Amateur Sporting Events

I'm flying to an amateur sporting event tomorrow, although some professionals are allowed to participate in select sports (hockey). It takes place mostly in a large city on the west coast of Canada called "Vancouver", which is Canadian for "city without winter". The events which require snow take place in the mountain, such as Whistler. Whistler is Canadian for "mountain that apparently isn't that snowy in late February and is warmer than the low regions of the Maritimes".

I don't actually have tickets to any of the events (hence forth referred to as 'The Olympics') but figure there might be some cheerful spectators and athletes wandering throughout the area, just enjoying the atmosphere of the city, and perhaps wearing an item of red/white clothing or two.

Yup, it should be fun. One of those "once in a lifetime" experiences that you are bouncy excited for.

Fashionably yours, Olympia.

I am in LOVE with the Olympics. I have watched more tv since Friday than I've watched in the previous eight weeks combined.

Having watched so many Olympians fly down hills, plunge through moguls, and dash around ovals I have discovered that the Olympics are filled with memories that will never fade.

But it is also filled with fashion faux-pas that will be eternal. Actually, I shouldn't say faux-pas, they are more so "different" selections than what would be deemed the norm.

Exhibit A: Ukraine's Atiana Volosozhar, Stanislav Morozov, figure skaters in the short program.

(link to image as I obviously do not own the copyright)

Now, the shiny blue unitard may look a bit awkward, but let's think logically. If you were the female, would you rather wear a full body suit while being tossed and lifted into the air, or wear a fluttery skirt which is two inches long that sort of covers your hip bone. All of a sudden you are lifted into the air by your partner, skirt fluttering in the breeze. The equivalent of a bathing suit bottom is covering you. Your legs are spread wiiiiiiiiiide open. A mere centimetre displacement of fabric will make figure skating become an x-rated event.

Jen Mac chooses unitard.

Exhibit B: Norway's male curling team

AMAZING!! [link to picture]

The shirts are hideous. Just kidding, clearly the bottoms are the focus. They look like they belong on the joker in a deck of cards. But, i must confess, I have owned pants with bizarre prints back in the day. I had a keen interest in plaid pants, and vertically striped pants. Perhaps they were supposed to lengthen my legs?

Bonus Exhibit C - 1992 - Snowglobe
Opening ceremonies, 1992, Albertville, France

I was looking for a picture of Monaco's sweaters from the opening ceremonies and came across this gem. The first Olympics I really remember were those in 1992, but the ones in Barcelona, not Albertville. France is supposed to be very fashionable, so they chose to dress their sign ladies in... giant snowglobes.

There are others to discuss, and more that will need to be discussed in the future, but I must go to beer club. I wasted too many minutes looking for the perfect picture and, alas, did not find it.

United didn't break my guitar, but they make me nervous

In the last minutes of last night/the first minutes of this morning I encountered bizarre American business practices that reminded me of bizarre British business practices.

Last year when travelling to Hawai'i I took a bump. Someone needed on the flight from Chicago to LA (which had already been delayed) and I volunteered to take a bump on the overbooked flight. Since United was so gracious for my humanitarian act and overall wonderfulness, they provided me with a hotel stay for the night (which sure beats the original plan of arriving in LAX at 1:00am - plunked with a four-hour time change), a first-class seat on a flight the next morning (didn't tell me first class, I was pleasantly surprised!), a meal voucher (which they didn't even tell me about), and a free flight anywhere within continental US. The flight had to be booked within one year (aka tomorrow). I, of course, chose to wait 363 days before booking a flight. Originally I was planning on going to New Mexico because no one from PEI EVER goes to NEW MEXICO (so silly is that Jennifer!) and I wanted to ride a llama (so WISE is that Jennifer).

Well, based on the fact I kept putting off booking my flight, I apparently was not overly confident in this decision. Instead I found other important things to do, like watch television, be pretty, chatter on msn, go to the gym, laundry, pick my nose, tromp through snow, etc. I realised last night that New Mexico was perhaps not the vacation spot for me. I'll see llamas another day (maybe on the weekend?.. one can only dream) and although Santa Fe and Albuquerque apparently have many miles of wonderful bike trails, so do many other cities.

Such as San Fransisco!

Research shows that I have fun in places whose name starts with "San".

Exhibit A: San Diego



GET A ROOM.

EXHIBIT B:


There is no exhibit B. I think San Diego is the only San place I have been too. Except we stopped at a gas station in Sandwich, Massachusetts. But that's not official San. I suppose Santa Monica could count, for it's a feminine "San".



Oh! And San Juan. But I can't seem to find a decent photo I have of San Juan at the moment.

Anyway, so yes, San and Santa = good.

HOWEVER!

There is word of caution to this tail, and now I shall continue on the Scotland experience referenced way back up in the first paragraph.

Originally I couldn't figure out how to book using my voucher. Online there was no help, so finally I called the call centre which was borderline helpful, but did at least point me in the first direction. Since I had already arsed around with their funny commands and go-nowhere voice instructions I decided to complete the task another night: last night.

This time I knew what to do. I went through United's call centre and arranged to make a booking using their automated voice system. ("Please state your name and then spell it... F**k your last name is weird, Valued Customer. Just spell it. Please.") I eventually got put through to an agent who semi-finalised my booking. I say semi, because in order to complete the process I had to a) go to an airport with a United counter, or b) send my voucher to them via post.

So... what's the point of all the funny tracking numbers on my stub?

And the only thing I was told to send was the voucher. On the back I would write my last name, reference number (actually a series of letters, but I won't get too picky with the India call centre folk), and the date and number of my last flight.

*twiddles thumbs*

Why oh WHY do I feel there is so much possibility for things to go wrong? I said my voucher would never get there before my ticket expired and she said that was fine, as long as it's post marked by Feb 12.

I believe it is foolish that this transaction can not be completed online. Or perhaps I could fax in a copy of my voucher? Perhaps then follow-up by post?

WHY DO THEY TRUST THE POSTAL SERVICE??

the closest airport I could go to would be... hmm...

I have no idea. United *might* fly into New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, but that would be at least two hours plus Bridge fees away.

So, in theory, I am going to San Fransisco. I half expect to find out in three weeks that they won't accept my voucher, and that I am a bad person for thinking I could use it. Or, they never got my voucher. And they think I'm a bad person who probably kicks puppies.

The experience kind of reminded me of trying to open a bank account in Scotland. Or do anything banking related, really.

"We will send it to you in the mail."
"Oh, don't bother, I can sign this right now."
"We will send it to you in the mail then you will mail it back to us."
"Well, you send it, and I'll drop it back in."
"No. You will mail it."
"Riiiight. Sooo, email options?"
"ROYAL POST!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

(scenario overexagerated for comedic purposes. But not too far from the truth.)

Or, take one of my temp agencies.
"Mail in your time sheets."
"Well, I walk by your agency on my way home, how about I drop it off?"
"No, you will mail it to the head office in Fancy Pants London."
"Well, the fax machine has been a valuable invention, perhaps I will fax it?"
"No, you will post it overnight to London."
"Of course. You with your tiny tiny tiny country yet 13-line long mailing addresses."

Example of UK mailing address:

Jen Mac
Bedroom no. 2
No, not that one, the other one
Right, that one!
123 Pretty Street
Flat 2
(Flat with blue door)
(Not red - BLUE)
Ding Dong Woods
Telpoohpooh CountyTownFace
Somethingshire
Scotland
(Found North of England)
Great Britain
United Kingdom
DD12 345

Example of Canadian address:
Jen Mac
RR 5
Littletown HU T5H 1B4

and DONE. In this vast empire of land. It actually baggles me how some people do receive their mail here, specifically those on rural routes which include many houses and where the same postal code is applied to 1,000 houses (Cornwall, much?)

I think it is snowing again. Quel surprise. Peut-etre, en mai, nous aurons un jour sans neige.

... and she survived.

It's a good day.

Okay, so the windchill is minus eight-hundred and thirty-six (aka -27), but I still have my health. (Please don't push me down the stairs. Then my health will likely be temporarily gone.)

I'm so pumped for summer. Sure it's months away, but I feel it's reachable. This winter has been lovely and splendid thus far. And, a critical point has been met:

JANUARY IS OVER.

It's done! We survived!

I figure summer will officially start around May 6, when I return from spring holiday. I'm going on a delightful adventure to Florida and one other state, likely New Mexico. "Why New Mexico?" you may find yourself asking. To which I HUFF! and say, "Why NOT Nuevo Mexico?" Do you not love the thought of bicycling and llama trecking? Have you no sense of adventure? HAVE YOU NO DESIRE TO LIVE?

I will also acquire lovely tans lines and eat gogs (a new unit of measurement) of tortillas.

