Here are some self-formulated tried-and-tested tips I personally undertake, now that it's getting visibly chillier and winter's ever so near. I actually think I'm better-trained to withstand the cold now! Well, slightly at least. (Note: Steps are written in chronological order.)
And they work, really. Haha.. sometimes I wish I didn't have to stick my hand out to say hello when I bump into people in school, bleah. Or that the wind wasn't so strong that my hair's all over the place and sticking to my glossy Vaseline-coated lips. Yikes.
And speaking of life here, I'm pretty sure I'll take one month (like the last time) to get used to crossing the roads in Singapore again. And that I can prepare my money beforehand when standing in line, cos tax has already been accounted for in the menu prices. And that 20 cents are actually not quarters.
... And so much more, still.
no more excuses 3:08 PMThis post is going to be so disengaged. *breathes in and out and calms down*
I don't know why I've been feeling stressed up and frustrated lately. It isn't over work, though I did complete a killer make-your-own-video assignment all by myself last weekend and am very proud of it. And there was Personal Financial Planning and Film mid-terms too, the former for which I managed to pass in the B-range. (Pass! Haha.. and I'm not exclaiming this just because I'm an exchange student and there are lotsa confusing Canadian tax laws in the paper, but just from the position of a lousy Finance major.. bleah.)
Anyhow, I've not been very engaged in things that are constructive or productive; maybe I just gave myself an excuse to slack off after the Alberta trip since there were just too many chapalang things to do anyway. So after the mid-terms and video submission, I just wanted to give myself some space to breathe before getting into the swing of things. But Prof painted a very bleak picture of the job market for me a few days ago, and she'd apologized for dampening my moods on exchange - but yes, it's not that I wasn't aware of it, and I guess her reality check totally jolted me from my senses indeed. What am I doing?!
Maybe it's all a vicious cycle:
You feel listless and lethargic - you just want to chillax - which means not doing anything worthwhile, and that's on top of just munching your frustrations off - you feel unhealthy - you feel listless and lethargic. ROAR.
Still, I'm not alone. Reading Christine's emails and Luyi's letter and birthday card, we're all in the same boat after all. And though mine's right across the Atlantic and my friends' are, erm, along the Straits of Malacca, we're still drifting and trying to keep our oars together, holding on to each other for support. And I guess that's what matters, and what keeps me sane somehow. That we all understand and seek solace in encouraging and comforting each other. So to my best friend and close friends back home who are caught up in things and feeling dreadful, let's all keep our heads up and jia you together. We will get there, eventually.
On a random note, I just picked some maple leaves from the courtyard to press; they aren't very beautiful since they're all starting to wilt by this time. And I miss my coffee partners, and my best friend too. :(
xx
Rediscovering Downtown
Tuesday after the Film test - I had to head Chinatown and buy some jiao zi and guo tie for the upcoming AIMS International Food Night, so I took the chance to take a breather, walk around and engage in retail therapy. At least it was a whole day to myself, which I was thankful for. So once again, I was taking in and appreciating the sights and sounds of downtown Winnipeg - only this time more carefully.
Winnipeg's Millennium Library, the largest in the city (so something like our National Library?)
Mall at Portage Place - thought the Campbell soups look cute, haha. I bought a pair of waterproof gloves here too, at Dress for Less, and it actually says "-20 degrees!" on it, so I guess they're good for my snowball fights when the time comes, heh.
Top left pic: "Winnipeg's Free Press" along the Skywalk- a collection of press stories mounted on the walls for viewing pleasure. The others depict streets around Winnipeg's Exchange District, which is actually an attraction for tourists cos it's the oldest across Canada. Unlike the financial buildings and brightly-lit skyscrapers in other Canadian cities, Winnipeg's consists of a large number of preserved brick buildings, which are majestic and nice really.
Winnipeg's Chinatown. Says "established in 1986", so as old (young) as me! And seriously I didn't know Winnipeg's called 温尼伯 too; it's like 微尼夫拉得 for Winifred, haha.
It's exciting to see freezers and vegetables like this after a very very long time.. and while scanning across the labels I saw Tasty Brand sotong balls from Singapore LEH - I wonder if this brand really exists?
