Facebook is taking over the world.

I know my Grams is even on Facebook, but I wanted to post these pics here because I don't know who gets to see what on FB. But I wanted to share:

Me circa 2002:

Me Circa: Last Saturday

 

way better looking with age(despite red-eye) too bad the same can't be said for McCampbell *burn*.

Anyways, I leave Vancouver in less than 48 hours. I'm so tense I'm not sleeping well and am having numbness in some  of my extremities and limbs...I also have a final exam tomorrow that I've been studying for. So a combination of travel anxiety and test anxiety...my body is not responding well.

I land in Oakland to be greeted by Randall. Drive to the City, crash at Kat's spend some QT with myself then over to Walnut Creek for Xmas with Chris, then at some point back to Santa Cruz to find a place to live (that may prove tricky- the place I was lined up for may have been pulled out from under me) and start school.

yay!

...I guess I should get on packing...(sigh)

She said: "so I've been stalking your blog...."

What I should have said but was too drunk: "Oh. Then you know how vain I can be."

I leave Vancouver on Saturday and I am incredibly sad about it. So much so that I attempted to engage in emotional eating but...standing in the chip aisle at Safeway proved to be overwhelming and I started to cry and wander without aim making more practical purchases such as a loaf of french bread, sliced lunch meat and a bottle of water.

Kate left today. It was sad. Jackie and I got up early and we cooked breakfast for her- eggs, bacon and orange slices. Kate goes to Calgary and then off to Paris for next term. Hopefully she'll contact me when she in the city in January and we can visit the castro and shop at the haight (and she can meet my adorable four legged boyfriend-Disco!) Kate gave me this fantastic card and some Durex play quivers (freezable lube)  which I'm looking forward to trying out and hope that I am given the opportunity to...very soon...because I'm going to recommit to abstinence after New Years because that proved to work really well for me last year. And while the re-negotiation was pleasant, it proved to become a crutch while I was here in Vancouver.

Saturday I went to the Wolf & Hound and got wrecked...it wasn't a good kind of wrecked either. At the end of the night all I wanted to do was go home and be by myself (read= sleep sprawled out on my bed). It was fantastic to see people there, each of them very special to me. Chrissy and Kate Monstrr (not to be confused with roomie Parisan Kate) got this FANTASTIC bruschetta with goat cheese- it was the most delicious thing I'd eaten that night. I wrote 'valentines' to everyone who had RSVPed yes and was grateful to not have a single one left in my purse (which means they all came).  But...I am also sad about it...I think I may have taken some people's presence for granted and allowed myself to be consumed in various oral pleasures. hmmmm....there really is no way of knowing.

I also saw Morgane for what may be the last time here in Vancouver. She's really very sweet, we met at the gym (after she had seen me at GALA) early in the term and we ended up having a class together. It made me pretty sad. I attempted to engage in retail therapy at the dollar store near campus but found it frustrating and lacking what it was that I sought. But that's okay because I went to meet Sara at a coffee shop and there was a dollar store there that I found a few goods at. However, upon leaving the coffee shop I saw someone who reminded me of my nephew Andrew (If Andrew was about fifteen years older) and I got really upset...because of course I think about how those boys are just getting SCREWED and how heart breaking it is to witness the rejections they experience and how I just want them to feel safe and loved. Of course that has a lot to do with my own healing experience.

Anyways- a lot of emotions coming up: Love, Gratitude and some Sadness. I mean- this has been an amazing experience. Like...fantastic.

I called Mister Heller on a hung over Sunday and he was quite emphatic about how much this sucks. I told him the way he was talking would seem that I am leaving him and not Vancouver- he told me that he just remembers how much it sucked when he had to leave California. And I understood (thanks for the sympathy Mister H). Mister Heller also told me he wrote a fair number of letters to different people to try to make sense of the experience. I think that is a fantastic way of coping (for me- I don't know if that was the purpose of the letter writing for him). I could write a letter to the woman I've crushed on all term- who fascinates me endlessly and whom I want to get to know better. I could write a letter to the male body I've crushed on for about a half a term and explain I think we could have a rich collaborative relationship (not to be confused with a romantic relationship) and apologize for the extremely awkward interaction we had at the Pendulum yesterday.
...I could and perhaps I will...meh who knows.

Also- after I get back to california I will be returning to my sarahdelasol blog which currently has privacy settings to make it invitation only. If you can't access this blog, and would like to shoot me an e-mail and I'll 'put you on the list' (but please don't say you're with the DJ- even those of you are ARE DJ's or married to one *wink*) http://sarahdelasol.blogspot.com <---check it.

I really don't know what else to say...I have a final exam on Friday. I couldn't find a fairy that wasn't hyper-sexualized for Katelynn (she wanted a fairy action figure for Christmas) OH! I got  B+ in my Feminist Methods of Qualitative Research Course and am awaiting grades for my other courses (a 78 is a B+ here! I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT- awesome).

Oh-and the scar from my fall earlier this term is totally freakin' adorable.

I am meeting so many incredible people in Vancouver

This is my friend Lau. Singing her own track. It's romantic. I *heart* her and I LOVE this track:

"Way back in the 1980's secret government employees dug up famous guys and ladies...

...and made amusing genetic copies."

Finals are coming up. So many papers due and a research proposal that I'm trying to get together to send to a few UCSC profs so I can actually DO the research when I get back to Santa Cruz. I think it's going to end up being a case study utilizing textual analysis and (if I'm lucky) interviews.

I've been a bit depressed- mostly because I haven't really been taking care of my studies and have been focusing a lot of my energies on my lover- because it's a convenient and accessible distraction. And when I turn that energy on myself this is what I come up with:

So the above is a conceptual map for my research proposal/Critical Studies in Sexualities and my Feminist Qualitative Research Methods course. I think the super specific point of how regimented curriculum of California Performance Improvement (Level 1, Year 3) schools grades K-5 informs student understandings of violence (interpersonal, sexual and domestic violences....which is at the top left side of the big map)...I meet with my Feminist Qualitative Research Methods Prof tomorrow morning and I'm going to go over this with her...see if she can help turn it into a coherent paper.
But I'm feeling overwhelmed because the books I want/need for research were checked out of the library and/or at the Okanagan campus (which requires a request- something to take care of tommorrow) ugh!

Because of this research project I have made the conscious decision to NOT do my psych paper which was due today (it was worth 10% of my grade but I didn't feel that 5-7 pages citing 7 empirical sources was worth so little). I care more about the project above. And I am also doing research on takarazuka and Sinjuku Boys for my Women and Gender Studies 325 presentation on Drag Kings that is happening next Thursday. I am also doing some research into the San Francisco Drag King community as a way to culturally situate the Drag King. But Takarazuka juxtaposed with Sinjuku Boys is so rich already. mmmmmm tastes like genderf*ck.

