Flying to Kulob in a plane full of guys the same age as me feels like being on a university trip, exept for the missing girls ;). The seat reserving system seems to be “take what you want”, although I was initially assigned a seat in Munich. But this suits me well, I even get a window seat – from where I can admire the darkness of the night. – If I were not constantly busy with talking with the Tajiks, eating food or falling asleep. ;)

In the early morning we get to Kulob at 3 o’clock. I have no clue what to do, and I certainly do not expect anyone to pick me up – this early in the morning. So I try to get through the customs, who take my passport as one of the firsts. The customs dude takes it easy and continuous to process other passpots first. That’s fine with me and leaves me some space to explore the airport, that is, the rest of this 100 m² room :), into which also the luggage is unloaded – the luggage pick up is after the customs.

At once two friendly volunteers from IAESTE show up and and take me with their car to their home, where I can sleep 7 hours. The temperature is perfect, when the AC is runnning, but sweaty otherwise. – At 11 they take me to town, into the restaurant were also the Kulob soccer players (citizens from all over the world) are hosted. The food is excellent, and I wonder how my chocolates are doing in the car under the sun …

After visiting some famous Kulob monuments, the IAESTE guys organize a taxi for me to go to Dushanbe, the capital. On the way, we see the Nurek reservoir.

Lake Nurek. View from the road.

Amaletj?
What kind of amaletj are they talking about? On the police control post.

What a day! Москва ето очень красивый!

Arriving at 2:30 in the morning at Domodedovo airport of Москва, it takes me a while to find a nice dude to share a taxi ride into town, where I arrive shortly after 4.30. The town is still pretty empty, but some folks running around. At 5.00, I reach a metro station, which starts to get busy. There are still many CCCP emblems and thing hanging around.

Metro station emblems.

Even just a simple walk in a street is amazing: I get to see a “Police car” of NYPD: “to punish and enslave …”. Some guy begins talking to me, he’s a really nice guy.

Later I meet with Vladimir, who teaches at the famous Moscow State University (МГУ). The school is really awesome. 30 floors of knowledge, an incredible view from the top floors and amazing people hanging around. I wish I would remember more from my Russian classes to be able to speak with the folks. In the museum of tectonics, I meet a very nice Professor.

Just hangin’ around in Mockve.

Mammuth theeth.

For lunch, I meet with Darya – thanks a lot, and thank you for getting me the SIM card. This is really cool, since roaming from the Swiss network is soooo expensive.

In the afternoon, Ayana from Buryatiya shows me the red square and surroundings. – Awesome!

«Philosophy» store – what is your philosophy?

On my way in direction Guelph, I randomly ride across a Hindu temple. – I visit the place: Shoes are to be taken off, hands to be washed. In the main room, there are statues of the dieties. (No photos.) It was awesome. =)

Some guy, is just going to Sanskrit lessons at that time, he graduated from IITD in industrial engineering.

Then I see a train passing over a Grand River bridge,

VIA rail train

and meet a guy from Slovenia, Anton, who invites me to his house for coffee, and we have a glass of wine and some bread with cheese and dry meat.I also meet his wife and son, we have interesting discussions together, play card tricks and the guitar together.

Amol, Aurélie and I were supposed to fly to Long Point island and back with Max, which unfortunately didn’t work out due to too strong winds, same story as happened already yesterday, when we were went to the restaurant then having some french fries instead.

Aurélie is leaving for California tomorrow and Amol has to move out. Therefore Max and I go to “Vincenco’s” a deli (delicatessen) in Waterloo. We get some cheese and bread that we will have in Waterloo park, right on the rocks of the shore.

We get Anushka and Günes to join us. We get everything ready, have some more bread and when the wind goes down, right after six, we move over to the plane. Max makes the final checks, starts the engine, and we are about to leave, … but the headsets fail, the tower can’t hear us, that is, Max. The problem persists and we will have to take another plane. By then the plan to fly to Long Point is surrendered. Since it takes too long to get another plane ready. After some paper work, some more checks, we are again ready to leave …

And this time it works! =) We get a nice flight over KW, Max shows us the university, and much more!

After the flight, we go to an ice cream place that sells for 31¢. Therefore there is quite a queue to get in. This opportunity is ceased by dome other dudes to distribute books for free. I help them promoting the (very diverse) books, which contributes to a entertaining evening for the crowd, and amusement for the ice cream sellers.

