An Ailment from School Work.doc

Last night, a few of us from the program headed down to the 30th Annual University of Warwick Real Ale Festival (as opposed to those fake ale festivals). The three day event is the largest student run beer festival in the UK. Upon entering we were handed a program which listed the different varieties of ale; there were over 200 different kegs! There's one thing I've learned about British culture since my time here - they know how to pour a good pint. Not only that, but for as much as the French know the specifics of wine, the Brits have knowledge about beer brewing that I didn't know existed. I was aware of dry, fruity, dark, bitter, and cream tasting beers, but did you know there are ales with hints of chocolate, espresso, grapefruit, apricot, burnt toast, caramel, and vanilla?

A ten quid token card bought you ten different half pints - a mere dent in the 200 that were available. If you're decent with math, that works out to five pints for ten quid (try getting away with that in Canada!) Among the highlights of our sampling were the Oscar Wilde Mild and the Dark Side of the Moose. We also couldn't help but indulge in a pulled pork sandwhich from the pork roast that was going on alongside the ale sipping. Add to the mix the Warwick Brass Band playing a host of patriotic songs and it was just about the most British I've felt while over here. By the time I come back to Canada, I expect to be able to give advice on the differences between ales, lagers, stouts, and everything else hop and barley related. The downside is that instead of two quid, I'll be paying $6 plus tip for things back in Toronto.

Most of the weekend has been spent trying to get last minute details ready for the curation exhibit our group is putting up this Friday. One of the great things about this project is that I've actually learned a lot about the process that goes into curating an exhibit/installation in a museum. Since this is often an overlooked area of theatre research, it has been rewarding to learn some practical skills that I'll hopefully be able to use in a job after the MA year. Not only has the Tarragon Theatre been more than helpful (sending me a PDF of Scorched and access to all production photos) but Mr. Mouawad's agent air mailed two paperback copies of the plays free of charge. It is encouraging to know that Canadian artists and companies are keen to have their work talked about in academic circles around the world.

It seems as if I'm away from my country at one of the most interesting moments in the history of Canadian politics. I'm sure you've heard, but on December 8 a no-confidence motion will be put to a vote in the House of Commons. It's evident to me that recent Tory backtracks on the issues of the right to strike for civil servants and the elimination of political party subsidies signal that the party is scrambling to maintain control after a woeful fall update presented by Jim Flaherty. Still, it is not these issues that those wishing to form a coalition attack, but rather the lack of any stimulus or longterm plan to address the slowing economy. While the economy may be the official issue coalition forces are citing, it really is the elimination of public funding for political parties which has lead to the attack.

With Jean Chretien and Ed Broadbent negotiating behind the scenes, it seems as if the opposition parties are getting ready to strike. In light of the Conservative government's recent and crippling cuts to arts funding in Canada (in addition to a host of other possibly damaging legislation lurking on the horizion), I'm in favour of a coalition taking control. I realize the extreme significance of such a vote, in light of the recent election and the current economic crisis, but this is the chance to attack the weakness of a very arrogant Conservative government. If you read the pomposity of Jim Flaherty's defence of his update, specifically the elimination of public party subsidies designed to cripple every party but the Tories, you'll become aware of the immensity of the mistake the government has made with this November 28 speech. I am highly skeptical that the Governor-General would allow the Liberal-led coalition to govern, and instead call another election, but if she does, my hope is that between now and Monday they can settle on a competent leader rather than relying on Lame Duck Dion. I've been an Ignatieff fan since the last Liberal convention, which would need an unlikely stepping aside from both Dion and Rae, but Ralph Goodale who be a fine choice for the time being. It will be an interest week nonetheless.

I'll conclude this Sunday night installment with a thought provoking, but highly enjoyable, video I saw on the weekend:



This is the last post of November. Tomorrow we will officially move into Holidayland which for me will be travel month. I've managed 16 posts this month which works out to just about one every second day. I hope you're continuing to enjoy, but not to worry if you are way behind and don't read as often as I post (in which case you'll be reading this two weeks from now). I've come to realize the blog, as an archive of the time spent over here, is just as much for me as it is for all of you. I hope that doesn't sound too selfish, but it's true.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: Even if the parliamentary happenings are hard to follow (there are a multitude of possible scenarios), it's best to keep updated as to what's going down. Some interesting political drama will be unfolding in the next week.

Hej, Stockholm: Part Three.doc

The first year class I've spent the last two weeks with is presenting their final presentations today - it's exciting to see the nervous energy in their eyes and the relief that comes with a job well done. They are provided 40 minutes set-up and strike for the 10 minute presentation so I figured I'd write this post during those setup times. Eight groups presenting from noon - 8:00pm (a long day indeed). Much like the year of teaching at Queen's, I feel a kind of big brother support for the kids after having helped them with their ideas and checked in with them along the way. I've seen two of the presentations so far and it's thrilling to see where they've integrated my ideas and where they've progressed leaps and bounds beyond what they originally had to show. It's difficult to put into words, but in the little instructing experience I've had, there is a certain warmth and pride that comes with seeing your students succeed. It should be a really memorable day.

On to the Stockholm wrap-up!

You may ask why I've spread the experience over three posts. It relates to a quotation I read before setting off a few months ago: "A traveler without observation is a bird without wings." — Moslih Eddin Saadi. I think there is truth in this (especially with such a public online platform). It's easy to log an event by event summary of my adventures (see Part 1) but it takes a bit more reflection to offer some thoughts about the culture to which I was introduced. Without further ado...

