The end of term came screeching to a halt this week and I can’t believe it’s here. Saturday marked the end of my third month in Canada and since it has passed unbelievably quickly I guess that means I’m adapting well to Canadian life. There are a few other indications too, I’ve stopped converting prices into pounds before I know how much something costs, I’ve started to consider a warm day one where the temperature is above -5oC and I know the bus routs. This last one is a weird on I’ll admit but it was proved recently when I got to experience the excitement of riding a bus that got lost. To be fair to the poor bus driver it was dark, snowing and 1 o’clock in the morning on her first shift. When the driver asked if anyone knew where the bus was meant to go next it was my responsibility as the only passenger not drunk, to direct her. This unfortunately involved a miraculous three point turn that was perfectly executed but still scary while it lasted and driving round the same block three times. However you will all be pleased to know that with only minor confusion I managed to direct the bus back on rout and we made it safely back to campus.
The end of term thankfully cuts down on the number of times I have to struggle to wade through the now knee deep snow to get to class but unfortunately it also brings with it the beginning of exams and studying has started to take over everyone lives. With only one week until my first exam and then another three after that I suddenly have allot to learn in a very short period of time! However the excitement of Christmas and a trip back to the home approaching quickly I find motivation is easy.
Along with a foot of snow December has also brought an increased intensity of Christmas cheer. The parliament buildings are lit like Santa’s grotto, stores have trees and garlands on every available space and Christmas music is being piped onto the streets of the city. The city buzzes with the excitement of the season and it strikes me how different it seems to the Ottawa that I arrived into. Three months ago the temperatures were still reaching the mid twenties with ease and there was never a cloud in the sky now the temperature isn’t expected to creep above zero until March. In September there were market stalls on the streets instead of snow drifts and boats were on the canal rather than ice skaters. I love this dynamic city, well country really, where seasons really mean differences in temperature. The summers are hot and sunny, in the fall the leaves turn golden and the air is fresh and crisp, in the winter we get blanketed in white and temperatures plummet and well it’s still a few months away but I’m sure it brings melting snow and leaves on trees.
