It has been a jam packed few days. Peanut butter and jam packed. There are so many worthy items of news that I need to order them into a news broadcast. Picture me sitting in front of a desk letting you in on the latest happenings. Weather advice not included. Without further ado, the weekend update...
Dissertation Colloquium
On Friday, the inaugural group of MAIPR students presented the fruits of their research at the University of Warwick. The assembled guests included the first and second year students, as well as some of the faculty from our course. Each student was given 15 minutes to describe their research and walk through what they have been working on for the past five months. It's hard to whittle 130 pages into 15 minutes, but it's part of the challenge of being able to present your ideas. All in all the presentations went really well - the professors were extremely complimentary, question period was harmless, and the free lunch was much appreciated. I was really proud of the speech I prepared as a reflection of my larger paper. Yet one more hurdle that I've vaulted over on the road to being finished the MA. Slowly but surely closure is coming. I could feel it hovering in the room.
American Thanksgiving
I attended my first ever American Thanksgiving. It proved to be one of the highlights of my fall in Leamington. It was on the same day as the colloquium so we were all deserving of some good food and good company. My two previous thanksgivings had been great: Turkey sushi with Andrea last year and two nice dinners with Hinckster at Canadian thanksgiving this year. But I really hadn't feasted on a true turkey dinner with all the trimmings in over two years. Cue Courtney! My American friend volunteered to cook a proper turkey with some of thanksgiving's most signature dishes. I arrived to see the 15 pound bird had been expertly cooked alongside a table full of wonderful things: biscuits, green bean casserole, and stuffing. I brought ale infused mushrooms to add to the table. Since I was a fellow thanksgiving enthusiast I was given the honour of carving the bird. Me, in charge of cutting up the turkey with a knife and fork for 15 hungry guests. I think I did a pretty decent job stripping just about every slice of white and dark meat off the thing. The meal was absolutely delicious. I had three helpings of turkey and a big slice of incredible pumpkin pie.
Thankfulness
It might have been the combination of tryptophan and three glasses of wine, but there was a really touching moment at the end of the meal. After playing a few games with the group I suggested we go around the room and say what we were thankful for. This is a game that some friends like to play back home. It will always illicit an eye-roll from someone in the room, but once it starts it's an instant sentimental hit. I told the group that I was incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to share one of my cultural events with them. It seems straight-forward but it's true. 80% of the people at the party (from Europe, Australia, Russia, Asia, and India) had NEVER celebrated thanksgiving, one of my absolute favourite holidays, and I was able to help Courtney in showing them what the day means to us. It was incredibly humbling. We forget how special and unique thanksgiving is. The rest of the circle was also touching. The great meal plus the colloquium earlier in the day made people pretty nostalgic. It joins some of the other parties as one of the most memorable of the last sixteen months.
The Mercy Seat
On Saturday night Courtney and I went to see a production of Neil LaBute'sThe Mercy Seat on Warwick campus. The show was put on for free by the Capital Centre, a production company that shares the theatre space with us. The real draw in seeing the production was that I directed the last thirty minutes of the play for my 422 directing class at Queen's. I had a fantastic time working with friends Megan and Graham on that one. The production was alright. I was reminded of the mastery of the dialogue that originally drew me to the play - it's Mamet like in it's sharp, slick style. Unfortunately, as a full length show it really isn't appropriate for the university setting as the actors just don't have the life experience. The stakes just don't seem as high as they should be. The American accents were well done (I had to remind myself these were British actors) but the staging and acting fell a bit flat. Still it was nice to sit in a theatre after a lengthy absence in service of the dissertation.
Dissertation Submission
Woopdie freaking do! I've submitted the first draft of my dissertation to my two supervisors. Originally we were asked to prepare a draft for December 6, but my primary informed me that my two readers would like it as soon as possible in an effort to avoid the backlog that's going to come next week. So yes, I've ended my silence about where I'm at with it, people are just going to have to deal. I've worked hard and won't apologize about my progress. It feels incredibly great to see it all as a document (complete with acknowledgments, table of contents, and an eight page bibliography). Granted this doesn't mean I'm done. I've still got a lot of revisions to make before copying and binding later next month, but it feels good to send it off.
So yes, it has been an incredibly busy but fruitful weekend. Tomorrow I head back to work in anticipation of some fun, fun, fun in London on Friday and Saturday. It's what's getting me through the retail life. Although it's not all bad, did I mention I get to wear a headset at work?!
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Games where you offer what you're thankful for may not be as crowd pleasing as flip cup, but they provide memorable moments of honesty and reflection.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Fast Times in Leamington Spa.doc
There's a saying that goes, "if you want something done, ask a busy person." After a year of being occupied just by school (and enjoying the privileges that come with the schedule) I've switched back to my old habits. In the Queen's uni years of old I could have five different commitments going on the side in addition to attending classes and working at Lonestar. This type of schedule demanded that each task was alloted its own due and nothing more. Currently in the Spa, I'm balancing three part time jobs: dissertation revisions, retail work at River Island and going to the gym. It means that I'm working seven days a week for the next seven weeks, but also that I'm more focused now than I have been at any time in the program.
