Final 2 months
16 years ago
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
My Trip to Europe
Re: 2 Days till Departure
It's been an interesting experience this week with uncertainty of not being able to leave looming over our trip as the result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. There was an ash cloud that could have prevented us from even leaving Calgary. At times like these it’s definitely trying as something you can't control can prevent you from leaving on a trip you've looked forward to going on for a couple of months! The only thing I can do is to rely on God's sovereignty and pray that air travel resumes and our flight not cancelled!
This also marks the day before my graduation celebrations take place. I am definitely still feeling nostalgic about it all. One thing’s for sure though, these past 7 years in post-secondary were definitely the best years of my life and I won't trade this experience for anything! I guess it is time to close this chapter of my life and move on knowing that God has everything in control!
This also marks the day before my graduation celebrations take place. I am definitely still feeling nostalgic about it all. One thing’s for sure though, these past 7 years in post-secondary were definitely the best years of my life and I won't trade this experience for anything! I guess it is time to close this chapter of my life and move on knowing that God has everything in control!
Re: Safe and Sound in London!
Well, just so everyone knows, I'm safe and sound in London! The flight was quick after the snow delay but yeah, I'm here!!
Re: First Day!
Wow! What an eventful day! It is still sinking in ... The fact that we are actually in Europe! Landing an hour late due to a snowstorm in Calgary, it was a relief that our flight went smoothly and quickly. In London, we checked into our hotel and had a dinner of authentic English fish and chips! We then walked around some of the London suburbs, and took lots of amazing photographs. It was really cool to see Buckingham palace at night!
It is time to go to sleep though. I think I've had about 9h in the last 36-48 hours haha. G'nite Calgary!
It is time to go to sleep though. I think I've had about 9h in the last 36-48 hours haha. G'nite Calgary!
Re: On the Way to Brussels!
Our final day in London was certainly interesting. We started off with another brilliant breakfast (sometimes I think I would just to scrap the rest of the trip and just stay in London). We then embarked in more tours of London and surrounding areas. Even though we've visited some of the sights many times, it seems like there are always something new and intriguing about them. As we were riding along on the bus today, it meant that we were finally able to rest little after hoofing around yesterday.
In terms of business meetings, we had the chance to talk to an ex-pat that now works with BMO London. While I don’t think I am interested in becoming a banker, it was still interesting to listen to his experiences and the challenges he faces while working overseas. We also had the chance to talk to another ex-pat who told us how difficult it would be in terms of adjusting to a North American style of doing business if he were to move home after his term in London.
In terms of business meetings, we had the chance to talk to an ex-pat that now works with BMO London. While I don’t think I am interested in becoming a banker, it was still interesting to listen to his experiences and the challenges he faces while working overseas. We also had the chance to talk to another ex-pat who told us how difficult it would be in terms of adjusting to a North American style of doing business if he were to move home after his term in London.
We also celebrated a momentous occasion - the naming of our mascot..... Winston! Yes. After 3 days of deliberation, we finally decided on what we should call this mascot of ours! :)
I've written most if this as we were flying from London to Brussels. The flight itself was smooth and quick. It took us 40 minutes to fly from one place to the other!
Before I go sleep, I am just going to sum up my experience in London. While wasn't too much of a culture shock, there were definitely things that I wasn't used to. European pizza, transit system, and even mundane things like tipping at restaurants or crossing the street are just a few that come to mind.
All in all, I would say London was awesome. The sights, photography opportunities and even our business meetings were interesting and informative. Heck they even have a Tim Hortons, so that automatically makes it that much better :D
Also, one last London observation: it is true that Starbucks have taken over the world... They are EVERYWHERE!
I've written most if this as we were flying from London to Brussels. The flight itself was smooth and quick. It took us 40 minutes to fly from one place to the other!
Before I go sleep, I am just going to sum up my experience in London. While wasn't too much of a culture shock, there were definitely things that I wasn't used to. European pizza, transit system, and even mundane things like tipping at restaurants or crossing the street are just a few that come to mind.
All in all, I would say London was awesome. The sights, photography opportunities and even our business meetings were interesting and informative. Heck they even have a Tim Hortons, so that automatically makes it that much better :D
Also, one last London observation: it is true that Starbucks have taken over the world... They are EVERYWHERE!
Re: Belgian Chocolate
The rumours I've have heard about the wonders of Belgian chocolate is definitely not exaggerated. They are brilliant! (say it with a British accent for maximum effect!) I tried this one the Belgians call "seduction" - a raspberry crème filled confection with a wafer bottom surrounded by milk chocolate .... Soooo good. I don't think it's helping me with the ladies though haha. (inside joke .. bahaha) I was also able to try Belgian hot chocolate. The extra smooth, and creamy hot chocolate with a variety of flavours. I tried an Ecuadorian dark hot chocolate. It definitely puts powdered or even Starbucks hot chocolates to shame!
Our walk though the old city of Brussels also gave me a glimpse of life in a continental European city. It was a different sight to see the many restaurants with tables set right onto public sidewalks. I have definitely noticed the language barrier more and more as we've left London. English is something I take for granted as I've realized how hard it is for us to communicate without. It might be European culture, but going to restaurants here in Belgium feels like going to a Chinese restaurant as someone that isn't Chinese - the poor service definitely is something you don't expect! Thankfully the food was decent enough!
While traversing through Brussels, we had the opportunity to check out some of the EU's institutions. Our visit to the EU Council was a very good experience as we were able to pick the brains of someone who worked within the institutions. We also had the experience of meeting with a Canadian national that was in charge of bridging the gaps between the EU and Canada. As a group it was definitely an experience as we were able to get a glimpse about the complexities and challenges of negotiating a massive trade pact that is second only to NAFTA in size (from a Canadian perspective)!
Our walk though the old city of Brussels also gave me a glimpse of life in a continental European city. It was a different sight to see the many restaurants with tables set right onto public sidewalks. I have definitely noticed the language barrier more and more as we've left London. English is something I take for granted as I've realized how hard it is for us to communicate without. It might be European culture, but going to restaurants here in Belgium feels like going to a Chinese restaurant as someone that isn't Chinese - the poor service definitely is something you don't expect! Thankfully the food was decent enough!
While traversing through Brussels, we had the opportunity to check out some of the EU's institutions. Our visit to the EU Council was a very good experience as we were able to pick the brains of someone who worked within the institutions. We also had the experience of meeting with a Canadian national that was in charge of bridging the gaps between the EU and Canada. As a group it was definitely an experience as we were able to get a glimpse about the complexities and challenges of negotiating a massive trade pact that is second only to NAFTA in size (from a Canadian perspective)!
Re: Frankfurt
Our arrival into Frankfurt via train was 250km/h of goodness. Stopping at about 9:45pm, we arrived at a train station that makes anything in Calgary look silly.