I am supposed to be donning my excessive quantities of clothing for a wander to Tuesday Night Beer Club (I'm a founding member - such a visionary, she is). But... despite me saying it's a lovely day, I don't have so much ambition to re-layer. I hate changing clothes. The idea of simply calling a cab, or paying a friend to pick me up, is increasing in desire. It would be about a 25-minute walk to the bar, not much longer than simply walking home. The advantage of walking home, then putting on a sad/cute/rockin' hot face to mooch a drive from Darling Roommate is that I wouldn't show up at the bar in thirteen layers of clothes. I could show up like a "normal" person in fewer clothing articles. Though anyone wearing only one layer of clothing in this chilly weather is clearly not to be trusted and likely a follower of the Devil.

Game plan hasn't completely been constructed, but will leave and take notes on who of Beer Club's key members are devil worshipers. Will post names, photos, personal phone numbers, and addresses to make the town rally more efficient in organizing their exile from society.

Changing Tides...Moon... Party on, Garth!

Last night around 1am I had very strong urges to text, "Party on, Garth!" to a variety of people.

So I did.

Anyway. I'm supposed to be sleeping, but I hate going to bed. It's so... not fun.

Stranger: You know what's fun?
Jen Mac: WHAT?!?! *giddy*
Stranger: Going to bed!
Jen Mac: *blink*
Jen Mac: YOU SLEEP ON A BED OF LIES!
Stranger: But at least I go to bed and can function before 9:30 in the morning and don't accidentally poke myself in the eye with a spoon when eating breakfast.
Jen Mac: You didn't see that.
Stranger: But I bet that has happened.
Jen Mac: You can't prove anything!

Anyway, something extremely significant happened earlier this week. As many of you already know due to the communication advances of "email" and social networking of "Facebook", I have found a new Scottish Love.

It has left me torn and confused. Does my heart no longer pine for Ewan McGregor? He has one of my favourite first names, is brave enough to wear make-up, and belts out "Your Song" in Moulin Rouge with such gentle fierceness (such a delicate balance) that the soul becomes stronger with each subsequent listening experience. I watched him eat cow testicles ("nuts", if you will) in Long Way Round, read his achievements in Long Way Down, admired his lightsaber in Star Wars. I have belted out "Elephant Love Medley" at inappropriate, off-key levels for YEARS.

YEARS!!! That is more commitment than buying a DVD PLAYER.



But now...



I have watched this video much too many times already. I crack up at concerning decibels. I sent it to people who won't get it (i.e., have spent little to no time in Scottie-land). I made my parents watch it when I was at their house eating their food (a parent-child tradition once the youngling has left the home), and while they seemed amused (more so the Father), they seemed more concerned that my lung was going to splatter out of my mouth and smack them in the face from my loud, gasping for breath, convulsion-inducing, seal-lion-like laughter.

It's just.. he makes fun of so much! With such GENTLE SKILL.

"... Scots speak the Queen's English. That is, if the Queen developed a serious case of turrets."

The chav outfit.

"They say that traditional cooking comes from the heart. But here in Scotland it comes from the liver, lungs, and eyelids as well, all wrapped up in a sheep's stomach and boiled to perfection to create our national dish of haggis."

"As you casually wander the winding cobbled streets, you may start to hear what sounds like someone f***ing a cat. Relax! This is none other than the sound of Scotland's famous bagpipes."

He's coming to Charlottetown in early May. I need to pretend to be a reporter to meet him. Then I will offer to house sit for him in his empty Scottish home.

... the plans are falling into place. See yee soon, Danny Bhoy!

To bed she says.

It's just a little tickle! - - uh oh

Today I and co-workers trudged through the spring (printemps!) weather to go downtown for a meeting. A few things usually cross my mind at some point before or during the meeting:

1. I shouldn't drink too much water (l'eau!) in the two hours preceding the meeting (meeting! - said in a funny accent).
2. I should not eat things with creamy, delicious sauces the day of the meeting.
3. Oh yeah, bring a pen (stylo!).
4. If food or drink is served at the meeting, consume these things SLOWLY (lentement!).
5. I hope I don't start coughing.

The evil dry cough that occasionally develops at the end of or beginning of a cold (rhume - I am teaching you French today). I dislike the general discomfort of it, but I hate the awkwardness of it. I recall in grade 5 having one of those dry coughs. It would be fine, and suddenly a burning tickle would develop in the back of your throat (like a UTI in your mouth!! Ew, jen mac.) and a small throat clearing would be attempted. It cause the tickle to length, to plummet deeper into the throat. A pang of stress flashes through the eyes. Attempts to wet the throat occur. Excessive swallowing of non-existent saliva. And, if you are too be so lucky (avoir de chance!) to have a liquid close by, drinking a fluid.

In grade 5 I recall classmates were giving a presentation at the front of the class, and I was trying to very hard not to cough. Holding my breath. Staring at the upper right corner of the room. Trying to think about other things.

You see, in grade 5 one is not allowed to simply stand up and get a drink of water without asking the teacher. And one does not interrupt another student's presentation with such a juvenile request (demande).

One must SUFFER (oh la la!).

And suffer this wee lass did. To the point she remembers it and memories still flood her brain in effort to develop pro-active strategies.

Today in my meeting I started to develop a small tickle in the throat. Luckily, in this case, I successfully formed saliva in my mouth and swallowed it enough to take the tickle down to a pale pink, then non existent. (Yes, tickle intensity is measured on a scale of not-there, to white, to shades of pink, up to intense red. When the red starts glowing, the cough starts flowing.)

Maintenant, on danse.

And now, we dance.

Sorry, I Don't Speak French

Title above is actually in reference to a book I'm ready. As clearly I, personally, would be polite enough to apologize about my lack of French skills in the actual language. "Désolé, je ne parle pas français."

Or, you know, I would just speak French.

The book cost a shiny tooney from Indigo, Chapter's sad cousin of uncomfort. If you have not been to an Indigo, but have been to a Chapter's, just picture a Chapter's without comfortable chairs for sitting, and no place to buy coffee. Decor is not quite as welcoming either. I had seen this book on the shelf long ago, but had forgot about it until seeing this random copy on the SVP!! ACHETEZ-MOI!! table.

I started in the middle of the book. I usually wouldn't do this, but it was late at night and I thought, "Just read a little bit, so make sure it's a bit that catches your eye."

I actually don't know what the general consensus is on bilingualism among Canadians. I think it's delightful, but I'm clearly a bit biased based on my love of randomly blurting out words in French. But, that's not really looking at what it truly means for Canada to declare itself a bilingual country. Frankly, I don't really think it's a bilingual country. This book makes the point that we are not - we are actually a country with two official languages. Frankly, it's true. Related, but did Belgium ever declare itself bilingual? Or just having multiple official languages? As with Suisse - three official languages, but I don't think it declared itself trilingual.

So I kind of wonder how far French-speaking regions should bend to serve anglophones, and how far English speaking regions should bend for francophones. In some of tourist surveys we receive at work (most surveys are translated into French) francophones are angry at the lack of French service here. I'm not sure if they had been mislead to thinking that French would be widely offered, or if they just assumed since it was part of Canada. It's true that we do have a French-speaking population (as a first language), but it is quite small. I mean, remember that time the English deported many Acadiens from the Maritimes? (Although I think PEI was effected to a lesser extent). Funny thing: the English didn't really invite any more French in, nor did any French made great efforts to immigrate to PEI.

I wouldn't expect to be served in English in a French region - with the possible exception of a major hotel chain.

I'm not really going anywhere with this. Just killing time.

Je le trouve bizarre que je ne parle pas français maintenant. L'exception c'est au travail. Des fois je travaille en français (comme ecrire les mails ou faire les petits traductions pour les sondages), mais pas beaucoup. Le français? Tu me manques :(

Aujourd`hui c'est comme un jour de mai. 7C et beaucoup de pluie. En anglais il y a une expression - April showers bring May flowers (la pluie d'avril grandi les fleurs de mai - wow... terrible translation effort :D ). ici c'est plutôt comme, les dernieres flacons de neige d'avril changeront à la pluie pour mai, et le debut de juin.

L'année passé il y avait un tempête de neige le derniére jour de mars. Je crois que c'était le derniére tempete de l'hiver. A ce point, il n'y avait pas un tempête de neige encore. C'a me stressée. Je veux que la neige vient maintenant, pas à la fin de mars et pas en avril. Au mellieu de mars je voudrais monter à vélo. C'est necessaire.

Hier j'ai lu un article a propos les accents different d'anglais. Il y a plusieurs des accents d'anglais aux États-Unis, mais pas ici au Canada. Quand on fait du "recherche" à Internet, on trouve qu'il y a cinq accents d'anglais au Canada. Je crois qu'il y a les accents differents ici. Si on voudrait les entendre, demande au canadien(ne) de dire pasta, car, tomorrow, et Calgary (comme la ville). Et peut-être Vancouver... Je trouve que les canadiens de la côté l'ouest mets un petit g dans la mot, et moins qu'un c. "Vang(c)ouver". Et Calgary - il y a les personnes des prairies qui dit Cal-gary. À l'ést on dit Cal-gry.