You're going where?: Sweden was a bit of a random choice, but the visit taught me something I hadn't really thought of before. It seems as if there is a mythology about Europe being "the place" you have to visit before starting your professional career. Not only is the idea that you have to visit before chaining yourself to a desk completely absurd, but so is the misconception that it "can be seen" in a six week tour (let alone a year for that matter). Those of us North Americans privileged with the financial means would tend to plot out a trip to hit the "important spots" which usually means seeing the major city (or cities if you're lucky) in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and one or two others that may strike your fancy. The visit to Sweden happened on a whim; Paul found cheap flights and asked if I'd like to come along. I don't know if I would have visited otherwise, since it wasn't on the original list that I had conceived of. The list has now been thrown out the window. I'm saying yes to everything I can afford. And it just so happens that the next country I'll be visiting will be Turkey. I'll be in Finland for a week in June and cannot wait to experience more of the Nordic culture. It took arriving in Sweden, a place I had never pictured myself in before, to realize just what kind of place I've landed in (meaning Europe). The continent stretches far and beyond the central privileged countries thought of as "the must see spots."

Friendly People: Of course it's a generalization, but the Swedish people are the nicest Europeans I've come in contact with. While the stereotype of the French is unjust and the British stiff upper lip isn't always the case, both cultures have presented a more reserved welcome to their respective countries. It's not that I've come in contact with people who were rude, but rather they are not as likely to go the extra mile and ensure a welcome as Canadians tend to do. At the majority of the places Paul and I visited we met smiling and generous guides who were more than happy to answer our questions and point us in the right direction. We made many comparisons to the way in which the landscape was similar to home, which was completely forgotten when we arrived at the urban centre, but it really was the warmth of the people we met that reminded me of Canada. It might have something to do with the similarity in climate or maybe a shared experience of being overshadowed by countries in close proximity which breeds an appreciation for travelers who visit, but I felt more at home in Sweden than I have at Warwick. Hej Sweden, you rock.

Language Barrier: It wasn't difficult to get around in Sweden using English. I scribbled a list of words in my journal and was able to try and use them when appropriate. The people sometimes seemed amused, but were always appreciative that I at least made an effort. I won't go over all of the new Swedish words I learned, and will hopefully utilize again in future trips, but the one that we found most enjoyable was their greeting. Hej = Hi and is pronounced as "hey". It seems straightforward enough, but it was really interesting that a greeting we interpret as laid-back and informal was being used in a variety of different circumstances. Instead of meeting strangers with a formal hello or hi, the hej alternative seemed much more personal (maybe secretly, this is why I thought the people were so friendly). I think Swedish culture was a good test run for my time in Amsterdam where I hope to learn as much of the language as possible, but will be interacting in English for the most part.

The Trendy Factor: The home of H&M and Ikea didn't disappoint. The Sweds are a svelte, well dressed, and beautiful group of people. I wondered if it's something in the drinking water, but Paul (the scientist expert) said that actually it has a lot to do with the genes. I was hoping there was an exhibit at the Nobel Museum about it but I was sorely disappointed. Since I'm not of a science mind I won't try and explain why this might be so, but I have recognized the way in which Europeans weigh less, go to work less, wear clothes better, and relax better than us North Americans. The Christmas Market we were at was PACKED on a Sunday night with loads of families enjoying the winter weather, and later on that night we saw hordes of tobogganers fly at breakneck speed down a huge hill. It may be that the initial snowfalls are greeted with joy in Sweden like they are in Canada (and then cursed for the remainder of winter), but there was a carefree community attitude at the market that was really refreshing.

Stereotypes: It's been, and will continue to be, interesting for me to consider cultural stereotypes against the reality of what I encounter in each country. Sweden is an interesting case since I didn't know much about it before visiting, as opposed to countries like France and Italy for which I have a larger imagined picture. Deconstructing stereotypes:

i) There are a lot of blond haired, blue eyed people walking around, but by no means is it an overwhelming majority. There was less diversity than say in Toronto or London, but a wide variety of different looking people.

ii) H&M is extremely popular over there. Like I said, we spotted about seven different shops within a forty minute walk of one another. Then again, in England it seems as if there is a Marks and Spencer around every corner. A quantity of quality? I tend to think so.

iii) Mats Sundin is a national icon featured on billboards for a brand called Brother. The sports jacket he was wearing was listed at 499 Krona. He's got to make a salary somehow.

iv) We only saw one Ikea in our travels (gasp!) but I figure these are out in surrounding Stockholm, like they are in Canada, rather than in the downtown core. All the bedding at the hostel was from the popular store - such a good sleep.

v) The clubs played a little bit of Abba, possibly to satisfy foreign travelers, but it definitely wasn't a feature of the music scene. Drinks and cover were through the roof expensive (hence the hostel pregame) but the atmosphere couldn't be beat.

As you can tell, I hold fond memories of the weekend in Stockholm. Amidst the subzero temperatures and winds from the surrounding water, the city radiates a welcoming spirit sure to warm any new traveler to her Nordic landscape.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: If you're coming over here to visit or just planning a trip in the near future, consider spots off the beaten path. The "big ones" are of course important, but so too are the ones that surround.

Stockholm In All Its Beauty: Part Two.doc

As promised, part two of three detailing my Stockholm adventures. These pictures give you some idea of the type of spots we were able to visit in the 48 hours spent in the city. As you can see, snow blanketed the landscape, water surrounds just about everything, and yes, they are fond of their 7/11 just as much as we are.

View from the National Theatre

Sweden: The Home of H&M

Gamla Stan (Old Town)

Christmas Market (it was snowing)

Another shot of the Christmas Market

The Vassa Museum (a 17th century boat)

Winter Wonderland

Marching Towards the Royal Palace

Typical Building in the Background Shot

Still Water

Hostel Shot

Patricia (the boat bar)

Graffiti (I just really like this one)

Gröna Lund (Festive to the Max)

That's right...

I hope this gives you some idea how picturesque the setting is in Stockholm. I took 300 photos - sixty of which are on facebook and fifteen of which are on here. As you can tell, this just scratches the surface.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: If you take 300 photos, you're bound to settle on 80 that are good, 40 that are great, 10 that are stunning, and 1 that has that indelible something which makes it the favourite.