I started at River Island on Monday. I really like the feel of the store and the attitude of the overall image. It's one of the most popular high street shops in the UK. Admittedly, after working at the ultra-organized and corporate Lonestar in Kingston, most other places of employment seem chaotic. It's kind of the feeling I've gotten at River. I like the co-workers and the hours, but I don't really know what I'm suppose to be doing yet. I'm hoping this will become more clear in the coming weeks. You can only coast the floor for so long and fix and fiddle with clothes. Maybe this is the real secret of retail employment?? At the very least, whatever the job might entail, it's a great stop gap for seven weeks. The four hour shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays are a breeze - my full days there are Monday and Wednesday. For the first two weeks before I hand in my dissertation draft I'm pulling twenty hours a week, but this will increase to 29 after December 6. I'm ready for it. My favourite perk is the 75% discount on two pairs of jeans at the start of your employment. I think I'll be cashing this out tomorrow. From then on I get 30% off of the regular priced stuff.
This week hasn't allowed me to pine for Berlin, which is probably a good thing. While the visit seemed oh so brief I jumped into a 24 hour schedule with little room to miss the life of leisure. On Monday after work we had a boys night in Leamington. Poker, beer, and chips. How much more stereotypical can it get? I headed over to Jamal's and joined Adam, Stu, Ridzal, Nik, and Matt for a friendly game. My playing usually rolls out the same way. I'm in the middle of the pack for the whole game flip-flopping between third and fourth place since I play really conservatively. Ultimately my defensive play (only acting on really strong cards) lets me down once things get aggressive later on in the game. Ah well, it's still loads of fun. The game went from 9pm until 2 in the morning until we finally had a winner crowned. It was nice to take a break from evening revisions and let loose with the guys.
This week has absolutely flown by. With four days of work, keeping up the gym visits, and whatever time left over spent on dissertation revisions and socializing, I have had little time to catch up with correspondence and generally chill. But I like it. I also have a bevy of great things to look forward to in the coming days: week one of seven at work finishes tomorrow, Courtney is hosting American thanksgiving on Friday, we're presenting our dissertation research to the department on Friday, and I have the weekend totally free and clear. I'll need the time to finish this second draft to send to my supervisor. Next week I keep the busy schedule, but with a little less urgency in terms of hitting my deadlines.
I also am BURSTING with excitement to meet with Emma Jane Hunter and her parents in London town next week. The Hunters are hitting the city for four glorious nights and Em and I have plans in the works to take the city by storm. It's a wonderful gift to look forward to. More on that in the next post.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Poker was loads of laughs, and a good workout for the brain. Card games are fun.
I started at River Island on Monday. I really like the feel of the store and the attitude of the overall image. It's one of the most popular high street shops in the UK. Admittedly, after working at the ultra-organized and corporate Lonestar in Kingston, most other places of employment seem chaotic. It's kind of the feeling I've gotten at River. I like the co-workers and the hours, but I don't really know what I'm suppose to be doing yet. I'm hoping this will become more clear in the coming weeks. You can only coast the floor for so long and fix and fiddle with clothes. Maybe this is the real secret of retail employment?? At the very least, whatever the job might entail, it's a great stop gap for seven weeks. The four hour shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays are a breeze - my full days there are Monday and Wednesday. For the first two weeks before I hand in my dissertation draft I'm pulling twenty hours a week, but this will increase to 29 after December 6. I'm ready for it. My favourite perk is the 75% discount on two pairs of jeans at the start of your employment. I think I'll be cashing this out tomorrow. From then on I get 30% off of the regular priced stuff.
This week hasn't allowed me to pine for Berlin, which is probably a good thing. While the visit seemed oh so brief I jumped into a 24 hour schedule with little room to miss the life of leisure. On Monday after work we had a boys night in Leamington. Poker, beer, and chips. How much more stereotypical can it get? I headed over to Jamal's and joined Adam, Stu, Ridzal, Nik, and Matt for a friendly game. My playing usually rolls out the same way. I'm in the middle of the pack for the whole game flip-flopping between third and fourth place since I play really conservatively. Ultimately my defensive play (only acting on really strong cards) lets me down once things get aggressive later on in the game. Ah well, it's still loads of fun. The game went from 9pm until 2 in the morning until we finally had a winner crowned. It was nice to take a break from evening revisions and let loose with the guys.