After that, we go to Coffee Culture in Uptown Waterloo, where we have fun with the selling people from the coffee shop. Max explains us some details of the flying.

It’s a nice day and therefore I’m going out to take a ride on my bike through the town. After a while, I pass by the local mosque, which I’ve already seen earlier this week when visiting an Iranian friend. I enter the building and I take of my shoes. Then I enter the “hall”, where there are carpets on the floor. An African guy greets me with a “Shalamaleikum” and we start a conversation. That is, he explains me, how Moses, Jesus and Muhammad are messengers of God, i.e. Allah.

He tells me, that I can return on Friday at one o’cock, when there will be a service. And if I wanted, he could show me how to pray. – Now, this sounds interesting, and he shows me how to wash myself before praying, which is quite a procedure, and happens in the basement, in a room for washing. Everything is washed three times, the mouth, nose, face, arms, and legs.

Up in the hall again, he shows me, how to worship.

During all his explanations he always stresses that this is written in the book: how it willl all finnish in the end, and what happens after death. That is, if you were on the right side, “you’ll have wine and there will be women” (sic!) and otherwise you’ll go to hell fire.

All in all it was a very interesting experience!

A trip with the UW Sustainability Project’s Natural Landscaping Team to the Huron Natural Area today.

We take a (charter) bus from UW to the area, where we are in about 20 minutes.

I know that I am cold, but I believe to be hot, and the water strats boiling – “get me outta here”! –  But in a second it’s alright, and it feels just comfortable. :-)

After I had got the acceptance to the Atmosphere and Climate Science Master already at the beginning of this month, today I got the notice to have been accepted to the Energy Science and Technology master:

Dear Mr Haller

It is our pleasure to confirm that you have been admitted to the
Energy Science and Technology Master programme at ETH Zurich.

As soon as possible in the coming weeks, we are going to send you 
an official letter with more detailed information and instructions 
on how to accept your place. We regret to inform you that due to
time constraints we will not be able to answer any enquiries
before you have received our official letter. However, should our 
letter not reach you within four to six weeks, please let us know.

Congratulations and best regards
Caroline Krieg

I’ m so happy, since it was never clear if I would get accepted, only less than a third of all applicants get addmitted.

Dear Mr Haller

It is our pleasure to confirm that you have been admitted to the Energy
Science and Technology Master programme at ETH Zurich.

As soon as possible in the coming weeks, we are going to send you an
official letter with more detailed information and instructions on how
to accept your place. We regret to inform you that due to time
constraints we will not be able to answer any enquiries before you have
received our official letter. However, should our letter not reach you
within four to six weeks, please let us know.

Congratulations and best regards
Caroline Krieg

With the SWISA, Swiss Student ASsociation, which I founded at the beginning at this term, I organized a Chocolate Fondue (Schoggifondue).

I just announced it the da before, therefore, we were a nice, small group of people.

This week was crazy:
Monday is still quite as usual, except that I go to career services for an inquiry about my résumé. (de,fr:CV)

Tuesday : Presentation in Earth System Science. The presentation works very well. In the evening I post some advertisments for the “Home” movie that I’ll show tomorrow. (www.home-2009.org)

The job fair

Wednesday: I go to the JobFair. Therefore I print out my calling cards at the copy shop, just before taking the bus to the fair. Where I meat great companies, and I even get an offer for a place in the summer. Later, in the evening, I show “Home” in a lecture hall, about 20 people come to attend. After that, at home, I prepare the presentation for tomorrow in LaTeX.

Thursday: I participate at the public speaking competition of the Sandford Fleming Foundation, and win a prize.

Friday: The night from Thursday to Friday is a long one: 15 hours, that is more thatn in the past three night all together.

Simply awesome.

On the bus there are really cool people, and we have eaning ful discussions about god and the world and how it could all end. There are two students from McGill, two nons from Montréal and a South American woman working per internet to help children in the city at home.

Then the oncert of Cowboys frignants is marvellous! At might night hundreds of balloons were released in the middle of the hall. The music was simply awesome and amazing! Et du coup j’ai vu quelqu’un avec un drapeau Suisse! Elle vient de Lausanne et est en train de visiter une amie.

After this beautiful night, we go home. That is, we drive to the place of Bianca and Sébastian in Val-David, where we will have une journée tranquille. :-) – C0était excellent!

