Weekend Update - Canadian Vertigo Strikes!

You may have noticed that I haven't posted for a few days. As a result, this post will be a fingersnap-quick recap of my days since the Great Snow Day of 2011.

Thursday

Snow day! Game day! Amazing day! In the cafeteria, we played Bananagrams, Clue, Scrabble, and Phase10. Later, Becca and I wandered over to Maile's apartment, where we played Settlers of Catan and gossiped for hours. Quite possibly the best snow day ever.

Friday

This day was dedicated to homework. How boring. However, I did make it over to the Pit again, where Maile bought me my first shot. It had a naughty name and made me cough like a pack-a-day smoker, but it was a threshold to be crossed.

Saturday

This was a day of more homework. If I remember correctly, I spent eight hours reading and writing, and celebrated my hard work by playing Truth or Dare with a bunch of Canadians. Later on, we went sledding!

Sledding was fabulously fun until the trauma of the night: one thwack on the head, and vertigo struck.

Vertigo is so debilitating that I remember very little of what happened after I hit my head. I remember being hauled into the building by a pair of strapping Canadian gentlemen, and I was moved from bed to bed for the rest of the evening so I could be part of the group activities. Beyond that, I remember no details. Except one.

Everyone was so unbelievably kind. People carried me around, brought me water, asked after my well-being, and generally babied me for the rest of the night. I've known most of these people for only a few weeks, and yet they treat me like a life-long friend. I would've done the same for them without a moment's hesitation, but it was still one of those nights that restores your faith in humanity.

For reference, I made a full recovery!

Sunday

Homework. Boring. However, I did get to have a Girl Night with Becca for the first time in a while, filled with trashy television and girly gossip!

Vertigo aside, a fantastic weekend. And I promise I won't neglect my posting again! Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

"Snoowwww Day"

I woke up to that text this morning, from my Newfoundland friend Devon. I was planning to sleep in, and I wasn't exactly pleased that he had woken me up... until I read his message and looked outside. Then he was a hero.

This is the view outside my window. Notice that you can't actually see anything on account of the ice caked on my window.

The best part is that there's probably not even six inches of snow on the ground. I know I'm cocky about the fact that Minnesota schools don't cancel if there's six feet of snow on the ground, but I could get used to this!

I'll report back on my first Canadian snow day tomorrow! Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

My first solo outing.

Let's think back to my first trip on the Cape Breton Transit System bus.

It was about 7:00 at night, I had been on campus for less than two hours, and I was absolutely terrified. I had myself so worked up that I was actually pacing at the bus stop until Kevin and Jamie showed up and made me feel less alone. My shopping trip was an ordeal. I could barely suppress my panic as I wandered the aisles, and came apart at the seams as soon as I was back in the safety of my room. I got what I needed on the trip, but it was far from a success.

Now, fast forward exactly 22 days. I went to the mall today. My beloved purple cell phone broke in my hands a few days ago, and is being held together by hockey tape (how Canadian!). I decided to buy a prepaid so I could text my Canadian friends and not worry about ripping my precariously bandaged phone.

I did my research, picked my company, and figured out where to buy my new phone. I needed to get to Future Shop in the mall, which requires a trip on the bus. I planned my day carefully: I would catch the bus right after class, zip through the mall, get my phone, and be ready to go in time for the next bus back to campus. I was a little nervous...

BUT I DID IT.

I did it. I went by myself to the Mayflower Mall (okay, Kyle was on my bus), chatted up some Future Shop employees, secured my phone with miraculous swiftness, and even had time to nab a super-late Christmas present for Becca (yoga mats were on sale!) before I hopped back on the bus.

The woman sitting next to me on the bus spent the ten-minute ride telling me all about her cats, but I was busy thinking. In three short weeks, I had gone from being a panicky, clueless foreigner to a capable, confident resident of the Great White North. I put my WalMart-fearing days behind me and conquered the mall like a true denizen.

I did it. I achieved my first solo outing. And that, my friends, is a big deal.

Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

How to speak Canadian: vol. 2

When I wrote my first volume of "How to speak Canadian," I figured it would be a while before I compiled enough terminology for a second installment. I was wrong.