This week has absolutely flown by. With four days of work, keeping up the gym visits, and whatever time left over spent on dissertation revisions and socializing, I have had little time to catch up with correspondence and generally chill. But I like it. I also have a bevy of great things to look forward to in the coming days: week one of seven at work finishes tomorrow, Courtney is hosting American thanksgiving on Friday, we're presenting our dissertation research to the department on Friday, and I have the weekend totally free and clear. I'll need the time to finish this second draft to send to my supervisor. Next week I keep the busy schedule, but with a little less urgency in terms of hitting my deadlines.
I also am BURSTING with excitement to meet with Emma Jane Hunter and her parents in London town next week. The Hunters are hitting the city for four glorious nights and Em and I have plans in the works to take the city by storm. It's a wonderful gift to look forward to. More on that in the next post.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Poker was loads of laughs, and a good workout for the brain. Card games are fun.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Ping Pong Merrily on High in Berlin.doc
It has been just under a week since my last blog post, but it feels like a mere cup of coffee since I was last sitting in front of my laptop. The trip to Berlin was a wonderful holiday, but went by oh so quickly. After the whirlwind weekend with Talia I collected my wits on Monday and set off for the German capital on Tuesday morning.
What exactly can I say about my trip to Berlin? It was one of the most relaxing vacations of the past year. Because I was lucky enough to visit the city and see the tourist spots in March, I was uber content to just hang out with two of my good friends and explore the parts of the city they have been enjoying. Steve and Emily were unbelievable hosts - I was happy to see a piece of their reality in Berlin.
Emily met me at the airport on Tuesday night. I don't want to get to nostalgic about it yet, but this will be the last European meet-up for Hincksy and the Doctor. This means that there won't be those fantastic best friend transport moments when we see each other after months of doing our own thing. I never tire of locking eyes and greeting with a big old smile and hug. We caught up on the train ride into the city and I heard the play by play of the wonderful adventures her and Steve had been getting up to. Upon arriving at berlinpad.com, I was shocked at just how beautiful the place is. The complex is secure and large, and the flat is spacious and homey. My hosts had prepared a wonderful soup in my honour (the first of many stellar meals to come). That evening we stayed in and caught up over a few glasses of wine.
We stuck to a pretty basic pattern for the three days I was there. In the mornings we would leisurely sip coffee and welcome the sun, the afternoon was reserved for walking through the city, and the evening was spent preparing dinner, eating dinner, and sipping on red and white. This type of existence is the stuff dreams are made of. It was nice to check out from the world and spend quality time enjoying the comforts of life. Wednesday we visited the East Side Gallery which is over 1km of the Berlin Wall that has been preserved as a reminder of its significance. It is an international monument for freedom. The wall is covered in over 100 paintings done in 1990 by a collection of international artists. For the 20th anniversary, the paintings have all been restored. In addition to the gallery we checked out the Turkish section of the city which is Emily and Steve's favourite area. Thursday was a busy excursion day. We hit the major spots in the city (Potsdamer and Alexander Platz) and then went to the larger shopping centre in continental Europe - Ka De We. This is the German Harrod's. They had all kinds of impressive and expensive displays and collections. Friday was the weekly Turkish market trip where we stocked up on a bunch of delicious veggies and meat. We usually would stop for a coffee to break up our walking tour.
As a reward for our diligent and determined afternoons of walking, Steve and Emily continually cooked up a series of delicious meals. It's one thing I'll remember most about the trip - the coming together over good food, good wine, and great company. When I say the food was good, I'm not lying. We had a pork roast with carrots, onions, and red cabbage, in addition to spinach dumplings smothered in cheese and butter. This was one meal! The next night we had traditional sausage and sauerkraut with caraway seeds. The final night was piri-piri chicken with broccoli and beets. In the afternoon we'd snack on delicious platters - the highlight of which was four different types of hummus Emily had made. Steve's interest in cooking is infectious. I'm definitely inspired to get more creative in the kitchen after seeing an expert like him at work. Emily is also a creative wiz with experiments and great dishes. I just wish we could make those leisurely evenings last longer.
After dinner most evenings we would either stick in and play a game or two, or hit the town. Thursday night was probably the biggest night of the bunch - we had a bit of a pub crawl. We started at the flat and then went to three bars in the neighbourhood. The first was called the Living Room; it resembled just that. After a round of beer we then proceeded to the Pink Bar which is a really hip place with a DJ. We stayed for two drinks there before venturing to Doctor Pong which Steve and Emily hadn't set foot in yet. What a place! Inside it resembles an abandoned butcher's with a front room and a back room with no decoration on the concrete walls, aside from some chairs scattered here and there. The feature of the place is that it houses a large ping-pong table in the centre of the front room where the assembled crowd (of rag tag hipsters) play ping pong. However, it's not just one game of ping pong, it's like a co-op ping pong. After you reserve a paddle, you join those gathered and form a rotating circle around the table that keeps a game going back and forth. As you run around the table and contribute a shot, the game widdles down to two competitors who play a five point match. It all starts again, over and over. We met some really friendly people there who welcomed us with open arms. I've never seen a place like this. It felt typically European - funky, alternative, hip, and quirky.