StockHOLM for a Rest: Part One.doc

I got back from Stockholm yesterday after an epic day of travel but had to attend to an essay outline and group meeting before getting down to the real business - letting everyone back home know about my weekend. It's unfathomable to tackle all that I saw in one post so this is how it's going to go down:

Part One: What I saw, where I went, and how I got there (summative but engaging)
Part Two: A photo entry (I know not everyone can see the photos on facebook so I'll post some of the best here)
Part Three: Observations and thoughts about my interaction with Sweden

Don't get overwhelmed. It won't all come at once and I encourage engaging with it your own pace.

Getting to Stockholm was a long journey. I travelled overnight from The Spa and was to meet up with Paul, who was taking a bus from Oxford, at Stansted Airport. Unfortunately it meant that I was working on little sleep, as the paranoia of missing my stop on the train caused me to stay awake, but I was running on excitement as we touched down at Skavsta Airport. On the one hour shuttle from the airport to the city centre, we marveled at how much Sweden reminded us of Canada - the route travelled on quite a rural path, there was a lot of green foliage, and a good 5cm of snow on the ground. That's right, I figured it was going to be cold in Sweden (it is Scandinavia) but I didn't expect a blanket of snow and more to come for the weekend. It was easily -10 C with the wind chill.

Upon arriving at the city centre our initial comparisons with the Canadian landscape were put to rest. Stockholm is an archipelago (a large group of islands) linked by bridges and, of course, a fantastically easy to navigate metro system. We jumped on the metro and got off at Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town, which is arguably the most beautiful part of the city. Here we walked to our hostel, called Best Hostel Old Town, which looked out on the water. It was cool digs. We stayed at the top of the building on the fifth floor. The hostel had a newly renovated 'rec room' kind of feel and featured, what else, an Ikea comforter and sheet set. Also staying in the room were two Americans the one night and two Germans the other - we made friends with the Americans but the Germans kept to themselves.

Having arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday, we decided to drop our stuff and head for the sights. Our first stop was the Nobel Museum. Since Paul is a scientist, he was quite excited to check out the exhibits. Not only does the museum feature profiles on the current Nobel Laureates, but they have pockets of experiments, artifacts, and displays on some of the most groundbreaking work of the 20th Century. It was really interesting to see Watson and Crick featured alongside figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Harold Pinter. We often think the Nobel Prize is strictly science related, but the exhibit highlighted both the literature and peace winners as well. There was also a really neat theatre and film exhibit of director Ingmar Bergman, who past away last year, that just happened to be on while we were visiting.

Outside the Nobel Museum was a charming Christmas market at the centre of Old Town featuring all kinds of wonderful food, ornaments, gifts, and household items. We bought some freshly roasted sugar coated peanuts as we walked. The surround of the old world buildings, some from the 16th Century, made the atmosphere come even more alive. Because it was after 5pm by the time we explored the Christmas market, all the other museums in the city were closed so we decided to hoof it around and visit some of the surrounding islands. Not only did we spot FIVE different H&M stores on our walk, but the Sweds go crazy for (get ready for it) 7/11! We passed by at least six different spots on the trip - it seems to be their preferred convenience store. I wonder if locals use the "sevs" for banking purposes like a friend of mine was known to do at the one in Kingston on Alfred St.

We returned to the hostel and got ready to hit the town. Stockholm could most definitely be considered a cosmopolitan city due to its inclusiveness and just the general urban makeup that embraces diversity. The club we went to was called Lino; it too overlooked the water. Paul and I prepared for the night the old fashion way - a pregame in the hostel with duty-free rum and coke from the 'sevs'. Doesn't get much more old school than that. We had be warned that drinks in Stockholm are expensive so we wanted to spend as little as possible. The club did not disappoint. After paying 100 Swedish Krona for cover (about 8 quid) we ventured through the three different rooms of music and the outdoor heated patio. Not only did they fill the Abba quota but they went back and forth between Swedish pop and recognizable American songs. Whenever we talked to a group of strangers they were always excited to hear we were from Canada. We met locals and other travelers as well a Swedish shoe designer who was opening stores all over Europe - talk about a cosmopolitan crowd. We returned to the hostel at 3:30am after being welcomed wholeheartedly to the city.

The next day was a bit of a whirlwind as we managed to hit as many important spots as possible: the Swedish National Theatre, the Royal Palace, the Vassa Museum, the Gröna Lund (think Sweden's Canada's Wonderland set up as a Christmas market), and of course the bar boat Patricia. The National Theatre was quite a sight to behold when you consider the type of government funded theatre in Canada. I'll include thoughts in Sweden Post #3, but the theatre was presenting a very ambitious season of classical work and the building itself was bold and opulent. One could really get the feeling that this has been the official site of the National arts for a long time.

The Royal Palace was equally as impressive. To give you some comparison, the rooms we toured were the official residence of the King of Sweden so it would be akin to a tour of the Queen's Buckingham digs in the UK. The Palace has a gorgeous dining room modeled after the Hall of Versailles and paneled with mirrors. As with many spots in Europe, I was struck by the curiosity of what might have taken place in the room I was currently standing in over the hundreds of years it had been used to host. We had planned the day so that we could catch the Changing of the Guard which takes place outside the palace. I was glad we did. Aside from the pomp and circumstance which accompanied the performance, there was a certain reverence paid to the event by those participating which signaled that it wasn't merely for show. I like palaces.

