Happy International Women's Day !
Today I traveled from Ukraine to Africa while going first to an art exhibit and then later to a potluck supper. The exhibit 'Baba Yaga, Bread, Bunnies and Other Subversions' by Chris Reid opened at the Dunlop Art Gallery today. It was roomful of contemporary Pysanky or ukranian easter eggs along with stuffed sock bunnies suspended from the ceiling. As well there were stuffed sock cats posed on shelves around large colourful drawings of buildings with chicken legs and screaming slices of bread. At the back of the room some of the eggs could be picked up and you could see the details of almost creepy scenes of characters invented by Mrs. Reid. It was different and fun. Because it was opening of the exhibit along with the art there was also a short ukranian dance performance and a few dishes to try.
The perogies tasted so good that following the visit to the art gallery was a visit to the Ukrainian Co-op a delightful store full of unique Ukrainian and Polish products. I bought some Saskatoon berry perogies and some Mint apple juice to try.
This evening there was a special women's potluck supper at the fransaskois church in Regina. Following the meal we got to try on African dresses brought by African immigrants in the community and we had a small fashion show. I think I will have to start wearing more colourful clothing.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Elephant Wake
It was a treat to take in some theatre last night. Joey Tremblay gave an amazing performance of his play Elephant Wake at the Globe theatre. Walking into the building I was immediately charmed by the intriguing design of the theatre and then of the set. I really liked the hanging lanterns and I think they could also create a delightful effect suspended in my house. The main character Jean Claude, the last resident of a small Saskatchewan town called Sainte Vierge, was very endearing and wonderfully eccentric. The audience was carried into his world and nostalgia through intricate stories, lively songs and elaborate re-enactments. The intimate setting of the theatre in the round and the playful interactions with the audience made it real. For the evening of March 7th I was a part of that small francophone community re-living masses in latin, christmas parties, school bus rides, funerals, roadside pranks and more. I loved the twisted prairie rendition of Edith Piaf''s song Milord and the inventive papier maché creations that were continually being described. I wanted his family, childhood and town to come back to life as much as Jean Claude. Joey Tremblay is an excellent actor and should you ever have the chance I highly recommend going to see him perform.
I am not sure how long it will last, but there is a short web trailer on the website that will give you a glimpse of the performance: Regina Globe Theatre
It was a treat to take in some theatre last night. Joey Tremblay gave an amazing performance of his play Elephant Wake at the Globe theatre. Walking into the building I was immediately charmed by the intriguing design of the theatre and then of the set. I really liked the hanging lanterns and I think they could also create a delightful effect suspended in my house. The main character Jean Claude, the last resident of a small Saskatchewan town called Sainte Vierge, was very endearing and wonderfully eccentric. The audience was carried into his world and nostalgia through intricate stories, lively songs and elaborate re-enactments. The intimate setting of the theatre in the round and the playful interactions with the audience made it real. For the evening of March 7th I was a part of that small francophone community re-living masses in latin, christmas parties, school bus rides, funerals, roadside pranks and more. I loved the twisted prairie rendition of Edith Piaf''s song Milord and the inventive papier maché creations that were continually being described. I wanted his family, childhood and town to come back to life as much as Jean Claude. Joey Tremblay is an excellent actor and should you ever have the chance I highly recommend going to see him perform.
I am not sure how long it will last, but there is a short web trailer on the website that will give you a glimpse of the performance: Regina Globe Theatre
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Celebrating winter
Today I am tired of winter and cold, but that doesn't mean I haven't been enjoying it. Here are some photos and there are more to come...
Snow creatures in Wascana park
Crêpe making at my parent's house in Saskatoon for Chandeleur
Dressed in my buffalo costume for the Ice and Fire Carnival procession in Victoria Park on February 16th in Regina. To see the more exciting photos from that day check out my dad's on-line photo album
Today I am tired of winter and cold, but that doesn't mean I haven't been enjoying it. Here are some photos and there are more to come...
Snow creatures in Wascana park
Crêpe making at my parent's house in Saskatoon for Chandeleur
Dressed in my buffalo costume for the Ice and Fire Carnival procession in Victoria Park on February 16th in Regina. To see the more exciting photos from that day check out my dad's on-line photo album
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the ...
The exterminators have come and gone twice. Since February 1st I have been living out of garbage bags because everything washable had to be laundered and dried on a high heat and then put into bags. For a while I even thought about sleeping in a garbage bag because it occurred to me that it would be easier than washing my sheets every day. Along with my new intimate relationship with the washer and dryer was a deeper acquaintance with Mr. Dirtdevil, the vacuum. Everyday we spent at least an hour or so together going over the carpets, the baseboards, inside the couches and cupboards. I thought we went everywhere the bugs might be hiding, but then just one week later I saw not one, but three bed bugs. One in the main closet, another in the bathroom and the third on my arm taking a bite. During this time my roommate went to stay at her brother's house and then part way into the second week my friend Li invited me over to help me keep my sanity. Spray number two was Saturday and then on Sunday we started moving back in. All of the furniture was moved back into place and all of the cupboards and the dishes were washed. I really hope this is the end.
Here are some photos of the furniture piled in the living room and the first bug we caught.