Et "tomorrow"? Ah, mon mot préferé des insulaires. TA-MOR-AHHHHHH. Et les mots avec 'ar', nous sommes commes les pirates. "I will drive my carrrrrrrrrrr to the barrrrrr."

La fin. Je travaille maintenant. Je vais m'amuser beaucoup. Oh, oui.

"Pint of vodka, love?"

In PEI we have 19 retail outlets where we can buy liquor, wine, beer, liqueurs, etc. Omitting bootleggers. Someone (the public? local MLA? not sure) was pushing to get a liquor store constructed in Cavendish, one of the busiest tourist destinations in PEI (think Green Gables). There was a cabinet shuffle last week, and the minister now in charge of the PEI Liquor Control Commission stated that the gov't will not open a liquor store in Cavendish, as there is already one 7-km away in Rustico. Residents of Rustico do not want a liquor store in Cavendish as it will hurt sales in their own store, and visitors/people from Cavendish will no longer drive to Rustico to spend money, thus hurting surrounding businesses.

The Guardian (local newspaper) and CBC PEI both allow comments to be left on their news articles/postings. I hate the argument, "It's fine, that's how it is, that's how we do it now."

Just because we do it now does not mean it is the best alternative. Residents also argue, "Oh, we shouldn't spend money on that." However, the liquor store generates REVENUE. I assume they turn a dandy profit, given how much liquor is taxed in this province... Okay, I don't actually know how much liquor is taxed here. But we like to think it's high. The gov't already lends money to blundering local businesses.

A liquor store in Cavendish could be small and seasonal. It could even be in the western part of Cavendish, closer to Stanley Bridge, thus even further away from Rustico. I'm not sure why so many people are so quick to say no.

Maybe they're bootleggers in the Cavendish area?

Proximity of other liquor stores
Stratford LC to Downtown LC: 3.3 km
Downtown LC to Oak Tree Place: 1.3 km
Oak Tree Place to West Royalty LC: 4.2 km
(and yes, I realise Charlottetown serves a greater population than the North Shore.)


Summerside has two liquor stores, both which are about 14 km away from the one in Kensington.

Now, a really innovative idea would be selling liquor in gas stations, corner stores, and grocery stores, à la Québec, United States, and what I`ve seen of Europe. Also believe Alberta, but can`t say that for 100 percent. Or even just select gas stations, as in New Brunswick (although I`m not sure if this law has changed at any point.)

But that`s okay PEI, we don`t want to make things too convenient for tourists and visitors.

In a related note, I kind of want a beer now. Mmm.

French makes Jennifer MacMuscles popular

I recently learned that many of the random people that come across my blog (i.e., those to whom I am not related nor am friends with on Facebook) often find me my Googling random things, often in French.

Is the French blogosphere so small that I give decent search results?!

Not really, because I re-searched the key phrases that people entered into Google to find my blog. I must be on search result page 842 or something, as I lost interest after page 8 or so.

Some of the great things people search for, and somehow find me:

"pop a wheelie" vélo

c'est jolie et c'est bonne mais ce n'est pas que je veus

chat for mac students english

es que la vie est cher au canada en 2010

et maintenant translation

français grâce à google je peux : translated to english

fun francais parlent anglais

i like my boobs

je fait froid et fatigue means

je n'aime pas maintenant. translate --> I am the SECOND search result for this on google.ca

je suis a sept mots maintenant translate - TOP SEARCH RESULT.

je vends beaucoup de gym equipment - Fifth search result?

je vois que tu essaye de parler français.

jennifer mac muscles - Top result again?! I am MacStrong.

la voyage á paris c'est formidable

les produits swipe en france

magasin jen macet

malheursement vertaal

my sexy point

my sexy point sign in

non porte quoi translate

parler anglais

pas que tu dit maintenant in english

"translate, j ai un mal de tete aie aie aie . alors que je dois preparer voyage"

translation je parle anglais aussi

what does this mean in english je veux faire le bonbon vous aimer en ce moment

So there we go. I am easy to stalk. And with every word I type, I am being more easily found. Type type type.

Time to get a pen name?

Anyway, still not that cold here. I dress for the arctic on my walk to/home from work, and am a pool of sweat by the time I get there. But, you know, MacMuscle sweat. The best kind of sweat there is! Winter is one-quarter over, and it seems so weak. It does snow a little almost every day, but where is that BIG January storm that blows around small puppy dogs? I need winter to get big NOW so that it will clear up by mid March and I can start biking again without eight litres of snot dripping from my nose. And you are very welcome for the delicious visual. It's winter, people get runny noses. C'est la vie.

I *finally* decided what I'm giving up for the remainder of 2010: the Bulk Barn. Or, more specifically, candy from the Bulk Barn. I shall permit myself to buy grains, nuts, and other random things that the top three ingredients are just various forms of sugar. Apparently they are "bad" for me. Aisle three, I be taking you DOWN.

I started running at the gym. So much more battering on the body that biking, per unit of time. I could bike for three hours and still prance about happily afterwards (provided seat is at the right height). I play on the treadmill for 30 minutes and become concerned that the outside of my foot is going to snap off in an extremely painful way. It also could be bloody. Hard to tell, I've never had the side of my foot snap off.

I watched "Come Dine with Us" this Sunday afternoon. It made me miss the UK, something I haven't felt much lately other than during my mini-holiday stint there in Nov/Dec. Le sigh. Take me back, Scottie-land?

Ne pas, ne pas, ne pas!

Title of this post inspired by friend's terrible, yet terribly entertaining, francais.

"Le bateau et le cove de Peggy???? Ne pas."

NE PAS.

Obviously the above is grammatically incorrect, but I let it slide.

It's winter! And... I like it. I can't believe I'm saying that. But it's fake winter. The temperature rarely dips below -5C. The snow is wet and heavy, instead of fluffy and soft. Also, it helps that Christmas Break was fantastically fun, and included some outdoor fun.

Things I like about winter: (note, this is pre-deep freeze that will eventually come, and when I will flee to Mexico like a criminal)

• The white snow reflects light, so even though it's dark early, it doesn't seem quite as dark as it would without the snow.
• Functioning winter clothes, e.g., the kind that actually keep you warm. Although Charlottetown isn't too much colder than Paris was (though much damper is the Isle), I have my real winter clothes here and it makes a huge difference.
• When you are walking outside, it's snowing, but the wind is at yee back so it looks like snow is dancing in front of you, yet you do not freeze.
• Sledding.
• Adventures of walking in unexplored land. This weekend we explored PEI's highest "peak". It was a very daring adventure. Appropriate write-up will eventually follow.
• My 'stompy' winter boots that make me feel like I can kick in doors and stomp through the cruddiest of snow.
• Snuggling under many layers of blankets.
• Listening to the wind.
• Power outages. Yes, I like them. They force you to do nothing but relax and slow down. NOTE: this bullet is omitted if power has been out for so long that one must seek shelter due to lack of heat.
• Watching the kids at the daycare outside my window play in the snow, oblivious to any cold.
• Hair is generally not frizzy!

However, winter is not without its flaws:

• Static electricity
• Hat hair
• Learning the hard way that ones boots are not waterproof
• Car accidents
• Feeling really, really pale
• Deep freezes with ridiculous windchills

C'est tout que j'ecris a propos d'hiver.

I did the Polar Bear Dip this year! This is my pre-game face of nerves.


Yes folks, that is the look of a strong-hearted, confident champion. One who laughs in the face of uncertainty.

I had a spotter that day, on hand with towels, slippers - the supplies one must have when crashing into just above freezing water. However, the most important tool she was armed with was my camera. She correctly pointed out that she would not be able to photograph my reaction upon entering the water, so I displayed a fake reaction, which was perhaps more dramatic of my real reaction which I don't remember. However, somehow.. I don't think I cursed upon entering the water.

And before you know it... it's done. I feel like I should be famous among the mortals who did not participate in the icy endeavor. HAIL JENNIFER! We were about 3/4 of the way back in the crowd. Strategic, as those first in would have to crush through the ice with their shins, AND face the oncoming crowd when trying to hustle out of the water.

In the end, I did not dunk under the water, but I believe I went waste deep. I could have went deeper, but the water gushing into my sneakers was causing slight panic to creep into my brain because, well, the water was pretty damn cold. As I turned around to come out, the rocks were super slippery and I recall having a flash oh, "WHAT IF YOU ARE NEVER ABLE TO GET PAST THE SLIPPY ROCKS AND YOU FREEZE? AND NEED TO BE RESCUED AND LOOK LIKE A KNOB??"

Luckily that did not happen.

And standing around after was not so bad, except the feet. I have never had so little feeling in my toes ever before. Taking my sneakers off was hard, like picking up a sleeping uncooperative animal. Putting on slippers was also challenging. It felt like trying to to put a small plastic bag around a giant box or something.

So it was done! I feel it's a good way to start off the year. Something a bit whacky, a lil' nutty, hopefully foreshadowing for the year to come.

Et, la fin.

Will you drive me.. to the dealership?