The Vassa Museum was on a separate island so we hopped on the metro. The museum houses a fully intact early 17th Century war vessel that sank in the Swedish harbour 25 minutes after setting sail for its maiden voyage (at least the Titanic made it out of the harbour). It was brought to the surface over six years in the 1960s and now stands on display. The most interesting feature of the exhibit, besides the power that a ship of that size commands, is that the museum was built on what was previously a ship yard. The structure was erected without a back wall which allowed the ship to be sailed into place. The water was then drained and the museum was sealed with a fourth wall. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sweden.

We happened upon Gröna Lund by accident, but it was one of the highlights of the trip. The park just happened to have free admission on the Sunday we wandered in and it had just recently been decked out (like decked out to the fullest) in anticipation of Christmas. It's definitely one of those places that's hard to blog about but I would describe it as Canada's Wonderland meets the Ex meets Santa's workshop meets the Island of Misfit Toys. We had a blast just walking through the grounds sipping on mulled wine and eating Swedish treats. I feel that sometimes for all the museum stops you make (which are important in their own right) you really can experience a culture in the smallest and unlikely of places. This was the case with the small eatery we ventured into in the park where there was practically no English being spoken around us. The waitress pointed out the dish she considered to be most reflexive of Sweden Christmas and we were happy to take her advice. It was venison in a mushroom sauce with mashed potatoes and currents. Not only was the meal delicious, but the environment of the restaurant, which reminded me of a Chalet at the top of a mountain, in addition to the festive spirit outside created such a feeling of joy that's hard to articulate.

After 6pm hit and the museums and shops were closed, Paul and I spent the next two hours on an island we hadn't yet visited. This was a more trendy area of town which had many shops and eateries. We spotted a park where about a dozen young kids were tobogganing. We climbed the hill and jumped on some swings that overlooked some of the cityscape. I've come to realize that these unofficial zones, outside the tourist spots and the main strips, are some of the places where you feel most connected to the city you're exploring. We jetted back to the hostel and proceeded to recreate the events of the night previous and gear up for Patricia, the boat bar, which we realized we could see from the window of our hostel! To be completely honest, Patricia wasn't as fun as Lino (probably because it was a Sunday night) but the novelty of being on a boat never really wore off. The feel was really similar to Buddies...but moored in the harbour on a Sunday night. We obviously took lots of photos with the boat paraphernalia scattered throughout.

Monday morning we had a bit of an Amazing Race adventure as we slept in an hour late and missed the first shuttle to the airport. After catching a later one and arriving thirty minutes before the plane was suppose to take off (talk about cutting it short) we were greeted with a forty minute delay due to icy weather conditions - talk about perfect timing.

Thanks for following this far; I know it's a long post. Tomorrow I'll attach about a dozen photos so you can visualize some of what I've described and I'll follow that up with more solid observations of the Swedish culture which is lacking in this travel log.

Doc's Prescription for the Day: Think of the "official" and "unofficial" spots of culture in the city in which you currently reside. If you had a special visitor, just what would you show them that they may not find in any guidebook.

Work Hard, Play Hard.doc

Do you ever have such a productive day that it seems as if you've added four hours to the stingy twenty-four we're alloted? Today has been like that for me; I feel like I've run a marathon. This late night blog post is just another stop along the way. 

Work Hard: Today I worked in studio for eight hours with 50 first year students who are developing final presentations which they perform next week. So, guess who's the new hip and laid-back MA student who knows all the first years? I kid. It was an cool to have been chosen to help out (since the program Director thought I'd be a decent instructor) and it turned out to be a pretty inspiring day. One can get serious, cynical, and wrapped up in research very quickly as a postgrad, but there is something more naive in the approach of the majority of first year students. They seem to possess the energy and enthusiasm that comes with the knowledge that they've begun a new journey. It reminds me of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, beautiful works in my opinion, which explore the duality of the "two contrary states of the human soul." I was a little terrified this morning that I wouldn't be able to fill an hour workshopping with each group. My fears were quickly extinguished when again and again it became a race against the clock to try to work out all the new ideas I was able to offer in each time slot. I realized that even though it was difficult to sit down and plan out the types of advice I could offer, the five years of schooling was all accessible once in the moment - I was pulling out 'as-ifs', 'objectives', 'status' and 'tension' levels, 'atmospheres', LePage type prop play, and of course a keen attention to aesthetics. At a time when it's inevitable to start thinking about career options, today reinvigorated a self-confidence in what I have to offer. Today I realized how incredibly scary being 'the instructor' can be, but the potential for those moments of joy become all the more possible. 

Play Hard: Two Brits, an Australian, an Indian, a Singaporean, and a Canadian walk into a bar...on Brazilian night. The beginning to a popular joke? No! My Tuesday night. The international possibilities are endless here. Some of my program mates and I went to a Brazilian night at the union - live music and dance, special cocktails....and some posters on the wall of Brazil. So the decor was lacking, yes (I know a special blog commenter who would have Braziled the heck out of Brazil Night). After the live music and dance, which was pretty much the highlight of the event, the music kind of devolved into a DJing playing Spanish music with some Gasolina and Bob Sinclair thrown in for good measure. It's the closest I'll come to Brazil in at least the next five years.

Work Hard: I've been spending a lot of time at the library - definitely more time than I ever did at uni in Canada. I can't really do much work at Heronbank. I think the residence room just doesn't feel like an official study zone to me. The library culture at Warwick is also really attractive. Aside from the crazy security, the libraries are pretty mod and feature a lot of new-age learning strategy zones that I find amusing - white boards for break out collaboration, computers hooked up to video screens all over the place, reallllly comfortable sitting areas, and a lot of technology designed for different learning styles. It's a very stimulating environment. Hincks and I skyped while I was at the library. We didn't talk, but rather watched each other on video and chatted. It was a pretty funny setup. The library rules. I'm going to say goodbye before Christmas.

