Change (and I'm not talking Loonies and Toonies)

Two weeks ago today, history was made in the United States.

Now, I don’t really want to discuss politics too heavily in this blog, since… well it’s more of a travel/experiential blog, really, and politics are best left to be discussed bitterly in political blogs, but the whole experience of this election from the perspective of another country was something worth noting.

I’m still surprised by the number of people I meet here (young people, especially) who are interested in, possibly almost obsessed with, American politics. I visited my roommate’s hometown last weekend, and while we were at dinner with a bunch of her friends, one of them got all excited when she found out I was from the States (she even whipped out her copy of “The Audacity of Hope” to share with me). I’d like to think that we’re all ambassadors; obviously you can’t judge a whole country based on one person, or on media coverage – you need to meet individuals from countries and hear what they have to say. So in a way, I’d like to think that I’m an ambassador for Americans, especially in time where our country’s political decisions haven’t exactly been stellar, diplomatic, or world-forward. I listen to what Canadians have to say: I explain what I think about American politics and how it works, and I hope that we’re both learning and maybe changing our opinions about one another.

And when they ask me if I voted, I tell them that I did; I voted for Obama and I voted absentee in the comfort of my residence room. I had my friend sign as my witness and then I mailed it home. I’d like to think that my vote was counted and there wasn’t any funny business at the polls, and since Virginia somehow magically became a blue state for the first time in 40-ish years, I’m pretty sure it was.

In the last few weeks prior to election night, there was at least one article in The Star each day about something dumb Sarah Palin had done or said (one of my friends jokingly speculated that this is because Canadians secretly like to think that Americans are dumb, and when someone actually proves it, it makes them happy) and at least one or two about other aspects of the election.

And when it came down to election day, I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of things. I knew that the election coverage was going to be playing on the common room TV, but I was surprised when I came home from class Tuesday night to see a huge crowd gathered around the widescreen in the common room, their gazes fixed on CCN, watching as results came in. Unfortunately, I had to work on a typography project, so I didn’t join them, but I reloaded NBC4’s website over and over again until, suddenly, Barack Obama had 273 electoral votes. I ran and hijacked my roommate’s TV, and ended up getting to hear a bit of McCain’s defeat speech (I ended up watching Obama’s victory speech the next day, and it was awesome). After that, every so often, I could hear people freaking out all over the dorm. I live on the seventh floor, directly above the front entrance, and I could hear people outside by the front door shouting to others, “OBAMA WON!!!” It was madness, but it felt nice to know that people here, though they had no say in the election, were so excited for what had been accomplished at home.

So, yes we did, America. We did something that has given our image a huge boost around the globe. One of my roommate’s friends commented, “I feel like I can actually like the United States again, now that there’s a president I support,” and as an obligatory afterthought, because I must have been giving him a look, “…sorry.”

And I’d like to add a warning to those conservatives out there who are disappointed by the results: I kept seeing posts and opinions all over the internet whining that if Obama won, they would be moving to Canada. Think again – I heard on CP24 that 85% of Canadians polled would’ve voted for Obama if they could have. And you’re complaining because Obama is too “socialist”? Remember – in Canada, they have socialized health care, and many, many, many OTHER government-funded social programs. I guess what I want to say here is, Republicans, or those who did not support Obama, be thankful for what you’ve got. And, don’t get me wrong here, Canada is an awesome place; I don’t mean to imply that there’s something wrong with politics here, but if that’s the reason you want to leave, just think twice before packing your bags. :)

Look Frosh – a blog post! A blog post? HUH HUH.

Last week at uni was Frosh Week. As far as I know, there aren’t any US schools that have anything called Frosh Week, or anything like it masquerading under a different name. Frosh Week is the fun-filled week before classes start. There is orientation information (i.e. talks about the rules, what to do, meeting the faculty, etc) and also… partying. Dry partying, but partying nonetheless. Every night, I hear the parties going on in the quad from all the way at my residence hall at the very edge of campus.

At York, faculties are divided into groups called “colleges” (it’s like the Hogwarts houses in Harry Potter. If you haven’t read Harry Potter, it’s like organizing your cutlery drawer at home – spoons here, forks there). The colleges each have their own orientation for freshman students. My college is called Winters, and it hosts all the fine arts students at York.
Each college also has a residence building affiliated with it. It isn’t required that you live with your faculty, but it is recommended. I don’t live in the Winters residence hall; I live in a snazzy one called Pond Road which is the newest residence building, and the only one not associated with a college at York.

And so that brings me to my dorm room, which is a wonder upon wonders in the collegiate world. I share a suite a kitchen and bathroom with only one person, my roommate Laura. We also get our own single-person bedrooms. It’s basically an apartment, and we are freshman… which is insanely lucky and amazing.

And so it’s time to share the wonder that is my suite at The Pond Road Residence:

kitchen/bathroom:



john adams! woo!







my roommate's room:




my room:









eddie's on the window

the view from my window :





So my residence hall is amazing. The people I’ve met who live here are all nice as well. I met my don (it’s what they call RA’s in Canada, or at least at York) and a bunch of kids on my floor on move-in day. We had a barbeque, played some games, and met the other dons and Frosh Week leaders (Bosses).

During Frosh Week, my roommate and I only sampled some of the activities instead of going to every single one, like some people do. We went on a downtown tour with Winters. We went to the Eaton Centre, a huge mall downtown. While there, some of our frosh bosses started a dance party in the Apple store and got kicked out of the mall. And, while we were all running around downtown together, we sang some of the Winters College cheers. My personal favorite is the one where a leader will call, “Look, frosh – [an object]!” and everyone echoes, “[an object]? Huh huh! [an object]? Huh!” with each “huh” accompanied by a pelvic thrust. For example, when we overtook Downsview subway station, we shouted, “Look, frosh – confused and innocent bystanders!” “Confused and innocent bystanders? HUH HUH! Confused and innocent bystanders? HUH!”

Yeah Winters college is crazy and intense. Like I said, I can hear their quad parties from my res halfway across campus.




Kids and frosh bosses in a fountain during the downtown tour.



All the frosh in my res and our frosh bosses went to a “Space Pirates vs Space Ninjas” themed dance party in the Winters quad.


My costume (space ninja)


Laura’s (space pirate)


My res! (not my picture - I shamelessly stole this from someone’s facebook)



Winters Frosh Week culminated with an awesome boat cruise on The Empire Sandy, this old schooner that tours the Toronto Harbor.








the skyline from the harbor


So Frosh Week was amazing! I met so many cool people and did so many cool things! I miss it already.