Quidditch PItCh

Here is the glory that is Quidditch in pictures:
First we have me showing off my scar, which was replaced by a larger one that was on my un-fringe side of my head once Annabel saw that I was trying to disguise it.Here is the mayhem that is the first game of quidditch

This is a shot of me as we approached the quidditch field at McGill. Magic was in the air...

BEST DAY EVER

Saturday –

This was the most amazing day of my entire life!
QUIDDITCH PRACTICE! Oh my god, where do I begin. At 2:00pm the McGill Quidditch team met on the lower field for tryouts. I wander down with Lucy and Annabel. They are my supporters / photographers. I have a scar on my face and a broomstick with daisies in my hand. I nervously approach the huddled masses. But there are smiles and Harry Potter love all around! Especially for me being the coolest and having the most admired broom (oh, yes I do, I suppose) and for having a scar on my head! I got respect from the quidditch leaders who loved my effort. I was so happy to get my scar face in there. The captain comes and says this is the biggest group ever (it’s only been going two years – but yay) and we are going to play some Quidditch. So we spilt into groups of who wants to be what position. I had a good think about this over breakfast, and decided that Chaser was the position for me. The guys running it all drew straws to see who was going to be the snitch. Yes, a human snitch, he was wearing bright gold pants and a yellow shirt. He wears a tag that hangs out of his pants that has to be ripped off to end the game / get the points. Ok, I don’t know where to being. OK, well it is an organized chaos game. At the start we all have to close our eyes and count to ten as the snitch runs away. He is allowed to run all over campus. We are at each end of the pitch, and have dismounted our brooms. After counting to ten, the ref says mount your brooms, and we all race for the quaffle or bludgers, which are in the centre of the field. There is one quaffle, and the chasers are allowed to kick it (once) and throw it around like in volleyball to get it through the hoops. Chasers are only allowed to tackle other chasers. Then there are the beaters. There are two larger dodgeballs, which are used by the beaters. The beaters are only allowed to tackle beaters, and they can throw the bludgers at anyone. When you are hit by a bludger, you have to drop the ball if you have one and run around the goal post (simulating the time it would take to fall off a broom, and remount). Then there are the seekers, but this one was pretty easy to do, as they just chase the snitch. Then snitch always get a bit bored after a while, so comes back down to the pitch after running around aimlessly (from what I could tell). The keeper is not allowed to be tackled, and pretty much defends the three hoops, which are hula-hoop’s on sticks, or hula-hoop’s tied to a football goal post, or hula-hoop’s hanging off tree branches. The rotation provided by the tree branches adds a level of difficulty to the game they tell me. This was pretty much the best game ever. One of the main guys was impressed by my chaser skills (or so he said). We played about three games, and my team one twice, and lost once in sudden death, when the snitch was caught by our team (30 points) and the other team had scored three goals (10 points X 3). An intense death match ensued. THEN, then I bought a McGill quidditch shirt. I am going to wear this everyday of my life. I was so excited. So, that was pretty much the best fun I have had, ever! There is even going to be a world cup in Vermont in October. I hope I am good enough to make it there, otherwise I will offer my services maybe as a quidditch cheerleader or fan club. I mean there was a lot of interest, and some people were pretty good.
My morning was really good too! I woke up (clearly) and went for a run! The most amazing run ever. I ran up Rue Peel (I guess only mum will appreciate that, but it is a VERY steep street) then I ran up the stairs to the top of Mont Royal. I took a breather, then did a lap of the top of the mountain, and almost got lost, but thankfully not for long. The giant cross was a good helper in this matter. Anyway, I was feeling pretty good about that. When I came back Lucy and Annabel were planning today’s festivities. We walked down to Atwater markets. These are fresh food markets. We each bought some berries and shared then round as we wandered the joy that was the Atwater market. There was a huge amount of amazing looking produce, a shame it takes about 30 minutes to walk there. We plan to go there once a week. It would be a cool thing to stop buy on the way home when thinking about dinner. Then we went to the inside bit where we sampled cheese and chocolate while looking at the most amazing bakeries (they kick the crap out of the Vina Bakehouse) and butcheries (less exciting). It was really cool. Then we walked along to the old port, well the other side of the old port, as we only made it to the Five Roses sign, which I shook my fist at. Anyway there are lots of pics from that, so I’ve put them in a slide show!
Plans are yet to be made for tonight’s activities, but we are thinking dinner at the old Port, or at the Three Amigos, a cool Mexican restaurant about one minute from this place.

