The study room..

Just a post to prove I did study while I was away! Check out those quality notes next top the quality Chad!!

Tofnio!!

Now to what was the most exciting news at the time! A real trip away from the residence of UVic to a place called Tofino! Imagine sunshine, long sandy white beaches, large forests and people running around in bikinis... then imagine snow, hail and rain :) Tofino is a very popular surf spot on Vancouver Island although if you go when I did you encounter non of the first thoughts but only the second - storm season! (They actually market storm season to get tourists there to see the storms..) At the time I was sooo excited because on the way I got to see real snow! I didn't realize I would soon visit the biggest ski hill in North America (I am going to keep drilling that point in.. the BIGGEST..) and that snow would fall at my very uni, but at the time that tiny amount of snow was the best thing that had ever happened while in Canada! Despite to non stop rain and hail Tofino was a great place. I went with my family from Salt Spring Island and we stayed in the best resort right on the beach! We got to see all the nice beaches that actually do exist in Canada (I may have been a bit harsh about Canada's beaches in previous posts) and I got to see some amazingly large trees! On the way home we went and saw the Salmon run at Goldstream Park. Was just amazing, hundreds of salmon returning to where they were born several years before to spawn then die.. The rain was horrible and my camera stopped working so I was a little disappointed but I got some good photos and now my camera is away for repair so hopefully all will be ok!

Larissa and I excited by the snow!

Tin Wis Resort - our resort for the weekend!

Long Beach - One of the well known Tofino beaches, just ignore the rain in the photo!

UVic Vikes Basketball and drunken dramas!

Ok so one of the biggest events at UVic is the opening game of the Vikes basketball team. So we all turned up to watch the woman's and men's game against the University of Calgary. Bit disappointed there were no Chad Michael Murry's like in One Tree Hill or cheerleaders but still a good game and the Vikes won, both the women's and men's!

The men's team whipping Calgary's butt!!

Thunder the very cute mascot!

Dave, Andy, Mazz, Nina and Eth - Go Vikes Go!

Now onto the drunken dramas!! Just too many photos to post but they are up on the photo page! After a successfully night out at Felicitas once again some idiot pulled the fire alarm at something like 1am.. So that meant everyone outside!! There were many unimpressed people that night. Its the second time it has happened but luckily for me I was not around for the first one! I was still awake so it was a bit exciting seeing the fire fighters in action (I may have run back to my room for my camera so pics are posted!) We soon recovered for another night at Felicitas for Open Mic night. Sadly I wasn't up there singing but many of the exchange students (and some Canadians) got up there and I think they could give Aussie Idol a run for its money (that may be a bias opinion)!!

Finally you say!!

Yes I understand it has been 2 months since my last update but it was a busy 2 months as most would know! I'm going to attempt to get you up to speed in a series of short updates in a short amount of time so here goes with first off.. Halloween weekend was where I last left you: Kate, Mike and I decided to take part in the annual food drive put together by UVic called Trick or Eat! Now we all know everyone hates a grown up trick or treater.. but come on my first Halloween I wasn't going to do nothing so Trick or Eat is a program in which you go out and ring the door bell and say "trick or eat" - much like trick or treat BUT instead you collect non perishable foods for the needy. But having said that people we are doing something for charity all the lovely people also feel the need to give you candy (see where I'm getting at...)! So off we went all dressed up and boy was it fun! So here are some pics for your enjoyment, there are more on the photo page!

The headless man (aka mike) and the Statue of Liberty (aka me)

The headless man with his princess (aka Kate) and the liberty with one of the many items donated!

All my candy hehe - like a kid!

It is currently -2 degrees Celsius!!!

