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....and I conclude,
the only thing making my visit here a pain is MAT309 - Logic....and, ya know...I can deal with that
So....Halloween is coming up...and I don't plan on rocking back and forth in my chair, and what better time it is to party than to party looking like a crazy zombie / 70s funk lord.
Current Mood:  giddy |
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...namely the fact that I am going to have to turn into a study freak to keep up with the academic side of things here in Toronto.
Yes, I've come here because its the best Canada has to offer...
...but I completely overlooked the fact that it's not the 'best' because its a nice big city with lots of money. It is the best, partly because of the students, their knowledge, how much they work, and how much work is bestowed upon them.
As a third year student, perhaps I should be used to this....but the summer of fun clearly hasn't taught me any industrious values, that which each lecturer so clearly demands here.
Maybe I am wrong, maybe I can miss out some of the mind-numbing readings? I've just had a mini-exam (aptly called, a quiz) in MAT309 - Logic (a third year course)...and I so undeniably sucked at it. It wasn't even because I was hungover or even ill prepared (I certainly remember doing the work just this morning and last night!). I think I just some way to feel encouraged, a pat on the back, a 'you did your best' gesture. With a mature take on things, I am going to expand my mind and try get to a more comfortable study level in the upcoming weeks, whatever it takes.
The fact is, I just want to have a good time here...and that includes having a good time in class
Everything else is alright here, there is THIS happening on Friday. Some girl I met last Friday, Anne-Laure (from Paris) is coming so it should be fun :)
This weekend, I might visit Lucy and Tom in Hamilton if they are not too busy, and plan on getting some help for Financial Accounting II as I am having difficulty coping with the differences in course syllabus from the accounting I did in Leeds.
I've got skype now too, with steven.winder as my username. I don't know many people using it, but will save me plenty money for calling home
Current Mood:  confused Current Music: Enya - May it Be |
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AHHHHHHHHHHH
this is where I'm supposed to turn academical and put myself in school mode.
but I didn't quite understand the whole method of applying for courses, so I've ended up with a load of 2nd year modules...and only 1 3rd year (300-series) class this semester.
Needless to say, I'm not so dissapointed with this outset, as I am after all in a different country with different teaching methods, it's probly best I dont jump too deep as there won't be any time to partaee......
Well with all my enthusiasm got up a bright and breezy 10am, had another overpriced breakfast before getting some paper ready to jump on the shuttle bus to Mississauga.
Now this is where I was impressed.
IN THE LECTURE THEATRE, EVERY CHAIR WAS A SWIVELLY OFFICE CHAIR
The people in Leeds are most definately missing out here, having to make do with wooden padded benches in the old skool RSLT>> but hey, I do miss Leeds still.. the people..
First lecture, Financial Accounting II ... taught by an Australian lecturer, so perhaps he knows about as much about Canadian accounting standards as I do...most likely im clueless and he knows loads though.
We gots an exam 2moro already! it's on writing comprehension and understanding...the reason I do maths and art, no writing involved!! eep.
Hung out with Farrah, legendary girl . . ahhhh worth getting to know better
saw Nicole for a bit too then went back to St. Georges only to find out missed dinner time, so made do with 'shite-in-a-bowl' microwave noodles...certainly a few steps down from the twice daily restaurant dining I almost got used to!
rice and peas
X
Current Mood:  full Current Music: Ed Rush & Optical stuff.. |
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With the prospect of sleeping over at Ben's pad...had to get up a criminal 8am to make it downtown before everyone else...so I could get dressed and cleaned ready for the day ahead.
Not wanting to be seen as a lazyarse, I made the journey and hooked up with a random group in town to do some fundraising for CF (Cystic Fibrosis)...definately a good moral thing to do so early on during my visit here. The event was called SHINERAMA .. something I've never heard of before..but then again I am from England and not Canada!>>>
Shinerama students have raised more than $16.5 million to support the fight against cystic fibrosis since the campaign began.
So its sure a well known thing. We picked up a healthy amount of dollars, and didn't have to shine everyones shoes :)
After pizza, hooked up with Nicole and walked around with her group around the societies/clubs fair. Going at breakneck speed, I didn't quite see exactly what I'm interested in joining this year but will make good efforts in finding out at a later time.
ERINDALE (Mississauga) COLLEGE is the biggest, so get to lead the parade.. seems like I'm with the good guys then.
