lot of time at homing trying to write my papers. My prof just sent an email to say he has extended the deadline, which does not help me. It is not due next Friday at midnight, but by that time, I will be in Dusseldorf and therefore will not be working on it.

So, to recap my Christmas plans: Go to Cologne on Dec. 19th to meet up with Ulrika. Go to Dusseldorf Dec.19th in the evening with Ulrika to meet up with Peter. Tour around Dusseldorf on the 20th. Fly to Perpignan the 21st. Travel about Girona the 22nd (?). Explore Perpignan the 22nd. Prepare for Christmas the 23. Celebrate Christmas 24-25th. Chill out the 26th. Return to Paris the 27 (?). Tour and celebrate New Years in Paris from the 27th- 3rd. Resume studies!

I have been spending a lot of time this week to think about what I want to do for the rest of the year during my breaks, and what to do in the summer. I really want to get to italy, see family in Switzerland, and go skiing. I am thinking I will try to spend my Feb. break to go to Switzerland again, and perhaps visit a friend in the Alps and ski a bit. During my spring break, I hope to go to Italy and Greece (hopefully there will be no riots by then!). For the summer, I am contemplating many options. I potentially would travel around Europe more, perhaps in the East, or find work somewhere. Another option, that I have recently been considering, is going to volunteer in Ghana. This may seem random, but it isn't really. I have always wanted to go to Africa, and Ghana especially after we sent a care package to a school there when I was in grade 7. I have been looking online, and there are a lot of different opportunities, and I have found a couple with really reasonable participation fees. Also, the flight from here is not too expensive either. I considered not mentioning this here, since I hate letting people know what I am considering until I have set plans. I never want it to be like..."o hey, remember when you wanted to do something really cool... and then didn't?". There is only a 30% chance I will, but there is only a 30% chance that I will travel around Europe, and 30% I'd work. They would all be good in their own way, so those are my current options. I do plan to go home to Vancouver at least by early August though as I will have a lot of things to sort out (room, courses), and I do love Vancouver and Summer there is great. Anyways, if you have followed my thoughts to here, have a great week.5 until Christmas!

Procrastinate #2: More pics

Before I start, I want to let you all know that I have finally changed the settings so that anyone can comment on the blog, even people without accounts. So, I expect to hear from you!

Here are pictures from Paris in November, there are not many since I was gone a lot. To see my pictures from Berlin and Stockholm, click here:

Procrastinate #1

I have a lot of hw to finish up before I start my Christmas Vacation on the 19th, so until then, my posts will mostly be posting things that are helping me procrasinate.

Today, check out Flight of the Conchords, if you have not already. A group from New Zealand who have songs that are from their TV show.

To improve your French vocabulary, listen to the first song.



For a solution to war:


I am sure you have asked yourself "what is wrong with the world?", and so have these guys.