The exterminators have come and gone twice. Since February 1st I have been living out of garbage bags because everything washable had to be laundered and dried on a high heat and then put into bags. For a while I even thought about sleeping in a garbage bag because it occurred to me that it would be easier than washing my sheets every day. Along with my new intimate relationship with the washer and dryer was a deeper acquaintance with Mr. Dirtdevil, the vacuum. Everyday we spent at least an hour or so together going over the carpets, the baseboards, inside the couches and cupboards. I thought we went everywhere the bugs might be hiding, but then just one week later I saw not one, but three bed bugs. One in the main closet, another in the bathroom and the third on my arm taking a bite. During this time my roommate went to stay at her brother's house and then part way into the second week my friend Li invited me over to help me keep my sanity. Spray number two was Saturday and then on Sunday we started moving back in. All of the furniture was moved back into place and all of the cupboards and the dishes were washed. I really hope this is the end.
Here are some photos of the furniture piled in the living room and the first bug we caught.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
It's freezing...
A bit of winter excitement for us right now as the temperature has dropped to around -50 C with the wind chill. This morning I wore two pairs of socks, long underwear plus two pairs of pants, a t-shirt, a sweater, a polar fleece and then my winter jacket, two pairs of mitts, two scarves, two hoods and a tuque. I left only the smallest crack around my eyes so I could see. In fact I don't think it was so much the cold that threatened my walk to work as my lack of vision.
Because of the blizzard yesterday there were a lot of deep snow drifts, so I sort of stumbled down the side walk. I felt safe though because I put on special ice grips over my boots before I left my house. I had been given these ice grips to test them for the Ice and Fire carnival I will be dancing in on the 16th. When I finally got to work with really only one minor delay caused by man with his snow blower on the sidewalk the walk had seemed pretty uneventful. However just after stepping inside I realized the ice grips were missing. My first thought was they did not pass the test for the carnival dancing and then because they weren't actually mine I decided I should do some back tracking and look for them. The sun then was much brighter and since they were black I figured it wouldn't take too long. That is until I realized that I had lost them just outside of my house about when I had been hurdling through a series of knee deep snow drifts. Perhaps it isn't fair to judge their inefficiency on the deep snow. In any case I got my fair share of exercise and cold weather this morning as I ended up having to walk to work twice.
In some ways the blizzard wind was actually much colder last night when I went to my dance class. While waiting at the bus stop I sort of hid in some bushes to stay out the wind. Then when I got downtown I walked down the street with my scarf covering my entire face and my mitts over top. I walked close to the buildings to stay in a straight line and moved quite quickly so as not to get too cold. Maybe I should have stayed home, but it seems much more exciting to be out in a storm.
Having finally caught some bugs on the weekend they have officially been identified today by the exterminator as bed bugs, so the next fun step is having the apartment exterminated.
A bit of winter excitement for us right now as the temperature has dropped to around -50 C with the wind chill. This morning I wore two pairs of socks, long underwear plus two pairs of pants, a t-shirt, a sweater, a polar fleece and then my winter jacket, two pairs of mitts, two scarves, two hoods and a tuque. I left only the smallest crack around my eyes so I could see. In fact I don't think it was so much the cold that threatened my walk to work as my lack of vision.
Because of the blizzard yesterday there were a lot of deep snow drifts, so I sort of stumbled down the side walk. I felt safe though because I put on special ice grips over my boots before I left my house. I had been given these ice grips to test them for the Ice and Fire carnival I will be dancing in on the 16th. When I finally got to work with really only one minor delay caused by man with his snow blower on the sidewalk the walk had seemed pretty uneventful. However just after stepping inside I realized the ice grips were missing. My first thought was they did not pass the test for the carnival dancing and then because they weren't actually mine I decided I should do some back tracking and look for them. The sun then was much brighter and since they were black I figured it wouldn't take too long. That is until I realized that I had lost them just outside of my house about when I had been hurdling through a series of knee deep snow drifts. Perhaps it isn't fair to judge their inefficiency on the deep snow. In any case I got my fair share of exercise and cold weather this morning as I ended up having to walk to work twice.
In some ways the blizzard wind was actually much colder last night when I went to my dance class. While waiting at the bus stop I sort of hid in some bushes to stay out the wind. Then when I got downtown I walked down the street with my scarf covering my entire face and my mitts over top. I walked close to the buildings to stay in a straight line and moved quite quickly so as not to get too cold. Maybe I should have stayed home, but it seems much more exciting to be out in a storm.
Having finally caught some bugs on the weekend they have officially been identified today by the exterminator as bed bugs, so the next fun step is having the apartment exterminated.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Detective work
My roommate has now gotten two bites during the past week so the battle continues. I have to say the situation is really starting to bug me. I feel antsy all the time and am taking on strange habits like:
- spending hours vacuuming all the corners and crevices of the apartment,
- avoiding touching the floor with socks or bare feet at all times,
- wearing 'bug fighting shoes' (crocs from the dollar store) when walking around the apartment,
- vacuuming my sheets before going to bed,
- collecting small black dots and pieces of lint as specimens,
- hanging my pyjamas in my closet during the day,
- keeping a chair for my backpack so it doesn't come in contact with the floor,
-spraying on bug spray before going to bed ( actually that has only been my roommate so far),
- taping the legs of the bed and putting them in tin cans,
-sprinkling Borax in the carpet and on the mattresses,
-spraying Raid around the edges of the rooms and on the mattresses
- and most importantly developing a close relationship with the washer and the dryer
We'll see how long my sanity lasts :)If we can find and an identify the bug the the landlord will get exterminators until then we will have to find inventive ways to catch some.