This is what all the cheering / chanting practice was for during the week.....letting the entire city know who we are.
I'm sure I saw national television camera's tracking our progress through the city...as we marched along the fortunately-closed roads for a good 2hours. Got some sick footage of us all here on video :)
Safe to say, I lost my voice. Not even 6 years as a cadet could help in this field, we were going full volume all the way!!!
Ben (guys house I stayed last night) and me at the concert.
Me and new friend Farrah. Ahhhhh
After the parade/march there was a free concert by Metric and the Weakerthans...2 bands I've never heard of...it's indie/new rock ...not exactly my thing..but was nice to chill and talk with more of the people :) Jumped on coaches to medieval times
KING & QUEEN OF CANADA AIGHT.
We had a sickk view of the big stage (well everyone did really), and impulsively bought this glow sword for $20 lol.
Our for-one-evening-only hero...the YELLOW KNIGHT! YELLOW KNIGHT!
The best part of the show...was that the YELLOW KNIGHT won... yeah he saved the girl and everything. Top quality haha, I'm 20 but this was still bare good ... again I would easily pay half the frosh fees to just come here and mess around. After the show, we all stayed to dance away to some more (rgrrr) hiphop/dancehall.. .. still good to spend time with these people though, the girls are interested and they all have a sense of mystery with the slight culture differences etc..
As with every day, we've been signing each other's shirts (lol like leaving year 11) ... but this was definately the best one..done on both sides... GOOD effort!
Nicole's group leader, Sina.
ahhhhhh
Me and Shalley. Note my clean shaven face to imitate the fresher's appearance haha. That won't last long.
Me and the leaders (roughly same age as all these guys)
Stuck around right til the end, and got a lift home from Amrita (my group leader)
Another good day, sad to hear frosh week is over..but was well worth the time investment making my face well known and of course meeting some more of the lovely torontonians...Current Mood:  dirty Current Music: Le Funken - Stand Up |
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SEE!
Today is the day we got into our pre-designated groups (on the wristbands we given)...to make it a load easier on the leaders only to have 20 each. It's all about group 39!
All very cadets style we did all these initiative exercizes to get to know each other better and generally did the cheering thing good. It's hard to explain what I mean about all the cheering, but I've brought my video camera with me so got loads of this shizzle on mini dv tape.
Frosh girl 'Charisma'.... ahhhh nice name
Friends with....frosh girl Alexis. both in our group for the morning
After lunch was choice of going to salsa / sex worksop (showing all the toys haha) or hip hop ... in the foyer, again all very American . . good to watch though
This was my group, #39...no idea where the other boys were! there were a few more, honest!!!
This was pretty good, after a bit of chill out time...they got ALL the groups together (easily over 800 students) on one of the fields to do a load of cheers. you could practically see the school spirit here, it's something I haven't been accustomed to in the UK...as it's all drink party drink based haha.
Did a load of sports in the late afternoon (Volleyball/Basketball/Dodgeball to name a few...), and watched this hypnosis show after dinner in the CCIT building. Not bad!
This show, well...I couldn't take any good pictures due to lack of lighting..but I did get it on video.
The hypnotist, Casey Jones is apparently well known over here, it didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was really funny.
30 or so people were picked from the audience, and I'd say a good 2/3 were under his command.. as a slight skeptic I didn't think everyone would succumb to such a thing. I was right, but nevertheless the ones that were ..so-called-...hypnotised genuinely did react to everything he said from being hit in the head with a pseudo-frisbee, to entering a wild water rapids chase (rowing on the floor), to getting drunk and sleeping with a monster to find out in the morning and getting angry.
He hypnotised people with different things towards the end of the show, making some people unable to speak properly, thinking they got a different name, and even thinking casey jones himself was a dangerous terrorist ...
...all in all I had a quality time, a show easily worth half the cost of frosh week itself.
afterwards, we all went to the BLIND DUCK pub (their student union bar basically) for this hip hop night... (something else I will have to get used to for the time being.....)
Canadian Nicole & Me
Here is the college mascot..the duck QUACK QUACK. I'm not sure why, but don't need to question it.
First real night out I suppose :) Was good because I'd spent all day with some of the people here, so was less of an icebreaker in the evening hooking up with people
Orange Steve and Paulina. C'est Magnifique!
With loads of energy to burn, went to Ben's house (a guy I met on Tuesday) with his friends Justin (x2), Jordan, Elena and Jess.
