My new home

I did tell you that I found an amazing place to stay off-campus and knowing how anxious you all are to see my place…(I like thinking that you are) here it is.

The white door is the entrance
to my place and the apartment
is right above the basement;
you can see Crystal's room from
this side, my window faces the garage.


Colours are not so coordinated, but will be soon. I love my room; it has LOTS of light opposed to the dorm room. I have attempted to clean my windows to the best of my ability :p

This is my plant in its perfect spot. I love it...it is beautiful and it had pretty purple flowers when I first got it. I guess they will bloom again next summer. It also has unique leaves; they are purple on the back.

Living room

The kitchen is my next favorite thing about the apartment after my room.

To the left is my room, Anne's is right in front and the bathroom is on the right, between the two walls. The door to the right of Anne's room is just storage space, mainly cleaning supplies.

Door to the apartment on the right. Storage/coat hanger closet on the left and Crystal's room in front.

What makes my place even more so great you ask??..There is a park close by, a community centre, my bank, the library, supermarket and Yonge street. It is 15mins walk to the subway station, 20mins by bus to campus (given that the bus is on time) and a 12mins bike ride to campus.

When I first moved in Crystal and Alicia were in the other 2 rooms. Amazing and fun girls. Then Alicia moved out and Anne moved in, and it was the three of us for a while. Currently Crystal moved out and it is Anne and I and we’ll be having Anne’s friend joining us for the month of August. And it is an international home; Alicia is French, Anne is Korean, Crystal is Canadian and our one month roommate is Japanese.

However, I also did promise some people to show them pictures of my Rez room and how their gifts helped make that room of mine a home for 8 months.

The papyrus is from Zol and the stone craving from Malik, they got them on their trip to Egypt summer 2008. The drawing below is by Malik, he drew it for me before I left for Canada. It was difficult finding frames for their actual sizes in Ikea, however these worked out fine, I just made the inner frames.

The placard here is from Malik, from his trip to the U.S., summer 2007 :)

I am planning to hang everything up in my new room, but I'm still trying to decide on where exactly they should go.

And the winner is...

SPAIN
I made those flags :D

Since both Zol and Mum were rooting for Spain, I followed suit :) and Spain won...WOOHOO...however, trying to get to a place to watch the game was not easy, especially on College Street, i.e. Little Italy...It was packed with Spanish fans in all the good posts to watch the game and there were lines ups!

It was a nerve-racking game as the score was 0-0 for 90mins with Spain finally scoring within the extra 6mins they got in lost time. There was a big celebration at Yonge and Dundas Square and College Street.

It is a big deal since it is Spain’s first time to win the World Cup, however a much bigger disappoint for the Netherlands as they have managed to make it to the final stage for 3 times now only to lose; 1974 to West Germany and 1978 to Argentina.

However, being able to hold the score for 0-0 that long proves that they were playing good.

Candy Season

I think I have a great don…what a warm feeling it is when you come back home to find this on your door :)



Also, here is one way I had a break from studies last semester; gingerbread man decorating.



I decided to make a gingerbread woman…I think they should change it to gingerbread decorating, omitting the “man” part! I also decorated a snowman, but too much sugar for the night, so Clement was happy to eat it.

The Pumpkin Experience

Halloween 09 was quite the experience for me. Even though I did not go trick or treating or to a party, which is usually the case, I did other things that certainly weighted it out.

Living in residence, at least the one I’m in makes it feel sort of like kindergarten, but honestly I like it. With the floors divided into houses, i.e. A, B, C, D and E, with a don for each one, we have activities every month. Some are joint activities, as in with all the other houses, some aren’t. So with October being the Halloween month, one activity was pumpkin carving along with pumpkin pies and hot chocolate. Yes, you’re right, I was very excited. A first timer with the pumpkin and its variations!

Everyone got a pumpkin and we dispersed into the common rooms. We sorted things out and got to work. It was a very pleasant afternoon; talking, laughing, eating etc. basically everyone was cheery and I had a good time :)

This is my pumpkin

Apparently pumpkins aren't sweet like fruits, which was my conception. Also, some people kept the seeds to eat. Apparently you fry them I think?!

This is my hot chocolate :)

They were very prepared, there was whipped cream and marshmallows

Good job! Being my first time, I decided to go

with a classical pumpkin face...I tell

you I was so proud of myself.

Voila!!

Sara, the girl next to me, carved THIS. Some students are very creative.

Pumpkin carving exhibt.

It looks perfect!

What d'ya think

Did I mention, another great thing about being in rez, you get presies in your mailbox :D

Going downtown on Halloween night was another experience...some people put a lot of effort into their costumes, quite a show and it was packed. This Halloween walk happens on the "gay street" as this Canadian flag indicates. I saw Elmo and took a picture with him.