Nova Scotia: The Lovely East Coast

Nova Scotia comes in second place as friendliest province (after PEI), and also second funniest accent (after Newfoundland). But don't let these rankings fool you...Nova Scotia was probably my #1 favorite province to visit!  

Fun was literally around every corner. In Antigonish, we visited "The Wheel" pizza place. Apparently it is world famous, and though it is a teensy tiny building, the walls are full of memorabilia and photos of celebrities with "Wheel" boxes, claiming it is the best. We were introduced to this delicacy by a local, who admitted it really isn't great, but it does grow on you. (I unfortunately didn't get to taste test, as it is full of evil gluten). We decided to follow the trend of taking our photo with a box, which put us out a full dollar. 

Somewhere along the way to the North end of Nova Scotia we passed by this curious front yard. Naturally we pulled over to investigate.

Yes, it is true. The lady living here (I met her as she drove out of her driveway and invited us to enjoy taking photos) recreates wood cut-out Simpsons characters, and sets them up on her lawn...just because. Well, why not? 

It was a really fun diversion to break up a long day of driving! (Don't worry, I wasn't behind the wheel)

We also stopped in Cole Harbour to pay respects to the birthplace of Canada's Golden Boy, Sid the Kid. I got a few honks from cars passing by, as I proudly sported Team Canada's #87 jersey.

We stopped for a brief visit in Halifax, and treated ourselves to a "splurge dinner": lobster! I had never tried lobster before, and I was a bit intimidated, so I got a Lobster Risotto, not the platter like the others! (Ps. it was delicious!)

Pretending to be sophisticated to draw attention away from the greasy roadtrip hair!

It was a pretty fancy restaurant and we were pretty unshowered and uncouth...but that made it all the better!

Since we were in Halifax anyway, I made everyone stop at Dalhouse University so I could check out the grounds. Its kind of a dream of  mine to attend this school someday! 

I mean, really...who wouldn't want to go to school here, when THIS is what the library looks like?! 

Sigh, 

Nova Scotia was beautiful, fun, and homey. I definitely think I could live there.

Coming up: The most picturesque 12 hours of my life...at Peggy's Cove, NS.

"Reading" Break

So, last week was technically Reading Break: that time of year when university students are meant to be catching up on their homework and preparing for midterms. I, however, evaded my academic duties in favor of my first ever tropical vacation!

I have no regrets, but due to a need to catch up on said academic duties, posting may become a bit irregular! As well as a few photos from the vacation, I will still be finishing up the Prague posts, and eventually NYC :)

I should also tell you that I am in the very beginning stages of applying to do a semester abroad next school year! Everything is still very much up in the air, but the adventures of Regis & co. are far from over!

The Necessary Update

I am home!

July was crazy and hectic and had unreliable internet and cell service. That is my excuse for not posting anything during that month. Maybe I will upload some photos later, and describe July adventures in more detail.

I was sad to leave, but my poor sleep-deprived body was ready for a break, so spending a week on the Shuswap Lake afterwards was THE PERFECT way to recover. We had amazing weather, the water was super warm, and it was wonderful to spend time with family! I read more books than was probably healthy for such a short time, napped whenever I felt like it, and ate delicious and easy to prepare food. I also spent time baking in the sun (I went from ghostly-white camp cook, to tanned and relaxed retiree), playing some feisty rounds of badminton, and leading the rellies in some intense games of "Mafia".

After I returned home, I could finally settle down and unpack and start to plan my summer adventures! I had aspirations to visit Vancouver Island friends, a week of cooking at the Woodsman camp, and outlet shopping in Seattle. AND THEN...I was in a car accident (yes...again), and my poor Samantha was crunched and written off. To say I am mighty tired of this sort of excitement in my life would be somewhat of an understatement.

So, instead of living the summer roadtrip dream, I have been at home...recuperating from a fresh case of whiplash, getting a few errands done, reconnecting with friends I haven't seen in months, and snuggling my Lokust! All in all, its not a completely bad way to spend a summer, just not what I had planned.

Classes begin in just over a week! I can hardly believe it. This semester I will be officially a "full time" student, although I can hardly pretend it is a very full course load. However I am excited for each of my courses...I will be taking Poli-Sci, Anthropology, and the second half of Into to Psych. I may also pick up a part time job if the right opportunity comes up. Because I'm picky like that. And I worked my butt off this summer so that I could focus more time on school this year instead of being all over the place. We'll see.

As much as I love school, I am feeling ready for a change of scene. Some Facebook friends have been posting their travel photos lately. Its making my feet itch...

10 Things I've Learned About University

10 Things I've Learned About University:
Year One

1. Study groups are fun! Thanks to Community for making them cool too. Or maybe that's just in my mind.

2. Your first impression of your prof is probably pretty accurate. (Note to self: when they are crazy the first day of class, its a big red flag. Find a different course or a different prof)

3. Your group might be awesome, but the group project is probably going to suck. Just accept that, and then  make sure you delegate and make your part really obviously your part and really obviously well put together.

4. Don't lose sleep over skipping a class once in a while if you really need to. In fact don't lose sleep over a class! Sleep is important for a hardworking mind.