End of the line

Thursday –
I cannot express the joy I experience walking to school. I mean its exercise right, and it only takes about 10 mins if I walk fast. There is this thing everyone is worried about: FRESHERS FIFTEEN! This is pretty much where all freshmen gain 15 kilos, or maybe its pounds, well I don’t know but the mere thought of gaining 15 kilos strikes fear into my heart. So this walking to school business I feel is my first step (ha ha – how witty of me) in the right direction. But this weekend I am going to sign up to the McGill gym, and a Pilates class with my friend from New York, who lives in Rez, so is 10 times more susceptible to the Freshers Fifteen I’m told!
I arrive at my first class disgustingly early after my most enjoyable walk to school. But this is the awkward geology class where we all stare at each other. So naturally there are about 10 other people there already, and we all just look. I wish I was the first one there, so when someone arrives you can strike up a conversation, rather than to be the one who has to break into the silent circle. We had a great lecture on the big bang; it was full of lots of realisation! It was really good, you know the creation of elements and stuff (very nerdy, but very enjoyable). Then I met my Canadian friend who trumps all as she is from Montreal, and from a Quebec family who won’t speak English, but realised that there are more job opportunities if you can speak English, so made her learn. But they won’t speak it, ever! We had a really cheap lunch; it is only $7 for a drink, 2 salads and a sandwich! We had the funkiest drinks ever. They were called Bubble Tease. It is kind of like a smoothie but with weird jelly balls in it (the bubbles). The lady asked me; “did I want it with bubbles”, did she really need to ask! Janie showed me around the underground mall, but it was still all very disorienting, there are like 5 stores of the same stores, each on different layers, or in different corners! Who needs that many of one thing and it just makes the whole shopping experience more confusing! Then I had a lecture in GIS! And believe it or not, friendships were formed. With my newfound talent at befriending the French, I chatted to a guy from Quebec, and held his attention while a Quebec-ky girl tried to snatch him away. I put up a fair fight, but she tapped and dragged him away! That’s right – viva my English (Australian) charm. And I befriended the other guy next to me too! So much bonding – why can’t all my classes be this inviting? I then spent $266 on textbooks for that class. I bought software that is not mac compatible! Oh, I could kill. So I am going to have to request a computer where I’m staying, otherwise, I guess I fail the class by not doing any of the assignments.
Thursday night was less eventful, I hung out in the kitchen with roommates, until I had to give up and go to sleep due to fatigue! But more people are to be described – there is Phillip from Switzerland and he gets up at 6 every morning and runs 25-30 km in preparation for some marathon coming up. There is Annie from Halifax, I guess this is near P.E.I, as she mentioned it a lot, and this made me revel in her appropriate name choice. There is Jordan, who is ridiculously tall and lives on protein shakes and protein pills. Then there is Amanda, who is currently Concordia froshing so has been pretty busy – understandably. She is only 17 (turning 18 next month) and has a hilarious fake ID, of some random non-Amanda looking girl who is 22. And, there is another boy whose name I missed and he is from very, very north Canada, and looks a bit gimpy – maybe inbreeding up north or something. I don’t know, something just doesn’t look right about him. And, I think that’s all, wait, there is Terry whose story I don’t know, as he hasn’t been around much recently.

