maanantai 26. syyskuuta 2011

aprés un mois

One month is officially behind me. The first few days here felt like they were going by so slowly, but wow where on earth did that month just go? Hopefully not every month goes by this quick, otherwise the year will be over before you it has even begun. 


So recap of the month. In one month I have:


- Moved continents
- Started school in a completely different language 
- Made new friends and been warmly welcomed into a new family


Amounts: 
- Weddings= 1
- Parties= 2
- Hockey games= 1
- Tests failed = 0 so far
- Money spent= shh, should keep that information to myself I believe
- Coffees drank= probably in total I could count them with my fingers...
- Tears cried = a few
- Moments when I have been confused= can't keep track of that
- Cute guys that I've met = many
- Sisters gained= 1


Anyway, I could go on listing countless things, but I don't want to be boring. Monday's have always been the days when you just wish it was Friday or even Thursday. There the days when minutes seem like hours and hours seem like centuries. Today was definitely a basic Monday for me. Well the thing that really keeps me going though is the fact that next week I will be going to Ottawa! It'll be a mini break from Monday to Friday, but it'll be great. My host mother's daughter and her husband will be taking us with them.  It'll be a huge change to spend a couple days in a city, with tall buildings, malls, traffic and something my little town doesn't have at all, traffic lights!


Last Friday we celebrated the Franco-Ontarianne day (or something like that?) and later on in the evening I went to the school dance. I wasn't allowed to bring my camera there so unfortunately I don't have a picture of me wearing neon pink tights, bright yellow/pink legwarmers, a yellow tight top, a pink tutu and pink eye-shadow. You'll just have to use your imagination on this one. We started out at a friend's house and got ready together, then walked across the road to another friend's garage for a small pre-party and then went to the dance and danced for hours. My legs were completely exhausted afterwords, but it was worth it. It was a great night, and I pretty much avoided drama too.


Now I have to sign off and desperately try to study for my biology test, which I will most likely end up failing.









torstai 22. syyskuuta 2011

go chargers

Canada is definitely a hockey country, no doubt about that. Emma and I went to a local hockey team's first game and even though it was just guys are our age playing the arena was crowded with all kinds of people. The game was pretty intense, especially the last couple minutes, but our team ended up losing with one point. It was a fun experience anyhow, and maybe next time they'll do better.

Yesterday was one of those days that everything just felt gloomy. Once again it was raining the entire day and just as something good was about to happen the hope was crushed. Emma and I got invited to go to Timmins to go shopping, out to eat and to the movies by our classmates after school. Since Timmins (the closest "big" town) is an hour drive away we weren't allowed to go. We'd only be allowed to go if an adult came with us. Rules are rules, I get it, but it still really bummed me out. A lot of my friends will be going to Timmins pretty ofter and it will be hard to watch them go each and every time, when I'll be stuck here. After the complete crushing of our hopes, we had to walk across town in pouring rain to get sim cards for our phones... Well the good news is that now I finally have a working phone, which now keeps on buzzing next to me.

Tomorrow night there's a dance to fund raise money for the volleyball team's trip to a tournament. The theme is Tight&Bright. If you take a look into my closet, you will see nothing particularly bright nor tight. So I am hoping someone will give me something to wear, or otherwise I will look extremely dull compared to everyone else. 

I should really go to sleep, or else I'll have an even more difficult time staying awake in biology class tomorrow. Bon nuit.

Poor Rex lost his manliness.










maanantai 19. syyskuuta 2011

raindrops falling on my head

The weather is so gloomy. It's been raining the entire day, but luckily I have had luck with rides, so I've only gotten soaked once. Today I finally got myself dragged to the gym, to relieve a little bit of stress and it did the job. I feel so much better now. At the moment I am sitting, staring out of the window and listening to the local radio channel : Moose FM. I laughed so hard when I fist heard that name.


I still haven't gotten a phone, which is actually getting pretty frustrating. It's annoying to make plans with anyone without a phone. I should be getting one any day now though. I feel kind of empty without a phone. After I finally get one, I have to get a sim card. That means more money is to be spent. 


