I was emailed this from a friend...enjoy the holidays, be safe!
BEST CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPE
1 cup water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups dried fruit
1 bottle crown royal
Sample the crown royal to check quality.
Take a large bowl, check the crown royal again,to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.
Turn on the electric mixer....beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.
Add one teaspoon of sugar...beat again.
At this point it's best to make sure the crown royal is still ok, try another cup...just in case.
Turn off the mixer thingy.
Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
Pick the frigging fruit off floor..
Mix on the turner.
If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a dewscriver.
Sample the crown royal to check for tonsisticity.
Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something...who giveshz a sheet.
Check the crown royal.
Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
Add one table.
Add a spoon of ar, or somefink...whatever you can find.
Greash the oven.
Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
Don't forget to beat off the turner!
Finally, throw the bowl through the window.
Finish the bottle of crown royal.
Make sure to put the oven in the dishwasher.
CHERRY MISTMAS!!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Deutsch Inspired Insomnia
It is 2:30am and I am wide awake. Argh. I was lying in bed with German verbs and phrases floating through my head and trying to master verb conjugation in the wee hours of the morning isn't a good idea...too much thinking, not enough brain rest.
I suppose this restlessness is a good thing because it means that my brain is starting to think in German. I started a new German course on Monday through the Berlitz School in nearby Krefeld. It is for 4 hours every weekday, which is much more satisfying and challenging than the 2 hours per week of German lessons I was getting before. We are also getting homework, so I am forced to learn and practice spelling and grammar at home as well.
Krefeld is a 25 minute train-ride from where I live and so I take the train to and from class. This allows me a little independence from Georg and the Maas family, something which I haven't had the luxury of enjoying these past few weeks. A bonus is that I really love riding on the train. I find it very relaxing and rejuvenating...watching the countryside and daily life in the nearby villages and cities, thinking, reading, people watching...
One of the best things about this course is that it is allowing me to talk Englisch to people other than Georg and select family members! I have made instant friends with a woman from Thailand and have several friends in class...it is about time! There are about 20 people in the class and what I find absolutely amazing and inspiring is that the majority of these people are learning their third language with this class! Russian, French, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, English, Turkish, Spanish, and numerous languages that I can't remember...
What I have learned this week:
Ich heisse Siobhan und ich komme aus Kanada, aus Winnipeg. Ich bin 26 Jahre alt. Ich bin seit 2 Monate in Deutschland. Ich wohne in Geldern mit meinen Freund. Ich spreche Englisch, Französisch, und ein bissen Deutsch.
Möchtest du Kaffee oder Tee? Ich trinke Tee mit Milch und Zucker.
(My name is Siobhan and I come from Winnipeg, Canada. I am 26 years old. I have been in Germany for 2 months. I live in Geldern with my boyfriend. I speak English, French and a little German.
Would you like coffee or tea? I drink tea with milk and sugar.)
Pretty cool, huh? It is basic stuff, but you have to start somewhere. It really helps that I am around Georg's family so much too, because then I hear German all the time, even if I don't understand it.
Back to bed for me...although it sounds like there is a snoring bear in my bed, will I be able to sleep???
I suppose this restlessness is a good thing because it means that my brain is starting to think in German. I started a new German course on Monday through the Berlitz School in nearby Krefeld. It is for 4 hours every weekday, which is much more satisfying and challenging than the 2 hours per week of German lessons I was getting before. We are also getting homework, so I am forced to learn and practice spelling and grammar at home as well.
Krefeld is a 25 minute train-ride from where I live and so I take the train to and from class. This allows me a little independence from Georg and the Maas family, something which I haven't had the luxury of enjoying these past few weeks. A bonus is that I really love riding on the train. I find it very relaxing and rejuvenating...watching the countryside and daily life in the nearby villages and cities, thinking, reading, people watching...
One of the best things about this course is that it is allowing me to talk Englisch to people other than Georg and select family members! I have made instant friends with a woman from Thailand and have several friends in class...it is about time! There are about 20 people in the class and what I find absolutely amazing and inspiring is that the majority of these people are learning their third language with this class! Russian, French, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, English, Turkish, Spanish, and numerous languages that I can't remember...
What I have learned this week:
Ich heisse Siobhan und ich komme aus Kanada, aus Winnipeg. Ich bin 26 Jahre alt. Ich bin seit 2 Monate in Deutschland. Ich wohne in Geldern mit meinen Freund. Ich spreche Englisch, Französisch, und ein bissen Deutsch.
Möchtest du Kaffee oder Tee? Ich trinke Tee mit Milch und Zucker.
(My name is Siobhan and I come from Winnipeg, Canada. I am 26 years old. I have been in Germany for 2 months. I live in Geldern with my boyfriend. I speak English, French and a little German.
Would you like coffee or tea? I drink tea with milk and sugar.)
Pretty cool, huh? It is basic stuff, but you have to start somewhere. It really helps that I am around Georg's family so much too, because then I hear German all the time, even if I don't understand it.
Back to bed for me...although it sounds like there is a snoring bear in my bed, will I be able to sleep???
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tradition
I am absolutely LOVING the tradition that still exists around Germany. It seems that tradition remains in Canada at specific times of the year (eg: Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing), but other than that, nothing really distinguishes Canadians from Americans.
Germans dress-up to go to Oktoberfest, and everyone has spent 100-500€ on their traditional dress of Dirndls and Lederhosen (see October blog for pics)...recently St.Martin's Day was celebrated. It is a Catholic celebration of a soldier who became a monk. See the link for more details: " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin's_Day ". Children make paper lanterns as a project in school and join a parade around the town while singing songs. In Hartefeld, a nearby town, St. Martin on a horse led the parade to a large bonfire with the children singing happily behind him. Afterwards, the children gathered in the local school and received bags of candy, while the adults snacked on Gluhwein (hot mulled wine) and Püfferchen (a deep-fried dough with raisins or apple pieces, covered in sugar). They are SO good, but probably really bad for you! See here for a pic and the recipe if you want..." http://www.rezeptwiese.de/rezepte/64656-puefferchen ".
Hand-made lanterns.
Singing songs to St. Martin.
There is also tradition for remembering the passing of loved ones. At the 6 week anniversary of Georg's grandfather's death a couple weeks ago, there was a church service for the deceased and a family gathering following. There was also a church service for his grandfather on the other side of the family for the 15-year anniversary of his passing. Flowers and candles were laid on the grave and the family said a few words...how often do people visit their relatives graves in Canada?? I can't say that I have visited either of my grandpa's graves...but I suppose it has different importance to different people. What was really special for me at the 15-year anniversary service, was that it also remembered the grandfather of a childhood friend who passed away this time last year...and ironically, who is related to Georg's family. I was able to meet some of the close relatives of my friend and be somewhat of a "representative" for the Janhsen family who live in my hometown.
With all this Catholic tradition comes many church services...but it is okay. I don't understand the language enough yet to feel obligated to pay attention to the service, so it is a time to contemplate life and people watch. :)
And for fun...some new additions to the Maas household:
Ein baby Meerschweinchen!!
Meet Sampson, the new guard dog on the Maas farm.
Germans dress-up to go to Oktoberfest, and everyone has spent 100-500€ on their traditional dress of Dirndls and Lederhosen (see October blog for pics)...recently St.Martin's Day was celebrated. It is a Catholic celebration of a soldier who became a monk. See the link for more details: " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin's_Day ". Children make paper lanterns as a project in school and join a parade around the town while singing songs. In Hartefeld, a nearby town, St. Martin on a horse led the parade to a large bonfire with the children singing happily behind him. Afterwards, the children gathered in the local school and received bags of candy, while the adults snacked on Gluhwein (hot mulled wine) and Püfferchen (a deep-fried dough with raisins or apple pieces, covered in sugar). They are SO good, but probably really bad for you! See here for a pic and the recipe if you want..." http://www.rezeptwiese.de/rezepte/64656-puefferchen ".
Hand-made lanterns.
Singing songs to St. Martin.