Play Hard: What do you get when you combine rollerblading and alcohol? The beginning to a popular joke? No! My Wednesday night. Lotte, Bec, and I went to the union for the second night in a row for a theme night which just begged spectatorship: Roller Disco. That's right. Somene thought of, and approved, an idea to have a roller rink at a campus bar. Picture if you can the alcohol infused collisions that could possibly take place at such a venue and multiply it by two. For one, it may have been the combination of alcohol and skates, but the Brits were pretty sad bladers. Granted, we come from a nation where you usually have worn a pair of skates by the time you're five, but I was still unimpressed (I was taught to skate by Mr. Owen Nolan and can say in confidence I was the fastest on my team a handful of times, a thank you). Unfortunately the lineup for blades was much too long and we were happy to avoid the throng and observe on the sidelines. Instead, we've made it a priority to go ice skating in Coventry in the next two weeks.

Work Hard: To give you an idea of the final project that I've mentioned, I'm part of a group exploring theatre curation. We've settled on the concept of creating an exhibition featuring notions of National Identity in each of our home countries and what that can tell us about concepts of nationalism across cultures. I'm focusing in on Wajdi Mouawad's Scorched and Tideline as adding a new concept to the current patchwork of Canadian Identity presented in the theatre. I'm proposing his vision focuses on origins, venturing outside our borders to gain a perspective of what's inside, and considering Canada's identity in an increasingly globalized world. The exhibit will feature production material showcasing the plays, with two scripts the author's agent is sending to the UK, juxtaposed with the performance of National Identity in previous Canadian productions and popular culture. An ambitious project to say the least.

Play Hard: I leave for Sweden early Saturday morning! I'm actually departing The Spa late tomorrow night and making my way through London to Stansted. Paul and I are excited to explore all that Stockholm has to offer. Sunday night we're partying on a boat named Patricia located in the harbour - we'll say hi to her for you. Some friends in TO are taking a roadtrip to Kingston. Weekend getaways all around!

Doc's Prescription for the Day: I want to avoid something stereotypically Swedish (like meatballs, the Chef, ABBA) so why don't I prescribe one of their most successful exports: IKEA! If you take some time to head to Ikea, it'll be like you're in Stockholm with me. Exactly like it. They even have a smorgasbord...and a ball pit.

This, That, and the Other.doc

We're in week 8 of school already and I'm getting more and more excited for the Holiday break that is quickly approaching. I don't think I've ever looked forward to a term being done more than I have here. The reason is that there is a whole European playground which surrounds that I've been unable to see because, just a small detail, school is my full time job. As Zack Morris famously said, "I love school...too bad classes get in the way." Still, I think I've made the most of local UK travel on weekends which will be a good lead up to the plans for Christmas and in the 2009 summer.

1. If the library could be called my office, and I think four hours a day constitutes an office, then my place of work is highly secure! At Queen's you could wander into Stauffer and it didn't matter who you were - the security guard at the front desk was usually reading the paper. At UofT, if you want to get to floors 5-18 you need to flash your card to the student on duty (I wonder what they would have done if I had declined). Here at Warwick, the only way students can enter the library is by placing their card on a laser reader which opens the turnstyle type barricade and allows entry one by one. This makes for some lineups at the entrance. Further, you must complete the same process upon exiting. If you lose your student card in the library, I guess you're stuck here forever. There is even more security for Post Graduate students. I've chosen the PG study area as my preferred place for setting up shop (no kids around!) and this too requires I use my student card to electronically unlock the heavy door. Only postgraduate cards can open these doors. Elitist? I think so. My favourite feature of these systems is that the laser readers are so powerful, they can read my card from inside my wallet. So I simply place my wallet on the reader and everything is unlocked for me. Jason Bourne, eat your heart out.

2. Interesting British vocabulary: POSH. I'm sure all of you have about wondered the etymology of the word. In fact, Victoria Beckham was not the first to use the phrase! One of my English friends tells me that one of the possible origins of the word is actually an acronym that was used on ships that traveled to and from the colonies before the advent of air conditioning. Because there were cabins which shaded passengers from the sun on both legs of the journey, the most desirable (and naturally most expensive) ticket was the "Port Out, Starboard Home." There is debate as to whether this is the true etymology, but a neat fact nonetheless. I wonder if "Port Out, Starboard Home" Spice would have been as catchy as Posh. I'm sure she would have had sailors knocking on her door regardless.

3. Christmas bonuses aren't just for bankers anymore! If any of you were considering sending in an application for the programme of which I'm currently a part, let me give you one more incentive. I woke up this week to a surprise email from the Director informing us that they are giving every student in the program a December bonus. I was flabbergasted. The money is suppose to aid in relocating to our places of mobility and cover Holiday travel costs. Since my relocation costs are minimal, Canadians don't need visas in the Netherlands, I'm treating it like a Christmas bonus and a pat on the back for the stellar work I've been doing all term. This may be the only bonus I ever receive, so I'm going to spend it on traveling in December and January. Oh, and on pastries. Lots of pastries.

4. "Time, is on my side, yes it is." Popular lyrics to a song. They lie. I know it's extremely common to observe that "time is flying" or "time seems to be going by quicker as the years go by", but has anyone done any research on this? Does perception of time change in the brain when we mature? We're currently closer to December than we are to October, closer to 2010 than we are to 2005, and I'm closer to the end of term that I was to the middle of it. Because I can picture the going away party in Toronto so vividly, it seems like it was two weeks ago. Even crazier is the New Years 2008 party we had that feels like two months ago. Soon we'll be reading lists about "The Best _______ of 2008", Time Magazine will proclaim Barack Obama its "Person of the Year", and we'll all be writing 2009 at the top of our ledgers. On one hand it's great that time is flying (because that means coursework will soon be wrapped up), on the other it's scary because my time in Europe is ticking rapidly away even if it appears that I'm here for ages. I think this is a balcony topic.

