Week.End.

Ahh It is so nice to finally have internet! I have said before I am using such an unreliable source, and I haven't been able to get on since friday! That being said, I have a lot to sum up!

Saturday morning was cadet band. There were quite a few more people there, so it sounded a lot better than last week! We also ordered Cadet Band Sweatpants. That's right, I'm that hardcore. After that, we went into Sainte-Foy. It is the rich area of Quebec, it is so nice there! We drove past Laval university and I almost peed. It is so big, and so nice! (I would also like to mention we drove past a theatre called "Le Clap." The clap?? Chlamydia?? I had a good laugh at that...) We went into the mall in Sainte-Foy, and it is so big! There were so many stores, it was kind of overwhelming. The only thing I bought was the Twilight book in french! (called "Fascination.") I haven't started reading it yet, but I am so excited! Also in the mall, I had poutine for the first time. I never would have thought one of the best meals I have ever had in my life would come from a mall food court for $4.00. I have never tried Poutine in winnipeg, but I can guarantee you there is no way It could be as good as this poutine. Pure Jesus. Soooo good. I think if I had the sources to eat poutine every meal for every day, I would be the fattest woman alive, I wouldn't be able to stop!

After the mall, Julie, myself and our friend Emilie went to one of their cadet friends house for the evening. There were about 15 people, and we played outside all night! We skated on their backyard rink, and played volleyball in the snow. It was a lot of fun, but it was hard at the same time. Everyone there was really close, so it was difficult to establish myself in the group. It made me realize how intimidating my friends at home and I must be, because we are so close. This was one of those times I needed to take a breath and tell myself to make my own happiness. It was also hard, because there was a dog that was so similar to mine at home. It ran right up to me, and I had to walk away because I wanted to cry! Seeing it made me so homesick! Besides those things, it was a really wonderful evening. We ate hot dogs outside by the fire, and played hockey. (I honestly don't remember the last time I played hockey...) I am becoming more of an outdoors person! After most people had left, we went inside and played board games. I was so tired though, by that point I just wanted to go home!

Sunday (this) morning, Julie and I went to Emilie's house for brunch. It was splendid! There was every breakfast food you could Imagine (including beans in sauce.... i still don't understand why the french eat that for breakfast. It's disgusting.....) and so much of it! Afterwards, Julie, Emilie and I took an hour bus ride to a different mall. This one was as equally huge as the last one, I couldn't believe it! This one had an ice rink and ferris wheel in the middle! There were so many good stores, like H&M and Simons, again though, I was almost too overwhelmed to shop. (which is rare!) My only purchase of the day was a small twist dip cone (which i ordered myself!!!) for lunch. I also went into Joshua Perets to see what all the commotion was about. It was pretty lame and disappointing. After another hour bus ride home, we went back home for my birthday supper!

My birthday supper was absolutely lovely! I don't remember what its called in french, and I've never heard of it in english, but for dinner, we had all these different meats and cheeses. You then put them on this little triangle shaped frying pan, onto a element pan type thing for a few minutes, and it cooks it perfectly! It was so good, and so much fun to make! Apparently, it is really popular in Quebec, but i have never seen it in Winnipeg. We all ate so much, and after dinner we went and worked it off on the Wii. We played this skiing game, and I ended up doing the course backwards. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life! Afterwards, we went and had the most absolutely delicious cake for dessert! Chocolate truffle with a hazelnut and cookie base. My birthday dinner was so special, and I just felt so happy and loved!! After desert, Julie and her sisters studied for exams this week, while Emilie and I watched "Sydney White", which was really funny! Because next week is exam week, and the week after is spring break, I have two weeks off starting tomorrow! Because this weekend was so busy, I am grateful to have the day off tomorrow to relax!

It was very nice to be so social and active this weekend. It was hard though, because I kept thinking "oh, if so-and-so were here, I'd do this!" I am still trying to let the real Carly come through here, but it is so hard to be yourself, when the people and places you built yourself around are gone. Tonight was good though. I laughed a lot and bonded with the family. I just need to be able to interact with other people like that, and make my own friends. I hope over my break from school, my french will improve a lot, and I can go back to school prepared to make friends! I have officially been here two weeks now, and for two weeks, I am proud of how well I have done - i still have a long way to go though. I know I can do it!!

Hakunna Matata,
Carly