Unlike our hotel in Brussels, the hotel we are staying at in Frankfurt is actually liveable. Clean rooms, bathrooms, beds & air conditioning (for the privileged) were all a welcome sight to see! I also was finally able to get an Internet connection that allowed me to post some updates and check my facebook (yes, I'm a junkie ... It was hard being without FB for a couple of days..)!
The ruins in Frankfurt make for a sombre reminder of the events in WW II. I had a chance to see them first hand and see the ruins left behind by massive bombing campaigns.
There is a common theme among all the cities I've visited so far - the history. Being from a fairly young country, the buildings definitely don't have as much meaning behind them as some of the locations here. The architecture is intricate and the story behind their existence is immaculate.. It makes for good pictures at least! :)
Unlike our hotel in Brussels, the hotel we are staying at in Frankfurt is actually liveable. Clean rooms, bathrooms, beds & air conditioning (for the privileged) were all a welcome sight to see! I also was finally able to get an Internet connection that allowed me to post some updates and check my facebook (yes, I'm a junkie ... It was hard being without FB for a couple of days..)!
The ruins in Frankfurt make for a sombre reminder of the events in WW II. I had a chance to see them first hand and see the ruins left behind by massive bombing campaigns.
There is a common theme among all the cities I've visited so far - the history. Being from a fairly young country, the buildings definitely don't have as much meaning behind them as some of the locations here. The architecture is intricate and the story behind their existence is immaculate.. It makes for good pictures at least! :)
In Frankfurt, we were able to check out the European Central Bank. During our meeting, we were able to learn from someone who is on the inside looking out at the issues that were affecting the Euro – especially the Greek crisis and how it will affect the Eurozone should Greece withdraw or the impact of a bailout package. It was a very interesting experience to get a candid opinion on such topics that we’ve been discussing over the last semester.
Re: Oestrich-Winkel
Our stay in Oestrich-Winkel is amazing. Beautiful hotel, wonderful food, and good company our hosts are also gracious and have been able to help us with our transportation and translations as well. Our hosts also own a wine business. They grow and produce an assortment of wines and even own the title of the top sparkling wine in Germany. We also had the opportunity to taste their wine and also to tour their production facilities. I didn't try the wine here, but that is another story for another time. I think the thing that gets to me is the smell, although it is a little grape-py, there is this odour to it that I do not like.
German food is definitely an experience. I think one of the hardest things is to order food in a country that does not have English menus... For good reason. I definitely went out on a limb and tried a fish dish. I'm not really sure how I should describe his dish, but it was definitely very fishy. The taste was stronger than what I normally have in Canada and it was prepared cold and in a way that made the meat's texture very slimy. It was almost like eating a jello of sorts. Although I think I'm going to stay away from fish as much as possible, I think it is definitely an acquired taste. However, I actually tasted alcohol for the first time while on our Rhine river cruise. We were in a shop at St. Goar where a shop keep offered us some homemade peach brandy. I must say I tasted like an Italian soda that burned a little on the way down! We also had a chance to check out Marksburg castle during our cruise. One of the oldest original castles in Germany, it was restored and turned into an exhibit of life in pre-modern Germany.
Our last day in Oestrich-Winkel was spent going to a German church. I thought this was a very intriguing experience as the language barrier caused some problems, but in the end, we were still worshipping the same God, no matter the language. Church is also definitely interesting culturally. After the service the congregation gathered and fellowshipped with wine.
Our stay in this town ended with a tour of Kloster Eberbach. This was a memorable event as we witnessed Eric Boldt busting out a dance move...albeit quick. Eberbach was once a monastery with centuries of history. It's an amazing thing to observe the craftsmanship and architectural expertise of these minks as they built these monasteries.
Oh yes, Dave and Jeff, I didn't manage to get Julia's Facebook.
German food is definitely an experience. I think one of the hardest things is to order food in a country that does not have English menus... For good reason. I definitely went out on a limb and tried a fish dish. I'm not really sure how I should describe his dish, but it was definitely very fishy. The taste was stronger than what I normally have in Canada and it was prepared cold and in a way that made the meat's texture very slimy. It was almost like eating a jello of sorts. Although I think I'm going to stay away from fish as much as possible, I think it is definitely an acquired taste. However, I actually tasted alcohol for the first time while on our Rhine river cruise. We were in a shop at St. Goar where a shop keep offered us some homemade peach brandy. I must say I tasted like an Italian soda that burned a little on the way down! We also had a chance to check out Marksburg castle during our cruise. One of the oldest original castles in Germany, it was restored and turned into an exhibit of life in pre-modern Germany.
Our last day in Oestrich-Winkel was spent going to a German church. I thought this was a very intriguing experience as the language barrier caused some problems, but in the end, we were still worshipping the same God, no matter the language. Church is also definitely interesting culturally. After the service the congregation gathered and fellowshipped with wine.
Our stay in this town ended with a tour of Kloster Eberbach. This was a memorable event as we witnessed Eric Boldt busting out a dance move...albeit quick. Eberbach was once a monastery with centuries of history. It's an amazing thing to observe the craftsmanship and architectural expertise of these minks as they built these monasteries.
Oh yes, Dave and Jeff, I didn't manage to get Julia's Facebook.
Re: Leipzig
Our trip to Leipzig was an insane dash to catch trains. Due to our first train from Oestrich-Winkel being delayed, we missed our connector to Frankfurt by a minute. Compounding this was having to sprint across platforms in hopes of not missing our connection to Leipzig. Thank God we made it. I can just imagine the locals just laughing at us trying to haul all our luggage across a daunting distance... including running up and down stair cases and escalators.
The hospitality we have experienced is unparalleled at during our stay in Oestrich-Winkel. They even provided us with an amazing bag lunch/dinner that was extremely delicious and filling.
Leipzig is actually quite a little city. We definitely checked out a MacDonald’s for a late night snack! I was surprised at the fact that they serve curly fries! However the burgers do taste quite similar.
We spent most of day touring the BMW plant in Leipzig. This state of the art facility was an amazing work of art. We had a chance to see each stage of how BMW produces several of its models.
One of the coolest things I have experienced is meeting random people on the trains. Sometimes we run into expats that tell us their stories about living away from Canada. While on our rush from train to train, we even met a couple that were from Calgary!
The hospitality we have experienced is unparalleled at during our stay in Oestrich-Winkel. They even provided us with an amazing bag lunch/dinner that was extremely delicious and filling.
Leipzig is actually quite a little city. We definitely checked out a MacDonald’s for a late night snack! I was surprised at the fact that they serve curly fries! However the burgers do taste quite similar.
We spent most of day touring the BMW plant in Leipzig. This state of the art facility was an amazing work of art. We had a chance to see each stage of how BMW produces several of its models.
