Bonjour a tous! J’ai decidé de faire un effort d’ecrire ici sur ma blog, en français. J’ai besoin de pratiquer mon francais ecrit, car ca fait très très longtemps que j’ai pratiquer mon ecriture dans la langue francaise. J’ai aussi assez de confiance maintenant que je suis capable d’ecrire en francais.
J’etais toujour une des meilleurs etudiants dans mes classes de francais. Une des choses que je ne comprenait toujours pas, c’était qu’il y avait des etudiants qui après 9 ou 10 ans d’immersion français, pouvait pas construire une phrase en français. A mon école tout les etudiants en immersion francais ont du, prendre les examens du BI(baccalaureat International) en fracais. Moi et quelques autres on pris les examens plus difficile du niveau supérieure, et moi j’ai reussi très bien.
Depuis que je suis a Ottawa, j’ai eu quelques opportunités de pratiquer, j’ai pris un cour de traduction, et je trouvait que c’etait assez facile pour moi de traduire de français en anglais, mais j’ai eu beaucoup de dificulté avec l’ecriture en français. L’autre opportunité etait quand j’ai commencé a travailler dans une environment bilingue. J’étais chanceux car les personnes dont je travaillait avec m’ont aider beaucoup.
J’ai encore besoin de continuer a pratiquer, je pense que je vais prendre un cour en ecriture francais, cela aidera beaucoup. Je pense que faire l’effort de essayer de m’exprimer ici sur ma blog va m’aider aussi. Alors je vais essayer de ecrire en francais quelques fois par mois.
March 30, 2006
March 28, 2006
Tim hortons and what it says about canadians...
Tim hortons is not Canadian, first of all. Like many canadian icons it has been bought up by the Americans, which tells us, that Canadians like money, preferably American money.
Secondly Tim hortons is now moving into the US market. Even though it's not Canadian anymore, this tells us that Canadians are not afraid of competing on the world stage anymore. (This is a big chance from the late 1980s and the fear of free trade.. or it's the fact that free trade has been forced down our throats and we now have to accept it.. or they tell us we do..)
Third, Canadians like to feel comfortable. That's why people go to tim Horton's. Not because the coffee is good, but because we know it and like it.
Fourth, Tim Horton's is dominant in the east, but not as much in the west, at least until recently.. So it tells us that the people in eastern Canada, dominate this country.
That's all for now..
Secondly Tim hortons is now moving into the US market. Even though it's not Canadian anymore, this tells us that Canadians are not afraid of competing on the world stage anymore. (This is a big chance from the late 1980s and the fear of free trade.. or it's the fact that free trade has been forced down our throats and we now have to accept it.. or they tell us we do..)
Third, Canadians like to feel comfortable. That's why people go to tim Horton's. Not because the coffee is good, but because we know it and like it.
Fourth, Tim Horton's is dominant in the east, but not as much in the west, at least until recently.. So it tells us that the people in eastern Canada, dominate this country.
That's all for now..
March 27, 2006
Thinking about a perfect robbery...
I just watched inside man. Interesting movie. I recommend it, if that's worth anything.
I am usually not much of a movie person, that means if i see a movie i am usually bored, or the movie is interesting enough to put my butt in a seat. My brother is the movie buff in the family. Most of the time i'd rather read a book.
Anyways nothing much else is new here, still slogging my way through Atlast Shrugges. It's a monster of a novel, the one thing i don't like is how hard it is to hold. I carried it with me to New Zealand and Australia and back, and hte only problem is that the cover is starting to rip. Not an airplane friendly book(too big).
I read the intro to Jeffrey Sachs book, and i'm curious to see what it contains. For someone who advised Russia on shock therapy, something which wasn't really all that successful and someone who talks about his success in stabilizing currencies in Bolivia(i think)i'm curious what he has to say about the developing world. He seems to be a fairly orthodox economist. Now i am not anti-market, far from it, i think that the market is a very useful and successful tool. I don't think it's more than that, which many economists proclaim. The funny thing is that i read Ann Rand's books and i don't have too many complaints with her goals, i just think it's hilarious to see how much the society we have today, made in some part in her image and how much it differs in results.
I think that ultimately that is the problem with the people like her who push this libertarian view. They don't understand human nature.
I am usually not much of a movie person, that means if i see a movie i am usually bored, or the movie is interesting enough to put my butt in a seat. My brother is the movie buff in the family. Most of the time i'd rather read a book.
