peanut butter.

I hate peanut butter jars. The oil repels the water, making it impossible to clean.
Anyways, I don't know why I'm blogging. I have nothing to say.

Oh! Except to say that I love people. After being alone in my apartment for 24 hours yesterday, moping around, I was feeling the need for social interaction. Social interaction with people who really know me-- not just kind of know me. And I got it. I love people. From the moment Amanda called this afternoon (you made my day, my dear), I had non-stop people-ness in the form of visits and phone chats until Sara hung up the phone tonight(you made my night, my dear), I've been surrounded. And I have spoken almost no French.

And now I will continue with my homework.

wildflowers.

This week was tough and tearful. Life isn't always butterflies and rainbows. But, a hopeful thing happened to me yesterday. I got home from school and my wildflowers that I planted just last week had sprouted during the day (they weren't there yesterday morning). Even if they are simply some wildflowers in a broken pot, seeing them sprout gave me some hope that life has beautiful things too. I don't know why seeing my wildflowers sprout gave me so much pleasure, but it did.

cultural acclimation.

My teacher made an interesting comment today, after discovering I was actually Canadian. She said (and I translate), "Oh! I thought you were American with a touch of British. You just had those characteristics." I have no idea why she would ever think that! :)

coffee shops and christmas concerts.

Last night I discovered an acceptable coffee shop. I'm not going to rave about it-- it doesn't sell fairtrade and the waitress gave terrible service-- but at least it made decent cappuccinos and had a nice ambiance (well, except the music was too pop rock). OK. So maybe it wasn't that great. But it's the best I've found so far. Anyone who has any business skills should come join me in starting a revolution up here in Quebec and show these Francophones what a coffee shop is supposed to look like. It's strange-- for a people who have a creative, European-flair to their culture, they are lacking in the coffee sector (their pubs are great!!).

On another note (drat. I think I'm about to make a terrible pun): I spent my Sunday morning try to get junior high kids to sing on key for the Christmas Musical. Some of the boys voices are in the midst of pubescent changes. Some of the girls can't find their note. Yup, it truly is going to be a regular, imperfect church Christmas Concert full of laughter and cheer. In reality, I'm actually really proud of these guys: they've got a great attitude and lots of smiles to go around.

comedy league.

My dear Dordt friends who were in Comedy League, I miss you! Last night I went to Laval University's comedy league. Even though there were hundreds of people there and it was funny-- the quality of your humour outshone their's by a long shot! So, this is just to let you know that you guys did a fantabulous job...

lost in translation.

Oh dear. Please, if you are learning another language, learn the proper expressions for l'amour, or you can get yourself into a lot of trouble. For example, saying "Je veux te baraisser" when you want to give someone a hug and a peck on the cheek is fine if you are from France. However, I am in Quebec, where this phrase is a derogatory way to say, quite bluntly, "I want to have sex with you." Another one that got me in trouble lately is, "J'ai passe une bonne journee avec toi." I thought this meant an innocent "I had a good day with you." My boyfriend was quick to correct me, since it means I enjoyed having sex all day. I hope this isn't too blunt of a blog; but these mistakes are some of the most important discoveries I have made lately, since they may contribute to some of my difficulties in this culture :)

(Oh yeah-- and if I hadn't mentioned it before and you didn't catch on from this blog-- I have found a Quebecois guy: Dominique (a.k.a. Mr. Videotron, my telephone technician from last month's blog...). There. It is officially out in the open.