One of the coolest things I have experienced is meeting random people on the trains. Sometimes we run into expats that tell us their stories about living away from Canada. While on our rush from train to train, we even met a couple that were from Calgary!
Re: Dresden
Our arrival and stay in Dresden was short and eventful. I was stunned the moment we got off the taxi on the doorstep of a enormous church. Let's just say the camera got a good workout right away! Our hotel was quite the nice place. One of the comparisons that we, as a group, constantly made was the quality of hotel as compared with formulae 1 in Brussels. In the end nothing compares with the unsatisfactory conditions in Brussels haha.
After settling in, I quickly went for a walk with my camera. We were staying in the old city and had easy access to many of the historical sites and buildings ... All within walking distance. I was definitely awed like I was with every other city I have visited. Calgary definitely doesn't compare with the historical masterpieces, or architectural masterpieces. I definitely felt a sense of wonder just standing there marvelling at the sights.
Wally and I also had an amazing dinner experience on the streets of Europe. Perhaps it is the warmer climate or just their culture, but it is definitely nice to sit outside in a heated patio enjoying very well cooked food!
After settling in, I quickly went for a walk with my camera. We were staying in the old city and had easy access to many of the historical sites and buildings ... All within walking distance. I was definitely awed like I was with every other city I have visited. Calgary definitely doesn't compare with the historical masterpieces, or architectural masterpieces. I definitely felt a sense of wonder just standing there marvelling at the sights.
Wally and I also had an amazing dinner experience on the streets of Europe. Perhaps it is the warmer climate or just their culture, but it is definitely nice to sit outside in a heated patio enjoying very well cooked food!
Re: Prague
Our next stop after Dresden was Prague. One of the biggest surprises to me, as we travelled from Western Europe and deeper into Eastern Europe, were the amount of English that is spoken. This helped me a lot as I am able to communicate somewhat with storekeepers and waiters. While many spoke brokenly, it is made life easy for us as tourists. One of the lessons I have learned is the importance of learning even a couple of words in their language. It was a much nicer experience if I said hello or thank you in their native tongue.
After our arrival in Prague, we toured the beautiful Prague castle. Being on top of a hill, we had quite the climb up! I think we managed to drag our exhausted bodies up a couple hundred steps! Haha. I think I am definitely out of shape! Also, I really hate climbing long stair cases now! The castle itself, once we arrived, was amazing. I am definitely still amazed at all the different architecture that we’ve come across since our arrival in London. It is also amazing to learn about all the history that each building has and our tour guide was able to show us and tell us some of the stories and legends that were an integral part of each sight. I can just imagine stumbling around a foreign city not knowing directions, language, or the stories behind these buildings. We also had a chance to attend a classical concert in one of the stone concert halls. It was really amazing, except for the fact we were all exhausted and feel asleep at different times throughout! haha
Another interesting experience was cooking food in our apartment hotel. Going for a taste of home, we had bacon and eggs for 8 people for a cost of $10 – even if we had to buy pretty much everything! This was an awesome start to the day, but it only got better. That afternoon I had my first chance to attend a professional football game. Even though it was raining and we were completely soaked, the experience was extraordinary. It’s been a LONG time since I have been sooo excited for something! I definitely loved the cheering. The stadium was only a 1/3 full, but the diehards definitely made the atmosphere amazing. I don’t think they stopped cheering throughout the 90minunte match! At one point, they even lit flares! It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.. although I can just imagine being at a game for a bigger team with a stadium of over 70000 in capacity! Our day ended with another home cooked dinner. I love cooking in Prague... I think it cost me about $23 Canadian to make two meals that fed 15 people!
Re: Warsaw
Warsaw is the last stop on the trip. It is hard to believe that 2 weeks is almost over! =( I am definitely going to miss being with some of my best friends here on this trip and am glad they convinced me to go! Definitely the trip of a life time! Arrival in Warsaw was definitely interesting. LOT airlines definitely was interesting to fly on.. hopefully not so much in the future! Haha. After the flight, we checked into an amazing hotel that I am definitely looking forward to staying in! (5 stars w00t!)
The first meeting we had was with Bob Patterson. His talk on international banking was interesting and I definitely gleaned a lot of interesting bits of information about the banking in Poland as well as living as a Canadian expat working in Poland without being fluent in the language. Along with our other contacts here in Warsaw, Bob helped to shed insight on our misconceptions of Poland. I think I have definitely misconceived how Poland is just another eastern European country that is still lagging behind what we are used to here in North America. I was amazed at how modern the city is. While retaining some of the historic buildings in the Old City, Poland also boasted some amazing malls and other amenities that I found equal to that of North America. Our second meeting was with Wolfgang, a VP within the Empic organization. This company is something Wolfgang would compare with Barnes & Noble. Throughout the morning, we spent 2h listening to Wolfgang talking about his company and how Poland is growing so quickly. These two meetings were very informative, and I was amazed at how two individuals that had such busy lives took the time out to talk to a bunch of students from Canada. Their time was definitely much appreciated!
Our first dinner in Poland was also memorable. We were entertained by Stash, an individual that ran an affluent cafe and was part of Radio Free Europe during the Cold War and the existence of the iron curtain. Throughout the dinner, we were able to listen to stories about his life during communism in Eastern Europe. It was an amazing experience to listen to stories from someone that experienced many of the hardships firsthand.
In terms of random ramblings, I also watched Iron Man 2 in Warsaw. The movie itself costs only $7 CDN and even included assigned seating! While the movie was good, I am definitely looking forward to being back in Canada and watching Robin Hood.
Re: Final Thoughts
My first highlight has got to be landing at Heathrow. This has officially been the farthest I have on my own. Getting off the plane with some of my closest friends and spending the next two weeks experiencing new and exciting things is definitely one of the biggest highlights of my trip. Even though there were some long days, long walks, and massive staircases to climb, being with my friends made it that much easier.
Another highlight is definitely the beautiful scenery, architecture and just the overall atmosphere all throughout the trip. I remember checking into our hotel and immediately going out for a walk around the sights of London. After eating the at a local pub and tasting some authentic fish and chips, we spent hours wandering and shooting pictures of Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Big Ben. It was amazing to see these sights during night time and see them the very next day while it was still light! While each city that we visited had its moments, my favourites are definitely Grand Plaz in Brussels, Dresden, and London.
The cuisine over in Europe is definitely something else to talk about. As Canada doesn’t have a specifically Canadian dish, it was nice to experience some of the culturally specific dishes during our travels. While I’ve definitely tried some interesting dishes like German sushi in Oestrich-Winkel (definitely not one of my favourites), there were some amazing foods that I loved – gelato, the Flemish Beef Stew, the Schnitzel, and the Chicken in crème sauce over rice were all sooooooooo good. Personally, I think what adds to the experience is the ability to sit outside and enjoy your food. Often times in Calgary, the weather is so temperamental that we rarely get to enjoy food while sitting on a patio at 10pm!
