Category Archives: Before UBC

What’s going down before move-in day September 4th, 2010.

They should really not let me in Sephora.

Posted on by

Because I tend to be the person who does ridiculous stuff like this: Example A.

Yup, that’s right. I’m the girl who paints her whole hand funky colours using the tester bottles. What’s worse is the fact that this isn’t even the first time I’ve done this. Nope. Fully knowing that I was going to Pacific Centre, I actually shaped my nails on purpose with the intention of having a little fun in one of the most awesomest make-up shops. The best part are the nail colours. Introducing: Cover Me in Petals, Social Climber with Flurry Up Top Coat, Charge It, Fancy Schmancy, Dating the Drummer. Now those names are pretty awesome, but I thought I’d make up my own. Starting from the left: The Pink that No Matter How Poorly You Paint Me on It still looks Professional, Lady Gaga in a Bottle, Take that Midas My Nails are Gold, (skip that finger and on to my personal favourite), Ke$ha Vomit.

There’s just something about malls at this time of the year. The decorations, the bells jingling, the holiday music in stores. And there’s like ribbon – everywhere. Not to mention free gift wrapping at many locations. Hello!

Some people can’t stand the bustle of shoppers, but if you’re not distracted by the holly and ivy everywhere maybe you’re into people watching like me. I like to look at the bags people are holding as they stroll through the mall, the people they are with. Just making observations. Maybe it’s the ethnographer in me, observing others.

One thing I noticed and was wondering about is why is Sephora so packed with women? Is our materialism heightened this time of year? Or do we feel so inadequate and pressured to impress that we must cover our faces with artificial products? And it’s not just make-up. Lately, I’ve been hearing so many girls on my floor go on about how they’re gaining weight. Now some people seem totally unaffected. But I also overheard a conversation in the caf about these girls fasting and dieting and trying to detox their body but they sounded completely self-absorbed and obsessed with their weight and their figure.

Girls, we need to feel beautiful just the way we are. In fact, I’ve been blasting (the glee version) of Bruno Mars’ song Just The Way You Are

Let’s just try to keep active in whatever way possible. If you just make a conscious effort, little by little, you’ll feel so much better. In the words of Elle Woods, from Legally Blonde “Exercise releases endorphins, endorphins makes you happy and happy people just don’t kill their husbands”.

One way to be active and have fun AND (bonus!) be social is to go skating at Thunderbird Arena! There’s quite a few public skate times during the week and renting skates is only $3.50. It’s definitely not too packed on a Friday night so if you don’t feel like partying it up you should come check it out. I went last night and had a total blast with the girls on my floor.

Closing note: You’re beautiful. Guys, you’re amazing just the way you are too.

Keep it awesome, mes cheries.

I want to be the Pagemaster.

Posted on by

Do you guys remember that movie? The Pagemaster?

Yeah, well neither do I much. For those of you who don’t let me fill you in on what I remember:

There was this movie that came out around 1994. It was about this young boy namd Richard Tyler. (Seriously? Two first names) played by none other than Macaulay Culkin(! Wait he made movies other than Home Alone?) who basically gets caught in a tremendous thunderstorm on his way to pick up some nails for his Dad. Lucky for Richy Rich, I mean um… Richard Tyler, our protagonist, he is able to take shelter in a library. And the movie continues…

Point of this story? Well a few days ago I made a short visit to UBC Bookstore to get as many of my textbooks as I could. This was on… Tuesday? If any of you are in Vancouver or just arrived you may be enjoying the lovely warm sunny day because on Tuesday there was a down pour. I was excited because I have yet to purchase some rain boots and got the chance to scope out the fashionable footwear on campus. But as I began looking for my books little did I know this would lead to an entire adventure. If only Fantasy, Adventure and Horror could have joined me.

I found some of my books in the bookstore, but as a future Arts One student there’s quite a few books on my list so I’m trying to save a buck or two. I knew that I wanted to check out the Discount Textbook store in the market. Located right above the McDonalds on 10th Ave. Walking distance off of campus. This place seems to be great for textbooks, but not so great for any miscellaneous literature and novels. I’d definitely look into selling my textbooks there and they seem to make a conscious effort to be cheaper than the UBC Bookstore, if you’re buying brand new. I’m going to try and sell my books near the end of the term.

Next, I was redirected to a second hand bookstore at 41st street & Dunbar St. This is where things got interesting my friends.

Lawrence Books. That’s the name. To set the scene again, let us remember two things: 1) It is raining, very hard. 2) My search for shelter at this point may be nearing the same level as my search for these books. Once I walked into this store though something else happened.

To be honest, I felt like Matilda, Belle and sure what’s his face Macaulay at the same time. It was like magic. The shelves were what I would call 12 feet tall. But then again my shorter stature really gives me no sense of vertical proportions or height. Everyone seems 6 feet to me. Stacks and stacks of books jam packed in rows and columns. Sure there was like dust everywhere, with a carpet that doesn’t look like it’s been vacuumed or cleaned since the 70’s. Actually that may be a lie, only because I wasn’t looking down at the floor. I was looking at the books.

I mentioned it before that I’m kind of nerdy like this, all into books and stuff (maybe just in my bio – And I totally understand if you didn’t make it that far…yet). I hope I meet somebody who likes discussing literature avec moi. But I most definitely think everyone or anyone who loves reading should check out this place and you’ll be amazed at what you find. There was books and books galore. Novels and non-fiction, all categorized. Plays and science fiction, mysteries and children stories. Ancient classics to geography. Even some National Geographic magazines as well. I felt as though it was the perfect quiet place to cuddle up on a rainy day. And the books are all second hand and around $5. Some are in fantastic state. Others are the same edition my Mom read in high school.