For the same class I am also doing research to write a paper on (and it gets a bit tricky- I don't have a solid thesis) how 'The F Word' episode of South Park utilizes violent language in an attempt to negate the violence associated with the word. The word is 'fag' (I have such a strong dislike for this word- even when it is evoked by those in the queer community to describe themselves) and in the episode it attempts to no longer make it a prejorative term towards the gay/queer community. Instead the boys succeed in shifting the definition to evoke violence against Harley Davidson Riders. So- yes language is amorophus, and meanings change within a given cultural and historical context (hell- look at the word 'gay') however, I find it irresponsible and not at all progressive to graph the violence of this term (or any other term) onto other bodies (apologies for those of you whom heard all this via facebook). So...I'm struggling to keep it narrow whilst simultaneously being critical. And have been reading about language violence (which is a violence often ignored) as a way to encite physical and sexual violences.

Maybe it's all this exposure to certain violences (and having someone quite upleasant pop back up in my life last week) that is stirring up memories of my own abuses. A little bit of PTSD to go with the S.A.D. that is making me upset and depressed. hmmmm hadn't thought of that until this moment.

I've also been going out a fair bit. Dancing. Hanging out with friends. Going to the gym and I would now like to give you a moment of my vanity. Today, feeling blue, I went shopping at the Salvation Army where I aquired a new pair of "incentive pants" which are pants that fit but yeild a muffin top. And the pants are size 8. That means I am (in terms of clothes size) HALF the size I was a year ago. I also FINALLY got my new threadless T-shirt. I decided to be brave and order a Medium (I've previously only ordered XL's) and it came today as wel so I put the two together and took pics.

Now...don't be confused I still have a roll over when I sit- because I still have squish in my gut, and like I said the size 8s are a bit snug. But that's okay. I'm working to be more comfortable with the squish and, upon my return to Santa Cruz will be engaging in serious toning, muscle and strength building. awww yeah!

 

 

*sings* Who's the vain-iest grrl around? SARAH- that's who!

and I have NO idea wtf is on the mirror...gross. I put the ones from September in there as a way to compare/contrast. David Bowie (the red shirt) fits way better now than it did then as well.

so that pretty much sums up my life at this point....I'm glad we had this talk *wink*

500 days of summer has an excellent soundtrack

This post will contribute to the reason that men do not ask women out. Because they ask a girl out, take a chance and then the girl posts on her blog how ridiculous the whole thing was and then seeks advice on how to tactfully tell the person "um yeah- so not interested. YOU'RE not interesting to ME. And WHAT THE FUCK makes you think I'd be REMOTELY interested in watching a football game with you? I don't think it's cool that the only fun you claim to have these days involves 'putting your life on the line,' I don't like your somewhat superior attitude that involves putting people down and calling them 'stupid' and I'm just...I can do better. I leave the country in about two months and uh...you're not the kind of souvenir I want to take back to the States with me. Thanks."

Two things you can take from the above statement:
1) I'm vicious/a snob 2)Tact isn't my strong suit.

So here's the story:
I volunteered at the Norm theater tonight (like I do every Thursday)
and there was a guy working there who had on this really funny T-shirt (something about being vague but I can't recall exactly what) and he was working the box office position- which is a very isolating position, so there wasn't any interaction between him and I. I wasn't going to watch the first film (I had a paper to work on) so I leave and he walks out with me because he had something else to do as well. On the way out he asks me my name- we make small talk, etc. etc. I stop at a work/study space in the student union building (the Norm is in the basement) and sit down to work and he leaves.
About five minutes later- he reappears with Starbucks in hand saying he's got a few minutes before his next bus comes. so we start talking. He studies mechanical engineering here at UBC, is roughly the same age as me and has heard of Santa Cruz. (I learned a little bit about his family and other stuff- I was more anxious to get to work on my paper). After about thirty minutes he leaves.
I return to the Norm to do the second film in my shift 500 Days of Summer (I liked it) and he came back for his shift with a tin of chocolate cupcakes. They smelled super good but I politely refused because my tummy is all kinds of funky (I think I may have to begin a painful divorce from cheese- more on that later). When the film started the floor manager took over the door so that I could go in and see the film (usually you have to wait fifteen minutes after it starts to make sure the rude-ass laggers get in) so I go in and sit down on my own. About twenty minutes into the film homeboy comes in and sits down next to me.
Him: "Do you like the film?"
Me: "Yeah. It's funny" *refraining from launching into a feminist textual analysis about certain forms of representation.
HIm: [passes me a popcorn bag]
Me: (whispering) "What's this?"
Him: (whispering back) "A note."
Me:  (sort of a whisper) "A note!? You gave me a note to read in the dark!? I can't read a note in the dark" (proceeds to tilt the popcorn bag towards the screen in an attempt to read it)
Note: "If you''re not doing anything tomorrow it would be nice to hang out with you. Call me *insert phone number and name here*"
Me: "Oh."[awkward silence] "Thanks"[awkward silence 2] "I don't have a phone. Like...seriously I don't have a phone in Vancouver." 
Him: "I'll give you a quarter."
Me: "No- that's okay I think I can find a quarter." (payphones are still prevalant and functional here in Vancouver)
[several moments pass and at some point he makes it known that he is going to leave]
Me: "I'm busy tomorrow but I'll call you before Sunday." (to tell him that I'm not interested because it seemed awkward to tell him in the theater- because uh...he could just want to hang out like- as friends...or something)
Him: "great. we can watch a football game together or something."
Me: "uh...have a good weekend."

....yeah....all my social conditioning tells me that his interest isn't platonic...social conditioning and vanity.

Prior to volunteering I had had a LOVELY conversation with Andy about all kinds of stuff. He watched me hoover down a slice of pizza while we discussed Tarantino films. Andy doesn't like cheese, but I forgive him because he has a feminist conciousness. *wink*

Which brings me to the possibility that I may need to leave cheese- I've noticed as of late that my tummy and entire gastro-intestinal tract become  uncomfortable when I eat cheese. I'm not sure if this is something related to the flu that makes me feel bad for a few days and then I'm fine for a few and then back to feeling less than good for a few days (this thing that's been around for about three weeks now). It could also be that maybe I'm developing a lactose intolerance to large amounts of dairy. Today I had a quesadilla stuffed with sauteed veggies for lunch that made me feel...bad. And then the pizza for dinner kind of did the same thing. I'm not sure. bleh.

Classes are going pretty well. I got one of my midterms back today- I got an A. *yay* And another one of my midterms I got back last week- it was a B. But I totally turned in a B paper. I have to finish editing the midterm that's due tomorrow afternoon I don't know how I'll do on it. I had written a really good essay on my iBook but when i went back to edit it the screen is not turning on so I've had to attempt to replicate it and...it's just a bit sloppy. I got a 24 hour extension on it (it was actually due today) but I don't think it's going to be a very good paper. :( It's not worth much for my grade but still.