Last, but definitely not least is the Sparta Prague football game. While hockey in Canada is full of rabid fans that mostly show up during the playoffs, this regular season tilt had an atmosphere that rivals game 7 of a Stanley Cup final! I can’t believe how an outdoor stadium that was a third full can be so noisy! I definitely enjoyed the different sections of fans chanting in response to each other or the constant singing and dancing for 90 minutes of the game. I can just imagine how much more it will be to attend a match between premiere teams!
While the trip has brought about lots of highlight-reel worthy moments, I’ve definitely also learned lots as well. Throughout the trip, we had the chance to meet business people from a variety of industries. Whether ex-pat or not, they each had many insights that they shared with me about working in Europe as well as life and culture in Europe as well. I remember listening to bankers talking about the style of business and how different Canada when put in comparison. In Brussels, we also had the chance to meet with individuals that worked within the EU. While it is easy to study the EU from an outside perspective, it is different when you listen to those that are closest to the treaties itself. It was interesting listening to some candid opinions on big issues like the Greek crisis that we’ve discussed over the semester.
Another interesting thing that I learned/experienced is the amount of English that was actually spoken by locals. While not completely fluent, the people that we’ve met and interacted with at restaurants knew enough English words to help us with directions, with ordering and other daily activities. This has been a blessing as we could have easily faced a bigger barrier in communication. One thing that really made the difference for me is how learning simple words in their native tongue helps with communication. I think everyone that we’ve met instantly knows we are tourists. I felt that even saying hello and thank you in their language helped create a warmer environment than if I were to walk in and just use English.
Business aside, some of our interactions with people were very interesting and informative. I remember going out for dinner in Warsaw at the Radio Cafe. The owner, Stas, joined us and we listened to his stories about the Cold War and Iron Curtain era. This experience, to me, was one to remember. Often, our accounts of this era might possible be second-hand information that our textbooks tell us of, but to listen to stories from one that experienced it was another thing in itself.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Warsaw
Warsaw is the last stop on the trip. It is hard to believe that 2 weeks is almost over! =( I am definitely going to miss being with some of my best friends here on this trip and am glad they convinced me to go! Definitely the trip of a life time! Arrival in Warsaw was definitely interesting. LOT airlines definitely was interesting to fly on.. hopefully not so much in the future! Haha. After the flight, we checked into an amazing hotel that I am definitely looking forward to staying in! (5 stars w00t!)
The first meeting we had was with Bob Patterson. His talk on international banking was interesting and I definitely gleaned a lot of interesting bits of information about the banking in Poland as well as living as a Canadian expat working in Poland without being fluent in the language. Along with our other contacts here in Warsaw, Bob helped to shed insight on our misconceptions of Poland. I think I have definitely misconceived how Poland is just another eastern European country that is still lagging behind what we are used to here in North America. I was amazed at how modern the city is. While retaining some of the historic buildings in the Old City, Poland also boasted some amazing malls and other amenities that I found equal to that of North America. Our second meeting was with Wolfgang, a VP within the Empic organization. This company is something Wolfgang would compare with Barnes & Noble. Throughout the morning, we spent 2h listening to Wolfgang talking about his company and how Poland is growing so quickly. These two meetings were very informative, and I was amazed at how two individuals that had such busy lives took the time out to talk to a bunch of students from Canada. Their time was definitely much appreciated!
Our first dinner in Poland was also memorable. We were entertained by Stash, an individual that ran an affluent cafe and was part of Radio Free Europe during the Cold War and the existence of the iron curtain. Throughout the dinner, we were able to listen to stories about his life during communism in Eastern Europe. It was an amazing experience to listen to stories from someone that experienced many of the hardships firsthand.
In terms of random ramblings, I also watched Iron Man 2 in Warsaw. The movie itself costs only $7 CDN and even included assigned seating! While the movie was good, I am definitely looking forward to being back in Canada and watching Robin Hood.
Prague!!
Our next stop after Dresden was Prague. One of the biggest surprises to me, as we travelled from Western Europe and deeper into Eastern Europe, were the amount of English that is spoken. This helped me a lot as I am able to communicate somewhat with storekeepers and waiters. While many spoke brokenly, it is made life easy for us as tourists. One of the lessons I have learned is the importance of learning even a couple of words in their language. It was a much nicer experience if I said hello or thank you in their native tongue.
After our arrival in Prague, we toured the beautiful Prague castle. Being on top of a hill, we had quite the climb up! I think we managed to drag our exhausted bodies up a couple hundred steps! Haha. I think I am definitely out of shape! Also, I really hate climbing long stair cases now! The castle itself, once we arrived, was amazing. I am definitely still amazed at all the different architecture that we’ve come across since our arrival in London. It is also amazing to learn about all the history that each building has and our tour guide was able to show us and tell us some of the stories and legends that were an integral part of each sight. I can just imagine stumbling around a foreign city not knowing directions, language, or the stories behind these buildings. We also had a chance to attended a classical concert in one of the stone concert halls. It was really amazing, except for the fact we were all exhausted and feel asleep at different times throughout! haha
Another interesting experience was cooking food in our apartment hotel. Going for a taste of home, we had bacon and eggs for 8 people for a cost of $10 – even if we had to buy pretty much everything! This was an awesome start to the day, but it only got better. That afternoon I had my first chance to attend a professional football game. Even though it was raining and we were completely soaked, the experience was extraordinary. It’s been a LONG time since I have been sooo excited for something! I definitely loved the cheering. The stadium was only a 1/3 full, but the diehards definitely made the atmosphere amazing. I don’t think they stopped cheering throughout the 90minunte match! At one point, they even lit flares! It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.. although I can just imagine being at a game for a bigger team with a stadium of over 70000 in capacity! Our day ended with another home cooked dinner. I love cooking in Prague... I think it cost me about $23 Canadian to make two meals that fed 15 people! J
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Dresden
Our arrival and stay in Dresden was short and eventful. I was stunned the moment we got off the taxi on the doorstep of a enormous church. Let's just say the camera got a good workout right away! Our hotel was quite the nice place. One of the comparisons that we, as a group, constantly made was the quality of hotel as compared with formulae 1 in Brussels. In the end nothing compares with the unstisfactory conditions in Brussels haha.
After settling in, I quickly went for a walk with my camera. We were staying in the old city and had easy access to many of the historical sights and buildings ... All within walking distance. I was definitley awed like I was with every other city I have visited. Calgary definitely doesn't compare with the historical masterpieces, or architectural masterpieces. I definitely felt a sence of wonder just standing ther marvelling at the sights.
Wally and I also had an amazing dinner experience on the streets of Europe. Perhaps it is the warmer climate or just their culture, but it is definitely nice to sit outside in a heated patio enjoying very well cooked food!