The final night was spent with Talia and Rob Macnamara (yet another Queen's friend) who overlapped visits by one night in the city. The five of us had a wonderful time catching up. After lengthy discussions we finally left the flat at 2am and went for a drink in the neighbourhood (things are open LATE in Berlin). We ended the night with a delicious shwarma (spinny meat delight). Not only was it great to have a Queen's gang in Berlin on the final night, but the four days with Em and Steve were fantastic. I reconnected with the city without running around with my head cut off, ate delicious meals with friends, and spent time with people I really admire.
It was the third visit I've had with Steve in Europe, and something like the dozenth time Emily and I have connected somewhere on the continent. While it signaled the end of visits in foreign lands with my best friend (for the time being), it was the perfect end to sixteen months of sharing travel and excitement.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: I can't say I'm a huge fan of ping pong. We never had a table and I think the first time I played was two years ago. But at Doctor Pong there is no question you get in on the action. Ping Pong merrily on high.
What exactly can I say about my trip to Berlin? It was one of the most relaxing vacations of the past year. Because I was lucky enough to visit the city and see the tourist spots in March, I was uber content to just hang out with two of my good friends and explore the parts of the city they have been enjoying. Steve and Emily were unbelievable hosts - I was happy to see a piece of their reality in Berlin.
Emily met me at the airport on Tuesday night. I don't want to get to nostalgic about it yet, but this will be the last European meet-up for Hincksy and the Doctor. This means that there won't be those fantastic best friend transport moments when we see each other after months of doing our own thing. I never tire of locking eyes and greeting with a big old smile and hug. We caught up on the train ride into the city and I heard the play by play of the wonderful adventures her and Steve had been getting up to. Upon arriving at berlinpad.com, I was shocked at just how beautiful the place is. The complex is secure and large, and the flat is spacious and homey. My hosts had prepared a wonderful soup in my honour (the first of many stellar meals to come). That evening we stayed in and caught up over a few glasses of wine.
We stuck to a pretty basic pattern for the three days I was there. In the mornings we would leisurely sip coffee and welcome the sun, the afternoon was reserved for walking through the city, and the evening was spent preparing dinner, eating dinner, and sipping on red and white. This type of existence is the stuff dreams are made of. It was nice to check out from the world and spend quality time enjoying the comforts of life. Wednesday we visited the East Side Gallery which is over 1km of the Berlin Wall that has been preserved as a reminder of its significance. It is an international monument for freedom. The wall is covered in over 100 paintings done in 1990 by a collection of international artists. For the 20th anniversary, the paintings have all been restored. In addition to the gallery we checked out the Turkish section of the city which is Emily and Steve's favourite area. Thursday was a busy excursion day. We hit the major spots in the city (Potsdamer and Alexander Platz) and then went to the larger shopping centre in continental Europe - Ka De We. This is the German Harrod's. They had all kinds of impressive and expensive displays and collections. Friday was the weekly Turkish market trip where we stocked up on a bunch of delicious veggies and meat. We usually would stop for a coffee to break up our walking tour.
As a reward for our diligent and determined afternoons of walking, Steve and Emily continually cooked up a series of delicious meals. It's one thing I'll remember most about the trip - the coming together over good food, good wine, and great company. When I say the food was good, I'm not lying. We had a pork roast with carrots, onions, and red cabbage, in addition to spinach dumplings smothered in cheese and butter. This was one meal! The next night we had traditional sausage and sauerkraut with caraway seeds. The final night was piri-piri chicken with broccoli and beets. In the afternoon we'd snack on delicious platters - the highlight of which was four different types of hummus Emily had made. Steve's interest in cooking is infectious. I'm definitely inspired to get more creative in the kitchen after seeing an expert like him at work. Emily is also a creative wiz with experiments and great dishes. I just wish we could make those leisurely evenings last longer.
After dinner most evenings we would either stick in and play a game or two, or hit the town. Thursday night was probably the biggest night of the bunch - we had a bit of a pub crawl. We started at the flat and then went to three bars in the neighbourhood. The first was called the Living Room; it resembled just that. After a round of beer we then proceeded to the Pink Bar which is a really hip place with a DJ. We stayed for two drinks there before venturing to Doctor Pong which Steve and Emily hadn't set foot in yet. What a place! Inside it resembles an abandoned butcher's with a front room and a back room with no decoration on the concrete walls, aside from some chairs scattered here and there. The feature of the place is that it houses a large ping-pong table in the centre of the front room where the assembled crowd (of rag tag hipsters) play ping pong. However, it's not just one game of ping pong, it's like a co-op ping pong. After you reserve a paddle, you join those gathered and form a rotating circle around the table that keeps a game going back and forth. As you run around the table and contribute a shot, the game widdles down to two competitors who play a five point match. It all starts again, over and over. We met some really friendly people there who welcomed us with open arms. I've never seen a place like this. It felt typically European - funky, alternative, hip, and quirky.
