I decided back in the midst of my fifth and non-final year of school that I needed to do some great things. Great things are difficult to do because the logistics of life seem to take over, the bills need to be paid, debt needs to be paid off, insurance and groceries come over month. These are all things that stand in the way of great things, that and perhaps fear. I like to think I don’t fear many things and when I do fear them I logic out ways to throw those fears into the proverbial wind. See the thing is that it is these great things that write the stories of our lives. Yes, going to school for six years to get two degrees and work experience is a great thing, working hard and getting good grades is also a great thing. But sometimes when you are surrounded by so many people doing the same great thing one feels the need to differentiate and do other better great things.
Ok ok, sorry to ramble, my point is that these great things – travel and life experience – often seems like the least logical thing to do because bills and debt will almost always haunt you after you take time off work and pay money to go new places BUT these things seem to be the most rewarding and the most distinguishing. Although it is rare that your experiences can be shared with those who were not with you it is amazing what they do for you. I often have trouble getting rid of the worry of where money will come from and how much bigger my student line of credit will get, but when I don’t think about it and I just enjoy what life hands me things can be great, until of course I am faced with purchasing things. Well as is life I suppose.
As for my day. Yesterday, like all days here at the UdeM, started early. Early breakfast; early class. Class was good. I feel like the prof really understands that we are actually beginners as in she goes very slow and speaks in English a lot of the time. She is also very helpful. I guess class was great. I understood what was going on and although I still have nothing memorized I hope it won’t be too tough.
After was lunch – then a break during which I utilized a free couch in one of the buildings for its internet. At 2pm we had our afternoon activity – a walk to the mall, it was really my first trip into Moncton to see what it had to offer. I have to say I am having a hard time getting a feeling for this city, I don’t really know what it is about or how I feel about it. I hope to get out and about in it eventually, walk around its downtown area and really get a sense of it. Until then I’ll say that I’m not used to being on a campus that is this small and spread out. UofC is organized and packed full of buildings, buildings that are linked together and easy to find. UdeM is a bunch of little buildings spaced out with no real rhym or reason.
We walked to the mall. It took quite a while as walking with 100 people down residential streets and streets with stop lights takes a very long time. Also groups are slow. Slow walkers make everything slow in a group environment. We made it to the mall, which I didn’t even see the entirety of. As previously mentioned I don’t have a great deal of disposable income or any income for that matter so shopping is generally looked down upon. I did however buy a few French books to aid my studies.
It wasn’t long before the group I was with was heading back to the school. We wanted to make it back in time to have our dinner. See, again, our dinners are free on campus so it was advantageous for us to be back in time.
After dinner I did my homework and waited to go to the pool. I haven’t done anything physical in quite some time. It usually leaves me in a level of pain I am unwilling to put up with and I don’t like to be on Advil all day everyday. Because of this I have avoided most physical activity, which breaks my heart. I love being physically active; it gives you a rush, a feeling of power, and an exhaustion that nothing else does. It makes your muscles ache in a great way, well, until my muscles start to ache in a horrible way. Regardless, it had been too long and I was in need for some activity.
I love swimming but I don’t do it very often at the UofC pool. It is stupid busy and there are hardly any times for public swimming. The pool is overrun by private clubs booking time which although profitable makes it a difficult pool to find a free lane in. The pool here at UdeM requires you wear a swim cap (lame, they give me headaches), but it also happens to be not very busy during their 9pm swim. I had a lane to myself and even, at times, a pool to myself. I swam almost the entire 40 minutes it was open and I was exhausted. I don’t usually feel sore after swimming but it is clear that I have grown lazy and my muscles have gone soft. My arms and legs were crying when I stepped back onto the solid ground of the deck.
I ended the night with a bowl of Cheerios and a hot shower. (Snacks after swims are must).
Today I learned:
- How to conjugate –er verbs
- About a possible PEI trip this weekend! Sign me up :)
I am grateful for:
- Being able to swim for half an hour straight after months of inactivity
- Extra blanket and pillows for my bed
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