How to get from Cambridge to Boston? – Let’s try it with hitchhiking, and after five minutes, a nice Indian guy gives me a ride. Interesting detail: He writes his thesis at MIT and is originally from IIT Madras, India. He dropps me at MIT, where I’m taking a look and continue hitchhiking over the frozen river to Boston. I could have walked over the bridge of course, but it’s simply too cold.

Boston across the river

In a restaurant called “legal sea food”, I go inside and ask an idle employee about illegal seafood for fun, we have a nice discussion and he recommends their special offer today: 6 oysters for 6 bucks until 6, it’s have past 5 so I go for it. Oysters for the first time in my life. – Pretty good!

Legal Sea Foods

6 Oysters for 6 $

After having been up on the high rise, to over look the city from above, …

Boston from above

… I discover unlocked phones for sale at at a telephone company’s shop. But I wonder, how they know about “Swisscom”, the Swiss telephone company.

"All phones are unlocked ..."

There are a lot of nice, alternative shops in Boston, quite unlike what I have seen in the biggest cities of Canada so far. Also a nice detail: prices are primarily announced per weight and not the prize of a pack. Here an example for a quarter of a gallon (=3.78 ℓ /4).

Milk price

After a cold walk home, an excellent dinner and a short night I go to discover Cambridge. In the morning. Most fasinating was the Glass flowers in the Harvard Botanical Museum. Then I get a free bus ride to Boston, since the busdriver didn’t care about the fares: “It’s okay”. (cf. Ottawa, August 2009: «Ici, les gens ne sont pas correctes.» ;-))

I enjoyed these few days in Rowe, MA at the place of Prue and Doug. We had some nice walks in the snow. I wrote all I wanted to communicate on paper, because at that time I still wasn’t able to talk. Then, when I got better and new years eve was approaching, I left for Cambridge, where I stayed at the place of Mihály, the Hungarian, who writes his thesis at Harvard.

Even though I couldn’t speak that time, so alll communication was on the paper, it was a wonderful Christmas! A Turkey for dinner and a chuch for the after-dessert. – Wow! It is just so nice, so many small illages, up here in the mountains!

Really an interesting bus ride, those guys and girls were really nice to talk with, so interesting the whole issue. At the customs it took me some longer time, but they were pretty cool in the end, after I appeared unimpressed of the fact, that I did not have a return ticket, nor did I know the address of my friends in Massachusetts by heart. – So they wanted me to call them, but at 3:00 AM there is no way I’m gonna call them. Finally they let me pass: “We know, you don’t have that anymore in Europe, but here you still need a return ticket and an address where you’re gonna stay. Remember for next time.” – Allright.

After three days of having a cold at home, partly laying in bed, I finally was able to move away. Back on the streets I went to the post office and back, this time I left the bike a home, so I just used those other cars driving around. As usual it took me less than five minutes to get a ride. =)

And again, familiar noises of downtown Toronto. Such as the audio signals for walk at the intersections. ;-) Dundas square is somewhat different in the winter – no movies (see earlier posts in summer). But now I’m heading down to Albany, NY, the bus leaves in a half an hour.

Seems, as if I were not the only one to plan a trip … – How does he manage to plan trips without a computer?

The last day with all of us four at home is over now. We had a great time playing fooseball. The four room mates from left to right: Michael, Calle, Shaun and myself.

At the beginning of the term when everyone was buying and bringing stuff, I wondered, what could be interesting to have, things that came to my mind where a Fooseball table, a bike, a screen, a desk and much more.

The Fooseball table, or as the Germans use to say “Kickertisch”, was an excellent acquisition. Every evening some of us were playing and we quickly improved our skills.

Now Calle is gone for next term to work in Toronto and Michael will be on co-op (internship).

This was cool: The first exam begins at 9.00 and ends at 11.30. Then I’ve got some time. Until the next exam begins at 4 o’clock (16.00).

The exams were held in the Physical Activities Complex, and there  were several different exams held at the same time. Almost all for first year students.

Yesterday evening I took a picture through the window, where there was no snow at all. Today morning, as I woke up, I was excited to see the snow had arrived. Winter begun.

Columbia lake in the evening – I like it.

Scenery at columbia lake in the evening

This was « une fondue au chocolat avec François (un François), Paul (un Allemand) et Alex et moi (deux Suisses) ».