The final night was spent with Talia and Rob Macnamara (yet another Queen's friend) who overlapped visits by one night in the city. The five of us had a wonderful time catching up. After lengthy discussions we finally left the flat at 2am and went for a drink in the neighbourhood (things are open LATE in Berlin). We ended the night with a delicious shwarma (spinny meat delight). Not only was it great to have a Queen's gang in Berlin on the final night, but the four days with Em and Steve were fantastic. I reconnected with the city without running around with my head cut off, ate delicious meals with friends, and spent time with people I really admire.
It was the third visit I've had with Steve in Europe, and something like the dozenth time Emily and I have connected somewhere on the continent. While it signaled the end of visits in foreign lands with my best friend (for the time being), it was the perfect end to sixteen months of sharing travel and excitement.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: I can't say I'm a huge fan of ping pong. We never had a table and I think the first time I played was two years ago. But at Doctor Pong there is no question you get in on the action. Ping Pong merrily on high.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Let's Warm this House.doc
Blimey, what a weekend. I had been looking forward to my London visit for a few weeks now. It had been a month since I left Leamington and hit the city. I was also happy to extend my visit with Talia that began the previous weekend. This time we had two nights together, and we enjoyed some pretty excellent adventures.
I arrived on Friday afternoon. London was dreary, rainy, and the sun had already set as the train sailed across the sheepy fields. Of all the places Talia could be living in London, she's positioned around the corner from Marylebone Station, which is where all the trains from Leamington stop. It happens to be my favourite train station in London for this reason, also because it's pretty tiny and manageable. Thankfully, now that I've got a handle on the dissertation, I am able to read for pleasure once again. I spent the whole two hour train ride engrossed in a novel. Tal and I hit a local grocery store that stocked all kinds of wonderful produce. Upon arrival at her place (a really great sized flat with TWO outdoor terraces) we had a coffee and caught up. Talia then cooked a wonderful dinner consisting of soup, broccoli, and a delicious tomato chickpea dish from the Panchancho cookbook. Because it was Friday evening, it was shabbat dinner - so we enjoyed the meal alongside candles and wine. It was really nice to share in one of Tal's family traditions.
After dinner we sipped on wine and talked and talked. We talked so much that we lost track of time. There was a bar called Flavela Chic where one of Talia's classmates was celebrating a birthday. By the time we arrived the line was extremely long and not moving. After waiting the obligatory fifteen minutes we decided it was best to just hit the town and see what we could get up to. Bar 1: Free cover and really sick beats. We started with a few drinks and blended in to the hip East London crowd. Three rounds of OPD later and Talia and I were all over the place scouting options and plotting schemes. Unfortunately this bar turned the lights on abruptly at 1:30 so we decided to migrate down the street. Bar 2: Free cover and a DISCO theme. Not only were the beats authentic 70s throwback (not even mainstream) but the decor and the clientele all looked like something out of that decade. Tal and I felt a bit out of place but enjoyed ourselves immensely. There was one real character there in a wild frilly disco suit, apparently there by himself. Even in the disco club it looked a bit odd - I couldn't help but picture him on the tube heading home. We jumped on two night buses (making incredible timing with each) and arrived home in the wee hours. We had a proper "lie in" (britcabulary) the next morning.
Saturday, we left the flat after breakfast and made our way to the Barbican Museum which was featuring a poster exhibit on the fall of the Berlin Wall. Before arriving we stopped in at a Costa and had a delicious coffee - I treated myself to a hazelnut latte. The Barbican Museum is a wonderful place. It's divided into six floors of different rooms, galleries, and performance spaces. On Saturdays it seems they have a free stage devoted to musical acts. There had to be two hundred people milling around, listening to free music, and enjoying the museum. We listened to a really smashing jazz quartet and then checked out the Berlin exhibit. Since we're both heading there next week (with one night overlap!) it was a wonderful reminder about the kind of history we'll be surrounded by in the city. I'm excited to be there twenty years to the month the wall fell. We enjoyed a bit more music (some Indian inspired beats) and checked out a WWII bunker reconstruction at the museum. It was extremely impressive. They have converted a neutral space in the museum into an authentic WWII bunker complete with train tracks and all kinds of furnished rooms. It was a spectacular exhibit. Tal then took me to a radical left bookshop. Apparently there are only about three of them in London - in a city that big! It has a great vibe and contains all kinds of really amazing reads. If I was in a permanent place I would have picked up a gaggle of used books.
