stories from the force...psssshew!
Now entry-ing from the other side of another $100+ meal. Mmmm Vancouver seafood (and prime rib). Those must have been some happy cows. I figure that everything in the ocean is eaten by something, so I don't feel particularly bad eating seafood. Other animals sometimes make me feel guilty, though. But let's not digress into my hangups about eating delicious food.
Anyhow, I've been busy. I can't go skydiving because of the weather :(. The clouds have been too low all but the the first full day I've been here, and it just wasn't possible to get out there (it's 40 miles east of the West End) on the first day--I didn't even know it was possible on public transportation. It's okay though. I'll get to go again sooner or later. I do have this mass of free time this quarter, so maybe I'll go somewhere in California. Tomorrow I'm heading back to the UBC campus, hopefully to sneak on a tour and learn valuable trivia facts. I'm also getting to speak with an advisor. An actual person who is happy to discuss my particular plans and situation with me. Not waiting in line in some smelly basement for 20 minutes to be handed some one-sided sheet of meaningless words I've already read on the website. Fuck Davis. Yeah, that's right. I'm pissed because they can't handle things at all, and even more so when you're a "non resident" (=we don't give a flying fuck about you, just pay us an extra $17,000 and do it now or we'll get bitchy). At least here I get treated like a person. I don't know if I'm beautiful enough to make it here, but time will tell. The campus has incredible views and a wide selection of food and newish computers. Academically, this is western Canada's leading institution and a member of their "Canadian Ivy" schools. It's a lot more competitive than I originally thought--it seemed more like an IU or at most a UC, but it's clear now that this is a Cal-like place. And it should be, with 14 libraries and 35,000 students. And it feels so busy and active all the time. The Davis campus goes in spurts, alternating between crowded and deserted. They are also tempting me with a brand new high-rise (and unlike Segundo, they mean it [19 stories]) residence scheduled for completion and occupancy (me) by August. We all know how much I like new things.
I went shopping today. So many beautiful people. And no fewer than three times, I was advised to shop elsewhere when I had questions. The salespeople here are not hesitant to send you to the right place to get what you need/want, even if it means them not making a sale. It's remarkable. Once for speakers, once for luggage (it! was! on! serious! sale!), and once for blazers (I have a weakness). Sadly, they did not have blazers in my size. But I've got business cards if I'm ever in need of tailoring or nice clothes in Vancouver. I had a wonderfully cheap pita for lunch, chosen for me by a very helpful woman who told me what I would like. She was right. I don't even know exactly what it was. Yesterday, I ate lunch at an amazing bakery on Main Street. Somewhat later, I found myself watching planes land near the airport. I got a little lost in search of a conservatory and wound up 2 or 3 miles off course. All on foot, and I had to get back to Science World (worst $10 I've ever spent, by the way). Dinner at a Thai/Malaysian place last night. Absolutely amazing mango ice cream, sweetened with something that wasn't cane sugar. I forgot what I had, but it was so tropical and spicy and wonderful that I didn't want it to end. It was a very stylish place, with dark wood and candles and green-tinted glass and straight, plumb lines. Almost all the places I've eaten have been very modern and clean-lined. The style and the delicious food for good prices just can't be matched in Davis. I must admit that the least impressive of my meals was at Zefferelli's. It might just be that almost nothing in the way of Italian food quite cuts it for me, but I think that it's mostly that we went to the cheapest of the 3 Italian places on that block. CinCin is quite expensive and a celebrity hangour, and the Caffe de Medici is tucked away and hidden. Zefferelli's doesn't try to be Tuscan or Mediterranean, just a "pasta place," so I'll avoid being too critical. The gelato place (where I made new friends and also burned my hand on a light) had so many heavenly flavors and cute girls, it was almost overwhelming. But the burning of the hand was unpleasant (those little glass and metal lights that hang from the ceiling: don't try to stop them when you bump into them. They hurt. A lot. And make it impossible to identify textures for several hours.).
Well. Tomorrow is the last day. Today's shopping and not skydiving was a little disappointing, but I've only fallen more in love with this city (whose Sears sells Versace bags and Natuzzi furniture and designer shoes--take that, America). I already love the UBC campus, too, and I think that as exciting as Europe would be, Vancouver might just be the best fit for the next two years. Even though Europe has a strong tradition and a great set of cultural opportunities and can't be matched, it's the sort of place that has a lot of potential to be uncomfortable as well. It's also really expensive and really far away, and being American would only be painfully obvious. I'd be happy to move there with a job already set for me or study abroad there for awhile, but I don't think I'm prepared to move there for two years to finish my education. I'd do it anyway, in a heartbeat, if it weren't for how much I love this place. It's cheaper, too, which means more money to do whatever I want. Would Europe really be that much fun if I had to budget everything? I'm not that structured a person. As you can see, I'm just rationalizing why I'm considering passing up Europe.
