12. The Best and Worst of Sackville and goodbye

As I wrap up my stay in Sackville, I figured it might be useful to make a list of what I found to be the best and the worst things about being here.

The Best Things

- The People: I met so many wonderful people while I was here. Without a doubt, that was the best part of my time here. I loved hanging with them and talking and participating in various activities and I know I’ll miss everyone so much. The thing I’m most terrified of right now is being away from them all and losing touch, though I don’t plan on letting that happen without a fight.

- The School: I have been fairly obvious about this: I love Mount Allison. Sure, sometimes things happen that are weird or sketchy, but I have had such a great time in this environment that I’m able to overlook those and strongly recommend the school to anyone looking for a place to get a great education and be part of a great legacy. While I didn’t love every class or every professor I had, I loved most of them and don’t have any regrets about coming here.

- The Community: Sackville is a university town and it really shows, in things like the Friday night “Twoonie movie” and all the “Welcome Back Students” signs on the doors. This place is designed to help students live their lives and it does a wonderful job. There are so many great spots, like Joey’s Pizza or the Bridget Street Café that you really can enjoy yourself. Oh, and there are a decent number of bars too.

- The Size: I come from a small village (maybe 1000 population?) and so Sackville has always seemed decently big to me in comparison, but not too big. You can walk pretty much anywhere you need to get, though if you want to see more you will need to bike or get access to a car somehow (that’s what cabs are for). There is a real convenience about things.

The Worst Things

- The Isolation: Let’s face it, there are things that you just can’t get in Sackville and then you’re paying bus fare/taxi far/gas money to a friend with a car just to get out and have your computer upgraded because there is more selection out there in civilization than in good ole Bagtown.

- The Wind: The Sackville wind is infamous for a reason. It can be brutal, especially in winter. I used to have a pair of ski goggles just so I could see where I was going (then I broke them, oops). The snow can also get pretty high sometimes, which leads to a general lack of wanting to do anything outside in the winter, which is bad when you have to venture out to get to class. But then again, this is Canada so I expect most places have this issue. Of course, a fair amount of those places also have public transportation, though it isn’t really necessary here.

This is going to be my last entry here. It’s been really fun to write this blog and I’m going to miss it. I’ve also really enjoyed reading the other Mt A bloggers and learning about what they’re doing too.

I have all my marks in now so I know that I have graduated. Next week I start the program at Humber. And then after that, I’m out in the job market. That should be interesting.

I hope that my blog has helped people learn more about Mt A and student life there. If it has, then my job is done.

Goodbye and best of luck to you all.

11. Last Week of Class

It is the last week of classes. My goal for this week is to not skip any class, because I’ll admit I’ve been getting a bit bad about that of late. It’s actually fairly upsetting to me, but I just seem to be losing steam as things finally end. However excitement over the Humber program and my acceptance has made things seem a bit better at least.

Because it is end of term it means my life is very busy, to say the least. I have essays due in four out of five classes (the only reason it’s not five for five is because Canadian Women’s Literature had the paper due a few weeks back). I also have four regular exams and one take-home. Plus I have to pack because I’ll be leaving Sackville in just under two weeks. No rest for the wicked.

This Saturday my aunt came up and we went into Moncton together. I now have a new video card in my computer which is making me very happy, plus I bought a new game for my Nintendo DS, Elite Beat Agents (which is far too addictive), along with some more printer ink, printer paper, and supplies for filing because I have a file cabinet here that it is desperate need of some organization.

Finally, the only other thing really going on in my life (as clubs are really closing down now, which is sad…last anime club meeting was this last Saturday and G&G had it’s last meeting of the year the previous Wednesday) is work, which I’m almost done (the 8^th, which is this Sunday, is my last day). One of my supervisors seems to want to keep me around though; she keeps giving me more shifts. I even have one for Friday night, which hasn’t happened since first term because of my class schedule, but since there are no classes it really isn’t an issue. But soon I shall bid Tim Hortons farewell and shall be very happy for it, though I will miss the people. Well, some of them.

I’m going to try to get in a fair number of last blogs though, especially since I will be graduating and thus leaving the blog behind. It’s been a lot of fun, so I definitely want to go out strong.

Addition:

I wrote the above stuff at the beginning of the week but am posting a bit letter since Margaret was busy and didn’t have a chance to edit until today.

I just got back from my last ever class at Mount Allison University. This is really weird.

Still busy though, because most of those papers listed above are still looming over me. But no more class.

10. Humber

I continue to get closer to the finish line. It’s been an interesting journey, and one I will talk about more in the future. However, I have more exciting news for this entry.