That evening Talia and her flatmates were throwing a housewarming party. Talia admitted to me earlier in the week that she wasn't sure if a lot of people would show up. Since it's a big flat, the group was hoping that over fifty people would come so the place looked full. The party was part of the reason for going down this weekend. Apparently word got around - there had to be close to eighty people that went through the house on Saturday night. I can't say I've been to a house party that size (with that kind of atmosphere) in such a long time. Talia and Rob Macnamara were the only two that I knew at the party so everyone else was someone new to meet. Because of the international makeup of the house the party consisted mainly of Canadians, Aussies, Americans, and Brits, but there were students there from all over. I talked to a lot of fellow Canadians about life in the UK, and met some really great friends that Talia goes to school with. At one point we were like sardines in the kitchen. Talia and I shared a lot of laughs about the crazy connections at the party (friends of friends of friends of friends...). One of the more interesting and bizarre happenings (that actually became quite depressing) was the arrival of a 54 year old woman named Kristina who "heard the music from down the street" and came on down. She requested a stiff drink, and we were more than happy to oblige. At that point she was very polite. I felt a bit sad for her so I spent some time listening to her stories (mostly depressing) on the terrace. I naively thought she'd join "the kids" for a drink or two and hit the road, a moment of generosity and genuine interest shared between strangers. I was wrong. She was the last one to leave, and turned belligerent when we asked her to head home. It by no means ruined the fantastic party, but was a reminder about how much sadness there is in the world. We shared some delicious pizza before heading to bed. It was one of the best houseparties I have ever been to.
This morning we had grand plans to head to Hyde Park before I jumped on my train, but because of the late night we had yet another "lie in" this morning. Hyde Park (which Talia and I were really keen to see) will have to wait until the next visit. It was a whirlwind of a weekend with two extremely late nights of true London partying - it was comforting to know that at 25 I've still got it. Talia was a wonderful host. I'm now home for 36 hours before jumping off to Berlin. Sooooo excited. Jetset.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: If you have nine frozen pizzas for a housewarming party and you place them in the oven at 3:00am, it doesn't matter how many people are left, they will find the pizza and eat every last bit. Also, for Talia, there are starving drunks all over the world.
I arrived on Friday afternoon. London was dreary, rainy, and the sun had already set as the train sailed across the sheepy fields. Of all the places Talia could be living in London, she's positioned around the corner from Marylebone Station, which is where all the trains from Leamington stop. It happens to be my favourite train station in London for this reason, also because it's pretty tiny and manageable. Thankfully, now that I've got a handle on the dissertation, I am able to read for pleasure once again. I spent the whole two hour train ride engrossed in a novel. Tal and I hit a local grocery store that stocked all kinds of wonderful produce. Upon arrival at her place (a really great sized flat with TWO outdoor terraces) we had a coffee and caught up. Talia then cooked a wonderful dinner consisting of soup, broccoli, and a delicious tomato chickpea dish from the Panchancho cookbook. Because it was Friday evening, it was shabbat dinner - so we enjoyed the meal alongside candles and wine. It was really nice to share in one of Tal's family traditions.
After dinner we sipped on wine and talked and talked. We talked so much that we lost track of time. There was a bar called Flavela Chic where one of Talia's classmates was celebrating a birthday. By the time we arrived the line was extremely long and not moving. After waiting the obligatory fifteen minutes we decided it was best to just hit the town and see what we could get up to. Bar 1: Free cover and really sick beats. We started with a few drinks and blended in to the hip East London crowd. Three rounds of OPD later and Talia and I were all over the place scouting options and plotting schemes. Unfortunately this bar turned the lights on abruptly at 1:30 so we decided to migrate down the street. Bar 2: Free cover and a DISCO theme. Not only were the beats authentic 70s throwback (not even mainstream) but the decor and the clientele all looked like something out of that decade. Tal and I felt a bit out of place but enjoyed ourselves immensely. There was one real character there in a wild frilly disco suit, apparently there by himself. Even in the disco club it looked a bit odd - I couldn't help but picture him on the tube heading home. We jumped on two night buses (making incredible timing with each) and arrived home in the wee hours. We had a proper "lie in" (britcabulary) the next morning.
Saturday, we left the flat after breakfast and made our way to the Barbican Museum which was featuring a poster exhibit on the fall of the Berlin Wall. Before arriving we stopped in at a Costa and had a delicious coffee - I treated myself to a hazelnut latte. The Barbican Museum is a wonderful place. It's divided into six floors of different rooms, galleries, and performance spaces. On Saturdays it seems they have a free stage devoted to musical acts. There had to be two hundred people milling around, listening to free music, and enjoying the museum. We listened to a really smashing jazz quartet and then checked out the Berlin exhibit. Since we're both heading there next week (with one night overlap!) it was a wonderful reminder about the kind of history we'll be surrounded by in the city. I'm excited to be there twenty years to the month the wall fell. We enjoyed a bit more music (some Indian inspired beats) and checked out a WWII bunker reconstruction at the museum. It was extremely impressive. They have converted a neutral space in the museum into an authentic WWII bunker complete with train tracks and all kinds of furnished rooms. It was a spectacular exhibit. Tal then took me to a radical left bookshop. Apparently there are only about three of them in London - in a city that big! It has a great vibe and contains all kinds of really amazing reads. If I was in a permanent place I would have picked up a gaggle of used books.