Yesterday two friends and I drove past a dealership which was promoting new cars starting at $9,998.

*twiddles thumbs*

Remember that time I had a car? That was convenient.

Scraping ice and snow off poor car with holes in the floor that I was driving illegally? Not convenient.

Walking to work/somewhere with toes so cold you wonder if they are still attached to your foot? Crappy.

Insurance? Gas? Pollution? Crappy.

Being able to go somewhere 25 km away without resorting to a bicycle? Nice.

So it's a dilemma. The convenience of a car is a pricey one to have. I spend on transportation, being a walker and biker, perhaps $25/month. Few cab rides, and perhaps having the occasional pizza delivered. That being said, Friends? I owe you gas money.

I don't miss having a car for the local things. I generally walked for groceries when I owned a car. I biked to work except during rainy weather or when it got colder. I've basically been carless since mid March.

Walking to work in the winter probably takes only a couple of more minutes than driving, depending on how clear the sidewalks are. By the time I de-iced Wee Red (RIP), drove 8 minutes to work, and walked from the parking lot to my office, it was comparable. The difference is having to lug around clothes. Jen awakes in the morning. She throws on clothes to eat brekkie (if no shower has taken place), then packs clothes for work. She may have to try them on first, if she is trying to match a new combination. Then she starts layering her walking clothes. She eventually gets to work (late obviously, because that's how this girl rolls,) where she will change into work clothes. Then, at the end of the day, she will perhaps go to the gym and change into her gym clothes. Then, from gym clothes back to walking clothes.

She will get home with back sweat (backpacks cause that sort of thing, don't judge my effective pores), and then change... again.

This pretty much outlines why, by the time I go to bed, I'm too disgusted with changing clothes to bother putting on pajamas.

CONCLUSION: I want a car so I can randomly go to the zoo in Moncton whenever I please (and TreeGo, play, randomly drive to QC, whatever) and to avoid changing clothes. Apparently I hate changing my clothes so much that I'm willing to drop $10K on a car, plus a kazillion dollars in insurance.

Maybe I'll just buy studded tyres for Bicyclette. And some sort of bubble dome to cover myself with when the windchill drops to -463C.

I bought a gym membership last week. So far I used it once because the weather has been curiously nice so I've been out biking. Brother and I went for a bike ride today. I was in the lead 98% of the time. But then, as these things often happen among siblings, a race broke out as Brother suddenly sailed past me beating 200lbs down onto the pedals. I decided to take a different route, hoping I would beat him. I still lost, but came close. (Hills = Jen Mac's weakness)

But at least I didn't fall off my bike.

Brother tried to pop a wheelie over a side walk to cut a corner to save time. On my wee red road bike.

FAIL.

Luckily both Brother and Red Bike survived the crash.

Moral of the story: Boys crash.

She's back! A Jennifer Story

Inspired by "We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story", which I never had the "pleasure" of viewing.

Completely related, speaking English is SO EASY. Ordering food in English? SO EASY. Talking to store employees in English? SO EASY. I mean, I found French much easier by the end than when I arrived, but still.

My arrogant pat-myself-on-the-back moment came on my flight from Ottawa to Halifax. I decided to watch Post Grad (I'm so brave to even admit that) in FRENCH. And I understood! I can tell you EXACTLY what happened up until the point the pilot decided to land the plane. Leading to... if anyone has this movie I, umm, kind of want to see the rest of it and would appreciate a loan, provided it has been released to dvd yet. I also spoke French to people on the plane, understood all, and dropped my jaw in shock over the complete ease of understanding the Canadian French accent versus the France French accent. Contrast this with my flight to France, where I muttered a few words in French ("Vin rouge, SVP. Boeuf, SVP.") and wanted to download my French-English dictionnaire into my brain. (This is surely difficult with a printed, non-electronic dictionnaire. The closest one could do would be rip the sheets out and shove them in the ear. I suspect doctors would discourage this.)

I had learned long ago that returning home too quickly after fun is a bad idea. It applies not only to travelling adventures, but even a mere night out. Like the nights when everyone else decides to head home at 00h30, so you leave too. Then you get home and spend the next two hours pacing, flipping through the telie with an ADD intensity, and exploring your creative side by drawing all over the white walls of your rented bedroom. Being, overall, a disorganised mess when it comes to containing my belongs in neat corridors, it is always wise for me to take the "long" way home. So, post school, I mostly stayed in Aix. Then, I went to Northern Ireland to visit Kat (allo!!!) for a few days. Prior to that I had to pack up alllll of my belongings in anticipation of not having a bedroom upon my return. Then I went to Scotland to visit another friend. Puis, a Aix, encore. It turned out my bedroom was still available, so I stayed there for a few more nights. More packing. Then, to Paris, for my last French weekend (excuse me, mon derniere week-end francais) to prance about the ville with my lovely roommate from my Florida days. It was soooo great to see ma francaise after more than three years. She is one of those amazing people that you meet in life that have a spirit of gold, a constant smile, and an amazing aura. (Oooh, aura. So freaky, Jen Mac.) Post week in Paris (pack up again, mate!), I flew to Ottawa for a wee 3/4 'ohana fun. I house hopped there, lugging my luggage, again, to where ever free accommodation took me.

And finally... here. I am so giddy not to have to pack anything other than a bag to bring to work each day. And by each day, I mean "today", as today was my first full day back. I survived. And spoke English. I was rambling in a meeting (rambling = talking professionally) and almost stopped to mentally congratulate myself on my English skills. That being said, must use French skills so will not have to return to foreign land again in a decade to ameliorer, encore.

Other strategic planning about coming home: always come home when things are HAPPENING. Coming home right before Xmas? = smart.

Coming home mid January?

FOOLISH.

Never return in mid January! Unless you are one of those "Gentle Island" folk, who enjoy doing nothing, but watching the snow fall.

I am also pleased not to be on a plane again soon. I have been on eight flights in the past month, and through seven metal detectors. I've pulled my laptop out of my bag seven times. I pulled out my non-explosive liquids in tiny containers seven times. I took my belt and boots off seven times. Watch off... coat off... Bleh. I took the train from Aix to Paris. It was so pleasant compared to the plane. More space, much prettier scenery (crayola colours of south France!), and no one assumed I was a criminal intent on destroying the world. Instead, I napped, and my ears didn't feel like they were going to explode.

Exploding ears = bad

Today I re-invested in a gym membership. Also realised that I am MP3 playerless after it was destroyed in the spring. Kind of forgot. Thank goodness good TV was on. I also attempted to work my "core", aka "abdominal muscles" (part of the core), aka, "beer belly".

Actually, "pastry belly".

I will not compare my abdominal muscles to fresh jello, as there is some muscle there... It's more like putting a tiny rock at the bottom of a bowl of pudding. The rock is down there somewhere.

Mmm, pudding!

Also, there was new equipment at the gym. Delightful! Did I use it? No. I will save it, trying only one new machine per week. Kind of like when I was young, and my mum said Brother and I could each eat only one granola bar per day. And, in my junior high years, fruit snack things for my lunch. Only one per day. I would eat, like, three or four per day. I got good at hiding wrappers around my room. I blame puberty... and never my sweet tooth which is more powerful than a Magical-Cape-Wearing Jesus.

I was supposed to go to bed an hour ago. Trop mignon. This blog was a procrastination tool to hanging up my wet laundry. I will regret this when I have no dry clothes to wear to work tomorrow.

Thus, if this scenario occurs, I will officially declare it BIRTHDAY SUIT AT WORK DAY! Could be nipply, given we no longer have heaters in our offices. Wankers. They blasted the AC all summer, to the point of wearing LONG SLEEVES and PANTS and other such repulsive winter attire.

I used to wear bare legs outside, only mere days ago. Now I wear long johns, pants, and wool socks. My legs are sad.

And I am tired.

A plus tard.

Hier soir... in my last moments of Two-six wisdom

Whee!

Je suis dans le homestretch (toucher au but, according to mon dictionnaire)… le homestretch de 26 ! Mais l’âge de 27 n’est pas un but… c’est juste un numéro. Je me sens comme une fille de 22 ans, sauf qu’il y a les petites rides à mon visage. Pas parce que je suis vielle, parce que je sourire beaucoup.

Il y avait plusieurs jours que j’ai parlé français beaucoup. Nope, j’ai pas parlé français à l’Ecosse ou Irlande. Quel choque ! Et ici, à la France, mes amis sont partis, et retourner chez lui. Les exemples de mes conversations pendant ces quelques jours :

« Bonjour », m’a dit le travailleur de Monoprix
« Bonjour ! » - Je lui dirais
« Avez-vous une carte de fidélité ? »
« Non. »
« C’est (prix). »
« Voila. » (Jen donnais sa carte bancaire au travailleur)
« Huh ? » (Il regard la carte.)
« Il n’y a pas de chip. C’est une carte vielle. »
*Il fait un swipe*
« Merci, au revoir. » - le travailleur
« Merci ! Bonne journée ! » - la Jen

Mon niveau du français est presque ca d’un professionnel.