Not bad accomodation for freshers, on a clean street so close to campus. Thought fuck it so slept the night (oh 2 chairs pushed together...not quite the Queen size i'd gotten used to at the Cambridge Suites)
Again , quality day..I'm sure there's more great things to come
XX
Sep. 7th, 2006 @ 09:04 pm
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| » Academic Orientation & omg.. Carnival |
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After a not-worth-mentioning academic orientation there was a big carnival set up purely to mark the start of the year. We didn't get any of that in England.....I want an explanation!
It's like some strange birthday party where all thats missing is the birthday boy/girl. Found out they got snow cones and cotton candy too...oh how american!
Mascot for intra-mural softball team at Mississauga
And yes...we even had a climbing wall rig set up, this isn't part of the $100 I paid for the frosh week, but free for all new/returning students to Toronto here. Girl in blue is called Xana (ex-anna) one of the first nice people I met here...also of Filipino background, so we gots something in common there already.
Ohhhhhhhh yeah...Hannibal returns
Ready for the duel battle...gladiators style
Continuing on, there was a live hip hop act, and some stunning belly dancer performance (blue dress)..
with a breaks set from some of the better people here... (reminiscing over the Elbow Rooms breakdance nights ahhhhhh!)
Later on, met some of the frosh girls. From left ... Nicole, Bridget, Paulina. ahhhhhhhhhh
More of the frosh peoples...notice the prescribed clothing, there were blue tops everywhere!
With the leaders wearing yellow..
They smile the same, but they sure do speak funny! I could grow to like it, I suppose I have no choice really. It's a very friendly accent though, I really can't doubt that...especially with the reception I am having here.
Chilled out in their pub for a bit, and even sung Bohemian Rhapsody on stage with some of the frosh people.
A very good start to my week, hope it continues similarly.
Sep. 6th, 2006 @ 01:38 am
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| » out the hotel! in to halls! |
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BUSY BUSY BUSY DAY indeed..
Had to mission it all the way to St. Geroge campus (the downtown Toronto one)... to pick up my room keys and register my student card (took 25mins instead of 4hours like at Leeds!!!, i was impressed...!) and attend ameeting before going back to the hotel to pack up (lol so much stuff...below), and check out all before 1pm.
Well...I made it, and how happy I was, til the taxi guy screwed me over by not having hardly and change
I gave him a $50...he gave me $17 back, absolutely pathetic..it was a $14 taxi ride. That man will have bad luck all year and his car will get jacked..I've said it..so it will happen
This would have been impossible if I'd have flown here on my own! Looks like the global post office / fed-ex / whatever people will love me on the return flight.
No sooner had I arrived and dropped my bags in my room, this guy called Travis (blue cap, ginger hair in photo) told me about this 'FROSH' week event happening today...which was basically a tour around Toronto while everyone was chanting all these school spirit things...I really didn't expect this lol.
But hey, I joined in...it's always good to shout especially when the louder you are the better. I felt like a bit of a dick being one of the few people not wearing one of the bright red T shirts...but was smug in the fact I'm attending my own FROSH (Freshers Orientation) week at Mississauga (Erindale College), something I only found out about 3am this morning...checking my emails my friend Felix from Leeds (did art with him 2nd year), is doing this University College one
I left early to mission it to Mississauga, a good 30km from St. George campus!
Picked up my gear and spent a good few hours learning the cheers, ahhhh haha this is as funny as it is lame, I'm sure this will be fun if I put my mind to it. . . the prospect of being surrounded by first years should be interesting. The people in charge, otherwise known as the 'leaders' are 2nd years and above..so will have a few peers.
Made it back to my room...oh HOW BARE IT LOOKS! mass posterage happening soon!
Not met many people here yet, it just needs time.
XXX
Sep. 5th, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
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| » Family left me today |
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Did some shopping for first time in Toronto, took mind off things quite well!
not much to say apart from that....don't wanna dwell on sad thoughts, as I think I'll be seeing them all at xmas if I fly over to Florida
Sep. 4th, 2006 @ 12:36 am
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| » Last meal with family |
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In the flagship KEG restaurant in Toronto, dope food..will check it out again soon. 10/10!
It's last time gonna eat with family for a long time. Kinda upsetting ... but will have to get over it!
Sep. 3rd, 2006 @ 10:31 pm
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stevenwinda's journal
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