I have a full weekend of work and research and stuff to do- I hope I have the energy and inclination to do work and can stay focused.

Is love a kind of silverware?

"love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish it's source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings." -Anaïs Nin

I find this post-apocalyptic nuclar wasteland confusing.

I can't decide which version is more sad:


Or:



I think the first one is definitely more disturbing. In that the absence of melody the the viewer becomes conflated with the doll face and in an uncomfortable position of self-recognition of our own desires as produced by images we consume.

Whilst the second one produces the doll face as object  who seems to be yearning for something, and it is in this yearning that we feel empathy/sympathy for the desires of the doll face but do not recognize those desires as our own.
...or maybe I just find the music to be terribly distracting...thoughts?

Help Me I Could Use a Towel

This has yet to get old:

"It's like eating in the kitchen of a delightful Italian sterotype."

I can't stop sneezing, and I've got a little bit of a fever. I wonder if it's something I ate that I may be having an allergic reaction to- but I don't know if one can have a respiratory reaction to a food allergy (that isn't anaphylactic shock).

I didn't do anything for Halloween. I stayed in (which proved to be a wise decision because my roomie was out until 5 am) and did research for my Feminist Qualitative Research Methods class. After talking with a few people I've narrowed my research design project to the teaching of sexual violences in health education in California Middle Schools (although most of the discussions of rape and the like don't happen until 9th grade). But...I dunno...I'm still looking at the literature, but according to someone I know who taught sex ed in California last year sex ed can be taught as a biology course...which makes me wonder what conversations (if any) are happening around sexual violence and when (meaning what grades are these conversations happening).

In other news I removed the butterfly stitches from my chin. It looks loads better and is healing nicely. There is a small lump next to the scab that is really quite tender...I'm hoping it's something harmless- like a deep subcutaneous zit and not something more awful like some sort of debris that was missed when the doctor was irrigating the wound. Only time will tell.

I also ran two miles without stopping...I stopped after two miles because i was kind of bored. Running on the treadmill at the commonsblock isn't as interesting as running at the gym. At they gym I can really confuse my brain by listening to music and reading the closed captioning that happens for various sporting events- this is awesome because I don't stare at the "odometer" and get bored. But the running is a big accomplishment for me. Dickie would tell me I'm being too hard on my joints- and he's probably right but it is a certain kind of aerobic activity you can do anywhere.

I spent the early part of the afternoon making flyers for the upcoming Cuntalicious Coffee House event that UBC's V-Day campaign is putting on. I also made a website for the event...I wanted to avoid doing my "real work" but I was still very successful in producing other things.

This one is the one designed for web promotions (ie. e-mails)

 

And this one is for print ads (on coloured paper of course)

They were rush jobs because I was on a public computer at the Learning Center and I like to percolate more as I work on things like this but using a public computer whilst percolating is kind of rude....especially when it's one of four computers that have Adobe Photoshop on them (and has nothing at all to do with my minimal patience or frustration at not being able to execute "my vision"). It made me wish I could call McCampbell and ask him for help. But alas it is not as such.

On the academic front I recieved my midterm for Feminist Qualitative Research methods. I got a B. Which is more than fair. It was a B paper. But I had to giggle as the prof grades like a young prof. It came across as not liking to get critiques on my paper (Rebecca made a comment) which I could see that. And I kind of didn't, a little bit, I wanted to get away with not putting in a lot of effort. Also- it's the SAME critique I get every time: be more clear in your arguement. Clarity would come with writing a rough draft and editing/revising it a FEW DAYS before it's due- as opposed to three in the morning BEFORE it's due. It's my own fault.

Today's blog title comes from a new show I started recently watch Clone High the first five episodes were really great...they get a little meh from that point on. But it's a lot of fun. My neighbor Bert turned me on to it.

Shout outs:

OH! Mister Heller. An FYI: I found a BETTER Futurama site. www.futurama-streaming.com (better in that it has yet to go down where futurama-episodes.org seems to be down quite a bit these days). PLUS, this one has all the Futurama movies. I'm happy I trusted myself to try it out, give it a looksies if you haven't already.

And Mel- I haven't forgotten your e-mail. Writing it is taking a lot longer than I had anticipated (because of revision and taking responsibility for things) But it's coming.

*waves* hi Grams. love you!

There is a lot happening here...

namely interspecies erotica and sea creature flatulence.

Do I preach to you while you're lying stoned in the gutter? NO!

too long of a gap since last update. RUDE.

have finished up mid-terms. failed my human sexuality midterm. Now, it was a 52% which technically isn't failing here at UBC but anything below at C- at UCSC is considered failing. So I am working really hard to NOT fail the final and succeed. It was a lot of physiology and really difficult- which is something I've always struggled with because it's memorization and I have a poor memory. I haven't gotten papers back for midterms in my other courses and I have one final midterm next week- but it is in my Critical Studies in Sexuality course (which I LOVE) so it's not that bad.

Have been hella busy volunteering for the UBC V-Day campaign. I am charged with doing publicity for the upcoming coffee event.  I also volunteer at the movie theater every Thursday night which means getting to watch second run flicks for free- I got to see The Hangover, and Drag Me To Hell (which was so funny) and this week  they are doing Good Will Hunting and American Psycho. I'm looking forward to seeing the end of American Psycho. Because I've not seen the last 25 minutes of the film. And next week is Fast Food Nation and...I can't remember the other one.

Was feeling a bit under the weather last week. Started with a fever and a mild sore throat accompanied with low energy levels...so I took it easy and didn't go to the gym...maybe it was two weeks but I am having some body dysmorphia as a consequence. Feeling like I put on fifteen pounds (because I ate like crap) but the scale hasn't moved. My shape has changed a little just because I'm not working muscles.

My classes are going pretty well. My Human Sexuality course is highly problematic and violently normative BUT in all fairness it's different than the violences and normativities promoted in the U.S. Today we had a fantastic lecture on asexuality. We had a guest speaker who was really adorable and antectodal. In my Feminist Research Methods class I am designing a research project that I am thinking of asking a prof at UCSC to sponsor me in independent study so that I can conduct the research. The research will examine correlations between sex education among college age individuals and their ideas/definitions of sexual violence. I kind of have this theory/idea that many sexual violences (including harassment) go un-reported or are not considered as such as a consequence of the sexual education people receive. For example: will someone who received their sexual education primarily within their religion consider/be aware of spousal rape? aquaintance rape? etc. I don't know if that seems axiomatic or insipid (input is always helpful) but I also feel similarly about the ways in which sexual education in America seems to erase or marginalize non-hetero reproductive sex.

have been making friends with people in my classes and the organizations I'm involved in as well as my flatmates. It's a lot of fun.

