Christmas over here has been alot of fun. Of course I have missed everyone heaps, but Freya and I decided to distract ourselves with extreme Christmas crafts. I basically moved into the International House as soon as everyone else left, and we made a Christmas tree out of wrapping paper before settling down to painting, baking, film watching, festive musicking, sledging, cheese and bagel eating, Mike-the-eccentric-landlord avoiding and subsequent assertive-yet-cheeky sign making, and excessive talking and snort laughing. We took Freya's tradition of new matching pjamas for Christmas Eve, walked to a lovely eve carol service at minus 19 degrees celsius where our nostrils froze (not in our pjamas), and provided the cheese course at a Christmas dinner organised by some Aussie friends of Freya. We spent today at the Biodome (Montreal's nature ecosystem museum zoo) and are going snowshoeing at Mont Tremblant tomorrow. I'll let you know what it is when I understand it!Since I last indulged in blog-writing, I have been to the big fat US of A! The first time was to explore the lights of New York, which just so happened to be hosting the 2011 Quidditch World Cup. (Ok, so my priorities were the other way around.) After an overnight coach trip, I spent 12 hours walking around the city with three lovlies who had also tagged along for the cheap trip and fun of it. We did Central Park, Ground Zero, China Town, Broadway, Time Square, Occupy Wall Street and probably misidentified various uber famous buildings inbetween eating pancakes, hotdogs, pretzels, pizza and cwaffee NY style. The next day we watched McGill play more fantastic games, retaining their position of 7th in the world. The final, played on the pitch where Usain Bolt broke the 100m sprint record in 2008, was won by Middlebury (as always) againt Florida (who McGill went out to), and saw a red card and two players stretchered off - oh the violence! As you can tell, I will never make a sports reporter, but it was a very exciting weekend all round. And yes I got the T-shirt.
The second time was for American Thanksgiving in Boston with a friend's family. The Thanksgiving dinner was incredible, we (I) pretty much ate my weight in pecan pie and a delicious sweet potato and cream concoction, yum. It was a day of familyness on a farm and frolicking in the orchard, followed by braving Macy's on Black Friday. Humungous sales start at midnight the day after Thanksgiving, causing a frenzy of frantic people to storm shopping malls across the country, all elbows and handbags to claw others out of the way of the best bargains. (One year a pregnant woman was trampled; who would step on a pregnant woman!?) Despite this, we neatly sidestepped the mania, grabbing some wafflemakers and winter boots before it got messy. We spent the next few days wandering around Boston city, with nice food, nice wine, and even nicer hilarious company. I was sad to leave, it was a great wee holiday, I hope I can show the same incredible open-armed hospitality when those legends come to visit me in England!
Our return to Montreal was a slap in the face, as the slight lull after midterms was well and truly over. I am very glad the semester is now done and dusted - 15 weeks without a break was a slog. Study days at Alanna's interrupted with microwave mug cakes and episodes of True Blood helped. My last exam was the day of 'frozen rain' - cold, wet, and ridiculously slippy - and I celebrated with eggnog, a karaoke machine and friends. Moving apartments the next day required alot of salt to de-ice the front steps and alot of suitcases. It is incredible how much I have acquired since arriving here...I've moved! I have loved where I have lived this semester, but my priorities have now changed. I had been thinking about moving closer to campus but couldn't face looking, when a small apartment complete with a super comfortable armchair, desk, cookie jar and blender metaphorically fell into my lap. Not literally, that would have been awkward. I will miss the french speaking at home, being brought Irish coffees when revising, my flatmates, and the market, among many aspects of that apartment. My new place is much nearer campus which will be great for my increased contact time next semester, and also walking distance from friends' places so I will not be so isolated in the depths of winter.
In other news, as a very cool birthday present, I have had the crazy experience of a real live Canadian hockey match! I think I understood the crossing-the-line rule by the end. It was a very dramatic game, Montreal won hands down and there was a slight scuffle so I was happy. Thank you!
General news! It only snowed sufficiently enough to maintain a carpet a week ago - super unusual. I am in love with my coat (basically a sleeping bag) and my boots (not unlike how I imagine sheep hugging my feet to feel) and my hat. The nostril-freezing experience on Christmas Eve is yet to be repeated, but I think I am suitably prepared. I have learned to not change the song on my ipod or answer my phone when outside because frostbite may occur. My collar bone has been pronounced to be healing, relief! My osteoblasts finally came up trumps with the help of my wonderful physio, and I do not need surgery. There are more Canadian-English translations required than I thought. My favourite one being when I said I needed a wee, and Alanna said 'Errr...I have a game cube'.
I wish you all a fabulous end to 2011, health, happiness and peace for 2012, and recommend a frisbee as a sledge for any snowbased activities. Much love to all, from a much more chilled (in both senses of the word) lass than a month ago!Thinking of y'all, bisous a tous.
