Day 46

Something strange happened today at CSLI. I had asked for change my afternoon course, because I thought that 6 weeks in the conversation course was enough time, but I wanted to continue in my morning course (listening, with Sara). When I told it to the front desk staff they answered me that they had grammar courses full, so I had to wait until they find a vacancy for me.
Yesterday Tanya told me that she had a vacancy in her class, so it was great. But (and here is the confusing part), when I arrived at CSLI today, in the morning, Tanya was waiting me in her class. Then I went to the front desk to talk with Erika, and she explained me that I could go to Tanya's class in the mornings and continue with my listening course (with Sara as well) in the afternoons.
Now I have a lot of new classmates, what it's great, because I love meeting new people (overall if they are from different countries).

After school I went with many people of the school to "Fright Nights" in P.N.E. (Pacific National Entertaiment). PNE is an amusement park with special decoration and atractions for Halloween. Some of my friends were concerned because they didn't know if it was going to be very scaring or even gruesome, but actually it wasn't. Anyway, I enjoyed it and I recommend you to go there; the fun is guaranteed.

Day 45

This is the third time I try to write something about yesterday. I don't know why, but it's like my inspiration had gone.

But don't worry about, nothing bad is happening to me, everything is ok: I'm not starving, I haven't become in a villain that kill innocent ewes, I still have two legs (they didn't sever any of them)...

So don't care about that, I think I will recover my creativity sooner than later.

Day 44

One half of my trip here has already gone.

Yesterday I didn't do anything. I just was home, very cozy, talking with my friends by internet. I thought to go to the Brazilian Film Festival, but I finally rejected that idea on the grounds the movie didn't look very interesting.

This week I want to start to eat more vegetables and fruits, because I think that eating so much meat and rice is a threat to my health.

Day 43

In the neighborhood around Commercial Drive there are a lot of people from many different countries and they decided celebrating a party between everybody. For a few hours, the traffic is stopped in that street and people can leave the promenade to take the road. It's called "Parade of the Lost Souls".

I went with some of my friends. There were a lof of people (some of them wearing costumes) and a very big differences with this kind of parties in Spain: you could see almost nobody sluring, because they didn't sell alcohol (I think that drinking in the street is outlawed here, even in this kind of events).

I liked very much this party. There were different performances at the same time: brazilian bands playing samba, people playing malabars with fire, a shadow teatre... And also they decorated the zone. They were some charity advocates too, collecting donations.

I think it's a very nice idea share different music, perfomances and life ways in the same party. I hope that they would continue organizing it for many years.

Day 42

Friday in CSLI means "special activities". This week, as I told you yesterday, I went to buy stuffs for my costume. I decided be "the front desk of CSLI", so I'm gonna wear a cardboard box, with the CSLI's logo and some decoration.

Also I bought a halloween tie and something to make me up. I don't want to dare to do it on my own, so possibly I'll ask for help for the make up. The teachers in CSLI are true blue and I think that they'll be able to help me.

After the lunch we saw a movie. We could choose between "The Strangers" (a scary movie) or "Monsters House" (animation movie), and I chose the first one. It was ok, but not really good.

This weekend (and also next week) there are a lot of activities relationed with Halloween in Vancouver: Fright Nights in PNI, haunting houses, the train in Stanley Park, a Parade in Commercial Drive... Definitively, this week is not time to be glum.

Day 41

Yesterday was the first day of the "writing club" in CSLI. I am very glad, because we were seven people and Christine gave us a very interesting begining for the story. I think it's gonna be funny.

Alvin got free tickets for a movie pre-opening again, and gave us them. I took 4 tickets, to invite some of my friends. I went with Vanessa, Jannie and Marcelo. The movie was ok, but it was British (with british accent, british vocabulary and people gabbing very fast), so actually I didn't understand some dialogues.

Next Friday is the CSLI Halloween Party and we are obliged to wear a costume, so today I'm signed in an activity for prepare my costume. I'm not sure what costume I'm gonna wear yet, but I think it's not gonna be very scaring, so people aren't gonna shoo from me when they would see me.

Day 40

I have just finished my "quarantine".

Actually I think that nothing uncanny happened today. I was very tired after my birthday shindig, so it was a very quiet day.

The most interesting thing was that I participed in a Grammar Contest in CSLI. It was preatty difficult, even some people was stressed, but you that my nerves aren't shot easily. However, I still have to improve my grammar skill, and I only answered correctly 18 of the 30 questions (enough to pass, but not really good).

Also Erika (one of the workers in the front desk) told me that finally I can sign up for the TESOL program, but I'm gonna have to make extra-homeworks to compensate the last week (when I'm not gonna be here yet).

Day 39 (My birthday)

Yesterday was my birthday, so the writing was in the wall: I had to celebrate it.