Btw I was so tempted to buy Asian foodstuffs and snacks here too, but didn't cos of the melamine scandal. One article I read said this though - "So far it appears that only Asian products are affected - therefore if you live in Europe or North America, your Snickers bar is probably safe to eat. For now." - but I guess better be safe than sorry ba. :(
Halloween's coming! This was taken on another occasion while grocery shopping, and the sheer size and number of pumpkins in the grocery stores are just.. large. Haha.. limited vocabulary right now. Bleah.
The results of the Wish-Wini-and-Win contest are out! Haha.. it's really backdated by now, but I'd promised to reveal the winners after writing about Alberta, so here goes:
Christine, for most accurate timing (Singapore) - and you probably also earn the title of wishing me the most number of times with the countless smses/emails/e-cards/phone convos, and of course, the bounced-and-yet-to-arrive-snail-mail. Haha.. I still remember you saying I'm the only one who'd bother wishing you that many times when you were in Paris too! :) And yea, you almost did win the Calgary timing as well but Vicki beat you to it by a teeny wini bit!
Vicki, for most accurate timing (Calgary) - and for so many years you've always been the first to wish me (I think). Haha.. and even though this year's different and I do have many time zones to factor in, you picked (and won!) the one that I was physically in at the moment! So that's significant too. :) Anyway I did think you might win more than 1 prize though, but you insisted on sleeping before my birthday arrived in Singapore.. tskkk. Haha.. cheer up hor.
Tey, for most accurate timing (Winnipeg) - though I know you really wanted to wish me at Calgary timing and just totally screwed that up by being 1 hour earlier right, HAHA. Still, thank you for your sms! I think it was very nicely written and kinda heartwarming, heh. Not to forget the 2nd sms to reveal that the 1st was wrong, which was downright hilarious.. haha. Remember that we have a business plan to complete when I return k! :)
And of course, thank you all who bothered to contend for the above titles! For just bothering, caring, loving, sending your well-wishes and spreading the warmth from Singapore to wherever I am, I am truly touched and blessed.
I guess I will never thank everyone enough; I received 20 birthday emails and 50 facebook messages when I returned! Heh.. but really, it was a unique birthday for a whole myriad of reasons - and even though I didn't receive any surprise tutti-frutti bouquet (which I'd really love and am envious of someone for that), I still have a whole lot of cards, little gifts and parcels! Haha.. :D
Yayyyyy!
I really didn't think I'd get here anytime soon.. but here I am finally, at the last entry for Alberta! Haha.
Hmm.. I guess this trip'd brought me to a whole new level and approach to reaching out and making friends - and international ones at that - genuinely learning more about/from them. And really, with just the few of us looking out for one another, it was essential that people escalate efforts in keeping things cheery and in harmony for everyone else. I wouldn't deny it wasn't tiring, but I guess even little things like these do play a part in a learning experience. From the cranky word games played while driving to the personable issues discussed over meals, we'd learnt alot indeed from one another's past experiences. I believe it really is through talking to people and sharing viewpoints that one develops newer broader perspectives; even more so if they aren't from the same place and origin as you are.
For me, it was discovering what I wanted and could do for others in extending a listening ear and offering advice, which was particularly significant since I hadn't known them for long. Yet sometimes, too, things became a real test to my patience when goals, beliefs and itineraries clashed. In Prof Kong and Meimei's words, I almost always don't have trouble being around with people, given my approachable personality and erm, sincere ways - but I do believe it takes more than a cheerful and chatty disposition to go beyond the small talk and forge relationships. So yes, my first-ever experience of travelling with international friends has also served as a practical platform for me to develop CQ, to learn how to be more culturally-sensitive and appreciate others for who they are, just by where they come from.
At the risk of sounding super serious I'll stop at that for now, bleah.. it just happens whenever I settle down and think about issues and ideas. On a lighter note, though, I'd learnt quite some Spanish and the Mexicans say I have a flair for the language! Haha.. me gusta mucho! :)
xx
Ehh I know I've written alot in the past few entries, so I'm sorry if anyone finds that quite an overdose, haha. I guess I also wanted to pen details down for keepsake purposes, yep. Speaking of which, Yitian very brilliantly suggested that I should probably print out all my entries at the end of exchange and compile them into a book! Wah.. actually I think that'd be quite cool leh. Hahaha.. :) Anyway here're the final few pictures of our journey back to Winnipeg, the last of them all!
