Back and Forth, Back and Forth...

"Back and forth, back and forth; I'm beginning to feel like Sisyphus!" -some merchant, Zeus Master of Olympus

Once again, I took to the task of driving back to the homeland, while Jorghnassen had the monumental task of keeping me awake and calling for rest stops at every other service station. Our primary goal was the week-long vacation in our home province. Our secondary goal was to obtain the Rav4's summer tires from Jorgh's dad in Quebec.

Our first stop was in Toronto, to attend the pre-wedding Ning fling at a Dave & Buster's out in the middle-of-nowhere-Toronto. All I know is that one of the Ikeas was next to it. (I-KEEEEE-AAAAAHHH...) I haven't seen Ning in a long time, and even then it was a brief coincidental meeting in Quebec City as she was walking in old town with her now-fiancé Steve. They're supposed to be getting married this week. So happy...! :)

After spending overnight in Toronto with my cousins, we spent all day driving to Montreal, and then I spent all evening correcting Calculus final exams. The marks had to be submitted the next morning at 8 a.m. by email, otherwise I would have had one hell of a commute. I called Davy up as soon as I arrived, certain he would be having his party, to send my regards, and he promptly told me to get our butts over there. Unfortunately, I could not complete my corrections until 10 pm.

By the time we arrived, Ian had already scuttled off, having waited all night for our arrival. On the other hand, Ivo had been asleep and appeared half-dead on our arrival. Then he slept some more. ;) We spent the rest of the evening chatting, sipping tea and whatever else was left, and singing more Beatles songs.

Checklist of Montreal/Quebec Things to Do Eat:

• eat poutine


• eat poutine from Ashtons


• buy maple syrup in cans


• buy bagels by the dozen


• eat and buy tasty bread


• buy or eat own weight in cheese and curds


• eat sushi (!?)

(The last one actually makes sense if you remember what my mum does for a living.)

My favourite thing to do with friends is to make food for them. (Heck, any excuse to get the old roomies together.) So we ended up having one supper in Montreal with homemade sushi (unfortunately not Sushi Sunday but still good).

I managed to secure some of SUMS' doorstops Calculus textbooks for the school. Another reasonable excuse to make this trip's expenses tax-deductible. :)

Eventually we made our way to Quebec, but none of my siblings could make the trip. My bro is recording a new album, so all his evenings are taken up; my sister was entertaining her 'rents-in-law. And arriving in Quebec... my mum was working. Alas, we were also booked for pre-Easter supper with Jorgh's parents and brother in downtown Quebec, so we had virtually no time to go anywhere nor do much shopping. :(

I do feel like we ate a lot though...!

I was pretty bushed by the end of the week. And I still had to drive back to Waterloo, and then the next day yesterday was the first day of school.

... also I had to stop in Toronto for about an hour or so to drop off the bags of bagels, cheese curds, and beans for my cousin. We got back in Waterloo at about 10:30 p.m. and I worked late into that night at making new lesson plans.

Ooh you can bet your sweet patootie I'm completely off my rocker. I made a class blog for my computer class and I think it shows. (In order not to let random strangers get to this blog from the other one, or vice versa, you'll have to ask me what it is.)

Ms. C Happens Onto Waterloo

I have been ultimately busy doing a number of things in the last two weeks:

1. Driving from Chicoutimi to Waterloo in the Rav4.


2. Driving around Waterloo to buy some furniture and other miscellaneous things in the Rav4.


3. Driving to the school out in Baden to meet people in the Rav4.


4. Driving to the school out in Baden to work in the last week... in the Rav4.


5. Driving Jorghnassen around in the Rav4.


6. Trying to get Jorghnassen to drive the Rav4.

It is creepy driving around in the middle of winter with barely any snow on the ground. The day we arrived, it was so warm that we were wandering around in our late fall/spring/cold summer day garb, and the temperature refused to dip below the freezing point. In the last two weeks, there has been some snow (or perhaps "crystalized rain") that has lasted a good two or three hours on the ground at a time, and then some more to replace the centimeter that eventually disappears.

