Since I have disappeared off the grid (figuratively) what have I been doing? I definitely haven`t been writing on my blog. You would think that in the week time I didn`t write anything I would have come up with something interesting to say, but this is not the case.
I have recently been trying to devote a lot more time to studying than I have since my arrival. This is quite difficult because I tend to study better with a deadline looming, such as a midterm or final (I am a procrastinator). Since 4/6 of my classes have final worth 100%, no other work is assigned, my profs don`t even really assign readings. So I am faced with having to review my notes of my own volition. As you can imagine almost anything is more interesting than this option. Also, I am in Europe, so the distractions are oh-so appealing. For example, I considered going skiing today but decided in the end that even though the snow is only going to be present for a limited amount of time thanks to 20 degree days, failing a class would be worse than missing a possible ski day. Though today I did succeed in typing some of class notes before I decided to do more interesting things.
My parents jokingly tease me that all I seem to do is ski. For anyone else that might be thinking this, I can assure you all that this is not the case. Though I can understand why you might all think this. As it is one of the more interesting things I do, I tend to mention it more frequently then say, how frequently I sweep my room (about 3 times per week, my black floor really shows crumbs and all other dirt).
Now to kind of contradict everything I just said, I did go skiing this week which will probably only serve to reinforce everyone`s perception of me disregarding the academic obligations in my life. Anyways, this time it was a different type of skiing. The École de Glisse had a special outing to Chamrousse (another ski mountain) for night skiing. Since it was international women`s day I got a great deal and was able to enjoy a 1/2 day lift pass, transportation, tartiflette and 2 drinks for 10€ (guys had to pay 17€50). So basically, night skiing is almost exactly the same as day skiing, except for it`s at night. Chamrousse has one day per week where they light up one of their runs for people to enjoy skiing at night. It was lots of fun, but a little bit challenging near the end because my ski goggles are a fairly dark tint so all the snow ended up looking the same. This was a bit of a problem because I had a hard time telling where the icy patches were before I was upon them, I also wasn't able to see bumps in the snow before I was ontop of them. I only fell once though, and it wasn't even because of not being able to see. It was my last run of the evening and my legs were so tired that I ended up crossing my skis in the middle of a turn, whoops.
It was also my first experience skiing in actual winter weather, because up until now I have enjoyed only sunny skies with no wind while I have gone skiing. Thursday night it was snowing and visibility was not particularly good a) because we were in a cloud ( the base is at 1650m, 5400 feet) and b) because the wind was blowing snow everywhere. It was the wind that really got to me as I did not think to bring a scarf to protect the area of my face that is exposed between my neck and ski goggles. On the way down it wasn't a problem because I was moving but in the chairlift it was pretty brutal. When snow is hitting your face at a high speed, things get cold. In my expert opinion (based on Ottawa winter weather) we were enjoying a windchill of between -15 and -20.
As for the free dinner it was delicious. We were served outside so the dining facilities left something to be desired (standing up, or if you were brave, sitting in the snow) but we got served very quickly because with that kind of windchill food doesn't remain hot for very long. I enjoyed my first tartiflette experience. For those (all?) of you who don't know what tartiflette is, I shall enlighten you. It resembles scalloped potatoes, except for the potatoes are in small chunks, and there are also little chunks of bacon (called lardons). In the traditional French fashion it also includes a specific kind of cheese (Reblochon) and cream. It was quite delicious. I was also finally able to understand the stickers that I see in various places around the city.
They say "In tartiflette we trust" and since the slogan's creation for skipass.com it has kind of become a slogan of skiiers in this area. This confused me initially but upon refection its quite catchy, as I recently learned that tartiflette is a typical skiing food. I'm not quite sure if all the French catch the reference to "In God we trust" but for those who do, I'm sure they also find it quite witty. On a side note, another French word play on english I am quite fond of is "Shakesbeer", which is a local bar that I walk by frequently (no, I have never gone in).
Not only we were all served tartiflette, we were also served drinks. Everyone got two coupons for drinks with the option of Coca-cola, Red wine or white wine. I got quite a kick out of this, because only in France (actually probably Europe) would those be considered equivalent beverage options. I would have expected something more like Coke, 7-up or Dr Pepper. I opted for the white wine because I don't like soft drinks, and because to me it seemed like it would taste better with tartiflette than coke.
Aside from skiing, I have mainly gone back and forth between my classes. I am actually quite frustrated with one of my teachers because she shows a complete disregard for the class schedule. Last week we were supposed to have class Tuesday from 5:15 to 7:15pm, she announced she couldn't make it in the previous class and so she moved it to Friday from 8 to 10am. Though I was not happy about this arbitrary schedule change I showed up at 8am only to discover that late Thusday night she moved the class the next Friday. Then, when I showed up to the make-up class yesterday morning she was 15 minutes late. Obviously this class is not her first priority.
Other miscellaneous things going on in my life. I purchased a rose bush last week but it doesn't seem to be doing to well. I forgot to water it for a few days, then it wilted. So then I watered it consistently for the next few days hoping to bring it back to life. This didn't have quite the effect planned, as it now seems to be loosing a lot of leaves and some have even turned brown and fallen off. I might have research plant care online to ensure I do not kill it.
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