Elections

I'm supposed to be doing some statistics homework, but I felt it was my civic duty to procrastinate by researching the upcoming election. I think I'll need to vote by mail for the Halifax district, and it looks like it will be a much more exciting race than Edmonton. Did you know that 28 of 28 districts in Alberta are currently Conservative? It's strange and a bit worrisome if you ask me. I haven't decided who I want to vote for, but the idea that an entire province of people hold exactly the same political beliefs is like something out of a sci-fi movie. Anyway, a quick overview of the websites of the candidates for Halifax was confusing. Does it seem to anyone else like they are all saying the same thing? Can anyone recommend a website, newspaper or magazine to help me sort through the wish-washy political jargon?

Pictures

I know everyone likes a blog post with pictures, right? Well I've been trying. I keep throwing my camera in my backpack and hoping I'll come across an inspiring vista or small item of beauty. Not yet. In the mean time, here are a couple I thought you might be interested in.
I took this picture in a mall in downtown Edmonton this morning. I was shoe shopping (it's getting way too cold for flipflops) and stopped here for a Tim's coffee. I guess this kind of gives you an idea of Edmonton downtown- lots of space, very few cars and short office buildings.
This is officially the dining room table of our apartment. But, because I don't have a desk in my "room", I use it for most of my computer work or studying. Cozy, isn't it?
And lastly, this very strange, moderately depressing picture is of me in my "office." This is where I have TA office hours for an hour on Tuesday and Thursday morning. Students can come if they have questions, but so far it's just been one student per morning. By the way, that's Seattle's Best Coffee! Now brewing at Mac's convenience store!

Random Pictures

These pictures are mostly for Carole (I'm not sure who else cares?) Yesterday I was sitting at my desk working hard at the reading I needed to do for class on Monday. I started chatting with Carole on Skype and happened to mention that I was trying to talk myself out of going to West Edmonton Mall. Normally my self-discipline would win out, but Bath and Body Works had just opened (first stores in Canada ever!) Carole, being the dependable sister she is, insisted that I drop everything and rush out to the mall. So I did. And Bath and Body Works was a scent-filled paradise. I got two shower gels and three hand soaps all for $28! I think it seems cheap because the exchange rate has changed so much since I used to shop for the products in the states, and that Alberta only has 5% tax. I am now taking orders (if you live outside of Edmonton or Toronto).
I found a new jewelry tree! How can I live without my jewelry tree? (it was too wide to bring home from Australia)
I'm learning the basics of statistics in my ESL Assessment class. We were supposed to get a scientific calculator, and I was was much more excited about finding a "pretty" one than I should have been! All the other ones were boring and grey, though.
New shoes (Carole will be jealous!)

It Makes Me Smile

Note: please don't take the following post too seriously. I really don't know much about what I'm talking about, it's just my opinion at the moment. And I hope all my American friends know that I'm not talking about you!

It's no secret that I am fascinated by American politics; I think it comes from all the American history/government courses Carole and I took. This race is going to be one of the highlights of my fall! I find it entertaining and enlightening. I remember watching Barack Obama give a speech while I was living in Illinois. I'm really fuzzy on when exactly it was, but I think it must have been during the 2000 Presidential elections (the whole Gore/Bush confusion) because there were a lot of us sitting in the lounge watching the political news. Anyway, it was a great speech! Here was this guy with great ideas and inspiration who seemed bipartisan and international, and I remember thinking "Why don't they make this guy president?" And now there is finally the sense that maybe, just maybe, if he is elected, America will be able to salvage the threads of their reputation around the world. Although it doesn't seem like many Americans care about that! Anyway, when it comes to the Republicans, I am beginning to think that, if they are elected, we might as well just give up on the US. I've found the policies, opinions and beliefs of the American government (and average Americans) disturbing and sometimes terrifying over the last few years. And if America is crazy enough to elect copies of the previous administration, then it really is the fall of the Roman Empire. And the Sarah Palin element is mind-boggling to me. I read an article in last week's Globe and Mail that really explained it well and was fun to read. My favourite fact? She got her first passport last year, and she's going to be meeting foreign heads of state and influencing foreign policy! And then this morning I watched this news clip from Yahoo news. Hilarious. I was laughing out loud. I know Carole will get it, but I hope everyone can understand how crazy some Americans are! I'm so proud to be Canadian, and the Canadian reporter they talk to in the clip should get a bonus (you can tell he was rolling his eyes at the nutcase American broadcaster). I guess the point to all this is that, as much as I like watching the US elections for the drama, I am so, so glad for our Canadian elections! I guess I should decide who I want to vote for, eh?

Travel Plans

I know that I've only been in Canada for three months or so, but I'm already planning my next trip! My excuse is that Carole needs someone to come visit her in Turkey and bring her winter clothes. Instead of spending a small fortune to fly to Nova Scotia during Christmas peak times, I decided to go for a trip to Istanbul instead! And (because Carole needs a vacation too) we booked a side trip to Scandinavia. It was a toss up between that and Egypt, but we decided to go for the Christmas-y option! We'll spend a few days in Copenhagen, Denmark then take the train to Stockholm, Sweden. On the way back we'll have a night in Riga, Latvia. Both Copenhagen and Stockholm have outdoor Christmas markets and special Christmas traditions and food. We'll even be in Sweden for St. Lucia day!!!
But, more practically, life is going well here in Edmonton. I'm very happy in my cozy 9th floor apartment with two great (quiet, clean & nice) roommates. I've only had a week of classes, but I'm already busy. My TA job takes up a lot of my focus: tonight I'm working on learning outcomes for a grade 11 assessment for English Language Arts. How would you compare and contrast Romeo and Paris in Romeo and Juliet? Most of it is just re-typing things, but I actually have to think up an answer for that one. I'll freely admit my dependence on Spark Notes!

The New Place

At the family's request, here are some pictures of my new apartment. My two new roommates were gracious enough to let me move in yesterday even though my rental application hasn't been approved yet. The apartment is right on campus (although not campus housing) and about a five minute walk to my classes. It has some great amenities like a nice pool, workout room and even a movie theatre. Here's a picture of the living room. Those folding screens separate my "bedroom" (aka the dining room).
Here's the view! It's on the 9th floor facing south.

This is my bedroom. Notice Grammie's quilt! And, Carole, I did not choose turquoise for the sheets, it was all that was left in jersey knit at IKEA.

The other side of the room, leading into the kitchen. It feels quite spacious, bigger than my room in Thornhill, even. My roommates are very quiet and spend a lot of time in their rooms or out so I don't have to worry about noise from the living room.

And this is the kitchen.

That's it for now. Hopefully you have a better picture now when you think of me in Edmonton!