Tuesday morning, Milica and I woke up in the home of our Canadian host mum, and it was great to get ready in the morning without a bunch of other girls hogging to bathroom mirror. At 9 a.m., we drove to the high school where all of the host parents of our classmates worked. It was wonderful to see our friends again and exchange experiences with them. Some of them have had a really great evening with their families while others had been a bit unlucky with their timing of their family, but soon that was just a faint memory. We began our visit at the high school with a tour of it, and I do dare say that I have never seen a high school so large. There were dorms for students who liked to live there, there were classrooms as far as the eye could see, and every time we turned a corner, a new hallway presented itself as if we walked in the corridors of Hogwarts. When it was time for lunch, we ate at the cafeteria where you could get a three-course meal for the mere price of six dollars. After lunch, we said goodbye to our Canadian families and exchanged e-mails in order to keep in touch after our journey and when everyone was done saying their farewells, we went for a walk to work of the calories from the events of yesterday and today – and when I say events, I mean the specular meals. Afterwards, we drove back to our hostel but not without a stop at the local museum first, where we were told the story of the province and the development from being just a small area to being an important part of Canada and its history. After the museum, we had just one last stop before we were home to the hostel, and that was at a cheese factory. Many of us had been looking forward to taste some cheese samples and maybe catch a glimpse of the inside of a real cheese factory. However, the reality of it was not as grand as one might had thought. When we stepped in, it was like stepping in at a convenient store and the cheese, which most of us were eager to try, tasted a bit bland and not as we had expected. The visited was not in vain, though, since we all took the opportunity to buy as much Canadian candy as we would eat. I bet the tour back was not as enjoyable for the bus driver as it was for us since both the students and teachers were on a sugar rush. And when we returned to our rooms at the hostel, we were nearly bouncing from wall to wall, which I blame on the artificial but yet delicious sweets. But since this was our last day, we had decided to eat together one last time. So Milica and I went out to find a restaurant that would be perfect to end our visit to this utterly beautiful and friendly country, and when we found the perfect one, we rushed home to get ready for the festivities of the evening. The dinner went great; everyone was laughing, joking, and commemorating the last two couple of weeks. This trip has been an experience of a lifetime, and it is one that I will never forget – I will even go as far as saying that no one from our class will ever forget this amazing and eye-opening journey.                       

Mot français:

Maison (f) d'étudiants = dorm

Sucreries (f.pl.) = candy

Musée (m) = museum

Fromagerie = cheese factory  

Échantillon (m) = sample

Courriel (mot québécois) = e-mail

Festivités = festivities

Lycée (f) = high school.

When we woke up yesterday morning, no one had any idea how stuffed we all would be by nightfall. The night before, we were told that we had to be up and ready with an overnight bag at 9 o’clock in the morning. And just as we were told, we waited patiently in the lobby when the sun rose. And just as we talked about the program of the day, a petite woman entered the lobby. Her name was Linda, and she was a teacher at a French Canadian high school. She and Emmelie had made some arrangements that meant that our overnight bags would come in handy, since we were to stay the night at some of the teachers’ homes. Linda and a bus driver took us on a bus tour where we once again could get lost in the beauty of the Canadian nature. We took so many pictures with our cameras that some complained that their cameras were overheating, but the end result was a bunch of absolutely stunning pictures.

And just as we drove into the city of Saint-Georges, we parked in front of a spectacular catholic church. The inside of the church was even more impressive that the outside, and to tell us the history of the church a French guide, who spoke in French (not English), shared his knowledge.    

For lunch (or diner, as the French Canadian population calls it), we ate at a local establishment, where local farmers sold their crops. The lunch which many of us thought would just consist of a sandwich and a soda turned out to be a three-course meal. We started out with a pumpkin soup, then had a piece of lasagne or a casserole dish, and finished with a piece of crumple apple cake with loads and loads of maple syrup.

As if that meal was not enough to make us swear off food forever, we went to an apple picking farm to pick some of the best apples that I have ever sunken my teeth into.  