Friday –
Was pretty good. I had only three lectures. None were awkward and I even managed to show off to my exchange student friends at lunch that I had a friend from Canada. It’s a competition, kind-of, as everyone is sick of meeting Australians. Anyway I met this boy on frosh, and didn’t remember his name, so called out Alex! (ha ha) his name started with an A, so I was lucky (Adam) and he is in my chemistry class. We were both getting over the traumatism that the honking lecturer stripped! Well, only slightly. He really only took off his jumper to reveal a shirt that had a message about high-energy bonding - nothing funny or witty as I bet you are thinking. Then I had more social activities!! I met my friend from New York and we hung out all arvo. We had Ben and Jerry ice-cream (big in America, so she was excited). I had pretty much the best flavour ever – brownie cheesecake! And then we went shopping and I bought two dresses! One store had its opening day, and we spent an hour waiting to buy stuff! I can’t believe I stood there and waited an hour to buy a $20 dress. But I did! By the time we were finished, I had to head on home to get ready for some McGill international student thing. This was organised by the uni, so I had high hopes. I think I should never imagine things or be allowed to. So for pre-drinks to this activity Annabel and I had some NEWTON apple flavoured … beer as we couldn’t find any cider and the shop assistant kindly told us that we would have to go to Ontario to buy some. I made a witty joke – lets hope this doesn’t go to our heads! Ha ha ha! Tim decided he’s come out too, as an international masters student. So we were meant to meet at this pub, practically next door. The meeting time was ten, and as this was a uni thing, we were on time. We did a lap of the three floors and saw no one. Then we waited outside like idiots for a little bit. Then finally a guy turns up, and is like “international students?”. “Yes”, we say. He has been running late and thinks things have been badly organised. You’re telling me. We then go inside with some French girls, who hate Montréal so aren’t great for conversation. Not too many other people show up, some exchange girls that I know (Singapore but studies in Australia so doesn’t count, and New Zealand so sucks). After not doing much at the pub, it is time to head to the club (the real destination – the pub was just the meeting point). There is really not too much happening here either. It’s quite dull, and we haven’t met any fun international / exchange students. So at about 12:30 we head home, which is only like a 10 minute walk! Damn you McGill international Students Network – I will now be hesitant to party with you!

School daze

Today was a much better day at school! I had my first encounter with the faculty of arts. I must admit you do seem like rather lovable people. Tim Horton's must make a fortune out of them, every second cup (this is a hilarious play on words - as the Canadian Starbucks is called second cup) was a Tim Ho's. Oh, the glory, I figure next lecture I will get one to fit in, and assert my self as a hip arts student. Canadian history seems so interesting! I am quite excited! But instead of tutorials we have a thing called conferences. Now these do sound a little horrifying, as one lecture every week or so, is one where we just discuss things. Not in any form of small, equally minded and accepting group! In front of about 100 people! Nice, thank you faculty of arts for your caring and supportive nature! I suppose I shall will just have to go nuts and contribute a lot, as these are worth 10% of my grade. But how will the lecturer know, you know! At the end of the semester to I write down all my witty and intelligent comments, and hope that she remembers me saying them aloud to a lecture theater?

After this I complete the down hill McGill power walk to Chemistry. But this was not a true test of my ability, as we were let out of history early, so I was not in a panic or anything - which would increases my speed dramatically. Anyway, into chemistry! Oh, I LOVE CHEMISTS! We talk, and are social and are lovely people!!!! Apart from one guy, who though I was someone else Phoebe, and kept on talking to me about childhood memories! AND I kept on telling him I wasn't Phoebe! He would be like, "do you notice anything different" and I would tell him "NO, because I have never met you before in my life", but he would go on to tell me that he had got his braces off, that is what is different about him now compared to high school times! OK, good for you buddy. He then kindly offered that I could sit next to him if I wished. I was quick to decline the offer, and find actual nice Chemists, who have normal chats, and accept me for who I am! The chemistry lecture was so funny, he honks like a goose after every sentence! And wore a knitted sweater with a picture of a deer on it! I am afraid for how this honking is going to get on my nerves! I was a bit sick of it after an hour, lets see how three months go!
Then I had a bee free lunch with one of the girls from the ANU, Ally. And strutted off to Geography with a new found confidence in people in lectures. This was a really good one too! It was packed full of people and as it was full and not awkward - we could talk and chat. I just hope I find the same people again in lectures. It may be a little hard as they are so big. My mission in this class is to make a friend to be able to go on the field trip with. We have to do a self guided tour of the botanical gardens! I don't want to guide myself, it is the anti-field trip in a sense. There is no bonding or comradely at all!
I was done for the day, and I walked home to work out my team meetings for tonight. I was going to try out for the rowing team. BUT, they announced that I would have training 6 mornings a week, with Sundays off. I would have to catch the metro at 5:00am in the morning, and attendance is mandatory. So, as tempting as rowing was, I figured I could not hack the fact that I would not be able to go away on weekends. I could do the mornings I guess (until it got really cold) but I want to explore! So that was a little bit disappointing. Also I had to be a liar to join the team. As I have rowed before I would of had to try out for the varsity team, which had an even more intense schedules than the novices, which I was pretending to be.
I met a group of exchange students for ... beer after the meeting. There is a beer and BBQ set up by the local supermarket all this week, and there is a live band that plays, and fairy lights are strung between the trees. It is really nice. I am going to take a photo to put up. So we hung out there, while waiting for the BEST club on campus. The McGill Outdoors Club! Oh my god! This was the greatest club ever invented. They plan lots of outdoors trips, some for beginners and some for the not so beginners. In two weekends time I will be white water kayaking with fellow beginners! I am sooooo excited! We even get to camp overnight! AAAAAA! It's only like $100 bucks too! For all the kayaking and camping I can physically handle! I am so happy. Then after the meeting the club was going for...beer. Well, how could I refuse! Annabel and I, and some other non-Australian exchange students bravely followed the leaders of the Outdoors club down to a nice bar 5 mins from campus. Annabel and I made friends with two of the leader type people! And they were Canadians! Which was an awesome bonus, AND they took us to a good place to get poutine! And it was decent which was the ultimate bonus. Not like last time mum and I dared to eat it! OH, the glory!