Today in one of my classes, well math class to be more specific, i started calculating all my spendings so far and I almost fell off my chair. A third of all I've spent though went to buying an external hard drive, which I would have needed at some point anyway. From now on I am going to start saving my receipts and keeping track of how much money I buy so I don't empty my whole account.


On Saturday a guy from my class brought Emma and I hunting. Yes, that's right I went hunting! For everyone who knows me well enough that will be a shocker. I am really glad we had bad luck and ended up catching nothing at all, because most likely I would have been in tears if he would have shot a little rabbit. It's funny how people spend time so differently here. A lot of people my age go hunting pretty regularly, while in Finland I don't even know anyone who has been hunting.


I don't have a lot of interesting pictures or stories to tell at the moment, but when ever I do, I'll keep you posted.  








We made some carb apple jam. 


tiistai 13. syyskuuta 2011

wedding bells ringing

WARNING. Lots of text ahead.


So Thursday morning we hit the road early in the morning and it sure was a long day. When we got to Haileybury we stopped at the groom's house to drop off some of our stuff and then we went to New Liskeard, which felt like a big town after Cochrane even though it was pretty tiny. There was a mall and everything! I didn't buy much though. I got myself an external hard drive for all of my pictures to put on and some fluffy white slippers to wear at the house during winter ( I will put a picture of them at some point).


After my host mom and the bride had gotten their nails done at the mall, we headed back to Haileybury to fix up the wedding hall. It's amazing how you can make a blunt looking curling hall into a perfect place for a wedding. I knew as soon as I saw that with all the little details being fixed it would make a gorgeous place. And that was true. It was beautiful. The decorations were all white and blue, which made it kind of look like a winter wonderland, but it was great for this time of the year too. With all the lights off and only some little light bulbs and candles burning it was really pretty.


Anyway, Friday and Thursday were all about fixing the place up, preparing a midnight lunch for the wedding and meeting new people. We put in chairs, table cloths, brought center pieces (oh what a pain) to the hall, cut up vegetables etc. I could go on for much longer. They were two long days, but I absolutely loved it. 


I have never been the stereotypical little girl who has been dreaming of a perfect wedding since being a little girl. I never thought it was that important. Now though, after being a part of all this, it really made me reconsider that. My dream wedding doesn't necessarily have to be large scale, but I just want to enjoy that day when it comes. 


Saturday morning we woke up before nine to go grab some breakfast downstairs at the motel and after that it was all about the wedding. It took us a few hours to get ready and all dolled up. At around 2.30 PM we left to the church, but had to wait for almost an hour since the bride was a half an hour late. The ceremony was a regular church ceremony, despite the fact that the priest forgot the groom's name at least four times and wore sunglasses- he was well ready to retire.


After the wedding pictures we walked down to the hall and I believe I speak for everyone when I say that we were really ready for the wedding buffet. I gorged down all my food and a whole plate of dessert too, and a couple cups of candy from the candy bar. I had no idea Canadian weddings were such party weddings. After supper the DJ began to play some music and after a couple of hours the party was on full roll. I haven't danced that much in ages. I really enjoyed myself. At 3 AM the party pretty much died down and it was time to help up with a little bit of cleaning and then to bed. 


Yesterday Emma and I took a day off, and today was like boom reality hit me. Writing 500-1000 words in two days ( in french), not exactly a piece of cake. Hopefully this text has not made you fall asleep, I could have written a lot more but honestly I feel like I will fall asleep soon. 


P,S, I  can't wait to have my own wedding. I got a bunch of ideas bubbling inside my head. Well that won't be in a while, so no need to freak out mom.


















I love the photography skills someone had while taking the last blurry picture. Oh well.



keskiviikko 7. syyskuuta 2011

au revoir, for a while

I am sitting on the couch drinking root beer and trying to dry out my hair. I came back from a jog a while ago and finished packing. Yeah that's right, seven AM tomorrow I will be sitting in the car most likely dozing off already. Today I went to raid my friend's closet again and found a beautiful purple dress. It looked pretty small and I was not sure at all if the color would suit me. Well, I tried it on anyway because it was absolutely gorgeous.  After that I went down to the gym to get myself a gym membership, only for a month though because I am planning to try out for the volleyball team. 