That evening Talia and her flatmates were throwing a housewarming party. Talia admitted to me earlier in the week that she wasn't sure if a lot of people would show up. Since it's a big flat, the group was hoping that over fifty people would come so the place looked full. The party was part of the reason for going down this weekend. Apparently word got around - there had to be close to eighty people that went through the house on Saturday night. I can't say I've been to a house party that size (with that kind of atmosphere) in such a long time. Talia and Rob Macnamara were the only two that I knew at the party so everyone else was someone new to meet. Because of the international makeup of the house the party consisted mainly of Canadians, Aussies, Americans, and Brits, but there were students there from all over. I talked to a lot of fellow Canadians about life in the UK, and met some really great friends that Talia goes to school with. At one point we were like sardines in the kitchen. Talia and I shared a lot of laughs about the crazy connections at the party (friends of friends of friends of friends...). One of the more interesting and bizarre happenings (that actually became quite depressing) was the arrival of a 54 year old woman named Kristina who "heard the music from down the street" and came on down. She requested a stiff drink, and we were more than happy to oblige. At that point she was very polite. I felt a bit sad for her so I spent some time listening to her stories (mostly depressing) on the terrace. I naively thought she'd join "the kids" for a drink or two and hit the road, a moment of generosity and genuine interest shared between strangers. I was wrong. She was the last one to leave, and turned belligerent when we asked her to head home. It by no means ruined the fantastic party, but was a reminder about how much sadness there is in the world. We shared some delicious pizza before heading to bed. It was one of the best houseparties I have ever been to.
This morning we had grand plans to head to Hyde Park before I jumped on my train, but because of the late night we had yet another "lie in" this morning. Hyde Park (which Talia and I were really keen to see) will have to wait until the next visit. It was a whirlwind of a weekend with two extremely late nights of true London partying - it was comforting to know that at 25 I've still got it. Talia was a wonderful host. I'm now home for 36 hours before jumping off to Berlin. Sooooo excited. Jetset.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: If you have nine frozen pizzas for a housewarming party and you place them in the oven at 3:00am, it doesn't matter how many people are left, they will find the pizza and eat every last bit. Also, for Talia, there are starving drunks all over the world.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Decisions, Decisions.doc
I'm happy to announce that the future is starting to look a bit clearer. There's nothing groundbreaking to report but some decisions have been made in the last week in effort to get a better hold on just what I'll be up to in the coming months. The muddy waters are starting to settle.
The first task was to make a decision about the rapidly approaching holidays. This was the toughest call of them all. One of the kickers of the program is a Dec 31 final submission for our dissertations. I don't know if there could be a more inappropriate choice for the formative conclusion to the program. What this has lead to is utter uncertainty about the month of December - Will I be free and clear by mid-month? Will I have the dissertation approved by Christmas day? Or will I be revising alongside getting ready to ring in the new year? I hope the last option isn't anything I'll encounter, but it's all unclear. Add to this the fact that when I board the plane home to Canada I want to have my second MA (over-qualified much?) all wrapped up. I want to be reading for pleasure on the plane, not thinking about revisions. Add the third ingredient, one more week of Euro fun and traveling before heading home and I think a mid-December departure would be too rushed - hell, it'd be in four weeks.
Unfortunately, this means that I'll be missing the holiday season for two years in a row. It's the worst time of year to be away from my family. BUT, what we both have to look forward to is a return home a few weeks later. Hopefully turkey and a few Christmas themed dinners can be had in the new condo in January. That's right, as you might have guessed, I'm staying the holidays but then making a prompt return to Canada in mid-January. I've even been eying a few flights. What this allows me to do is get the dissertation wrapped up by the end of December, travel for a week or two in the new year and bid adieu to Europe for the time being.
As much as I was originally interested in exploring the possibilities of work over here, in addition to bleak job prospects and huge starting costs, I realized that deep down I want to return home. Staying over here and starting to blaze a new path would mean moving to a new city, making new friends, finding a new job, and generally starting from square one. I've started from square one three times already in the last year and I'm ready for some stability. So you're on alert - the Doctor is returning to Canada mid-January. The hope is that an apartment in Toronto will follow, as will some sort of employment by the month of March (fingers crossed).
