Halloween

Today is Halloween - it's tradition here that many houses are well decorated and as soon as it is dark (at the night of October 31st) kids are going from house to house for "trick or treat" (if you not give a sweet they will do a trick).

In today's newspaper an article about a haunted house (one of these decorated houses) was published on the first page, and this house is really near to mine. Many kids will visit this house with their parents and will probably afterwards walk down the street. So I have to be well prepared and therefore I bought lots of chocolates ...

Finally I count 96 kids, almost 100 coming to my door! But I'm still not sold out :)

Now it's 20:50 and I'm curious what time the last kid will come ...

Easy weekend ...

On Friday we had chinese food - some international students organized this great dinner in a chinese restaurant ... afterwards we had some drinks at the Earl's Lounge and spent a good time ... enjoy the pictures in the photo gallery!

Saturday and Sunday I spent some time preparing for my midterm exams (Accounting and International Management) on Tuesday. Today (Sunday) after badminton I was ready for another burger restaurant - that time I tried Burger King ... it is almost the same as in Switzerland, yet the burgers are much cheaper ... Double Whopper Combo is available for $5.70/CHF5.30 (what is the price in Switzerland? $11.50/CHF10.90?) ... I just saw on Burger Kings Homepage that I have to burn 939 kcal and 61 gram of fat ... (perhaps a good idea to play badminton first *smile*)

Who knows these chocolate brands ...?

It is funny to find some ads with Swiss chocolate brands I never heard about ... so who knows these brands?



(Solution: Swiss Delice is produced by Frey (Migros) in Suhr, but I couldn't find anything about Governor's Table)

I'm lazy ...

Hey I'm sorry, I started beeing lazy ... almost 4 days I didn't update my blog ... and also there is still a long mail queue, so excuse if you're waiting for an answer ... I will write back as soon as possible ...

Yes I have still a good time in Canada. Since Sunday we have lots of sunshine, and the temperature usually increases in the afternoons up to 15° C. On Monday I had a pretty good day - I don't know why - but I was really happy on that day. In the afternoon I was relaxing in the St. Vital park and was listening to music of Mando Diao - also the music makes me feel happy :) Afterwards I went shopping - it was time to buy some drugs/pharmaceuticals (no I'm not talking about "Drogen"), because it's good to be well prepared for the upcoming cold weather (I also found the well known Ricola Swiss Herb Gough Drops, they will surely be useful)! I also did my grocery shopping and bought the Economist, but up to now I had no time to read it.

Tuesday is usually my longest day of the week - so I'm at university from morning till night. At the international management class I had the job of taking care of class participation, this means that I had to note when someone was giving an oral contribution, sometimes it was hard to understand what people say, fortunately my class mates helped me! In my "Writing Essay" class we learn using complex sentences (and, but, or, yet, nor ...), compound sentences (therefore, furthermore, moreover, ...), and writing introductions, thesis statements and so on ... Yeah I think that are good lessons and we learn more than we usually do in Switzerland ...
At night I was baking (now it's like a weekly ritual): a chocolate walnut cake. I'm sure you're asking yourself what happend to me ... I don't know ... it's just fine to bake sometimes and I think I will be able to reach one of my personal goals for my year abroad: BEING ABLE TO BAKE AND COOK!

Yesterday I didn't do many things: One lesson at university ... learning at library ... helping a friend to publish his pictures on the internet ... having visit ... and so my Wednesday went over really fast! And tonight I will go to a birthday party ... but first I should prepare a bit for the two midterm exams next week! Cu soon ...

Geese Trip

Oh this weekend passed so fast ... and I know it's time to update my blog :)

On Thursday I was looking for the birthday party of my roommate, but finally there was no party. It looks like something went wrong ...

On Friday I went to a Geese Trip with the International Centre for Students. We went to Fort Whyte - that is natural area were you can see some wildlife. We had a short introduction about the geese and had then the opportunity to enjoy the sunset and to observe the geese and other birds. Unfortunately we were to late to see the bisons, so I think we will go there another time (it's close to the city). You will find some pictures of the Geese Trip in the photo gallery - you can also hear the Geese by clicking here.

Yesterday I spent most of the time calling different persons. In the afternoon I was working on old accounting exams as a preparation for my upcoming exam: I was wondering why the exam was so hard, until I saw that it was the Final and not the Midterm Exam (it looks like I'm a expert for that kind of misconception). For dinner I cooked a Curry Risotto - that time it tastes great (I had a hard time to find the Buillon in the Grocery store). At night I went out swimming and afterwards we played a Canadian game: Cribagge
There is also a computer version of this game - you can download it here.

Today (as every Sunday) I went playing badminton. Because I get up early I was tired all the morning. After badminton I decided that it was time to try another burger. I had some coupons - and could buy therefor to big burgers (Double Teen Burger) for $7 at A&W. The burgers taste really good - I cannot understand why people still go to Mc Donald's here ...
Afterwards I went sleeping, laundered my clothes and bedding, tried to do some homework (I'm not really hard-working), and also spent some time updating my blog :)

Finally a funny road sign that remembers me that the winter is coming soon ...

