Week 1 Edmonton

Things I have learned since moving to Alberta/en route to Alberta

- I have such desirable employability skills that I can get promoted in the first five minutes of starting a new job
- Throwing up at the side of the 401 is no fun
- Sleeping on the floor is also no fun
- Beware of air mattresses that promise mattress like quality- they will only end up lowering you gradually more and more to the ground.
- Dumpster diving is beneficial to everyone!
- If I follow the yellow painted footprints, they lead me to work
- There is one other Ashton at the university and he is the president of Beta Alpha Chi
- I have food issues that don’t even make sense to me
- The best samosas in Ottawa are at the Middle Eastern Bakery on Somerset and we couldn’t hold out long enough to smuggle them across the Alberta border
- Edmonton Bus transit chooses to ignore whole parts of the city, therefore a vehicle is essential.
- Coconut milk to chocolate chip cookies makes them that much yummier
- When bed shopping, try not to pass out on the floor models
- Moving in the rain across the country with all your belongings strapped into the back of a pick-up is a true test of a relationship
- Albertans do indeed say, ‘hey’ at the end of every sentence, and for that matter have very country accents
- Vegans can eat out every day, though
- The best sushi in Canada can be found in a suburb of Oshawa
- Pinning my address and telephone number to me makes getting around that much easier
- Milk crates = couch!
- If interested in finding out who my bosses are, please turn to the front cover of this magazine and this newspaper spread, and this website and this radio interview and this…
- Chips for 830 students is a LOT of chips
- 20,000 people come through my building everyday
- Security guards at pearson need to be nicer
- A bouquet of hand-picked flowers makes up for silliness

So my first week in Edmonton is almost over. I’m sitting on my brand new bed relieved to have at least one piece of furniture, though truth be told, Ashton and I have been so tired it wouldn’t matter what we slept on.

Today is labour day. It’s weird to think that this will be my first three-day weekend in quite a while- probably til Christmas? I like my job so far, though have actually been getting trained in reception until they find a new front office administrator. What I do know is that I’m rather important ;) I’m in charge of the schedules of all of the Student Union VPs, except the president who has his own assistant. Tomorrow I’ll find out more.

Our apartment is awesome! I’ve never moved into a place where I didn’t want to immediately scrub down the walls. It’s quite large with a dining room, living room plus our bedroom. We don’t have anything in furniture yet aside from the bed and some dumpster dive finds (2 coffee tables, one desk, a box full of kitchenware (!), and a chair. Oh yes, and some brand new mirrors that the university was for some reason throwing out. There are some things we’re obviously not going to dive in for, and we’ve both got money to purchase new items but not having a car seems to be a curse. Future visitors let this be known: we will have a futon!

I’ve been overwhelmed with what we need to get. It’s terrible how we NEED things to be happy. First thing on my list was a tea kettle. Ashton countered this by getting me the biggest box of Twinings Tea I’ve ever seen. I also left a lot of clothes behind and the climate is very different from Ottawa so I’m pained to realize I need to go clothes shopping. (What I REALLY want is a dresser to put away my clothes, but that will come) . I’m quite proud of everything we’ve accomplished so far. Our kitchen is set up now, we’ve everything we need and so much cupboard space. Ashton’s really excited because he can wander around and eat everything (as a vegan it’s a first). I’m now worried that he WILL eat everything ;)

What else to say… I’d like to say I’ve been thinking of all of you but I’ve been so tired that when I’m not running around I’m sleeping and making lists of things to do in my dreams.

Day 2 Edmonton

So Day 2 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Day 1 was not so smoothe sailing. I was nervous and hadn’t been able to sleep much the night before as we were to leave very early in the morning. This quickly translated to my throwing up at the side of the 401 some 5:00 a.m.

Then I was accosted by security because I had a pair of eye tweezers which apparently are considered a weapon at Pearson International. We both passed out on the plane, Ashton noticeably snoring louder than anyone else around us. I thought I would have been so much more excited to get on that plane but it was simply a means to reach the next day; the day that I began my new job.

Arriving in Edmonton Alyssa picked us up, (Ashton’s brother’s girlfriend) and then became an absolute godsend. We were worried about rent so we popped over to the bank only to discover that ALL of my money had holds on it. ALL of it. Therefore, no bed, no bedding, no food, no nothing. It was a VERY frightening concept- flying into a new city and having NOTHING and access to NOTHING. I broke down in the bank and had to be ushered into the bank manager’s office. Overexhaustion was obviously another factor. Then I discovered that water had leaked all over my laptop. The scary thing is, that situation was VERY similar to what happened to me when I first arrived in England, except that my grandmother died. Ashton and I were also just grumpy from not eating at all.