After settling in, I quickly went for a walk with my camera. We were staying in the old city and had easy access to many of the historical sights and buildings ... All within walking distance. I was definitley awed like I was with every other city I have visited. Calgary definitely doesn't compare with the historical masterpieces, or architectural masterpieces. I definitely felt a sence of wonder just standing ther marvelling at the sights.
Wally and I also had an amazing dinner experience on the streets of Europe. Perhaps it is the warmer climate or just their culture, but it is definitely nice to sit outside in a heated patio enjoying very well cooked food!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Leipzig
Re: Leipzig
Our trip to Leipzig was an insane dash to catch trains. Due to our first train from Oestrich-Winkel being delayed, we missed our connector to Frankfurt by a minute. Compounding this was having to sprint across platforms in hopes of not missing our connection to Leipzig. Thank God we made it. I can just imagine the locals just laughing at us trying to haul all our luggage across a daughting distance... including running up and down stair cases and escalators.
The hospitality we have experienced is unparalleled at during our stay in Oestrich-Winkel. They even provided us with an amazing bag lunch/dinner that was extremely delicious and filling.
Leipzig is actually quite a litle city. We definitely checked out a macdonalds for a late night snack! I was surprised at the fact that they serve curly fries! However the burgers do taste quite similar.
We spent most of day touring the BMW plant in leipzig. This state of the art facility was an amazing work of art. We had a chance to see each stage of how BMW produces several of it's models.
One of the coolest things I have exerienced is meeting random people on the trains. Sometimes we run into expats that tell us their stories about living away from Canada. While on our rush from train to train, we even met a couple that were from Calgary!
Our trip to Leipzig was an insane dash to catch trains. Due to our first train from Oestrich-Winkel being delayed, we missed our connector to Frankfurt by a minute. Compounding this was having to sprint across platforms in hopes of not missing our connection to Leipzig. Thank God we made it. I can just imagine the locals just laughing at us trying to haul all our luggage across a daughting distance... including running up and down stair cases and escalators.
The hospitality we have experienced is unparalleled at during our stay in Oestrich-Winkel. They even provided us with an amazing bag lunch/dinner that was extremely delicious and filling.
Leipzig is actually quite a litle city. We definitely checked out a macdonalds for a late night snack! I was surprised at the fact that they serve curly fries! However the burgers do taste quite similar.
We spent most of day touring the BMW plant in leipzig. This state of the art facility was an amazing work of art. We had a chance to see each stage of how BMW produces several of it's models.
One of the coolest things I have exerienced is meeting random people on the trains. Sometimes we run into expats that tell us their stories about living away from Canada. While on our rush from train to train, we even met a couple that were from Calgary!
Oestrich-Winkel
Our stay in Oestrich-Winkel is amazing. Beautiful hotel, wonderful food, and good company our hosts are also gracious and have been able to help us with our transportation and translations as well. Our hosts also own a wine business. They grow and produce an assortment of wines and even own the title of the top sparkling wine in Germany. We also had the opportunity to taste their wine and also to tour their production facilities. I didn't try the wine here, but that is another story for another time. I think the thing that gets to me is the smell, although it is a little grappy, there is this odour to it that I do not like.
German food is definitely an experience. I think one of the hardest things is to order food in a country that do not have English menus... For good reason. I definitely went out on a limb and tried a fish dish. I'm not really sure how I should describe his dish, but it was definitely very fishy. The taste was stronger than what I normally have in Canada and it was prepared cold and in a way that made the meat's texture very slimey. It was almost like eating a jello of sorts. Although I think I'm going to stay away from fish as much as possible, I think it is definitely an acquired taste. However, I actually tasted alcohol for the first time while on our Rhine river cruise. We were in a shop at St. Goar where a shop keep offered us some homemade peach brandy. I must say I tasted like an Italian soda that burned a little on the way down! We also had a chance to check out Marksburg castle during our cruise. One of the oldest original castles in Germany, it was restored and turned into an exhibit of life in pre-modern Germany.
Our last day in Oestrich-Winkel was spent going to a German church. I though this was a very intriguging experience as the language barrier caused some problems, but in the end, we were still worhipping the same God, no matter the language. Church is also definitely interesting culturally. After the service the congregation gathered and fellowshipped with wine.
Our stay in this town ended with a tour of Kloster Eberbach. This was a memorable event as we witnessed Eric Boldt busting out a dance move...albeit quick. Eberbach was once a monestary with centuries of history. It's an amazing thing to observe the craftmanship and architecturial expertise of these minks as they built these monestaries.
Oh yes, Dave and Jeff, I didn't manage to get Julia's facebook.
German food is definitely an experience. I think one of the hardest things is to order food in a country that do not have English menus... For good reason. I definitely went out on a limb and tried a fish dish. I'm not really sure how I should describe his dish, but it was definitely very fishy. The taste was stronger than what I normally have in Canada and it was prepared cold and in a way that made the meat's texture very slimey. It was almost like eating a jello of sorts. Although I think I'm going to stay away from fish as much as possible, I think it is definitely an acquired taste. However, I actually tasted alcohol for the first time while on our Rhine river cruise. We were in a shop at St. Goar where a shop keep offered us some homemade peach brandy. I must say I tasted like an Italian soda that burned a little on the way down! We also had a chance to check out Marksburg castle during our cruise. One of the oldest original castles in Germany, it was restored and turned into an exhibit of life in pre-modern Germany.
Our last day in Oestrich-Winkel was spent going to a German church. I though this was a very intriguging experience as the language barrier caused some problems, but in the end, we were still worhipping the same God, no matter the language. Church is also definitely interesting culturally. After the service the congregation gathered and fellowshipped with wine.
Our stay in this town ended with a tour of Kloster Eberbach. This was a memorable event as we witnessed Eric Boldt busting out a dance move...albeit quick. Eberbach was once a monestary with centuries of history. It's an amazing thing to observe the craftmanship and architecturial expertise of these minks as they built these monestaries.
Oh yes, Dave and Jeff, I didn't manage to get Julia's facebook.
Frankfurt
Our arrival into Frankfurt via train was 250km/h of goodness. Stopping at about 9:45pm, we arrived at a train station that makes anything in Calgary look silly.
Unlike our hotel in Brussels, the hotel we are staying at in Frankfurt is actually livable. Clean rooms, bathrooms, beds & air conditioning (for the priveledged) were all a welcome sight to see! I also was finally able to get an Internet connection that allowed me to post some updates and check my facebook (yes, I'm a junkie ... It was hard being without fb for a couple of days..)!
The ruins in Frankfurt make for a sombre reminder of the events in WW II. I had a chance to see them first hand and see the ruins left behind by massive bombing campagins.