My flatmates and I went to a halloween party last weekend and got dressed up in semi-sexy outfits (although I looked more like a third grade teacher) and put on mustaches. We all got very drunk (which is always a great bonding agent) and after the party went to McDonalds to eat- on the way there we found $20 which paid for our meal. After sleeping for a few hours I got up to use the washroom and when i came back into my room I blacked out and landed on my chin and split it open on the carpet. I woke up on my floor--very confused--and got back into bed- not realizing how bad my chin was. My primary concern was not vomiting. I went and got butterfly stitches and we'll see how the wound closed up after I take them off on Friday. I'm hoping it will be an adorable scar that is beyond kissable.

I've been learning a lot about myself. Some of which I'm not comfortable revealing here. Not yet.

The weather is distinctly autumn. Raining and the trees are shedding thier fall colours (who knew death could be so beautiful)? And I have some pictures I took a few weeks ago for ya'll.

It's ate and I have more reading to do for classes tomorrow so...peace out ya'll.

but it has a strange appeal

Today was a very full and busy day.

It started with me not wanting to get out of bed this morning...it was gloomy and raining outside...but I got up and went to class...without coffee (which proved to be a mistake) and sat through two classes, one of which I kind of put this girl in her place. Okay, not kind of I totally did put her in her place. She was talking about how men go out and seek multiple sexual partners because something is lacking in the relationship but that blames women and women will only leave the relationship if they are unhappy...and I told her it was a total social construction. That it replicated antiquated Victorian ideas of the responsiblity of the woman to contain male sexualities. Not only that but it erased the possibility of poly-amory and women AND men finding alternative (non-sexual) modes of fulfillment in relationships outside of the partnering. My prof sided with me a little bit and pointed out how economics also make leaving an uhappy relationship difficult if not impossible.

After classes I went and volunteered at the North America study abroad booth at the Go Global fair. A LOT of people came up asking about going to school in California and I was totally able to give information about UC Santa Cruz as well as a few other UC's. It was pretty fun. After the fair I went to the Rec center and signed up for the New U fit Challenge (starts the second week of October- will keep you posted fo sho) and then it was off to another class (this time with coffee) and I didn't do the reading so I just sat and listened which was nice.

After class I grabbed a slice of pizza on my way to the V-Day Volunteer meeting: The Pussy Posse. YEAH! There was some asshole there who was all in people's personal spaces and thought that it was a good place to meet "cute girls." Needless to say the organizers had to talk to him and tell him that his behavior was not appropriate and some of the other things he was saying went against the V-Day mission.  I also met a lot of people from my Critical Studies in Sexuality class, including this really intriguing young woman named Emily *blush* she's totally hot.  I also met a man from Afgahnistan (whose name escapes me) who has done a lot of human rights activism in his home country. He said he wanted a North American wife too. I thought that was kind of cute.

After the V-Day meeting I came home with the intention of settiling in but then accepted an invitation to do coffee and studying of campus so I left AGAIN to go do that. Which was great. It was with Rebecca- I love that girl. She's amazing. I got home and spent a good chunk of time chatting with people I love and missed the goal of being in bed by midnight...maybe tomorrow I'll have better luck...

But I'm starting to like Vancouver more and more. And getting out and meeting people really helps with that.

Shout out to Lance & Jen who had their baby boy-  Maddox Wayne Weldge-Kett. CONGRATULATIONS YOU GUYS!

witty blog title

it's been well over two weeks since my last post and of course a lot has happened and of course I won't go into all of it...but I do have some pics from the last two weeks I've uploaded for your enjoyment so you can get a glimpse at what I've been up to.

I made a really incredible omlette like thingy...and I continue to do so. yum.

 

I took a trip to Santa Cruz to take care of business and got a wonderful replacement for Obama the Bear (whom Kayla now owns). My new bear is Tristan the Bear, a gift from Richard. I also was able to visit Chris' work...the Air Traffic Tower at Oakland- which is the visitor pass. Got some climbing shoes and a ticket on Seattle transit.

 

New Shoes! My roommate Jackie is going to teach me to do bouldering at the climbing cave at our campus gym! Richard helped me pick them out because he's got the experience.

 

I got a haircut. I don't wear it in a faux-hawk everyday...but it looks really good when I do.

 

I went to Stanley Park...and only explored a little bit but they were beautiful bits.

 

Downtown Vancouver from Stanley Park

 

Me and my friend Sally. I'm going to make some macaroni and cheese for her and she's really excited about it.

On an emotional front I've been more comfortable with making Vancouver my home. I was noticing an encroaching issue of wanting to engage in OCD-like behavior including a warped body image as a way to fixate on something that I feel like I had control over (i.e. the cleanliness of my space, what I put in mouth and the appearance of my body etc.) and being exceptionally hard on myself if I felt I was slipping in those areas. The reason for this is (of course) the reality that I was feeling behind and out of control in my academics. So, I decided to be pro-active and do a bit of "house cleaning" which translates into 1) getting caught up on my school work (done as of last night) and 2) reducing my contact with things/persons that provide distraction for me and take me away from the experience of being here.

I am making new friends, including the brilliant Rebecca whom I adore. She is from New York (long island specifically) and has been a huge source of support for me. I also have been hitting the gym with a girl name Morgane. She is from Norway (I think) but studies from New Zealand (kind of like Marta). Also  I joined the UBC Film Society, the UBC V-Day club and the Womyn's Center and am doing volunteer work for the Go Global office. I am doing a volunteer event for the Go Global office tomorrow and have decided that every Thursday night I will volunteer for the Film Society at the on-campus theater (which means FREE movies). Jason Mewes is coming to campus in like two weeks, I'll see if I can get in on that (it's only $5 for the film and a Q & A after). Every Tuesday night is V-Day meetings appropriately called the 'Pussy Posse.' And I am auditioning for the play this coming Sunday.

Which brings me to the academic front: I am gearing up for midterms. Which means lots of paper writing. Which means trips to the writing center and visit to profs office hours. I can do it though. I'm really smart and resourceful and have a commitment to succeeding.

uh...there were some other things I wanted to type but I can't quite remember what and I have to buzz off to a profs office hours.

OH! I am going to participate in a New U Get Fit Challenge here at campus. Upon Richard's recommendation I am going to do the lean and mean fit challenge which involves strength training because muscle tone will help me burn fat and plus, I am a little tired of being weak in certain areas of my body. I got the cardio down...but now it's time to focus on strengthening my muscles. I felt like I was getting that in my kickboxing and the fitness class I took at UCSC but...not really here...but then again I haven't fully gotten into my 3x/week fitness class with 3x/week trip to the gym routine. But I'm close.