The Baking Company: Tiramisu

Yep, today the Baking Company was working hard: I had the pleasure to bake again with my roommate.

With the help of an Italian recipe we did Tiramisu, it will be a birthday gift for our other roommate. I think it will taste great, but we didn't try it now ...

Bonfire Party and my first grade

On Saturday night my roommate gave me ride to their friends bonfire party. Outside of Winnipeg I first saw the man-made course of the red river ("künstlicher Flusslauf", also named floodway), that should prevent Winnipeg of the floods - it was built in 1960 after Winnipeg encountered floods the year before. The floodway is almost 60 km long and bypasses the city of Winnipeg - probably it builds also the biggest hill (even if it's artificial) in the surroundings. Apparent it should be possible skiing on that hill (the hill is just a couple of meters high). Find other Manitoban Ski Resorts here ...

At the bonfire party about ten people were sitting round a big fire, and because it's getting cold everyone tried to warm up near the fire. I also was invited for dinner ... I enjoyed a good time and had some interesting conversations.

Sunday I went playing badminton (as every Sunday) and afterwards I did a small bicycle tour - I appreciated discovering my neighborhood. For dinner I cooked some fish (à la Forelle Blau) and afterwards I spent some time writing mails. I'm sorry for the delay, I know many persons have to wait a long time for my responses.

Today I received my "first" economics exam back. I was very happy, I did 23 of 30 points and that gives me a B+ ... as you perhaps know, the grade system in Canada is different - I try to make a comparison, but I'm not sure if that's correct:

Switzerland --> Canada
6 --> A+
between 5 and 6 --> A and then B+
between 4 and 5 --> B and then C+
4 --> C
3.5 --> D
3 --> F
2 --> F
1 --> F

Football, Concert, Studying & lots more

Hi - yeah some days went over since I wrote my last post - and now I will leave soon for a bonfire party (I'm not sure if I wrote it in the wrong way).

Wednesday at school I was following the soccer game against Ireland, unfortunately I was at the computer room of university and therefore my only way to do that was to read the live comments (on a ticker). I was not so happy about the result, but Switzerland has still a chance to get qualified ... so I keep the fingers crossed. At night I was invited for dinner by a Canadian friend and afterwards we went to a music concert downtown.

Again I forgot my passport ... and so we had to go to my accommodation ... but still then I forgot it - but I was lucky, this time they accepted my identity card and I could enjoy the concert. The concert was of an independent Canadian rock band named Cuff The Duke (http://www.cufftheduke.com/), the ambiance and the music was good but perhaps the music could be a bit faster ... (hard to explain in English).

Thursday was more or less a working day and yesterday I went out for shopping ... I also bought some baking stuff (I missed a scale and some other kitchen equipment) and I was looking for a Canadian or Amercian week magazine (like "Facts" or "Weltwoche" in Switzerland), unfortunately the selection was not as great. There are three different magazines as Times, Newsweek and one more Canadian magazine, but they are really thin and they haven't many articles. To get an insight I will read them once ... perhaps I will find what I like :)

At night we went to a party (Bacardi Party) downtown - we had a lot of fun - and I have also a lovely picture for you (Canadian Girls are nice, aren't they ...?)


Today I did an old accounting exam and after I went to the St. Vital park to meet some friends. In some minutes I will leave for a Bonfire party, people meet at a big fire outside of Winnipeg - I'm sure I will enjoy a good time tonight.

Informations about Manitoba / Informations about Switzerla

I was asked a lot of things about Switzerland, and also for my Swiss friends it would be interesting to know a bit more about Canada/Manitoba/Winnipeg ...



Informations on Canada:
http://www.travelcanada.ca/
Quick Facts about Manitoba:
http://www.travelmanitoba.com/quickfacts/
Some movies of Travel Manitoba:
http://www.travelmanitoba.com/quickfacts/
Destination Winnipeg (Informations about Winnipeg)
http://www.destinationwinnipeg.ca/



Many Informations about Switzerland:
http://www.swissworld.org/
Some movies of Switzerland Tourism (a brief overview on the country)
http://caen.myswitzerland.com/
Many pictures of Switzerland:
http://www.sengers.ch/ (*very beautiful pictures* - just click on the flags/emblems to discover the different regions of Switzerland)
http://www.swisslandscape.org/swindexe.tpl
Good swiss news website (in English!)
http://www.swissinfo.org/

Enjoy the websites ...

Thanksgiving again ... I like it!

Yesterday I was invited by the parents of one of my roommates. We also had thanksgiving there and I had again a great meal! It tastes wonderful; moreover, it is nice to see the small differences between European and North American traditions and foods ...

In the last days I only talked about food ... it is almost the only thing I did: Baking, eating ... and enjoying Canada :)

Thanksgiving

On Sunday I was invited by my welcome family for thanksgiving. As it is traditional here, we had turkey, mashed potatoes and different kinds of vegetables, for dessert we had pumkin pie ("Kürbiskuchen"). The dinner was excellent and I enjoyed having another good night with my welcome family and some of their friends. You can find a few pictures in the photo gallery!

