quiet time

This has been the quiet, uneventful part of my time at home. The main points have been having lots of the family round just after Christmas, meeting up with a few friends for coffee and shopping and then a trip to London.
I may live in England, but I can pretty much say that this was the most time I've spent in London and was without a doubt the most touristy since it included a trip on the London eye and a mooch around the Tate (Some mental guy made millions of ceramic sunflower seeds - all in the name of modern art). I'm not including the time I went with my family as a child. The only thing I remember is looking at dinosaurs, which people tell me means we went to the museum of natural history. I liked the dinosaurs. Anyway, visiting London is like haemorrhaging money. I'm not even exaggerating. Since I stayed with a friend I didn't have to pay for accomodation but over 2 days I managed to spend over £100 and I'm not entirely sure what on. However, I'm pretty sure it was entirely worth it because I got to spend time with 4 fabulous people, none of whom I have seen in over a year, nearly 3 in the case of Aaron.
Sadly that is mostly all I've done so far. I have lots of plans for the upcoming month though so I shall be a very busy girl. I'm not sure how much time I will actually have to spend at home. That means that I don't have masses of time to write my year abroad project (mostly because I want it finished before I go to Austria not because of a looming deadline) or to get organised for my teaching assistantship. Speaking of, I had to spend my Christmas money on suitable clothes. This fact makes me feel grown up, in a bad way. I'm quite happy buying things on a whim or fancy rather than necessity. Other than food. That comes under both usually.
So yes, the time for doing nothing or at least very little has come to an end. Less pondering and reminiscing, more being a busy little bee slash social butterfly flitting around from town to town.

Sherbrooke, this one's for you.

I made it home in one piece and on time. It's almost impressive. So now that I am home and find myself doing very little most days, I've had plenty of time to reflect upon my time in Canada and things that I've learnt.
For example, I learnt some rather specific phrases, such as
1) faire des ricochets avec des cailloux (to skim stones)
2) les hoquets (hiccups)
3) faire sauter un fusible (to blow a fuse)
They might not even be correct. Not that it matters anymore because I doubt I'll use them all that often, nor the half a billion synonyms for gloomy, dark or darkness.

I have my favourite quotations, most of which come from either Gaston or Hannah. Who can't love what is a douchbag, is it a shower bag? or my ass is soft and that is sharp. It hurt! ?? I think manger, c'est tricher will forever be a way to sum up the whole semester in a single phrase.

I also learnt quite a lot about stereotypes of the British or of the English. I tried to ensure that people understand the difference, but it's tough! I am very British though. Apparently. I discovered a little more about what people think of me, or at least what lasting impressions I make! I guess brownies really are my signature dish :)

And the people. I met people, some wonderful people. I doubt most of the friends I made will know just how fond of them I am, or maybe they do have an idea. In a way, I feel like I ought to thank my Sherbrooke friends. That semester could have been really tough. Yet it wasn't, simply because of the people around me, despite the fact that I broke down and cried a few times. I truly felt like I had the support I needed when I wasn't coping brilliantly.
Getting a bit soppy now. I'll stop.

So, my least favourite things about my stay?

1. the price and quality of the cheese. Rubbish.
2. The tutor's attitude towards us in class. 
3. not seeing more of the nightlife. 

My favourite things?

1. remembering that I do actually like the French language and I'm not hopeless at it
2. forming what I hope might be lasting friendships
3. finally getting to New York, oh and all the places I visited

I had such a good time there and  I simply wasn't ready to leave yet. I really need to update my journal too before I forget all the little things but I'm currently quite content to flick through what I've already stuck in and smile happily to myself.