The First of Fall!

OK so today was my first day of school. How exciting I know! Well I thought. But school was not how I remembered it. I guess I have been really spoiled by knowing people, having AMAZING camps, or knowing more people.

My first class was at 9:00am sharp. So I walked up extra early, well partly as I imagined that it would take me longer than I left myself to climb four flights of stairs. Anyway I enter the class a good ten minutes early, and dam, there are about 6 other kids in there already. There is a catch to these sick people. They have spread themselves out as much as humanly possible! They sit there in silence. Very uninviting, my mind flashes quickly to my options. I can pick one of these terrible people and try and engage them with my manner while the other 5 listen in the my attempts of friendship and are grateful it's not them I've chosen, or I can join their game. I panic and choose the silence. I choose a nice and awkward place to sit somewhere in the room where I won't touch anyone or something, but still close enough so that I can see the board. The other people too, then enter the room see the protocol that we have established and they too follow suit. So a very silent morning, until the lecturer comes in. He seems so nice! Well there are two of them Al and Willy! They are both so enthusiastic and love rocks! They even brought TIMBITS! They were delicious but did not lighten the mood! So they chattered about future geology BBQ's, field trips, and beer and chips (I'll have to tell them it's beer and bix). they also mentioned the forced bonding we will all undergo. I hope the others didn't see my face light up too much. Labs are run in groups, so there is lots of group bonding and problem solving and WORKING TOGETHER! Dam straight! I can't wait. The geology department also has free coffee and cookies at 3:00 everyday. So mid-way through our labs we all get to break for coffee and cookies! Oh, the joy that is geology! The lecturers assured us we would all know each other and everyone that's anyone in the faculty soon enough, especially if we get enough cookies and coffee into us!

But, the day took a turn for the worse after this lecture! I was peacefully enjoying my apple when wasps came and demanded it for themselves (or their queen, I don't know). I was trying to shoo them away and my apple flew out of my hand, and into their clutches! I was a little bit disheartened by this, so I went to investigate the Tim Horton's in the library basement, and yes it does exist! Then while chillin' in the library, I met one of the girls I had met at the exchange meeting! We hung out, then she invited me to lunch with her friend, so we had a merry time on the lawns. I had enough confidence to give the wasps a good shoo, and not loose my possessions. But, one downside to these friends - they are both from Australia. Both from the university of Melbourne! They didn't know each other before they were in Canada, but I guess now that they are half way across the world now is a great time to meet up! I hung with my fellow Australian's until my next class / clash!

I didn't think labs would start this week, so I thought I would get a chance to go to my first GIS lecture! WRONG! And since the promise of bonding and the threat of assessable, I went to the first half an hour of my GIS. Where I had to be a monster. I chose a seat right at the back of the room so I could make a quick get-a-way. Then the teacher said there would be two people to each desk. But I had to sit on the edge of mine, so I wouldn't be sandwiched in. As there were two desks next to each other, so four people in a row. Finally someone was desperate enough to ask me for a seat, I scowled, and said I'm leaving in a few so I had to move all my stuff let him in, and then two minutes later bolt out of the back of the classroom. The lab was a total waste of time! I wish he had said he was just going to lecture some more, and I would of stayed for GIS which I didn't know. We talked about electrons! I know chemistry, so I was very annoyed! Aaaa!

I walked home, and met Annabel who had, experienced equally unsociable lectures! The longest conversation she had today was with the shoe sales man. Ha ha. At least I had my Australians! I made mushroom pasta which I ate with joy in my heart. The kitchen is getting really social now, so it's really good. Annabel, Tim, Maria, Aurelian and I were all down there chatting, cooking and eating! This is so nice, and added to the joy in my heart already there from the mushrooms!