My roommate has now gotten two bites during the past week so the battle continues. I have to say the situation is really starting to bug me. I feel antsy all the time and am taking on strange habits like:
- spending hours vacuuming all the corners and crevices of the apartment,
- avoiding touching the floor with socks or bare feet at all times,
- wearing 'bug fighting shoes' (crocs from the dollar store) when walking around the apartment,
- vacuuming my sheets before going to bed,
- collecting small black dots and pieces of lint as specimens,
- hanging my pyjamas in my closet during the day,
- keeping a chair for my backpack so it doesn't come in contact with the floor,
-spraying on bug spray before going to bed ( actually that has only been my roommate so far),
- taping the legs of the bed and putting them in tin cans,
-sprinkling Borax in the carpet and on the mattresses,
-spraying Raid around the edges of the rooms and on the mattresses
- and most importantly developing a close relationship with the washer and the dryer
We'll see how long my sanity lasts :)If we can find and an identify the bug the the landlord will get exterminators until then we will have to find inventive ways to catch some.
Bailando
On s’était dit beaucoup sans avoir dit un mot.
Ses gestes me racontaient l’histoire.
Mes oreilles étaient devenues sourds.
C’était l’odeur du passé et du présent
Je m’imaginais dans un pays inventé
Mes pas me donnaient cette vie
Je faisais l’écho du chant
En évoquant la langue de la danse
Petit á petit il ne fallait presque plus toucher
L’équilibre se sentait dans chaque respiration
C’était un jeu ouvert et croisé
Au sol se traçait la carte des sons et des émotions
----------------------------------------------------
Last Thursday I discovered free Argentina tango lessons downtown Regina once a week until mid-February. It was like winning the lottery because that night not only did I get a chance to learn a dance I have been dreaming about for years, but I also learned about an opportunity to take part in a procession at Regina's Ice and Fire Carnival. Then I was invited to attend a weekend workshop put on by New Dance Horizons with the guest artist Ravi Khalsa.
Everyone is invited to the Carnival on February 16th in Victoria Park, Regina !
On s’était dit beaucoup sans avoir dit un mot.
Ses gestes me racontaient l’histoire.
Mes oreilles étaient devenues sourds.
C’était l’odeur du passé et du présent
Je m’imaginais dans un pays inventé
Mes pas me donnaient cette vie
Je faisais l’écho du chant
En évoquant la langue de la danse
Petit á petit il ne fallait presque plus toucher
L’équilibre se sentait dans chaque respiration
C’était un jeu ouvert et croisé
Au sol se traçait la carte des sons et des émotions
----------------------------------------------------
Last Thursday I discovered free Argentina tango lessons downtown Regina once a week until mid-February. It was like winning the lottery because that night not only did I get a chance to learn a dance I have been dreaming about for years, but I also learned about an opportunity to take part in a procession at Regina's Ice and Fire Carnival. Then I was invited to attend a weekend workshop put on by New Dance Horizons with the guest artist Ravi Khalsa.
Everyone is invited to the Carnival on February 16th in Victoria Park, Regina !
Sunday, January 06, 2008
!Ha llegado los reyes a Regina, Saskatchewan!
Yesterday we had a Spanish supper to celebrate Epiphany. There was lots to eat from Paella to hot peppers, a tortilla de patata (Spanish omelette)with some ensaladilla rusa (similar to potatoe salad), cured ham, olives, corn nuts, pineapple juice, wine and an attempted Roscon de reyes. !Feliz día de los reyes!
Yesterday we had a Spanish supper to celebrate Epiphany. There was lots to eat from Paella to hot peppers, a tortilla de patata (Spanish omelette)with some ensaladilla rusa (similar to potatoe salad), cured ham, olives, corn nuts, pineapple juice, wine and an attempted Roscon de reyes. !Feliz día de los reyes!Thursday, January 03, 2008
The travelling bed
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to try and be more positive and this includes references to the city and the people of Regina. Yesterday in an attempt to end (I hope) the battle against the invisible bed bugs I bought a new bed.
Since moving here I have greatly improved my vacuuming, washing and bed making skills. I have also furthered my knowledge in medicinal creams be it for allergic reactions to my mysterious bites or the rash that has developed below my right eye. I have also had the opportunity to learn the phone numbers for the health line, the pest control and the location of the nearby medical clinic. I have developed a greater awareness for detail and can easily find small pieces of red sweater fuzz on my bed sheets and identify that they are not actually bed bugs. I have also started a new protective pyjama fashion that involves tucking my pyjama pants into my socks and my pyjama shirt into the waistband to leave as little skin exposed as possible.
In fact the bites reminded me of the Camino and some of struggles I overcame during that journey and that is how I can actually be positive about the experience.
