Seventy eight

sooo the slackness continues..


but in the meantime Tora has created her own blog (which I actually have had for quite some time now.. ) with some photos on it from Canada - husgardet.blogspot.com


Tonight is going to be a late night i think, the amount of writing I have to submit before Tuesday is a little bit ridiculous- close to 9000 words.. hrmmm so I prolly shouldnt be writing this..

anyway

as you can see we have, and have had lots of uni work we have been doing, they like to lay it on thick here (like the snow covering the streets). The frustrating part is that while the work is great from some reason the Lecturer (not that we have lectures) gives at least a week if not 2 weeks less than what we probably need to complete an assignment to a finished level so it just results in people handing up incomplete work despite having slept in the studio the week prior to submission.



despite the work we have managed to treck it to Toronto again this time to see the LEGENDARY Mumford & Sons- I would just like to say how amazing they are live- nothing like amazing live music and these guys were definatly a show to remember. There were a whole bunch of Aussies in the audience which was funny. You get a tap on you sholder 'hey are you Australian?' and then its like seeing a long lost brother haha. The show sold out despite them not having there album released in Canada yet (we thought that was a bit odd). And just an asside as to how incredebly sexy they each are, aaaaaaaall of them! Gotta tell you guys that their photos you see when google them do NOT make them justice. D A M N .

There is nothing like busses to get you mind a'ticking and rolling out into the fields that you drive past- snow covered one, the lights reflecting off the windows to create patterns and shadows and layers of colour and shade. Its times like these that i almost love the most- the 5 hours of daydreams, or just dreams (especially when you deep deep down are well aware of the fact that you should do other things.. more "important" things).

I've mentioned previously Travel being a form of rethinking, learning what you have already learnt, and the impact of being removed from all influences.-- With this comes a kind of patience that is required- a letting go of all you have control over and be in the moment, the whole moment. The whole experience of being here, now, in this time, in this place.


You have no ties to it initally and its so easy to just be lost in what has happened and what is to happen, in every sence, friends, family, love, life, home, you have to submit. Admit you have no control of the situation. Breathe a new.


The thing is the time that you have is then/now this new place has such little refrence to what was, is and what will be. Its an odd limbo, imersion, which at times can be unsettling but it is one of the best places to find things that are new, like i mentioned before- find things already found long ago, relearn.


You begin to notice the details, moments, rather than sequences of events which can become a blur. Beauty in the mundane, or just notice the ugly that can be, what we imprint on the world, the cracks that are. or the intrigue in those cracks, even if they are ugly.


You are taken on face value once more.


Proven + Forgotten, then Learned again.



In saying this, you cant disregard, or forget what is back home. how could you? it would be like existing without a heart. its more that the words get a little softer, you still hear them but they move with you in a way, but it lets you be.


anyhow I must write these essays.


Three months since I left Adelaide a week or so ago.. its really not long until we leave Canada now and then we treck on- different ways Home.

Forty nine

So i thought a list of things that we have learnt whilst in Canada might be appropriate.

1. it is not possible to run in -22 degrees, as it is far to hard to breathe.

2. You can, however, run when it is snowing - although you need to be a very careful not to slip on the covered ice (which means that rules out Tora ever running in snow, since she manage to fall twice back in Adelaide. On the same spot. Without the help of either snow or ice).


3. Contrary to Australia, it is warmer when it is cloudy/snowing "its like a blanket that keeps us warm" -Quote Mikeal Sydor Carleton University


4. Standing in the sun dosnt make you warmer unless you are inside in a heated environment and standing next to a window - but sure it is nice with the sunshine either way!


5. Some Canadians have NEVER seen the Ocean let alone had beach hair or even touched the sea.. poor souls and ever so slightly odd.


6. Choose appropriate footware according to temperature, not by the amount of snow on the ground.


7. Toboganning requires a tobogan. toboganning in tights on your ass is not recommended (But now that i bought Tora one, it shall soon be used).


8. Greyhound busses- its better to get on the second bus- be at the end of the line, than the first that is packed.


9. everything freezes, including dog poo, headphones, eggs, vomit, your own chin, toes, cheeks and nose etc etc (which means that going out with wet hair is not to recommend - unless you want a free haircut).


