MuffinMaddy

So my travelling for the rest of my year abroad is sorted. I'm going skiing early February after my first three midterms and then for reading week I'll just go to a small town by a lake in Northern Ontario. In March I'll be heading back to Montreal with the official band of my host university which should be good. Marching bands aren't really that big of a thing In the UK. I have to get used to some of the words used by Canadians when they're talking about musical scales but at the moment mission make-more-canadian-friends is going quite well. Most of my friends from first semester were European exchange students so pretty similar to me in that they liked drinking stupid amounts of alcohol all the time. Definitely toning it down a lot this semester as most of the people I'd have had drinks with have gone back to Europe anyway . I'll go to the states another time. Flights are expensive and I really hate waiting at the border. It really lengthened our travel time when we went to New York

Thanks guys. Good night out, woke up with a hangover, then went for a full English breakfast with my best mates here. I am gonna miss living with people I gel with so damn well. I also suspect one of my female friends likes my housemate. It's quite funny because he's kind of been "the one that got away" for a lot of girls who really want to bed him. He's really picky and he has the right to be but it's just quite funny that he likes her and she likes him (I think) but neither one of them knows that. They would be one hot couple though if they were to ever hook up. He has said from the get-go that on his year abroad, it's casual - but a lot of girls he's met here don't want casual, so he hasn't gotten laid in Canada yet but he says Canadian girls are prettier than British girls :-P

Genuinely humbled by how many people came to my birthday meal. I have had depression for so many years and thought that few people even really liked me. For fourteen people to take time out of their day to have dinner with me is way more than I ever imagined.... This has been the best birthday I've had in over a decade. I am about to start drinking in about 30 minutes but it could not have gone any smoother. I am so grateful to have the best housemates who bought me a wonderfully delicious cake. Very chilled day!

Happy birthday!+1 Thanks I have a sprained ankle from slipping on ice, but otherwise things are going well. Student finance gave me a payment and I'm getting drunk tonight so I hope I don't get *too* generous. My housemate has kind of let it slip that they've got me a cake lol. He didn't mean to let it out but he's a bit of a fool sometimes :D I bought playing cards. I'm in an absolutely jolly mood after a tough week. 15 minutes left :shades: I suit my winter birthday - I'm frosty as hell sometimes

Birthday in 2.5 hours. My first one in a different timezone from home so everyone's all calling me from home and to me it's just a normal evening still

Perhaps the next trip you make into the U.S. you could stop by a gun show or a firing range. I feel like you won't be as nervous once you experience them a little.It doesn't work that way for me sadly. I react terribly in situations where I'm afraid. I completely lose the ability to think rationally and stay composed. I just do anything I can to leave the situation as soon as possible. Guns are just one part of a long list of fears I have. Bad experiences have led to my fear of any sudden loud noises or bright flashes. 1. The noise isn't loud if you are wearing the proper hearing protection 2. The noise isn't sudden since you know when you are pulling the trigger 3. There are no bright flashes (unless shooting in the dark which is dangerous and wouldn't happen at a range) 4. I don't think you've ever even seen a gun that wasn't in the movies I think that people who have grown up around guns (used safely) are a lot less fearful of them because they are more used to them being properly used. To me it is kind of like dogs. I'd be more scared of a large dog out in public without a leash on than someone carrying a gun in the open. That's probably because I've never had a dog and all I ever see them do is jump on people and bark a lot (but we all know how harmless dogs are for the most part). You are probably onto something when you suggest that if I see guns being used properly and safely that I will probably be less nervous around them. Point number 4 isn't true but it doesn't actually mean that I would feel less nervous just because I've seen a gun in real life. Having said that, I am naturally wary of dogs, I was bitten by one as a child, but over time I have seen the good side of dogs. My boyfriend has a dog and I love her a lot. I can see that she is a good dog and even though she is territorial, she has never hurt anybody before. His brother also has a dog, who is harmless but super annoying. My best friend also has a dog, who is a follower and basically stalks the person he chooses until he gets bored. Either way, my fear of dogs has decreased because of my experiences with good dogs. I now know confidently that not all dogs are out to get me, and even though unfortunate things happen with dogs, they aren't the norm. In theory, this could be applied to my fear of guns and if I see them in a normalised setting where they are being responsibly used, then my fear would decrease slightly. It does not help, though, when you read stories in UK media for example about a gun instructor being killed by his student and the video being published online.