5. Do you read your horoscope? Usually I don't. If I have a paper around and I happen to think about it I might glance and see what is suppose to be "in store" for me on any given day. Yesterday, however, I happened to be web procrastinating and wandered along a link to a horoscope site that related to careers and work. The Libra forecast for yesterday looked like this: The illusion that everything would be better if only you had a better view or a different assignment to work on is just a distraction from reality. Stick with current projects and offices. The days previous I had been bitching to everyone who would listen about how tedious this group project is. Now, I didn't take this as a sign from the divines, but rather just a reminder that I should suck it up and get on with it. Sometimes you find insight in the most unlikely places.

Upcoming: 

Thursday I spend ALL day with the First Year Aspects of Practice Students. I meet each group for an hour in blocks from 9-6pm. While I'm certain to be worn out by their energy, it will be great to dramaturg and offer directorial advice to their works-in-progress.

Friday evening I leave for a weekend in Stockholm. This will be country number four that I will have visited since arriving (Scotland counts as a spot along the way, but I'll be there again for New Years). I am really looking forward to a fun weekend in a totally new and exotic place.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: Maybe it's worth taking a look at your horoscope today - just for entertainment sake. Even if you don't believe in it, I consider myself highly skeptical as well, maybe it'll give you something to ponder while you wander.

Horoscopes

I Took the Yellow Submarine Down to Liverpool.doc

Friends, if you make it to the UK, Liverpool is a must.

Previous to the weekend, I had been at the library working towards this final project and trying to lay out a road map of my final essay for the term. I was excited to head off campus on Saturday, but also a bit tired after all that time spent researching. Not only did an arrival in Liverpool prove to be re-energizing, but it was full of Beatleamania adventures!

Bec and I left Heronbank at the early hour of 8:00am to catch the International Office coach bus which was to deliver us to Liverpool - traveling in true style! Apparently the trip to LPool was a popular choice as they filled three buses of international students. We checked the list as it was passed around, Bec was the only Australian and I was the only Canadian. Andrea is the only other Canadian I've met here but I've been told there are a few others kicking around. They weren't going to Liverpool. The bus ride was three hours which was a bit long on a Saturday morning. I also had to sacrifice tea and breakfast for 15 more minutes of sleep so I was happy when the bus pulled into the city. 

The bus dropped us at the Albert Dock. The area, which reminded me of the Distillery District in Toronto, is situated on the River Mersey and was built in 1846. It was the first non-combustible dock warehouse system in the world (ohhh, ahhh). After the facilities became obsolete, it was closed in 1972 and then completed gutted and refurbished for an opening in 1984. It now is home to shops, restaurants, the Tate Liverpool, and a variety of really neat exhibits. We first stopped in at a small cafe and had some breakfast. Having not eaten that morning, I had the full English breakfast, which I'm enjoying more and more, accompanied by a really great cup of brewed coffee. 

After filling up, Bec and I were off. The unfortunate aspect of the trip is that we arrived to the city at 11:30am and needed to meet the coaches back at 6:00pm so there was limited time to see everything. We first stopped at a small Liverpool house down by the river that had been preserved, or maybe recreated, to depict conditions during WWII when families were fearful of attacks from the Nazis. The velvet ropes separating the room from the spectators meant I felt like something of a voyeur on the scene, which was a bit unnerving, but also quite powerful as what was depicted was how a family rationed food and how they prepared for the worst types of conditions. It was a really interesting look into another time period. I was impressed when the lady at the front door pinned me as Canadian. She's part of a handful of people I've met here that insist the differences between the Canadian and American accents are easy to spot. She said our best exports were Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, but that she would have been happy if Celine had never left Quebec. 

We ventured through the Liverpool shopping area, which was structured like a giant outdoor mall. Like a lot of the city centres I've visited, this mall had just about every store you could imagine and since it was a Saturday, people were everywhere. The shopping find of the day was PRIMARK which is the British Winners. The trouble is, like most UK shopping, it puts Winners to shame. The clothes are completely trendy and are at absolute bargain basement prices. I characterize this as trouble because it puts my monthly stipend in question. The lineup for checkout looked like a customs line at the airport.

Leaving Primark was easy since it was packed to the brim in there - it's nice to know if I need to pick something up (a tie, dress pants, etc.) I can get it extremely cheap and not worry. Our next stop was the Metropolitan Cathedral I checked out online before coming. It was built in the 1960s. I know what you're thinking - a Cathedral from the 60s, why even worth your time? This church is like any other I've ever visited. For one, the design is something akin to theatre in the round where the pulpit is in the centre of the building and the pews encircle around it in rings. In fact, the church has many theatrical elements in its designs - lights to illuminate various pieces of art work and the main stage, an exhibit type framing of the various rooms around the main space, and a pit for its choir and orchestra. I quipped to Bec that it felt like the Ikea of Cathedrals. Definitely worth a look if you visit Liverpool. The outer building was voted the fourth ugliest building in the world on Virtualtourist.com, but the interior is certainly inspiring. 

From there we ventured to the other notable cathedral in the city (yes, there are two cathedrals). The Liverpool Cathedral is much more traditional in design and is actually the largest Anglican Cathedral in the world. Before venturing inside we walked around the grounds of St. James' Garden which was the original quarry where the stones for the city of Liverpool were excavated. The park was lined with enormous gravestones from the 18th and 19th centuries. You don't often see such old gravestones in Canada, but they can be found all around the UK. We were stopped by a strange man asking for change because he claimed had lost his wallet at a karaoke bar and needed to catch a train - a likely story. I think it's the type of park that is gorgeous in the day but attracts a different crowd once it gets dark. The cathedral itself was beautiful, opulent, and humbling. I've seen a few Abbeys since arriving (although not of the Westminster variety), but the Liverpool cathedrals were much more impressive. The enormity of their design often overwhelmed.