Alex, the African, has his birthday today. Therefore there was again one of the famous CLV parties yesterday. Even some exchange students, who managed to get really nice instruments, were performing.

Alex' birthday musicians

We should be able to see some meteors today. Plenty of people are watching the sky through telescopes, observing Saturn and other nice objects of the night sky.

A week ago I bought a 23”  screen (1920 × 1080)  for 160$ from canadian computers.

Today Paul Ellingham, whom I met this summer in Waterloo from Couchsurfing, helped me getting a good table from the school, where they do no longer need them. Since they are  for free, and since Paul has enough room in his car and finally because I know Alex doesn’t neither like the provided tables, I grtabbed another one.

Back at homefinally I got a really nice office:

Today I went in a small shop where they sold those “wunderbars” (wunderbar = wonderful in German).

My three class mates  and me are having an economy class enjoying  Professor Nimubona’s class and at once it starts beebing. – I remember the goog days in high school when that used to happen about twice a year. But now it’s been a long time since I had seen that last time, must have been at high school, since at EPFL we never got a fire alarm.

Fire alarm the movie. (100MB)

(Capitalism has no errors.)
Why? – Have a closer look to Alex Statiev‘s office door.

Door of Alex Statiev's office

November eleven is remembrance day in many parts of the Common Wealth. So as well in Canada. In our Energy conversion class, the teaxher stops at 11.00 and tells us: “Actually it doesn’t matter so much, where you’re from, it’s pretty much the samr for everyone – that we can live now here at this high level, is due to our ancestors, some of them died in war. Let’s keep the moment of silence now.” – And the whole class is quiet for a minute.

Also many people wear a (plastic) “poppy” (Mohnblume) on their coats.

This was a special sight, the falcon on the tree when I was just about to return from school. As I was taking pictures of him, he must not have felt comfortable and therefore flew away.

Today the sun is shining warmly – blue sky the whole day. It is even possible to sit and eat outside in a T-shirt and shorts.. Later in the afternoon I join the Chinese guys as they are playing Basketball almost in front of my window.

As my roommate Shaun returns from dumpping the garbage, he allerts us about raccoons. And effectively there are two of those guys. This is though not the first time I see some, since I’ve already met another one up in St.Adolphe in Quebec  unfortunately I did not have the camera with me that time. But this time we got them nicely:

.

Today after class, I was talking with Professor Dongqing Li. He asked me where I am from in Switzerland, since he’s got a friend in Lausanne. As I tell him that that’s exactly where I am from, he asks me if then I come from EPFL. “So why have you come here? – EPFL, that’s the best place.” His friend is Professor in microtechnics at EPFL.

In the evening I go to the nearby Laurel Creek resservoir (see October 25) where the sun is just about to set.

After sunset, I go for a short trip (by bike) through the nearby area. I see a panel “Facebook 101 Twitter – Parent workshop Nov 18” at a public school. Over here in Canada, if there is an introduction to something related to school, they like to call it “101”, due to the fact, that all University courses start with the introduction course “101”, e.g. ECON101, would be “introduction to microeconomics”.

The cheese club is a club here at the University. – At every meeting there are some nine sorts of cheese to try and vote upon, which one was the best. This is pretty similar to what is know in Switzerland as the “Mountain Cheese Olympics“.

When I wake up today and look out of my widow the landscape is covered in white. Is this the start of winter?

“Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post.”

The new site is online! Now on http://blog.haller.me and all is imported, great!

[“Today, I’ve seen Mr. Hergott”
(German actually “Herrgott”, meaning literally “Mister-god” standing as a vocative when addressing God, as english “Lord”. It was primarily used at the beginings of cantatae, as in “Herr Gott, Dich loben wir“. It became then often used as a exclamation of surprise and anger. Comparable to “Christ!” or “Jesus!”.)]

As it can be found on the web, and as Mr. Hergott told me, the name was origninally spelled with two “R”, but eventually an R was dropped, either for an easier spelling or inorder to hide the German origins in the first part of the twentieth century.

On a short ride on my bike to the West, I was finally on a gravel road, and in the yard of a farm, there was a farmer just unloading his combine-harvester (ger. Mähdrescher) into his truck. I went to exchange a few words: He just finished in this very moment the harvest of soybeans (which are very commonly grown around here in Canada). In total he got 1800 acres ≈ 7.5 km^2. I’m astonished. And even he is the very Mr. Hergott, as it says “Hergott Farms, Waterloo, Ltd.” on his truck.