We Americans are ignorant. We're so hung up on our own weird vernaculars of "y'all" and "duck, duck, gray duck" that we don't realize how unique the language is with our neighbors to the north. There's a different set of linguistic rules out here in the Maritimes that we know nothing about. And that's unacceptable. So buckle down, kids. It's time to learn.

First of all, we have a cultural food item. It's called poutine. To make it, start with a layer of french fries, then add melted cheese and gravy. It's very popular and totally grosses me out. Open-minded travelers should try new things, but I can't make myself eat this. Sorry, Canada.

Next on the list is a simple slang term. As you know, macaroni and cheese is a staple of collegiate diets everywhere, and Cape Breton is no exception. However, the denizens of the island do not say the familiar "mac-n-cheese" of the states. They say KD. Obviously, this is an acronym for Kraft Dinner, but some Americans are dweebs who need this spelled out for them. Not me, though... ahem.

Last but not least, I've picked up bits and pieces of vocabulary in class. First of all, there are no grades here. There are marks, and they are given in percentage form. This blew my sad little ABCDF mind. It also amused my tech writing classmates, who are apparently the most common witnesses to my vernacular blunders.

Another thing I've noticed is how people reference other class periods. Instead of saying "last class," or "next time we meet," my professors all say "last day," or "next day." When assigning homework, they will say, "Please read chapter four for next day," or when referring to a previous class, they will say, "Remember the exercise we did last day?" This seems minor, but it's very noticeable and a bit startling until you get used to it.

For my Canadian readers: if you feel like I'm leaving anything out, please post suggestions in the comments!

Everyone else, I hope you feel properly educated. Keep reading, and see you next day!

Love,

Maggie

Field research: campus bar

(yes, this is a day late - my apologies)

Research objective - observe and participate in pre-bar and bar activities with seasoned college students and bar-goers.

Wingwoman - Becca. We created a few social objectives before the night began: we wouldn't get drunk, we wouldn't buy our own drinks, and we would leave immediately if we felt uncomfortable or if anyone started vomiting.

Official escort - Kyle. He was nice enough to walk with us over to the Pit and make sure we knew what was going on before he went off in pursuit of whatever boys like Kyle pursue at bars.

Other participants, listed imcompletely, and in no particular order - Zeb, Tim, Eric, Andrew, Lacey, Alora, Rob (2), Candace, Devon, A.J.

Location - Cape Breton University

a. Harriss Hall dorm room - where we met our companions for the evening and participated in an activity called pre-gaming, which is the consumption of alcohol in preparation for consuming more alcohol at the bar. For the record, Becca and I are terrible pre-gamers in the eyes of more experienced drinkers. Apparently splitting one shot (provided by the [in]famous Tim) between the two of us didn't count.

b. The Pit - the on-campus bar where the night's festivities were focused. The theme was Sunglasses at Night, with a $2 cover charge that was lifted by the time we arrived.

Outcome - In a word: awesome. In one night, Becca and I participated in every Bar Cliché known to humankind:

1. I rescued Becca from an overly enthusiastic and overly intoxicated guy who really, really wanted to thumb-wrestle with her. This happened several times.

2. Someone bought us drinks (A.J., thanks again!).

3. I teamed up with a nice guy from Newfoundland to play two-on-two pool against Becca and Kyle. We also got good at the whole hold-my-beer-while-I-take-this-shot move.

4. I danced with good-looking gentlemen.

5. We had a fantastic time.

Wanna know the best part? I wasn't even drunk. Not even close. And I still enjoyed myself! I might've been buzzed, but that was probably just the natural euphoria that comes with trying new things and succeeding. I know next to nothing about the drinking culture on other campuses, but at CBU, intoxication is optional.

Conclusion - I don't need to be drunk to have fun.

Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

Field research: preview

I'm making a big leap tonight, guys. For the very first time in my life, I am going to a bar.

Okay, maybe it's the campus bar, called The Pit. And maybe it's a school-sponsored event that involves neon sunglasses. But still. It's a bar.