Et, aujourd’hui, à ma colocataire, « Le four ne marche pas ! Il n’y a pas de chaleur et les petits lumières rouge ne s’allument pas. »

Hier, quand Internet arrêtait de fonctionner pour la dizaine fois, « Je déteste cette boite ! » (The wireless thing). Mon Internet est comme un adolescent. Il est très fâché. Il marche parfois, mais pas après l’heure de diner. Peut-être après minuit, comme moi quand j’avais 18 ans. Ou comme moi, maintenant. Hier soir j’ai travaille au 3h15. Il sera bizarre quand je retournerai à PEI et j’irai au travaille pour 9h30. Et ne travaille pas pendant le soir. C’est plus facile de travailler quand le soleil dorme.

Aujourd’hui j’ai fait une grande décision : une déclaration que mon route préféré du vélo est sur la Rue de Sisteron. C’est une colline, mais pas une colline aussi grande que laquelle d’Eugilles, ou Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Il y a les voitures, mais la limitation de vitesse n’est pas très haute. Puis on prend une gauche, et faire du vélo a la campagne. Apres quelques kilomètres, on se pense, « Wow, je suis au milieu de la France, à mon velo rouge. Les signes des rues sont différents, les rues sont petites, le ciel est d’un bleu vide, et la vie est belle. La vie est jolie ! »

J’ai fait quelque chose tellement stupide à samedi. Mon valise se pesait trop quand je suis partie Glasgow. La fille de RyanAir m’a dit que je devrais payer 35GBP. Merde. Je l’ai payé, et puis une autre fille m’a hurlé que l’avion va partir sans moi. Alors, j’ai couru vers l’avion. A Paris, je n’avais pas l’intention de payer 35EUR encore, alors je jetais plusieurs choses à la poubelle, manger presque tout les produits que j’achetais a la Royaume-Uni, et je portais presque tous mes vêtements qui étaient dans ma valise. Les pantalons, les capris, deux chaussettes par pied, un caraco, un t-shirt, et DEUX pulls. Il faut croire que je n’étais pas froide. En tout cas, j’ai jeté mon transpirant a la poubelle, et mon conditionneur. Stupide. Le transpirant est cher ici (à peu prés 4EUR), et c’est difficile de trouver les boites petit des choses comme le shampooing. Ici, j’ai assez du shampooing et conditionneur pour laver mes cheveux UNE fois. Je vais à l’PEI en dix jours. On a un problème ;)

Solution : j’ai besoin d’une coupe de cheveux. Ca c’est un shampooing.
Paris : rester a un hôtel ce week-end.

Les buts pour cette semaine : acheter les choses. Stresser quand je n’ai pas assez d’espace pour faire les bagages. Manger vos cadeaux ;)

Je dois aller au cinéma aussi, une filme en français. Quelque chose simple, pour les enfants. Peut-être « Les Drôles de Scrooge » ?

Les choses que je dois manger/gouter/boire cette semaine : le vin chaud, les marrons grillée, brioche glace, le fromage.

Oh, et important. Au commencement de 2009, j’ai fait une décision de ne pas manger les frites pendant l’année 2009. L’Irlande et l’Ecosse étaient un test pour moi. Mais, j’ai réussi – pas des frites pour moi :( Si j’avais su, au début de 2009, que j’aurais voyage a la Royaume-Uni.. Oh, triste. Je vais manger les frites l’année prochaine. Avec le ketchup. Trop du ketchup. Mes frites prendront un bain dans le ketchup. Et je ne mangerai pas du chocolat, ou peut-être seulement pas les tablettes du chocolat, je n’ai pas encore décidé. Mais je mangeais assez du chocolat ici pour le reste de ma vie. Et des bonbons de Haribo. Bleh. Mon estomac est en grève maintenant. Seulement les légumes, les fruites, l’agneau (yum !), le fromage… okay, beaucoup des choses, mais pas du chocolat ou des bonbons. Vomit.

PS ~ bonne anniversaire a moi :) merci a ma famille et mes amis pour m’accompagner pour un autre an, pour partager les moments fantastiques, spécial, contents, tristes, incroyable, a l’I-P-E, le reste du Canada, les Etats-Unis, la France, l’Irlande du nord, l’Ecosse, et dans nos imaginations. I’d ride with y’all anyday ! Les biz.

***** English, a la bad translator

Whee!

I am in the Homestretch ("toucher au but" reach the goal, according to my dictionary) Homestretch ... on the 26! But the age of 27 is not a goal ... it's just a number. I feel like a girl of 22 years but there are small wrinkles on my face. Not because I'm old, because I smile a lot.

There were many days since I spoke French a lot. Nope, I have not spoken French in Scotland or Ireland. What a shock! And here in France, my friends are gone, and go home. Examples of my conversations during these few days:

"Hello," said the worker Monoprix
"Hello! "- I would say
"Do you have a loyalty card? "
"Not. "
"It (price). "
"Voila. "(Jen gave his card to the worker)
"Huh? (He looks at the card.)
"There is no chip. It is an old card. "
* He made a swipe *
"Thank you, goodbye. - The worker
"Thank you! Good day! "- Jen the

(Google kept insisting "carte" was map. It lies.)

My level of French is almost a professional ca.

And today, my roommate, "The oven does not work! There is no heat and little red lights do not light. "

Yesterday, when the Internet stops working for ten times, "I hate this box! (The wireless thing). My Internet is like a teenager. He is very angry. It works sometimes, but not after the dinner hour. Maybe after midnight, as I did when I was 18. Or like me, now. Yesterday evening I worked at 3:15. It will be strange when I go back to PEI and go to work for 9:30. And do not work during the evening. It's easier to work when the sun sleeps.

Today I made a big decision: a statement that my favorite road bike is on the Rue de Sisteron. It is a hill, a hill but not as great as that of Eugilles or Montagne Sainte-Victoire. There are cars, but the speed limit is not very high. Then take a left, and cycling in the countryside. After few kilometers, we think, "Wow, I'm in the middle of France, in my red bike. The street signs are different, the streets are small, the sky is blue vacuum, and life is beautiful. Life is beautiful! "

I did something so stupid to Saturday. My suitcase weighed too when I left Glasgow. RyanAir's daughter told me that I should pay GBP35. Crap. I paid, and then another girl yelled at me that the plane will leave without me. So I ran to the aircraft. In Paris, I did not intend to pay 35EUR yet, so I threw a few things in the trash, eating almost all the products I bought was the UK, and I wore almost all my clothes were in my suitcase. The pants, Capri pants, two socks per foot, a jacket, t-shirts, sweaters and TWO. It seems that I was not cold. Anyway, I threw my sweating has the trash, and my conditioner. Stupid. The sweating is expensive here (about 4eur), and it's hard to find the little boxes of things like shampoo. Here, I have enough shampoo and conditioner to wash my hair once. I'm going to PEI in ten days. We have a problem;)

(*sweating = deodorant)

Solution: I need a haircut. It is a shampoo.
Paris: staying a hotel this weekend.

The goals for this week: buy things. Stress when I do not have enough space for luggage. Eat your gift;)

I must go to the cinema as a film in French. Something simple for children. Perhaps "The Strange Scrooge"?

The things I eat / taste / drink this week: mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, ice cream cake (this didn't translate at ALL), cheese.

Oh, and important. At the beginning of 2009, I made a decision not to eat the fries during 2009. Ireland and Scotland were a test for me. But I managed - no fries for me (If I had known in early 2009, that I would trip the United Kingdom .. Oh, sorry. I'll eat the fries next year . With ketchup. Too ketchup. My fries take a dip (bath) in ketchup. And I will not eat chocolate, or maybe just not the tablets of chocolate, I have not decided yet. But I ate enough of chocolate here for the rest of my life. And of Haribo sweets. Bleh. My stomach is on strike now. Only vegetables, fruits, lamb (yum!), cheese ... okay, many things, but not chocolate or candy. Vomit.

PS ~ Happy birthday to me:) thank you to my family and my friends to accompany me for another year to share the wonderful moments, special, happy, sad, amazing, al'IPE, the rest of Canada, the United U.S., France, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and in our imaginations. I'd ride with y'all anyday! Les biz.

And then she left!

More older writing!

2009-11-25
Ahh! Mon dernière nuit en Aix avant de partir pour le Royaume-Uni. Mon tête est en tren de paniquer un petit-peu. Il croit que je fuit finit de la France et je parte pour le Canada. Tous mes sacs sont remplis (ha, pas vraiment, mais presque, je ferai mes bagages au dernier moment, comme d’habitude) et mes tiroirs sont vides. Mais non, l’Ile-du-Prince-Edouard n’ira pas ma destination pour une autre trois semaines.