Anyways nothing much else is new here, still slogging my way through Atlast Shrugges. It's a monster of a novel, the one thing i don't like is how hard it is to hold. I carried it with me to New Zealand and Australia and back, and hte only problem is that the cover is starting to rip. Not an airplane friendly book(too big).
I read the intro to Jeffrey Sachs book, and i'm curious to see what it contains. For someone who advised Russia on shock therapy, something which wasn't really all that successful and someone who talks about his success in stabilizing currencies in Bolivia(i think)i'm curious what he has to say about the developing world. He seems to be a fairly orthodox economist. Now i am not anti-market, far from it, i think that the market is a very useful and successful tool. I don't think it's more than that, which many economists proclaim. The funny thing is that i read Ann Rand's books and i don't have too many complaints with her goals, i just think it's hilarious to see how much the society we have today, made in some part in her image and how much it differs in results.
I think that ultimately that is the problem with the people like her who push this libertarian view. They don't understand human nature.
March 25, 2006
Nothing much on the home front
Nothing much going on around here. Met up with an old highschool friend and realized how much I have changed. So has this town to be honest. The conversation was quite difficult, and the awkwardness never left, like it had the last few times.
Time to move on really.
I am finishing off reading Atlas Shrugged. This is a book that is worth reading by anybody, even if they don't agree with the hardcore libretarian vision of it. It's quite unlike any other novel i've ever read, with deep thought going into every aspect of it. I'm reading it for the third time this year, I took it with me on my trip because it's long and engaging. It's taken me a while to figure out exactly what my objections are towards her worldview.
I think the easiest to point out is the environmentalist critique. I beleive it's actually in The Fountainhead but she has a very utilitarian view of nature.
Another easy one, is her attachement to smoking. She talks about how great it is to see fire controlled by man at one's fingertips. That's obviously not going to win one any friends today, and of course I am a non-smoker so there's another easy one for me.
The other one that I have been thinking about a bit lately, is the short description of the problems of having state controlled medicine. She of course espouses the view that having need determine service is awful. Every aspect of distribution should be based on ability to pay. Money reflecting the value of one's work etc etc...
I found myself intrigued when looking at the Tommy Douglas story, and the attitude of the doctors who went on strike in Saskatchewan to protest Medicare. I wonder how many Canadians know that story, and realize it's implications.
It's refreshing I think in a way to read somebody who establishes a vision and looks at all the implications of it.
We see too many people who don't have a vision, those who do are the ones who change the world. I have to say of all the talks that I saw at Carleton, and I attended a fair amount, very few did more than pose a question or present a problem. In few places did you get to see someone who had a vision and looked at its implications. The exception was.... Michael Ignatieff. I disagreed with his vision but at least he provided one. He provided something concrete on which you could agree or disagree with. Interesting to say the least that he moved into Canadian politcs..
Time to move on really.
I am finishing off reading Atlas Shrugged. This is a book that is worth reading by anybody, even if they don't agree with the hardcore libretarian vision of it. It's quite unlike any other novel i've ever read, with deep thought going into every aspect of it. I'm reading it for the third time this year, I took it with me on my trip because it's long and engaging. It's taken me a while to figure out exactly what my objections are towards her worldview.
I think the easiest to point out is the environmentalist critique. I beleive it's actually in The Fountainhead but she has a very utilitarian view of nature.
Another easy one, is her attachement to smoking. She talks about how great it is to see fire controlled by man at one's fingertips. That's obviously not going to win one any friends today, and of course I am a non-smoker so there's another easy one for me.
The other one that I have been thinking about a bit lately, is the short description of the problems of having state controlled medicine. She of course espouses the view that having need determine service is awful. Every aspect of distribution should be based on ability to pay. Money reflecting the value of one's work etc etc...
I found myself intrigued when looking at the Tommy Douglas story, and the attitude of the doctors who went on strike in Saskatchewan to protest Medicare. I wonder how many Canadians know that story, and realize it's implications.
It's refreshing I think in a way to read somebody who establishes a vision and looks at all the implications of it.
We see too many people who don't have a vision, those who do are the ones who change the world. I have to say of all the talks that I saw at Carleton, and I attended a fair amount, very few did more than pose a question or present a problem. In few places did you get to see someone who had a vision and looked at its implications. The exception was.... Michael Ignatieff. I disagreed with his vision but at least he provided one. He provided something concrete on which you could agree or disagree with. Interesting to say the least that he moved into Canadian politcs..
March 20, 2006
Spending time in Ottawa and meeting and becoming friends with some Quebeckers has been an interesting experience for me. Meeting Quebeckers has given me a better understanding of the language issue in Canada. I have to sya most people from Quebec I have met, I have liked. Having learned French and being reasonably fluent (especially after the last two years working in a bilingual environment) I feel pretty comfortable most of the time in situations where French is spoken.