By the way- if you haven’t already gotten this I broke down a few times yesterday.
The light at the end of all of this is our apartment. It’s one block away from Whyte Avenue (like the Bank Street of Edmonton) and everything is within walking distance. Spacious with a living room, dining room, full kitchen with several closets and big sunny windows on the main floor of a walk-up. It’s just expensive building a whole new life. I’ve eaten out almost once every day since last Monday and I’m tired of it. The only solution however is to cook for ourselves which we’d LOVE to do if only we had pots, pans and other cooking supplies.

We fell asleep on an airmattress that gradually got lower and lower til we were sleeping on the beautiful caramel coloured carpet in our flat. I’m sitting on our ‘bed’ as I type this actually. It looks like a bomb went off everywhere. We only have so much but just in trying to figure out what to wear to the first day of work was messy.

That being said Day 2 = HOW DID I WHAT!?!?!

Have you ever gone into a brand new job first day and been promoted within the first five minutes of attendance? Well, that is what happened to me today. I was in shock. But I am very grateful all the same. This is a job that I’m sure many people would have been interested in but I’m not even sure of what the whole job entails! Yesterday I could count on my hand how many people I knew in Alberta alone- today I met at least 2 dozen Edmontonians.

It’s a really positive work environment and I could see myself sticking around there. This is an awesome contrast to every other job I’ve ever had where after one day, I’m ready to quit. Shit, I still need to quit my coffee shoppe job in Ontario. Well then…

Anyways, Ashton’s off buying pots and pans right now and I’m ready to pass out on my ‘bed’.

More updates will follow but right now, that’s all the entertainment that’s fit to type.

GOODBYE PARTY @ AVANT GARDE










Photos courtesy of Ming Wu Photography
www.mingwuphoto.com

August 24th- the beginning of a new life.

August 24th- the beginning of a new life.

So I’m on a train. I just passed through Brockville, the city my mum was born in. I know my grandparents on my mum’s side helped to establish the town but I’ve never much been there.
It was funny leaving Ottawa this morning. It was eerily similar to whenever I’d leave by night cover in Europe. The green hills and random industrial areas look the same. The rising sun, the same as the one I saw over the Penines going into London.

I’ve actually never been on a train in Canada before. I imagine this makes me either a seasoned traveler or posh elitist; the last time I was on a train was in Africa. Or just the tube. It seems only suiting that my European friends happen to be the ones online I’m talking to right now.
Today marks the first day of a new life. Our life. The future is mysterious though I know I will be with Ashton. I went to bed a bit sick last night and woke up to a song that’s ridden with negativity. Was this a sign?

Trains in themselves have followed me my whole life. Whenever I would go to my grandmother’s cottage we’d always lift our feet over the rail or just sit back and count the cars whenever we couldn’t beat them. My mother is finally excited for me and this opportunity. We went to tea at the Renfrew Tea House on the weekend and it was apparent how proud and happy she is for me now.

I wonder if I’ll look any different to Ashton. I wonder if he’ll look different. I wonder how these last 8 weeks have changed us. Most people love the summer but I’ve been praying for the end of it just to be with him.

The train announces my arrival. Loudly, it whistles.

New job! new life!

So things have finally fallen into place. After quite possibly the shittiest summer ever – ignoring my rendez-vous in England and Edmonton (funny, both beginning with ‘e’)- life is looking up.

I’ve five days left and counting until I get to see my love. Exactly 14 days til I begin my new job. Yes, last week I graduated from university, the next week I get offered my first ‘real’ job. ‘Hello Samantha, this is – from the Student Union, we would like to offer you the job.’ I felt like I had won the lottery. Once I had graciously, though noticeably excited accepted their offer, I started to bounce up and down screaming in my flat like a 3 year old at Christmas.

I could not contain my excitement when I was offered the position today after interviewing for it (via Skype) only hours beforehand. My biggest concern was her telling me I was ‘way overqualified’ for the position, but all of my preparation, research and talking away to myself about my strengths and weaknesses all came together and now, I couldn’t be happier.