Air Canada Jazz, the company's regional airline which specializes in routes to/from Canada and US destinations. The 2 flight wasn't that comfortable really - undersized overhead cabins, bad turbulences, rocky landings, and the worst of all - Js's seatbelt actually broke halfway through the 1st flight! Omg.. so yea, just felt they weren't professional (dangerous in fact!) although it was funny for us la, heh. I think the only good thing I can remember was that the flight attendant gave us extra packets of corn chips cos we kept hinting that they were so good..
We took a limo from Winnipeg Airport back to residence - we didn't deliberately call for one; the driver wanted a last customer for the night and offered a pretty good deal (CAD 40 for 2 locations). Also, cabs in Winnipeg ain't readily available plus it was already 2am when we touched down, so yep..
And of course, this is my 2nd time in a limo, the previous one being that from Wildwood to Newark Airport 2 years ago. I'd say both limos were really the same inside-out, just that back then we were all like that..
Squeezed like sardines! Like really, I could jolly well boast that I've taken a limo - only that our baggages took up more space than us?! (Cos that's 6 people's 12 suitcases altogether!) But seriously, for a huge and spacious limo, we were damn unglam and more cramped than anything la! Hahaha.
Eh I decided to include this cos my brother'd thought my pic was that of a short and fat penguin (if you don't look closely it does seem like the side-profile of one - the snowball being its belly and the brown thing behind my head its beak)! Haha.. tskkk. But quite cute hor.. I like that huge snowball. :)
Edmonton's really the capital of the Alberta province, though most non-Canadians may easily mistake that for Calgary. A cultural, governmental and educational centre, Edmonton plays host to a year-round slate of world-class festivals, earning it the title of "The Festival City". Apart from that, it is also home to the largest mall in the whole of North America, the West Edmonton Mall - one of our reasons too to come explore and see it for ourselves, heh.
xx
Alberta Legislature Building and Muttart Conservatory
The structural concept of the Alberta Legislature Building was based on Paris's Beaux Arts style, making use of Greek, Roman and Egyptian elements to convey permanence, power and tradition. It did look majestic and melancholic indeed, perhaps save for the pulling off our best balancing moves, hehe.
The Muttart Conservatory, essentially a botanical garden which consists of 4 glass pyramid structures showcasing plants from all arid, tropical and temperate climates. Sadly though it was closed for renovation when we popped by.
Old Strathcona
Old Strathcona is reputed as a cool district to hang out, where numerous shops, restaurants, nightlife spots and buskers can be found. So yep, as tourists we had to check it out, and not forgetting that we too are hip-and-haps youngsters of course! Haha.
Whyte Avenue on Old Strathcona. The shops here are indeed unique though a little atas, so prices are extravagant. Fashion boutiques play on all sorts of interesting designs and concepts; some even pertain to "sustainable fashion" - fashion that lasts in the sense that it's made from some kind of biodegradable material or something, haha. Wacky gifts shops are also abundant here, but of all of them there's Le Papier (bottom-left pic above), my personal favourite!
Le Papier's really big and sells all sorts of nice papers, cards and gifts. We spent almost a whole hour just fiddling with all the things they have here!
13 Oct - Canada's Thanksgiving Day
Anyway, it was also Canada's Thanksgiving Day, so the 4 of us decided to do a little gift-exchange thingy where we'll draw lots and get something for the "secret person", who'll only be revealed that night before we leave for Winnipeg. Then we all started hinting and disclaiming what we'd NOT like from the other person, It was quite exciting though it wasn't really that hard to guess who's who, especially when people started consulting one another in private about what the other party likes! Haha.
I was supposed to get something for Thalia, and for this I actually observed her discreetly (see, head TA skills at work again!) to see what she fancied. Eventually I got a meaningful ornament that she really liked, yep. Anw Js bought mine, which we both thought was a boring combination. Haha.. but it were a pair of puny gun-shaped reusable heat packs (so you place them in your pockets in winter and scare people by drawing the guns out??), which were cute la. Heh.
