After getting off the bus at Granville and Robson, I decided to walk down Robson.
It didn't take long for me to bump into a building, which looked like an accomplished Coliseum. As it turned out, the building was, in fact, Vancouver's Public Library downtown. And as soon as I stepped inside, I couldn't help but marvel at the accumulated knowledge and wisdom - all at everyone's reach for little to no effort.
From there, I kept on walking down - direction Yaletown. Eventually, I found myself on Davie heading towards English Bay. Once there, I had a go at the seawall but was far and away from walking the 8.8-kilometre paved route.
After taking the bus through Denman, I arrived at Robson again - but this time at it's Western tip. Shortly after walk passing the city's Art Gallery, I decided to go back to the Library - because if it's nice to start out with the greatest things in life, it's even better to finish with them...
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
A world of science
Yesterday I've learned that
- a meal with meat products is produced with more water than a meal without meat products;
- "[a] series of failures may culminate in the best possible result" (Gisela Richter - Art Historian, Curator of Greek Art, Metropolitan Museum, 1929-1952);
- I weigh more than an aardvark but less than a komodo dragon;
- Life in India and life in a hive have at least one thing in common: castes [all honeybees fall into one of three castes: workers (female bees who build the honeycomb, gather the nectar from flowers, defend the hive and look after the queen and her eggs), drones (male bees whose job is to mate with a queen from another hive) and queens (bees who lay eggs that will hatch into more bees)];
- Stan, a 65 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex, is the second most complete T. rex skeleton found so far;
- Napoleon displayed the Mona Lisa in his bedroom and also in his bathroom, causing water damage to the varnish near the eye and chin;
- Those who worry about aging should consider themselves lucky because humans are one of a few animals that don't die soon after they stop reproducing.
- a meal with meat products is produced with more water than a meal without meat products;
- "[a] series of failures may culminate in the best possible result" (Gisela Richter - Art Historian, Curator of Greek Art, Metropolitan Museum, 1929-1952);
- I weigh more than an aardvark but less than a komodo dragon;
- Life in India and life in a hive have at least one thing in common: castes [all honeybees fall into one of three castes: workers (female bees who build the honeycomb, gather the nectar from flowers, defend the hive and look after the queen and her eggs), drones (male bees whose job is to mate with a queen from another hive) and queens (bees who lay eggs that will hatch into more bees)];
- Stan, a 65 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex, is the second most complete T. rex skeleton found so far;
- Napoleon displayed the Mona Lisa in his bedroom and also in his bathroom, causing water damage to the varnish near the eye and chin;
- Those who worry about aging should consider themselves lucky because humans are one of a few animals that don't die soon after they stop reproducing.
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Washing away the splinters
On Saturday, I went to the Vancouver Lookout on Harbour Centre and got to admire the city from a hight of 181 meters above sea level. Afterwards, I explored the downtown area and saw Gastown's awesome Steam Clock, as well as the vibrant Granville Entertainment District. In the evening, my friends and I went to the Richmond Night Market and I was provided with a valuable life lesson - bubble tea sucks.
On Sunday, it was time to visit Granville Island - I liked checking out the local shops and galleries; I really enjoyed having lunch on the ferry dock with unparalleled views of the city just in front of me; and I had lots of fun on Railspur Park's swings. Dinner in North Vancouver would consist of homemade sushi and meaningful conversations about freedom and the like but, before that, we went to the beach.
As I stared into the Pacific, all sorts of thoughts came to mind - I wondered if I would ever manage to go around my limitations and find myself where I want to be; I wondered if my past will be my future; and I wondered if happiness is really possible.
Kaia then started building a tunnel in the sand and my contribution to this enterprise was seriously hindered by the splinters I got for digging with wood covered in bark. At some point, Kaia mentioned that I could remove them by washing my hands in the ocean. And so it was - after just a few waves, all the splinters were gone; and I felt... better.
On Sunday, it was time to visit Granville Island - I liked checking out the local shops and galleries; I really enjoyed having lunch on the ferry dock with unparalleled views of the city just in front of me; and I had lots of fun on Railspur Park's swings. Dinner in North Vancouver would consist of homemade sushi and meaningful conversations about freedom and the like but, before that, we went to the beach.
As I stared into the Pacific, all sorts of thoughts came to mind - I wondered if I would ever manage to go around my limitations and find myself where I want to be; I wondered if my past will be my future; and I wondered if happiness is really possible.
Kaia then started building a tunnel in the sand and my contribution to this enterprise was seriously hindered by the splinters I got for digging with wood covered in bark. At some point, Kaia mentioned that I could remove them by washing my hands in the ocean. And so it was - after just a few waves, all the splinters were gone; and I felt... better.
Monday, 28 May 2012
A main afternoon
You would think that, after four weeks in hell, I would be happy to see the end of it all and yet I was mostly... disoriented.
