First Term?!

Can't really believe first term ended - what an insane, crazy, experience. I've written a first term reflection for my advisor, sitting on the maintenance docks and playing music while looking out on the water, the birds really were swarming in the December cool.

Our last two weeks on campus before we left, we were blessed with the most gorgeous weather I've ever seen since Orientation and September. Every day we saw aquamarine skies and the sun filtering through the trees, and an incredible crisp air (you could wear just a shirt! no jacket!). And I went for so many walks, and adventuring. The one downside was that the sun sets everyday at 4:00pm, which is just sad to be honest. The day seems so short, and when there's so much darkness, I feel uncomfortably like there is something I am missing, 16 years of 7pm daily sunsets really affects you I guess.

But wow, first term. 1/4 of the way through. Kira said that after Ukrainian practice in the last week, and I was really surprised. But, I don't want to think of time at Pearson as something as mechanical and cold as a fraction. It's so much more than just 4 parts. Besides, divisions of time are ultimately meaningless I believe.

And now we're 2.5 weeks into Term 2! Already! And I've taken time to readjust myself, and it feels a little strange sometimes to remember that we even had a Christmas break. When I first came back I was really confused by how different life at Pearson is compared to life outside. The schedule, the invisible routine, the language and vocabulary. For whatever reason, maybe I didn't allow myself enough time to adjust, I felt largely apathetic my first few days. I could not feel the excitement and joy I wanted to feel when I met my friends again, did not feel overwhelming joy or anything. Maybe it's the weather - cold, grey, rainy. Incessant rain, endless. It makes you feel a little bleaker inside.

But, now things are looking up. For one thing, there is still a little bit of navy blue left in the sky now at around 5:30pm, no more 4pm pitch darkness black anymore! Which is joyful. There is so much swirling around us; the common room is reopening, but the pool is closed now; One World auditions came and went so now rehearsals have begun in earnest. First year theatre students are helping the second year theatre students with their production of 'The Laramie Project' (I am an Assistant Director!). There is a lot being mixed around in the atmosphere, like sediment being stirred up in a cool river bank.

But -- thankfully my friends Adela & Marta are back on campus after being delayed at home. It is a bit strange to have a person missing, suddenly your daily movements become different, like a puzzle that's missing one piece; their absence is very noticeable.

With love, and more updates frequently hopefully,
Theo

a tsunami alert

It was 3:30am when Thompson came into the room and woke us up. He was talking rapidly, inserting Portugese words into his sentences. I was confused, bleary eyed, and wondered why I was awake when the view from my window was pitch black. Thompson quickly rattled off that there had been a earthquake near Alaska and now there was a tsunami alert, and we had to go to the Max Bell. And to dress warm.

Next door you could hear people talking, and from outside as well. I pulled on clothes and walked up. There was a stream of people going up, and it was lightly raining. Once in the Max Bell, we sat in our rooms, and waited for more information.

Ty gave us an update about 15 minutes after we got there, and told us that at around 1am there had been a earthquake off the coast of Alaska and a tsunami warning for 3 hours later was in place for the British Columbia southern coast. We were waiting for the Metchosin Fire Department to call and let us know that the warning had been cancelled which happened at around 4:30am.

Apart from a few jokes about just having a village gathering there and then, the hour went by pretty slowly. I was far too exhausted to even talk to people, but others were flitting around talking and laughing. But, it was an exciting time. It occurred to me today, talking to Annie Dina and Cindy, that not once did I ever feel unsafe, or worried, or nervous. I was just thinking that I was safe, and there was going to be a tsunami. Unfortunately, due to the more horizontal nature of the plates' movement, there was a tsunami no taller than 20cm.

Then we were done, and the first two blocks were cancelled, and we went to bed. I fell asleep soundly, not waking up till 9:30, which was the best feeling I'd had in a while.

Now, I am waiting for a power cut that lasts a few days!