He actually originated from Heidelberg, Germany. There would be a Swiss guy named Thomas Lang around here somewhere having a farm, he seems to be a friend of him.

And before going to the woods and the fram I was visiting a house that was for sale and was advertised for as “open house” at the nearby street. – The way of living here is really strange. Houses are very close to each other, but there are no townhouses (deu: Reihenhäuser oder Häuserreihen in Städten) as there where in La ville de Québec and in Montréal. The miss who is selling the place enjoys talking for a minute, till I leave. Unfortunately and as opposed to my expectations there was no food nor drinks offered. ;-)

I’m back from Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar” in Stratford. First I proposed to Alex to go there, and finally we were for prople who went there. We were very lucky, since the Ellinghams (the family were Krigi and me have been during our stay in Waterloo on our Canada trip this August) went there to see the same play at the same day – what a coincidence! – so they offered me a ride, as I first asked Taylor (their son of about the same age as me) if he’d like to join me. I could even bring up to four friends along.
Getting tha ticket was a story for itself, since I ordered it online: First I was supposed to pay the normal rate of 68$ per ticket, and finally after different attempts of buying it with my room mates (a Canadian’s) credit card, I bought them with my own card, but paid only 25$+tax per ticket. – A perfect deal!

In the first half (up to the intermission) the whole play, the people and everything was more in a traditional roman time-like feeling (stage props (Ger.:Requisiten), and costumes), where as in the second part all was playing in 20th century: Helicopters, guns an rifles could be seen, as well as military uniforms of today.

A nice thing, which made me wonder first: There were black and white people playing either role: Slaves and praetors. – Time changed, and so did the real life roles.

Backhome, there where of course, as already on Friday in School a lot of scarry looking people walking around, since it’s Halloween today.

Some more midterms now, I already had three this and last week.
THis now, was very particular, since I decided to take this course just this Monday (today: Friday) and as I got another midterm on Wednesday (where I have joined the class just in the fourth week) it got some what heavy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the textbook (the Prof. lent me his book) a lot, the I just finished reading yesteday late.
But as there has been a party at our place starting at 10 o’clock, it was pretty loud in the end, so I switched to solving exercises after almost finishing the reading. Finally I went for short to the party (the house was full of people, maybe 30 and music at the top level. Happy feeling, peaceful.) and went then to bed at half past midnight. Well, I tried to, but finally as the music speaker was exactl located one floor under my bed, I abandoned this idea after 5 minutes. And so I had to withdraw from my room. – My helpful african friend Alex lent me his bed right away and so I still got a reasonable amount of 6.5 hours of sleep. =)

The exam though was really nice, I new the answers very well, and this exam was just as I wish them to be: According to the text book and not trying to fool anybody with extra material profided during lectures or review sessions.

One thing still to mention: Just before the exam I met the other ECON101 teacher of the class I used to assist up to last week, Larry Smith. As he told us last week, companies economy would not be able to rise for a very long time, what he thinks about the globally rising economy, he then told me that David Suzuki would be wrong and The Limits to Growth of the “Club of Rome” would be wrong. Unfortunately he did not have time for further explanations and discussion.

I almost get to a first hypothesis of rodent performance (“On cloudy days squirrels are more shy then on sunny days.”) When all of a sudden a squirrel approaches me. (This made me reject my first hypothesis and replace it by an other one: “Squirrels are more venturous and fear less to try new things on sunny days.”) I recognize him at the first sight, since he already improved his skills at my rod the other day (they look all pretty similar though).

If I’d have the required time in a vacation, I’d like to write an Article about an “analysis of the performance of rodents in different circumstances” (latitudes, times of year and day, environment …). :-D

At «Sobey’s» I get to see a funny thing, as there is a promotion of towels.
Then, an employees tells me, it would be forbiden to take pictures inside the store.
But I wonder how they were able to writethe ö anyway. ;-)

Nöel ?

Sound track to this post (open in new tab = press Control)

Once more, I went to the Laurel creek conservation area, where I’ve been several times already. just ten minutes away – to take some pictures. As I arrive there, the place where there used to be a lake is empty. But there are some people observing the birds. Peter knows a lot about the birds here and has been able to identify 12 different species of ducks (plus the most abundant, the geese) today.