I brought a couple of portions from my birthday's cake to the school. They didn't believe that I made it, so I want to think that it was because the taste was very good ;)

After school I went to dinner to "Cafe Crêpe" with some of my friends. I don't want badmouth that restaurant, but there was a couple of things that I disliked:
- They have a new rule that says that you have to spent, at least, 7 dollars if you want to sit down. Actually is not very hard (one crepe or sandwich and one drink is more than $7), but I don't like that kind of rules.
- When we arrived we were 11 people and the waiter set a table for us, but later came 4 more people and the waiter told us that he couldn't give us more chairs because that table was only for 8 people. So we had to seat in two different tables (and the second one wasn't near from the first one).

With our stomachs already full, we left the restaurant and took a bus to go to Granville Island. There we drank a couple of beers each one (very cheap, only $3 each beer) and we spoke and laughed a lot. Don't worry, I didn't get hammered.

I wanted to go dancing too, but when we went arrived downtown again it was 10 p.m. and we decided to go home. Whatever, thank you very much to all of my friends for come, and thank you very much for the presents that you gave me. It was a very nice birthday.

Day 38

I was a "host student" in my school today. I arrived the school one hour earlier to explain to new students how everything works in CSLI, and help then in their first day. Actually it's a cushy job. I met Artem, from Russia. He was a little shy in the morning, but in the afternoon I could talk more with him, and he looks friendly.

In the afternoon I went to all classrooms in CSLI to talk students about the "writing club". Some of them were nodding while I was talking, so I hope that, at least, a few people will join in this activity.

I celebrated my birthday home. I thought they liked the food carried out by me, so it wasn't so bad. They also put some candles in the cake I cooked and they sang me "Happy Birthday". It was a very nice dinner.

Day 37

I continued relaxing today. In the morning I was designing some thing with "photoshop", and in the afternoon I cooked the dinner for tomorrow.

First I had to go to buy the ingredients. It wasn't easy, because I go to a chinese supermarket (it's cheaper than others) and a lot of things have the description in chinese.

Actually it was a hard evening. I had a problem preparing the "gazpacho"; I don't know why, but the liquid started to escape from the blender's jarret. For one moment I was crippled by the fear, because I thought that I had broken it, but fortunately I could fix it later. While I was cooking, the kitchen sink get blocked and I had to claw into to take off the left-overs that didn't let pass the water. Also I had to improvise with the "meat bowls", because I didn't find grated bread in the supermarket and I had to do it on my own. I had problems even with the cake.

At least everything has good aspect, so there is still a silver lining to suceed with the dinner.

Day 36

This weekend I'm just relaxing, to revitalize myself before my birthday.

Yesterday I went with Paul, and the others household members, to a "harvesting party" in an anglical church. It was a potluck party, so we brought some salad, bread and one cake. It was the first time I went to this kind of party and I liked it. Maybe I'll do it in my home for "New Year Eve", when I return to my country.

We have a new homestay student. His name is Pedro and he comes from Brazil. And tomorrow is going to come another one: Raad, from Saudi Arabia. This house is going to appear a UNO meeting.

Day 35

Finally golfing activity felt through because of the weather. Instead we went to play "commodore", a popular canadian sport. Is very similar to "bowling", but with some differences.
- The ball is smaller and without holes.
- There are only 5 bowls, and each one has differents scores.
- Each round you have 3 chances to hit all bowls.

I'm not very good (similar than playing bowling), but it was very funny. Also in this bowlarama I saw, for first time since I arrived in Vancouver, I saw a foosball machine. Possibly, one of the most popular spanish inventions.

Yesterday Paul asked us if someone wanted to move to a new bedroom downstairs. At the beginning I wasn't sure about what to do, but finally I decided to rule this option out, because I'm fine in my bedroom now.

Day 34

Yesterday was Fernanda's birthday. After the school I went with her, Selina (South Korea) an Christine (Germany) to dinner in Library Square (Han su joined us later). It is a nice pub, not very expensive and also with friendly waitresses. I think that probably I will go again other day.

We were watching the Ice Hockey Game on the TV (Canucks won with a gold-goal at extra time). We also were speaking about the relationship of South Korea with North Korea, China and Japan. You know that I want to work in a embassy, so this conversation was very interesting for me. Selina (her name in korean is Hyun Sook, but I never pronunce it well) and Han Su teached us a little of korean language, and I think it's probably easier than japanese or chinese, but whatever is very hard for me.

After the dinner we met Alma and Yasmin and we went to AuBar. We had signed up in the website to enter free in the bar, but finally we had to pay (later Fernanda tried to prompt them to give back our money, and they gave her free tickets for other Thursday). My friends told me that they think I dance very well. Maybe, if I need money, I could get a job like dancer in a night club. I haven't "work visa", but they could pay me under the table.