Yes my friends the time has come that I have feared for the past few weeks... no not exams... but... THE COLD!! Lucky for me I have brought (or my mums card brought) a lovely and warm jacket from the great Canadian outdoors shop known at Mountain Equipment Co-op (thanks mum)! I also got a warm puffy vest which seems to be pretty trendy around these parts! But I did not come on here to complain about the weather.. or exams (I had one today grrrrr)!! I have had a pretty busy week with uni and have not had much time for my buds or the Halloween weekend full of parties! I did however have time to dress up to please the Canadians... as a Lumber Jack! I don't know what their obsession is with me being a Lumber Jack but they have been going on about it for some time now! Lucky Gab was at my side and as was her friend Danni who was visiting for the weekend (although she was a tree hugger for the night not a Lumber Jack). Seems to be a trend me dressing up in flannelette and having a beer gut! I wont post pictures here but my photo site is updated so go there have have a look for yourself!!

For Bec... hehe

As the Dashboard Confessional song - 'Carry this Picture' goes.....

"Carry this picture for luck, kept in a locket, tucked in your collar, close to your chest, make it a secret, shown to the closest friends. Meet me at quarter to 7, the sun will still shine then, at this time of year. We'll head to the inlet... and we'll share a bottle there. Colour the coast with your smile.. It's the most genuine thing I've ever seen, I was so lost but now I believe........"

Geography pub crawls are not nerdy!!

Ok so last night to finally update you, I went on a pub crawl for the Geography facility.. pretty good fun and not at all nerdy like I though when I first heard about it! Stayed at a friends and came home at about 11am today so I did a pretty good job of not doing work and now I have to catch up so my posts are getting shorter and less frequent I know but I have an introduction of 1500 words of a 6000 essay to write so better be off! (My buddies are all going out for a drinks night and I'm here instead!!) :'( Enjoy all the new pics!

Heather from my GIS class and I with our "Can I study your topography" shirts!

Stevie my fish rules!!

Hi guys, haven't updated for a while.... maybe because I have had assignments and midterms all the last 2 weeks!! Horrible! So while I have a few days till my next assessment is due I thought I would blog. So on Thanksgiving I went to the Butchart Gardens with family I have on the island (Vancouver Island that is), so so so nice!!! - both the gardens and the family! The gardens are 55 acres in size so pretty darn big and they were well established by the 1920's making it now a historical classed site. They also have beautiful Japanese, Italian and Rose theme gardens too! So Ill put some pics up on my site!

At the gardens with my family

The Sunken Gardens - so so pretty!

The water at the Sunken Gardens

The photo of Butchart Cove which my mum likes best!

So I haven't done too much besides study oh and Aussie Alisha sang in her round of UVic idol so we went to support her! She sang Song of a preacher! Superstar Jess sings in round too next week and then Alisha the week after!! Go Aussies! The girls also got up and did a bit of karaoke after which rocked! Especially Jess's version of "I touch myself" by the Divinals!

Supporting Alisha after she left the stage!

Then last weekend I went on a ghost tour of downtown Victoria!! SCARY! Saw no ghosts but I do know where to look for them!! Maria, Kate and Mike and a whole bunch of internationals were there so it was pretty cool.. and cause we were a UVic group we got it for FREE!! Uni students favorite words! FREE!! Hmmm post is pretty long with the pics so I'll start a new one for my final news and maybe a few more photos!

Too scared the follow the group down the alley! Myself, Maria and Kate do our best scared impression!

Maria and my room!

Tonight's blog comes from what is now commonly know as 'Kim's second room'!! Although if you ask the housing office it actually belongs to a Maria Ottosson! Maria is my Swedish friend who lets me steal all her things, for instance her computer where I get to practice my Swedish (it's a Swedish computer!) so I can write words with the following ö ä å!! I can also say ' Hej Sötnos' which is Hey Cutie!! Tonight I took things to a new level when I decided to take a nap in her bed! She wasn't in there with me of course! She was out for the night and I had her keys and just went from room to room when I felt like a change! So tonight everyone was out for Thanksgiving dinner so Gab and I had our Thanksgiving which consisted of Pizza and wine!! hmmm Ill make sure to put some photos up! So good night from Maria's room and once again Happy Thanksgiving! xo

