This Update is for my Parents

I was talking to my Mom yesterday, and she was saying how its hard to picture where I am. So here are some photos of campus that I took before, during, and after Acadia's first home football game.

The view from meal hall, that's Cape Split in the distance:

Walking down the East side of campus to the football game:

Danni, Kyra, Teal, Rachel, and Emily on the way to the game:

University Hall, which is on the North end of campus:

The outside of the campus gym:

Emily and I at the football game (the Acadia Axeman lost, badly):
Me, Teal, Kyra, and Danni at the game:

Danni and Teal walking back from the game:

One Month

Most of my friends left for abroad before me, so I've already read their "I've been in _____ for a month, and I've learned X, Y, & Z cultural and life lessons." So here I am, one month in, and what have I learned?

I haven't had to tackle a new language, or even a new hemisphere. I'm even closer to home than a fair number of the Canadian students. I'm still figuring out what I'm learning from Canada, but what I do know so far is that I love it here.

American University is a medium-sized, urban, extremely driven university. Last semester I took six courses (including my first grad-level class), was a TA for another, worked 16 hours a week, babysat, helped teach Sunday School, was involved with SPA Leadership and the BOE - and I still occasionally felt like a slacker because I didn't have an internship that related to my major.

And here I am at a small, rural, more laid-back university - and I can breath. Sure I'm taking five classes, am looking for a job (with no success so far), and have joined the Model UN club (and will be joining the environmental society next week) - but I have free time. This is a new concept to me. Last semester my google calender was blocked out from 8:30AM-midnight or 1AM every day - I would even schedule myself meal times so I'd make sure I'd take time to eat and not live completely off Luna Bars and energy drinks.

While I'm still concerned about my grades, I love being somewhere where I don't feel constant pressure. I know that dietary changes have been the biggest thing in handling my recently-diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder, it is also greatly agitated by stress. I'm still trying to work out all of my restrictions (like resisting chocolate, remembering to add sugar to my tomato sauce, and not turning to caffeine when I'm tired) but it's been absolutely amazing to not be constantly sick.

There's also a lot of cultural quirks I'm adjusting to, and I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about being an American - but I'm too tired to go into that now.

So I haven't seen the pyramids, or the great wall of china. I haven't gone sky diving or snorkeled in the great barrier reef. And I still get the occasional weird look when I tell people that I'm studying abroad in Canada. But you know what? This has been the perfect fit for me.

I'll leave you with some pictures from my month.

Public Gardens in Halifax.

Out for Jessica's birthday.

The lobster's from the Wolfville Farmer's Market.

Parliament, during the Killam Orientation in Ottawa.

Mardi Gras night during Frosh Week.

The harbour at low tide.

And when all else fails in Canada? Got to Tim Hortons.

Week Recap

I feel like I should update, even though nothing substantial has happened since I got back from Ottawa. Work in my classes has picked up, and I'm trying to keep on top of all my reading and papers. I've been trying to finalize my topic for my Environmental Research term paper - but I think I've finally settled on the creation of the Commission on Environmental Co-Operation.

Yesterday we went to the Wolfville Farmer's Market and I was wearing an American University shirt. I was eating my spinach and feta cheese empanada when I heard some call out "Do you go to American University?" First, I was shocked that someone in Canada had heard of AU, because I've had this conversation about a thousand times at Acadia:

Canadian: What year are you?
Me: I'm a third year, but I'm here on exchange.
C: Awesome, where are you on exchange from?
Me: American University.
C: No, I know that, but what is the name of your university?
Me: It's The American University, that's the name.
C: Oh, that's weird.

So when someone knew of AU I was very excited! Turns out that the guy that called over to me had taught economics at AU, Ithaca College (where my brother graduated from), and Acadia. Talk about a small world! He is now retired and selling house plants at the Wolfville Farmer's Market.

I should get back to work, but here are some photographs when I took a walk down to the harbour yesterday afternoon. It wasn't even low tide in the Bay, and the harbour was completely empty.

OTTAWA (AN ENTRY WITH LOTS OF PICTURES)

This past weekend was the Fulbright/Killam orientation in Ottawa. I flew into Ottawa Thursday morning and made it to the hotel by early afternoon. We had a reception, an academic lecture, and then dinner that last until well past 11 - between traveling and being on Atlantic time I was exhausted.

Friday we had a lot of academic discussions and presentations - followed a reception at the house of the US Ambassador to Canada. He had this beautiful house along the Ottawa River. After the reception we went to dinner at an Aboriginal Grille. I had buffalo and cloudberry crème brûlée - both fantastic. After dinner, few of us went out to see the "Ottawa nightlife" and ended up at a pub with a live band. It was good to know that cover bands tend to play the same terrible 80s music in Canada that they do in the US.



Saturday was the cultural portion of our trip: a tour of parliament, the national art gallery, and a trip to the civilization museum across the river in Quebec. Saturday happened turned out to be the coldest day of the trip (only 9 degrees celcius!) but I still had a wonderful time. Parliament was beautiful - and it was amazing to see the differences between the building and the capitol in the States. We saw the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and (my favourite part) the Library of Parliament. The Library was absolutely beautiful - but I have to say, I still love the Library of Congress best of all - but maybe I'm slightly biased by the fact that I got to go to school in the LofC for nine months. The tour of parliament was also great because I'm still trying to fully understand the Canadian government for my Politics in Maritime Canada course. The President of the Parliament Institute also spoke to us about current issues facing the Canadian government.

Next we headed to The National Gallery of Canada. We were given an official tour of the most important works in Canadian history - and then were given time to explore. The gallery had a fantastic exhibit of modern Inuit sculpture. I also checked out some of the pop-art before lunch. After we ate, we headed across the canal to Quebec to visit The Museum of Civilization. Maureen, Meg, and I got separated from the group and explored the Canadian History exhibit on our own (we actually went through it backwards). Canada hall was full of life sized exhibits - instead of viewing images or a few artifacts you went through houses, churches, factories, rail stations, etc. Then we went to the exhibit on the Canadian post - and created our own stamps (just like the Postal Museum in the district!). Finally, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for the best part of the weekend - the hockey game!

I was a bit worried about the hockey game - but it was fantastic. We were given an hour to work up, and my skating skills improved greatly (although I am by no means good). Still, I can stay on my feet now and skate back and forth rink, pass the puck while skating, and turn around without falling - big accomplishments for me! We all lined up and sang The Star Spangled Banner and O Canada before playing. I didn't manage any goals - but I did manage to stay on my feet the whole time and got one assist. My team lost in the shoot-out. I'm not a hockey star in the making, but I had a great time and gained an appreciation for the game. I'm not likely to become an avid fan - but I do want to watch some games while I'm up here.

I flew back Sunday afternoon and am now back in the full-swing of papers, tests, and general homework. I also re-wrote my mobility proposal - I'm now hoping to get approval to go to Edmonton, Alberta over fall break. I'll write more about that decision in my next post, I better get back to my Environmental History research now.