10. Australia has seriously underestamated the greatness of bagels.


11. Canada has seriously underestamated the greatness of Vegimite (-that stands for Ellen).


12. Porrige is not only great for pretending to be goldilocks, but is possibly the cheapest student breakfast around.


13. Foamcore is only 4 dollars for a giant sheet (but still not recyclable).


14. Yellow trace brings odd reactions from the locals "what wierd ass yellow paper!"


15. A jug of beer is refered to as a "Pitcher"


16. You must tip the bartender or you will not be served again.. all night.. (does not matter how much you try to flirt your way back again)


17. Tipping is 13%


18. When you buy things, the marked price on the label does not include Tax, which is between 13 and 18% (bullshit)


19. The winter skies are just absolutely amazing, and to watch them from your own street - even better.

Thirtyeight

So the hilarity of our housemates continues--

Sean and Micheal, two opionated fast spoken whitty men who seem to have imense enthusiasm for renovating.

I walked upstairs not to long ago into a heated debate as to who would win a race out of Superman or The Flash. Havig such evidence as "superman flew to Kryptonite so he is obviously faster than the speed of light, so he would win for sure!" i knew i was well out of my depth to contribute.

Other conversations arise over and over-- like the development of the kitchen- The new "focet", the island bench construction and the moving of the stove. Who knew how many conversations could be had on such matters. We left the house on Saturday at a reasonable hour on "moving stove day" just as they were drilling through floorboards, only to return once it was pitch dark. There was no power and the boys had managed to drill 5 large holes through the floorboards. We thought we would leave them quitely to it..

The University has big precast concrete studios that initially feel cold, but once you settle in for the third 5 hour studio session for that week, the studios takes on a rather 'second home' type feel. There is stuff everywhere and you never know what you are going to find once you walk through the doors in the mornings, an addition of a couch, discarded christmas trees - the school is your oyster. The Studio is set up completely differently from UniSA, each person has there own space which consists of a Giant drawing table, a locker which doubles as a large desk and a stool. Though most people tend to also have lamps, posters, photos, arm chairs, milk crates, blankets, sleeping bags, extra tables.. it is really their first home, not the second.

I was talking to one guy who I sit next to, and he was telling me how he comes in everyday as its easier that way rather than having a day off and trying to get into the momentum again. yer. these guys are intense... When I was being given a guided tour I was shown the warmest place in the school to sleep- over the heating vents in the halls, though I was warned to put a blanket under my face as not to risk getting squares burned into my cheeks from the grates.

But nontheless the subjects are interesting and the Studio tutors a bit to nice. I get asked more about Sean Godsell and the Opera house more than my designs. Though hopefully that will wear off with the 15 hours of mandatory studio (in Studio.. doing actual work) we have each week..

Thirtyone

So its been a damn long time since our last post and we apologise..

so much has happened- its 2010 now.. and we have been in ol' Ottawa town for a month today! one month down. By saying that it's not said we're counting the days 'til we leave. We like it here, lots, but OH DEAR we also miss Adelaide (and Sweden..)

New years we trecked to Montreal to a seedy little hostel (stained sheets and all..) to celebrat the coming of the new year. We ended up in a pretty amazing bar/club that conveniently had an open tab until almost midnight. Twas a lovely evening of dancing, drinking, singing, nipping and one yelled conversation - That turned dramaticly in the end to coat check hounding, worrying, one bitch slap, snow and tears. However, all is made better over greasy kebabs-- in the most classy of ways!

But i must say-- the crit for Montreal- a lovely city, beautiful, cozy, damn fine people (but not as damn fine as in Toronto - T adds), and much more french than anticipated. We shall be back.

Other than that we have continued to explore Ottawas Galleries and canals- of which we are assured shall be open for ice skating soon. The biggest news however is that we have started uni at Carletons Azrelie School of Architecture and Design. and so far it has been great- the people are unbelievebly friendly to the point that some people seemed genuinely sad when we had to switch from thier class to another.. odd, but lovely nontheless.