Afterwards the apple picking, we arrived to a restaurant where dinner was to be served. The name of the restaurant is “la cabane à sucre”, and for those who know just a little bit of French, knows that “sucre” means sugar – and the name of the place sure did its food justice. There were scrambled syrup eggs, syrup glazed ham, syrup potatoes, and for dessert, crêpes with syrup, syrup butter, and some sort of homemade syrup lollipops with snow that has been preserved from last winter. Our host families had arrived to the restaurant to eat dinner with us, and so not to insult the Canadian traditions, we were almost forced fed syrup. Both our French skills and our good manners were put to a test as we manoeuvred through conversations with our families. Milica and I were chosen to live with the sweetest Canadian woman who lived by herself and her cute cat. And as the evening came to an end, we drove to her house where we kept talking for hours about the Danish culture and how the life of the Canadians were. Late in the evening when we all decided to get some rest, both Milica’s and my stomach were full and our mind pleased with the events of the day.  

Le vocabulaire du jour: 

Promenade (f) en autobus = bus tour

Èglise (f) = church

Sirop d'érable = maple sirup

Sucre (f) = sugar

Sucette (f) = lollipop

Tradition (f) = tradition

Soir (m) = evening

Événement = event

This Sunday we had a fabulous day. Even though we were a bit tired from saturday’s extravaganza, we woke up fit as a fiddle. The weather was a bit chilly but that did not stop us. We took a crowded bus to a great big waterfall called “la chute Montmorency" where we were told by our teachers that the waterfall was even bigger than the famous Niagara Falls - it was in fact 80 meters. The view of the nature was simply a sight for sore eyes that were not quite used to the nature of Quebec yet. From a bridge above the waterfall, you could see the entire forest that surrounded us. And just as I thought Quebec could not be more beautiful, I turned around and drew a breath of fresh air, so my lunges cried with happiness. None of us could get enough of the view of the color of the trees. We all thought that the timing of our journey was stroke of luck since everything looked like a fairytale.

  Since the tour to the waterfall was the only thing on our program that day, we had the rest of the afternoon off. So of cause, as the girls that we are, we went to a huge mall where we spend the rest of the day and what little money we had left.             

vocabulaire au Francais:

Chute d’eau (f) = waterfall

Fôret (f) = forest

Magique (adj) = magical

 Conte de fée = fairy tale

Pont (m) = bridge

Centre d'achat (Quebecois mot) = mall

     

  Yesterday was a brilliant day even though it was a bit wet. When we woke up, we could hear the raindrops falling outside our window. With a sigh and a quiver, we prepared ourselves to step outside our hostel. We drew our umbrellas and went for a tour in the cosy and peaceful streets of Quebec. It was a really lovely way of seeing the city, since everything had a story to tell. We came to Quebec’s observatory, were we could see the city from the sky. Since we were the only people to come up with the idea of visiting the observatory, we could take our time to really appreciate the breathtaking view. Afterwards, we thought it would be wise to take a timeout and wait for the rain to decrease. So we located the nearest Starbucks and ordered a warm cup of coffee, and in some cases, a warm cup of cocoa. When the last drop of caffeine had been swallowed and the last brownie had been consumed, we were ready to explore the rest of Quebec. We walked past a shop that only sold Christmas ornaments and one that only dealt with maple syrup – and I wonder how they are able to make ends meet or break even in this economy, but either way, it was a real kick to see shops like those that would ever have existed in Denmark

 Later on, it was time for a real treat which many of us had anticipated: An ice hockey match. Since none of us really follow hockey, and especially not Canadian hockey, we were told by our teachers to root for the local team called “Remparts”. The game was filled with excitement, fights, and noise which we all were fascinated and intrigued by. And if THAT was not sufficient to hold our attention, we discovered that one of the hockey players on “our” team was Danish. In one of the halftimes Tove and I tried a local delicacy that is called “Putine” which is French fries with cheese and gravy, and it tasted surprisingly well. However, I must admit that neither of us was able to finish the meal.

As a way to complete the day, our teachers had invited us all to join them for a nightcap at a nearby bar. After the teachers called it a night, we were left to enjoy the nightlife of Quebec on a Friday night – and I do not believe that I have ever had a night out on the town were all of us were as popular as the one last night.  