There is a common theme among all the cities I've visited so far - the history. Being from a fairly young country, the buildings definitely don't have as much meaning behind them as some of the locations here. The artitecture is intricite and the story behind their existence is immaculate .. It makes for good pictures at least! :)
Unlike our hotel in Brussels, the hotel we are staying at in Frankfurt is actually livable. Clean rooms, bathrooms, beds & air conditioning (for the priveledged) were all a welcome sight to see! I also was finally able to get an Internet connection that allowed me to post some updates and check my facebook (yes, I'm a junkie ... It was hard being without fb for a couple of days..)!
The ruins in Frankfurt make for a sombre reminder of the events in WW II. I had a chance to see them first hand and see the ruins left behind by massive bombing campagins.
There is a common theme among all the cities I've visited so far - the history. Being from a fairly young country, the buildings definitely don't have as much meaning behind them as some of the locations here. The artitecture is intricite and the story behind their existence is immaculate .. It makes for good pictures at least! :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Belgian chocolate!
The rumors I've have heard about the wonders of Belgian chocate is definitely not exagarrated. They are brilliant! (say it with a British accent for maximum effect!) I tried this one the Belgians call "seduction" - a raspberry creme filled confection with a wafer bottom surrounded by milk chocolate .... Soooo good. I don't think it's helping me with the ladies though haha. (inside joke .. bahaha) I was also able to try Belgian hot chocolate. The extra smooth, and creamy hot chocolTe with a variety of flavours. I tried a equadoruan dark hot chocolate. It definily puts powdered or even. Starbucks hot chocolates to shame!
Our walk though the old city of Brussels also gave me a glimpse of life in a continential European city. It was a different sight to see the many restaurants with tables set right onto public side walks. I have definitely notced the language barrier more and more as we've left London. English is something I take for granted as I've realized how hard it is for us to communicate without. It might be European culture, but going to restaurants here in Belgium feels like going to a Chinese restaurant as someone that isn't Chinese - the poor service definitely is something you don't expect! Thankfully the food was decent enough!
While traverrsing through Brussels, nwe had the opportunity to check out some of the EU's institutions. Our visit to the EU Concil was a very good experience as we were able to pick the brains of someone who worked within the institutions. We also had the experience of meeting with a Canadian national that was in charge of bridging the gaps between the EU and Canada. As a group it was definitely an experience as we were able to get a glimpse about te complexities and challenges of negotiating a massive trade pact that is second only to NAFTA in size (from a Canadian perspective)!
Our walk though the old city of Brussels also gave me a glimpse of life in a continential European city. It was a different sight to see the many restaurants with tables set right onto public side walks. I have definitely notced the language barrier more and more as we've left London. English is something I take for granted as I've realized how hard it is for us to communicate without. It might be European culture, but going to restaurants here in Belgium feels like going to a Chinese restaurant as someone that isn't Chinese - the poor service definitely is something you don't expect! Thankfully the food was decent enough!
While traverrsing through Brussels, nwe had the opportunity to check out some of the EU's institutions. Our visit to the EU Concil was a very good experience as we were able to pick the brains of someone who worked within the institutions. We also had the experience of meeting with a Canadian national that was in charge of bridging the gaps between the EU and Canada. As a group it was definitely an experience as we were able to get a glimpse about te complexities and challenges of negotiating a massive trade pact that is second only to NAFTA in size (from a Canadian perspective)!
On the way to Brussels!!
Our final day in London was certainly interesting. We started off with another brilliant breakfast (sometimes I think I would just to scrap the rest of th trip and just stay in London). We then embarked in more tours of London and surrounding areas. Even though we've visited some of the sights many times, it seems like there are always something new and intriguing about them. As we were riding along on the bus today, it meant that we were finially able to rest little after hoofing around yesterday.
We also celebrated a momentous occasion - the naming of our our mascot..... Winston! Yes. After 3 days of deliberation, we finally decided on what we should call this manded mascot of ours! :)
I've written most if this as we were flying from London to Brussels. The flight itself was smooth and quick. It took us 40 minutes to fly from one place to the other!
Before I go sleep, I am just going to sum up my experience in London. While wasn't too much of a culture shock, there were definitely thngs that I wasn't used to. European pizza, transit system, and even mundane things like tipping at restaurants or crossing the street are just a few that come to mind.
All in all, I would say London was awesome. The sights, photography opportunities and even our business meetings were interesting and informative. Heck they even have a Tim Hortons, so that automatically makes it that much better :D
Also, one last London obserrvation: it is true that starbucks have taken over the world... They are EVERYWHERE!
We also celebrated a momentous occasion - the naming of our our mascot..... Winston! Yes. After 3 days of deliberation, we finally decided on what we should call this manded mascot of ours! :)
I've written most if this as we were flying from London to Brussels. The flight itself was smooth and quick. It took us 40 minutes to fly from one place to the other!
Before I go sleep, I am just going to sum up my experience in London. While wasn't too much of a culture shock, there were definitely thngs that I wasn't used to. European pizza, transit system, and even mundane things like tipping at restaurants or crossing the street are just a few that come to mind.
All in all, I would say London was awesome. The sights, photography opportunities and even our business meetings were interesting and informative. Heck they even have a Tim Hortons, so that automatically makes it that much better :D
Also, one last London obserrvation: it is true that starbucks have taken over the world... They are EVERYWHERE!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
First day!!
Wow! What an eventful day! It is still sinking in ... The fact that we are actually in Europe! Landing an hour late due to a snowstorm in Calgary, it was a relief that our flight went smoothly and quickly. In London, we checked into our hotel and ha a dinner of authentic English fish and chips! We then walked around some of the London suburbs, and took lots of amazing photographs. It was really cool to see Buckingham palace at night!
It is time to go to sleep though. I think I've had about 9h in the last 36-48 hours haha. G'nite Calgary!
It is time to go to sleep though. I think I've had about 9h in the last 36-48 hours haha. G'nite Calgary!
Safe and sound in London!
Well, just so everyone knows, I'm safe and sound in London! The flight was quick after the snow delay bit yeah, I'm here!!
Friday, April 23, 2010
2 days till departure!
It's been an interesting experience this week with uncertainty of not being able to leave looming over our trip as the result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. There was an ash cloud that could have prevented us from even leaving Calgary. At times like these its definitely trying as something you can't control can prevent you from leaving on a trip you've looked forward to going on for a couple of months! The only thing I can do is to rely on God's sovereignty and pray that air travel resumes and our flight not canceled!
This also marks the day before my graduation celebrations take place. I am definitely still feeling nostalgic about it all. One things for sure though, these past 7 years in post-secondary were definitely the best years of my life and I won't trade this experience for anything! I guess it is time to close this chapter of my life and move on knowing that God has everything in control!
