A Schlepper and A Schmoozer

So,

First big thing on campus- McGill street fest!

FUN FUN FUN!!!

It had a lot of organizing going on the whole day but eventually we had a table you could decorate cupcakes and sign up for Hillel MTL.

parve cupcakes!

and a Kosher BBQ with kosher dogs (hot dogs, not real dogs)!

and in a more personal point of view- i finished my paper (woo hoo needed here)!!!

Now i am free, to walk around, talk around and start having some real good time!

(as if until now i wasn't...)

keep smiling!

Time is on my side

So, 

It's seems like forever in between my posts, maybe cause of all the things happening.

What was happening, i ask myself the same question.
The week was kinda crazy.
Tuesday was a group interview to go on Birthright. I am still not sure why i need to go through an interview. When they asked why i should go, i answered in a  thick Israeli accent- "Because i'm Israeli".
Not really. Lets just say, "i made them an offer they can't refuse..." Just made them realize why i'm accentual for the trip. And I am!
It wasn't that bad, only 3 hours of ice breakers. ;)
I got home with such a headache, it didn't go away for two days.
I did had a headache before that so it might not be the reason... i blame the weather!


The next day we had a "Thank you" event to Hillel board and friends in the house of one of the downers. I can easily think he is the richest Jew in Montreal. ;)
The view was crazy, the food was tasty and the people were all dressed up! even me 

We even got our nails done for the event.
No, not on the Hillel budget.

Yesterday was the CJA campaign lunch.
Basically, starting to ask  people for money.
They did had a nice entertainment. Jason Alexander. AKA George Costanza. or "Cartrait"! if you liked the "Chinese restaurant" episode.
Couldn't resist, went back stage an got a picture with him!

It was too dark for my BB so i got someone else to take it for me in her i-phone 4.
What to do? Eventually, this might be true.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg&feature=related

Now, i'm sitting in my house, waiting for the Videotron technician to make the cables and internet work.
This makes me feel just like in Israel.
You should wait for the technician between 12-5 pm.
When he gets here, he doesn't have a router.
I'm calling the office and wait half an hour on line to make sure i won't have to pay for another tech visit.
And after all of this, the VOD isn't working.

Good thing the technician was still here to work it out.
But now it's all working. The problem is now i have something better to do then to write my paper...

And suddenly I realize, this is home for the next few months

So,

I was walking home from work toady, stopped  before crossing the street, looked up and there was a red light. 

I'm not sure why, but it made me think. 

This is my everyday.

I wake up, pick up a coffee to go, go on the metro, walk uphill to the office.

There it's different every day, so i can't call it a routine much.

But i finally met up with students, got some ideas tossed around, got some names of people i'm going to work with, understood how upcoming events are going to look like. I felt like i am working!

But still, i have no idea.

I want to start but i do understand it'll take time.

But, on the more personal point of view, i did had a nice weekend.

Went to an Indian restaurant, which felt just like India, with the "kabat" of federation. 

Went out to some really nice pubs, went by a street fest with shows and vendors. One of the places called "Beertopia" and yes, it is an Utopia for beer. so many tap beer, all self made in that place.

I had a honey beer, which was  really good. 

Yes, i am having fun. 

Looking forward this upcoming year.

and yeah, i'm catching this whole "i'm super excited" culture a little bit.

Aujourd'hui C'est Vendredi

So...

Demain Samedi

Shabat, far away from home. Feels different. But why?

I had Schnitzels for lunch.

I finished working early.

I tried to Shnatz.

I dressed up.

I had beers with friends.

What is missing?

Oh- yeah, i went to synagogue. Yes, me. 

The pork eating-driving on shabat-not fasting on yom kipur-not "tznua"-and definitely don't know the netilat yadaim prayer. 

I went to synagogue. 

It was actually not that bad. It has a nice atmosphere around, praying together, trying to really understand why we are doing it. And yeah, even mean it seriously  when it says :"עושה שלום במרומיו הוא יעשה שלום עלינו ועל כל ישראל ואמרו אמן".

I'm adding a short video of my walk there, just so you can have a feel of my hood.