                                         

    Quebec has been very educational, and I do believe that my French has improved, so here are a few keywords that I thought I ought to share with you.

-          But(m) = Goal

-          Bruit(m) = Noise

-          Victoire(f) = Victory

-          Hockey sur galce = ice hockey

-          Observatoire(f) = observatory

-          Chute(f) de feuilles= leaf fall

    

When I woke up this morning, I would not have thought that today was going to be as wonderful as it has. Even though we woke up at 6 a.m. and had to catch a bus to La Guardia airport, all of us were ecstatic and cracking jokes the whole trip to Quebec.

  It was a bittersweet moment when I had to say goodbye to the grand and gorgeous city, because even though I absolutely adore New York, I was also excited to come and visit Canada. New York has really opened my eyes and showed me that not everyone is like the majority of the Danish population. There are people living in poverty all around the streets of New York. Most of the times you are too busy to notice them, however, if you catch a peak of them your conscience takes over. So you donate what few dollars you have left. And even though your contribution might not feed their families, you feel like you have made the world a little bit better - but I digress.

  Our flight to Quebec went well, besides the major problem of Rasmus not getting his luggage at baggage claim. Fortunately, he was promised that his suitcase will show up at our hostel as if by magic in the morning.  When we landed, we took a taxi to our hostel. I must say that the ride from the airport was one of the most beautiful sights I have seen in a long time. The leaves on the trees were all turning the colour of autumn. Red, yellow, and a thousand other colours that are too unique to describe made Quebec look like a wildfire that has been painted by a million painters.

  Quebec is like a totally different world. Were New York was loud and noisy, Quebec is astonishing and breathtaking. In the time spent in New York, I rarely talked to anyone other than people in stores and in restaurants, but in Quebec I have already talked to a whole group of people. In Canada, they are friendly and welcoming. I can feel it in my bones that I am going to return to Quebec some day. It is one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever been to. This day has truthfully been an amazing day.                                                

This was the last real day before our departure. And today was a day of education and art. The first stop of the day was MOMA – Museum Of Modern Art – where the works of many great painters and sculptures are doing their share to beautify Manhattan. Van Gogh’s “Starry night” was just one of the many pieces that hung on the museum walls, and if it was not for a remodelling that was going on, we could have stayed there till nightfall. Sadly though, parts of the museum were under reconstruction which meant that Monet, Matisse, and many other wonderful artists were nowhere to be found.

  After the visit to the museum, we were to meet again at 2 o’clock for a lecture on Latinos and Hispanics in New York at City University of New York. This meant that we could roam the city and shop as we walked down Fifth Avenue. However, the time restraint was simply too difficult for some to comprehend. When we were about to enter the university, we were still one person short. A panic spread amongst the teachers and students, and world war 3 was nearly about to break out. Luckily, the person showed up unharmed and a little embarrassed just as the lecture started.

   The evening was spent in the company of the whole class and the teachers at the restaurant “Rubytuesdays” where we held a “goodbye-and-thanks-for-a-fabulous-trip” party. And it has truly been a great trip and an even greater experience to stay in New York (even if it was just for a little while). With that said, I am also excited to fly to Canada and Quebec tomorrow. In my opinion this journey is getting better and better, and if Quebec is anything like I have heard of, we are in for a treat. But before we arrive in the nation of hockey and maple syrup, we must be ready to leave the hostel at 7.20 a.m. - I do not dare to think about the nightmare of seven girls and one guy trying to get ready in front of a mirror in one tiny bathroom. That truly is terrifying image that will hunt my dreams tonight.

  One thing I would like to share before I nod off: This week has been like a modern fairytale – and it is a never ending story.      

Today was our much beloved Malou’s birthday, and even though she was not celebrated by Danish standards (with cake, coffee, and piles of gifts) - we did our best to make her feel speciale.  