In Ottawa, you hear French all the time, sure you can get away from it if you want, but most of the time it's a fact of life. It makes things interesting, and it's been great to be in an environment where French is spoken by many many people. I like it a lot. It's a nice environment and once you've spent time there, you understand the issues of bilingualism and how it fits into the scheme of things much better.
Coming from Saskatchewan though, I understand why people don't like certain aspects of bilingualism and why it seems so foreign to them. My problem is that people are almost afraid of people who don't speak English. I see it time after time. I've dealt with many people at the infocenter who were anti-French. That's what I don't understand.
We need to open up and get over ourselves. People need to move away from this close-minded idea that everyone should always speak english, because they do. Learning other languages is such a good thing, it opens up avenues of cross cultural communication. It makes you realize how central language is to communication in General.
Learning another language, is opening up another way of seeing the world. Such a valuable experience in a complex world one which is becoming more integrated all the time. I think it's short sighted to demand that everyone speak only english here. In reality, in a lot of countries, they are pishing English, without diminishing their skills in their native tongue. The result, a lot of people speak english as a second language. If that continues, what happens to those who only speak english?
In Ottawa, you hear French all the time, sure you can get away from it if you want, but most of the time it's a fact of life. It makes things interesting, and it's been great to be in an environment where French is spoken by many many people. I like it a lot. It's a nice environment and once you've spent time there, you understand the issues of bilingualism and how it fits into the scheme of things much better.
Coming from Saskatchewan though, I understand why people don't like certain aspects of bilingualism and why it seems so foreign to them. My problem is that people are almost afraid of people who don't speak English. I see it time after time. I've dealt with many people at the infocenter who were anti-French. That's what I don't understand.
We need to open up and get over ourselves. People need to move away from this close-minded idea that everyone should always speak english, because they do. Learning other languages is such a good thing, it opens up avenues of cross cultural communication. It makes you realize how central language is to communication in General.
Learning another language, is opening up another way of seeing the world. Such a valuable experience in a complex world one which is becoming more integrated all the time. I think it's short sighted to demand that everyone speak only english here. In reality, in a lot of countries, they are pishing English, without diminishing their skills in their native tongue. The result, a lot of people speak english as a second language. If that continues, what happens to those who only speak english?
What a Brier Final!!!
To anyone who doesn't follow curling (which is most people)the final of the Brier yesterday night was awsome!!
It was a rematch of Friday's game between Ontario and Quebec. Interestinly enough, Ontario the favorite came out nervous, and Quebec the underdog came ou very calm and collected. They built up a 4 point lead in the first two ends, and led the game the retst of the way.
This was a big upset, Ontario had only lost one game the entire Brier, was the heavy favorite and was playing awsome the whole week. The team from Quebec comes from a province where curling is not that big, they have not had the access to sponsorship money and thus were unable to get into as many competitions. They are now the first team from Quebec to win the Brier in 20 some odd years.
Congratulations to team Quebec, who are also now team Canada.
It was really nice to see, although I think one thing that's funny, is the inability of the announcers to sort of deal with the fact that these are people from Quebec and they speak French. I have to say the skip. speaks very good English, but the stupid comments by the CBC announcer about how they switch from English to French and other little comments make me realize how little some people come into contact francopohnes in Canada, especially I would guess, Westerners.
It was a rematch of Friday's game between Ontario and Quebec. Interestinly enough, Ontario the favorite came out nervous, and Quebec the underdog came ou very calm and collected. They built up a 4 point lead in the first two ends, and led the game the retst of the way.
This was a big upset, Ontario had only lost one game the entire Brier, was the heavy favorite and was playing awsome the whole week. The team from Quebec comes from a province where curling is not that big, they have not had the access to sponsorship money and thus were unable to get into as many competitions. They are now the first team from Quebec to win the Brier in 20 some odd years.
Congratulations to team Quebec, who are also now team Canada.
It was really nice to see, although I think one thing that's funny, is the inability of the announcers to sort of deal with the fact that these are people from Quebec and they speak French. I have to say the skip. speaks very good English, but the stupid comments by the CBC announcer about how they switch from English to French and other little comments make me realize how little some people come into contact francopohnes in Canada, especially I would guess, Westerners.
March 16, 2006
Go team Stoughton
It's a bit tough to be from Saskatchewan and cheer for a team from manitoba this week, but here's hoping Jeff Stoughton and his rink from Winnipeg can win the Brier.