He tells me about his life (he’s got two degrees from UW, but does bird watching as a hobby) and the birds and why they empty the reservoir in fall. – If they wouldn’t do so, the whole waterbody gets frozen in the winter (it’s just maybe 3 meters deep at most) and then in sprin, when the melt water arrives, it wouldn’t work in the funtion of a retention basin, since the ice would not be melted yet.

The birds usually gather here, since they find here a open space space, save from predators as opposed to the woods and fields, where they find food.

Ever since I have heard of it, I wanted to try it: Squirrel fishing!

Now during the past few days I had the chance to try

it. People are stopping on their way to have a look, what those squirrels are doing at the end of my fishing rod. Some are laughing and start asking me questions or just standing and looking fascinated at the happening.

Actually this activityis not originally known to UW, but I found it on the internet and liked the idea and concept.

The squirrels are first very shy, and flee as I approach them, but once they see and smell the peanut, they lose all their fear. After they have catched a few nuts, they are even searching me and approaching me from themselves. It is funny how you can lift them in the air, and they just really want to get the nut. – What a commitment!

The course ME459  “Energy conversion” started like several of the courses I attended this term with a short introduction to climate change. Actually we were shown the not infamous Al Gorte film “An inconvenient truth” (which I happened to see the presentation in natura last year at EPFL). The special thing was only, that just after the film (the week after) we were shown another film “The Global Warming Swindle”. After having shown us that film, he asked, who believes in man made climate change – no one rised the hand, no one!

I went then googling the issue and found quite a bit of debate, where the film is shown not to have shown the truth.

Although Itold the teacher about the fact, he argued, that there would be again a response and so forth. However I personally believe and observed this not to be true.

Yesterday, when preparing fo  to prepare for the midterm ME459, where in the sample questions, there was a problem such as “give the most important argument in favor of and in contradiciton to man made Global Climate Change”. Well then I tried to figure out a serious argument “in contradiction of”, but I wasn’t able to get on.
So wait a second : the prof thinks there is some uncertainty in Man-made Global Climate Change! – Unbelievable for me.

Finally I saw the film, where somone does a simple economical analysis of cost and benefit for different scenarios – it’s amazing!

After the class on Thursday, when of course I had already handed in the assignments due tomorrow, I went straight home. And did the finall check of my material, until Rémi arrived with the car. We went upstairs to my room and talked for a minute, went downstairs to eat something and as we wanted to leave, we got a parking ticket for 15$.

Talkative as we are, we went to the UW Police Station, and got the stuff settled, so that we didn’t have to pay.

Then it took as a long way north-east on the highway. Unfortunately we weren’t able to see anything, since it was already dark outside. Finally we found the cheapest fuel ever. – In Québec next to the US border. 83.5 ¢/liter!

Finally we arrived just before 2 ‘clock at our host’s Martin house in” Saint-Adolphe-d’Howard”. We did not want to wake Marti up. So we just set up my tent in the freezing  -5°C just next to the lake (and a now uninhabited summer house). The wmount of stars that we were able to see at this time was incredible. – Due o the cold, ther was no humidity in the air to obscur the view.

In the following days we meet my friends Sébastien and Bianca, wom I met on the trip to Val-David with Christiane in October. We go to see the Mont Tremblant National Park. And then finally sleep from Saturday to Sunday in a “collocation” (there is no such word in English as the French Canadian “collocataires” tell us). This “collacation” is full of nice people, all are real left wing people, anarchists maybe, and they have Peace and Palestina flags hanging around. Some of they are studying International Development at University of Ottawa. We joined them for a short moment smoking Marihuana. – I guess it would even have been nicer, if Rémi would have been able to get some more sleep tonight. – Il a vraiment le someil peu profond! – And as we didn’t have bed’s for each of us, as last night, but shared a matress, his pain to get some sleep is even more understandable. Nevertheless and astonishingly he was again very much in form the next day … !

Ottawa was a nice place to see, then we went to hike in the “Parc de la Gattineau Park” – this was marvellous.

Then we returned home to KW at midnight.

This Slovak guy sells Hot Dogs for 3.50$- What a prize! =)

With Rémi, whom I met at the Bruce peninsula trip, we went kayaking on the Grand River. (Today was the last day of the season.) Two Ceck guys are maintaining this canoe rental – I exchanged a few words with them.

Actually Rémi and me are planning to go to Québec next weekend, so this was an excellent opportunity to talk about some detai and what we want to do.

