These last few days have been jam packed. You really forget how much you assume or take for granted when you're at home, or at least in your own country. In addition to getting the regular student things taken care of (id cards, registration schedules, etc) I have also been scrambling to get a Canadian cell phone and bank account, transfer money around several places so I can pay my rent tomorrow, and other things, mostly in a different language. I'm lucky in that most people in Montreal can speak at least some English, but I find it pretty embarrassing to walk up to someone without a word of French. I registered for lessons, though, and I'm trying to watch French speakers interact as much as possible so I can pick up phrases quickly.
Aside from those little quirks i LOVE it here. The weather is georgeous, the city is beautiful, my apartment is in a great location and I've been walking everywhere, my roommates are very kind.. it's great. I was warned by a faculty at the MSW program that I may feel isolated because most of the students in my program were here together last year. Actually, she more than warned me, she practically told me to forget about having friends. But I attended the MSW orientation yesterday followed by a PGSS (post-doctoral and graduate student services) social event, and everyone was SO friendly! They were very engaging in conversation, offered a lot of advice, and didn't make me feel like an outsider at all. I was even invited to a party someone in the department was throwing! I went and brought Islam and it was pretty cool. It was an interesting crowd but again everyone was so welcoming to me and said things like ''we're glad you came" and "see you in class". I was as happy as a clam.
School starts tomorrow. Although I still don't have a field placement I'm not concerned - everything will fall into place soon enough. For now I'm excited to meet more people in my program and learn. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
bienvenue
Last week I went down to the city to bid adieu to my gsv year.
I first stopped at 17th street to visit the girls. I knew I shouldn't have any expectations as to who would be there and how they would or would not respond to my (surprise) visit, but I could not have anticipated what I saw when I got there: no one. The girls are taken on trips once or twice a year, and of course, the day I went to see them was one of those days. They were on a long weekend trip to the Pochonos for some end of summer fun. I visited with the only girl who stayed behind (because she cursed out the director a few days previous) and she was happy to see me. She's one of the ones I couldn't wait to escape from, but seeing her again was quite nice. She was climbing a wall, litterally, when I got there, so the visit kept me from having rose-colored memories of my year, but I was glad that I could distract her for some time and give a bit of relief to my former coworkers who were on shift. I was actually surprised by my level of disappointment when I didn't get to see some of the girls I had been closest to. I left them a note and the cookies I made them; I hope they saw them and at least know I tried to see them.
I visited a few spots around my old places (Trader Joe's Wine Shop for a few bottles of two-buck Chuck, Blossom for the best $23 mani/pedi in the world) and then made the trek to Staten Island to visit this year's GSV's at their orientation. I was immediately welcomed into the group even though I felt like somewhat of an outsider the whole time. I participated in a few minor things offering the alumni perspective and advice, but my main reason for wanting to go was to say a "final" goodbye to my roommates going abroad - Jess, Krystina and Lar. We and the other GSV alum had a great evening holed up in a bedroom with cookies, wine, memories, and friendship. It was just as I had hoped it would be, with some reminiscence, some discussion of our present and future, but mostly the comfortable feeling you only have around friends you know you can be yourself around.
In the morning I watched as an outsider as the new Astoria volunteers began to get acquainted, and was really not feelin it. Us alum were strongly encouraged by Jon and Pete to come and stay, but I couldn't shake my own feelings of not belonging. I was feeling like that person who doesn't get it that their time has passed and they need to move on. And that's a good thing I think. I needed to feel that to get closure, because the truth is I don't belong there anymore. It was a hard pill to swallow because my best friends from GSV are staying on for additional time and I know that I will not be a part of their new experiences. It's ok, though, because now I'm in Montreal having a new experience of my own.
Speaking of which, I'm in Montreal now! I moved up yesterday and am as settled as I'll get for a few more days. The drive took about 6 hours instead of the usual 4, thanks to a combination of driving slowly because of my mattress on my dads car and the long wait at the boarder. I had to go inside to present my visa and passport and was told by everyone I'd breeze right through. Well, that was sort of true, minus the line of other international students, my anxiety, needing to pee after drinking coffee while driving, and my own stupidity. I had thought ahead "hey, maybe I should gather my important documents for the boarder just in case". then "no, that's silly, i already gave them my documents I won't need anything". idiot. they did need all my documents, which were scattered throughout boxes and bags between two cars in two different parking lots around the Canadian boarder. so I had to do a bit of running around compiled with an extreme amount of nerves and a good amount of embarrassment, because every time I gave the lady one document she told me to turn around and go look for another. and another. and she heckled me every time, too. seriously. ask Dave.