Bringing my new bed home turned into a bit of an adventure as well because I attempted to do it on my own on foot. It was only a twin size mattress, but with the wind it was a little difficult to steer. To the traffic it must have appeared as though a mattress had grown feet as I walked with it across the street. As I got to the other side, to my luck a couple in a white pick up truck had pulled over and offered to help. The man went out of his way to carry the mattress from his truck, up the stairs and into my apartment. Next I had the frame to carry which was a little heavy, but quite easy to manage. Finally a little less enthusiastic I went back for the box spring. Slowly I inched it forward a few feet at a time and as I crossed onto my street a man in a Sasktel van pulled up and helped me carry it the rest of the way home. So now not only do I have a new bed, but a positive experience of the friendly people in Regina as well.
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to try and be more positive and this includes references to the city and the people of Regina. Yesterday in an attempt to end (I hope) the battle against the invisible bed bugs I bought a new bed.
Since moving here I have greatly improved my vacuuming, washing and bed making skills. I have also furthered my knowledge in medicinal creams be it for allergic reactions to my mysterious bites or the rash that has developed below my right eye. I have also had the opportunity to learn the phone numbers for the health line, the pest control and the location of the nearby medical clinic. I have developed a greater awareness for detail and can easily find small pieces of red sweater fuzz on my bed sheets and identify that they are not actually bed bugs. I have also started a new protective pyjama fashion that involves tucking my pyjama pants into my socks and my pyjama shirt into the waistband to leave as little skin exposed as possible.
In fact the bites reminded me of the Camino and some of struggles I overcame during that journey and that is how I can actually be positive about the experience.
Bringing my new bed home turned into a bit of an adventure as well because I attempted to do it on my own on foot. It was only a twin size mattress, but with the wind it was a little difficult to steer. To the traffic it must have appeared as though a mattress had grown feet as I walked with it across the street. As I got to the other side, to my luck a couple in a white pick up truck had pulled over and offered to help. The man went out of his way to carry the mattress from his truck, up the stairs and into my apartment. Next I had the frame to carry which was a little heavy, but quite easy to manage. Finally a little less enthusiastic I went back for the box spring. Slowly I inched it forward a few feet at a time and as I crossed onto my street a man in a Sasktel van pulled up and helped me carry it the rest of the way home. So now not only do I have a new bed, but a positive experience of the friendly people in Regina as well.
Celebrating the New Year
This year I adopted a few new traditions to celebrate the arrival of 2008. As the bells chimed midnight in Spain I gathered my family together in our kitchen to eat 12 grapes and to make 12 wishes for the new year. It’s a good thing it was only 5pm our time because by the fifth chime my mouth was very full. I think I’ll need to train a bit more before going to Spain. In any case my dad requested that next time we get small, seedless grapes.
Traditionally I spend the evening of the 31st at my friends’ Jenn & Kurt’s place for their annual house party. Every year there seems to be more and more people and at midnight champagne was served, hugs and kisses were shared and balloons and streamers flew through the air.
When I got home according to Columbian tradition I broke an egg into a glass of water and put it under my bed to try and in order to get a peek at my future in the upcoming year. Let me know what images you can see in my egg…
Following conversations with my Columbian friends I recommend a trip to their country for New years if you are at all superstitious. Besides an egg you can also tempt fate by putting three potatoes under your bed before you go to sleep. One should be left as is, the second half peeled and the third completely peeled and in the morning whichever potatoe you find first will tell you how much money you’ll get in the next year. If your hand first finds the naked potatoe you will be rich.
However if travelling interests you more than money then pack a small suitcase and when the clock strikes twelve pick it up and run around the block.
For a more adventurous custom start your evening wearing a pair of new yellow underwear on backwards and then turn them around as the new year begins. The Mexican or Spanish variation involves wearing new red underwear to bring you good luck in love in the new year.
Another friend from Haiti mentioned house cleaning after midnight for a clean start to the new year, but that is not quite so appealing.
My family has started our own tradition which involves celebrating a new culture every year on January 1st. From Japanese to Spanish this year was French. It is not just about trying new food, but also new costumes. My Dad has posted some of the photos from our crêpe making party on this link
This year I adopted a few new traditions to celebrate the arrival of 2008. As the bells chimed midnight in Spain I gathered my family together in our kitchen to eat 12 grapes and to make 12 wishes for the new year. It’s a good thing it was only 5pm our time because by the fifth chime my mouth was very full. I think I’ll need to train a bit more before going to Spain. In any case my dad requested that next time we get small, seedless grapes.
Traditionally I spend the evening of the 31st at my friends’ Jenn & Kurt’s place for their annual house party. Every year there seems to be more and more people and at midnight champagne was served, hugs and kisses were shared and balloons and streamers flew through the air.
When I got home according to Columbian tradition I broke an egg into a glass of water and put it under my bed to try and in order to get a peek at my future in the upcoming year. Let me know what images you can see in my egg…
Following conversations with my Columbian friends I recommend a trip to their country for New years if you are at all superstitious. Besides an egg you can also tempt fate by putting three potatoes under your bed before you go to sleep. One should be left as is, the second half peeled and the third completely peeled and in the morning whichever potatoe you find first will tell you how much money you’ll get in the next year. If your hand first finds the naked potatoe you will be rich.