Ca sera différent a Irlande du Nord et a Ecosse. Ou je parlerai anglais. Quand je parle la langue du pays, les personnes me comprendront (j’espère !). Je ne paniquerai pas au bureau de poste, et je n’utiliserai pas le mot « quelque choses »trop, parce que je connaitrai le vrai mot. Au bureau de poste aujourd’hui j’avais besoin d’un « envelope ». Mais avant que je suis partie chez moi, j’avais oublié de cherche le mot « envelope » dans ma dictionnaire. Alors, j’ai acheté une chose « pour envoyer ce revue au Canada ».

(Je cherche a ma dictionnaire électronique maintenant… c’est « une enveloppe ». Et oui, j’ai une dictionnaire électronique maintenant. Un ami m’a donne et c’est formidable ! Elle a tous les mots que les professeurs ne nous enseignaient pas ;) )
J’ai eu un aventure à la bibliothèque aujourd’hui. J’ai emprunté la carte de ma colocataire pour utiliser les ordinateurs et imprimer mes billettes d’avion. J’ai parle a trois personnes a la bibliothèque, et le deuxième ne m’a pas compris de tous. Whoops. Mais je crois qu’il a prétendu parce qu’il veut parler en anglais… Umm, right. Anyway, je payais la troisième personne pour ferai les imprinations. Je suis allée a une ordinateur, et la carte ne fonctionne pas. J’ai demande pour l’aide. Mon aideur ne ferrait pas corriger. Il a appelle a une autre travailleuse, et elle nous a aide. Success ! MAIS, puis, l’emprunteur ne fontione pas. Pas un grand problème, j’ai trouve un autre imprinteur dans une nouvelle salle – une salle magnifique avec cinq-kazillions livres. Tous ces chose ont pris trop longue, alors j’avais pas assez de temps pour faire les autre choses, comme acheter le shampooing, une pile pour mon montre, etc. Pas de problème. Au Royaume-Uni, je pourrais acheté « shampoo » et « a battery for my watch ».

J’ecoute a la radio, c’est un station techno/music des boites. Je veux danser ! Mais je ne danse pas, parce que je dois travailler. J’espere que c’est le dernière rapport que j’écrire a propos de lu sondage des voyageurs de l’I-P-E. Pas en general, mais pour ce sondage.

Mon ventre se grandit ici. Whoops. Trop de Milka et Haribo. Peut-être pour l’annee 2010 (can someone explain to me the difference between annee and an ??) je ne mangerai pas du chocolat. Mais, c’est bonne pour les endorphines, et pour les seins ! :D Je « feel like » (I couldn’t find a verbe equivalent ?) que j’ai les seins trop grand chaque fois que je porte un pull. Joyeux noël aux garçons ? :S

Je veux faire du vélo maintenant. Je suis un peu stresse. Mais mes vêtements chauds sont dans un sac. Et c’est presque 23h00. Et je dois travailler a mon rapport. Et faire les bagages. Et prendre un douche.

Le sigh
A bientôt !

et... en anglais..
******************************
Ahh! My final night in Aix before leaving for the United Kingdom. My head is tren to panic a little-bit. He thinks I eventually fled to France and I left for Canada. All my bags are filled (ha, not really, but almost, I will do my luggage at the last minute as usual) and my drawers are empty. But no, the Prince Edward Island will not my destination for another three weeks.

It will be different in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Or I speak English. When I speak the language, people understand me (I hope!). I did not panic at the post office, and I will not use the word "some things" too, because I know the real word. At the post office today I needed an "envelope". But before I left home, I forgot to look for the word "envelope" in my dictionary. So I bought something "to send this magazine in Canada."

(I look to my electronic dictionary now ... it's "envelope". And yes, I have an electronic dictionary now. A friend gave me and it's great! It has all the words that we teachers do not teach;))

I had an adventure at the library today. I borrowed the card from my roommate to use computers and print my tickets. I have spoken to three people a library, and the second has not understood. Whoops. But I think he claimed because he wants to speak English ... Umm, right. Anyway, I paid the third person to do the imprinations. I went to a computer and the card does not work. I asked for help. My aideur does not correct shoeing. He has called another worker, and she helped us. Success! BUT, then the borrower did not work. Not a big problem, I found another imprinteur a new room - a magnificent room with five-kazillions books. All these things have taken too long, then I had enough time to do other things like buying shampoo, a battery for my watch, etc.. No problem. In the UK, I could buy "shampoo" and "a battery for my watch."

I listened at the radio station is a techno / music boxes. I want to dance! But I do not dance, because I have to work. I hope this is the last report about j'écrire read poll travelers the IPE. Not in general, but for this poll.

My belly is growing here. Whoops. Too Haribo and Milka. Perhaps for the year 2010 (can someone explain to me the difference between years and year?) I do not eat chocolate. But it's good for the endorphins, and boobs!: D "feel like" (I could not find a word equivalent?) that I have breasts too whenever I wear a sweater. Merry Christmas boys? : S

I want to ride a bike now. I am a little stress. But my warm clothes were in a bag. And it's almost 23:00. And I am working on my report. And what to pack. And take a shower.

Le sigh
A bientôt!

Long ago...

I wrote this ages ago... i.e., at least four days ago but couldn't post it until now. Oh Internet, it's nice to see/have you again! Albeit, briefly.

2009-11-23
C’est bizarre... je sais que la fin s’approchera. Je partirai mon appartement. Lundi, j’ai lave mes vêtements en préparation pour les mettre à un sac. Encore.

Jeudi je parts pour Irlande du Nord pour visiter Kathleen ! Puis je voyagerai a l’Ecosse (par bateau !) et la je resterai avec Shannon a Edinburgh.

C’est presque la fin de mon aventure française ! C’est le sentiment dans ma tête. En réalité, ce n’est pas la fin. Apres jouer a l’Ecosse, je retournerai ici, a Aix. J’ai huit jours pour « finir ». Mon vol partira de Paris, alors j’irai la pour le week-end ou je visiterai ma sœur de Disney (aka ma coloc.) ! La dernière fois que j’ai vu elle était, je crois, juillet de 2006. Franchement, je suis excitée :P Pendant ce voyage j’avais visite deux amies de Disney, et je crois que j’aurai vu deux autres avant que retourner au Canada. Puis, au Canada, je visiterai deux plusieurs ( !) avant que je ferai le dernière voyage a mon petit ile.

Aujourd’hui, j’ai porte les shorts. Les autres croient que je sois folle, mais j’adore le soleil ici.

Je commence d’écouter à la radio. Je n’ai pas fait beaucoup avant cette semaine parce que j’étais stupide. Pas stupide comme « je ne comprends pas ! », mais stupide comme « il n’y avait pas une bonne raison pour pas écouter a la radio et c’est une bonne façon d’améliorer mon français. » La prochaine fois que je veux apprendre une langue je vais regarder la télé trop, et écouter a la radio tous les minutes que je ne regarde pas la télé. Oh, mais un problème avec la radio.. Mon station préféré est lequel en español. Et il y a trop des chansons anglaises à la radio. La première station que j’ai trouve hier soir a eu Elton John qui chante « Can you feel the love tonight » de « The Lion King ». Oui, c’est une bonne chanson, et j’ai chante avec Elton. Il m’aide améliorer mon accent faux d’un anglais homosexuel :P

Je lis une romaine en français maintenant. C’est plus difficile que ma dernière romaine (Princess Diaries 10 ! – en français) parce que ce n’était pas écrit pour les jeunesses. Mais, ce n’est pas trop difficile ! Regarde ma, j’apprends le français ! C’était sur une liste donnait a moi par mon professeur, les romains pour mon niveau de français (B2 !)

Noel a commence vendredi. Les lumières a la fontaine au milieu de la Rotonde de C.de Gaulle sont allumes (ouverts ?), il y a les attractions (rides ? I coudn’t find what I deem an appropriate word in French) à la fin de la Cours Mirabeau et beaucoup des kiosks qui vend les produits de noël des artisanes, et les bonbons, le vin chaud ( ?!), la barbe de papa, les gaufres (je n’ai pas encore manger un gaufre ici – quel dommage !), les pretzels (salée ou sucre), et plusieurs choses qui vont détruire mon estomac. Yum ! En revanche, il y a un problème : je n’ai pas assez d’espace dans mes bagages pour acheter les cadeaux de noël ici. Quand je suis partie le Canada j’ai pris un sac vide, mais je crois que ca va être rempli avec les choses que j’ai acheté déjà… pour moi. Oops. Je vais savoir mercredi comme je dois faire mes bagages la. J’achetais les livres ici (ils ne sont pas grands, mais ils prennent d’espace) des vetements, et des boots. Et j’aime mon casque du vélo et je voudrais le prendre au Canada. Il y a une lumière rouge sur le fond du casque ! Et c’est ROUGE.

Ici je suis sur Equipe Rouge pour faire de vélo. Mon vélo est rouge. Mon casque est rouge. Mon chemise à manches longues est rouge. Lequel avec les manches court est rouge. Mes chaussettes préférées sont rouges. Vas-y Equipe Rouge ! (Pas vraiment un équipe, c’est seulement moi.)