I have no idea what to expect. I've never ordered a pitcher of beer or a $3 shot. My dancing experience is limited to Augie's Back Alley, high school prom, and the passenger seat of my friend Emily's CRV. I don't know what to wear, how to style my hair, whether I should bring a purse, a camera, a jacket. My trusty friend and fellow field researcher Becca asked a friend back home for input, and he recommended cowboy boots and a hat. He, however, is in Montana, so we're not heeding his advice.

Instead, we're wearing the new flats we got at Walmart today and the fanciest shirts we can find in our modest wardrobes and following a group of sages (?) for a night of fun and frivolity.

You may remember from earlier posts that I have never been intoxicated. Fear not, dear readers, for I have no intention of experiencing that tonight. This is purely research.

And maybe an excuse to wear neon sunglasses.

I'm crossing a threshold tonight, folks. Come back tomorrow for a report. And wish me luck.

Love,

Maggie

Life's little tragedies.

Goodbye, my love...

For those of you in the USA who are unfamiliar with Pandora, click here or here.

On a more positive note, my eye has returned to normal!

Rain, rain, go away... you too, swollen eyelid.

The inevitable has happened. I wound up at the nurse's office.

Don't worry, it was nothing tragic. No vomiting, no stomach pain, no alien offspring bursting violently through my sternum. Just a little eye pain that mutated into severe swelling this morning. The on-campus nurse says it's nothing to worry about, but I'm not allowed to wear contacts until it goes away. Time to break out the ol' CostCo glasses and prepare for a few days' worth of sexy librarian/secretary/school girl jokes.

I look really attractive, too - that is, if you're into twenty-year-old English majors who appear to have shoved Skittles under their eyelids.

In other news, the weather on the island is nasty once more. After even more snow on Monday, we enjoyed a rare day of meteorological calm on Tuesday. This morning brought freezing rain and a promise for more foul weather - see the article here. As I write this, I'm watching out my window as people sprint across campus to avoid the onslaught. Extreme precipitation turns even the toughest of islanders into Usain Bolt.

Not much else to report. I have French homework for the first time since arriving here and received a package in the mail from my mommy yesterday. None of my Canadian friends have moms who send them stuffed lemurs in the mail, so I'm feelin' pretty cool. My raincoat came, too. Good timing, Mom!

Breakfast time! Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

How to speak Canadian: vol. 1

It's time for you, my darling readers, to learn a few Canadian words and sayings. I don't mean "eh" and "aboot," since these are stereotypical and self-explanatory. No, you're going to learn the real stuff: loonies, toonies, toques, and "bai." Some of these I learned the easy way. Some the hard way. Either way, it's your turn.

Canadians use one-dollar and two-dollar coins, rather than bills. The coin on the left is the one-dollar coin, which is called a loonie. On the right, you see the two-dollar coin, which is called a toonie. Calling them anything else makes your waitress laugh at you. Plus it deprives you of the pleasure of saying things like, "Can I get ten dollars in loonies?"

In my tech writing class today, our teacher was using an example that involved mittens, boots, and toques. "Toque?" I said in what I thought was a quiet voice. Wrong. The whole class heard, and enjoyed a hearty chuckle at my expense. Now pay attention, so you don't make the same mistake I did. See this item over here to the left? It's not called a hat, or a stocking cap. It's called a toque. The last two letters are silent, and the "o" is pronounced like in "loop." Say "two," and end it with a "ck" sound.

On one of my first days here, my friend Eric told me to listen for people saying "bye." I was confused, since I figured farewells in Canada were similar to those in the states. He explained further that some people, usually Newfoundlanders, say "by" or "bai" as an abbreviation of "buddy." It's like Americans speaking quickly and shortening "probably" to "pry." I thought he was pulling my leg, until someone asked me, "Will you pass me the salt, bai?"

I'll continue to add more vocabulary as it crops up. Hopefully I'll learn from helpful people like Eric instead of my ruthless tech writing classmates (they're nice folk, but they can't help picking on the only American and English major in the class). If anyone has requests, questions, or suggestions, let me know!

Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

Canadian Weekends - and a word from Egypt!

People study abroad in order to learn how life is lived in another country. How do the natives eat, what do their kids study in school, what do their college students do on the weekend. People write blogs about studying abroad in order to answer these questions for those who are curious. I am here to answer one of these questions.

Like most colleges, CBU has a drinking culture. However, this post needs a disclaimer, and here it is: I don't drink. Sure, I've had champagne at New Year's, I've sampled my parents' beverages, and I've had a beer with friends. Still, I have never been intoxicated and have no desire to experience the feeling. As a result, this post will discuss a typical collegiate Canadian weekend for the sober.

After a day buying mittens at the mall (for further details, read Friday's post), I watched Lost World with my friends Becca, Kyle, and Kevin. We had watched the first Jurassic Park a few days earlier, and were eager to continue the saga.

On Saturday, I did homework all day. This is only a minor exaggeration. After glancing at my syllabi, I can say that I will read at least one novel per week while I'm here. This can only be accomplished by diligence, which was the word of the day on Saturday. I took a yoga break with Becca in the afternoon, which was followed by more reading.

To finish out the day, we watched the third installment of Jurassic Park with Kyle. I also learned that there's a generic Oreo brand in Canada called Mr. Creamy. While the name is clever, it's a little startling when you hear it for the first time like this: "Becca, will you be a sweetheart and pass me my Mr. Creamies?" It took a while for the immature Americans to stop giggling at that one.

Today was spent reading! How novel! (ha.) My study breaks were a Skype session with my parents, a trip to the gym with Becca, and now a blog post. This is how we conclude: Canadian college kids aren't that different from American college kids. We shop, we do homework, we watch movies, we work out. The only thing missing from my weekend was a trip to Coffea or an evening spent knitting in front of a Nathan Fillion show.

Speaking of which, guess who's in Egypt? The Augustana (my home school) band is currently in Africa! So far, they've performed at Cairo University and the library at Alexandria. Here's a picture, filched from the blog, of the whole gang waiting outside the library.

It's good to see smiling faces! For my non-Augie readers, these are my classmates! They'll be in Egypt for about two more weeks, and have several more concerts to play.

Over to the right, you can see an up-close picture of two of my closest friends from back home. Check out those good-looking ladies! Bekah is a flute-playing English and history major participating in the Civitas program, while Amber plays clarinet and is studying English (and possibly classics), with hopes to go to graduate school for library science. Hope you're having fun, guys!

This post is longer than usual because I'm procrastinating on my homework. Two bad things that need to be stopped at once. And so I conclude.

One more thing: more snow today! Will it ever stop?

Love,

Maggie

Shopping in Canada

Today, I took the bus to the Mayflower Mall with a few friends from campus. This post will both recount my adventures and teach you about the Canadian equivalents of American stores.

Hudson's Bay Company, or "The Bay," is essentially J.C. Penney meets Macy's. The big department store of the Great White North, it boasts clothing and home goods in high quantities at high prices.

The shelves of red and white are all mittens. Canadian mittens, to be specific, with giant maple leaves embroidered onto them. I indulged and bought a pair, as did mah fellow Amurican, Becca. They are the warmest mittens I have ever worn: knitted and lined with fleece. These may be my fallback souvenir for friends!

Winners is the twin of TJ Maxx in every way. The set-up of the store, the slogans on the walls ("high designers. low prices. every day."), even the font on the price tags was the same!

This is Coles, which is like the Barnes and Noble/Borders of Canada. As ignorant Americans, Becca and I were confused as to why people were buying textbooks at Kohl's when we first heard about it.

This is a shot of the "local interest" books. One of them, Memoirs of a Cape Breton Doctor, looked very interesting. Pit Talk also had an appeal to it. It chronicles the lives of the miners from the island: think October Sky, Canadian style. I also found a few regional cookbooks that I will buy before I come home.

Last, but certainly not least, is Tim Hortons! Tim Hortons is the Starbucks/Caribou Coffee of Canada. I felt very authentic as I purchased my (delicious) hot chocolate... until I mixed up my Canadian money and metaphorically stamped AMERICAN on my forehead. At least my cashier got a giggle out of it.