At this point Bec and I had a problem, we had just under an hour and a half before we had to catch the coach back but we still had to get back to the Dock to visit The Beatles Story, the top Beatles attraction, find some food and drink before the three hour ride home, and of course check out the Beatles merchandise in the store. A tall order in the time crunch we faced. After kicking into a higher register we bolted back to the Dock and checked with the attendant about the Beatles exhibit. His name was Jim and he actually looked a bit like John Lennon. I wondered if he was hired because of this, or if his job environment had bled into his physical features. He said it usually takes about an hour and a half to two hours, when you listened to the audio guide. We told him we had forty-five minutes. He offered to let us in for a child's rate and we were more than happy to accept. Score! Maybe it was because we received child's tickets, but Bec and I were positively floating with excitement as we ventured through the exhibits (much quicker than the people around us, and yet with enough time spent interacting with the different sections). 

It was definitely the highlight of the trip and of an unbloggable nature but I'll do my best to give you an idea of why is was so exciting. The exhibit goes chronologically from the forming of the group to their final rooftop performance. Throughout there is memorabilia on display (George's first guitar and a pair of John's glasses that fetched 1 million pounds at auction), interactive recreations (the place they played their first gig, a Liverpool street, the Casbah), and really neat additions reflective of their music (a Yellow Submarine, a psychedelic room, and a Lennon inspired Imagine space). I think Beatles culture is so much a part of the everyday, at least for those of us that love their music, that you sometimes forget the incredible journey of four adventurous boys from Liverpool.

True to our word, we explored the exhibit in 45 minutes taking a plethora of cool photos along the way. We had just enough time to pick up some Beatles merchandise, some buttons and a John Lennon guitar pick, and do the essential Starbucks run before boarding the coach back to Warwick Uni.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: It's a pretty simple one. Turn on, tune in, and drop out with your favourite Beatles tune. Although it's difficult, my two picks would probably have to be Hey Jude and Let It Be. What might yours be?

Convocation Imagination.doc

In four hours I'm due to convocate at, where else, Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto as a member of the school of Graduate Studies. I'm thinking of appearing "live via hologram", but I don't know how I'd put on the gown. I think this ceremony would be a little lackluster in comparison to the June 2007 marathon at Queen's University. Still, today is the culmination of eight months of intense coursework spent at the Graduate Centre for Study of Drama. To be completely honest, my current schedule at Warwick makes the MA year at UofT look like boot camp. I had double the amount of courses, they lasted a full twelve weeks as opposed to five, the essays were longer and there were more of them, and I didn't have nearly the same time off as I do here. This made for a really draining eight months, but also the most rewarding challenge I've ever faced in the classroom.

If convocation closes the chapter on UofT (at least for the time being) I think it beneficial to highlight some of the highs and lows.

High: Orientation Day! Emily and I decided that since we were officially 'grad' students we wanted to set the right impression and fly under the radar that first day. However, by the end of the 'pub crawl' our best laid plans were long gone and we let loose with our new academic friends. A leopard never changes its spots.

Low: Our dreadfully painful Slavic Drama class which looked engaging in the course description but proved to be taught by an actual dinosaur with spectacles (think the old man at the television station in Mrs. Doubtfire) We shared the class with undergrads and had NO idea what the prof was lecturing about most days. I never expected to fill out weekly quizzes in an MA class.

High: The first term Commedia workshop. Though it was an early trek to campus for a three hour workshop, I learned a lot (shoom-shoom-shoom!). Emily and I had great fun thinking of innovative new scenarios for improvisation...

Low: Too many essays! I wrote seven 20 page essays in eight months which far eclipses the length of an MA thesis. Now I have no trouble fulfilling requirements, and did so for all the coursework, but I often felt hard pressed to submit my best work when I had two other projects waiting to get started. It was hard not to spread yourself thin.

High: Creative Practice - Source of Gravity and Boulevard of the Brave. While it complicated an already rigorous schedule, I was thankful for the creative practice requirement. We met a lot of great friends and worked on some cool projects.

Low: Robarts Library. While the amount of material is staggering, I've never been surrounded by such an uninspiring building. Concrete, concrete, and more concrete. I think it's also in the shape of a peacock - the architect must have been doing some crazy drugs in the 60s.

High: The Holiday Party. We made a ham. There was a reindeer head.

Low: Having no time to party or socialize with friends. We were chained to our desks. Riiiiiight.

High: The Drama Centre volleyball team. We might not have won many games, but it definitely was a welcome highlight to the week. It also was good primer for the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Volleyball team in the summer.

Low: Lunches spent at Hart House over Mr. Noodles cursing the decision we had made to pursue grad school and expressing fears of academic inadequacy. We usually got over feeling sorry for ourselves quite quickly, but these shared lunches (originating in the servant's quarters) were the lowest of the low.

High: The completion of eight challenging months in which I was required to think beyond that which I had learned at Queen's. I don't know what is expected of me now that I officially can write M.A. after my name, but I'm sure those letters will acquire more value as the years go on. 

High: A whole year spent with Emily - a partner in crime who I don't think I could have survived without. One of our fellow students expressed concern that we weren't going to the same country in Europe. She had assumed we were married the whole year. While we laughed at her mistake until our sides hurt, we really did support each other throughout the challenges at UofT.

As you can see, the highs (of which there were many more) outnumber the lows. I have no regrets about the year at UofT and can look back and laugh at the lunches spent fretting at Hart House.

I've pulled these photos off the UofT convocation website to help you picture just what tonight would look like:

What a party! Wow, look what we're missing!

Emily and I on stage! So academically trendy right now.

Picture Time! We need one for the mantle.