Over the past four days I have been writing these blog entries on word and in my spare time, so eventually they were pieced together, and I realized to catch up I would have to post them all at the same time. But don;t worry, I am not that sad that I churned out these three essays in one night! But enjoy or pace yourself!

Monday (my last day of summer!)

Monday was not the first day of school, but I spent it at school. At 11:00 there was a meeting for exchange students, so Annabel and I strutted down from St. Cathy's and took our time finding the right room. It was a bizarre (Bizaan) room, it could have been used by the united nations. There were layers of desks, and each desk had a microphone. All we needed were some name tags to identify us from where we were from. But no surprises at this point - many of us were from Australia! As over the past couple of days I have met a ridiculous amount of Australians. And other people tell me about how many Australians they have met, and how many of us there are! You're telling me! We are everywhere! So the lady running the event got us to shout out where we were from, but then once the place had been named - there was no need to shout it again, she even knew how troublesome Australians are! She said "for example when someone from Australia says they are from Australia, there is no need for four or five more Australians to call out too!" To spite this lady when she said go: I yelled out Australia really loud, but so did lots of Australias too. She said alright, now where else is everyone from. There were quite a few other countries, and somehow I had managed to sit myself in-between someone from California, and someone from Singapore. Annabel was surrounded by Australians. So after the conference a group of exchange students all went to get coffees, I was very excited and went along - little did I know the entire group was... AUSTRALIANS! Well there was one chick from merry old England and a guy from Denmark, but pretty much a cluster of Australians. There are about 30 or something from the University of Melbourne they were telling me, and somehow I keep meeting them. I think I will have met all thirty when my time is up!
So we all lunched for an hour, exchanged emails, phone numbers, last names for facebook; a drill I am now quite practiced at. I know my Canadian phone number off by heart!

At 2:00 I went on a tour of the library! I thought, why not! The people on the library tour were less friendly, but also less Australian! They were all really quiet and shy and looked scared when you even walked a little bit too close to them. So no friendships formed there, but I do have a good idea of the library system. They don't run on good old Dewy Decimal. And the system takes a while to master they say! Then in the full spirit of library participation, I did a computer class. They taught me how to be a good researcher. Then at the end they said since you all came here, you all have the chance to win an iPod touch! The chick next to me won - I was so close. Then when we were all finished and waking out of the library, she pulled out another one from her pocket! She already had one the hoe! I was cut!

I then felt the need to spend a lot of money - on textbooks! So I went down to the McGill bookshop basement, pottered around, asked a couple of staff members for help, and they could only direct me to the help desk, where there was a big line. So, I gave in to the help desk and finally was told which books I needed and how I could find them. I then picked up as many of my goodies as I could find, and left $200 poorer. (by the way this was only textbooks for two classes). So there is more textbook shopping to be done, when this other book comes in / when the lecturers tell me what they want me to buy. So there is hope for more money to be spent yet! I lugged these books home, and had a flip through. I can't even begin to express how happy I was to notice some nice geological cycle diagrams. So happy! And I was less happy with my history book which is a solid 500 pages of worded, picture-less glory. No, it will keep me entertained, and I will now know what it feels like to be an arts student. This I hope we all realize gives me the official right to diss on arts students!

I was really craving vegetables today, so I made a nice pasta salad with CORN, and some other vegies. So nourishing. My body thanked me for finally putting decent food in it. Ah, the joy of having corn for dinner! I chilled out with Annabel, Aurelian and Tim for a while, then had a early night, as I want to be my freshest for my first day of school!

My Wonderful Weekend

Today was really great, me and wait for it, my new friends, explored a bit of Montreal today. So there is a little trio of us, so far, as we have moved in and so far hung out a lot over these past couple of days. There are more people, but we are more in the same age bracket. There are a few people doing their masters, so they are a little bit older. They do seem really nice too, but yet to be spyed lounging around to be roped into a hang. But you can tell they want to, when we make noise in the kitchen, people come and investigate and the like. We all (everyone that has moved in so far) had beer and pizza last night! Such a bonding moment, although I was so over beer and pizza, it took a lot of effort to get either of those items into my mouth.
OK so I wish I could draw stick figures like I did for my beloved groups in Europe – but my words will have to suffice! So far (in alphabetical order for fairness):

Amanda: My soon to be loveable next-door neighbour! Moves in soon, so her status will have to be updated.