This also marks the day before my graduation celebrations take place. I am definitely still feeling nostalgic about it all. One things for sure though, these past 7 years in post-secondary were definitely the best years of my life and I won't trade this experience for anything! I guess it is time to close this chapter of my life and move on knowing that God has everything in control!
Friday, April 9, 2010
The end of a chapter.. and onto the unknown.
Well, this is it.. my university career is now over after 7 awesome years! I don't even know what to say right now. I am definitely excited to be done and to move on, yet scared and nervous about the future. I guess having known one way of life for the past 19 years has this effect on you.
One thing I am thankful for is definitely the friendships that I have built over these years. It was great spending some of the best years of my life with these guys and gals (you know who you are) =)
The future is as of now unknown, but I'll be going to Europe for a couple of weeks. When I get back, I have my yearbook to finish up, so I guess it isn't so bad!
One thing I am thankful for is definitely the friendships that I have built over these years. It was great spending some of the best years of my life with these guys and gals (you know who you are) =)
The future is as of now unknown, but I'll be going to Europe for a couple of weeks. When I get back, I have my yearbook to finish up, so I guess it isn't so bad!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Birthday Blog
Hmmm.. I decided to take a break from writing my ethics paper and write a blog on my birthday. Oh yes, I do live an exciting life. Homework on my birthday! woot! Anyways, it has been a good week! We had one extra day of holidays and it's definitely needed to catch up on sleep and get a head-start on writing my final term paper. In the midst of all this business, I also official received my first land title and also got a new knee-brace after I lost my old one (yes stupid me).
Yet, that is probably not the best thing that has happened. My hockey team, the Calgary Flames, have clawed their way back into playoff contention! It has been a gut wrenching couple of weeks as I followed them as they fought through a post Olympic haze and went on a roller coaster ride though wins and losses. Sometimes I want to kick those multimillionaires in the tail end myself to get em going (mostly cuz im just jealous).
Reflecting on this weekend, I should mention that it is honour to share this 25th birthday with Easter falling on the same weekend. There is no other way to make it more memorable than to celebrate this milestone remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made to allow us, as humanity, the chance to embrace the grace and forgiveness of Jesus and be accepted as God's children with the promise of eternal life in heaven! At lasts week's church service at Centre Street Church, we watched a dramatic presentation of God's "Love Story" for us. It served as a very vivid reminder that while we often don't deserve it, God's love for us is unparalleled and we just have to choose to surrender to Him. During this service, a quartet also covered Point of Grace's - "The Great Divide". It's an awesome oldie from the 90s (yes, as I get older I can use the term 'oldie' haha). You should youtube it.
Back to my paper now.. but I have a sudden craving for a birthday Peter's Drive-In Milkshake. It's unfortunate they are closed now >.<
Yet, that is probably not the best thing that has happened. My hockey team, the Calgary Flames, have clawed their way back into playoff contention! It has been a gut wrenching couple of weeks as I followed them as they fought through a post Olympic haze and went on a roller coaster ride though wins and losses. Sometimes I want to kick those multimillionaires in the tail end myself to get em going (mostly cuz im just jealous).
Reflecting on this weekend, I should mention that it is honour to share this 25th birthday with Easter falling on the same weekend. There is no other way to make it more memorable than to celebrate this milestone remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made to allow us, as humanity, the chance to embrace the grace and forgiveness of Jesus and be accepted as God's children with the promise of eternal life in heaven! At lasts week's church service at Centre Street Church, we watched a dramatic presentation of God's "Love Story" for us. It served as a very vivid reminder that while we often don't deserve it, God's love for us is unparalleled and we just have to choose to surrender to Him. During this service, a quartet also covered Point of Grace's - "The Great Divide". It's an awesome oldie from the 90s (yes, as I get older I can use the term 'oldie' haha). You should youtube it.
Back to my paper now.. but I have a sudden craving for a birthday Peter's Drive-In Milkshake. It's unfortunate they are closed now >.<
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Reading Week!
You know, the best week in all of university education schooling is probably Reading Week, yes the infamous week where students all take the time to read and catch up on the crazy amounts of homework that professors hand out! Haha! In reality, reading week is probably a student’s best excuse to go home, relax and recharge before the final part of the school year! My week was actually quite interesting. I geeked it up by being at school and doing homework (yes, I was one of those odd ones!) It was actually needed as I have a class presentation that will last about 2 hours that I had to prepare for.
There was one thing that was exciting at the start however. I tagged along with the Futsal teams down on their trip to Medicine Hat for an ACAC tournament. As an ACAL team, we went in as underdogs, but held our own and came in 6th of 8 teams! I personally observed opposing coaches and players unhappy that they weren’t destroying us!
Oh yes, Michelle and Wally, two of my “friends” pranked me after I had entrusted Michelle with my locker combination. Here is the youtube video of me cleaning up after the mess that was my locker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qff6-gg-Cgo. Very well done guys. I had quite the laugh as you can tell.
That’s all for now!
There was one thing that was exciting at the start however. I tagged along with the Futsal teams down on their trip to Medicine Hat for an ACAC tournament. As an ACAL team, we went in as underdogs, but held our own and came in 6th of 8 teams! I personally observed opposing coaches and players unhappy that they weren’t destroying us!
Oh yes, Michelle and Wally, two of my “friends” pranked me after I had entrusted Michelle with my locker combination. Here is the youtube video of me cleaning up after the mess that was my locker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qff6-gg-Cgo. Very well done guys. I had quite the laugh as you can tell.
That’s all for now!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Officially 1 - 0 in my ACAL career!
This week has definitely been an interesting one. It has been one that has been filled with sleep deprivation, homework, and futsal! I am also going to Europe at the end of April for a final Business Class that will tour through some of the major countries like England, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, and Poland! This is probably the biggest field trip I will ever take part of during a class! haha
I also got to start my first career ACAL Futsal game. Check that, my first ever start in any form of competitive sport! Thanks to my forwards and defence, I was able to get my first career ACAL futsal win as a goalkeeper! Exciting, yes, but also very nerve racking. I was definitely shaking before and not sleeping well the entire week before Saturday!
Proof
I also got to start my first career ACAL Futsal game. Check that, my first ever start in any form of competitive sport! Thanks to my forwards and defence, I was able to get my first career ACAL futsal win as a goalkeeper! Exciting, yes, but also very nerve racking. I was definitely shaking before and not sleeping well the entire week before Saturday!
Proof
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
not a happy camper!
Dear Darryl Sutter,
I hope you arn't done with the trades. Dumping Jokenin and Phaneuf frees up a lot of cap space, but I would love to see some big name in return.
Thanks!
Daniel
I hope you arn't done with the trades. Dumping Jokenin and Phaneuf frees up a lot of cap space, but I would love to see some big name in return.
Thanks!