However if travelling interests you more than money then pack a small suitcase and when the clock strikes twelve pick it up and run around the block.
For a more adventurous custom start your evening wearing a pair of new yellow underwear on backwards and then turn them around as the new year begins. The Mexican or Spanish variation involves wearing new red underwear to bring you good luck in love in the new year.
Another friend from Haiti mentioned house cleaning after midnight for a clean start to the new year, but that is not quite so appealing.
My family has started our own tradition which involves celebrating a new culture every year on January 1st. From Japanese to Spanish this year was French. It is not just about trying new food, but also new costumes. My Dad has posted some of the photos from our crêpe making party on this link
Happy New Year ! Bonne année ! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Frohes neues Jahr !
Monday, December 03, 2007
Exciting news !
Regina has a hill ! When I asked last week about where to go tobogganing and was told that the city was built on the flattest part of the province I had a small feeling of culture shock. I found the idea hard to take and I was even contemplating writing the mayor and suggesting they follow Saskatoon's example and build a few. I was very happy to see a hill today by Wascana lake, but I am not actually sure how far away it is...
I also find it funny the city only has one bridge and that it is referred to it as 'The' Regina bridge. Whereas Saskatoon, the Paris of the North or city of bridges has at least five or six. Right now for I associate Albert Street in Regina with the river in Saskatoon and think of it as the dividing axis in the city, however I have been told that isn't true. It actually just goes to show that I need to get out and visit the rest of the city.
Regina has a hill ! When I asked last week about where to go tobogganing and was told that the city was built on the flattest part of the province I had a small feeling of culture shock. I found the idea hard to take and I was even contemplating writing the mayor and suggesting they follow Saskatoon's example and build a few. I was very happy to see a hill today by Wascana lake, but I am not actually sure how far away it is...
I also find it funny the city only has one bridge and that it is referred to it as 'The' Regina bridge. Whereas Saskatoon, the Paris of the North or city of bridges has at least five or six. Right now for I associate Albert Street in Regina with the river in Saskatoon and think of it as the dividing axis in the city, however I have been told that isn't true. It actually just goes to show that I need to get out and visit the rest of the city.
Seven Random and/or Little-Known Facts About Me
So, there's this meme... and Cristina tagged me. Here are the rules:
Link to your tagger and post these rules.
Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.
Here we go:
1.If I were to have been a boy my parents planned to name me Eli.
2.When I was small I could not sleep without a large rock under my bed because I needed it to break the window in case of a fire.
3.When I was four I got my first pair of shoes with laces and I worked very hard to learn how to tie them on my own that same day.
4.I know basic American Sign Language from having studied
5.In grade eight I danced with the Alberta Ballet as a rat in the Nutcracker.
6.I was evacuated from my house in
7.I sometimes send postcards to my friend Ami telling her about my imaginary life in
So here are the seven people I am tagging:
1 - Mark
2 - Kristen4- Samuel
5- Edgar
6- Anna
7- Paloma
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Between Cities
I have now been in the city of Regina for almost two weeks, so I guess I can now start to say that I am living here. During my first week I made four different trips into the city and wasn’t really ‘living’ anywhere.
On the 15th I started a position as project officer with the Assemblée communautaire fransakoise (ACF). My project right now is to coordinate the Francofièvre concert for 2008 and I am sure you will hear more about that later.
Trip #1- Arriving at the airport from Ottawa (so I went on a short trip out East in early November)
As soon as my tiny plane had landed I set out to find some friendly local to answer some of my many questions. I had to wait a while, but eventually a security guard came to the information desk. He told me I should take a taxi, but then showed me where the nearest bus stop was on the map and I decided to walk. The cold wind that greeted me while stepping out into one of the flattest cities in the country nearly changed my mind. Then I thought about how it was only a year ago that I was hiking the Camino to Santiago and I stubbornly continued on to the bus stop. No sooner had I arrived and there was a bus. I cautiously asked, ‘are you going to the Golden Mile Mall?’ and being told yes I sat down to study my map. I found Retallack street, my friend’s apartment, a pay phone (hooray for 25 cent calls!) and then went to wait for her brother to bring over the key. By the time he arrived I had already met the neighbour and my bags were waiting inside the front door. Really it was all a little too easy, so I set out to do some exploring. As I took a short cut to the nearby mall I told myself don’t walk through the alley this is murder capital of Canada and it’s night time, but nothing happened.
Having grown up in Saskatoon I am a little bit biased towards my city and have been told all the bad things about Regina. How the lake smells, the water tastes bad, the university is small, etc., and the original name ‘Pile of Bones’ didn’t make it sound very appealing.
The next day I was immersed in all things Fransaskois at a conference organized by the ACF. I even made it so far as to get caught up in a conversation on language politics with so
me displaced Québécois critically commenting on the French language and culture in the province.
It was a very long first day and I only started to feel more at ease as I drove back to Saskatoon. I caught a ride with two friendly Fransaskois and a new immigrant from Cameroun. It was a fun trip and the man from Cameroun was highly entertained with the sight of the lone Saskatchewan ski hill ‘Mount Blackstrap’.