There is also tradition for remembering the passing of loved ones. At the 6 week anniversary of Georg's grandfather's death a couple weeks ago, there was a church service for the deceased and a family gathering following. There was also a church service for his grandfather on the other side of the family for the 15-year anniversary of his passing. Flowers and candles were laid on the grave and the family said a few words...how often do people visit their relatives graves in Canada?? I can't say that I have visited either of my grandpa's graves...but I suppose it has different importance to different people. What was really special for me at the 15-year anniversary service, was that it also remembered the grandfather of a childhood friend who passed away this time last year...and ironically, who is related to Georg's family. I was able to meet some of the close relatives of my friend and be somewhat of a "representative" for the Janhsen family who live in my hometown.
With all this Catholic tradition comes many church services...but it is okay. I don't understand the language enough yet to feel obligated to pay attention to the service, so it is a time to contemplate life and people watch. :)
And for fun...some new additions to the Maas household:
Ein baby Meerschweinchen!!
Meet Sampson, the new guard dog on the Maas farm.
Friday, November 12, 2010
this and that
Where is the time going? This fall is going by so fast...
I have finally started to get a bit homesick (the "honeymoon" is over, I guess). Life has reached a predictable rhythm and I am craving something different, which is hard when your boyfriend needs to work 7 days per week and you have no friends to hang out with. Georg's dad broke his foot over 3 weeks ago, and this means that Georg doesn't get every 2nd weekend off, as was planned. Despite this set-back and me not seeing Georg as much as I'd like, we are still having fun.
The last 2 weekends have been "party weekends"...his aunt celebrated her 50th birthday, so there was a huge party at a local pub with dancing until 2!! Last Sat., the choir (which I have joined, with great delight to the members, because I am one of the youngest there...new blood!!) held a dinner and dance following a church service (I forget the occasion). Good times, good times!
I have gone to a concert by band called "Livingston". I still hope to post a blog about the event...although I had never heard of them before, they were amazing! A bit rockier than I normally like, but the band has members from South Africa, Italy, Germany, England, and the Netherlands, adding a lot of flair to their style of music. Check out their website: http://www.livingstonmusic.co.uk/en/frameplayer/#/en/
Bauernhof Maas (Farm Maas) has acquired a puppy as of last week. Sampson is a very sweet Australian Shepherd mix, although he is quite timid and is strongly attached to Maria. We are trying to get him to leave the deck throughout the day to explore and be a normal curious puppy...but he is on his own agenda.
My weekly Deutsch class is becoming a lot more fun since everyone has become comfortable with each other, last class a girl and I couldn't stop giggling...laughing and smiling definitely makes learning that much more fun! However, this class is fairly slow. In the last 6 wks we have only learned how to introduce ourselves, the alphabet and have started on numbers...so I have been looking around to find a part-time course so that I can learn faster. After looking for 2 weeks and making numerous inquiries, it took Christoph (Georg's sister's boyfriend) to call one learning institute and find me the perfect course to take...talk about magic! This course is a 6-month long program with 4 modules, is sponsored by the government to make it affordable (this program is 11 Euro/4 hrs, whereas other programs are 22 Euro/45 min), and ends with a test, with which I may get a B1 level Deutsch certificate. I believe that it is an oral, hearing, reading, and writing test, so it is fairly intensive...which is good, because then I will learn! It starts on Nov 22...so in the mean time, I have been working on my German with Christoph (who is a young-years teacher) and Anni (Georg's sister) who is off work with laryngitis.
Off I go to a Deutsch lesson with Christoph...
I have finally started to get a bit homesick (the "honeymoon" is over, I guess). Life has reached a predictable rhythm and I am craving something different, which is hard when your boyfriend needs to work 7 days per week and you have no friends to hang out with. Georg's dad broke his foot over 3 weeks ago, and this means that Georg doesn't get every 2nd weekend off, as was planned. Despite this set-back and me not seeing Georg as much as I'd like, we are still having fun.
The last 2 weekends have been "party weekends"...his aunt celebrated her 50th birthday, so there was a huge party at a local pub with dancing until 2!! Last Sat., the choir (which I have joined, with great delight to the members, because I am one of the youngest there...new blood!!) held a dinner and dance following a church service (I forget the occasion). Good times, good times!
I have gone to a concert by band called "Livingston". I still hope to post a blog about the event...although I had never heard of them before, they were amazing! A bit rockier than I normally like, but the band has members from South Africa, Italy, Germany, England, and the Netherlands, adding a lot of flair to their style of music. Check out their website: http://www.livingstonmusic.co.uk/en/frameplayer/#/en/
Bauernhof Maas (Farm Maas) has acquired a puppy as of last week. Sampson is a very sweet Australian Shepherd mix, although he is quite timid and is strongly attached to Maria. We are trying to get him to leave the deck throughout the day to explore and be a normal curious puppy...but he is on his own agenda.
My weekly Deutsch class is becoming a lot more fun since everyone has become comfortable with each other, last class a girl and I couldn't stop giggling...laughing and smiling definitely makes learning that much more fun! However, this class is fairly slow. In the last 6 wks we have only learned how to introduce ourselves, the alphabet and have started on numbers...so I have been looking around to find a part-time course so that I can learn faster. After looking for 2 weeks and making numerous inquiries, it took Christoph (Georg's sister's boyfriend) to call one learning institute and find me the perfect course to take...talk about magic! This course is a 6-month long program with 4 modules, is sponsored by the government to make it affordable (this program is 11 Euro/4 hrs, whereas other programs are 22 Euro/45 min), and ends with a test, with which I may get a B1 level Deutsch certificate. I believe that it is an oral, hearing, reading, and writing test, so it is fairly intensive...which is good, because then I will learn! It starts on Nov 22...so in the mean time, I have been working on my German with Christoph (who is a young-years teacher) and Anni (Georg's sister) who is off work with laryngitis.
Off I go to a Deutsch lesson with Christoph...
Thursday, October 28, 2010
In Love... (Its official.)
I was put in charge of making deviled eggs for Maria's birthday party last night. Upon tasting the 'deviled' part of the recipe, I was requested to add more salt...upon which I added a bit TOO MUCH.
And so, as the saying in Germany goes, "Too much added salt means the cook is in love"...so, its official, and everyone at the party can attest to the fact, that, Siobhan is in love. :)
And so, as the saying in Germany goes, "Too much added salt means the cook is in love"...so, its official, and everyone at the party can attest to the fact, that, Siobhan is in love. :)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Adventures in Aldi.
Georg and I are going on ski holidays for a week in the New Year. In the Austrian Alps. (!) In a rented ski chalet. (!!) With 7 other people. (!!!) I'm actually really looking forward to this opportunity, despite the fact that I've only ever skied downhill twice in my life, and that at La Riviere, which is the former bank of Lake Agassi that covered Manitoba a long time ago (which doesn't exactly count as downhill, in my opinion).
Okay, so going on this ski holiday means that I need winter clothing and skiing accessories... both of which I have none. A local store, Aldi, which is comparable to an extremely small Superstore, has weekly specials on housewares, clothing, pet supplies, you-name-it, and is an inexpensive grocery store as well. The weekly specials are advertised in the daily paper and a flier is sent out at least a week prior...
A couple weeks ago, Maria and I went to Aldi to get some fall jackets for the family. We got there at 7:45am, the store opened at 8. By opening, there were about 30-40 women outside the front entrance...and once the doors opened...there was a mad rush with the shopping carts and squishing and some slight shoving...and running down the aisles to the 'weekly specials' bins... a mad-house in my opinion. But fun. I did manage to get a water-proof, wind-resistant jacket for 30 euros...which is a super awesome deal.