GRAMS: I tried Poutine. It's a Canadian dish that is french fries, gravy and cheese curds (really just hunks of cheese) it was really salty. I'm going to try it again a few more times but I thought it was kind of gross and I didn't really like how salty it was. But I know you like reading about the different foods I try so I wanted to let you know about that one. LOVE YOU!

You'd have to be deaf to hear that.

A few days since I last updated and I'm not quite sure where to start.

Wednesday I went to Abs, Strength and Stretch with Jackie. Our instructor- Mario is AMAZING. Not only is he good looking- he's very centered around the client. It's group excercise but he really cares about each of us. I love it. I can't wait to go to his Butts and Guts class on Monday.
Had my first class today: Psychological perspectives of Human Sexuality...should be interesting. I'm really hoping to get in to the Critical Studies in Sexuality class that is on Mondays.
In the evening I attempted to go to The Pit Pub which is a bar on campus that turns into a club on Wednesday nights. While standing in line with Jackie I met two boys from the states: Riley and Brian. They were there visiting Riley's sister and Jackie and I got them into the "Party room" *pre-party to The Pit you got a wristband and they called your number) and lined up for some beer. I didn't expect them to stick around, although Brian was rather interesting. I slipped him my e-mail address...which is not something I ever do and I doubt he'll look me up but he seemed pretty cool (homeboy knew ASL- that's pretty rad in my book). I drank some, danced A LOT and sang "Don't Stop Believin'" at the top of my lungs. I ran into Joseph and K from my GALA group. Which was fun and danced with them and I taught this really tall guy from Montreal some basic salsa steps. It was a LOT of fun. Stumbled home around 11 without getting into the Pit because I had class the next morning...drunk dialed someone...and then went to bed.

Thursday- woke up after a night of tossing and turning from a fever with a super sore throat, cough, runny nose, congestion and low grade fever. My voice was pretty close to gone. I went to my classes because it is the first day and...well...you HAVE to go. I am excited about my Feminist Qualitative Methods of Research class as well as my Roles of Canadian Aboriginal Women class....but not excited about my Theories of Representation and Difference class....it reminds me A LOT of my Textual Analysis class I took in Winter 2009. But maybe it can be my "easy" class. And I'm certain I have a lot more to learn from the prof as well as my fellow students. I slept a lot today and ran into Joseph again when I went to get some Canadian Thera-Flu from the Vanier convenience store. He told me to take lots of rest and invited me to get lunch or dinner with him next week. Sounds lovely. I also FINALLY met a lot of people in my major- who are taking the same classes as me. I'm so happy. They seem like such great people.

Friday- Went to the doctor just to make sure it isn't swine flu (all clear) and went grocery shopping at the Safeway on MacDonald and Broadway because they charge less than the Safeway that is closer to campus. I studied and stayed in. Jackie cooked chicken and spaghetti squash for dinner. Yum!

Saturday (today): Had a lazy and slow going morning. Made myself breakfast and coffee and the weather is so lovely I HAD to get outside so I went to the Rose Garden to do the reading for my Feminist Qualitative Research Methods class. It was a little confusing and I am definately going to do an outline of the concepts presented. After I went to one of the libraries on campus. I have to take my camera to each of the different libraries and photograph them because they are beautiful. I think tonight I am going to go see a free screening of X-Men Origins: Wolverine which apparently had bits filmed here on campus last year.

I have been feeling quite restless- perhaps it's the sickiness or it's that I'm spending a lot of time in my room and not enough time out exploring my new city...so I looked up things to do in Vancouver and there is a lot of free public art. There are also lots of places/gardens to go to here on campus so I am making it a goal to visit one on-campus garden/building a week and one OFF campus attraction each week. Even if it's just walking up and down Broadway- they have loads of cool shops. This is my home now and I need to stop being inside so much- I'm really cheating myself by doing so.

Tomorrow I meet my international peer advisor. I'm hoping that will be a good time.

Vancouver- Day 7

I have officially been in Vancouver one week. I also traveled through the same part of Vancouver I did when I first arrived here. I didn't realize this until just now as I sat down to write this.

I did not have class today because it was Imagine Day here at UBC. I'm not certain what that is- but a bunch of first years were walking around in T-shirts stating "I am UBC" in colors that corresponded with their faculty's color (Arts=purple. Science= blue, etc.) getting tours of the campus. Fraternities were out trying to recruit and apparently club week is coming up (I am super stoked to join the V-Day club) as well as the UBC Rec Shopping Week.

Now the Rec Shopping week is when the Recreation Department allows you to try out recreation classes that they offer (that you pay a fee for) to decide which ones you would like to get involved in. Now, the Rec classes are kind of expensive and I've thought that if I get involved with any of them I would pay for Sunday morning Yoga. My gym membership involves classes (that are a first come-first serve basis). I went to the first one today "Cardio Core Strength" which was okay. It involved some kickboxing but it was a VERY beginner class apparently the instructor is going to increase intensity as the weeks go on. I have an academic class at the same time as this class but I went today because class was canceled.

While in the locker room- after my shower I ran into another exchange student named Morgane. She recognized me from the exchange student activities this week. I gave her my e-mail address and she sent me an e-mail this evening. I invited her to work out with me and Jackie tomorrow.

After gym I made the treck to North Vancouver with Jackie to go to the Wal-Mart there. So, for the first time ever I rode the Seabus. The Seabus is essentially a ferrie that takes you across the bay to North Vancouver- but it's really fast. It was cool (sorry no pics- another time) and I plan on riding it more often.

Once arrived in North Vancouver we hit up a Salvation Army and got some GREAT stuff (most notably a fantastic microwave for $25 and some coffee cups to add to my collection) and then headed over to Wal-Mart where I supported economic exploitation and globalisation. Then we had a long trek home.

While standing at the bus stop waiting to head back to the Seabus station a drunk man asked where my kids were. I told him I left them at home. And then that I didn't have any. He laughingly apologized and said "Oh I'm sorry. You've got that overbearing mother attitude about you. I'm sorry I thought you had kids." and then he continued to insult me further by asking me if I was looking for a sperm donor. I said "no. Thanks. I'm good." Because given the condition of the man (a dirty drunk jackass) I thought the response of "don't flatter yourself into thinking that you are even in my league let alone that I would be interested." would either A) confuse him and start a needlessly long conversation/argument or B) send the man into a violent frenzy with which I was not prepared or willing to defend myself against. Then the man accosted the bus driver. This man was horrible. Jackie wanted to punch him. I just ignored him.

Okay- I'm really tired after everything so I am going to post an interesting picture I took today then go to bed...and sleep on my brand new pillow (Thanks Janeen!)

 

It's good to know that in Vancouver people are practicing safer sex- even when they are on the go. 

It's a Holiday in Canadia (best if sung to the tune of Holiday in Cambodia)

Yes, it is a holiday here in Canadia. Labor Day.