Trip # 2 - Moving
The next day I ‘ moved’ to Regina by packing my parent’s car full of things, driving down to the city with my mom, dropping my stuff off and then driving back to Saskatoon again.
Trip # 3 – To Regina by bus
On Wednesday I eventlessly took the bus back to Regina. Outside the bus station in Regina seemed a little sketchy, but soon enough I was on a city bus back to Golden Mile Mall, my point of reference in the city. I still don’t quite understand the layout. If I think about Albert St. like the river in Saskatoon I feel a little bit oriented.
Two days later I embarked on my second carpool experience with the daughter of a woman who sings in my dad’s church choir. It was dark while we drove and I tried to make conversation to pass the time. When she dropped me off she warned me on the drive back she was bringing her cat so there would probably be lots of meowing.
Trip # 4 – The winning adventure
Sunday morning we were greeted with snow and it was the day Winter had decided to settle in. The weather really in fact had little effect on the drive back it was instead the cat. I got in the car and looked in the back and Moe was sitting inside his traveller bag meowing piteously while staring out through the netting. It sounded a little like crying and I imagined him saying ‘stop the car ! get me out of here ! take me home!’ It bothered me a little, but there wasn’t much to be done. After having been on the highway for about ten minutes I noticed him pawing at the corner of the bag and soon enough there was a little hole. Then he started biting at the hole and it got bigger. I incredulously watched as the cat first pushed out his nose, then his head and then emerged from the bag.
At first I was a little scared. I thought ‘the cat is angry and is going to attack me, the cat is going to destroy the rental car trying to dig and escape and without a seatbelt the cat will get hurt’. Luckily the driver was much calmer, she pulled over and the cat climbed into her lap. I tried to ease the awkwardness with the newly acquainted stranger by asking if she knew how other people travelled with cats. She said some of her friends just let the cat wander around the car and she figured he would eventually fall asleep. ‘Okay’ I told myself we’ll see. Moe was not interested in sleeping because he wanted to be up at the front with the driver. Eventually I ended up holding the cat, petting him and for a while he stopped meowing. I became covered in masses of cat fur and tried not to think about my allergies. I would wiggle my nose so I wouldn’t sneeze too much as my eyes teared up. It was a long two and a half hours and I felt almost victorious upon arrival because I had survived.
I still think car pooling is a fun idea; something like organized hitch hiking and for the time being I am going to try and create a network of Saskatoon commuters. Other than being reminded that Rick Mercer calls Regina ‘the city that rhymes with fun’ and seeing a bus advert encouraging STD testing since the city also holds the title of ‘ Chlamydia capital of Canada’ I am slowly adjusting to queen city.
I have now been in the city of Regina for almost two weeks, so I guess I can now start to say that I am living here. During my first week I made four different trips into the city and wasn’t really ‘living’ anywhere.
On the 15th I started a position as project officer with the Assemblée communautaire fransakoise (ACF). My project right now is to coordinate the Francofièvre concert for 2008 and I am sure you will hear more about that later.
Trip #1- Arriving at the airport from Ottawa (so I went on a short trip out East in early November)
As soon as my tiny plane had landed I set out to find some friendly local to answer some of my many questions. I had to wait a while, but eventually a security guard came to the information desk. He told me I should take a taxi, but then showed me where the nearest bus stop was on the map and I decided to walk. The cold wind that greeted me while stepping out into one of the flattest cities in the country nearly changed my mind. Then I thought about how it was only a year ago that I was hiking the Camino to Santiago and I stubbornly continued on to the bus stop. No sooner had I arrived and there was a bus. I cautiously asked, ‘are you going to the Golden Mile Mall?’ and being told yes I sat down to study my map. I found Retallack street, my friend’s apartment, a pay phone (hooray for 25 cent calls!) and then went to wait for her brother to bring over the key. By the time he arrived I had already met the neighbour and my bags were waiting inside the front door. Really it was all a little too easy, so I set out to do some exploring. As I took a short cut to the nearby mall I told myself don’t walk through the alley this is murder capital of Canada and it’s night time, but nothing happened.
Having grown up in Saskatoon I am a little bit biased towards my city and have been told all the bad things about Regina. How the lake smells, the water tastes bad, the university is small, etc., and the original name ‘Pile of Bones’ didn’t make it sound very appealing.
The next day I was immersed in all things Fransaskois at a conference organized by the ACF. I even made it so far as to get caught up in a conversation on language politics with so
me displaced Québécois critically commenting on the French language and culture in the province.It was a very long first day and I only started to feel more at ease as I drove back to Saskatoon. I caught a ride with two friendly Fransaskois and a new immigrant from Cameroun. It was a fun trip and the man from Cameroun was highly entertained with the sight of the lone Saskatchewan ski hill ‘Mount Blackstrap’.
Trip # 2 - Moving
The next day I ‘ moved’ to Regina by packing my parent’s car full of things, driving down to the city with my mom, dropping my stuff off and then driving back to Saskatoon again.
Trip # 3 – To Regina by bus
On Wednesday I eventlessly took the bus back to Regina. Outside the bus station in Regina seemed a little sketchy, but soon enough I was on a city bus back to Golden Mile Mall, my point of reference in the city. I still don’t quite understand the layout. If I think about Albert St. like the river in Saskatoon I feel a little bit oriented.