So, to come back to our ski trip...this week, the specials are focused on skiing...and so there were jackets, ski pants, thin fleece pullovers (to catch sweat under your jacket), long underwear, gloves, ski masks, helmets, etc... Well, Georg wanted to come with me to get some supplies, because he has never gone for the 'specials rush' and I think that he ended up being overwhelmed and shocked at the happenings. He was slightly speechless on the ride home... We did manage to snag over 200 Euros in merchandise for the Maas family's skiing needs though, so we did pretty good. :)
Although 'Adventures in Aldi' is pretty entertaining and a rush, it also shows me the 'animal instincts' in people. Everyone is very rude and selfish in the rush to get the right coat, in the right size, in the right colour... An older woman, yesterday, was pushed around and blocked from getting in, because people knew she wouldn't move very fast...something that would happen anywhere, in any country. It really bugged me and reinforced the fact for me, that I need to be considerate of those around me, even if I feel like it may not be the thing that I want to do. There, a lesson of the day: Be respectful of others. Slow down in everyday life. Enjoy the scenery.
Okay, so going on this ski holiday means that I need winter clothing and skiing accessories... both of which I have none. A local store, Aldi, which is comparable to an extremely small Superstore, has weekly specials on housewares, clothing, pet supplies, you-name-it, and is an inexpensive grocery store as well. The weekly specials are advertised in the daily paper and a flier is sent out at least a week prior...
A couple weeks ago, Maria and I went to Aldi to get some fall jackets for the family. We got there at 7:45am, the store opened at 8. By opening, there were about 30-40 women outside the front entrance...and once the doors opened...there was a mad rush with the shopping carts and squishing and some slight shoving...and running down the aisles to the 'weekly specials' bins... a mad-house in my opinion. But fun. I did manage to get a water-proof, wind-resistant jacket for 30 euros...which is a super awesome deal.
So, to come back to our ski trip...this week, the specials are focused on skiing...and so there were jackets, ski pants, thin fleece pullovers (to catch sweat under your jacket), long underwear, gloves, ski masks, helmets, etc... Well, Georg wanted to come with me to get some supplies, because he has never gone for the 'specials rush' and I think that he ended up being overwhelmed and shocked at the happenings. He was slightly speechless on the ride home... We did manage to snag over 200 Euros in merchandise for the Maas family's skiing needs though, so we did pretty good. :)
Although 'Adventures in Aldi' is pretty entertaining and a rush, it also shows me the 'animal instincts' in people. Everyone is very rude and selfish in the rush to get the right coat, in the right size, in the right colour... An older woman, yesterday, was pushed around and blocked from getting in, because people knew she wouldn't move very fast...something that would happen anywhere, in any country. It really bugged me and reinforced the fact for me, that I need to be considerate of those around me, even if I feel like it may not be the thing that I want to do. There, a lesson of the day: Be respectful of others. Slow down in everyday life. Enjoy the scenery.
Settling In...
Well, I've settled in nicely over the last month (Yikes! A month already!!), which includes catching 2 colds in the last 2 weeks and a lingering chest cough. There is a running joke between Georg and I, that I was on a Grandma's breakfast - at one point I was taking 6 pills!! That is one thing that I have noticed...there is medication for everything! Sinus relief pills, cough suppressants, nasal sprays, throat mucus dislodging pills...whatever happened to the good old boiling water and salt in a bowl with a towel over your head??
Although I have yet to find friends over here, I am quite a busy body when I want to be. I have joined the choir (over 30 people, they sound amazing!), am helping out with the local Scouts group once in awhile (similar to Scouts in N Am, but more focused on group interaction than skill learning), have a weekly Deutsch class at the local Volkshochschule (school for the public, teaches numerous languages and many levels, among other things), and have started playing squash! Georg, a friend, and his sister and her boyfriend play squash, so I was invited out last week to try it. Pretty fun game, but very fast. I have a lot to learn! Also, I hear that there is a rink in town, so I might try out skating for the first time this season later this week. :) Oh, and I have taken up knitting (Grandma, you will be proud!).
Despite all these things that I am involved with, I have found a good routine. I get up at 6:30 every morning, bike to the farm (5 km) or drive over with Georg, have breakfast with the Maas family, help Maria (Georg's Mom) around the house or with her business until lunch, have lunch with the family and then bike home (to our apartment). I have a nap, job hunt on the internet (I'm searching for a better-paying, more hours position, but am having little luck), and then either work on my thesis corrections (although I'm pretty good at procrasinating) or walk around Geldern. Georg is home at 7:30 for supper and then we do our activities or spend time together. It is seeding time right now (they plant a lot of winter crops) and that, along with the fact that Willi (Georg's Dad) broke his foot, I am not actually seeing Georg very much...which is lonely...but I am doing okay.
Will try to post some pics on here. I really haven't been taking too many pictures, just because everything is the 'every day' for me, and I keep forgetting to take pictures!
Although I have yet to find friends over here, I am quite a busy body when I want to be. I have joined the choir (over 30 people, they sound amazing!), am helping out with the local Scouts group once in awhile (similar to Scouts in N Am, but more focused on group interaction than skill learning), have a weekly Deutsch class at the local Volkshochschule (school for the public, teaches numerous languages and many levels, among other things), and have started playing squash! Georg, a friend, and his sister and her boyfriend play squash, so I was invited out last week to try it. Pretty fun game, but very fast. I have a lot to learn! Also, I hear that there is a rink in town, so I might try out skating for the first time this season later this week. :) Oh, and I have taken up knitting (Grandma, you will be proud!).
Despite all these things that I am involved with, I have found a good routine. I get up at 6:30 every morning, bike to the farm (5 km) or drive over with Georg, have breakfast with the Maas family, help Maria (Georg's Mom) around the house or with her business until lunch, have lunch with the family and then bike home (to our apartment). I have a nap, job hunt on the internet (I'm searching for a better-paying, more hours position, but am having little luck), and then either work on my thesis corrections (although I'm pretty good at procrasinating) or walk around Geldern. Georg is home at 7:30 for supper and then we do our activities or spend time together. It is seeding time right now (they plant a lot of winter crops) and that, along with the fact that Willi (Georg's Dad) broke his foot, I am not actually seeing Georg very much...which is lonely...but I am doing okay.
Will try to post some pics on here. I really haven't been taking too many pictures, just because everything is the 'every day' for me, and I keep forgetting to take pictures!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Oktoberfest!!
Well, I have managed to defend my Master's thesis, pack up my "Canadian life" and move to Germany, not bad for the last 2 months... I had a great farewell karaoke party. Thank you to everyone who made it out!
I have been in Germany for almost a week and have been having lots of fun. Oktoberfest is in full swing, and being the 200 year celebration and conveniently having Georg's sister living in Bavaria...we had to make the 8-hour trek to consume vast amounts of beer and Weisswurst (white sausage, typical of Bavaria). Beer was served in 1L mugs,which, for those that know me, is a lot of beer!! Almost everyone is wearing traditional dress: Lederhosen for the men, and Dirndls for the women. I wore a Dirndl that belonged to Georg's oma, which was probably from 50 years ago, but is beautifully hand-made with flowers sewn on the bodice and the hem.
For comparison, Oktoberfest is similar to the Red River Ex, with rides, amusements, and food stands, but there are marching bands and many humongous beer garden tents that house over 3000 people. The beer garden tents were filled with people, tables and benches, stale beer and a live traditional band. There was lots of shouting (Prost!!), singing, kissing random strangers (not me), and table dancing (which got us in trouble). Sooo much fun...
A Mass family friend, Georg's sister (Doris), me and Georg.
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2ntCEO2Gu3VHRjpSCgNp5ye7nBALM-Wi4mCRujmU4AAltxxXc5G5geq9_ccLlmK-xnaHHzaq6gRZ0K7kGmg2a8QbnYPOrFkmbY7SKh00K9lHxc1zBLnbSe9FPDHsEludqE9_/s1600/DSC02740.JPG">
Lederhosen!
Georg and I finally got around to buying motorcycle clothes yesterday and managed to sneak in a long ride throughout the region. I got a first-class tour of the numerous small towns and countryside in the area...many flower greenhouses, dairies, horses and potato fields (no irrigation). Georg was a real romantic and took me to look at farm machinery (typical farmboy date, right Mom and Maria??) too. We also went shopping at Ikea for shelving for the bathroom and chest of drawers for the bedroom. I forgot how expensive it is to furnish a home. :)
Our gear.