ANYWAY, i made it through the boarder and into what is now my Montreal apartment. My roommates were fabulous and helped carry everything in, they had gotten clean sheets out for me in case I needed them, and they stayed in for most of the evening to share beer with Dave and I as we got to know each other a bit. They're both quite interesting and have ridiculous international lives and circles of friends. They're also very smart and kind, and I'm really looking forward to knowing them more.
It is now a rainy day so we're all inside doing our own things with some Miles Davis in the background. I have a long list of important (read stressful) things to take care of tomorrow, but for now I don't care. I'm excited about this next part of my life, these great people I'll share it with and the beautiful city I now call home.
I first stopped at 17th street to visit the girls. I knew I shouldn't have any expectations as to who would be there and how they would or would not respond to my (surprise) visit, but I could not have anticipated what I saw when I got there: no one. The girls are taken on trips once or twice a year, and of course, the day I went to see them was one of those days. They were on a long weekend trip to the Pochonos for some end of summer fun. I visited with the only girl who stayed behind (because she cursed out the director a few days previous) and she was happy to see me. She's one of the ones I couldn't wait to escape from, but seeing her again was quite nice. She was climbing a wall, litterally, when I got there, so the visit kept me from having rose-colored memories of my year, but I was glad that I could distract her for some time and give a bit of relief to my former coworkers who were on shift. I was actually surprised by my level of disappointment when I didn't get to see some of the girls I had been closest to. I left them a note and the cookies I made them; I hope they saw them and at least know I tried to see them.
I visited a few spots around my old places (Trader Joe's Wine Shop for a few bottles of two-buck Chuck, Blossom for the best $23 mani/pedi in the world) and then made the trek to Staten Island to visit this year's GSV's at their orientation. I was immediately welcomed into the group even though I felt like somewhat of an outsider the whole time. I participated in a few minor things offering the alumni perspective and advice, but my main reason for wanting to go was to say a "final" goodbye to my roommates going abroad - Jess, Krystina and Lar. We and the other GSV alum had a great evening holed up in a bedroom with cookies, wine, memories, and friendship. It was just as I had hoped it would be, with some reminiscence, some discussion of our present and future, but mostly the comfortable feeling you only have around friends you know you can be yourself around.
In the morning I watched as an outsider as the new Astoria volunteers began to get acquainted, and was really not feelin it. Us alum were strongly encouraged by Jon and Pete to come and stay, but I couldn't shake my own feelings of not belonging. I was feeling like that person who doesn't get it that their time has passed and they need to move on. And that's a good thing I think. I needed to feel that to get closure, because the truth is I don't belong there anymore. It was a hard pill to swallow because my best friends from GSV are staying on for additional time and I know that I will not be a part of their new experiences. It's ok, though, because now I'm in Montreal having a new experience of my own.
Speaking of which, I'm in Montreal now! I moved up yesterday and am as settled as I'll get for a few more days. The drive took about 6 hours instead of the usual 4, thanks to a combination of driving slowly because of my mattress on my dads car and the long wait at the boarder. I had to go inside to present my visa and passport and was told by everyone I'd breeze right through. Well, that was sort of true, minus the line of other international students, my anxiety, needing to pee after drinking coffee while driving, and my own stupidity. I had thought ahead "hey, maybe I should gather my important documents for the boarder just in case". then "no, that's silly, i already gave them my documents I won't need anything". idiot. they did need all my documents, which were scattered throughout boxes and bags between two cars in two different parking lots around the Canadian boarder. so I had to do a bit of running around compiled with an extreme amount of nerves and a good amount of embarrassment, because every time I gave the lady one document she told me to turn around and go look for another. and another. and she heckled me every time, too. seriously. ask Dave.
