Monday 29 November 2010


Despite it being November, at UF it still feels like summer with temperatures in the twenties! This is one advantage for being in Florida and another reason is that you only have to pack light clothes! I think it is going to be quite a shock to return to England at Christmas to face temperatures below zero.As the term is coming to a close, it means the work load has unfortunately picked up with the looming presence of finals. Although one good thing about finals happening in a few weeks is that it means that I can have a stress free Christmas (which is rather nice compared to my last two Christmas holidays at Nottingham).Thanksgiving is such a fun holiday to partake in. I was lucky enough to go and enjoy Thanksgiving with an American friend and her friends and family. The food was wonderful ranging from sweet potatoes covered in peacans, brown sugar and marshmellows to pumpkin pie! Also, we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to embrace Thanksgiving wholeheartedly where we witnessed some spectacular miming from Kanye West and Jessica Simpson. Nothing beats America on cheese factor!
Travelling has been one of my quests this semester to try and start exploring this vast country. Being only here a year I want to take full advantage of being here and see other states and be able to experience different cultures to that of Florida. I have ventured to DC, Boston, Miami, Atlanta and the Bahamas so far and have a long list ready for next semester! Travelling now is a lot cheaper than travelling from England every time. Hostels become your new best friend whilst out here!

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Update from McGill

Sorry, I appreciarte this update is late, but the lure of midterms, meant that I kept on putting it off. Looking through some of the previous updates, people tend to talk about their life in the country and them furnish this with personal anecdotes, so I'll try and do the same.


I'll start with class. McGill lecturers are fantastic for the most part, and I have to say that I much prefer the class interaction here to Notts. However, I am also being told, that I dress too casually for class. A few times I have come to class in trackies, but this is too casually. These guys haven’t had school uniform for 14 years of their life, I feel this gives me a right to wear what the hell I want.Lecturers here mention Britain a lot, which I really do enjoy. However, they tend to make wild claims about home, which are not so true. This one was less forgiveable. Mostly because the lecturer is from Manchester. His claim that the Bank of Scotland is one of the biggest banks in England, was laughable. I will feel I have made a difference in Canada, if I can clear up this surprisingly common misconception that England and Britain are interchangeable terms.

Obviously, last weekend was remembrance Sunday. Canadians are fairly big on this. The Quebecois are less keen. Interestingly, the Anglophone (English speaking) schools take the day off from conventional classes, and spend the whole day teaching about the horrors of WW1 and WW2. The Francophone (French speaking) sometimes don’t even have a minutes silence. Probably one of the most interesting things that I have learnt about Canadian society. We are missing out in England though. Canadian poppies are off such a superior quality. None of this paper crap, they are made out of felt. These things could last me for years. Perhaps I am missing the point by saving a poppy from last year, to wear the next year, but I have to tell you these things are fantastic. Sturdy and with a fantastic clip mechanism.


If you ever go to Canada, get yourself to Tim Hortons. Its like McDonalds but for coffee, bagels and pastries. Probably the best thing about Canada actually.

Well, that's all from me

Hope everyone is keeping well,

Alastair

Monday 15 November 2010

Dads Weekend

Once a year American Universities have a weekend dedicated to Dads. It is quite a nice idea but its slightly strange walking round campus seeing every student with their Dad in toe, some of the Dads even stay in the dorms. Of course I didn't have my Dad over for the weekend so I therefore continued to partake in the usual weekend activities at an American College, 'Football' games and house parties.
This weekend was the second time I've seen the 'beavers' play 'football' however this time we didn't turned up and therefore deservedly had our pants pull down by the Washington State Cougars. Game day at OSU is a big affair and many ex-students and in this case loads of dads usually stay in town for the evening and hit up the parties, bars and the only club in town. I have to say it was a new experience to dance with a girl in a club only to find out that next to her, her grey headed slightly over weight dad was dancing next to me with another girl well under half his age, americans really do like the whole happy families thing.