That's it for now...this weekend should provide some good stories. I celebrate my birthday tomorrow and on Saturday Georg's aunt and uncle are having their 25th wedding anniversary party, Oktoberfest style.
auf Weidersein.
I have been in Germany for almost a week and have been having lots of fun. Oktoberfest is in full swing, and being the 200 year celebration and conveniently having Georg's sister living in Bavaria...we had to make the 8-hour trek to consume vast amounts of beer and Weisswurst (white sausage, typical of Bavaria). Beer was served in 1L mugs,which, for those that know me, is a lot of beer!! Almost everyone is wearing traditional dress: Lederhosen for the men, and Dirndls for the women. I wore a Dirndl that belonged to Georg's oma, which was probably from 50 years ago, but is beautifully hand-made with flowers sewn on the bodice and the hem.
For comparison, Oktoberfest is similar to the Red River Ex, with rides, amusements, and food stands, but there are marching bands and many humongous beer garden tents that house over 3000 people. The beer garden tents were filled with people, tables and benches, stale beer and a live traditional band. There was lots of shouting (Prost!!), singing, kissing random strangers (not me), and table dancing (which got us in trouble). Sooo much fun...
A Mass family friend, Georg's sister (Doris), me and Georg.
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2ntCEO2Gu3VHRjpSCgNp5ye7nBALM-Wi4mCRujmU4AAltxxXc5G5geq9_ccLlmK-xnaHHzaq6gRZ0K7kGmg2a8QbnYPOrFkmbY7SKh00K9lHxc1zBLnbSe9FPDHsEludqE9_/s1600/DSC02740.JPG">
Lederhosen!
Georg and I finally got around to buying motorcycle clothes yesterday and managed to sneak in a long ride throughout the region. I got a first-class tour of the numerous small towns and countryside in the area...many flower greenhouses, dairies, horses and potato fields (no irrigation). Georg was a real romantic and took me to look at farm machinery (typical farmboy date, right Mom and Maria??) too. We also went shopping at Ikea for shelving for the bathroom and chest of drawers for the bedroom. I forgot how expensive it is to furnish a home. :)
Our gear.
That's it for now...this weekend should provide some good stories. I celebrate my birthday tomorrow and on Saturday Georg's aunt and uncle are having their 25th wedding anniversary party, Oktoberfest style.
auf Weidersein.
Monday, August 09, 2010
the big city
I submitted my completed thesis draft to my advisor about 2 weeks ago, and so have been fairly busy with corrections these last couple weeks. Nothing exciting to talk about there...
Tomorrow, however, I get to go to the real(ly) big city of Toronto! Due to the Winnipeg German Consulate closing last summer, anyone from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario need to travel to Toronto to get their visas. Talk about expensive!
Despite the monetary inconvenience, I'm taking the opportunity to check out the big city...I'm planning on visiting the Royal Ontario Museum, the daily St. Lawrence Market, the waterfront, and of course, go shopping! I will have plenty of time over the next 2 days because my appointment at the German Consulate will only be about 30 minutes! I'm only taking a paper copy of my thesis with me, so it will be a mini-vacation before the whirl-wind of prepping for my defense.
I'll let you know if anything super exciting happens...
In a while crocodile.
Tomorrow, however, I get to go to the real(ly) big city of Toronto! Due to the Winnipeg German Consulate closing last summer, anyone from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario need to travel to Toronto to get their visas. Talk about expensive!
Despite the monetary inconvenience, I'm taking the opportunity to check out the big city...I'm planning on visiting the Royal Ontario Museum, the daily St. Lawrence Market, the waterfront, and of course, go shopping! I will have plenty of time over the next 2 days because my appointment at the German Consulate will only be about 30 minutes! I'm only taking a paper copy of my thesis with me, so it will be a mini-vacation before the whirl-wind of prepping for my defense.
I'll let you know if anything super exciting happens...
In a while crocodile.
Friday, July 16, 2010
the wave...
Hiya!
All cultures and groups have different ways of saying hello, whether it’s a wave, a handshake or a shouted greeting. I have two North American greetings that I find strange and wonder their origins.
The first greeting is the “farmer wave”. I’m not sure if farmers are lazy or what, but typically this wave involves the use of 2 fingers. Imagine yourself driving a car (or truck), gripping the wheel with one or both hands, right hand positioned at about 2 o’clock. Going past a vehicle driving in the opposite direction you casually lift the index and middle fingers from their grip on the wheel, while keeping your thumb and remaining fingers securely on the wheel. Some of the energetic farmers might even lift their entire hand off the wheel while keeping the aforementioned “pose”, their thumb held naturally and their ring and pinkie fingers slightly bent.
Think you got it in you? Practice it a bit... The trick is your facial expression, really. You don’t smile, you don’t nod, you just keep a neutral expression on face like nothing in the world is phasing you and give your wave. There, now you are practically a farmer!
Jokes aside, I forgot about the camaraderie amongst people in the farming community. Farmers young and old wave at me driving in my little red Honda car and it makes my heart warm, like a stranger in the world cares about me, or wants to add a little extra something to my day. Thanks to everyone out there who has given me the “farmer wave”.
The second greeting is the “motorcyclist wave”. I’ve dated two guys who drive motorcycles and both of them have explained to me how the bike community has a wave to signify camaraderie amongst themselves. I don’t know the origin of the wave, but it seems to be worldwide. Because I don’t drive a bike myself, I’ve only seen this wave done, but it is essentially a “peace sign” executed by the driver with the left hand held beside the handle bars. I really like the idea that this wave is universal, joining all motorcyclists. Where was this wave invented? How long did it take to catch on?
The over-arching theme here is the friendship that exists between people and I really like this. Despite people not knowing each other, they still acknowledge one other, something that society has forgotten about. We walk through our lives: the grocery store, the apartment block hallway, the street, caught up in our own lives and rarely acknowledge those around us. It’s sad, really.
All cultures and groups have different ways of saying hello, whether it’s a wave, a handshake or a shouted greeting. I have two North American greetings that I find strange and wonder their origins.
The first greeting is the “farmer wave”. I’m not sure if farmers are lazy or what, but typically this wave involves the use of 2 fingers. Imagine yourself driving a car (or truck), gripping the wheel with one or both hands, right hand positioned at about 2 o’clock. Going past a vehicle driving in the opposite direction you casually lift the index and middle fingers from their grip on the wheel, while keeping your thumb and remaining fingers securely on the wheel. Some of the energetic farmers might even lift their entire hand off the wheel while keeping the aforementioned “pose”, their thumb held naturally and their ring and pinkie fingers slightly bent.
Think you got it in you? Practice it a bit... The trick is your facial expression, really. You don’t smile, you don’t nod, you just keep a neutral expression on face like nothing in the world is phasing you and give your wave. There, now you are practically a farmer!
Jokes aside, I forgot about the camaraderie amongst people in the farming community. Farmers young and old wave at me driving in my little red Honda car and it makes my heart warm, like a stranger in the world cares about me, or wants to add a little extra something to my day. Thanks to everyone out there who has given me the “farmer wave”.
The second greeting is the “motorcyclist wave”. I’ve dated two guys who drive motorcycles and both of them have explained to me how the bike community has a wave to signify camaraderie amongst themselves. I don’t know the origin of the wave, but it seems to be worldwide. Because I don’t drive a bike myself, I’ve only seen this wave done, but it is essentially a “peace sign” executed by the driver with the left hand held beside the handle bars. I really like the idea that this wave is universal, joining all motorcyclists. Where was this wave invented? How long did it take to catch on?
The over-arching theme here is the friendship that exists between people and I really like this. Despite people not knowing each other, they still acknowledge one other, something that society has forgotten about. We walk through our lives: the grocery store, the apartment block hallway, the street, caught up in our own lives and rarely acknowledge those around us. It’s sad, really.