What I previously thought was a strictly American Holiday this time of year is shared by our neighbors to the North. Canada also has a Thanksgiving, however it's October 12. When I explained what Americans do on Thanksgiving (and from our Canada, Eh? culture breakout session during GALA events it sounds like it's the same in Canada) a Korean said "I want to do that." "That" meaning getting together with family and friends and eating lots of food until you can't move and watch American Football and then fall asleep.

so- great quote: "Life is like riding a bicycle... to keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Albert Einstein from Rebecca Pillmer-Lewis 

I met quite a few new people today- I helped them move. Moving sucks and having all the help you can is AWESOME. I always appreciate it so I am down to help as much as I can. I met a lot of bioscience majors. One guy, named Chris, (automatically off limits for dating despite him being intelligent AND attractive) is actually a pharmacology student doing work with ligaments. He was telling me how they have these pre-cursor ligament cells that are "immortalized" meaning they continuously grow like a cancer cell, sans the destructive element.  He was telling me they take these ligaments and inflict various injuries on them and then test different substances on them and record the healing time/effectiveness of the various drugs. Pretty cool.

I went to a BBQ for the residence and met some other med students (females)  in line. There is so much food here in Canada these first few weeks！But it is okay because I'm also hitting th gym and walking all over campus. I went to the gym at the commonsblock before the BBQ with Sally- a girl I met on my second or third day here. I think I've mentioned her before. She's really sweet. While at the gym I met a girl named Mayouki (I think that's how you spell it) she is from Japan and lives in my residence park. She was really cool and I hope to see her again.

After the BBQ I went back to my room to do some reading for my WMST 327 class (which was really helpful and easy- comparative to the dense materials of UCSC FMST classes). And spent some time playing Wii and Guitar Hero with Bert & Jackie.

A good day for the most part.

"There was something touchingly homespun about her that made you think of violet soap and a summer flag stop in a birch forest. There was no France outside the door, of course. Those mincing movements...Sunny nonsense." -The Seaport Vladamir Nabokov

It rained today in Vancouver- which made for a romantic day involving Nabokov.

I also went out this morning with Jackie to go to the bookstore-  but after getting there I realized that I didn't have anything I needed to buy so I waited outside. And then we went and got breakfast...at Vera's Burger place (the funny picture I took yesterday) and i got a Lamb burger and the sign is true- you CAN'T BEAT Vera's meat. It was FANTASTIC! What a great breakfast.

After that I came back to my apartment and hung out a bit. It was raining in Vancouver today so I rocked out on the internet (was sad Mr. Heller didn't make an appearance online) and some phone calls and then went to the gym with my roomie Jackie.  Afterwards I came home and curled up with Nabokov, and then at about 6.30 headed out to dinner with Jackie and one of our floormates Bertrand.

Bert (as I will call him) lives down the hall in a studio and had a BEAUTIFUL flat screen T.V.  We went out to Maloney & Sons pub which is at the entrance to campus and I got what could best be described as a "whiskey sampler" where I sampled five of the seven whiskeys they had and ordered chicken fingers with this FANTASTIC honey mustard sauce. A bit buzzed we wandered down to the corner market and purchased chocolate I got a 3 Musketeers which was delicious but will count for 26 minutes on the elliptical tomorrow. Then we went to Berts and watched Batman Begins (I had never seen it before. Liam Neeson is HOT).

So all in all a pretty mellow day. I failed to report yesterday that here in Canadia I am ALSO being eaten by bugs. I took a photo of a particularly severe one on my neck...but I have them all down my back and legs. I guess I'm just really tasty.

 Oh! And here are pics of my room...yup it's a mess already and it will probably stay that way. To the left of me is my closet. Feel free to send me posters/art/postcards to help fill up the walls of here and the main room!

Sarah Steer
2205 Lower Mall #1360
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

don't worry Moms in my life- with that address no one can find me- just my commonsblock and e-mail box.

Whoa- crazy cut Asian guy, welcome to the gym

Two days of close to non-stop activity have left me in a bit of a blur. So yesterday I got together with my GALA group for workshops (which were all a bit of redundant information) and then in the afternoon we got a BBQ (YAY! FREE FOOD!) and in the evening many of us purchased tickets for the Winter GALA classic event. Now, I got there pretty close to after it starting and by the time I got to the front of the line to enter the arena they told me that all the slots for games had been filled *sad face* but there was still free ice skating. I opted out of the skating because my ankle is not 100% and I didn't want to mess it up more because I plan to start the gym full on next week. I took some photos and played some table hockey and ate lots of food...well, not lots but food that wasn't the best for me.

 Sledge Hockey- it's played with a ring and straight sticks rather than a puck and traditional hockey sticks.

Human Bowling: Insert one human into a sledding disc. Put helmet on human head. Push human across the ice towards two litre bottles that services as pins. Human attempts to knock as many down as possible and then slams into the wall behind the pins to stop.

There was dancing at the pub on campus after but I didn't go. I came home to shower and was utterly exhausted. So I stayed in. I felt a bit lonely. I understand that this is normal and I'm resisting the compulsion to do something stupid like get a boyfriend. I'm strong and I'm sticking it out and putting myself out there to meet new people.

Today: I got up and went to a pancake breakfast hosted by the International House. It was awesome I got berry fruit topping and delicious coffee. I met a Stastics major from Germany (whose name I cannot remember) and an Enviornmental Science major named Carlo from Florida. A young man from my group named Max (who I haven't decided if I care for or not- he seems slightly too pretentious for my taste) who is from Germany joined us. Max had been to San Diego and Santa Cruz both this past summer as he made his way up the coast to Vancouver. I chatted with Carlo about drug policy reform (in the lightest of all possible ways).

On my way out the door this morning the parents of one of my apartment-mates arrived. They are from Calgary and they were really nice. Yes, they did say eh quite a bit. Which compelled me to say something because according to my Canadian culture workshop from yesterday "eh" is the equivalent to "don't you agree?" or "Correct?" The apartment mate's name is Kate. She is a theater arts major and is super sweet. She and I seem to have similar temperments- we both like our downtime. My other apartment mate arrived later this evening. Although I cannot remember her name I can tell you that she is a Theater Arts major from Maine (in the U.S.)   with a concentration in Stage management. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I've been a little bit on edge/tired/drained or the fact that I was just getting back from the gym or the combination of the two but I haven't yet decided how I feel about her. We'll see.