ANYWAY, i made it through the boarder and into what is now my Montreal apartment. My roommates were fabulous and helped carry everything in, they had gotten clean sheets out for me in case I needed them, and they stayed in for most of the evening to share beer with Dave and I as we got to know each other a bit. They're both quite interesting and have ridiculous international lives and circles of friends. They're also very smart and kind, and I'm really looking forward to knowing them more.
It is now a rainy day so we're all inside doing our own things with some Miles Davis in the background. I have a long list of important (read stressful) things to take care of tomorrow, but for now I don't care. I'm excited about this next part of my life, these great people I'll share it with and the beautiful city I now call home.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
"vacation"
When you have things to write about you're so busy doing things that you don't actually take the time to update a blog such as this. I've been a GSV-alum for 2 1/2 weeks now, and time is flying. the month of August was supposed to be a pseudo vacation for me, being that it's my break between my volunteer year and returning to student-hood. while I've been on vacation for a few weeks now, i can hardly say I've been relaxing. in the last two weeks, I've been kayaking in Vermont, in Montreal to check out apartments, down to the beach in Virginia/North Carolina for some impromptu surf lessons (awesome, go do it), up to the derty jers for krystina's going away party, and have since had my family from Virginia in town as we attempt to move my grandpa out of his house and into assisted living. and all this while trying to catch up with my Albany friends and figure out all the things I need to get done to prep for McGill. phew. just a few days ago I looked at the calendar and realized I was planning to move next week. I don't know if that'll actually happen now, but it was quite a surprise. I've been saying I'm moving "in a few weeks" that I forgot to check exactly how many weeks are left!
On the topic of McGill, I've had several false starts but it looks like things are moving along well now. Just yesterday I heard that my visa was finally approved, and today I got an update on possible internship opportunities. My options so far are IBCR, an agency that does research, advocacy and policy on children's issues such as human trafficking, sex tourism, and child slavery, and another agency that does a lot of fund raising and philanthropic work in Montreal. I really want to do IBCR - it sounds perfect based on my academic interests and thesis. Now I have to jump through all the hoops of applying. The other doesn't interest me at all, but the woman coordinating internships seems to want me to do it because I know she has connections there. Fortunately for me, I don't think I speak enough French to do it so I can't be coerced into taking that position. I'm waiting until tomorrow to hear if I can take the apartment I liked from my visit a few weeks ago. I really hope it works out - it seems like a great fit for me and also it would mean that everything is in place for me to move up whenever I'm ready. Then I could relax for the next week here. If it doesn't work I'll be disappointed (again) and have to go up to look for another place (again). So here's hopin.
Aside from possibly continuing my apartment search, for the next week and a half I have several appointments, lots more people to see, packing, tying up loan paperwork, applying for that internship, and hopefully having some fun left to do. Plus, I'm planning to go down to NYC for a day next week to see my lovely former roommates one last time before they depart for their years as international GSVs! I'm so excited!! So, that relaxing vacation I dreamed about may need to wait a little longer..
On the topic of McGill, I've had several false starts but it looks like things are moving along well now. Just yesterday I heard that my visa was finally approved, and today I got an update on possible internship opportunities. My options so far are IBCR, an agency that does research, advocacy and policy on children's issues such as human trafficking, sex tourism, and child slavery, and another agency that does a lot of fund raising and philanthropic work in Montreal. I really want to do IBCR - it sounds perfect based on my academic interests and thesis. Now I have to jump through all the hoops of applying. The other doesn't interest me at all, but the woman coordinating internships seems to want me to do it because I know she has connections there. Fortunately for me, I don't think I speak enough French to do it so I can't be coerced into taking that position. I'm waiting until tomorrow to hear if I can take the apartment I liked from my visit a few weeks ago. I really hope it works out - it seems like a great fit for me and also it would mean that everything is in place for me to move up whenever I'm ready. Then I could relax for the next week here. If it doesn't work I'll be disappointed (again) and have to go up to look for another place (again). So here's hopin.
Aside from possibly continuing my apartment search, for the next week and a half I have several appointments, lots more people to see, packing, tying up loan paperwork, applying for that internship, and hopefully having some fun left to do. Plus, I'm planning to go down to NYC for a day next week to see my lovely former roommates one last time before they depart for their years as international GSVs! I'm so excited!! So, that relaxing vacation I dreamed about may need to wait a little longer..
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