Thursday, July 08, 2010
pooh paper
So, I never realized the luxury of decent toilet paper until I met my friend Joe. Growing up, my Mom always purchased the medium quality toilet paper that wasn't too expensive...just because a household with 5 members goes through the stuff pretty fast.
Well, let me tell you, my bum has never been happier than when I use Joe's bathroom. His paper is soft, you only need to use 3 pieces and your hand never accidentally gets wet... I even peeked into his cupboard to find out what kind he uses! Royale!! ...Soft like kittens...
I will never be able to go back to thin-ply toilet paper, even if it usually is recycled (or whatever they do to it), and I will curse public bathroom toilet paper for as long as I live. Thank you Joe, for opening my eyes to the awesomeness of pricey toilet paper. It is totally worth the money!
Well, let me tell you, my bum has never been happier than when I use Joe's bathroom. His paper is soft, you only need to use 3 pieces and your hand never accidentally gets wet... I even peeked into his cupboard to find out what kind he uses! Royale!! ...Soft like kittens...
I will never be able to go back to thin-ply toilet paper, even if it usually is recycled (or whatever they do to it), and I will curse public bathroom toilet paper for as long as I live. Thank you Joe, for opening my eyes to the awesomeness of pricey toilet paper. It is totally worth the money!
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Beautiful British Columbia
Well, I know that the "beautiful" goes well with the "British" part, but I think that they should call it "magnificant" or... hey, what about "breath-taking" British Columbia.
These pictures don't do it justice, but give you a glimpse of how beautiful BC really is...
Georg and I in Jasper National Park
Enjoying the peace of the Peace River Valley
More pics to follow. I don't have time to wait for them to upload. :)
These pictures don't do it justice, but give you a glimpse of how beautiful BC really is...
Georg and I in Jasper National Park
Enjoying the peace of the Peace River Valley
More pics to follow. I don't have time to wait for them to upload. :)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Busy, hectic month
Yikes! It's already been a month since I last updated everyone (or those that actually read this!) regarding my crazy busy life! This month has been an emotional rollercoaster, but I wouldn't change it for anything.
Most excitingly, my boyfriend, Georg, came for a 3 week visit from Germany. We've only been dating since February, but long distance relationship aren't for the weak of heart. Luckily, technology has provided us with Skype, so we are able to talk for free over the internet using a web cam. It sure was nice to actually touch and kiss the man that I stare at on the computer monitor almost every day. :)
I moved home at the end of May. Boy, did I ever accumulate a LOT of stuff over the last year! Luckily, Georg is an excellent packer, having helped his sister move 13 times throughout her university career. So now, all of my life is sitting in boxes in my Grandma's basement. I have a lot of boxes to unpack or tidy and store. What helps is that I heading to Europe in 3 months, so there is no need to unpack everything...just make it look clean.
Once I moved, Georg and I went on a 2 week trip to Western Canada. We drove over 7000 km on our trip to British Columbia and back, sleeping on a mattress in the back of Georg's van. I have so many pictures for the trip, that I'm having a hard time choosing a few to post on here...it will have to wait for another day, I think. We headed to Fort St. John (in Northern BC) to visit Georg's relatives (by-passing Saskatchewan, of course), toured down through the Peace River Valley and the 99 Hwy to Vancouver, caught the ferry to Nanaimo and toured the south portion of Vancouver Island, including Sooke National Park. We walked on average about 10 kms a day through beautiful forests and got to see lots of wildlife: bald eagles, raccoons, blue herons, tiny crabs, even a bear by Whistler! We slept on the side of a remote lake in the mountains, with nothing but the stars to keep us company. From Vancouver Island, we stopped in White Rock (essentially, a suburb of Vancouver City) to visit my friend and her husband, toured Vancouver and then headed back up to central BC and checked out Jasper and Banff National Parks. The mountains are incredible! Pictures can not do it justice... Here, we were generic tourists, taking pictures of the numerous waterfalls and canyons in the area, climbing up the toe of the Columbia ice field and eating over-priced food from the local stores. We spent one night with my Dad's family in Alberta before heading home (again, by-passing Saskatchewan). I would definitely recommend to people to check out BC as a vacation. If anyone is into kayaking or canoeing, there are tons of rivers in Northern BC that are wide and shallow with beautiful scenery to check out.
I will post pictures soon.
I was able to relax with Georg for a few days in Manitoba before he headed home on Sunday and I drove to Saskatoon for a conference for the Canadian Soil Science Society. I presented a talk on Monday about my thesis data. I always find it exciting to share information about my research with other academics, who get excited about it as well. We head home on Thursday, and from then on, I will be a writing machine, holed up in my Grandma's basement, losing what little tan I have and getting bags under my eyes from lack of sleep...I'm really looking forward to it. Really.
Most excitingly, my boyfriend, Georg, came for a 3 week visit from Germany. We've only been dating since February, but long distance relationship aren't for the weak of heart. Luckily, technology has provided us with Skype, so we are able to talk for free over the internet using a web cam. It sure was nice to actually touch and kiss the man that I stare at on the computer monitor almost every day. :)
I moved home at the end of May. Boy, did I ever accumulate a LOT of stuff over the last year! Luckily, Georg is an excellent packer, having helped his sister move 13 times throughout her university career. So now, all of my life is sitting in boxes in my Grandma's basement. I have a lot of boxes to unpack or tidy and store. What helps is that I heading to Europe in 3 months, so there is no need to unpack everything...just make it look clean.
Once I moved, Georg and I went on a 2 week trip to Western Canada. We drove over 7000 km on our trip to British Columbia and back, sleeping on a mattress in the back of Georg's van. I have so many pictures for the trip, that I'm having a hard time choosing a few to post on here...it will have to wait for another day, I think. We headed to Fort St. John (in Northern BC) to visit Georg's relatives (by-passing Saskatchewan, of course), toured down through the Peace River Valley and the 99 Hwy to Vancouver, caught the ferry to Nanaimo and toured the south portion of Vancouver Island, including Sooke National Park. We walked on average about 10 kms a day through beautiful forests and got to see lots of wildlife: bald eagles, raccoons, blue herons, tiny crabs, even a bear by Whistler! We slept on the side of a remote lake in the mountains, with nothing but the stars to keep us company. From Vancouver Island, we stopped in White Rock (essentially, a suburb of Vancouver City) to visit my friend and her husband, toured Vancouver and then headed back up to central BC and checked out Jasper and Banff National Parks. The mountains are incredible! Pictures can not do it justice... Here, we were generic tourists, taking pictures of the numerous waterfalls and canyons in the area, climbing up the toe of the Columbia ice field and eating over-priced food from the local stores. We spent one night with my Dad's family in Alberta before heading home (again, by-passing Saskatchewan). I would definitely recommend to people to check out BC as a vacation. If anyone is into kayaking or canoeing, there are tons of rivers in Northern BC that are wide and shallow with beautiful scenery to check out.
I will post pictures soon.
I was able to relax with Georg for a few days in Manitoba before he headed home on Sunday and I drove to Saskatoon for a conference for the Canadian Soil Science Society. I presented a talk on Monday about my thesis data. I always find it exciting to share information about my research with other academics, who get excited about it as well. We head home on Thursday, and from then on, I will be a writing machine, holed up in my Grandma's basement, losing what little tan I have and getting bags under my eyes from lack of sleep...I'm really looking forward to it. Really.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
S? M? T? W? T? F? S?
What day is it again?
That is the question that has been going through my mind at least 10 times every day for the last 2 weeks. My writing is dependent on deadlines, but I can never seem to remember what day it is, nevermind if it's the weekend or not. Because I'm not in charge of my research site anymore, there is little need for me to be in the soil science department, and so I've been writing from my apartment, from friend's kitchen tables (thanks Joe!) and from my parent's place (mmm...home-cooked food!). I'm also moving right now, so I have clothes both in the city and at the farm, making it really easy to crash in one place or the other...and therefore, all this craziness has led to me not really being aware of what day it is!