I remember a bit beyond two years ago, I had just started my driving lessons at around 5 pm, at the Tecnic school near the Terminus Les Saules. It was snowing incessantly, and terrifyingly dark; my driving instructor was amazingly calm and terrific, and I managed to go through the first few lessons without actually hitting anyone or anything. I even managed at most two drivers honking at me, so I think I did alright.

Flash forward two years, and here I am, zipping around town more or less shaking my fist at every douchebag on the road who doesn't signal, doesn't know how to take turns at the stop signs, keeps sticking close to my rear, and passes from the right. And don't get me started on the crazies who like to drive while talking on their cell phones, because it drives me absolutely nuts.

Also, I just got a cell phone. :| It is a prepaid card with Telus and it costs me just as much money to send as it does to receive calls, and marginally less to send text messages so I would only use it if/when things get bad. Like the other morning when the driver side door didn't let my key unlock it, and the passenger side door wouldn't close! Then I called Jorgh from the parking lot to get him to wake up and stumble down the stairs of the apartment complex, out the door and help me resolve the problem, and all it took was 5 minutes of warming up the car to get the door to finally close. It must have been a ghost...

In other news, I started teaching last Monday at the school. It is quite, quite, quite small; in fact, so small you would think it just opened a scant 7-8 months ago. Which it did. There are exactly three classrooms in use, and three teachers who teach at completely different blocks. In fact, the calculus is the first and only class of the period, and the other two periods are occupied by chemistry and english at the same time. And, until just recently, I had exactly one student in my second period math class: she got promoted to the chemistry class, so I have to compensate that loss of class with two or three club periods at lunch.

I would say that it is an insane amount of work for one or two classes, but I am actually enjoying putting together the class. It entails following the course profile and curriculum of the class, trying to make sense of the crazy-long activities listed in there, and making the "daybook" (lesson plans) for each of these classes.

Now, during the training years, no one told me that I could condense all the lesson plans for each day into a lesson plan that can encompass the whole week, or several days. So I had briefly freaked out during the first two days discussing things with the principal on lesson planning when he told me that all I could do was take the previous teacher's daybook, replace the dates, and submit that as my own. Though it doesn't help that the daybook doesn't make any sense to me in that form.

So I spend the morning teaching, return to the apartment at around 1:30, sleep for several hours (yes, several), wake up and make supper, then work until 3 am writing the day plan. And I do mean DAY plan. So far, I have not gone beyond two days worth of day plans because I seriously don't know how long it would take these students to undertake any of the activities, despite the projected "2 hours" or "1.25 hours" they claim.

For a private school, the control of the discipline is genuinely upon the administration. I actually felt like every student in the class was scared beyond their wits to act out or speak out of turn simply because someone would kick them out of school for doing so. (And the kicking-out-of-school part is a bigger deal for them because they're all from Africa.) It took nearly three classes to get them to loosen up and feel (at least a bit) more comfortable asking a question. Fortunately, they are much more motivated in their learning than other places I have ever been, and they have little or no reason to resort to crazy antics.

Also, I have been told that the taxes were not witheld by the school, so I had a choice between being paid as an individual, or as a business. Thus, I should inquire more about registering as a business soon, as I can claim gas, car maintenance, the equpiment I bought, etc. The others even claim the heavier clothing they have to bring to school because the building is so cold sometimes even this blueberry would shiver.

To summarize the last few weeks in a few words, I would say that I am quite stressed with work but quite happy where I am. :):):)

Except for the hard water. But that's another thing altogether.

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Some sort of design-your-own dancing thing - I forgot why I didn't write anything about it earlier when I copy-pasted this link onto a blank post.

Yes I Was Travelling.

I'm currently listening to this orchestral but hilarious History of Canada on CBC Radio One. Radio Two will be playing the program again.