Overall, it was quite a fantastic day of malling and Canada-ing. I leave you with this image of Becca and me with our new Canada mittens... keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow...

Anyone who can name the lyric in the title post gets my respect forever and name recognition on this oh-so-famous blog. Turns out I have a reader in Indonesia and another in Israel! How cool is that?

Today, my folklore professor started class with, "Who's ready for Snowmageddon?" Tonight's storm has been the talk of the town in ol' Nova Scotia for the past day or two. Weather warnings are flying all across the province, but the mainland was hit first. 15,000 people lost power in the Halifax and Bridgewater areas tonight- for more info, check out the CBC article here.

The island has been lucky so far! Here's a shot of Alumni Hall, taken just a few minutes ago. The view is partially obscured by the giant, fluffy snowflakes that are currently melting on my window.

It doesn't look like much, but our sidewalks have essentially disappeared and car owners will be scraping at least six inches of snow off their vehicles tomorrow morning.

Another view from my window. Here's Cabot Hall, which is essentially Alumni's twin. The only difference is the interior: Cabot has only apartments, while Alumni has apartments and traditional dorm rooms. These buildings are both fairly new.

In the distance in both photos, you can see the main campus building(s). Other than the residence halls, most of the other facilities on campus are interconnected by a complicated system that still confuses me from time to time. Better pictures on the way!

According to this article from the Cape Breton Post, the snow won't let up until sometime tomorrow. On that note, I'm going to curl up in my warm bed and watch the flurries out my window. Prayers for Arizona and Queensland, and everyone in the Midwest: drive safely!

Love,

Maggie

Canadian humor.

Things that make you feel good.

1. When a classmate at a new university shouts and waves at you across the cafeteria, encouraging you to "Come sit with me!" even though you've only known her for a few days, it makes you feel good.

2. When you watch Jurassic Park with friends and realize that one guy can quote it just as well as you can, it makes you feel good.

3. When you get a text message from a new friend saying that you can always turn to him when you're feeling anxious and need a shoulder to cry on, it makes you feel good.

4. When you spend your Friday night divulging romantic histories and discussing personal topics with girls that you just met and then agree that you absolutely trust each other, it makes you feel good.

5. When you can bum back rubs off of people you've known for less than a week, it makes you feel good.

Moral of the story: Canadians are good people.

A fun-filled Friday.

So here's a taunt for all my American friends: I have no class on Fridays. Absolutely none. This morning, I slept as late as I wished, ate breakfast when I was hungry, and left the campus when the mood struck me. A day of freedom.

I went on a voyage with Becca, Amanda, and Christine today for some room-brightening supplies and post-workout food. I now have an over-the-door hook for my coat, some fake flowers to cheer up my room, and plenty of Nutragrain bars. I also have stories to share about the Bulk Barn.

The image over to the right is not actually the Bulk Barn in Sydney, but the other photographs in this post come directly from today's adventure in this funny, fantastic little store.

The Bulk Barn is the dream of any baker or candy lover on the planet. Every wall is lined with bins of flours, oats, trail mixes, sweet treats, and every other bulk snack you can possibly imagine.

I found massive tubs of baking soda, whey protein, arrowroot flour, three different types of quinoa, and dozens of other interesting grains. There were huge vats of melting chocolate and other fun candies for decorating cookies and cakes. I've never missed my kitchen so much in my life!

This picture is probably my favorite, over here -->

The top row of bins have colored sugars, and every other bin holds a different variety of sprinkles!

You could mix your own colors for graduation parties or athletic team events, or choose the "pre-mixed" types for a festive look. There were different shapes, too: everything from your standard sphere or tuber to circles, stars, and hearts.

I brought back raisins, Honey-Nut Cheerios, and dried bananas to make my own post-workout trail mix. It's probably better that I don't have a kitchen, or else I would've bought everything and made enough bread to feed the entire university.