Daniel
Monday, February 1, 2010
late night/early morning ramblings
It's been a while since a late night blog post has been written. I've been trying to be a good student and sleeping at humane times. (haha yeah right, who am I kidding!) So here are some thoughts from this last week. I think I'll start from the most recent events.
1) The Calgary Flames --- what a week for my favourite hockey team! Breaking the 9 game losing streak by beating on a hapless Oiler team! NBD! I love sending our northern neighbours to a losing streak of a Rider's dozen! (w00t I was able to make fun of two teams I hate in one sentence!) Also we made some blockbuster trades that shook up the team. I still don't know what to think about the Dion Phaneuf trade, it seems like an awful waste of potential on a guy that is improving lots. Even so, I thought we should have gotten WAY more then what we got for Phaneuf. A Schenn as well maybe? Jokinen is also rumored to be gone. What a relief! I wonder what Darryl Sutter has in store for us fans! Anywho.. in Sutter we trust! haha
2) Shinny on the ODR is alot of fun! Especially, when you are playing with some of your best friends! I am definitely grateful for Canadian weather and an natural love for the game of hockey. Nothing is better then a mild evening and playing a pick up game of hockey on the local outdoor rink! The company of good friends, and awesome sports is something that is unbeatable!
3) You know, as I am nearing the end of my university career, I often think of what God has in mind for me. My future:whether its my job, relationships or what I am going to be are often things that cross my mind. Tonight, well I guess its 0230 and its technically last night, I was reminded about what God's plan for me is. Matthew 28, in the Great Commission, God calls us to make disciples of all nations. I think I get caught up in looking for what I want in my life and often forget that God dictates and holds the future in my life. I am not saying that working hard at school is unimportant, but I believe that, as a Christian, I should never lose sight of the ultimate goal. I was also reminded of God's promise to not worry about what will happen if I trust and obey. Matthew 28:20 reads: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Isn't it comforting to know that even though you might feel small and insignificant, He is there for you until the end of time!
sleep beckons .. have a good night!
1) The Calgary Flames --- what a week for my favourite hockey team! Breaking the 9 game losing streak by beating on a hapless Oiler team! NBD! I love sending our northern neighbours to a losing streak of a Rider's dozen! (w00t I was able to make fun of two teams I hate in one sentence!) Also we made some blockbuster trades that shook up the team. I still don't know what to think about the Dion Phaneuf trade, it seems like an awful waste of potential on a guy that is improving lots. Even so, I thought we should have gotten WAY more then what we got for Phaneuf. A Schenn as well maybe? Jokinen is also rumored to be gone. What a relief! I wonder what Darryl Sutter has in store for us fans! Anywho.. in Sutter we trust! haha
2) Shinny on the ODR is alot of fun! Especially, when you are playing with some of your best friends! I am definitely grateful for Canadian weather and an natural love for the game of hockey. Nothing is better then a mild evening and playing a pick up game of hockey on the local outdoor rink! The company of good friends, and awesome sports is something that is unbeatable!
3) You know, as I am nearing the end of my university career, I often think of what God has in mind for me. My future:whether its my job, relationships or what I am going to be are often things that cross my mind. Tonight, well I guess its 0230 and its technically last night, I was reminded about what God's plan for me is. Matthew 28, in the Great Commission, God calls us to make disciples of all nations. I think I get caught up in looking for what I want in my life and often forget that God dictates and holds the future in my life. I am not saying that working hard at school is unimportant, but I believe that, as a Christian, I should never lose sight of the ultimate goal. I was also reminded of God's promise to not worry about what will happen if I trust and obey. Matthew 28:20 reads: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Isn't it comforting to know that even though you might feel small and insignificant, He is there for you until the end of time!
sleep beckons .. have a good night!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Class Discussion!
Here is a thought provoking question: How do we explain this Bible passage?
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. - BibleGateway.
How should we respond to this verse?
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. - BibleGateway.
How should we respond to this verse?
Yes, the long awaited time has come! I have finally purchased an iPhone! It has got to be the most useful gadget ever! This makes me sound uber geeky, but I definitely spent most of Saturday afternoon checking out all the apps and functions of my new iPhone. Oh yes, text messenging has also been streamlined with the phone saving all previous conversations :)
Before I sound like an Apple employee (yes, i recommend Apple for all your mobile needs ;) ), here are some news articles that caught my eye.
1) Albertan Fish is apparently inedible.
It is amazing how people will pay top dollar to listen to people's opinion. Perhaps I should think of something controversial and make money off it. In the meantime, I'm going to keep enjoying inedible fish and mad cow ;)
2) Good news for students!
The recent recession might have brought a world of trouble for people in general, but finally some good! Let's hope this turns out right. It's about time there was a freeze!
One more thing, I now have possession of my house. However, Enmax (the power company in Calgary) apparently has either not processed my utilities account and power was cut off while I was showing off the house to friends and making nachos! Bizarre!
Oh well, I'm off! It is almost class time! \\ // / (live long and prosper! haha)
Before I sound like an Apple employee (yes, i recommend Apple for all your mobile needs ;) ), here are some news articles that caught my eye.
1) Albertan Fish is apparently inedible.
It is amazing how people will pay top dollar to listen to people's opinion. Perhaps I should think of something controversial and make money off it. In the meantime, I'm going to keep enjoying inedible fish and mad cow ;)
2) Good news for students!
The recent recession might have brought a world of trouble for people in general, but finally some good! Let's hope this turns out right. It's about time there was a freeze!
One more thing, I now have possession of my house. However, Enmax (the power company in Calgary) apparently has either not processed my utilities account and power was cut off while I was showing off the house to friends and making nachos! Bizarre!
Oh well, I'm off! It is almost class time! \\ // / (live long and prosper! haha)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
New Semester!
Here we go again! The start of another exciting semester. It has been a great start so far! The weather is nice, classes are good, and I’m starting the last semester of my undergraduate postsecondary career (hopefully that is.. jk). I am definitely both excited and anxious as to what life after school would be like. It will definitely be interesting to consider life without school!
Athletics have also begun again for the new semester. Our teams are looking strong and ready to compete for top spots in the ACAL! Keep an eye out on my facebook for pictures of the many sporting events that go on! If you have missed it earlier, the volleyball championships held at Ambrose has been a huge success. http://www.danielyu.com/acalvball09 is where you can check out these pictures!
Classes have also been going well so far. This semester, I am enrolled in: Intermediate Financial Accounting, Business in the European Union, Ethics, and Business Issues from a Christian Perspective. While all are upper level classes and require lots of work, they are all extremely exciting. The EU course is also a prerequisite for a travel study to Europe at the end of April!
Aside from school, things have been going quite well! The most exciting thing is having a house to call my own! Yes.. a house, well that and massively in debt. Oh well. I shall put up some pictures when I get a chance to, I haven’t been able to get the right lens yet.
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