Just a moment ago I had to go pack my present for the newlyweds and I think I was actually able to make the ugliest package ever. My present wrapping skills are horrible. I sneaked into the kitchen too to get myself a bagel to nibble on. I wonder why we never eat bagels for breakfast at home, they are yummy.


Anyway... Last night we went out for a walk in the evening and then to Tim Hortons again. I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time there during this year. It's fun though, and there I can actually have coffee. The price difference is crazy though. In a cafe here, I can get a medium sized (which in Finland would be large) coffee and a muffin, for the price of just a coffee in Finland. I have to be careful not to spend all my money though!




The picture doesn't really show the dress that well. Well you'll most likely see it one me soon.




The next time I'll be writing here will most likely be on Monday. Then I'll have a ton to share with you, in pictures and writing. So you guys have a great weekend. Au revoir! 

sunnuntai 4. syyskuuta 2011

bon week-end

This weekend has been really nice. Finally fitting in and getting to know people. Friday morning I woke up thinking it was Thursday, but to my relief it was Friday at last. I really needed the weekend to let my brains rest. So when I got home from school all I wanted to do was change into my pj's, sit on the couch with a magazine and eat some chocolate. After dinner though, one of my classmates invited Emma and I to walk around for a while and to go to Tim Hortons (the local "hangout" spot, a coffeeshop). 


At Tim Hortons we met up with a few of our classmates, and had coffee and hot apple cider. It was so nice to finally get to know people. After coffee we went to my classmates house for a little while and raided her wardrobe to see if I could find a dress that I could borrow for a wedding I am going to next week. I still gotta go try them on, but I think i found some cute clothes.


Saturday night was my first party in Cochrane and I was super excited. Emma and I got picked up at 8.30 PM and we drove out of town. At first I felt really out of place and kind f shy, but people were really  talkative so it made it a lot easier for me to get to know people. It's true what they say; Canadians are really friendly. Living in a small town is a real eye opener for me. I am really starting to slowly recognize the good sides of it People are so sweet and friendly and there's this cozy atmosphere of unity. You just don't get that feeling in a city.


Saying that, I just gotta make it clear, I am not planning to live in a small town as I'm older. I love the outdoors and the quiet, but for some reason still, cities are just my thing. I think I appreciate the nature more too, when it's  my escape from the hectic city. 


Next week will be interesting. Monday is Labour day so no school, Tuesday and Wednesday school and then    on Thursday we drive up to Haileybury to help to set up the wedding, which will be held on Saturday. I am actually, to my surprise, really excited about this wedding. It'll be a bunch of strangers, well to be exact 300 of them. That'll be intriguing. I'll let you know how it goes.










torstai 1. syyskuuta 2011

troisième jour d'école

Yup, today was my third day of school. I was kind of in a gloomy mood today, lacking all self confidence. During French class I was so annoyed of just sitting quietly, while knowing I had the right answer. If only I knew how to say it in French. I was also annoyed when I fully understood what the teacher was saying, but nevertheless he was in my face speaking in English making sure I understood. I know that mon professour was trying to help me, but I didn't need it. 


So why couldn't I just raise my voice and say "Oui, Monsieur. Je comprends. Je sais ce que je fais."
Translated to English "Yes, mister. I understand. I know what I am doing."


Why do I lose my self confidence at the times when I most need it? This thought made me think of the one person who never loses confidence in me, even when I have hit rock bottom and am on the verge of a total melt down. Dear reader, you know who you are. She always believes in me. She knows I can do it. So why don't i know it? While all along I just thought this year was about me learning French, I have already come to notice that before all that I need to learn to trust myself, to be confident. I am pretty much on my own on this one right now, since that one person is far, far away. 


Yesterday I went running for the first time, but I think I need to think of some other form of exercise to keep me in shape. My school is gonna have try outs for a basketball team, and well I have never really played basketball seriously, but I've always found it fun. I am not gonna get my hopes up for making the team, but hey why not give it a try anyway?


My math homework is calling for me now...I thought that for the first time in years I am really getting the hang of it, but I am completely stuck right now. I am gonna have to ask Emma.









After all that gloominess it was nice to lighten up the mood with Emma. We are running out of liqourice and chocolate soon though, we need someone to restock our supplies.