Two days later I embarked on my second carpool experience with the daughter of a woman who sings in my dad’s church choir. It was dark while we drove and I tried to make conversation to pass the time. When she dropped me off she warned me on the drive back she was bringing her cat so there would probably be lots of meowing.
Trip # 4 – The winning adventure
Sunday morning we were greeted with snow and it was the day Winter had decided to settle in. The weather really in fact had little effect on the drive back it was instead the cat. I got in the car and looked in the back and Moe was sitting inside his traveller bag meowing piteously while staring out through the netting. It sounded a little like crying and I imagined him saying ‘stop the car ! get me out of here ! take me home!’ It bothered me a little, but there wasn’t much to be done. After having been on the highway for about ten minutes I noticed him pawing at the corner of the bag and soon enough there was a little hole. Then he started biting at the hole and it got bigger. I incredulously watched as the cat first pushed out his nose, then his head and then emerged from the bag.
At first I was a little scared. I thought ‘the cat is angry and is going to attack me, the cat is going to destroy the rental car trying to dig and escape and without a seatbelt the cat will get hurt’. Luckily the driver was much calmer, she pulled over and the cat climbed into her lap. I tried to ease the awkwardness with the newly acquainted stranger by asking if she knew how other people travelled with cats. She said some of her friends just let the cat wander around the car and she figured he would eventually fall asleep. ‘Okay’ I told myself we’ll see. Moe was not interested in sleeping because he wanted to be up at the front with the driver. Eventually I ended up holding the cat, petting him and for a while he stopped meowing. I became covered in masses of cat fur and tried not to think about my allergies. I would wiggle my nose so I wouldn’t sneeze too much as my eyes teared up. It was a long two and a half hours and I felt almost victorious upon arrival because I had survived.
I still think car pooling is a fun idea; something like organized hitch hiking and for the time being I am going to try and create a network of Saskatoon commuters. Other than being reminded that Rick Mercer calls Regina ‘the city that rhymes with fun’ and seeing a bus advert encouraging STD testing since the city also holds the title of ‘ Chlamydia capital of Canada’ I am slowly adjusting to queen city.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Snow
I was plunged into flurry of snow flakes as I walked down the street. A young boy was walking towards me and when we crossed he suddenly turned to me and said 'I can't believe it is snowing.' I saw other children leaving school yelling, running and spinning like the swirling snow flakes. Hands open,tongues out and the word snow on everyones lips. The soft white clusters magically melted like cold kisses on my cheeks. I had to hold my hand over my eyes to see. For a minute the world was painted white and then a short while later it was gone. There was a chill in the air and the faint whispering of the wind saying softly winter is coming.
I was plunged into flurry of snow flakes as I walked down the street. A young boy was walking towards me and when we crossed he suddenly turned to me and said 'I can't believe it is snowing.' I saw other children leaving school yelling, running and spinning like the swirling snow flakes. Hands open,tongues out and the word snow on everyones lips. The soft white clusters magically melted like cold kisses on my cheeks. I had to hold my hand over my eyes to see. For a minute the world was painted white and then a short while later it was gone. There was a chill in the air and the faint whispering of the wind saying softly winter is coming.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Comparing cultures, or missing Spanish fiestas
Early October is when Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving and Lucenses, natives of the city of Lugo in Spain celebrate San Froilan. There is really little comparison between the family feast to celebrate the end of harvest in North America and the lavish nine day street festival honouring the Spanish city’s patron saint, but I think it would be fun to think about the possibility. To start the traditional fare at the San Froilan festival is octopus and I can’t even imagine the reaction my family would have if instead of turkey we had a large platter of purple Pulpo at the meal.
Next would be the costumes which at the early part of San Froilan seem to have the theme of traditional Galician dress and by the end of the celebrations they change to medieval attire. I suppose for the traditional costumes one would dress as a pilgrim or farmer and later on you could be a little more creative with the Thanksgiving theme and bring out your vegetable, cornucopia or superhero costumes. (A small aside to mention my little claim to fame is that I actually won a Thanksgiving themed costume contest in High school dressed as ‘Captain Turkey’ a little known thanksgiving super-hero)
Now I think it would help if the Thanksgiving celebrations were moved outdoors, a marching band hired to parade your family down the street and then at the end of the day you might set off a few fireworks. Having gone to all this trouble why not just extend the celebrations over a few days or even a week. I think maybe next year it might be easier to just buy a plane ticket to Spain. Here’s a website with some of the colours of the festivities in Lugo: http://sanfroilan.lugo.es/
Early October is when Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving and Lucenses, natives of the city of Lugo in Spain celebrate San Froilan. There is really little comparison between the family feast to celebrate the end of harvest in North America and the lavish nine day street festival honouring the Spanish city’s patron saint, but I think it would be fun to think about the possibility. To start the traditional fare at the San Froilan festival is octopus and I can’t even imagine the reaction my family would have if instead of turkey we had a large platter of purple Pulpo at the meal.