Quand je suis arrivée à Aix j’ai acheté un carnet de dix billets pour l’autobus. J’ai encore quatre billets. Les trois premières fois au autobus j’ai mit la billette dans la machine à la façon incorrect. Quelque fois la machine ne fonctionnait pas. Alors, je n’ai pas dépensé beaucoup d’argent pour transportation !

**************************** Google translate...

It's weird ... I know that the end will approach. I leave my apartment. On Monday, I wash my clothes in preparation for putting them in a bag. Again.

Thursday I went to Northern Ireland to visit Kathleen! Al'Ecosse Can I travel (by boat!) And I will stay with Shannon Edinburgh.

It's almost the end of my French adventure! It is the feeling in my head. In reality, this is not the end. Al'Ecosse after play, I will return here in Aix. I have eight days to "finish". My flight from Paris, then go for the weekend or I visit my sister to Disney (aka my roommate). " The last time I saw it was, I think, July of 2006. Frankly, I'm excited: P During this trip I visited two friends from Disney, and I think I saw two others before returning to Canada. Then, in Canada, I will be visiting two more (!) Before I make the last trip my little island.

Today, I wore shorts. Others think I'm crazy, but I love the sun here.

I began to listen to the radio. I have not done much until this week because I was stupid. Not stupid like "I do not understand! , But stupid as "there was not a good reason to not listen on the radio and it's a good way to improve my French. The next time I want to learn a language I'll watch TV too much, and listen to the radio every minute that I do not watch TV. Oh, but a problem with the radio .. My favorite station is where en español. And there are too many English songs on the radio. The first station that I found last night was Elton John singing "Can you feel the love tonight" from "The Lion King." Yes, it's a good song and I sang with Elton. It helps me improve my accent fake an English homosexual: P

I read a French Roman now. It is more difficult than my last Roman (Princess Diaries 10! - In French) (roman is supposed to = novel... ha) because it was not written for youths. But this is not too difficult! Look ma, I'm learning French! It was on a list given to me by my teacher, the Romans for my level of French (B2!)

Noel begins Friday. Lights at the fountain in the middle of the Rotunda are on C.de Gaulle (open?), There are attractions (rides? I coudn't find what I deem an appropriate word in French) at the end of the Cours Mirabeau and many kiosks selling Christmas products of artisans and sweets, mulled wine (?!), beard papa, waffles (I did not eat a waffle here - what a pity!), the pretzels (salt or sugar), and several things that will destroy my stomach. Yum! However, there is a problem: I do not have enough space in my luggage to buy Christmas gifts here. When I left Canada I took an empty bag, but I think it will be filled with things I already bought for me .... Oops. I'm going on Wednesday as I ought to pack it. I bought books here (they are not great, but they take space) of clothes, and boots. And I love my bike helmet and I would take him to Canada. There is a red light on the bottom of the helmet! And it's RED.

Here I am on Team Red to bike. My bike is red. My helmet is red. My long-sleeved shirt is red. Which with short sleeves is red. My favorite socks are red. Go Team Red! (Not really a team, it's just me.)

When I arrived in Aix I bought a carnet of ten tickets for the bus. I still have four tickets. The first three times I took the bus tickets in the machine the wrong way. Sometimes the machine does not work. So I have not spent much money on transportation!

Culture Chow-down

Brief list (in English, no less!) of things that cause me to nod in approval a la France:

• Markets - so much food, all so colourful
• Biking - drivers don't freak out when there are cyclists on the road. Just, "Bonjour, Cycliste, nous partagons la rue. Nous ne sommes pas les amies, mais je ne vais pas te frapper avec mon voiture." That being said... I would love to find some flat land for biking. I don't mind hills, but sometimes one just wishes for an easy ride. I also miss my black bike for when I'm feeling not so racerish.. and the seat on my bike here is merde. Putain!
  
• Cereal - Carrefour Fruit and Fibre? You rock my cereal world. ROWR.
• Shutters - I realised, after a month of being in my flat, the reason I don't have curtains on my window is because I have shutters. I just never noticed. Jen n'est pas intelligente. Non, serieuse, mon IQ trouvait un niveau trop bas quand je suis arrivee a la France.
• Durante la journee, c'est assez chaud pour porter les shorts. For me. Biking in my late summer gear au milieu de decembre? Pas mal.
• Bears - there are no bears here, to my knowledge. This helps me feel safe.
• Funny translations- It's none of our business -> "Ce n'est pas nos oignons." HA!
• Swearing - but not really. Putain!
• H1N1 - Ils ne s'inquiete pas. Le gov't achetait 94 million des vacinations. There are only 64 million people in France. They have 30 million extra vaccines, provided one dose per person is adequate. Canada has about 33 million people, and about six viles of the vaccine. And people really aren't freaking out here trying to get into clincis. I just don't think they care.
• Food - everything here tastes good. I'm a bit concerned as before leaving Canada I got rid of all clothing which was too big.
• le Geant Casino - it intrigues me. It's so large. And between my home to there, the road is quite flat. Plus one point.
• The Carrefour logo, which I now understand.
• The good looking news and weather people.
• Orange eyeshadow - I bought some. Clearly, if it's in France, it must be very fashionable. The official couleur is "orange pearle".
• Height - I'm not short here! Not to generalize, but people here are not very tall. I feel like such an equal.
  

Things I slightly miss in Canada/PEI (omitting people):

• Carpet.. useful for laying on when reading the newspaper
• Being witty/charming/hilarious... here I am merely ditzy
• Bicyclette no. 1... bicyclette no. 2 not so much as I have her nearly identical twin here
• Beer Club
• Being in closer timezones to friends who are away... so I don't need to stay up to 1am to chatter with them.
• The Weather Network.
• My socks. Apparently when packing to move I felt the need to pack, oh, like five pairs of socks, four of which are wooly hiking/biking socks.
• Peanut sauce.
• The ability to explain how you want your hair cut, in English. Me hair be getting a wee bit shaggy.
  

That's it.

November 11 - the holiday I wish weren't

November 11th is a very bittersweet holiday. Everyone enjoys a day off - a day free of commitments. (Although the status of Remembrance Day being a stat holiday varies across the country, and even within the same cities.)

Remembrance Day always makes me a bit sad. It makes me sad that we need to have this holiday. That we needed to send people young and old, male and female, English and French (and other), off to a foreign land to protect us, and protect citizens of other countries. That being said, it is also amazing that we have the freedom to honour them on this day. The fact that we can have Remembrance Day is a testament of their mission being successful, and them protecting our country's ability to be.

I went to a museum over the weekend past about the occupation in France during WWII, and the resistance movement. Today was a holiday in France, specifically for WWI (apparently there are separate holidays for other wars?). Had D-Day been unsuccessful in France in 1944, and any subsequent attempt to rid France of the Germans, le 11 novembre, comme jour ferie (accents on the e's - holiday) would not exist. Were the Nazis still in rule of this country, the French would not be celebrating their invalides aujourd'hui.

Were Canada to participate in a war today, on the same large scale effort of WWI or WWII, I honestly can't say I would enlist. I am not brave enough to potentially sacrifice myself for the good of my country. I cannot even begin to imagine what that life would be like. I've read the history, heard the stories, have seen the footage, but I cannot envision myself in uniform, boarding a boat or plane, being sent to fight a battle. To put myself in a dangerous situation. I think I could help in other ways, but I'm much too much of a baby to ever be found on the front lines. I'm happy to have citizenship in a country where military service is not mandatory, and where conscription is a thought almost a century old (believe it was last enforced during WWI?).

I focus somewhat on WWII, as it's the war I know the most about, and I believe we are taught more about it in school due to the ancestry of many Islanders. For me, this war seems a lifetime ago - well before my time. But to put it in perspective, this war ended only ten years before my father was born. There are still many people alive who can give first-hand accounts of their involvement. There are statues in London that still have slight signs of damage from the blitz. The Berlin Wall, a result of the, well, result of WWII fell only ten years ago this week.

There is the remains of a Concentration Camp within a very easy bike ride from my home. Actually, I can't quite figure out if it was a concentration camp, or a "holding bin" of sorts. Prior to German occupation of France, the French held Germans and Austrians there. This changed when 1940 hit (German occupation of Northern France and the Atlantic coast), and then again in 1942 as Germany moved into the free region of France (generally, the south). Jewish residents and others were collected and put at this camp. They were then transferred to Auschwitz, via Camps Drancy and Rivesaults.

Remembrance Day is not only about the great wars (WWI, WWII). I believe the focus tends to fall on them, but there were wars elsewhere, and there are still wars now. There are peace keeping missions, and there are the battles in which we will fight in the future.

Poppies are not worn in France, so I had no poppy to wear today. But I would wear my poppy to thank, remember, love and respect those who served in the past, who are serving now, and who will serve in the future.



A picture I took in Ypres, Belgium, editted, of a war graveyard. I suppose it will be my virtual poppy this year.

"Je veux etre un arc-en-ciel!"

