The pad, the papers, the people
La maison: I wasn't sure how I'd like living alone but I'm absolutely loving it! It's a modest studio apartment smack in the middle of the city. Cute balcony, big bathroom, wooden floors, long windows and super sweet elderly landlord. It's next to a music school so I get some pretty 
nice live jazz at night- totally worth the less-than-impressive, out of tune music from the younger students during the day.
Why did I move out on my own? As much as everyone has enjoyed this opportunity to conjure up rumours of a fall out between my flatmates (of 3 weeks) and I, the reason is simple. After a long night out, I can do without the 45 minute mission on a sketchy (to canadians what dodgy is to kiwis. Cultural intergration yo :p) night bus. Furthermore, after getting to bed at 330am, I can do without the 25 minute commute into uni the next morning. So now I live a mere 5 minute stroll away from my morning classes.
Les études: Classes, yes. Contrary to the photographs being churned out, I AM studying here. Trying to. Kinda. I guess it just feels weird because the courses I'm taking here are very different from andything I've done before. Two of my courses have no final exams. Which is awesome but it also means that there is constant work all through the semester- and not very easy work at that. Alot of project based assesments, research papers and class presentations. But I'm not complaining. The courses are pretty stimulating.
And then there's my french course. Beautiful language, messed up grammatical foundation. But hanging around francophones (people with french as their mother tongue) is definitely helping.
Les amis: There are literally hundreds of us exchange students here in Montreal and despite
our ranging nationalities, backgrounds and disciplines, we are all so similar. I've known these people for no more than a month (at VERY most) and yet we are so tight. Everyone is so likeminded, friendly, balanced, the lot.
Yes, it makes sense. Throw a bunch of students who have no friends into a foreign city, under time constraint-- they'll open up their arms to almost whomever would take them.
But it made me think, would we be such good friend if we were back in our comfort zones (i.e. back in our home countries etc)? Do we get lazy when we have our old buddies (avoiding the word "cliques" here) by our sides? How many amazing people have we let slip through our fingers because we couldn't be bothered to make the effort? Thinking back on my past few years in Auckland and summers in KL, I'd like to think I still make an effort to extend friendships and share perspectives with new people I come across. Some might call it "poaching" (YOU know who you are :p), but maybe we should all poach a little more. 
nice live jazz at night- totally worth the less-than-impressive, out of tune music from the younger students during the day.Why did I move out on my own? As much as everyone has enjoyed this opportunity to conjure up rumours of a fall out between my flatmates (of 3 weeks) and I, the reason is simple. After a long night out, I can do without the 45 minute mission on a sketchy (to canadians what dodgy is to kiwis. Cultural intergration yo :p) night bus. Furthermore, after getting to bed at 330am, I can do without the 25 minute commute into uni the next morning. So now I live a mere 5 minute stroll away from my morning classes.
Les études: Classes, yes. Contrary to the photographs being churned out, I AM studying here. Trying to. Kinda. I guess it just feels weird because the courses I'm taking here are very different from andything I've done before. Two of my courses have no final exams. Which is awesome but it also means that there is constant work all through the semester- and not very easy work at that. Alot of project based assesments, research papers and class presentations. But I'm not complaining. The courses are pretty stimulating.
And then there's my french course. Beautiful language, messed up grammatical foundation. But hanging around francophones (people with french as their mother tongue) is definitely helping.
Les amis: There are literally hundreds of us exchange students here in Montreal and despite
our ranging nationalities, backgrounds and disciplines, we are all so similar. I've known these people for no more than a month (at VERY most) and yet we are so tight. Everyone is so likeminded, friendly, balanced, the lot.Yes, it makes sense. Throw a bunch of students who have no friends into a foreign city, under time constraint-- they'll open up their arms to almost whomever would take them.
But it made me think, would we be such good friend if we were back in our comfort zones (i.e. back in our home countries etc)? Do we get lazy when we have our old buddies (avoiding the word "cliques" here) by our sides? How many amazing people have we let slip through our fingers because we couldn't be bothered to make the effort? Thinking back on my past few years in Auckland and summers in KL, I'd like to think I still make an effort to extend friendships and share perspectives with new people I come across. Some might call it "poaching" (YOU know who you are :p), but maybe we should all poach a little more.
hello hello. god knows how I ended up here. really entertaining blog btw. seems like you're having a blast travelling from one planet to another. keep in touch, you. cheers.
Posted by garykhan | 3:35 PM
hey babe,
make sure you see as much as poss eh!!
miss running into you randomly la!!
take care now ok!!!
its jo btw
Posted by Anonymous | 8:40 PM
haha poach away rengee :P
Posted by Rach & Daph | 3:42 AM
hey reng! your blog template is horrible to read!
but wow... never realised you were a nomadlifer... keep up the good blogging, will be reading avidly now taht I'm onto you... hehehe
see you soon HOPEFULLY... you *are* my favourite Chindian!
alex
melbourne, australia
PS. how much does liverpool SUCK!
Posted by LX | 4:00 AM