My persception of days has also turned into a count-down... with me counting the number of days until Georg arrives/I want to have my first draft of my thesis finished. If you are interested, it is day 5 today, which is both amazing and horrifying. I want the days to go by really fast (so Georg will be here sooner), but also really slow (so that I have longer to write). There is no winning!
Here are some pics from my roadtrip/cousin's wedding last weekend:
My sister and I at the bridge in Souris, Manitoba. I'm sure that it was the highlight of her roadtrip!
Tim Horton's advertisement??
That is the question that has been going through my mind at least 10 times every day for the last 2 weeks. My writing is dependent on deadlines, but I can never seem to remember what day it is, nevermind if it's the weekend or not. Because I'm not in charge of my research site anymore, there is little need for me to be in the soil science department, and so I've been writing from my apartment, from friend's kitchen tables (thanks Joe!) and from my parent's place (mmm...home-cooked food!). I'm also moving right now, so I have clothes both in the city and at the farm, making it really easy to crash in one place or the other...and therefore, all this craziness has led to me not really being aware of what day it is!
My persception of days has also turned into a count-down... with me counting the number of days until Georg arrives/I want to have my first draft of my thesis finished. If you are interested, it is day 5 today, which is both amazing and horrifying. I want the days to go by really fast (so Georg will be here sooner), but also really slow (so that I have longer to write). There is no winning!
Here are some pics from my roadtrip/cousin's wedding last weekend:
My sister and I at the bridge in Souris, Manitoba. I'm sure that it was the highlight of her roadtrip!
Tim Horton's advertisement??
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Road Tripp'n
It looks like 2010 will be Siobhan's official "Year of the Road Trip". Tomorrow I am off with my sister on the first road trip of the season. My cousin is getting married in southern Alberta, so we are taking 2 days to drive across the Prairies and visit with relatives Friday and Saturday, before driving back to Manitoba on Sunday. Road trip!!!
My second road trip will begin in early June, when my boyfriend and I will travel across the Prairies (again) to beautiful British Columbia. I have a friend in Vancouver and he has family in Fort St.John...so we will be spending 2 lovely weeks touring the West coast. Any suggestions of places to visit? I have only ever been to the city of Vancouver.
My third road trip will be much more stressful, as it begins the day that my boyfriend flies back home to Germany. My colleagues and I are driving to Saskatoon for the Canadian Soil Science Society conference. I get to present my thesis research to numerous Canadian Soil Scientists...so it will be exciting. This conference will also be one of the last of the many fun times my soil science friends will have together, so it is a bittersweet conference. :(
Man, it doesn't look like I can get away from Saskatchewan this summer!!
Adios amigos!
My second road trip will begin in early June, when my boyfriend and I will travel across the Prairies (again) to beautiful British Columbia. I have a friend in Vancouver and he has family in Fort St.John...so we will be spending 2 lovely weeks touring the West coast. Any suggestions of places to visit? I have only ever been to the city of Vancouver.
My third road trip will be much more stressful, as it begins the day that my boyfriend flies back home to Germany. My colleagues and I are driving to Saskatoon for the Canadian Soil Science Society conference. I get to present my thesis research to numerous Canadian Soil Scientists...so it will be exciting. This conference will also be one of the last of the many fun times my soil science friends will have together, so it is a bittersweet conference. :(
Man, it doesn't look like I can get away from Saskatchewan this summer!!
Adios amigos!
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Creepy crawlies
I've been sick the last few days and have spent much time lounging on my couch contemplating the world (well, not really). I live in a 3rd floor apartment on the corner of a busy intersection and one thing that I've noticed is whenever a large truck drives by, my apartment shakes. Its literally like a small earthquake, or what I'd imagine a small earthquake to be like. Throughout the last year in my apartment, I've noticed pots rattling on the stove, or water jiggling in my cup (think Jurassic Park here), but I've never really thought anything of it.
A few questions that have gone through my mind:
Does the building shake more on the 3rd floor because I'm higher up? Would someone on a hypothetical 10th floor feel the shake more, or less?
Does the shaking hurt the foundation? I've been noticing a crack in my wall getting wider...
How does the shaking affect soil organisms?
This third question really got to me (because, I am, after a soil scientist!). And it got me thinking even more...what does the soil look like under a city? Is it damp all the time? If you look out onto a block of street, more than likely almost everything has been covered over with cement. The streets, the sidewalks, the parking lots, the buildings... nothing of the former tall-grass prairie exists! All plants (usually weeds) have moved in with the wind, doing what they do best, thriving in desolate places! Is the soil under the cement stagnant and stale? Does it have little critters or creepy crawlies living in it? Earthworms crawl up to the soil surface during rain, and I see them on the street...so there must be some life under cement. Whether its healthy life, I'm not sure...
A few questions that have gone through my mind:
Does the building shake more on the 3rd floor because I'm higher up? Would someone on a hypothetical 10th floor feel the shake more, or less?
Does the shaking hurt the foundation? I've been noticing a crack in my wall getting wider...
How does the shaking affect soil organisms?
This third question really got to me (because, I am, after a soil scientist!). And it got me thinking even more...what does the soil look like under a city? Is it damp all the time? If you look out onto a block of street, more than likely almost everything has been covered over with cement. The streets, the sidewalks, the parking lots, the buildings... nothing of the former tall-grass prairie exists! All plants (usually weeds) have moved in with the wind, doing what they do best, thriving in desolate places! Is the soil under the cement stagnant and stale? Does it have little critters or creepy crawlies living in it? Earthworms crawl up to the soil surface during rain, and I see them on the street...so there must be some life under cement. Whether its healthy life, I'm not sure...
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Who will I be?
I am really worried about who I will be once I graduate with my Masters degree. Not in terms of "who" I will be, but "what" I will be to the world. For the last 20 years I have been a student (!!), and so that's who/what I view myself to be, and, essentially, what the world sees me as. I am a daughter, a friend, a sister, a cousin, a girlfriend...all these statuses are ingrained in the essence of who I am, and so is being a student. Come August, I will be losing a huge part of who I am, and I find that so disturbing... what will I "be" when I go to the doctor and they ask me what my occupation is?? Or fill out a form?? Because I am traveling and working for a year before settling down in a full-time job, I will be "unemployed". Is that my status? Should I keep up the ruse of a "student"? Should I associate with my degree and be a "soil scientist"? Or with my up-bringing and be a "farmer"?
The one thing that university doesn't prepare you for is the big, real world. I am used to the change of school terms- my daily life shifting every 4 months, my evenings filled with homework (or thoughts of homework), and stressing about juggling part-time work with pleasure and school. It is hard to imagine an evening with no thoughts of schoolwork or an upcoming meeting... Part of me wants to enroll into a PhD program just so that I can continue to be a student... Maybe one day I will... In the near future, I hope to become a wife, and a mommy, and maybe after that a student again. We'll see.
For now though, I need to focus on the moment, and write, write, write... Things are coming along well. It is very fulfilling to bring together the last 2 years of my labour into graphs and tables and words, all condensed into 80 pages. :)
The one thing that university doesn't prepare you for is the big, real world. I am used to the change of school terms- my daily life shifting every 4 months, my evenings filled with homework (or thoughts of homework), and stressing about juggling part-time work with pleasure and school. It is hard to imagine an evening with no thoughts of schoolwork or an upcoming meeting... Part of me wants to enroll into a PhD program just so that I can continue to be a student... Maybe one day I will... In the near future, I hope to become a wife, and a mommy, and maybe after that a student again. We'll see.