Just yesterday Ashton finally found us a ‘home’. It’s about a block away from Whyte Avenue, which is like Bank Street in Ottawa. It’s a standard one-bedroom in a walk-up but we’re thrilled to be together. This is the post about numbers it seems. When I was packing earlier this week I found a ticket stub from the first night Ashton and I became a couple. The Vagina Monologues- March 7th, 2009. This has been the longest relationship that I’ve been in in over 2 years. The sad thing is however is that our time has been limited ever since then. We’ve seen each other twice since the beginning of May (but for week(s) at a time. It’s been 7 weeks now and it sucks.

On to more non-relationship related topics. I had the opportunity to go to my friend Mike’s cottage in Val Des Monts with about 20 of my closest college friends last weekend. It was kind of cathartic though as so many of us are leaving for other places- be it Montreal, Toronto or Australia and Ethiopia. As happy as I was to get to see them, I had to remove myself several times in an attempt to sort out how I was feeling. Everyone is growing up with such big goals and plans for the future. It’s thrilling but difficult to digest at times. These are the people that I used to send out songs to on my old radio show and bounce around in the mosh pit at punk rock shows. Now they have full degrees, partners and so much potential to achieve all of their dreams it’s quite intimidating. I feel blessed to have such wonderful and supportive friends. It was absolutely beautiful the entire weekend and I have an awkward burn to prove it. I kayaked out to the middle of the lake with Tyler and we were both sad to realize it could be the last chance we’d have for a long while to hang out just the two of us. Then he farted and everything was back to normal.

I’m really proud of myself today. I’ve accomplished what I set out to do and now I’m ready to begin a life with my partner in Edmonton. Life is pretty damn good today.

Kitchen Clean-up

I’m having a bit of an anxiety attack. I’m sitting on my kitchen floor, back to the god-awful blue coloured cupboards and I’m not sure if I should continue.

There’s a bin now for donations, several boxes of kitchen stuff and then my one box for shipping that I keep adding to. Looking at my scrawled handwriting on the side to label the boxes I was sort of taken aback. The muffin tins that I had brought with me I had in fact used many times. The 19 year old version of me never would have made muffins. Neither would she have used as many baking pans or value her favourite spatula like I do now. Or have possessive tendencies about the 1950s radio always positioned in whatever kitchen is attached to my living quarters.
Everytime I run over with an addition the thought is, it’s for ‘our’ life. Not just me anymore. The white flowered pot that I remember my mother always using for Kraft Dinner is in that bin. Then again, there are some brown coloured glass pots that I plan on giving away. They were some of the first things I ever had in my first real apartment. I can only recall roommates using those particular ones now.

The two teapots were both gifts, one bestowed upon me by my mother again hoping to have tea dates. The other a rarity from Chinatown given by my old friend Tyler.

I always have anxiety attacks when packing the kitchen it seems. The first time it was because I was actually entitled to be in the kitchen. Today I’m waiting for my little mouse friend to come scampering by and check up on me.

It’s almost like a divorce, what’s yours is mine, what’s mine is yours. Mariel and I have become confused over such items. She’s leaving behind quite a bit too.

When I was travelling in Europe I had peculiar habit, one that I know overweight American and French tourists to do- collecting magnets. These magnets are a source of pride. Some of the lovely messages friends have left on the fridge thanks to our dirty british poetry magnets include these gems- “make boys do me” and “get in to mate” , and “coffee + curry = bathroom”
I collected in each country I visited them with the intention of, well, I might as well tell you now. You know when someone spends the night and the next day goes to have a drink of whatever, they have to be confronted by the fridge. And let me just say, my fridge is awesome.

Now’s the time I share what Mariel and I have been recording all year in our lovely little flat on Somerset Street West.

Car Accidents- 5 (though scribbled underneath is ‘ashton saw 2 on July 7th’)
Murders -1 (this happened up the street)
Mice- 3
Fights Witnessed – 5
Blow –up Dolls discovered- 1
Guns discovered- 1
Lost Keys- 2
Incidents of Blondeness – 10
Fires- 3
Number of Times the cops have come to our Apartment- 1
Arrests Witnessed- 4
Personal Breakdowns – 3
Times hit on by Bums- 7
Plague/Natural Disaster – 6
Parades outside our windows- 2
Attempted Assault and/or Theft- 5
Number of times approached as prostitutes- 4
Wine Glasses Broken- 13
Photoshoots - 2
Number of times broken into- 0

There’s another sheet of things we’ve infamously announced and seemed worthwhile to record but a lot of it is highly inappropriate or just downright embarrassing now.