At about 9.30 (2 hours and a half after entry) I felt a little sick and I went my home. I suposed I looked ghastly, because all of my friends asked me if I felt ok.

Today I'm signed up to play golf, but it's raining and I'm not sure if we really are going to go.

Day 33

I feel under the weather today. I have being felt dizzy all the day. Maybe I am catching a cold.
In fact, I wanted to go with Marcelo to see the Giants (ice hockey) today, but finally I decided to come home and relax.

Tomorrow is Fernanda's birthday and we are gonna celebrate it after the school, dinning and dancing. I live in the suburban outskirts of Vancouver so I'm gonna stay downtown until the dinner. It means that my next entry in this diary is gonna be on Friday morning, before go to my Friday activity (this week I have signed up to play golf).

I think I have no more information to give you today. Have a good night and be happy.

Note: to do it more challenging, from today I'm gonna try, at least, 3 new words or expresions each day.

Day 32

Like I expected, I didn't have internet in the Rockies. And yesterday, when I arrived home, I was too much tired to write anything. So, sorry for the inconvenience.

The trip was great. The landscapes are very beautiful. I can't describe them with words, so if you wanna know how wonderful are they you must enter in my picassa album, where I am uploading all the pictures I took. Also I knew new friends from other schools. Actually, it was an amazing weekend.

Yesterday was the "Thanksgiving Day" in Canada. I hoped be at home, but when I arrived they had already taken the dinner. Whatever, they saved some food for me, and I liked it a lot.

Last weekend, while we were in the bus, I talked with Marcelo about literature, because he also like writing. So today we talked with Christine (one teacher of CSLI) to propose her creating a "writing club" in CSLI. Maybe she can give us a sentence each week and we would write a short story starting with this sentece. I think it could be funny and, at the same time, a good way to practise english.

I am spending a big chunk of the nest egg that I tucked away the last two years, but I am sure that I am using this money very well.

Day 27

I'm gonna go to the Rocky Mountains this weekend! Yesterday I was talking with Marcelo, and he told me that he was gonna go there, with Louanne (I don't know if it is the correct spelling), Olga and Fernanda. I thought that it was a great opportunity, because we haven't classes next Monday (it's Thanksgiving Day), so on that moment I called Club ESL and I yanked the last place for the travel to the Rocky Mountains.
It wasn't easy, because I had to pay before 5 pm, and I didn't got enough money in my wallet. So at 4 pm I ran to my homestay to take money and I went back to downtown. I arrived in the agency just in time, and finally I could sign up.

After that, I went to take a soft drink with other classmates in "Malones" (the bar is nice, and the waitresses are very kind, but the manager is very rude) and later we went dancing to "AuBar". Petr (a man from Czech Republic) achieved free tickets for everybody (I don't know how he did it). In the Night Clubs in Vancouver is not allowed smoking, and I like it because in this way you haven't got this pungent odor in your clothes when you return to your house.

I have just uploaded more pictures. There are not so much, but be patience, next week I will upload my pictures from the Rocky Mountains ;)

PS: I supose that in the Rocky Mountains I won't have internet, so I will write again on Monday.

Day 26

Amazing!! The Spanish Day was succesful!!!

Finally 17 people joined in the lunch. I think the food was incredibly good (I'm sticking to my guns about this), and we had enough for everybody and even to give a little to the school's staff.

In the afternoon's break time we organized a running of bulls. Most of the school students came near to the kitchen, and then we gave them newspapers or papers to roll it. I explained them how to act in the running of bulls, and after to sing to "San Fermin", the bulls appeared. Unfortunately, I think that people didn't understand me, because most of them stayed, quiet, in the hallway, when it's supposed they had to run before and beside the bulls. Anyway, people laughed a lot, and this is what we wanted.

After that, we went to the hall, for a little demostration of bullfighting (a lot of people was shocked when I told then that the bull dies), and a spanish dance class too. In this class we taught them how dance "La Macarena", "Aserejé" and "Paquito Chocolatero". Only a few people danced with us (included the teacher Kara), but everybody was clapping and enjoying the songs. Possibly they thought that we went nuts when they saw us dancing, but it was very funny.

So thank you very much to people who joined us, and overall to the others spanish in the school. In the beginning they weren't very sure if we can do a great party, but we did it!!!

Day 25

Today was the "Spanish Day Eve". We went to buy the food for the lunch and after that we were cooking in the CSLI's kitchen, for 4 hours. We found a cheaper supermarket not very far from the school, so we needed less money than we expected to buy the food. Then we decided buy more food to prepare a dessert too.