We left school with a letter in our hands and without really understanding what it meant not having to come back the next Monday. We headed towards Main Street and there we wandered the whole afternoon. Jonathan left after lunch and Kirsty and Martin resumed their lives shortly after that. Dean, Scott and I ended up in Kafka's Cafe talking about... everything.
I will always remember just how sweet that Spanish Latte tasted when Scott mentioned that we could take away life's meaning just as easily as we could give it; I will never forget how insightful Dean was when he said that, sometimes, it's not about finding the job of your dreams, it's about finding the job, which will allow you to fullfil your dreams afterwards; I will always remember how beautifully it was getting dark outside when we made some comments on the exposed pictures of Malay alleys; most of all, I will never forget the moment we parted.
I hope life gives us all what we are looking for; I hope we manage to get together several times in the process; I hope...
We left school with a letter in our hands and without really understanding what it meant not having to come back the next Monday. We headed towards Main Street and there we wandered the whole afternoon. Jonathan left after lunch and Kirsty and Martin resumed their lives shortly after that. Dean, Scott and I ended up in Kafka's Cafe talking about... everything.
I will always remember just how sweet that Spanish Latte tasted when Scott mentioned that we could take away life's meaning just as easily as we could give it; I will never forget how insightful Dean was when he said that, sometimes, it's not about finding the job of your dreams, it's about finding the job, which will allow you to fullfil your dreams afterwards; I will always remember how beautifully it was getting dark outside when we made some comments on the exposed pictures of Malay alleys; most of all, I will never forget the moment we parted.
I hope life gives us all what we are looking for; I hope we manage to get together several times in the process; I hope...
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Coffee and postcards
Last week was a very hard one. So much so that the most enjoyable part of it was getting a cup of coffee every single morning just before classes.
At some point I was also happy to get two postcards - especially one weary of wisdom, like a bee that has gathered too much honey. So much so that I was delighted to plan a class on the skill of writing a postcard. Frustratingly enough, it was my most unsuccessful class so far...
At the end of the day, I drowned my sorrows with my friends. We had a great time. And then I found myself standing in a crossroad; I hoped for the best but at the end of a 1000 sunsets, there's nothing. Or thus spoke Zarathustra...
At some point I was also happy to get two postcards - especially one weary of wisdom, like a bee that has gathered too much honey. So much so that I was delighted to plan a class on the skill of writing a postcard. Frustratingly enough, it was my most unsuccessful class so far...
At the end of the day, I drowned my sorrows with my friends. We had a great time. And then I found myself standing in a crossroad; I hoped for the best but at the end of a 1000 sunsets, there's nothing. Or thus spoke Zarathustra...
Monday, 14 May 2012
Along came belugas
It felt great to wake up on Saturday morning. Behind me was an evening of drinks with friends and ahead of me, a day of unadulterated rest.
Azu and I left the house at around 11 a.m. It was my first time downtown and first impressions were very positive. I was particularly pleased by the fact that the streets were wide and not that crowded. It also felt nice walking around sipping coffee and taking in all the colours made bright by the shining sun.
After a quick lunch of delicious Chinese-Japanese noodles, we started making our way to the Vancouver Aquarium located inside the beautiful Stanley Park. Shortly after getting in, we decided to watch a short documentary in 4D – and I only found out what 4D truly means when a wave broke and I felt a splash of cold water on my face.
We then moved on to see the dolphins’ show, the tropic zone and the Amazon forest. As we were walking out of the clownfish cove, I heard asking if we were interested in checking out the belugas’ show. For a moment, I couldn’t believe that I was going to see white whales for the very first time; but, shortly afterwards, there I was sitting next to three of them and admiring their gracious moves.
The rest of the afternoon unfolded smoothly and the evening was one of the cosiest ones I have ever experienced – we ate homemade burgers, had a great conversation and played really fun games. On our way back, we crossed the Lions Gate Bridge and had a breathtaking view over the downtown area. When we got home, it felt great to go to bed.
Azu and I left the house at around 11 a.m. It was my first time downtown and first impressions were very positive. I was particularly pleased by the fact that the streets were wide and not that crowded. It also felt nice walking around sipping coffee and taking in all the colours made bright by the shining sun.
After a quick lunch of delicious Chinese-Japanese noodles, we started making our way to the Vancouver Aquarium located inside the beautiful Stanley Park. Shortly after getting in, we decided to watch a short documentary in 4D – and I only found out what 4D truly means when a wave broke and I felt a splash of cold water on my face.
We then moved on to see the dolphins’ show, the tropic zone and the Amazon forest. As we were walking out of the clownfish cove, I heard asking if we were interested in checking out the belugas’ show. For a moment, I couldn’t believe that I was going to see white whales for the very first time; but, shortly afterwards, there I was sitting next to three of them and admiring their gracious moves.