I went out and did some shopping today. I bought somethings that I really needed including: a manicure set (mine disappeared in transit), some gum, a rain jacket (I couldn't believe they had one at the Salvation Army) some shoes, a heavy winter coat with a hood, a laundry basket, spoons, a knife, some produce, toiletries, gum, and some chips ahoy 100 calories pack for my "off days." And while I was out shopping I walked past this sign:

 

Bride to Be= You Can't Beat Vera's Meat

I went to Granville Island- which turned out to be very boring. But I ate some butter chicken (what was supposed to be spiced but I'm not sure where), bought some HUGE nectarines, a big crate of cherries and some granny smith apples. YAY! I also sat down and had two older gentlemen from the Czech Republic join me at my table. They got some food from the Croatia restaurant in the Public Market at the Island. They were really nice and didn't bother me too much- but they kept feeding the damned birds. I assured you the pigeons here DO NOT need to be fed. They were fat. And the pigeons on campus are borderline aggressive. 

True story: I was sitting on a bench yesterday eating some pizza and this pigeon comes over and starts lookin' at me. Watching me eat, and hoping I'll throw some crust it's way. I don't, because- it's MY crust and it's damned good crust too. But this pigeon keeps getting closer and closer to me. Then it jumps up on the bench and starts inching towards the plate that has part of my pizza on it...and it's like a little kid who moves towards something they're not supposed to have and looks at it's caretaker to determine whether or not they are crossing a boundary....and I almost left the pizza there to see if the cheeky little bird would have balls enough to steal my pizza but instead I picked up the pizza and ate it- while I taunted the stupid bird. I'm mean.

So anyways- wandered around Granville and tried to find a suitable replacement for Obama the Bear- with no luck and went into a coffee shop after dinner and walking for a dessert coffee- soy white chocolate mocha. I sat in the most comfortable chair and had this really sweet view of the pond just beyond the building.

 

mmmmmmmmmm delicious AND beautiful.

 

ON the way back I ran into Jilly (who is from my GALA group) and we chatted on the bus. When I got back to my apartment I decided to go to the gym at the Commonsblock (the big gym on campus that I pay for closed at six and it was coming up on 7.30 at this point) so I went and did a light work-out. It was nice because I had some pretty intense feelings of loneliness while I was out today. I went to Granville with a large group but really wanted to wander on my own so that's what I did. But after an hour- it got a to be a bit much. So I needed an endorphin kick. And while there I got a little bit of one, broke a little bit of a sweat and watched some totally buff and cut Asian guy workout on the weights. It was kind of intense.  

 

...I'm really tired...so I'm going to bed....without re-reading this. So, that's the explanation for typos or failure to be clear.  

Even Robots Want Love: Day 3

Culinary differences:

I discovered the most delicious juice today: Sun-Rype Apple Vanilla Pear. Sounds epic right? It totally is. It's 100% juice (from concentrate- so not really 100% but it's okay) no sugar added. It's really effing good. Anyone else heard of this stuff? I bought it at a teeny tiny grocery store at the entrance of campus- along with this great cereal called Shreddies by Post. I got the Honey flavor and O.M.G! Soooo effing good. I think it's the honey flavor that gets me. I can't wait to have a proper bowl with some soy milk I purchased. More grocery shopping tomorrow- hopefully, as it is filled with GALA events.

Another interesting thing I ate today: a slice of pizza with butternut squash on it. Yes- butternut squash, tomatoes and onion (The butternut squash reminded me of Randall). It had a white sauce and sesame seeds on the crust which gave the bread a fantastic flavor.  I would never have thought to do that. And it was really good. The dough is really good as well. 


GALA (Growing And Learning Abroad) Adventures:

I went to a workshop called Cruising Through Your University Life where they talked about various aspects of student life- such as insurance, banking, resources, and the stages of travel abroad. Similar to the stages of grief there are four anticipated stages of traveling abroad: Honeymoon, resentment, reconciliation, and embracing it (or something like that). I'm not sure what stage I'm in. I don't feel like I'm in the Honeymoon stage...although I do like it here and I did experience some resentment today and a bit of reconciliation as I become more familiar with the campus and am able to better navigate it. But I felt a little misplaced because a lot of students have made buddies with other students and I'm still flying a little solo. It only bothers me when I'm in a group like that. But I triumphed over that feeling.

Later I attended the Welcome GALA where the president of the college spoke. I was late- so I had to stand out in the lobby during his speech (which I was able to listen to) while I waited to be seated in this BEAUTIFUL theater.  It's called the Chen Center for The Performing Arts and this picture is a 100% accurate representation of where it was I was forced to sit as a result of my tardiness (it wasn't a punishment- just where they stuck me-but check out the view).

Now, while it is incredibly beautiful- sitting in this spot makes for SHIT acoustics. Acoustics are good everywhere else in the theater- I'm certain of it and I heard confirmation of this from people who were sitting in the other the parts of the theater. But it was pretty. They had speeches and some "man of the minute in Vancouver" musical act between the speeches. The musical act gave an awesome performance and the last song they sang required a sing-a-long where one of the lines was the title of this day's blog. But I couldn't tell you the artist's name because I couldn't understand it whenever it was announced. However if I picked up any local music publication I'm certain I could find it.

After the welcome GALA I met with my group to meet other students. Trouble with this was that my group assignment was on my nametag- at my apartment- at the other end of campus. So I raced home- picked it up- raced back and was slightly late so I missed one of the first ice breaker activities. But that's  okay- I participated in the next two. It was fun. I met a girl named Jillie who is from England- she studies Literature at The University of East Anglea and she likes Legos and play-doh. After this activity- the group wandered over to a carnival.

I had to leave the group/carnival to keep an appointment but returned as they were packing up which was kind of a bummer but that's how I got the butternut squash pizza and met a young man from Hartfordshire England- named Mark who has red-ish hair. Mark studies economics. He was very pleasant to chat with. He reminded me a little bit of Tom. But he didn't stay long.

Orienting Myself Further

After pizza, Mark and reading a local news publication (I think they're called newspapers- maybe you've heard of them *wink*) I wandered over to the Birdcoop which is the gym on campus to get info on signing up. $124 for three months and that gets me access to the gym anytime it's open (this includes the climbing cave) and access to classes that they offer. I'm bummed that the cardio kickboxing (called Cardio Core Strength) class is during my regular class but they offer all kinds of other good classes such as: Butts and Guts, Step Interval, Abs, Strength And Stretch, Movie it Burn It. The gym also offers spin classes such as: Hot Wheels, Hot Wheels Express and Hot Wheels Sprint. Classes are first come-first serve sign up so I have to get there early however- the upside is that given the location of the gym if I get there and any of the classes are full I'll just work out because I'll be there already. Who knows I may try a spin class.

While at the gym I ran into two guys from my GALA group: Joseph and Seo. They were with two other exchange students from their home University in Korea- Andreai and Meioki. Meoki and Seo are here studying business, Joseph is here studying economics (he is also living at the same residence as Mark so I told him about him...just in case) and I can't remember what Andreai was studying but she wants to take a salsa class through the Rec center. I told her "the trick to salsa is small steps." They asked questions about my major- "what do you study in Women's studies?" and Andreai is taking Women, Sex and Gender while here at UBC. I am excited for her. I always like when people take Women's study courses.