After having everyone in the book store help me (which basically included my two family members with me and the two other people who run the shop) I was lucky enough to find a few books. Now, as I hold the books in my hand I feel as though I am holding history. I know I have to go back and check out the first edition section. I’m pretty sure I saw the Holy Bible written on the spine of one of the books…

I know I’m a first year student and most first years don’t go into all this trouble of hunting down books but it’s fun. You get to see some new shops. And you save money. It’s a win-win. I know it might be a little late for most people buying textbooks now but I’m just saying there’s more than one option than textbook registration and I only know this because of my older sibs. Oh, there’s also Amazon.com if you have more time for shipping.

Random fact: My favourite public library I’ve been to is the Seattle Public Library downtown, if anybody is going across the line sometime soon, you should check it out. There’s lots of bright shiny neon lights if that attracts you too.

In other news, I think I have finally repacked all my [junk/crap/clothes] very very dearly beloved belongings. It’s funny because I swear I did all of this like two weeks ago when I was flying out here to BC. Hmmm… strange.

Final thoughts du jour:
Warm and gooey chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream are amazing.
Question: does anyone know where to buy Tretorn boots?
One more sleep! Tomorrow I get to make a new category. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

I have no idea how Salvador Dali must have felt…

Posted on by

But this feels surreal.

I’m not the type of person to say stuff like “pinch me”. But I’m guessing this would be the time for stuff like that. I can’t wait until the rest of you make your way out here because even though I got in to Vancouver four days ago, it’s taken four days for me to realize one simple fact: Wow – this is the west coast and this is actually happening.

Now, let me make it clear that this is not the almighty UBC Vancouver moment that people talk about when you open your eyes, really open your eyes after blinking twice and it hits you that you are here. Unfortunately not, but when that happens I will be sure to let you all know. I predict that will happen much later in the year when we are all well and settled.

As for right now, this is the feeling of awe and amazement that I have chosen the right place that I want to spend four significant years of my life. This is the place to be. This IS freaking UBC! (Of course I had to make that last sentence rhyme.) And after a five hour flight this Thunderbird has arrived.

Because we’re all thinking the same fears as move-in day comes. Is it going to be everything I’ve been hoping for? Has everyone lied to me and it’s not as great as they say? Have I lied to everyone and it’s not as amazing as I’ve boasted? Has my memory failed me and those mountains are merely hills and the ocean is only a pond?

Well my friends, I am here to let you know. The view book did not lie.

The last time I came to VanCity was winter of 2007 and I’ll admit even in two and a half years I had forgotten quite a bit of British Columbia’s splendour. Because no tourism brochure can do this place justice as far as I’m concerned. Yup, I’m bias, but if you’re any prospective/new/current student/ alumni/Vancouverite reading this you’d be pretty bias too.

You know what’s my favourite thing to do right now? Youtube British Columbia tourism videos. If that doesn’t get you pumped up right now, then I have no idea what will.
YouTube Preview Image

The only problem with this whole place being so beautiful looking, mountain dew smelling, fresh air tasting, bird chirp sounding amazing. Is that it all feels a little too dreamlike. And I’m nervous that I really did have a round-trip ticket and my mother wasted time frowning, believing she had purchased a one-way for nothing. Ha-ha! Fooled ya Mom! I’m really going to U of T! But this vacation was nice…

I mean to say that those angel/devil Nicole figurines on my shoulder still linger with the feeling that in a few days I could just be going back home to Toronto and that I’m just “visiting”. Because that’s the big difference between living somewhere and visiting somewhere. I’m still visiting. Having been to Vancouver multiple times before I’m past the “tourist status” of going to Capilano Bridge and seeing the Aquarium. (Two fantastic spots which everyone should go see, if you haven’t already!) I’ve spent my first few days here hanging out with my family, eating lots of delicious food all day and playing cards in the evening. Basically, enjoying the rest of the summer. But I’m not an official habitant here quite yet. I’m in this odd limbo stage of pre-move-in.

To make matters more confusing, I’ve come down to Seattle to visit some more relatives. I feel so lucky that I have this support system here. Though the magic of Facebook I’ve become…acquainted (Is that the politically correct term?) with so many international students coming to UBC and although I’m making a move proportional to what some might call brave, I can’t really comprehend moving out here without any kind of connections. But then again, this is what we’re all here for. I’m here to meet new people and so are you. (Again, I’m just guessing…)

But back to the whole, this place is incredible theme. Before I left Ontario I booked a tour of UBC for Tuesday. Now, this tour was unlike every other university tour I’ve been on. Because before I had to imagine myself in the future if I would like it there. My Dad would always say “Can you picture yourself here, Nicks?” Well let me tell you my friends, I was no longer having difficulty imagining myself here. (Go figure that the largest student orientation day is called ‘Imagine UBC’). The whole time I was walking on campus all I could think of is “This is where I’m going to walk!” “That’s where I might sit and eat a bagel!” “There’s where I have my class on Wednesdays!” But most importantly I just kept hearing myself over and over in my head like a schizophrenic saying “This is it!”.

Okay I’m not a schizo, that’s just my conscious. But still. My days of packing my what-my-Mom-calls-bottomless closet is over and I have arrived! (More Ikea and BB&B trips still come though.)

I even got to walk up to the Flag Pole Point just like in all the promotional UBC videos! Thumbs up for cheap thrills? Now I just am extremely excited and pumped and I hope you all are too. You gotta be here.

Btw, I watched The Trotsky on the plane. Good movie I’d recommend to anyone who has taken a history course pertaining to the Russian Revolution, or just like films made in Canada that doesn’t try and pretend to be something it’s not. Plus mentioning Canadian cities is also a movie turn on for me too. Great music though and I plan on looking up the soundtrack immediately once I finish this post.

Which is right about… now.