Perhaps the next trip you make into the U.S. you could stop by a gun show or a firing range. I feel like you won't be as nervous once you experience them a little.It doesn't work that way for me sadly. I react terribly in situations where I'm afraid. I completely lose the ability to think rationally and stay composed. I just do anything I can to leave the situation as soon as possible. Guns are just one part of a long list of fears I have. Bad experiences have led to my fear of any sudden loud noises or bright flashes.

Guns make me very nervous. I know nothing about them and I come from a gun intolerant nation.

Yeah the odds of you dealing with police violence is incredibly unlikely. Media blows this stuff up. and you're damn right. It's just so stupid that I've allowed myself to get all anxious over something that is highly unlikely. I was genuinely nervous on the first day and then I chilled the [bleep] out and had an awesome time for the rest of the trip. Our media doesn't favour America lol. I saw loads of people posing for pictures with police officers but I've never had trouble with police before. In my life they've done good things for my family and I. I see a lot of hate for them.

This is true and I can only speak for the United Kingdom. "nationalist" as a word in the UK is often seen as a word that describes people in far right movements such as Britain first or the English defence league. You see all over Facebook people complaining that we're not allowed to be proud of the UK for fear of being labelled racist or other terms. The union jack is used in logos of some companies to denote British origin but you don't see them flown around often. Even flying the English flag itself can make people judge you negatively. I don't have an opinion on any of this. My previous concern about America and my worries about going there have a lot to do with guns and police violence.

I love your money though I couldn't stop cracking up at the "in God we trust" idk what's so funny about it but I just kept repeating it and cackling all week.Gotta look through the lens of the time period in which the phrase was popular. It's not meant to be literal- at least not anymore. I know but it still made me chuckle a lot. I'll be road tripping again in February I think. The best parts I've had here have been when I'm on the road. Next time I come round I'll be able to drink in the states as well. My friend broke a bottle of wine in a store in the states and she wasn't allowed to pay for the damage because she's 20 and our other friend had to pay instead.

Ok not that extreme but I can't lie that I've just felt nervous about America, maybe it's the cultural differences between the UK and America. Like the whole proud of my country thing isn't such a huge thing in the UK. Rarely will you see a union jack proudly flown on buildings. It's just different. But it's not even bad. Different isn't always bad but I guess I've just gotta chill out and experience things for myself in just being skeptical over nothing and just watching the news on crazy shit that happens in America. I love your money though I couldn't stop cracking up at the "in God we trust" idk what's so funny about it but I just kept repeating it and cackling all week.

I've gotta admit I've had a really nice time in the United States. I've had a negative perception of the USA and I don't really know where it came from. Probably my own ignorance and media spin but I think my opinion has changed after actually going there myself. I visited a couple of villages and towns in Pennsylvania. I liked Tannersville and I saw a friend in Gettysburg and had some fun in Buffalo and New York was decent. I've had some great memories and I love travelling. Everyone was super helpful when I asked for directions. Canadian border control are so chill the guy was legit joking around and I couldn't stop laughing. Went on a cruise around Manhattan... It's been a bloody good week. Might go to Chicago as it's only a six hour drive from here. My year abroad is mint at the moment :) I'll be back in Toronto I think for a night out soon

Spent new year in NYC. Had a nice day today in little Italy. Bloody awkward cause no one was in the restaurant I was eating at and all the waiting staff were men so there were literally like 10 Italian men watching me eat lasagne.