So now I'm back at home...and kicking myself a bit for not taking my camera with me today. Perhaps tomorrow I will remember.

I am quite tired as it was a bit of an emotionally exhausting day for several reasons which were corrected via crying and reaching out to friends for support.  AND at 3am I was awakened by thunder and lightening. I opened my window to listen to the sound of rain- it was incredibly pleasant but that disruption of sleep for several hours after the fact has left me quite taxed. I contemplated purchasing earplugs today while I was out shopping but decided against it. However I am re-considering given the fact that when the chair upstairs is being dragged across their kitchen floor I think someone is in my apartment.

Vancouver Day 2: when frustrated- ask a local.

So today I got up fairly early because I had a lot to do. What I forget is that fairly early is still defined by Santa Cruz time- meaning 8.30am. I was a bit surprised to see a LOT of people out and about at 9.30/10am when I left my flat to head over to the UBC Go Global office to introduce myself and check-in for the Gala event. I had to remind myself that UBC is closer to the real world than Santa Cruz is (where everything except coffee shops open at 10am).

Apparently this Friday the go Global office is having some event involving the ice hockey rink and tricycles. It was described to me as human bowling so of course I had to buy a ticket. After the trikie/ice/human bowling event there is a dance at the pub on campus (which I learned last night from Paul turns into a club every Wednesday night).

After checking in I went to go get my student I.D. and bus pass at the Student Union Building.  I got to the Student Union Building only to discover I had been mis-directed and was re-directed to the bookstore. So while at the bookstore I decide that I should check out my text books (hella expensive and only one I can attempt to buy used) and picked up two of the required texts as well as a planner, some notebooks, paper and dividers.

I considered getting a UBC sweatshirt so I could stop being that asshole who is attending one University and wearing the sweatshirt of another University (I always thought it was sooo tacky)but decided against it. At this point in the day my UCSC sweatshirt was the only sweatshirt I had. That is- until I got back to my apartment to discover a cleaning lady throwing out everything in the apartment that the previous tenants had left (I kinda wish I had known- I would have gone through the cupboards and kept some stuff like the cans of soup). This woman told me my bags had arrived and were at the front desk at the commonblock. So I raced over and got my stuff and then unpacked- with nothing short of relief.

Around 2pm I headed back to the Go Global office and took a tour of the campus. There is some cool stuff here at UBC and I plan to re-visit some of them and take pictures. I met a girl from Norway who's name I couldn't even begin to pronounce (it sounds like it could MAYBE be something similar to Heather) let alone spell. I told her I would call her Nonnie because...there was no way I could pronounce her name she seemed okay with that. She is a civil engineer major (awesome) and seemed a little bit shy. I'm realizing I'm pretty bad at small talk- but am working to ask more questions and stuff. Nonnie sings, and wants to try salsa dancing while here at UBC.

After the tour I then took off to downtown Vancouver for an initally frustrating shopping experience. At first I was at Sears looking for bedding and not only did they have a shit selection they were HELLA expensive. I bought some towels on clearance and then wandered off to try to find cheaper bedding. I walked for several hours into different stores and finally after walking into a drug store (and impulsively purchasing my favorite Benefit mascara) I asked the sales lady if there was any place other than Sears to get bedding and she told me about a store called Winners (great name right?) which I discovered- is essentially a Ross.

At Winners I bought a blanket and a yoga mat. I couldn't find sheets I liked so I'm going to cruise Amazon/target for my textbook, sheets and *maybe* a second gen iPod nano...or some other mp3 player. I really miss mine. :-( And it will be nice to have some music to work out to. While standing in line I met another local- who is a cook at a downtown Italian resturaunt. She told me about a Winner's store location that was on Broadway (closer to campus) that had more housewares. The way she pronounced house the first time I almost didn't understand (cute Canadian accent- she even said eh?)

Anyways- finally made it home and am all kinds of sore. Time for some yoga. A long, hot shower and some reading. I have a lot of events to go to tomorrow and pretty much through the weekend.

Vancouver: Day 1 in 5 photos or less

 

My new residence hall. I'm on the fourth floor so you can't see it from this angle. It's seventeen stories high but across the street (where I am standing) is the top of the forest covered cliff that goes down the the beach that is clothing optional. *wink*

  

I'm standing on Canadian soil (and I'm punny). The water wasn't as cold as Santa Cruz....not sure what that's aboot.

  

This is my backyard beach. Jealous? I would be if I wasn't me. ;-)

 pretty mountains.

 Sunset. It was really beautiful.

Highlights of the day:

• I got on the plane out of Seattle- but my luggage didn't. So I arrived at UBC without my luggage. But smart me packed some undies and a clean shirt and some socks and p.j.'s in my carry on so I wasn't without. I did have to stop off at London Drug (Like a Longs or Walgreens) to buy some travel size toiletries. Didn't go overboard because I suspected my luggage would arrive soon.
  
• Arrived to UBC via train and bus and then got to my residence with the assistance of a young man named Andrew and got checked into my flat. It's large. And I thought there were people already here because the place was such a wreck- turns out it was the summer tenants. So I'm alone until this weekend.
• Was feeling a bit sorry for myself and craving a material comfort from home (it was at this moment I regretted giving Kayla Obama The Bear) so I took my web-book to the student commonblock for my residence to take advantage of the wireless and find people online to chat to. It was here that I learned of a nudie beach (called Wreck beach) that was just across the street via a conversation between two young men (it made me giggle out loud and they got slightly embarrassed but I told them that the question of nudity was an important question). Decided to go exploring because sitting inside wasn't going to help me much.
  
• Down to the beach for some photos and hanging out with myself. The ocean is rejuvenating and the several hundred stairs back up certainly helped me get some cardio in.
  
• Off to find food. I run into the same two guys from the commonblock lounge who were also looking for food so I joined them and we walked pretty far and made several unsuccessful attempts to obtain food at various eateries around campus (it was near eight p.m. so many of them were closed). Finally went to a food court at the entrance of campus. Their names are Paul and Abdul and both are business majors with a concentration in finance. They had all kinds of questions for me about feminism...I didn't have any for them about business or finance *blush* But they were nice. Paul lives in the next building over so maybe I'll see him again. 
• True story: Abdul said he was going to take a women's study course to meet women...but heard a bunch of other guys were going to do it so he decided not to. HA! 
• shower and then to bed. The university provides a pillow and mattress pad which I was so grateful for. About three a.m. I used the mattress pad as a blanket- those things are surprisingly warm.
  

T minus 48ish hours to my arrival in Canada

and I thought I ought to blog something...just to get it all set up.