Author Archives: matei stoian

Where to Munch, Brunch?

By: Lauryn Rhode (Residence Advisor – Shuswap House)

Over the past 19 years, I’ve developed one sure-fire way to rid me of my worries and allow for some great relaxation time: brunch. Brunch has the answer to most of my problems, or at least allows to me grab some delicious food while thinking about what my next step will be. Feeling stressed about midterms? Take a study break and head for brunch. Looking for a place to catch up with friends? Brunch. Looking for a way to charge up before a busy day? Brunch! Below are some of my favourite spots to grab delicious food and search for the answers to the problems in my life:

1) Siegels Bagels: 1883 Cornwall Avenue

· Siegels Bagels hosts an impressive collection of authentic Montreal style bagels with every topping from cream cheese to smoked meat. One of the best things about this location (other than their delicious bagels) is that they are open 24 hours! This means you can satisfy your brunch craving whether its 2 o clock in the afternoon, or 2 o clock in the morning.

2) Jethro’s Fine Grub: 3420 Dunbar St

· Jethro’s is my go-to savoury breakfast location. While they do have other menu items, I’ve been hooked on ‘The Rooster’ ever since I tried it. The Rooster has a shot of espresso and dark chocolate chips folded into buttermilk pancakes, and is topped with a hearty dollop of whipped cream.

3) Sunshine Diner: 2649 W Broadway

· Not only does Sunshine Diner have a brunch menu that includes 14 different kinds of Eggs Benedict, it also has a great atmosphere that really enhances your brunch experience. Only a couple stops away on the 99, Sunshine Diner is a great place to grab brunch if you’re looking for a fun, upbeat atmosphere!

4) Café Crepe: 1032 Robson Street

· This one is a bit of a longer trek, as the closest Café Crepe location is all the way downtown… but if you love Crepes as much as I do, it’s worth it. Café Crepe opened my eyes to an endless possibility of Crepe toppings. From savory crepes topped with vegetables and delicious cheese to sweet combinations with mounds of Nutella, Café Crepe has it all. If you’re looking for a unique twist on great crepes, Café Crepe should be your next stop.

5) Only U Café: 5737 Dalhouse Rd

· Only U Café is conveniently located in University Village (right across from Starbucks) which makes it the perfect place for a mid-day study break. While they don’t take student card, they do serve all-day breakfast at a modest price. With everything from pancakes to morning quesadillas, Only U is sure to have something you’ll enjoy.

You Should Already Be Watching

By: Ryan Lino (Residence Advisor – QLXN House)

Edited: Matei Stoian (Totem Times RC-Lead)

Have you heard of that recent virus going around campus? The one where symptoms include Netflix-ing and chilling? Well, if you’ve been hit with this inevitable lazy-bug, here’s a list of 5 underrated treasures that you should already be watching:

1. Happy Endings

A sitcom that tells the story of six friends who get into mischief and mayhem in the heart of the big city. Sounds pretty familiar? This generation’s “Friends” has the same heart and hilarity, but its diverse cast adds that extra spunk to this meta-obsessed comedy.

MRW when you’re the only one in a conversation who hasn’t seen Happy Endings…

2. Harper’s Island

An Agatha Christie whodunit with a hot, young cast and enough blood and gore to keep any twenty-year-old satisfied. Need I say more?

See: “hot, young cast”

3. The Killing

Another whodunit that focuses less on the glam of gore, but more on the gritty and raw reality of political corruption and familial ties. Centered on a duo of investigators who give Mulder and Scully a run for their money, this one is a must-watch dark horse.

Vancouver, is that you?

4. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

If this movie doesn’t leave you dead from laughter, there isn’t much hope for you. A la Cabin in the Woods, this is a horror-comedy that bends all the scary stereotypes in the most gruesome and witty of ways.

“Tra-la-la la-la”

5. Snowpiercer

A film about an apocalypse that forces the rest of humanity to live on a class-divided train, this hidden gem is stylish and stimulating, that includes powerful performances by Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton.

Tilda Swinton agrees!

Not convinced? I’d tell you to get up and leave, but the lazy-bug has probably already numbed your body from any sensation. That’s okay, I’m on the same boat as you (or the same bed) as I type this.

Midterms: How do I write one?

By: Krishtha Sahota (Residence Advisor – Ritsumeikan House)

Midterm season is officially here. Unfortunately. For many students midterm season is essentially a midterm every week until exams begin, for others midterm season is a term’s worth of midterms condensed into one week. It doesn’t matter what your midterm schedule looks like, as long as you actually know how to write one.

There are a couple of factors that come into play when you write a midterm. Here are a few that you have probably had to deal with: stress, time crunch, blanking out on information, and of course, hunger/dehydration/having to go to the bathroom.

Read the sections below to find out how to master the midterm.

Come Prepared

This should be the obvious one, but you’d be surprised how many people come to a midterm without a calculator or pencil. An easy way to remember everything is to put all your midterm supplies into a Ziploc bag/pencil case. Here are the essentials:

2 pencils
Lead (if you use mechanical pencils)
Sharpener (if you use regular pencils)
1 good eraser
2 pens (in case one dies on you)
A non-programmable calculator
A ruler (optional)

Midterms can be awkwardly timed and you may not always eat food before the exam, so make sure to bring some with you! A granola bar is your best bet when you get hungry. More important than food, is water. When you’re stuck on a question, there’s nothing better than drinking some water to calm the nerves and tackle it once again. Personally I like drinking coconut water because it has electrolytes and sugars that keep me refreshed throughout the exam. You can choose any drink, but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea (all three will dehydrate you more).

Before You Start Answering Questions

When the prof says, “You may start your exam”, don’t start your exam.

Before you put pencil/pen to paper, take some time to look over the entire exam. Generally there are different sections in an exam, look over each one and mentally think about how much time you should allocate for each section. This should only take 1 minute (I’m being generous with that 1 minute).

This may sound counterintuitive, but you don’t have to start writing an exam from question 1. When you are reading over the exam, mark questions that look easy/hard. Start with the question that you DEFINITELY know the answer to. Starting the exam off with a question you know you got right sets the tone for the rest of the exam. You’ll feel more confident about the rest of your answers.

During the Exam

So your now writing the exam and you come across a difficult question. You think about it for a couple of seconds and you can’t find the answer. This is the time to fold the page/mark the question and skip it. Don’t spend your precious time on a question you don’t know the answer to, do the ones you can answer first.

You’ve now been writing the exam for a long time and you may be close to finishing (hopefully). When you get to the “10 minutes left” mark, this is the time to go back to the questions you missed.

Take Time for Yourself

Just because you are in an exam, doesn’t mean you need to give all your time to that exam. If you’ve blanked on information, you can take a minute and stop writing. Take some deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth, drink some water or snack on something (just take your mind off the exam for a bit). Then go back in with a clear mind.

Sometimes people drink a bit too much water before the exam and end up having to go to the bathroom. You may not want to leave the exam halfway through, but if your full bladder is hindering your concentration, then just go. It’s much worse when half your mind is on the exam and the other half is trying to stop you from exploding.

Let it Go

The exam is now over. You’ve handed it in. There is nothing you can do to change your mark, so just let it go. When you get your midterm back, that’s the time to figure out how you can improve for the text one. Until then, don’t fret about the questions you may have gotten wrong. Remember that it’s only one midterm out of dozens of midterms that you’ll write in your academic career. In the grand scheme of things, no one will care what you got on your first math 104 midterm.