Foodies
Okay on to food next! Haha.. we dined at a couple of the Lonely Planet recommendations here, which were really located all over Old Strathcona..
Left: an interesting ice-hockey "foosball" game at some pub-like place
Right: Da-De-O, a casual hip diner with a 50's decor like Billy Bomber's, serving up cajun-spiced food
Da-De-O has this unique starter - a combination of choux biscuits with jalapeno jam. So it's weird that the jam was of a green tint, with a hint of spice to it! Haha.. tasted weird but interesting nevertheless.
And I know I look greedy and unglam in the 2nd candid shot, but that's a really very very good eggplant-parmesan sandwich! Affectionately known as "Po-Boys", these sandwiches are served with cajun sweet-potato fries, a must-try at Da-De-O!
Poutine, a fast-food staple in Canada. Also termed as a quintessential comfort food, this is a dish consisting of french fries topped with fresh cheese curds and covered in brown gravy. I've long heard of and seen this word pop up in many casual restaurants, and finally got to try it! Note: people trying poutine for their first time are called "poutine virgins", haha. And the right pic shows a nice little pot of tea I had in Hi-Level Diner's, a value-for-money breakfast place.
West Edmonton Mall (WEM)
As mentioned, WEM's the largest shopping mall in North America, and 4th largest in the world (used to be the world's largest for a 23-year period from 1981 to 2004). With an approximate area of 570,000 sq metres, it has 800 stores and receives 28.2 million visitors per year; an estimated average of 60,000 to 150,000 shoppers patron the mall daily!
WEM's a hit with the whole family, with amenities pertaining to people of all ages:
Galaxyland, the indoor amusement park
An indoor water park
An indoor full-size ice-skating rink
I keep repeating "indoor" cos well, the mall really spans over such a huge area that such facilities could be located indoors! Haha.. the Mall of America that I visited in Minneapolis also had a Nickelodeon park, but that was not exactly inside the mall premises. In fact, many of the other exchange students went to Minneapolis over the same weekend (that we're in Alberta), and have been swooning over how big the Mall of America is. But now they're jealous with all our pics of the Rockies and WEM! Haha.
The mall also sanctions off special areas to infuse a multicultural, cosmopolitan flavour:
Little Europa, with some atas shops and modelled make-believe "sidewalk" cafes
Chinatown - they have a supermarket here with all sorts of Oriental food and snacks, and Chinese-looking cakes for once! Anyway the lady kinda snapped at me in Mandarin that photo-taking wasn't allowed, and I quickly pacified her by buying Portugese egg-tarts from her (conversing in Mandarin too). But the point here is the egg-tarts la, not the language k. Haha.
"A Piece of Cake" - an exquisite bakery owned by a Chinese lady; she makes really cool extravagant Western wedding cakes, as well as the red cute prosperous-looking (maybe gaudy) Chinese ones!
I spent alot of time in the Yamaha Music School browsing through scores. One of the promoters was also playing the piano, and his varying techniques and expression were just captivating. Now I miss playing my piano too.. roar.
The mall directory did look very complicated and different colours represent various themed sections. The 2 gentlemen here are a Mexican actor and football player respectively - I didn't know who they were but Thalia and Adriana were swooning over them, so I decided to take a picture as well! Haha.
xx
So much for the mall! Yet despite all the above, though, its exterior really looked kinda plain and dull, nothing splendid nor wow from the outside at all. Yep.. actually I felt it looked like Times Square or 1-Utama in KL or even an enlarged version of Parkway Parade.. heh. And so out of curiosity to that, I googled "world's largest malls" - see them here - and as many as 14 out of the 24 listed in the tops are in Asia (China, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines)! And I've visited some of them before without even knowing that, haha.
So really, I guess for urban dwellers like us who're used to high-rise luxuriant shopping centres, the 2-storeyed (but vast and wide) WEM really didn't appeal as much to Js and I, as it did to Thalia and Adriana. I think Taka or most other places along Orchard Road can beat it hands-down in terms of decor and design.. :)
P/S: Oh yes yes, let me just say that I didn't buy anything here at all, save for the egg-tarts and coffee! Amazing leh, haha.