Today (Monday) is a public holiday, all the stores are closed because of Thanksgiving. I have no school today, so I'm again invited tonight ... and I will enjoy another great meal ;)

But don't be afraid, it doesn't look like I will become fat in Canada - since I'm here I lost two kilos ...

Baking Day

Saturday was my baking day - I was baking as a crazy guy: First a pizza and then I did two cakes - a chocalate cake and an "Aargauer Rüeblitorte" (carrot cake). My pizza burnt a bit, but it tastes great. For the chocolate cake I did the error of taking half of hazelnuts/filberts instead of only almonds (the chocolate taste is covered by the hazelnuts).

I hope I will be a good cook when I come back to Switzerland ...

My first Canadian Exam

Yeah today I had my first exam in Canada. I was a bit nervous in the morning, yet I learned enough. But then something funny or even stupid happened: In my oppinion we had 15 minutes to write the test, so I did my best to write almost 2 pages in 15 minutes and to answer the question as well as possible. My penmanship ("Schrift") was awful, but after that time I was happy because I thought that I did answer the questions well and I was waiting for the professor saying that the time is over. But instead of that he said: "You have another 30 mintues!" Then I understood that instead of 15 minutes I had 50 minutes to write the test ...

I think the test wasn't as difficult. Perhaps my focus (= short answers) on the questions was a bit different of the professors opinion (I tried to complete/endorse ("ergänzen") my answers afterwards, but I had not many more ideas because the main points were covered) but I'm sure that I will be not too bad ... I will tell you my grade as soon as I will receive my exam back ;)

So have a nice weekend ... here I will have Thanksgiving ... mmmhhhh!!!

Current Weather Conditions on my Blog

Now can see on my blog what are the current weather conditions in Winnipeg ... (on the right side of the blog page)

It looks like I am the only Swiss Guy of our school in Switzerland who got cold feet ... *brrrrhhh*

Current Weather Conditions:
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: 1° C. (feels like -7° C.) Light snow.
Zurich, Switzerland: 11° C. Partly cloudy.
Pensacola, Florida, USA: 28° C. (feels like 36° C.) Partly cloudy.
San Jose, California, USA: 27° C. A Few clouds.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: 11° C. Partly cloudy.

(05 October 2005, 19:00 local time)

It snows ...

First snow ...?!?

The forecast says it should snow tomorrow! That's crazy, on Sunday we had 22° degrees celsius and yesterday I saw the last Flipflops ...

See the forecast for Winnipeg in English or German.

Working days

Yesterday I went shopping with my roommate, there was a good opportunity to fill up my food stock. Afterwards we went to Dairy Queen to have some icecream - the small cup was perhaps as big as our midsize or large cup in Switzerland. In the eve I had to do homework.

Today in exception of updating my blog I will spend most of the time doing homework too. On Friday I will have my first exam in Economics - we have to answer 2 of 4 possible questions in 15 minutes. Keep your fingers crossed for me ...!

Trip to Kenora

Saturday I had to get up early because I had to pick up the rental car. First I had to take the bus to go downtown and even if I didn't sleep very well I was not tired. I was excited of driving my first time in Canada. In preparation I studied the Manitoba Driver Handbook - there are some differences to our traffic rules in Switzerland.

Downtown I had to look for the Car Rental. After some paperwork I finally got the rental car, a Chevrolet Malibu. The car was really comfortable and easy to drive, but first I had a problem: It was my first time to drive a car with automatic transmission and I didn't know how to start the car - fortunately the problem was not hard to solve. Afterwards I had to pick up all my friends and then we went on the highway in direction of Kenora. Kenora is a small city (16'000 habitants) about 230 km east of Winnipeg in the province of Ontario.


On the highway there was less traffic, the scenery was typically Canadian. Near the border of Ontario we saw the first lakes, rocks and hills. With the falling leaves the countryside looked very beautiful, and i felt bad that I didn't rent a car earlier. After some breaks on different lakes we went to Kenora.

Kenora is a lovely small town, but the city seemed to sleep. In exception of some beggar ("Bettler") almost nobody was on the streets. This small town looks to me like a film location of a typical American movie (perhaps because I haven't seen many small North American towns before). For lunch we had Chinese food - it tastes great and was pretty cheap (about 14 Dollars per person).

After lunch we visited a private area (with some cottages) at the waterside, most of the houses were empty even if it was perhaps the most beautiful time of the year (because of the different colours of the Fall). Our last destination for that day was West Hawk Lake, a small lake in Manitoba which looks also pretty nice. On the way there we saw some deers on the roadside, unfortunatly because I was the driver I couldn't take a picture.

Back in Winnipeg we take advantage of having a car by buying some beers (to stock them in our residences) and had dinner in an Italian restaurant. Also that meal tastes great! Afterwards everyone was tired, so we decided to go home. On that day we did about 500 km and were happy having seen beautiful Canadian landscape.

Enjoy the pictures in the Photo Gallery!