5. Remember how much you paid to attend those classes? Don't skip them unless you really have to.

6. Don't count on your profs allowing you the time to copy the powerpoint slides. Its just not going to happen.

7. You know that occasional lull in homework? That's for reading ahead, not watching tv. You're welcome.

8. Don't decide to "wing" that test. Just. don't.

9. Go to your prof during office hours and get feedback on your work. They are marking it. Find out what they want, and tailor it accordingly!

10. Don't freak out about every little thing. Wait. I haven't learned that yet.

Final exams, here I come!

Random Bits

1. I got the job! I am the head cook for a treeplanting camp starting in May, through til the end of July. Its going to be a real challenge, and probably frustrating and hard work for a lot of the time. I am focusing on the fact that it is "only" 3 months and it will put me through school (I'm trying to get through without student loans). I also get to see more of BC! Yay!

2. Right now I am unemployed. No one wants to hire someone leaving in 2 months. Not even Booster Juice. Sad.

3. I have to learn how to be a frugal student. I've been working full-time for too long. Full time student-ing is going to be a harsh reality. Is it possible to be thrifty and still eat well? I've never been very good at thriftiness, and I love to eat. (I should elaborate- I also eat gluten-free, and organic when possible...which makes it a bit trickier. No ichiban, unfortunately)

4. I re-entered the thrift store scene, after losing faith in it a couple years ago. I emerged successful, with 7 good quality items, each under $8. Things I needed, and liked. Then I went to the mall, and had a heart attack. I feel I might have also regained a sense of perspective. New clothes are stupid expensive.

5. Today I was told by a new acquaintance, quite emphatically, that I "do NOT" look my age. On one hand I suppose that could be flattering, and a quality I will be grateful for when I'm even older. On the other...being decidedly baby-faced is a bit disheartening.

6. I've been watching Sherlock (the BBC version) on Netflix. In fact, I finished the last episode tonight. I hate finding shows I love on there, because when they end I always feel a little sad, like I'm never going to find anything that will compare. Any Sherlock fans out there? Isn't it fantastic? I can't believe it took me so long to click on it.

7. I love my cat, Loki. I'm going to miss him when I leave. And I'm not sure what he will do without me. Sigh.

8. We are studying sleep, circadian rhythms, and altered states of consciousness in Psych this week. I've never seen so much class participation before! I think its because, unlike identifying the parts of the brain or describing psychological perspectives, sleep is one area that is very applicable to university students. Our professor urges us to get lots of quality sleep. I like that kind of homework.

9. I feel strongly about 2 things: abolishing the time change, and implementing a 3-day weekend. Ok, and I think an official siesta would be beneficial as well.

10. I really, really, really, don't understand why we do the time change. No one has ever been able to give me a good explanation, and I think most parts of the world don't even do it. It seems like a lot of trouble with very little advantage.I say it must go!

Ramble done.

The Philosophy of GMO

So, I am taking 2 courses this semester: Psychology and Philosophy. Both of them are introductory level, and they are even located next door to one another, so I am becoming very familiar with the main floor of the IB.

Psych is...well, introductory level psych. Lots of terms and definitions to memorize, a big class of which only half shows up because attendance is not mandatory, and a relatively new professor that cracks corny jokes.

Philosophy on the other hand is run by a very "eccentric" man. You know that first class that isn't really a class because the professor just hands you a course outline and tells you what you'll be covering next week, so read up? Well, this guy ranted for 2 hours on cell phone use in the classroom, and how half of the class will fail because this course has the highest fail rate on campus...needless to say a few dropped out before the next class, and most of the class opted out of the (optional) term assignment, even though that meant the highest grade they can get is a B+...best case scenario.

In spite of the fear and trepidation in my heart, I have chosen to work on the term assignment, which is basically constructing a logical and formulaic argument. How hard can that really be, right? Right??

I thought I had an airtight topic: bringing down the introduction of a GMO apple to the Okanagan. I had read a couple articles about this which had me all riled up and it seemed fairly straight forward. I mean, GMO's are evil right, so this should be a cinch. Right?

Turns out things aren't just black and white in this world. Who would've guessed?
I've also begun to realize how many people want it to look that way. The articles that introduced me to this issue were all passionately anti-GMO, and leave you shaking your first at The Man and his Evil Laboratory! They raised legitimate questions and concerns, and I thought I had this project in the bag. I even checked out  the oppositions's website, and felt my blood pressure skyrocket as I read their brazen claims of apple superiority and desirability. I looked that website squarely in the eye and said, "We'll see about that".

I had my list of arguments, and the GMO stood no chance.

Or so I thought.

The uncomfortable thing about controversial issues is that if they could be all neatly wrapped up and decided one way or the other they wouldn't be issues. As much as I would like to believe (at least for the sake of my project) that the only reason this GMO has gotten as far down the road as it has is Evil Government  Conspiracy, the truth is that it has it's own legitimate arguments. And some of them are very convincing. And my own arguments are starting to look a little sad in comparison.

Maybe not a shocking revelation to most, but I'm finding myself surprised by a lot of strangely simple things lately.

Its one of the things I've really enjoyed about being at university this year. It challenges me to step outside my usual sphere of safe and "correct" thoughts, and take a closer look at things that I would regularly take for granted.

For the record, I still don't support GMO, but dangnabit, those guys have good marketing and PR staff!