I have been a curling fan for a while. My dad and I used to watch it on TV occasionally whenever it was on, in either the olympics (since 1988) or the Brier or Scott.
I want to learn how to curl, it's sort of a Saskatchewan thing to do, so i figured even if I learn it late in life, it'll be good for me to know. I thinking of taking lessons this past fall, but that didn't work out.. So it'll have to be this coming winter.
Anyways I spent most of the weekends last february watching the curling. It started to get me hooked even more. I watched a little of the world juniors, then it was the Scott, then the brier, then the women's and men's worlds.
I wish I could have watched the Olympic curling trials this past February, but I was in Australia and New Zealand. NEw Zealand actually had a team there, because a transplanted Canadian was skipping it. Anyways point is I didn't get to watch any of it.
This was even more dissapointing for me because I watched the Olympic trials intently. I was so dissapointed that Kelly Scott lost in the final, i thought she played really really well and would've done Canada proud. My other favorite was Jeff Stoughton, who got to the final and came literally millimeters away from winning.
Here's hoping he can do like Kelly Scott and come back strong, to win the Brier
I have been a curling fan for a while. My dad and I used to watch it on TV occasionally whenever it was on, in either the olympics (since 1988) or the Brier or Scott.
I want to learn how to curl, it's sort of a Saskatchewan thing to do, so i figured even if I learn it late in life, it'll be good for me to know. I thinking of taking lessons this past fall, but that didn't work out.. So it'll have to be this coming winter.
Anyways I spent most of the weekends last february watching the curling. It started to get me hooked even more. I watched a little of the world juniors, then it was the Scott, then the brier, then the women's and men's worlds.
I wish I could have watched the Olympic curling trials this past February, but I was in Australia and New Zealand. NEw Zealand actually had a team there, because a transplanted Canadian was skipping it. Anyways point is I didn't get to watch any of it.
This was even more dissapointing for me because I watched the Olympic trials intently. I was so dissapointed that Kelly Scott lost in the final, i thought she played really really well and would've done Canada proud. My other favorite was Jeff Stoughton, who got to the final and came literally millimeters away from winning.
Here's hoping he can do like Kelly Scott and come back strong, to win the Brier
March 14, 2006
So I decided to go into Chapters one day....
And out I came with several books. Luckliy I had my giftcards and so i didn't have to spend my own money, except for the 25$ (i swear it only cost 15$ once upon a time...) for the chapters irewards card.
I ended up buying three new books:
A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson
Guns germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.
Not sure what to make of Jared Diamond, but a lot of people seem to like this particular book so i figured i'd give it a shot. I also wanted to buy a book on the history of cod, recommended by one of my relatives in New Zealand, but it was out of stock.. I guess they don't sell too many books about fish in this province :) Maybe next time I go, I still have some credit left.
I also forgot that I had another interesting book about Medak's pocket, which is an event that happened while Canadian soldier's were in the Balkans. It sounds like it's a good story, apparently the Canadians fared quite well there, but the story isn't told often, and wasn't reported much. I am looking forward to reading that as well.
I also took the plunge and bought a new badminton racket. I've been signed up for a second round of badminton, and the raquet I had before was about 5$. The one I got today is pretty nice, and was on sale, 20$ off. Not that I can really afford it, but I plan to play with my brother while he's here. So i should get some good use out of it for the next little while at least.
I guess that's all for now.. my bro has been talking about designing a website, and this made me think about mine here. I might try and redevelop it a bit. I learned html for an old site i had but it's been a long time.. If this site changes.. then you'll know that i attempted a redesign..
I ended up buying three new books:
A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson
The end of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs
and Finally...
Guns germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.
Not sure what to make of Jared Diamond, but a lot of people seem to like this particular book so i figured i'd give it a shot. I also wanted to buy a book on the history of cod, recommended by one of my relatives in New Zealand, but it was out of stock.. I guess they don't sell too many books about fish in this province :) Maybe next time I go, I still have some credit left.
I also forgot that I had another interesting book about Medak's pocket, which is an event that happened while Canadian soldier's were in the Balkans. It sounds like it's a good story, apparently the Canadians fared quite well there, but the story isn't told often, and wasn't reported much. I am looking forward to reading that as well.
I also took the plunge and bought a new badminton racket. I've been signed up for a second round of badminton, and the raquet I had before was about 5$. The one I got today is pretty nice, and was on sale, 20$ off. Not that I can really afford it, but I plan to play with my brother while he's here. So i should get some good use out of it for the next little while at least.