We have cooked 4 spanish omeletes, a lot of gazpacho (I don't exactly how much, maybe 2 or 3 liters) and "milky rice" yet, but we still have to prepare the "pan tumaca" tomorrow, before the lunch. I also made some costumes (with plastic glasses and garbage bags) to dress ourselves like bulls. I think the spanish day is gonna be funny, and everybody is gonna be mesmerized. But people should be careful in the running of bulls if they don't wanna be dragged by the bulls ;)

Tomorrow I'm gonna take my camera and my videocamera too, so I hope can show later how the spanish day was.

Day 24

My fourth week at CSLI has started.

Rachael wasn't in the school today and Tanya teached us in the afternoon. She is very kind too, but possibly she has any mental problem, because she told us that she likes english grammar :P
Excluding that, there was nothing to write home about.

At 4.00 pm I went Metrotown with some friends. I wasn't sure at all to go, because women shopping usually drive me up the wall, but I wanted to buy something too, so I went with them. There I bought a black sweater, for $25. There are nice prices, so maybe I will go back other day to buy more things (I need to buy trainers).

Day 23

This Sunday was a funny day.

I went with Gema and Rocío to "Tapono Restaurant". This is a japanese restaurant with an "all you can eat" menu. We spent about 2 hours to square away our lunch. I think that we asked for almost all the plates in the menu, we turned crazy the waitres, because we called him many times to bring us more food. We laughed so much than we ate. It was very funny, food was very good and it wasn't expensive (12.85 each one, plus taxes).

After that, we went to BC Place, to see the "Snow Show", but there weren't tickets. Then we walked to a cinema, but it was expensive, and we decided not to enter. So we thought going to a music store in Robson. It is amazing! They have a lot of music and movies, and everything is quite cheaper than in Spain!! I thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw the prices. I bought two films (Frequency and Fallen) for only $10.08 (taxes included). If anyone of you want a CD, please send me an e-mail with the name of the album and the author, and I will try to find it for you.

I'm tired, so I'm gonna go sleeping. See you tomorrow!

Day 22

Last night I went to take a ride. When I arrived the meeting point nobody was there. I was waiting for 20 minutes, then I thought that my friends stood me up and I went the Skytrain Station, to go home again. However, when I was almost entering the train, Gema called me. Just in time.

We (Gema, Rocío and me) went to "The Red Room", in Richard Street. We had to wait for one hour to entry. Meanwhile, we were playing "I see, I see", in English. Inside we found Macarena and more people from our school (Rafael, Amanda, Maria Luisa...). We were dancing until 2.30 am, and I enjoyed it a lot.

I start to think that the high alcohol prices are a precaution to make the people drink less. In fact, yesterday I did't say anybody sottish in the disco (in Spain always there are a few people very drunk in pubs).

Today I was spent, and I passed all day at home, lying and resting. I saw "Star Wars: the attack of the clones" in DVD. I proposed my friends go to the cinema, but finally we're gonna go tomorrow (or maybe not, I'm not sure).

Day 21

I have already completed 3 weeks living in Vancouver! I think it's gonna be dificult for me say goodbye when and I will have to go back to Spain.

This morning was a little hard, because I had to face the music for go out yesterday. I went the Vancouver International Film Festival with the school. We saw "Borealis", a documental about a huge forest in Canada. The director (who is the main character too) is a little crazy, and the film has many funny moments. I liked it.

I'm tired, but I ain't gonna throw the towel. Just now I'm gonna take the skytrain, because I have a meeting with Rocío, Gema y Alma. A big night is waiting for me.

Day 20

Yesterday was a normal day.

The most interesting thing that happened yesterday is that all spanish students en CSLI (except Sandra) went to dinner together. It was a goodbye dinner for Macarena and Veronica, who graduates today. We ate crêpes, and it was a nice dinner.

After that, Macarena and Veronica proposed go to a disco, but almost everybody went to their homes. Only Veronica, Macarena and me went dancing. I arrived home about at 3 o'clock. Now it's about 9 am. If you put two and two together, you will understand that I am still a little sleepy and I don't remember anything else to tell you. I promised yesterday to take a ride tonight again, so I think tomorrow I'm gonna need to sleep a lot.

Have a good day.

Day 19

I ate "serrano" ham!! I went to one restaurant to buy a sandwich for my luch, and they had sandwiches with "prosciutto and cheese". Obviously, I took one.

Talking about more interesting things, today I could solve my money problem. My parents sent me money by Western Union and now I have enough cash for many days. I'm wealthy again ;)

Paul arrived last Monday, and yesterday he gave us t-shirts from France. I like very much my t-shirt, and I have worn it today.

In CSLI, one of the teachers gave one of my friends a heads up, because he listened her talking in her own language in the school.

Tonight I'm gonna dinner in Downtown with mexican and brazilian people, and after that maybe we'll go to a disco, but I'm not sure. I asked Rachel if she wanted to come with us, but she refused. I think it is because she is too old to keep our time :P*

*Rachel: I'm just kidding. Don't shout me when you read it ;)