This probably hasn't been either organized or clear, but it's what I have to say for now. See you guys back in the States, eh.
Anyhow, I've been busy. I can't go skydiving because of the weather :(. The clouds have been too low all but the the first full day I've been here, and it just wasn't possible to get out there (it's 40 miles east of the West End) on the first day--I didn't even know it was possible on public transportation. It's okay though. I'll get to go again sooner or later. I do have this mass of free time this quarter, so maybe I'll go somewhere in California. Tomorrow I'm heading back to the UBC campus, hopefully to sneak on a tour and learn valuable trivia facts. I'm also getting to speak with an advisor. An actual person who is happy to discuss my particular plans and situation with me. Not waiting in line in some smelly basement for 20 minutes to be handed some one-sided sheet of meaningless words I've already read on the website. Fuck Davis. Yeah, that's right. I'm pissed because they can't handle things at all, and even more so when you're a "non resident" (=we don't give a flying fuck about you, just pay us an extra $17,000 and do it now or we'll get bitchy). At least here I get treated like a person. I don't know if I'm beautiful enough to make it here, but time will tell. The campus has incredible views and a wide selection of food and newish computers. Academically, this is western Canada's leading institution and a member of their "Canadian Ivy" schools. It's a lot more competitive than I originally thought--it seemed more like an IU or at most a UC, but it's clear now that this is a Cal-like place. And it should be, with 14 libraries and 35,000 students. And it feels so busy and active all the time. The Davis campus goes in spurts, alternating between crowded and deserted. They are also tempting me with a brand new high-rise (and unlike Segundo, they mean it [19 stories]) residence scheduled for completion and occupancy (me) by August. We all know how much I like new things.
I went shopping today. So many beautiful people. And no fewer than three times, I was advised to shop elsewhere when I had questions. The salespeople here are not hesitant to send you to the right place to get what you need/want, even if it means them not making a sale. It's remarkable. Once for speakers, once for luggage (it! was! on! serious! sale!), and once for blazers (I have a weakness). Sadly, they did not have blazers in my size. But I've got business cards if I'm ever in need of tailoring or nice clothes in Vancouver. I had a wonderfully cheap pita for lunch, chosen for me by a very helpful woman who told me what I would like. She was right. I don't even know exactly what it was. Yesterday, I ate lunch at an amazing bakery on Main Street. Somewhat later, I found myself watching planes land near the airport. I got a little lost in search of a conservatory and wound up 2 or 3 miles off course. All on foot, and I had to get back to Science World (worst $10 I've ever spent, by the way). Dinner at a Thai/Malaysian place last night. Absolutely amazing mango ice cream, sweetened with something that wasn't cane sugar. I forgot what I had, but it was so tropical and spicy and wonderful that I didn't want it to end. It was a very stylish place, with dark wood and candles and green-tinted glass and straight, plumb lines. Almost all the places I've eaten have been very modern and clean-lined. The style and the delicious food for good prices just can't be matched in Davis. I must admit that the least impressive of my meals was at Zefferelli's. It might just be that almost nothing in the way of Italian food quite cuts it for me, but I think that it's mostly that we went to the cheapest of the 3 Italian places on that block. CinCin is quite expensive and a celebrity hangour, and the Caffe de Medici is tucked away and hidden. Zefferelli's doesn't try to be Tuscan or Mediterranean, just a "pasta place," so I'll avoid being too critical. The gelato place (where I made new friends and also burned my hand on a light) had so many heavenly flavors and cute girls, it was almost overwhelming. But the burning of the hand was unpleasant (those little glass and metal lights that hang from the ceiling: don't try to stop them when you bump into them. They hurt. A lot. And make it impossible to identify textures for several hours.).
Well. Tomorrow is the last day. Today's shopping and not skydiving was a little disappointing, but I've only fallen more in love with this city (whose Sears sells Versace bags and Natuzzi furniture and designer shoes--take that, America). I already love the UBC campus, too, and I think that as exciting as Europe would be, Vancouver might just be the best fit for the next two years. Even though Europe has a strong tradition and a great set of cultural opportunities and can't be matched, it's the sort of place that has a lot of potential to be uncomfortable as well. It's also really expensive and really far away, and being American would only be painfully obvious. I'd be happy to move there with a job already set for me or study abroad there for awhile, but I don't think I'm prepared to move there for two years to finish my education. I'd do it anyway, in a heartbeat, if it weren't for how much I love this place. It's cheaper, too, which means more money to do whatever I want. Would Europe really be that much fun if I had to budget everything? I'm not that structured a person. As you can see, I'm just rationalizing why I'm considering passing up Europe.
This probably hasn't been either organized or clear, but it's what I have to say for now. See you guys back in the States, eh.