Twenty

Our banks slogan is.. wait for it..





"You're Ritcher Than You Think.."





oh dear..

so far, freezing rain is not fun, especially not when out walking in the park with your back facing the wind/rain. Only to realise first you turn around that the wind/rain is now facing you, and its like somone takes tiny tiny knives to it, (maybe akin to the indian in the cupboad kinda size) except of course they are ice. But! ice does incredible things! you no longer walk along paths, you glide! snow that looks like snow has a hard crunchy layer. Trees take on a second skin with each individual branch getting a cocoon 5 mm thick of clear, clean ice! And when the light shines on it, its truely stunning. Its like the light is disfused in complete different directions and then bounces of the next branch until the whole tree is glimmering! and they sound different too, when the wind blows the branches they crack!

Eighteen

Christmas ey? a time long ago when Jesus was born so we now celebrate santa. love it.
Nither of us are religious and santa seems somewhat of a kitch substitue to hold a Holiday for. It seems christmas is more a time when we spend far to much on presents and liquor and eat our body weight in food. but most of all its about sitting down with the people you genuinly love and care for and celebrating the bounty of friendship, family and lovers.
So for Tora and i we had to be all of this rolled up into one for each other (oh the joy of being on the other side of the world) which might i add went amazingly well- we didnt end up making out or bringing up embaressing childhood stories, instead we got ate and drank until the wee hours of the morning talking about all things dear and nothings in our basement.
expectations are a huge thing and i find that christmas and new year in general are held at standards pretty redicolusly high for one day of the year. This year we have completely lowered the bar on all expectations and are taking things as they come- something that i think we should do more often. And for that Christmas now went more smoothingly amazing than either of us could possibly imagine. We are looking forward to New Years.. i think.

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After a day of doing pretty much nada, we took our tired hot asses out of our little dungeon downstairs and walked the 10 metres outside the house to the bus stop, prepared for a random night. We jumped on the first bus and after 25 minutes of random turns, we got off and accidentally met Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law (no complains there). We all spend the night hanging out, laughed, talked and enjoyd the cool breeze of the winter weather. Thanks for the english accent and pleasant company. Both Ellen and I did really like the turn-out of the night.

Sixteen

So we have reached our destination of apartment one, 222 First Street, Glebe, its a pretty cozy little crib with exposed brick in our basement living room, dimmers in our bedrooms with low ceilings, photos now on the walls, kitchen with an amazingly creaky wooden floor, a tiny bathroom and two housemates who seem to keep on giving (we got an xbox two minutes ago). It seems like Christmas is well and truely here with the snow, Van playing in the lounge, trackies, baking trays at the ready for tomorrow which shall well and truely be an incredible day of domestisity followd by some imense eating ahh it shall be great to cook again. After so long of tinned soup and yogurt it shall be nice to have a sweeding smorgasboard infused with.. australian christmas food?? im not sure. but im certain it shall be delightful.

I was asked today what Canada was like-- so i thought that perhaps it was time to give a low down on the sights and smells that makes up this fine country.
Flying in over Vancouver was incredible, the receeding horizon made up entirely of meyandering rivers Islands that peak into mountains that go on forever convered in every shade of white you can imagine.
In Ottawa the paths range from being covered entirely in snow, that turns to slush, which turns to giant puddles subsequently redicolusly large shoes are needed to keep your toes from quite litteraly falling off. the parks are always covered in snow and look incredibly romantic (even without a man by your side).
This place isnt only snow and -20 degrees, the people here are pretty lovely. more than once we have been offered free meals, drinks, christmas dinners by complete strangers or near enough. i dont know if its our accents, which always is immediatly assosiated with being from the UK or whether the people here are just generally trusting and kind. i think we'll go with the latter.
It seems like Canada is fairly similar to Australia though, a British Colony that is now stuggling to keep there own micilanoius migrant identity with the ever influencing US of A.
Otherwise a few things- its customary, rather not unusual, for people to have bedrooms in the basement or attic (we live in a basement. and we love it).

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anyhow there is far more to write on this matter of Canada but for now we shall say goodnight.