  Today’s program took us on a trip to Harlem. At 10.00 a.m. a tour bus that resembled a black hummer limousine picked us up and a born and bred New Yorker showed us around the city by bus. As we drove through the skyscrapers and the inner city, the tour guide told us stories from his life and about the history of the city. We drove right next to the edge of central park, and when the traffic allowed it, gave us a peak into the green universe that seemed so remote from the rest of Manhattan. Our first stop was at a church, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, that made some of us, though not yours truly, a bit God-fearing. From there on, the bus took us straight to Harlem and showed us the historical places of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. When we were finished driving around in the black neighbourhoods that made us feel white - on the border to transparent - , we ended up in the lower east side, where a Danish journalist greeted us and was ready to show us around in the neighbourhoods of the immigrants from the old days. In addition to that, she told us about community gardens, housing problems, and the problem of getting in to a decent school that troubles the New Yorkers of today.

  One of her most important travel tips lead us to a street which was packed to the maximum with stores that could make every teenage girl drop to her knees: Bloomingdale’s, Victoria’s secret, Topshop, Forever 21, and a million other stores. Our primary goal was Victoria’s secret which you could easily spend two hours in. The pink colours and lovely laces made us an easy target for the cheap offers since our inner princess was utterly fascinated by the fabled and mysterious label that is known from the American movies. Compared to yesterday’s extravaganza, today’s spending was through the roof. It is lucky that we seldom come to New York. Otherwise we would most likely all be a group of homeless shopaholics.                     

   Today started out really well. The sun was sort of shining, our jetlag had almost disappeared, and the city was humming with activity. After a nourishing and nutritious breakfast, consisting of a tiny yogurt, a cream cheese bagel, and some ill tasting coffee, we were ready to set sail for Liberty and Ellis Island. But little did we know that a terrible flood would hit Manhattan. As the day progressed, we made it to Liberty Island where the majestic statue of liberty used to greet the immigrants. The whole class were in good spirits until the rain started to fall. And it was not just a simple drizzle – it was raining cats and dogs. Chaos and mayhem broke out as the monsoon began to gain traction. It was as though the weather was about to re-enact the flooding scene from “the day after tomorrow”. Umbrellas were unfolding all over the place, transforming the island into a walking colour palette of pink, blue, and yellow umbrellas. Luckily, we had to sail to Ellis Island, where the immigrants first came to get a health inspection before being let in to America. It was extraordinary and surreal to see some of the immigrants' logbooks and read about how many immigrants used to come to Ellis Island every single day. To end the day, we all visited the 9/11 memorial, which was a moving experience even though rain was coming down so heavy that our socks were so soaked that our feet needed to be wrung.

   When we finally were released into the concrete jungle of Manhattan, shopping became an all consuming power and our credit cards became an extended limb. A quest for makeup, dresses, shoes, and shirts had begun. And the mandatory visit to Zara and H&M went off without a hitch. The spending of the day has certainly not made us rich – but at the very least - well dressed.  

Like a kid in a candy store

   It is about twenty-four hours ago since I last slept for more than three hours, and I could kill for a decent mattress and a proper blanket right now. But the past day has brought me closer to my classmates and to our destination. In fact, at this exact moment all of my roommates are typing away on their computers while trying to put today’s experiences into words.

   But it is simply impossible, the mesmerising atmosphere of Times Square, which our hostel is ever so luckily located near, is enchanting. It is like being a child in a candy store filled with millions of other children of all ethnicities and ages. I believe that Times Square is the heart of New York City since it reflects the entire mood and feel of the rest of Manhattan, and is not afraid to show it. Flashing billboards, flyers, and folks walking all over the place, trying not to get stomped down by the masses who does not know  whether to walk, watch the traffic, or the advertisements that promise you a better life in one easy change of a mobile. New York sure is different from the provincial life of Silkeborg, but I cannot wait to explore this different and intriguing city. But it has to be tomorrow, since not even a cup of coffee can cure my need for sleep.

start spreading the news

  I am sitting outside the gate and staring out on our airplane. It is 11.01 a.m., and we are leaving in half an hour. The day has been a hectic one with waking up at 3 a.m. after sleeping merely 2½ hour and then getting on a bus, a train, and now a plane.  But the day has also brought much joy and excitement, it is simply impossible not to be amazed by the enthusiasm. It is almost as if New York has a magnetic pull on us that makes our hearts and minds want to travel this instance. Even though sleep might overpower us in the nearest future (when the plane is off the ground and in the air) our dreams will revolve around USA. Well, at least my dreams will.