Annabel: A lovely Australia from Queensland – an Engineer, but that can be excused as she is so nice!

Arty: … I am on Arty watch, so the man of mystery remains a mystery for now!
Aurelian: A really funny Canadian, he lives very far north, so does winter camps in the snow, and doesn’t mind minus-forty degree weather too much.

Japanese Girl: OK clearly there is a lot more to be filled in about her. But she has a lot of Japanese friends and they all come around, chatter on the stairs and disappear.

Lucy: Again, British. She seems really nice, but goes to Concordia, so isn’t moving in properly until the 8th, as her loving parents came with her, and she wants to hang / mooch off them until school starts.

Manuel: the Mexican. He is a real sneak, and is stashing two other Mexicans in his tiny room and is trying to keep it a secret from Amanda (the landlord type lady), I must admit I am pleased this vagrant and his friends are moving out in a day or two. He is always stoned.

Maria: From Spain so is trilingual! She is quiet, but seems really nice. OK, so I talked to her more today. She is only quiet as I talk to fast for her English capabilities. We had a good chat once I slowed down!

Ranna; I don’t actually know where this guy is from. I want to say Pakistan, but I would not bet on it. He seems pretty cool though; he has been in Montreal for a while so is onto the festivals and the street parades.

Shannon: From Toronto, completing her masters, and is really friendly!

Tim: British, into the Ralph Polo and in his graduate studies.

Will: Also British – but not present. I met him many, many days ago. Seemed nice.

Zach: DOESN’T SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH. From Nigeria, and that is all I can ever hope to ascertain.

This was all I have gathered so far. But there is going to be a meeting session on this weekend or Monday (as it’s a long weekend). So maybe if we are lucky there might be photos to accompany these vague descriptions! Most people seem really nice, and ready for some bonding activity! We might even have a rez thanksgiving! I don’t quite know how dedicated I would be to the cause, but maybe I would eat some turkey if I got excited enough. And then I suppose vomit!

Then on Sunday we had the ultimate hang. Me, Aurelian and Annabel went to the Tam Tam’s. This is a really cool drumming festival at the base of the mountain. Heaps of people come and bring their drums and join in the free styling, and lots of other people pull up a picnic blanket and listen / play Frisbee / juggle / chill. It was a really cool event, but we only caught about 15 minutes of it, as then it started to pour down rain! We took shelter under some trees, while the drummers packed up. Maybe the rain isn’t so good for their drums – or something. Well I hope so! Otherwise we were ripped off, even though it was for free. The rain died down and so we went out to another really exciting event in Montreal –a street market, down Saint-Laurent. This is a really nice street that continues all the way from the down-town, up through the plateau and further. All the shops brought everything from inside their stores to out on the streets. Restaurant put out little food stands; cafes put all their tables out onto the streets. I ate crepes with nutella, strawberries and almonds! Oh, the glory. There was so much cheap good stuff, lots of jewels and discounted shoes, I almost bought some, but there were no $20 VANS in my size! Probably a good thing, as I should really only be investing in sensible footwear from now on. There was a magician we watched for a while, and an acrobatic girl on a rope. There was ballet on ice, where there was a really drunken man shouting: YEAH, DO IT, DO IT! To all the poor little kids on stage when they did really cool jumps. It was just amazing! Annabel and I bought a broom, as we can’t find the vacuum cleaner here! This broom will also double as my quidditch broom, and is quite a stylish piece to have around the house!

After some dinner I read on facebook about a group of exchange students that were meeting up for, sigh, beer. But it was just down the street so I didn’t hesitate, and was saying yes to opportunities, and marched on down. Thank god I ran into my polish friend on the way, as me, him and his polish friend walked right past the exchange students in the bar, EVEN though I was wearing my McGill jersey. So we sat at the back of the bar with a huge table all to ourselves. Then we decided to do a lap of the bar, and we found our fellow exchange students who were we had marched right past as we walked in the door! This was really exciting! I met a lot of people from Edinburgh; I think I sat in the middle of their clan or something. Anyways, lots of nice fresh exchange faces! So that was exciting. I left at about 11:30 as my poor body really wanted sleep and to not look or smell beer for a good while! But that was really exciting, and something I am glad I did. You know, something I never would have done in Canberra!