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