Sunday June 11, 2006
From the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia
the CBC Radio Orchestra welcomes Canada's favourite storyteller, Stuart McLean - the
host of Vinyl Café - for a program of words and music
Stuart McLean, narrator
Mario Bernardi, conductor
CBC Radio Orchestra
Clifford Crawley: Overture on a Canadian Theme (or two)
Cameron Wilson & Stuart McLean: History of Canada
John Beckwith "Polka" from Music for Dancing
Cameron Wilson & Stuart McLean: I Remember Wayne (world premiere)

I went to Montreal this weekend, but it was a bit too hectic to do much. So you'll have to forgive me if I haven't called anyone nor posted. On the other hand, I witnessed PJ getting a nice suit. Finally!!! (We'll have pictures up when he comes by later next week.)

I'll have to take back that "Worst Onramp 3V4R" on the Quebec map that I commented on. I haven't driven very much throughout this city, just up to boonytown Valcartier and back. I avoided going on the highway, due to my complete disdain of Quebec drivers stemming from the funeral incident.

But I decided after having sufficient experience, I was ready to tackle the disgusting roadways of Quebec near the bridges. My mum had warned me that it was kind of crappy.



For the first time driving by myself, I actually thought I was going to die. There are stop signs on the onramps. Mysteriously appearing onramps. LOTS of mysteriously appearing onramps. And then a really weird curve in the road. With an onramp on both sides mysteriously appearing. LOOK.

If the highways look like spaghetti to you, that should explain why Quebec drivers are completely insane.

Not something to write home about, people!

But I will anyway. I worked (supply teaching) recently at the Adult Ed for a few days. It's a very nice place with reasonable resources. The staff is exceptionally nice, and the principal will bend over backwards into pretzels for absolutely everyone. I have never seen anyone so accommodating for its own sake.

The part that I wanted to mention was that I finally got to drive myself to work for the first time last Friday. And my mum lent me the car today to drive myself to work again. :D And to top it off, I also drove up the gajillion bus hours to the base to work this afternoon. ***AND*** as I had picked up my mum from work this evening, she said finally, "Oh, it seems you can drive now."

Oh, throw a dog a bone...

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I think I haven't shut up enough about the hot water tank. It has finally been changed thanks to the senior landlord (a.k.a. the guy's father) and the brown gucky stuff is out of the system. Now all it has to do is heat up the damn water. WHERE IS THE HOT WATER????? 

Drive like a Granny

For the majority of the population in this country, driving a car anywhere is as big a deal as getting dressed, or drinking water, or picking your nose. Well, maybe not the last thing. I am nonetheless delighted (or completely naive) to have driven the car alone for the first time today. If you're reading this blog, it's probably safe to say:

a) you've been there, done that, a billion times ago, "Get over yourself,"
b) you're a hippy who believes that a driver's license is getting "too deep into the clammy grips of the man," or
c) you're Jorghnassen. :)

Anyway, my mum has been experiencing a really weird episode of "swollen face" for a week. She had been to the doctor, hoping it was an allergy to something she ate (which is probably right) but the doctor said it was "nothing." The next day after the visit, her face was so swollen that one of her eyes could barely open, so she couldn't go to work that day. So much for "nothing."

It has been pretty swollen for a week now, but it hasn't got much worse. Her eye was unable to open much today. Thus, after trying in vain to talk her into going to another doctor, I gave up and took the car for my own usage. Mwa ha ha ha! I drove alone to the mall and window shopped for three hours. Then I had a hard time getting out of the mall due to the car lineup from hell.

Now I know why people hate going to the mall.

Yay for Cars!

OMG the picture is always terrible. 

License to Drive You Wild

In other news, the era of childhood is officially gone. :( Here begins the new era of crazy road trips galore! and what the heck did you just run over!? @_@

My mum still won't let me go by myself though.

Quebec City Online?

To sum up my community's internet world:

• Quebec's craigslist, which suffers from settling internet dust.


• Quebec Urbain - for the urbanist in all of us. I guess.


• Le Soleil - the only paper in Quebec City that doesn't suck. (Journal de Quebec, and Chronicle Telegraph. 'Nuf said.)

