It is time to describe the infamous bus trip across Canada. I have officially been to ALL provinces west of Quebec. I need to go to Quebec. And out East-- I hear it is pretty much the promise land with its Irish-like landscape. 

The bus trip overall was a good one time experience... ONE TIME. And probably never again. I saw the beautiful scenery of Ontario, trees and hills, and then I saw how terrible the prairie (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) of Canada really is-- endless nothing. 

Three cramped nights in bus seats and two days of looking out the window. At least I got The Great Gatsby read in time for the movie to come out. We stopped a lot, people smoked and came on the bus reaking of smoke. We stopped at 1 AM and had to unload the bus for them to fill up, in turn disrupting whatever sleep we got.  

Perhaps the only redeeming qualities about the trip was spending time with Andrew and observing people along the way. 

There was a girl on her way to Vancouver to catch a plane to go to China for a year with no plan at all of where to stay or what she was doing. We met a hispanic family with two small kids who were adorable. Then there were two small African girls who really enjoyed our dried apricots so much that they took our baggie of them, I was obviously fine with this because of their extreme cuteness. There was also a man that loved to make fun of how tall Andrew was (when he stood in the bus his head was pressed against the ceiling).

Pretty much a bus full of characters. 

Over all, the bus trip was worth doing. Now that I have done it I think I will stick to planes, especially because the bus really took a toll on my freshly chiropractored neck. 



I have just returned to school after a wonderful trip to Ontario. 
While in Ontario we explored, ate, played sardines with Andrew's family (about thirty people.. wow), and visited friends. Here are some pictures from our New Year's Eve/New Year's Day adventures in Owen Sound with one of my best friends, LeeAnna. 
We brought in the New Year with my second viewing of Les Miserable and some great snacks, courtesy of LeeAnna's mom. 




The other night, Andrew and I went to see A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Wow, was it well done. Such elaborate sets and costumes, I cannot rave enough!
A perfect way to inspire the spirit of giving at Christmas and a reminder of those who
may be materially less fortunate in this life.

Before the show Andrew and I exchanged presents. Let me just preface this story with how
much I love Harry Potter. I love love love it. I grew up reading the books and they pretty
much encompass my childhood.

So, earlier this year I talked to Andrew about how he just had to read the books because
they are my favorite. He didn't seem so enthused so I thought, perhaps, it was a lost battle.
Flash forward to Christmas present exchange and he bought me a arctic owl stuffed animal
(which also donated money to conservation of the owls themselves) and tied a note to its foot.
He told me, in said note, that he had bought and read the first three books of Harry Potter secretly
over the last couple months (on top of ALL our homework)! I couldn't believe it because I
thought he would never read them.

I couldn't ask for a more thoughtful gift from this guy.



It has been a wee bit since I have last written, so here's an update on life.
Things are winding down around here--we are currently enduring finals week. 
I am proud to say that I pulled my first all-nighter since my middle school days
 (only this time it was at the mercy of an assignment and not due to fun and games in Paul's Valley)
... and I was completely fine the next day at school--a Christmas miracle
(also proof I am still young and kickin')! 

I have an exam tomorrow and then I am HOME FREE! 
Home free, I tell you! I can barely believe it. 
I am so ready to be home with my cute little parents and hilarious friends. 

Things I am looking forward to:
a bath in a bathtub that is big and clean and not in a grungy apartment complex, driving, my parents, my friends, mexican food (!!!!), and christmas funzies

Oh joy, oh bliss, only three more days in this ice cube--Christmas is in the air 
(as you can see in this photo)

Also, a great thing, Marissa (my roommate) and I just ordered two pizzas... 
ONE EACH. That is how we like to do it on the eve of our finals. 



A Christmas triple date was had! Complete with lights, candy cane baseball,
 cookie decorating, and an awkward photo with a sketchy Santa.

Hunter pegs Mandi really hard with a giant ornament on the leg while playing candy cane baseball..
Kid watching: SWEET, I wanna play!! 

Paige, Matt, Mandi, Hunter, Andrew, and I went out to a lights festival and 
ended the night watching the 90s classic, I'll Be Home for Christmas. 

The countdown is on-- only eleven days until I am home!



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