Three days until I leave!! I'm excited.
I've started to pack some, gathering things together mostly. If packing my suitcase were writing a novel, i would be in the stage where there are lots of nebulous ideas floating around, but no real structure yet. And by ideas, I mean clothes, electronics, documents, toiletries... all floating around my house, waiting to be put into place.
The lady from Iowa emailed wanting to verify my address so that she can be sure to send my acceptance to the right place. I really hope that she mailed it today. Otherwise, I'm not sure if I'll get it by the time I have to leave to catch my flight. And what happens then, I don't know.
I bought Joe a present today! I only mention that because I know you'll read this, honey, and I know it will drive you crazy not knowing what it is =)
Well, I'm going to bed early tonight because a) i need to get up and finish packing and b) tomorrow is when i win my car! I'm going to need lots of energy to stand there in the hot sun all day... and night... and day... and night... haha. And then after that, I'm outta here!
À plus tard,
Claire
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday before:
I've realized that I've been eating very badly in the last couple of days; I think this is a direct result of nerves. Next time I'm reaching for that brownie, I'll have to stop and force myself to realize that logically, making myself the size of a manatee won't make me any better prepared to face Quebec.
Mailed my check for Quebec today... I have a feeling I was supposed to do that awhile ago. My dad kept telling me that the would be paid online, so i just listened to him and didn't look into it any further.. My fault. So now I haven't received my packet from the University, which, according to the program handbook, I need in order to be able to enter the country =\ That is DEFINITELY something to look into tomorrow. I'll call the lady at Iowa, Liz Wildenberg de Hernandez; I called her once before when I had trouble, and she seems pretty nice. Hopefully this isn't any emergency.
Tomorrow is when i should get all my serious packing done; on Friday I'm going to enter the Bob Rohrman Win a Car contest! It's one of those ordeals where the last person with a hand on the car gets to keep it. I probably won't win, since i'll have to leave early Sunday to catch my plane. But i think it's worth a shot, nonetheless.
I went to practice piano at my grandma's house today. She is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, having moved here when Grandpa got a veterinary position after WWII. Although she's from Canada, she says she's never been to Quebec, so that will be a new experience for for both of us! She, my aunt, and my mom are all going to spend three or so days in the city with me before the start of the program. I didn't really get asked if that was something I wanted... but it'll be fun, I'm sure. But my dad is usually the one who does all the vacation planning; I don't know whether we have anything lined up to do, or whether that's something I should read up on while i have one hand superglued to that Cougar.
I haven't really had as much contact with this grandmother as with the other, but today she told me a little bit about her life: her 3 brothers (all dead), her 2 sisters (still living), how things have changed. It's funny how when she's talking about the past her eyes get all far away; I wonder what is really passing before her mind's eye. It must be hard to live when most of the people you've known and loved have already died. Not to mention to be so far away from the place you grew up. I always knew that she was Canadian, but I never thought about it much. Now, as i'm preparing to go away, it hits me a lot harder; what if I ended up staying somewhere so very far away, just like her? Is it a decision she was happy with?
I took a different way home than usual, just sort of heading north until i finally saw things that were familiar. Really, the whole way looked familiar, although I'm certain I'd never been that way before. I really tried to soak in my surroundings, trying to imagine what I would see if i hadn't spent all my life in this landscape.
How very different things looked when I went to Kansas last week; I want so badly to share with him where I'm from too! Studying at IU isn't the same as a leisurely drive in the countryside. But we're supposed to go for lots of Sunday drives next fall, which will probably be better anyway, with the colorful foliage and whatnot. Who knows, maybe we'll be taking my new car for a spin instead of his! haha
But I digress. I was sort of sad that I'd miss all of July, the fireworks, the tall corn (a silly thing to miss?), the miserable humidity and the little demons known hereabouts as mosquitoes. But there will be lots of Indiana Julys, and to lose one to such an exciting experience as I'm sure this will be is nothing to lament.