For now though, I need to focus on the moment, and write, write, write... Things are coming along well. It is very fulfilling to bring together the last 2 years of my labour into graphs and tables and words, all condensed into 80 pages. :)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Farm Life
I'm moving home to the farm in a little over a month and so I've started packing up some things and bringing boxes back to the country. I headed out to the farm on Friday afternoon and ended up staying the entire weekend! Besides the fact that its nice to visit with my parents (and siblings, when they are home), being on the farm makes me LOVE being outside! The city does absolutely nothing to motivate myself to get outside and enjoy the weather...I have no balcony and no green space that belongs to my apartment. The park down the street doesn't have any picnic benches and I hate having to drive 20 minutes to the closest park that does... The air is dusty and stinks all the time. I wonder to myself alot as to how I managed to live in the city for the last 5 years! I did live in a house with a backyard and small garden for the bulk of it, so I did have access to the outdoors, but it definitely isn't the same as the country air.
On the farm, I get up and enjoy the sunshine, the birds singing, the fresh breeze from my parent's deck. I can walk to my Grandma's house for morning tea and a game of "King's Corner" or put in a few pieces of a puzzle. I can walk down to the river and listen to the trickling water and if I'm lucky see a muskrat swim by. With the change in season, geese and ducks, swans and pelicans appear. I can walk to the arena and find soft, mewing kittens in the hay. I can lay on my back at night and actually see the stars, no street lights here! I can fall asleep to the sound of crickets and wake up to the sound of chirping birds... forget about fire trucks and screeching cars!!
I am really looking forward to life on the farm. Yes, I will lose my cute little apartment and bachelor benefits (no getting up at midnight to make cookies or parading around in my underwear anymore!), but I am coming back to my roots and it feels good.
On the farm, I get up and enjoy the sunshine, the birds singing, the fresh breeze from my parent's deck. I can walk to my Grandma's house for morning tea and a game of "King's Corner" or put in a few pieces of a puzzle. I can walk down to the river and listen to the trickling water and if I'm lucky see a muskrat swim by. With the change in season, geese and ducks, swans and pelicans appear. I can walk to the arena and find soft, mewing kittens in the hay. I can lay on my back at night and actually see the stars, no street lights here! I can fall asleep to the sound of crickets and wake up to the sound of chirping birds... forget about fire trucks and screeching cars!!
I am really looking forward to life on the farm. Yes, I will lose my cute little apartment and bachelor benefits (no getting up at midnight to make cookies or parading around in my underwear anymore!), but I am coming back to my roots and it feels good.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Three strikes, you're out!
So, I've been experiencing some car trouble. I drive a standard and have had my car for 5 years. I'm not overly aware of the make-up of vehicles and how they function, but I do know how to check the oil and where to put the wind-shield washer fluid. Over the past few weeks, my gears have been a little hard to shift into and on Monday my clutch pedal got really soft and I had a real hard time shifting. I thought to myself..."Self, I'm sure that my clutch needs oiling or more lubricant or something". I talked to my Dad and he said that's probably what the problem was.
Okay, so I go to my MECHANIC on Wednesday morning and tell him what's wrong and that I think I need to top up my fluid or lubricant or something. He automatically dismissed this idea saying, "That's rarely what it is...It's probably that you need to replace your clutch". Little did he know that I replaced it about 8 months after buying the vehicle. So, upon further investigating on my part and some poking around under the hood, the problem is, indeed, low brake fluid. Why standard vehicles require brake fluid to lubricate the clutch, I'm not sure...but that's the problem. Strike one against men who think women know nothing about cars.
Strike two is the fact that I was poking around under my hood in the university parking lot at 9:30pm and none of the 10 men who walked by me offered to help me out! Or even to inquire what the problem was!! Okay, well, maybe this shouldn't be a strike against men who think women know nothing about cars...maybe they were all scared that they would look stupid because they know nothing. But, I'm including it anyways.
I drove to Canadian Tire this morning to buy some brake fluid. The guy at the counter asks me what make and model my car is...I tell him, "94 Honda Civic CX hatchback". He looks at me incredulously and says, "Wow, you really know what your car is!" Strike 3!! Come on! Women aren't necessarily stupid when it comes to cars! And really, how many guys profess to being able to change their own tire or check their own oil?
Okay, so I go to my MECHANIC on Wednesday morning and tell him what's wrong and that I think I need to top up my fluid or lubricant or something. He automatically dismissed this idea saying, "That's rarely what it is...It's probably that you need to replace your clutch". Little did he know that I replaced it about 8 months after buying the vehicle. So, upon further investigating on my part and some poking around under the hood, the problem is, indeed, low brake fluid. Why standard vehicles require brake fluid to lubricate the clutch, I'm not sure...but that's the problem. Strike one against men who think women know nothing about cars.
Strike two is the fact that I was poking around under my hood in the university parking lot at 9:30pm and none of the 10 men who walked by me offered to help me out! Or even to inquire what the problem was!! Okay, well, maybe this shouldn't be a strike against men who think women know nothing about cars...maybe they were all scared that they would look stupid because they know nothing. But, I'm including it anyways.
I drove to Canadian Tire this morning to buy some brake fluid. The guy at the counter asks me what make and model my car is...I tell him, "94 Honda Civic CX hatchback". He looks at me incredulously and says, "Wow, you really know what your car is!" Strike 3!! Come on! Women aren't necessarily stupid when it comes to cars! And really, how many guys profess to being able to change their own tire or check their own oil?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Flutterby
As many of you know, I've started writing my thesis and processing my data into graphs, figures and tables. My defense should be sometime in August of this year. I've realized over my university years that I work well with deadlines, and so have gotten pretty good at making deadlines for myself and keeping them (the important part!). Right now, my first deadline for myself is handing in my first draft of my thesis to my advisor on May 28th...giving me 40 days from today. I feel that I'm coming along well, getting things done slowly, but allowing me to be a socializing butterfly while I write. Never before in my university experience have I been so relaxed and happy with my life...it's a nice feeling.
I'm sure part of it is the great company that I have in the Ellis Building: my fellow peers and the Soil Science department staff...I'm going to miss everyone! The sad thing is, is that things are already starting to change. Students are staying at home to write a bit more often, spending days in the lab, getting back out into the field for their summer research or getting jobs (not something I suggest if you want to ever finish your thesis!). The lunch room is quieter during coffee break or lunch time... The main group of "Soilies", however, are still managing to get out to a local bar or pub over the weekend to unwind. Guys, thanks for another great night last night! I will miss the craziness once the summer is over.
Okay, well, back to reading and writing for me!
One of my plants decided to flower and I thought that I'd share the fragile flowers with you. They are quite small...about the size of my pinkie finger nail.
I'm sure part of it is the great company that I have in the Ellis Building: my fellow peers and the Soil Science department staff...I'm going to miss everyone! The sad thing is, is that things are already starting to change. Students are staying at home to write a bit more often, spending days in the lab, getting back out into the field for their summer research or getting jobs (not something I suggest if you want to ever finish your thesis!). The lunch room is quieter during coffee break or lunch time... The main group of "Soilies", however, are still managing to get out to a local bar or pub over the weekend to unwind. Guys, thanks for another great night last night! I will miss the craziness once the summer is over.
Okay, well, back to reading and writing for me!
One of my plants decided to flower and I thought that I'd share the fragile flowers with you. They are quite small...about the size of my pinkie finger nail.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Siobhan the actress
So, I've been a busy girl...spent last week in the field, in the lab, and in front of my computer. This week I picked up lots of shifts at my 2 part-time jobs...and so I'm working 30 hours PLUS trying to work on getting my figures done up, while reading papers. It's been an emotional roller-coaster ride, let me tell you.
One of my part-time jobs is being a standardized-patient for the Medical Faculty at the Bannatyne campus. Essentially, I'm an actress...learning different patient roles for the different departments within Medicine. The department hires people like me (standardized patients)who learn a role, with specific answers and then we are the medical students' "exam". Last month, I got to portray a promiscuous, uber-sexual 25-year-old patient, who flaunted her sexual history to her pharmacist, while filling out her prescription. I was nervous going into the exam, but then realized that the pharmacy students were more nervous than I was! It ended up being a ton of fun, because, as you know, I'm a fairly conservative person, and it was great to be out of my comfort zone!