To find a job... huh... well, I'd have to go on the Education Canada network, that apparently hardly ever works (seeing as with the hundreds of listings for the rest of Canada, nobody ever seems to post from Quebec). Or the ever-so handy Emploi Quebec site that offers a wide range of jobs from dishwasher to telemarketer. Of course, as all else fails, I just went to the schools themselves to give my resume. And then I wait.

---

<start of rant> My mum just came back yesterday, and among the very first things she said was, "DID YOU GET A JOB? NO? THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO MOVE TO ONTARIO!!!"
Among my protestations were: "WHAAAA?" "Are you on crack?" "Why the hell would I do that?!" and "What the hell do you know?!?"

Seriously, it's just a repeat of last year's crap, except she's even crazier now. I would probably attribute it to the fact that she thinks a person can't make a living working as a substitute or replacement (which one can't... if you're a single mother or a homeowner), and she thinks I don't worry enough about my own finances or situation (which I already worry about enough by myself, thank you very much, without some overbearing crazy woman screaming at me).

The Ontario bit... well, I think she figures that there are more jobs there (which there are... if you want to work in Thunder Bay) and they do pay marginally more. But the downside is that one has to join the Ontario Teachers' college, which is a completely separate entity to the union, and the hassle to join that plus the yearly fees makes it complete bullshit. (It doesn't guarantee that you'll be working or not - it just means that you're allowed to work as a teacher.)

I already thought about what I wanted to do this year. I figured that I could just stay in town for another year to supply teach and work as a tutor. It'd be a good opportunity for me to

• practice driving in a non-crazy driving city, when I do get my license,
• function en francais some more, and
• give me time to establish myself properly in town, to decide a long-term future.

If I were still in Montreal, I'd undoubtedly be more active and less cranky, but I would have the more painful guilt of not having been more of a caretaker to my family. (I'm already in doodoo for not going to Toronto a few weeks ago for Eddie and Rebecca's gramma in the hospital, because everyone else was there.) But I don't regret being in Quebec over the last year because I would not have been able to mess around my job and learn much more about myself and others. I would not have been as able to cope as well with the transition between university and work.

As much as I enjoy being with everyone in Montreal, I don't think I could have really advanced with my maturity as much as I would like. There's something about being alone for long periods of time that helps me be more decisive (while at the same time be even more insecure).

---

My sister is apparently house hunting in Montreal. That's a big step! She's apparently looking at one house around Jean-Talon, where she took my mum to look around. My mum then came back and said, "If she buys the house then I'm moving to Montreal."

The first thought that came across my mind was, "What the-!? She's really going to let you move in with her? No effing way!"

I can recall vividly the numerous times my sister exclaimed for everyone to hear, "I'm not letting you move in ever!" That was especially true when she was moving out to Montreal the first time around, while she was nearly frothing in the mouth at the detestable behaviour my mum was exhibiting towards her.

On the other hand, my sister let me live with her for about 8 months in the same apartment she is currently living in, the first year when I went to McGill. I was grateful for the futon and suitcase surface area, but I lacked the 3D volume and privacy that I suppose anyone would need when living out of the house.

So now my sister is buying a house, and letting my mum move in? If that's the case, then I wouldn't mind moving out finally on my own. It would probably still be in Quebec for now, as I made my own personal commitment to stay for another year. On the other hand, would I be able to afford it? (...*reality kicks in*...)

One More Step to Freedom of Road Madness!

I just completed my practical driving courses about half an hour ago. All I have left is to (schedule and) take the SAAQ driving exam (and pass it). (So it should be really "3 steps" but whatever.)

Apparently I got 88... I forget exactly what 4 things were wrong.

1. I was too slow in places where there weren't any speed limit signs (so I just went 40 km/h).


2. I hesitated when some teens were about to cross the road, but there was a car behind me. I wasn't sure if they had the right of way but they had stopped. Stupid kids, make up your minds!


3. My right turns were sometimes too wide. I have no excuse.


4. I have to make sure that in some instances where there's 1 lane at an intersection with lights, there's space for someone to turn right. I'm still confused about that one.

No blind spot non-checking errors. ***

***Not to say that I forget to check sometimes...

Any pointers, those with drivers licenses?