I'm in America for the first time in my adult life. Trying to reenact my favourite song "Englishman in new York" and if anyone knows the avenue referenced in this song then cookies will be awarded.

Saw an actress from a series I watch on a ferry to the Toronto islands. The islands are creepy af during the winter but it was totally worth going. We Got awesome pictures. I think we're getting drunk and partying tonight and probably exchanging money into usd tomorrow and then Monday will be a museum day before we [bleep] off to the United States. First visit to the USA since I was three years old. Editing so I don't double post : Bloody hell the lecherous guys that don't leave you alone! @!@ Went out in Toronto and it was good except entry fee was pricey. Bouncer took my phone whilst I withdrew money. Really got nervous. Overall it was good but these creepy guys literally followed us around the club. Yeah you're thirsty but when someone says no they don't have to give a reason ffs. My grandma added me on fb lol. Bloody awkward cause she is beyond out of touch to the point where she has no idea I even have had a boyfriend for two years or drink etc and my mum knows and is obviously chill with my lifestyle but I can imagine my grandma's horror so I'll just let the friend request sit there while I figure out what to do. When I say out of touch I mean she literally thinks we shouldn't date outside the region of West African guys due to cultural clashes loool.

Was great. Will always remember how nice it was. Slightly awkwardly rolled up to someone's house to give them yule log because we thought that it was the house of our hostess but it was in fact a woman who had just given birth. We small talked for about 20 minutes then came back to build ourselves a gingerbread house.

My first white Christmas in Canada. Didn't snow. It's just the first Christmas day I've ever spent with white people lool

Merry Christmas Happy birthday bonez, I was wondering why the drinking age in Canada is 19? Seems to be a bit of a random age a was wondering if I could be enlightened by anybody. Found out what llbo meant yesterday and met a nice family from detroit who were just talking about their surprise at the pleasantness of Canadians. Looking forward to Christmas dinner with my friends today. I've had a nice holiday with them so far. Should hopefully be going to the Toronto islands on boxing day and then see what else to do. Maybe a night out too. In other news one more final to get back and I've done well thus far on them.

Busy day today. Got my hair braided and changed some Canadian dollars in the US Dollars. Then I came home to an empty house as the rest of my flatmates left today :( I've just been at a friend's house and they gave me so many freebies as they're leaving for good and can't fit everything in their suitcases. We have a bad fruit fly infestation so I'll report it just before I leave and finish packing my bags. Toronto bound tomorrow, so excited. I think we're going clubbing as well lol. Passed the exam I thought I failed as well, so all is well on my Canadian adventure at the moment.

I've somehow turned my life around and passed everything. Definitely one of the most academically demanding parts of my degree so far but I think I'll sleep well this holiday knowing that all my worries have been solved! Got a pay bonus from work as well, life is actually good.

- CN Tower - Jays game - Aquarium is pretty good - Distillery district - Zoo - Scarborough Bluffs You could also go to Casa Loma but since you're European that probably won't be quite as interesting. $$$$$$$$$$$$ I'm off to the six this Tuesday for a week. Might do the CN tower and even then that's a stretch. We still haven't really got an itinerary going but ice skating is probably on the cards. (I say the six ironically by the way)

Got a job promotion after less than a month lol

Summer resits. At my uni back home a lot of our exams are at the end of the entire year meaning if you learnt something from September till December you would have your exam for it in May or June. For my course, I've pretty much been made to take a certain number of courses and I've never had any choice in which ones I do until now. I'm only allowed to choose this year because I'm on my year abroad and when I go back home for my final year I'll pick some more courses to fill up the credits but there isn't a prerequisite system as such back home (bar some courses where you do need to do specific complementary second year modules to be able to do the third year ones for example). You just have to pass a number of courses to make up a certain number of credits.

In the UK we wait longer for results lol. It's nice to have results a few days later over here.