Today I go in the after-noon exploring the surrounding a bit more, and taking pictures.

In the courtyard of the environment bilding (heated space in the inside of the building with daylight from the top) there has been on thursdays a Farm-market, where different fresh products and jams are sold.

Here on campus there are geese everywhere! – Especially on the soccer field. Next to it, at the lake side, a really nice view again.

Today I get a new bike, as on the old one, I am no longer able to move the bike foward: When I pedale, nothing happen, there must be some problems in the cogset (deu: “Schaltkassette”). I found this new one on the internet and it is just next to the university: A Chinese guy is selling it to me, and we are even adding some other part to it. (I was thinking: “what could i still need on a bike”, then i asked him if he’s got lights, baggage porters, fenders (deu: Schutzbleche), etc. And finally I gave him my old bike for a 10$ discount and we added some other stuff. – 70$ in total.

This Chinese guy has really everything you can think of: Plenty of different tools and pieces for bikes.

At Columbia lake, I got a really nice view of the setting sun, behind the autumn leaves.

Then I was invited at the home of  local people, I met the father on my “Swiss trip in Waterloo”. (2009-09-19)

It was very impressive to see the life of a Canadian family like this one. As they have a son, who has a physical disability (he is less tall and his voice is somewhat hard to understand in the beginning), who is of the same age as me. He plays the piano and works at burger king. The father is a graduate of UW in Electrical Engineering. And the daugther is starting next year at UW. During the evening Vivaldi’s “Four seasons” were playing, and we ate some good pasta.

Today we meet at Bechtel park. Some people give me a ride to there. It’s nice to discover this kind of nature out here in Waterloo, though it has been a landfill site before (where garbage is discharged) …

The wetland on the first picture is on the slope of a hill. – Constant affluent water keeps it wet.

This tour was funny, I got not only to see those Swiss road names, but I could also enjoy some of the cities bike trails through nature areas, I wouldn’t have thought of. Actually quite a funny style of building a city. Unheard of in Europe. (Not any pictures yet, since it was already dark – too dark to take pictures.)

Today I go to a fancy bike store, called “recycle cycles”, where you can get a bike for as cheap as 25$. – Fully tested and working. Unfortunately I couldn’t get one yet, since there where no more left and as they don’t reserve any bikes for longer than 2 hours (the time it takes you to come taking them up), but got them sold within an hour, I will try another day again.  So I take home again my other one, which I got yesterday, but isn’t working so well. For the way back I use the bus. – Which is by the way free on presenting an undergrad university card. – Nice! :-D
The way you can transport bikes on buses is very easy and handy here.

Organized by the Columbia lake village (CLV), the place where I live, we get an tour through Kitchener-Waterloo.

I am just on the way back home, as I run into a barbecue. Although this is for grad students, never mind. Nice folks around there to meet of course!

Finally on the very way back home I happen to see a nice sunset at Columbia lake.

Sunset at Columbia lake

There are a lot of people (a view hundreds) attending the reception, of course there is free food (sandwiches, vegetables, …) – nice.  Basically it is a free eating and meeting new people. Actually there are also some guys giving speeches, but unfortunately they don’t get much attention, since they stand on the floor (-> not everybody can see them) and the light is not too good, so discussing keeps going on.

This reception is a nice opportunity to meet new people from all over the world (such as China, India, France, … and evena Swiss guy from ETHZ).

Yesterday, Monday, the lectures started. – For the coming two weeks I will be “browsing” the courses. This means, I will attend all different lectures.

Today I had a new experience, when the Economics teacher in his introductory lecture showed some crazy pictures of himself.

[Comment on October 23: I was actually attending more than 16 different courses (each oftem at least one lecture) in order to choose the best ones among them.]

The football game today is quite an experience. – Although I did not become a football addict. All the whole game is about, is just waiting, cheering and if you like to you can even get some BBQ. The event is fun though anyway, since you can talk with your friends. :-D

“Frosh week”, so is the introductory week for first year students called, which takes place before courses start. There are a lot of funny events and possibilities to make friends. The wheather was wonderful. – Pretty hot.

This weekend James, David, Staphan and me go to the Bruce Peninsula, where we have just awesome views on long hikes and perfect places to sleep near the beach.

After a cup of coffee with Stephan, who we met on the Niagara trip. I went on a canoe trip with some other guys from a language school.