The rest of the afternoon unfolded smoothly and the evening was one of the cosiest ones I have ever experienced – we ate homemade burgers, had a great conversation and played really fun games. On our way back, we crossed the Lions Gate Bridge and had a breathtaking view over the downtown area. When we got home, it felt great to go to bed.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Just like dandylions
Last Thursday was a bad day. The lesson I taught was not as engaging as I thought it would be and, not long after getting home, I was told that Joanna (my Filipino hostess) had given birth. I was happy for the family, of course, but I also felt nervous about having to do so much work in a house with a newborn baby in it...
Last Friday was a really bad day. I found out that I would have to prepare two assignments over the weekend - not just one. I was also not able to stop thinking that my next lesson would be as bad as the previous one.
The weekend started with a lot of anxiety but my will to improve led me to work hard and, more often than not, through the baby girl's crying. By Sunday evening, I was already feeling positive again.
This week has been going well! The lesson I taught on Monday went better than last time; yesterday I was fortunate enough to see the beautiful colours of the twilight; and today the quality of my teaching improved ever so slightly.
All in all, this whole experience has been truly enriching. It's not nice to feel that having a meal or a shower is too time consuming; and it's definitely not great to have so little time off that walking to and from the bus stop feels like a mini-vacation! But I'm trying not to focus too much on this aspect. In the end, this is all just like the dandylions I see on the gardens I walk passed every morning - one day the wind will blow and all the spores will be gone...
Last Friday was a really bad day. I found out that I would have to prepare two assignments over the weekend - not just one. I was also not able to stop thinking that my next lesson would be as bad as the previous one.
The weekend started with a lot of anxiety but my will to improve led me to work hard and, more often than not, through the baby girl's crying. By Sunday evening, I was already feeling positive again.
This week has been going well! The lesson I taught on Monday went better than last time; yesterday I was fortunate enough to see the beautiful colours of the twilight; and today the quality of my teaching improved ever so slightly.
All in all, this whole experience has been truly enriching. It's not nice to feel that having a meal or a shower is too time consuming; and it's definitely not great to have so little time off that walking to and from the bus stop feels like a mini-vacation! But I'm trying not to focus too much on this aspect. In the end, this is all just like the dandylions I see on the gardens I walk passed every morning - one day the wind will blow and all the spores will be gone...
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
No noodles in the sink
Ever since I got to Canada, I have been living with a Filipino family and Azu, a Japanese student. We get along quite well, which is great considering the circumstances. On Sunday, we all went to the Queen Elizabeth Park and I can honestly say that it is one of the most beautiful parks I have ever been to. The Quarry Gardens are nothing short of spectacular. I was particularly pleased by the flower beds boasting wonderfully coloured tulips. Being surrounded by all that beauty, all those fragrances, made me realise that I had come to a good place.
The next day it was time to go back to school and, as you can imagine, I was pretty anxious. As soon as I stepped out of the house, I wanted to make sure that I would get on the right bus and would get off at the right stop. As soon as I got into the building, I wondered how my colleagues, my teachers and my students would be like; most of all, I wondered if I would be able to manage the workload, which I had been told was huge.
A couple of days down the line, I can tell you that everyone is nice, friendly and professional. As far as the workload is concerned, I've been managing to keep my head above water - even if I was asked to teach already on the first day...
I now spend my days running around like a headless chicken, attending classes, preparing classes, submitting assignments and, in what's left in between, making sure that I sleep and eat in order to keep on going all that. The other day I wondered if I would be able to cope with all this pressure. And then I remembered the sign I found stuck in the mirror of the ladies' toilet: "No noodles in the sink". That's right, we are all humans in the end and sometimes we drop noodles in the sink. What's important, however, is not to have dropped them; it's to pick them up afterwards...
The next day it was time to go back to school and, as you can imagine, I was pretty anxious. As soon as I stepped out of the house, I wanted to make sure that I would get on the right bus and would get off at the right stop. As soon as I got into the building, I wondered how my colleagues, my teachers and my students would be like; most of all, I wondered if I would be able to manage the workload, which I had been told was huge.
A couple of days down the line, I can tell you that everyone is nice, friendly and professional. As far as the workload is concerned, I've been managing to keep my head above water - even if I was asked to teach already on the first day...
I now spend my days running around like a headless chicken, attending classes, preparing classes, submitting assignments and, in what's left in between, making sure that I sleep and eat in order to keep on going all that. The other day I wondered if I would be able to cope with all this pressure. And then I remembered the sign I found stuck in the mirror of the ladies' toilet: "No noodles in the sink". That's right, we are all humans in the end and sometimes we drop noodles in the sink. What's important, however, is not to have dropped them; it's to pick them up afterwards...
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