Also, if you're interested in CURRENT EVENTS, here's an article from the Globe and Mail, Canada's daily newspaper. The consumption of horse meat is a hot topic at the moment in the Great White North. Here's a G&M editorial about the issue. While this particular writer is in favor of eating equines, I don't align myself either way. No hate mail, folks.

That's all for today. Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

My first day of Canadian classes.

First day of class. Let's cut to the chase, shall we?

Introduction to Fantasy Literature, taught by Mary Keating

I can't say much about this class yet, since the first meeting was only 25 minutes. It's hard to get a gauge on good-or-bad in such a short amount of time and with so little interaction. Either way, the book list seems fun. Lord of the Rings, some Neil Gaiman, and, if there's time, Harry Potter!

Memorable quote: "In terms of bad weather.... hmm. Okay, how about this? Don't risk your life for a class."

Atlantic Canadian Folklore, taught by Ian Brodie

This professor had me laughing with two minutes of entering the room, and it didn't stop there. He has very quick wits and a ruthless sense of humor. I don't think anyone could maintain a surly disposition in this class. He is also a Prince fan, and is jealous of my easy Minnesota access to Paisley Park.

Memorable quote: "I loathe you. I take you outside behind the meat shed and spank you vigorously."

[note: he was addressing his computer, not a student]

And BONUS! In this class, I made friends with Rebecca, a girl from Oregon who also just arrived and will be spending a semester at CBU. Turns out, we have a lot in common! We're having supper tonight with Calgary Kevin, and going to WalMart with Amanda, who we met in a student lounge.

Children's Literature After 1860, taught by Richard Marchand

I also doubt a person could remain sad in this room. My professor is friendly and animated, does a wicked Peter Parley reenactment, and can recite dozens of nursery rhymes at the drop of a hat. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of class and look forward to the next one.

Memorable quote: "We slide into a children's book the same way we slide into comfortable slippers."

[note: this guy was so funny that he gets two memorable quotes]

"You know when Christ said the poor will always be with you? Yeah, well, he should've said the poor and Anne of Green Gables."

Technical Writing, taught by Anna Daniels

In this class, I am a Black Sheep. The vast majority of my classmates are male engineers, all of whom were quite eager to explain CBU Moodle to a newbie. My professor, Anna, is very personable and friendly, and I'm looking forward to working with her.

Memorable quote: "There's this illusion of consensus, but this is really a totalitarian dictatorship in which I commandeer your snacks."

First day: achieved. I'm still adjusting, but starting a routine will help. I know that.

Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

A long, unwieldy day.

Today, like most "first days," was a challenge. Sorting through administrative duties and navigating my way around a completely foreign campus with no sense of routine was a little nerve-wracking. Thankfully, I found people to support me and teach me about living here in Sydney.

And so, without further ado, it's time for another round of...

PEOPLE I MET

Kevin: Calgary native who I mentioned yesterday, who graciously showed me around campus all day.

Memorable quote: "You get to know all the other on-campus students pretty quick. There's only like 200 of us."

Anna: fourth-year English student who talked to me about the program at breakfast.

Memorable quote: "Who are your profs? ... Oh, they're wicked! You'll love them!"

Sister Catherine: very sweet nun in the chaplaincy who has offered to be my stand-in grandma for the next four months.

Memorable quote: "Don't you worry, my little dear. Soon, you'll look back on this and feel so silly for being so scared. Until then, you come by and visit whenever you want."

Leona: student worker in the chaplaincy who understands homesickness and gives very good hugs.

Memorable quote: "Don't feel bad about being homesick. I've been there."

Ally: volleyball player who sat with me at supper.

Memorable quote: "I don't know you well enough yet to make fun of your Minnesota accent."

Megan: another volleyball player who sat with me at supper.

Memorable quote: "Yeah, Canadians say 'eh' a lot. Just not as much we're stereotyped to say it. But we do say it."

Paula: my roommate/suite mate/potty mate/fellow House lover.

Memorable quote: "I could introduce you to some of my friends. Maybe this weekend?"

PEOPLE I ALREADY KNEW WHO HAD SAGE ADVICE

Abby: high school buddy who spent the past semester in France.