I would not be the same person now had I not moved into this flat in October last year. Relationships would not have occurred the same, I’m convinced. The amount of socializing with all the clubs being just up the street, also pretty intense.

Anyways, I’ve calmed down some and have to finish packing before my ride is here.

End of July update

So my flatmate said something really profound today that kind of flew my mind, ‘in one month I’m going to be living in Montreal- I’m going to be beginning a whole new life.’ It made me realize that for one needed a drink because in exactly one month I would be packing up the last of my things to move out West with my boyfriend. We’d be beginning our life together in even less time.

We just found out that he had been accepted to study at U of A and couldn’t be happier. Both of our lives have sort have been in limbo waiting for this glorious news. I screamed on the phone in excitement and apparently my reaction alone was more crazy than Ashton’s own! Only a week back, or so, we had decided that regardless, we’d be moving out together out West as there were so many job opportunities and despite it being the most Northern urban centre before hitting the territories, Edmonton has a lot to offer in terms of alternative culture. (I’ve never been to a more vegan-friendly city!)

I feel like a bit of a jerk though. I’ve been re-hired by Bridgehead but have yet to tell them my plans and the agreement was that if hired, I would have to share anything related to oh, let’s say, running off to Europe for weeks at a time. And they’ve increased my wage on top of that! I’m actually so much better off away from the initial location I’m at. I’m moving yes, but Bridgehead is so eco-friendly that there aren’t even any boxes for me to pack things in. My living room is littered with boxes everywhere. Ashton has to deal with his crazy girlfriend shipping little things like my kitchen radio and shower curtain. Little things that bring me comfort and offer a sense of familiarity to my surroundings. I’m worried someone will show him photos of my flat in the UK- I had so much crap up everywhere just to make the space feel like ‘my own’. I’ll probably pack a stuffed animal too. Yes, I’m 23 and packing a little doggy.

Ashton’s already been there since May. He loves it and loves his job there even more. In fact, he was just interviewed by a local radio station about it yesterday.

I’m not going to be going to school in the Fall. This is the first time ever that I won’t be enrolled. I’m awaiting Fall graduation from Carleton (English and Film Studies). I’ve been post-secondary now for 8 years and think a year away will help me figure out if I want to go for my Masters. In the mean time, I’ve set my goals upon working for the University of Alberta. It’s funny how your life starts to echo your parents. The similarities in my case are eerie to say the least. I’ve applied for several administrative positions within the Student government and different departments. Oddly enough, I’m quite qualified for many of them having 2 years of university administration experience on top of that ol’ Secretarial Studies program I took when I was 16.

I’m still pursuing writing as much as possible, but as many of you know, my life has not been stable lately, and while normally that would fuel my manic inspirations, I’ve just taken to crying instead. (Don’t feel sorry, this is just how I’m coping.) Some good news on the front though- a short story that I’ve written is being published in The Moose & Pussy Magazine. It’s a sex erotica arts magazine that I’ve been a fan of since its inception. I was also enrolled to participate in an alternative culture radio program but because of how radical it was/is there was some difficulty in finding a home, and now that I’m leaving, I’d be stuck doing random freelance pieces. Amongst all of this madness, I don’t know how likely it is I’ll be able to contribute.

A lot of my friends have recently moved away. I said goodbye to my dear friend Alex whom I met in England because of High Soc and ended up adopting into my extended family. I went to my friend Marc’s goodbye party last night too. He’s moving off to my favourite city in Poland (Krakow) after years of talking of living and teaching there. Arkto, Marc!

So many people are moving away. I am too, but the intention is to return after one year. I still get a little intimidated whenever Ashton starts talking that far into the future. I have my moments where I’m like, you want to spend a year with me in Edmonton… like together!? I feel so lucky to have him in my life. I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for someone I truly loved this much. Just being near him makes me so happy. I’m confident we’ll be able to make a life for ourselves together there. He’s apartment hunting now.

I’m going to miss my friends and family terribly, but at least this time I’m in the same country! Only a two hour time difference but with any luck I’ll have a 9-5 type of job so you can call me, darlings ;)
I’ve only got so much longer here in Ottawa. A bunch of jobs I’ve applied for have closing date the first week of August so if I’m offered any interviews, I’ll be flying out immediately.

Anyways, I have yet another early morning of making lattes and serving muffins to the workers of Ottawa so I must bid you all adieu, and fight the urge of quoting The Sound of Music.

All the best,
- Samantha