Next would be the costumes which at the early part of San Froilan seem to have the theme of traditional Galician dress and by the end of the celebrations they change to medieval attire. I suppose for the traditional costumes one would dress as a pilgrim or farmer and later on you could be a little more creative with the Thanksgiving theme and bring out your vegetable, cornucopia or superhero costumes. (A small aside to mention my little claim to fame is that I actually won a Thanksgiving themed costume contest in High school dressed as ‘Captain Turkey’ a little known thanksgiving super-hero)
Now I think it would help if the Thanksgiving celebrations were moved outdoors, a marching band hired to parade your family down the street and then at the end of the day you might set off a few fireworks. Having gone to all this trouble why not just extend the celebrations over a few days or even a week. I think maybe next year it might be easier to just buy a plane ticket to Spain. Here’s a website with some of the colours of the festivities in Lugo: http://sanfroilan.lugo.es/
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Prairie skies
Not too long ago the phrase ‘ Land of the Living Skies’ was added to the license plates in Saskatchewan. At first I didn’t like it because my sister had submitted an entry with ‘Sunny Saskatchewan’ in the contest and I had liked that better.
I found the expression Land of the Living skies very fitting this past week as I got to witness some spectacular sunrises while riding my bike along the river. I didn’t bring my camera until the end of the week because I know my father carries his camera around religiously and I am trying not to act too much like him.
Another scene I saw was the field full of Canadian geese as I biked up towards the University of Saskatchewan. For some reason I found it cheering and comforting to bike past flock of geese, maybe because if they are still there means we’ll be getting a few more days of nice weather.
Not too long ago the phrase ‘ Land of the Living Skies’ was added to the license plates in Saskatchewan. At first I didn’t like it because my sister had submitted an entry with ‘Sunny Saskatchewan’ in the contest and I had liked that better.
I found the expression Land of the Living skies very fitting this past week as I got to witness some spectacular sunrises while riding my bike along the river. I didn’t bring my camera until the end of the week because I know my father carries his camera around religiously and I am trying not to act too much like him.
Another scene I saw was the field full of Canadian geese as I biked up towards the University of Saskatchewan. For some reason I found it cheering and comforting to bike past flock of geese, maybe because if they are still there means we’ll be getting a few more days of nice weather.
Celebrating Saskatoon history
Last Friday was an exciting day in Saskatoon because there was a celebration for the 125th anniversary of the founding of the city. A re-enactment of the meeting between John Lake, the commissioner of the Temperance Colonization Society and Chief Whitecap, the Dakota First Nation chief had been planned. The mayor and town council in period dress came down the river in canoe and Chief Darcy Bear the current leader of the Dakota First Nation rode up to the riverbank on horseback to meet them.
I only caught a glimpse of the canoes and horses as I rode my bike across the Broadway Bridge to meet up with my parents at my dad’s office. As soon as I go to the street corner I jumped off my bike and ran up announcing that the Dakota were coming with some of the passion that Laura Secord might have had. We then quickly started walking towards the Victoria Traffic Bridge. We missed the official meeting, but had a chance to listen to some of the speeches and later watch a number of dance performances on the new River Landing Amphitheatre. It was a beautiful fall day.
Between the speeches and the dances we decided to check out the food stands on the bridge. A lot of other people had the same idea at the same time and in order to try and save time my mom joined one hamburger line-up and my dad joined another one at another stand on the opposite end of the bridge. My role was to be the go-between and pull one person out of line when the other was shorter. The situation was a little ridiculous and even more so because in the midst of it all I ran into a friend and I had to tell him that I didn’t have time to talk because I was busy being a messenger between hamburger line-ups. In the end we didn’t even end up eating until later. As the evening drew to a close I ran off to go and volunteer at an International Peace day event, but crossing back over the bridge I stopped for a few minutes to watch part of the fireworks display. I love the excitement of fireworks.
Last Friday was an exciting day in Saskatoon because there was a celebration for the 125th anniversary of the founding of the city. A re-enactment of the meeting between John Lake, the commissioner of the Temperance Colonization Society and Chief Whitecap, the Dakota First Nation chief had been planned. The mayor and town council in period dress came down the river in canoe and Chief Darcy Bear the current leader of the Dakota First Nation rode up to the riverbank on horseback to meet them.
I only caught a glimpse of the canoes and horses as I rode my bike across the Broadway Bridge to meet up with my parents at my dad’s office. As soon as I go to the street corner I jumped off my bike and ran up announcing that the Dakota were coming with some of the passion that Laura Secord might have had. We then quickly started walking towards the Victoria Traffic Bridge. We missed the official meeting, but had a chance to listen to some of the speeches and later watch a number of dance performances on the new River Landing Amphitheatre. It was a beautiful fall day.
Between the speeches and the dances we decided to check out the food stands on the bridge. A lot of other people had the same idea at the same time and in order to try and save time my mom joined one hamburger line-up and my dad joined another one at another stand on the opposite end of the bridge. My role was to be the go-between and pull one person out of line when the other was shorter. The situation was a little ridiculous and even more so because in the midst of it all I ran into a friend and I had to tell him that I didn’t have time to talk because I was busy being a messenger between hamburger line-ups. In the end we didn’t even end up eating until later. As the evening drew to a close I ran off to go and volunteer at an International Peace day event, but crossing back over the bridge I stopped for a few minutes to watch part of the fireworks display. I love the excitement of fireworks.
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