Aujourd'hui, un mur me frappe. Umm, non. Peut-être ca c'est un phrase qu'on n'utilise pas en français? "Today I hit a wall."

Je manque le couleur brun. Ici, j’ai trop des vêtements gris, noir, et violet. Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais c’est une erreur. Je faisais des boutiques un petit peu, mais trop des vêtements aux magasins sont… noir, gris, bleu (foncé), et violet. En revanche, ce soir, j’ai acheté des vêtements VERT, ROSE… et violet. Mais la jupe violète coute seulement 5 EUR alors je me permis de l’acheter. Ahh, les couleurs, je vous adore. Demain, et tous les jours après, je serai un arc-en-ciel. Sauf les boots – ils sont noirs.

L’automne commence ici, pour la deuxième fois. Il y a beaucoup des feuilles sur les rues. Quand j’ai fait une promenade ce soir, ca m’a amuse beaucoup de marcher aux feuilles. Toutes les feuilles ici sont orange/brun. Pas de rouge.

J’ai dormi pendant deux heures cette après-midi. J’avais besoin d’un nap.. Mais ugh. Je n’aime pas dormir trop pendant la journée. Mais je n’ai pas dormi beaucoup pendants les cinq soirées passées.

Ma classe est petite cette semaine : seulement quatre étudiants. Mais je l’aime, il y a beaucoup de temps pour parler et pratiquer, et c’est plus facile de demander les questions. C’est mon dernière semaine de classes… Bizarre. Je ne sais pas ce que je ferai pour les prochaines semaines. Je dois travailler beaucoup, mais je suis un peu stresse. Je ne veux pas retourner au Canada et les penses que j’ais travaille trop, et je n’ais pas eu une vraie expérience français.

Alors, c’est minuit. Je dois faire une petite présentation pour ma classe demain. Ce n’est pas tres long, mais quelque chose sur lequel nous allons parle pour 20 minutes, comme un classe, pas juste moi.

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Today, I hit a wall. Umm, no. Maybe that's a sentence that does not in French? "Today I hit a wall."

I miss the color brown. Here, I too clothes gray, black, and purple. I do not know why, but it is a mistake. I was shopping a little, but too many clothes shops are ... black, gray, blue (dark), and purple. But tonight, I bought clothes GREEN, PINK ... and purple. But the purple skirt cost only 5 EUR so I allowed myself to buy it. Ahh, the colors, I adore you. Tomorrow and every day after, I'll be a rainbow sky. Except the boots - they're black.

Autumn begins here, for the second time. There are a lot of leaves on the streets. When I went for a walk tonight, ca amuses me to walk to the leaves. All the leaves here are orange / brown. No red.

I slept for two hours this afternoon. I needed a nap .. But ugh. I do not like sleeping too much during the day. But I did not sleep much during the past five nights.

My class is small this week, only four students. But I like it a lot of time to talk and practice, and it's easier to ask questions. This is my last week of classes ... Bizarre. I do not know what I do for the next few weeks. I have a lot of work to do, and I'm a bit stressed. I do not want to return to Canada and think that I worked to much, and I had didn't have a true French experience.

So it's midnight. I must make a small presentation for my class tomorrow. Not very long, but something on which we will speak for 20 minutes, as a class, not just me.

Annnnd... zonked -_-

Les devoirs d'orsinage - - homework, harvesting sea urchins

Plusieurs fois, au Canada, je dirais aux mes parents, "Des fois ca reste bizarre quand je ne fais pas les devoirs dimanche soir."

Aujourd'hui est dimanche. J'ai les devoirs. Il a 23h09 et j'ai pas encore fait mes devoirs. Alors, avant que je me permets d'ecrire ce poste, je vais faire mes devoirs. Avec vous. En general je les fais avant cette heure tard, mais j'ai travaille sur un raport pour mon travail pour quelques heures deja. le sigh.

Devoir: ecrire les phrases avec certain mots!

BIEN QUE:
(1) Bien que mes voisins aient un jardin, ils vont a la supermarche presque chaque jour.
(2) Bien que l'eau de robinet soit bonne, on achete les bouteilles de l'eau.

EN REVANTE (ou) PAR CONTRE
(1) Mon ami avait une bonne education, en revanche il est au chômage et il habite chez ces parents.
(2) Il y a beaucoup des voitures dans la ville, par contre les rues sont trop petits pour stationer l'auto.

PORTANT (ou cependant, toutefois, neanmoins)
(1) Elle est tres petite. Pourtant, elle mange trop de chocolat.
(2) My chambre est froid. Cependant, la fenetre est ferme.

OR
(1) Je trouve que c'est difficil de faire les phrases avec "or". Or, je dois etudier plus fort ce soir.

Oui, j'ecris comme un petit eleve. Non, je n'utilise pas les mots avec plus que, oh, six lettres. Sauf quand j'ecris mon nom: Jennifer. Oh la la, huit lettres!

Alors... Aujoud'hui!

Hier soir j'ai decide, a la derniere minute avec l'aide de Ms. Shan a msn, que je serais allee a la plage ce matin pour faire d'orsinade (ou orsinade, je ne sais pas si la "faire" est necessaire?). J'ai voyage par autobus a Marseille, et puis quelqu'un m'a retrouve dans sa voiture. Puis nous conduirons vers la plage, plus l'ouest de la ville. Nous etions une group de six avec trois personnes qui ont les vetements et outils pour chercher des orsins dans l'eau. Je marchais dans l'eau un petit peu, mais c'etait un petit peu froid pour moi, et il n'y a pas de sable a la plage, seulement les roches. C'est difficil de marcher a la plage et entrer/sortir de l'eau sans les chaussures pour l'eau.

Pour manger les orsins, on les coupe en deux. Dans l'interior il y a un espece vide (je ne veux pas chercher pour mon dictionnaire pour trouver la mot correcte). J'ai pense qu'ils auraient ete comme les moules et on aurait mange un petit boule d'orsin, mais non...



Cinq petits morceaus de la choses rouge? C'est un repas?! (Pas vraiment. Quelqu'un m'a dit que si on les mange a une restaurant comme plat, c'est avec plusieurs autre fruits de mer.)

Alors, on peut les manger en quelque facons. Avec une cuillère, et manger seule, ou place la viande sur le pain, ou utilise la pain pour enlever le viande de la croquille. Il a goute comme l'eau selee. Pour moi, c'est comme les moules: je veux manger, peut-etre, deux a six, mais pas plus. Apres quatre j'ai mange des raisons et quiche. (Parce que je suis francaise maintenant. Ha. Non.)

Et, la fin. Demain je travaillerai, etudierai, et trouverai un article pour se presenter a la classe a mardi. Et je ferai du velo. Mon velo me manque.

A bientot!

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Several times in Canada, I would say to my parents, "sometimes it is weird when I do not do homework on Sunday night."

Today is Sunday. I have homework. It was 23h09 and I have not done my homework. So, before I allow myself to write this post, I'll do my homework. With you. In general I'm doing before this hour late, but I'm working on a raport for my work for a few hours already. le sigh.

Assignment: Write sentences with certain words!

ALTHOUGH:
(1) Although my neighbors have a garden, they go to the supermarket almost every day.
(2) Although tap water is good, we bought bottles of water.

IN dreaming (or) HAND
(1) My friend had a good education, however he is unemployed and lives with his parents. "
(2) There are many cars in the city, street cons are too small to park the car.

ON (or however, but, nonetheless)
(1) It is very small. Yet she eats too much chocolate.
(2) My room is cold. However, the window is closed.

OR
(1) I find it difficult to make sentences with "gold". However, I must study harder tonight.

Yes, I write as a young student. No, I do not use words with more than, oh, six letters. Except when I write my name: Jennifer. Oh la la, eight letters!

So ... Nowadays!

Last night I decided, at the last minute with the assistance of Ms. Shan msn, I'd go to the beach this morning to make orsinade (or orsinade, I do not know if the "how" is needed?). I travel by bus in Marseille, and then someone found me in his car. Then we will drive to the beach, most west of the city. We were a group of six with three people who have clothes and tools to search for Orsini in the water. I walked in the water a bit, but it was a bit cold for me, and there is no sand beach, just rocks. It's hard to walk to the beach and enter / exit the water without water shoes.

To eat the sea urchins, they are cut in half. In the interior there is a gap species (I do not want to look for my dictionary to find the correct word). I think they would have been like mussels and we would eat a small ball of Orsini, but not ...

Five small strips the red things? It is a meal? " (Not really. Someone told me that if one eats them in a restaurant dish, it is with many other seafood)

So we can eat them in any way. With a spoon, and eat alone, or place the meat on bread, or use the bread to remove the meat from the shell. It was like water drop Sele. For me, it's like mussels, I want to eat, maybe, two to six, but no more. After I eat four reasons and quiche. (Because I'm French now. Ha. No.)

And the end. Tomorrow I work, study, and find an article to appear at the class on Tuesday. And I'll do the bike. I miss my bike.

A bientot!