I guess that's all for now.. my bro has been talking about designing a website, and this made me think about mine here. I might try and redevelop it a bit. I learned html for an old site i had but it's been a long time.. If this site changes.. then you'll know that i attempted a redesign..
March 13, 2006
Back on Canadian Soil
Well I am back.. I had no problems on the many (5) stops it took me to get to Regina. It all went smoothly. There was a slight hiccough at the canadian border when she realized my Canadian passport had no entry stamp into New Zealand.
But that was over in less than a minute.
I was lucky enough to meet someone to talk to who was on my flights all the way to Vancouver, so that was nice.
I imagine i'll be sleeping well when I finally get to bed.
I'm not sure how iong i'll be staying at home, but it is nice to be here right now
But that was over in less than a minute.
I was lucky enough to meet someone to talk to who was on my flights all the way to Vancouver, so that was nice.
I imagine i'll be sleeping well when I finally get to bed.
I'm not sure how iong i'll be staying at home, but it is nice to be here right now
March 11, 2006
March 09, 2006
Still in Auckland
Well i'm still here... Nothing much to report.
My brother got home today so that's good, and he brought my book back. I am quite looking forward to reading it.
Even before I grumbled and paid the membership fee for nytimes Select, I have been an avid reader of Paul Krugman's columns. He's one of the best known and respected (by those who don't disparage his politics too much) economists around. The book is Pop Internationalism, and it is a beginners look at the way that economic jargon gets thrown around irresponsibly.
It should be good reading. I also have some money on my chapters giftcards from christmas to go around and buy some books when I get back.. Any suggestions are welcome...
thats all for now
My brother got home today so that's good, and he brought my book back. I am quite looking forward to reading it.
Even before I grumbled and paid the membership fee for nytimes Select, I have been an avid reader of Paul Krugman's columns. He's one of the best known and respected (by those who don't disparage his politics too much) economists around. The book is Pop Internationalism, and it is a beginners look at the way that economic jargon gets thrown around irresponsibly.
It should be good reading. I also have some money on my chapters giftcards from christmas to go around and buy some books when I get back.. Any suggestions are welcome...
thats all for now
March 08, 2006
In Auckland and marking time
I'm having a good time here in Auckland. I'm staying with some relatives who are just great hosts. However i'm anxious to get home. My dad is doing ok, but slowly getting weaker. I want to be at home as soon as I can.
It looks like i'll have to wait till the 12th, I was trying to change my flight but it wasn't possible. So for the moment i'm in Auckand waiting.
I won't be able to post pictures till I get back, but I went through them tonight and there are some real good ones.
Nothing much else to report for the moment.
It looks like i'll have to wait till the 12th, I was trying to change my flight but it wasn't possible. So for the moment i'm in Auckand waiting.
I won't be able to post pictures till I get back, but I went through them tonight and there are some real good ones.
Nothing much else to report for the moment.
March 04, 2006
Wellington
Well I have spent the last two days in Wellington. It's been nice to relax a bit and spend some time with my cousins.
We also went to Eastborune where my mom lived for a little while, and where my great grandma lived (i just hope I have that right)
It was nice and we visited 31 Konini street, i'll try and put up the pictures later..
Things are good here, got a chance to look at some of my pictures which was nice. I can't wait to properly go through them, put them on my computer and print them out.
Anyways things are fine here... looking forward to going home though
We also went to Eastborune where my mom lived for a little while, and where my great grandma lived (i just hope I have that right)
It was nice and we visited 31 Konini street, i'll try and put up the pictures later..
Things are good here, got a chance to look at some of my pictures which was nice. I can't wait to properly go through them, put them on my computer and print them out.
Anyways things are fine here... looking forward to going home though
March 02, 2006
I'm in the rain again
Well I was supposed to go meet the new nice German girls tonight, but rain is keeping me inside. I also realized that my flight is earlier than I thought which means that i have to be at the airport earlier than i thought.
Oh well.. I had a nice time today meeting my great Aunt Mary. We got in all the family chat, though I realized how little I know about some of my mom's side of the family.
Anyways not much else going on here. Relaxing a bit and just taking er easy.
I should be able to put up a few more pictures when I get to my cousin's place tomorrow night.
My last night in Oz.....
Oh well.. I had a nice time today meeting my great Aunt Mary. We got in all the family chat, though I realized how little I know about some of my mom's side of the family.
Anyways not much else going on here. Relaxing a bit and just taking er easy.
I should be able to put up a few more pictures when I get to my cousin's place tomorrow night.
My last night in Oz.....
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