Poor, Poor Jorghnassen

Dear Jorghnassen,
I'm sorry that you had a harrowing stay with me in Quebec from Thursday to Sunday. I know it was hard for you to be in a massive crowd of thirty thousand teachers on Friday, baking in the sun and consequently obtaining a sunburn. I'm sorry that we ended up missing our bus stop, because of idiots who don't know how to move out of the way on a crowded bus to let other people off, and walked for twenty minutes under the sun to get an even deeper sunburn. And I'm sorry that we went shopping afterwards for four hours to look for shoes... only to find nothing and buying a lotto ticket instead. And I'm sorry that I tricked you on Sunday into getting into the car and having me drive us down the precarious boulevard Hamel, which should have taken at most 10 minutes but ended up going into half an hour or something.
I hope you forgive your silly girlfriend. ;_;

EDIT: He says it's ok.

Two Days Left..!

I have been working my butt off (or maybe not) with catching up with work. It is mostly figuring out what I am supposed to teach and where exactly we are supposed to be caught up to. I am most afraid of not being able to get everything done by the time exams come around, and not having taught material well enough. Secondly, I am still tearing my hair out at my wild and unruly secondary 4 combined science class (ie. both 416 and 436 physical science). What I am least concerned about is my bedtime. ... Besides, I can always catch up a bit with the hour long bus rides to and fro.

School is out on the 22nd, which means I have about 2 days of Christmas shopping to commence! Fortunately, I have 4 classes in total left to teach, and a talent show in the afternoon of the 22nd to judge.

Additionally, I am going to driving practice, and my third lesson will be tomorrow afternoon. I haven't driven into snowbanks yet, but it seems that this could be a headline within the next few days...

Jorgh will explode if I don't blog right now

My cute Jorghnassen was very nervous the entire trip and back, but he managed to drive us to the cemetery on Thursday to visit papa for his birthday without causing any traffic accidents. One guy honked out of his imbecilic nature, but overall Jorgh did a good job of driving after 4 years of not driving.

On another note, I got a response from the idiots at the french school board. Just as expected, it was a rejection notice (what else could it be?) but I didn't even predict it would be as bad as it is actually written. It's so bad that it's ridiculous. It's a form letter for sure, probably made from a program with a bunch of tick-boxes, which they decided to tick all the negative things. They went into a shitload of BS about how I didn't take into consideration of the students, or their socio-cultural and economic backgrounds, or how I didn't show that I was competent in any shape or form, blah blah blah... This from a 15 minute interview in a language where I have absolutely no possibility of expressing myself properly.

I find this hilarous but also very maddeningly disgusting.

BEWARE DRIVERS!!!

Yeah, I mean it. I got my learners license today after fuxx0ring four questions out of nervousness.

Some Comforting Moments

After needlessly bawling my brains out yesterday and exchanging some kind words, like the attention whore I usually am, I understand what people's concerns are about. No, I won't be throwing myself off tall structures or anything like that. Heaven forbid I bring everyone I know so much misery after all the pain I caused myself.

I think it suffices to say that I've stayed in Quebec long enough and I'd rather move out. Rather, mind you.

But there's a bit of a catch right now; the landlord is currently evicting us (from this disgusting apartment we stayed in for over 10 years) by June. We need a new place to go. Well, I think that if I ever manage to attain a full time position somewhere, it'd be time to buy ... a HOUSE.

No longer being nomadic or driven insane by landlords, other tenants, crazy drivers... ... ... now I'm just scratching my head...

Anyway, lots of options await me. But in the meantime I have a few intermediate goals:

1. part-time job somewhere (somehow, someday)


2. drivers license: learner's permit (theory test) on October 26th. Betcha didn't see THAT one coming. YES! I AM TEH MASTA OF SURPRISES!


3. housekeeping, the Clean Sweep style. Except without all that money and carpentry and redecorating. That's too much trouble for a crappy place like this which we're leaving soon anyway.

Anyway, next post I'll find a random picture and post it. Happy thoughts!