If we were in Toronto and attending convocation, Emily and I would be waving to each other and making faces separated by a sea of students with last names beginning C-J. There may even be an occasional text message sent. Our parents would be as proud as ever, but probably wondering if they didn't do all this just a year ago. We'd take pictures outside Convocation Hall looking as distinguished and academic as possible, but then descend into goofy faces. We'd host a small (large) jam at 1.3.5 Isabella and invite all our closest friends to celebrate our acceptance into the MA-dom. And that is how we'd convocate.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: Just because we're in Europe, doesn't mean you don't have to throw us a party back home! I know where there are some fine establishments that would welcome a graduation party for Hincksy and the Doc.

Don't (Heron)Bank On It.doc

I spend the next five weeks of term working on final group presentations and prep for the essay due in January. This means only five more weeks at Heronbank before I jet around for most of December and then arrive in Amsterdam in the new year (Yolansa, my maid, is beside herself with grief). Since I won't be returning here in the summer - I'll either stay in Amsterdam or rent a place with friends in Leamington Spa - I figured it was time to document the stay with some photo previdence.

Heronbank: Named to commemorate the tragic 'Heron Bank Incident' of 1926 in which a flock of herons were killed after they tried to knock off the Coventry Bank.

+

= My Residence

Outer Heronbank  (Calm Waters)

'Ding Dong', I think our neighbour's death...

Looks comfortable eh? Riiiiight.

The Reading Nook

Where the magic happens...

Important items and notes from home

I don't have enough clothes to fill the shelves

No lion, no witch, but I've got a wardrobe

The Corridor - Institutional Much?

Magenta Common Room

Kitchen - one fridge and freezer for eight people

A bit clinical, but at least it's all mine

The Skype Station (Visitor 1)

The Skype Station (Visitor 2)

The Skype Station (Visitor 3)

The Skype Station (Visitor 4)

Doc's Office at the Library (I'm there so often it should be my office)

Heronbank is pretty comfortable as far as residences go - my own en suite, new furnishings, and a kitchen that's cleaned every day. The drawback is the quietness which is a feature of postgraduate setups. Still, I can add it to the tally of places I've lived in my time testing the various uni campuses - Amsterdam will be my fourth.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: Friends who have promised to visit will be coming either while I'm in Amsterdam or during the summer spent elsewhere. This is the closest you'll come to Heronbank. Can you now picture how I go about my days?

Reminders from Home.doc

On this Remembrance Day, I'm thankful for the efforts of all those who bravely fought for the freedom of our glorious country. I think I've said it on here before, but it really has taken a departure from our borders to gain perspective on the aspects of Canadian life that are unique to our section of the world. As much as today is a lament for the lives lost in the fighting and a reminder of the horrors of war, it's also a celebration of the values we've defended and the freedoms we're privileged to hold. As the famous Canadian poem goes, "To you from failing hands we throw / The torch; be yours to hold it high."

I've received a few messages from home in the past two days and they couldn't have come at a better time! The move from a rigorous class schedule to group work has meant a less structured work week. While this means more time for blogging (cheer!) it also means more time spent at the library and researching on my own for our presentation in three weeks. So the reminders from home were welcome.

My parents sent me six months worth of new contact lenses which refill the current ones I have. For those of you who are skype regulars, this means I'll be wearing my glasses less and returning to the comfort of lenses. I've endeavoured to wear the specs more than my last ones though - I'm much more of a fan of the thick frames. The package also contained two packets of Tim Hortons coffee and two Laura Secord chocolate bars. Oh man, how Canadian eh? I'll have to figure a way to filter the coffee since the majority over here is instant (which is abhorrently second rate). I've also been drinking more tea than coffee over here, go figure, but I'd do anything for a sip of a true double-double. The Laura Secords are also a nice reminder of home. My grandmother spoiled us rotten when we kids and a trip to LS was usually a feature of any mall excursion.

Last night I spent a glorious hour and a half on the Skype Train chatting with Erin and Meg. Today I've got an evening slot 'penned' in with Jess. I received a full Toronto update - who's doing what, how jobs are going, and what the future holds. I'm constantly amazed by the achievements of my friends. There really is something to be said for the necessity of keeping in good correspondence while over here. It's easy to fall into the trap of telling myself I'm too busy but it's simply not true. You always decide how you allocate your time, and keeping updated is simply just high on the priority scale. Meg and I agreed that wherever the Holiday party is this year, there will be a laptop set up on the mantle for Em and I to join the group. In addition to the package and skype chats, I received a post card from Paris from you know who! I've also never had to respond to so many facebook messages! It's really great to hear from everyone.

As much as this year is a selfish opportunity to travel in Europe and have some wonderful experiences, it's also meant to guide me towards something more professional upon a return to Canada. If I'm having a prolonged chat with my DSC friends we usually end up talking about future career options - probably inevitable when you've just turned 24. Being my sixth straight year of uni, I'm ready for a a more structured schedule that doesn't involve only 15 hours of contact time and so much independent work. As liberating as the uni schedule is, it has become almost too free flowing for my liking. Hopefully my internship in Amsterdam, which I've started to negotiate with a prof there, will bring the more professional change I'm seeking and lead to something in Toronto. I'm suppose to spend at least 280 hours as an intern so it'll definitely be like having a job in addition to classes.

Bec and I are heading to Liverpool this weekend. The International Office is organizing a bus trip (excuse the lameness of that statement) and we're taking advantage of the cheap return ticket to get up to our own devices in the city. This means you can look forward to copious Beatles shots. Liverpool is currently the 2008 European Capital of Culture which is "a city designated by the European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural life and cultural development." Sounds prestigious. I'm glad to get the opportunity to visit LPool while it has this status. Maybe I'll try to get to the 2009 EU Capital of Culture as well. Wheels are turning...

Doc's Prescription of the Day: Even if you don't get the chance to hear the trumpet, listen to the poem, or observe an official silence, take a moment to reflect and remember.