After the whole prayer thing, there was a meal for young adults. Apparently  i am a young adult. What would you say ;) 

Basically a place to meet people around the ages 20-45 (46 is not young), for people to hang, or just people that doesn't have other place to do shabat dinner. like me!

Yael, from work invited me to go with her, and she is really fun. Kind of my Parisian version of me. 

* Spoiler- bad joke ahead . 

Not Persian, she is not a cat.  

We eat, we drank, we laughed.

I got to practice my French. (i now know the differences between o,u and ou)

and practicing my Schmoozing ability. yup, still got it!

Hopefully tomorrow will be quieter back in Israel. I know from here it looks worse, but i really don't feel like worrying right now ;)

For now- à toute à l'heure! 

These feet are made for walking

So maybe it's about time i'll start using them!

Apparently  the city is not that big. I might have to walk around to understand exactly where i am. I'll start tomorrow. I'll come back from work first. I'll do it on Saturday. And so on and so on.

I actually don't feel that bad not doing it yet. It's not like i'm sitting on my ass all day in front of the computer. And then coming home doing the exact same thing. 

Well, actually...

It's true most of the time. But i do get things going. 

More like spending money going... But it is all for a good cause. 

I singed in a gym today, and registered for internet and cable TV! 

I know, they kinda undo each other, but i hope i'll have enough time for both.  

Oh, and i got my first mail to my mail box today! Approved my credit card! 

How exciting, another way i can spend money in.

So- next on my list study french (which i already started- Bonne nuit le bonheur) 

and of course, start things going around campus.

oh, yeah, and finish writing my seminar. anyone wants to write a 15 pages discussion about being a "frayer"?!

Feels (almost) like home

 So...

Entering MY metro station

First week is over. I'm here exactly for 1 week.

What can i say? i'm having fun! It doesn't feels weird at all.

It was as if i was always here. 

Going on events, taking the metro to work, being ask for directions in french!

It just feels right.

I had an amazing Shabbat dinner at Jeff's parents apt. Lighting candles, Kidush and all.  The atmosphere was relaxing, the company was fun, the food was yummy and I've got leftovers :) 

Today i finished unpacking. Who know i could mange doing it without my mom?!  But everything is in it's place (beside the whole box of winter clothing- no, don't need that yet) i'll get to that when the time's right. 

I think i can get use to this whole living alone thing. It is a bit empty still, but i'll buy some pics and it will look better.
The streets of MTL are good to me. 

The Canadians are friendly as expected. 

It is just beautiful walking outside.

I'll start walking around a bit more soon

so i'll post some more pics.

GA'AVA

Eating Shawarma 

Today i went with Elyse, the Torontonian of the office, to "Pride", preforming an Israeli DJ, sponsored by "Ga'ava". 

Felt just like Tel Aviv.

So we had to go eat something rather Israeli...

Note to self - Not to do that again. 

Or as Elyse said: "I now know why i don't go here"  

All and all, i'm loving it here. 

Also, everyone is making it easy for me to like it.

Being connected to my new BlackBerry is helpful as well.

So, find me on BBM or Watsapp! 

Starting imagining i'm seeing some familiar faces on the street...

getting here

So, i'm in Montreal at my new apt.

Amazing. 

nothing else to say. i'm overwhelmed and anxious to start my everyday routine.

The apt. is really nice. it has wooden floor, a fake fireplace and a lot of IKEA stuff :) 

By now i got to go to the office and meet almost everyone. they all look really sweet and i already felt like i fit right in. Joke wise.
The city is lovely and the Canadians are nice as they say. The buildings look like Europe but in an American way. Does that make sans?

I went out to buy some groceries, spent 171 Canadian $$ but now i have a lot of stuff. and guess what, they had "Beit Hashita" cucumbers! Hysterical. well, maybe just funny, but i was laughing out load. not that load :)

For now, i'm resting, getting the place cleaned up as i want it to be, which mean not that clean ;) and maybe start writing my seminar...
In the meantime you can enjoy my very tired tour in my APT!
Have fun!

i miss everyone but just enough, not too much...

xoxo