With this tentative plan mapped out, I've managed to secure some holiday work to tide me over for the month of December! After interviews at H&M and Bank Fashion (both of whom balked at my student visa restrictions in one form or another) River Island (one of the more popular stores here on the High Street) recruited me on for the Holiday season. I head into the store tomorrow to learn more about what exactly I'll be doing, but I think it will make for a productive December (and make the time before homecoming go by much quicker). I searched out a small job for three reasons: a) I need a bit of money to travel in January before the trip home b) Forty hours a week on revisions is just ridiculous - I'd rather do 20/20 and c) British Pounds just about double when crossing the border and are converted into Canadian dollars (a little start up money is desired). It may not be the most glamorous, but it'll pay some future bills. I can also finally add retail clothing to the LONG list of other jobs I've had in addition to school.
A tentative date home: CHECK
Holiday work to make some cash: CHECK
A plan for the first quarter of 2010: CHECK
Plans for one last hurrah before the journey home: CHECK
It's hard not be home for the holidays, but after a lot of soul searching, this is the way to do this chapter justice. Loose ends get tied, the dissertation is finished properly, and I hit two or three more spots before touching down on Canadian soil. I am looking forward to it immensely.
Tomorrow is a whirlwind day. I've got a huge to-do list before heading off to London to visit Talia for the weekend. Berlin isn't far off!
Doc's Prescription of the Day: The visit to Coventry this past week brought home the reality of the atrocities of war - the city was decimated. The journey to Berlin next week will be yet another time for reflection. The ghosts of young innocent men and women lurk around every corner in Europe. Lest we forget.
The first task was to make a decision about the rapidly approaching holidays. This was the toughest call of them all. One of the kickers of the program is a Dec 31 final submission for our dissertations. I don't know if there could be a more inappropriate choice for the formative conclusion to the program. What this has lead to is utter uncertainty about the month of December - Will I be free and clear by mid-month? Will I have the dissertation approved by Christmas day? Or will I be revising alongside getting ready to ring in the new year? I hope the last option isn't anything I'll encounter, but it's all unclear. Add to this the fact that when I board the plane home to Canada I want to have my second MA (over-qualified much?) all wrapped up. I want to be reading for pleasure on the plane, not thinking about revisions. Add the third ingredient, one more week of Euro fun and traveling before heading home and I think a mid-December departure would be too rushed - hell, it'd be in four weeks.
Unfortunately, this means that I'll be missing the holiday season for two years in a row. It's the worst time of year to be away from my family. BUT, what we both have to look forward to is a return home a few weeks later. Hopefully turkey and a few Christmas themed dinners can be had in the new condo in January. That's right, as you might have guessed, I'm staying the holidays but then making a prompt return to Canada in mid-January. I've even been eying a few flights. What this allows me to do is get the dissertation wrapped up by the end of December, travel for a week or two in the new year and bid adieu to Europe for the time being.
As much as I was originally interested in exploring the possibilities of work over here, in addition to bleak job prospects and huge starting costs, I realized that deep down I want to return home. Staying over here and starting to blaze a new path would mean moving to a new city, making new friends, finding a new job, and generally starting from square one. I've started from square one three times already in the last year and I'm ready for some stability. So you're on alert - the Doctor is returning to Canada mid-January. The hope is that an apartment in Toronto will follow, as will some sort of employment by the month of March (fingers crossed).
With this tentative plan mapped out, I've managed to secure some holiday work to tide me over for the month of December! After interviews at H&M and Bank Fashion (both of whom balked at my student visa restrictions in one form or another) River Island (one of the more popular stores here on the High Street) recruited me on for the Holiday season. I head into the store tomorrow to learn more about what exactly I'll be doing, but I think it will make for a productive December (and make the time before homecoming go by much quicker). I searched out a small job for three reasons: a) I need a bit of money to travel in January before the trip home b) Forty hours a week on revisions is just ridiculous - I'd rather do 20/20 and c) British Pounds just about double when crossing the border and are converted into Canadian dollars (a little start up money is desired). It may not be the most glamorous, but it'll pay some future bills. I can also finally add retail clothing to the LONG list of other jobs I've had in addition to school.
A tentative date home: CHECK
Holiday work to make some cash: CHECK
A plan for the first quarter of 2010: CHECK
Plans for one last hurrah before the journey home: CHECK
It's hard not be home for the holidays, but after a lot of soul searching, this is the way to do this chapter justice. Loose ends get tied, the dissertation is finished properly, and I hit two or three more spots before touching down on Canadian soil. I am looking forward to it immensely.
Tomorrow is a whirlwind day. I've got a huge to-do list before heading off to London to visit Talia for the weekend. Berlin isn't far off!
Doc's Prescription of the Day: The visit to Coventry this past week brought home the reality of the atrocities of war - the city was decimated. The journey to Berlin next week will be yet another time for reflection. The ghosts of young innocent men and women lurk around every corner in Europe. Lest we forget.
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