Today I had training for the neonatal (pre-term babies) department, where I am a mother receiving bad news about her baby, or a diagnosis that I don't want to hear (even though I've had suspicions about it). [I'm sorry that I can't write more about it, the role is confidential.] We practiced with real doctors today and it's so exciting! Some of them deliver the news nicely, while others are real a**-holes, blaming the mother (me) for the diagnosis on my infant. It is also an opportunity for me to learn how much doctors across Canada are trained, and that even practicing doctors undergo exams on a fairly regular basis.
Bonus: we get to wear fat suits because we just had our babies...how fun is that!?
One of my part-time jobs is being a standardized-patient for the Medical Faculty at the Bannatyne campus. Essentially, I'm an actress...learning different patient roles for the different departments within Medicine. The department hires people like me (standardized patients)who learn a role, with specific answers and then we are the medical students' "exam". Last month, I got to portray a promiscuous, uber-sexual 25-year-old patient, who flaunted her sexual history to her pharmacist, while filling out her prescription. I was nervous going into the exam, but then realized that the pharmacy students were more nervous than I was! It ended up being a ton of fun, because, as you know, I'm a fairly conservative person, and it was great to be out of my comfort zone!
Today I had training for the neonatal (pre-term babies) department, where I am a mother receiving bad news about her baby, or a diagnosis that I don't want to hear (even though I've had suspicions about it). [I'm sorry that I can't write more about it, the role is confidential.] We practiced with real doctors today and it's so exciting! Some of them deliver the news nicely, while others are real a**-holes, blaming the mother (me) for the diagnosis on my infant. It is also an opportunity for me to learn how much doctors across Canada are trained, and that even practicing doctors undergo exams on a fairly regular basis.
Bonus: we get to wear fat suits because we just had our babies...how fun is that!?
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Zombie cows?
So my Dad called me this evening to tell me about a Zombie cow that he has on the farm...yes, a zombie cow. The conversation started with him telling me about a cow he had penned this afternoon and its symptoms: flat ears (denoting illness of sorts) a lolling tongue, and some dullness of the eyes (possible blindness). He said that he has had cattle with lead poisoning exhibit similar symptoms...resulting in death of the animal. Then, Dad proceeded to ask me if I'd seen Zombie Land (a movie suggested to him by my brother). My brother has gotten into the mind-set over the last few months that the zombie apocalypse is probable and has encouraged my parents to prepare for the worst. (!!) All I've absorbed is: cardio workouts are good...then you can outrun a zombie (although, do we really know how fast a zombie will run?). Regardless, Dad phoned to warn me that he may have a zombie cow on his farm and that he may be a zombie as of tonight...I am to record this account in the history books so that everyone who does make it out of the apocalypse as a human will know that the carnage started at the Stewart Farm. Our code word, to tell if Dad is still human or not is: pip. It is the definition of the dots on a dice...yes, he has been helping my Grandma do too many crossword puzzles. After all this and a near tearful farewell to my Dad, he informs that it may possibly be rabies. Yup, a cow with rabies...so, it'll go around biting other cows with its herbivorous teeth? Geez...I love my family, but...!!!
MATLAB hell, with a bit of sushi
So, I started my day off in a cheery mood. My Mom slept over last night, I cooked her supper and we sat around and talked and went for long walk to Corydon and back...a nice relaxing night... Because I was in high spirits, I decided that I'd tackle MATLAB, the oh-so-lovely computer data processing programming ickiness (yes, that is the official scientific term) that I've been working with on and off for the last year and half. Up until recently, I've been fairly dependent on other people to help me out, but I've been spending some "quality time" with it in the last week or so and am getting a feel for it. So, now, 8 hours later, I still don't have much to show for my messing around with the program ALL DAY! Despite this, I'm still happy. I'm understanding a bit more how the program works...so maybe my lesson to everyone today is: Don't give up! Keep trying... So, yes, tomorrow I'm meeting with another student to go through the blocks that stopped me today, but my thesis figures are coming together...slowly, but surely. It's a nice feeling.
On the bright side of my day, I got to babysit my office-mate's son, who is 2. He is such a cute little man. We watched Sesame Street...its actually still really good. It kept my attention, anyhow. However, get this, this 2-year-old has a wooden sushi set. The rolls are held together with velcro and then he can cut them into pieces with his little wooden knife and dip them in soy sauce with chop sticks that have velcro on them... It's so great! AND, there is a block of wasabi...which C. puts to his tongue and goes "Ewwww". My babies are definitely getting their own wooden sushi set!
No new German words to report...Georg we need another lesson soon! My favourite German word that I've learned so far is: Meerschweinchen. It won't be of much use to me in everyday life, but it is fun to say (and hear). It means guinea pig. So, remember this word, if you are ever needing to buy a guinea pig in a pet store in Germany.
On the bright side of my day, I got to babysit my office-mate's son, who is 2. He is such a cute little man. We watched Sesame Street...its actually still really good. It kept my attention, anyhow. However, get this, this 2-year-old has a wooden sushi set. The rolls are held together with velcro and then he can cut them into pieces with his little wooden knife and dip them in soy sauce with chop sticks that have velcro on them... It's so great! AND, there is a block of wasabi...which C. puts to his tongue and goes "Ewwww". My babies are definitely getting their own wooden sushi set!
No new German words to report...Georg we need another lesson soon! My favourite German word that I've learned so far is: Meerschweinchen. It won't be of much use to me in everyday life, but it is fun to say (and hear). It means guinea pig. So, remember this word, if you are ever needing to buy a guinea pig in a pet store in Germany.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Osterhase
Well, I hope that everyone had an enjoyable Easter weekend. Despite my mother's side of the family saying that they were all occupied with their immediate families, most of us ended up at my Aunt's house on Sunday afternoon. We had a lot of laughs around a bonfire and caught up with each other's lives. I haven't seen some of my family since Thanksgiving, because I was in Southern Ontario during Christmas. I guess that is what happens when you grow up and get a life... My newest German word that I've learned (and remembered) is Osterhase, which means Easter bunny.
My cousin had his wedding social on Saturday evening at a local pub, with a local band called "Oh So Popular". They were amazing and played a variety of hits from the 80s and 90s. Definitely worth looking into if you need a band for a wedding, social or anniversary.
I have been spending quite a bit of time learning the computer programming software (MATLAB) that I'm using to process my high frequency gas concentration data for my thesis. I'm getting better, but it gets frustrating at times. My advisor wants my graphs for my thesis ASAP and, of course, it is taking longer than I expected to get them drawn up. Have you heard of the pi (3.14) rule? You take your anticipated finish time and multiple it by 3.14 to estimate the time it will ACTUALLY take for you to finish...depressing but true. My goal is to get my first draft completed by the end of May, which is 2 months...does this mean that I will only get it done by September? : ) It better not!!
Saturday, April 03, 2010
What am I waiting for?
I always get the feeling that I should write about something monumental that is happening in my life on these things... But how often does something huge happen in a student's life?
I guess I will just let everyone know what I've been up to these days. I'm doing my Master's degree in Soil Science at the U of Manitoba. My thesis is on the effects of including alfalfa in an annual crop rotations on CO2 and N2O emissions. Data collection will occur until the end of April, although I've already started writing and reading (maybe it should be the other way?). My defense will hopefully be sometime in August. After that, I'm heading to Europe for a year to learn German under the tutelage of my German boyfriend, backpack around Great Britain and work on an organic farm in France pour pratiquer mon francais.
It'll definitely be an adventure!
I guess I will just let everyone know what I've been up to these days. I'm doing my Master's degree in Soil Science at the U of Manitoba. My thesis is on the effects of including alfalfa in an annual crop rotations on CO2 and N2O emissions. Data collection will occur until the end of April, although I've already started writing and reading (maybe it should be the other way?). My defense will hopefully be sometime in August. After that, I'm heading to Europe for a year to learn German under the tutelage of my German boyfriend, backpack around Great Britain and work on an organic farm in France pour pratiquer mon francais.
It'll definitely be an adventure!