Memorable quote: "Starting a routine helps a lot. Once you feel comfortable on the campus and you know your way around, it makes a big difference."

Mom: self-explanatory.

Memorable quote: "Just the change is fun and exciting and might give you some GREAT writing material. Think of it as being undercover on assignment for a semester!!"

Dad: self-explanatory.

Memorable quote: "Look what I made for the dog! Dog treat, peanut butter, and her Benadryl!"

Looking back at these quotes, I feel better about my day. I made friends with some new people, Kevin showed me my classes, and the chaplaincy folk have provided a safe place for me if I need it. Even though it was a challenge, I conquered it! I'm alive and well and very much looking forward to classes starting tomorrow.

Also, your comments mean a lot. Thanks for reading, and get excited for tomorrow's report on classes!

Love,

Maggie

Here I am!

After about 26 hours of travel, I'm safe in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Currently, I'm sitting on my bed in my room in my dorm on my campus after two plane rides, a hotel, and a bus.

PEOPLE I MET

Joanne: seat neighbor on my NSP-NY flight.

Memorable quote: "I'm an interior designer for Lifetime Fitness."

Julie: flight attendant from Cleveland on my MSP-NY flight.

Memorable quote: "Not only are Jane and I your sky princesses, we are also your cleaning wenches."

Julianne: Wisconsin native studying psychology and health in Halifax. Also a gift from Zeus who helped me get a study permit and answered dozens of questions about living in the Great White North.

Memorable quote: "Just fyi... Canadian men are really hot."

Tracey: elementary school teacher from Bermuda who lives in Halifax and offered to drive Julianne and me around when I (eventually) come visit.

Memorable quote: "Here's my advice. Get a job you love, and you'll never work again a day in your life. I get my paycheck, and it's like a bonus every two weeks."

[name unknown]: Cape Breton native on my airport shuttle this morning.

Memorable quote: "Everyone will take you home for supper, but no one is trying to kidnap you. Everyone's just really, really friendly."

[name unknown]: Cape Breton native who drove my taxi to campus.

Memorable quote: "Everyone on this island will talk to you like they already know you. Which, in their mind, they do. Take me, for example."

I also made some buddies on campus when we were taking a bus over to Walmart. Kevin is a Calgary native who's meeting me for breakfast in my dorm, which boasts a cafeteria. Later, we're linking up with Jamie, a girl from Switzerland, and they're going to show me around campus. Wonderful people!

I'm doing pretty well in terms of anxiety. A little twinge here and there, but that's perfectly normal, right? It feels good to have my room settled, and I'm looking forward to classes starting on Wednesday. I'm spending a quiet evening with my blog and some books, recuperating from so much travel.

Happy Monday, everyone! Keep reading!

Love,

Maggie

An anecdote.

The day before the big day. I'll be on a plane in roughly fifteen hours.

How about an anecdote to soothe the inevitable nerves?

I've been emailing Doug, who is the housing coordinator at CBU. He assigned me to a room in Harriss Hall, which boasts very cool environmental technology and solo bedrooms. I assumed I would have my own bedroom (I was right) and share a bathroom with the other girls on my floor (I was wrong).

It turns out that the bedrooms come in adjoining sets: two people have their own bedroom, and share a bathroom. Now, this is very cool for someone who has been sharing a bathroom with thirty-odd people since the fall of 2008.

Doug recently sent me an email marked "urgent," which told me I was being switched to another room several doors down. He wanted to make sure I was aware of the change for when I checked in. When I asked why, he explained: he had accidentally assigned me to a room that shared a bathroom with... a guy.

Oops!

Never fear, dear readers. Everything's in order: I am registered for classes, flights, hotel stays, and bus trips, my belongings are 95% packed, my spiffy new backpack is full of entertaining and soothing travel tools, and my pseudo-roommate has two x chromosomes. All is, as I keep telling myself, well.

Next time you hear from me, I'll be in Canada!

Love you all, and keep reading!

Maggie

P.S. Happy New Year! Let's dance, 2011!