À Bientôt,
Claire
Mailed my check for Quebec today... I have a feeling I was supposed to do that awhile ago. My dad kept telling me that the would be paid online, so i just listened to him and didn't look into it any further.. My fault. So now I haven't received my packet from the University, which, according to the program handbook, I need in order to be able to enter the country =\ That is DEFINITELY something to look into tomorrow. I'll call the lady at Iowa, Liz Wildenberg de Hernandez; I called her once before when I had trouble, and she seems pretty nice. Hopefully this isn't any emergency.
Tomorrow is when i should get all my serious packing done; on Friday I'm going to enter the Bob Rohrman Win a Car contest! It's one of those ordeals where the last person with a hand on the car gets to keep it. I probably won't win, since i'll have to leave early Sunday to catch my plane. But i think it's worth a shot, nonetheless.
I went to practice piano at my grandma's house today. She is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, having moved here when Grandpa got a veterinary position after WWII. Although she's from Canada, she says she's never been to Quebec, so that will be a new experience for for both of us! She, my aunt, and my mom are all going to spend three or so days in the city with me before the start of the program. I didn't really get asked if that was something I wanted... but it'll be fun, I'm sure. But my dad is usually the one who does all the vacation planning; I don't know whether we have anything lined up to do, or whether that's something I should read up on while i have one hand superglued to that Cougar.
I haven't really had as much contact with this grandmother as with the other, but today she told me a little bit about her life: her 3 brothers (all dead), her 2 sisters (still living), how things have changed. It's funny how when she's talking about the past her eyes get all far away; I wonder what is really passing before her mind's eye. It must be hard to live when most of the people you've known and loved have already died. Not to mention to be so far away from the place you grew up. I always knew that she was Canadian, but I never thought about it much. Now, as i'm preparing to go away, it hits me a lot harder; what if I ended up staying somewhere so very far away, just like her? Is it a decision she was happy with?
I took a different way home than usual, just sort of heading north until i finally saw things that were familiar. Really, the whole way looked familiar, although I'm certain I'd never been that way before. I really tried to soak in my surroundings, trying to imagine what I would see if i hadn't spent all my life in this landscape.
How very different things looked when I went to Kansas last week; I want so badly to share with him where I'm from too! Studying at IU isn't the same as a leisurely drive in the countryside. But we're supposed to go for lots of Sunday drives next fall, which will probably be better anyway, with the colorful foliage and whatnot. Who knows, maybe we'll be taking my new car for a spin instead of his! haha
But I digress. I was sort of sad that I'd miss all of July, the fireworks, the tall corn (a silly thing to miss?), the miserable humidity and the little demons known hereabouts as mosquitoes. But there will be lots of Indiana Julys, and to lose one to such an exciting experience as I'm sure this will be is nothing to lament.
À Bientôt,
Claire
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday Before
Welcome to High Speed Quebection! I am Claire Oppy, a soon-to-be sophomore at Indiana University. The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my many thrilling escapades in the lovely realm of Quebec, allowing anyone who chances upon my humble corner of cyberspace to live and breath my upcoming adventure. I can't take you with me, but perhaps through my blog we can pretend that you were here all along.
Today marks five days until I leave. I have so much to do! I really haven't started packing much, or even to look at what I'll need to plan to pack. I'd like to get a lot of that done tomorrow.
I'm very excited for the potential of this; I bet I can get my little sister Grace (an honest-to-goodness myspace kid) to help me spruce up the layout a bit. In any case, I hope to make note any and all discoveries and experiences that I should come across in the next 5 weeks!
À bientôt,
Claire
Today marks five days until I leave. I have so much to do! I really haven't started packing much, or even to look at what I'll need to plan to pack. I'd like to get a lot of that done tomorrow.
I'm very excited for the potential of this; I bet I can get my little sister Grace (an honest-to-goodness myspace kid) to help me spruce up the layout a bit. In any case, I hope to make note any and all discoveries and experiences that I should come across in the next 5 weeks!
À bientôt,
Claire
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