New update again!! *Edit on Mikes pic*

Finally I am up to date with all my photos and posts! Yesterday Mikey and Lasse organized a golf tournament! Lots attended and prizes were given out, although I didn't attend it sounded like a great day! Afterwards a "Gala Ball" was put on at the "Empress"..also known as Ring Road Hall!!! All rules were broken as we had more than 5 to a room and drinking in the halls! But it is Thanksgiving weekend after all!! So we all got dressed up in our best clothes and had a few drinks to celebrate the day. The res and uni is very quiet this weekend as everyone has gone home for Thanksgiving. Had to eat by myself at lunch today - that's how sad it was! :) But now its homework time as I have procrastinated all day by putting pictures up! But before I go I need to blog about Mike before he gets mad at me! Mike is Canadian Kate's boyfriend and also attends UVic. He is 22 and attended the Olympics for Team Canada as a Ski Jumper and I have heard he's pretty good! So Mike here is your post and photo as promised! (Yes it has been changed! This pic cracks me up, great shirt Mike!!)

Mike supporting Jess at UVic Idol!

The crazy last week! *Edit on stolen tickets pics - got em!!*

You think with Maria's computer in my room all week I would have had time for updates but nope sadly I've been doing other things... usually not homework either! Anyway I am updating now so it is ok! So a few eventful things have happened since I last blogged, two weeks ago our very own Australian Jess (from Deakin) entered our UVic Idol contest at Felicita's the uni bar. Of course she rocked the house out with Natalie Imbrulia's 'Torn' and totally made the judges fall for her! Our whole international family plus many Canadians turned up to scream the place down - it was crazy! So super cool Jess made it through to the second round which will be in a few weeks, go Jess!!! Hick made an appearance till the security found out she had jumped the fence (damn drinking age shouldn't be 19!!) Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Negin who turned 21 on the same night too!! Gem also came to visit me before she left :'( So we got to hang out for a night which was cool and she saw a bit of Victoria! But now she is gone and it is just me once again.. Then the following Saturday we started our res soccer, it was a great day and to top it off we won 5-0! Did I mention how much I love outdoor soccer!! Then that Saturday night the Sub Stance party ended the busy week! It was crazy, over 2000 tickets sold apparently and it pretty much consisted of the whole SUB (Student Union Building) been closed off with various bands playing over 3 stages. So two events happened... 1. TASH was looking HOT! and 2. The underage Canadians totally stole the night getting into the sold out party with home made tickets and borrowed ID's!! Now I'm not talking cheap crap paper tickets! These were the real deal, print on both sides, photos paper and a perforated edge! They were classy! Ill try and steal their photos and blog them for you guys!

Pre drinks before the Sub Stance - Superstar Jess, Negin, Lene, Nina, Maria, myself, Hanna and Andy!

Gabby and Hick Hayls hard at work with the ticket production!!

Gab, Matt and Hayley with their genius design!

Now come new updates, On Saturday Matt and I went to watch Gab race for the UVic Vikes! So we made our way to Beacon Hill Park downtown to watch Gab run in a 4 km race! She did awesome and thanks to her run she is now spending the weekend in Arizona running!! Sunday was the Run for a Cure event help around the UVic campus. The annual Pink Ribbon Appeal held another run to raise money for breast cancer research. I got up at 6 to volunteer as a track marshal while Tash and Gram ran in the event! Was a great day and felt good to help out! Monday night we threw a surprise for Shana who turned 22! Hick and Sarah came in to play our favorite song, Diana! A song written by the girls in high school! I've got it on video so ask to see it, it is great! So Happy 22nd to Shana! Also happy 22nd to Dave who also turned the big 22 tonight.. Drinks tonight anyone?? :) Finally yesterday (Tuesday) I went on my first field trip in Canada! It was for a subject called Wildlife Management and we went to a place called Wild ARC rehabilitation Centre which is located about an hours drive from Victoria. We went in a big YELLOW school bus - YES an actual real yellow school bus!! While there I got to see baby raccoons, a mink, a few different kinds of birds - including a Bald Headed Eagle which had sadly died that morning as well as some baby squirrels! It was pretty fun! I think that may be it for the updates, not much happening now uni is into full swing and lots if work to do!! INCLUDING midterms already!!! Yep I had one today ahhhh!!! Hopefully I will get out a bit in the next few weeks! Happy Thanksgiving for Monday. Love you all xox