Lawrence of Arabia

Tonight there was a free film being shown at Dundas Square on a LED screen. The best about it: It was Lawrence of Arabia, a film already our history teacher at high school was recommending us, and I would have liked to see already a long time ago. And also were there English subtitles! (Yes, that exists!) So basically just the best. :-)

I really enjoyed the show. – That film is awesome!

Back at home, James shew me some pictures of his trips near Vancouver and from Bruce Peninsula, where they are going next week-end.

Together with my girlfriend we’ve been travelling around in Canada for a month. We have visited different places like Montréal, Val-David, Québec city, whales in Tadoussac, Ottawa, Waterloo and Toronto.

She left for Geneva this after-noon by plane. – Having no one to walk with and to discuss together what to buy for breakfast makes all different. :’-(

The American Falls

Today we were at the Niagara Falls. They are really impressive. Our minibus (we were six people to go there) driver was very nice, and told us a lot about the history and geography of the place. – Did you know that the first AC current flew from the Niagara power plant to the US? – It was Tesla to invent AC.

A stop at a Niagara wineyard, where we could taste different wines and got a private introduction to the wineyards and their history.

On this trip I get to know Stephan from Germany.

Kullake on the horse.

Yesterday we were in the small town of St.Jacobs, where there are many Mennonites and some craft shops and cheap book stores.

Our hosts are very friendly and show us every important place and shop. – Thank you very much, Taylor!

Hedar from Waterloo takes us to her horses, where we can go for a ride.

In the evening we go to Oakville to a Jazz Big Band concert, after which we remain in Toronto.

Going to the Folk Festival is finally a hurry, so the bus driver has to wait a minute. He asks us, if we are tourists and going to the Folk Festival. Then he gives us for free two day passes for the bus network. – Les gens ici ne sont pas correct … mais c’est mieux comme ça.

Relax at sunset on the beach.

The Folk Festival itsself is very interesting and we get to hear a lot of different music – from throughout Canada, as well as from abroad. In the evening we enjoy the near by beach.

Eating together

Our first impression on arriving in Ottawa is a Montreal lady, who felt herself fooled by the bus driver. This is due to the fact that she slept, when the driver asked but didn’t stop at the last stop. So she missed it. – Her statement is clear: « Les gens la ne sont pas correct. – Je ne reviens plus. »

However we encounter a great hospitality from our new hosts and we enjoy a meal together. – It was really nice!

Žilvinas Kempinas - Double O

In the art gallery the art work Double O by Žilvinas Kempinas fascinated me very much. – Two strong ventilators directed against each other and two loops of magnetic band in the middle.

Après être arrivé à Val-David hier, on est sorti en pouce (hitch-hiking) du village. La deuxième voiture nous a pris. La dame était très gentille, et nous a montré beaucoup de coins intéressants. Finalement nous sommes parti sur un chemin du parc. Mais comme il n’y avait nulpart un coin pour mettre une tente (sol plus ou moins droit). On l’a mis dans le jardin d’une maison abandonnée.

090812 ValDavid montagne

Aujourd’hui on a passer la journée en faisant des randonnées entre les collines. Mais finalement le soir on avait toujours rien pour dormir, et la nuit dans la tente sur le backyard de la maison abandonnée était bien, mais nous a déjà suffit.

Donc j’ai demandé à des amis à l’épicerie, s’ils n’aurait pas de la place pour une tente dans le jardin. Le premier auquel j’ai demandé a d’abord dû demander à sa blonde (copine), mais elle n’aurait pas trop aimé. Par contre les deuxièmes étaient d’accord pour la tente, donc j’ai demandé, si on pourrait même poser un sac de couchage sur le sol dans la maison – Oui, pas de problème. – Ou bien même manger ensemble pour le soupper? – “Oui et si jamais on peut aussi utiliser la douche, le BBQ, laver des vêtements, …” – C’est vraiment très gentil et super cool.

Le concours intérnational des feux d’artifice était un événnement extra-ordinaire. Plus grand que les feux de Zürich pour le premier août, sauf qu’ici ça se fait chaque semaine.

Fireworks for Africa

Super, qu’on habitait que 10 minutes à pied du fleuve, duquel la vue était grandiose. – Et comme il y avait du monde!

Krigi mit Squirrel.

Sur le Mont Royal il y a beaucoup de Suirrels, comme partout. On s’amuse bien de jouer avec eux!