I was accepted into the Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College for this summer! I had a phone interview for it on Friday, at the end of which I was told that I had a spot. I am very excited about it, even though it means that I’ll have two weeks out of school between the end of Mt A exams and the beginning of this program (it starts May 1^st).

The program also does sound a bit intense class-wise: from Monday to Thursday, I’ll be in class from 9-5, with some breaks obviously. Friday starts earlier (7:30, I think) so you get out earlier and can have a longer weekend break. Cynthia Good, the program director who does the interviews, said that there isn’t too much work outside of class at least. So I’ll have time in which to detox from the school overload. But I’m still really excited for the challenge.

The main reason I want to be in this program is to learn more skills for the publishing world, but even more importantly figure out what exactly it is that I want to do. Right now I am drawn to editing, but it’s the only area I have experience in. The program deals with literary agents and marketing as well, so I’ll get to learn more about that.

Hopefully I’ll come out of this with a nice job, most likely in Toronto since most of the publishers are there. And that’s going to be a big change after Sackville. I have to admit, TO (an Ontario-ism for Toronto…at least I think it’s still restricted to Ontario mainly) wouldn’t really be my first choice, if I could choose any place, but it still has its advantages. I’ll be closer to my family back in Ottawa and Margaret will be in London which isn’t too far, plus I have a lot of other friends from pre-university that are in Ontario somewhere, including Shannon, who has been one of my closest friends for seventeen years now.

Right now the main focus for this is trying to get a place to live. This is a bit more complicated because of Elphaba, since I need a place that will allow pets. But that’s okay too, because I love my kitty very much and would be sad to be without her.

So that’s my exciting news. I really could not be happier, especially considering I didn’t really have a Plan B for if I didn’t get accepted.

For more info, here's the program's website: http://creativeandperformingarts.humber.ca/bookpublishing/index.html (also now included in my blog's list of links).

9. DOOMtime

It’s the final crunch time here right now, with essays and reports and presentations and a million things piling up on top of each other. I’m trying not to get too stressed out, but it’s not working so well at times. It can be easy to be overwhelmed and I think the best approach, or at least the best for me, is just to take a step back and figure out what needs to be done in small steps. Focus on one thing at a time and get that done, then move on. The larger picture is just too big sometimes.

I have thankfully had time to do more than stress. The anime club had our annual post-Animaritime trip to Moncton last Saturday. It was really fun and I spent all my birthday money before my birthday (which was the 13^th, by the way). I bought a new purse and wallet, some manga, some stuff for my cat, and a new game for my DS. We also had a very yummy dinner at the Chinese buffet there, which I must say is much better than the Hong Kong Kitchen here in Sackville, especially the buffet which I feel is a bit overpriced here. The Moncton one however was wonderful.

The only other news right now is another source of stress: my application to the Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I really want to get into this program, which runs from May to August. I mainly want to develop more skills in the area of book publishing as well as get a better idea of what the various careers are because beyond editors I don’t really know too much.

There was a bit of a mix-up with my application however, as somehow my transcripts got lost in the trip from OCAS to Humber. Which I found out about last week and was freaking out over. Luckily I got that cleared up so now I just have to do a one-page write up on a recently published, Canadian authored book, focusing not on content but on the physicality of the book and the implications of the publication decisions made, and I need to put together a detailed resume. Then I send those in and schedule an interview. And then I wait.

I really thought all this application business was over when I got into Mount A. Apparently I was wrong. The worst part is that if I don’t get into the program I don’t really have a solid Plan B. So really, REALLY hoping on Plan A. But I have a generally good feeling about it, which usually is a decent sign. Hopefully I don’t have to wait too long after I finish all the final application business though, because the waiting is always the worst part (though there is a sense of relief when things are out of your hands).

So that’s life right now, trying to balance stress with fun and succeeding most of the time, but sadly not all of it. I’m going to try to start being a bit more regular in my posts here, if I can, but life doesn’t seem to like me doing such things.

8. Animaritime Report

I’m not dead yet!

Really!

Okay, so once again I’ve gone awhile without new posts. This time however I have a more valid reason: being sick. Nothing too serious, just a cold though it gets nasty enough that I’ve missed some classes. Sadly, I have also decided that I cannot attend the English Society’s Wine & Cheese event tonight which is very upsetting because I was looking forward to it. But the cold air doesn’t mix well with my lungs right now so it’s probably for the best.

Other than being sick, the big news in my life is Animaritime 2007. It went amazing. Really amazing. I definitely think it was the best con so far. It also of course will be the last where I have this level of involvement in the planning, since next year I’m fairly certain I will be in Ontario and thus might not even be at the con (though I am going to try my best) and, if I am, will be a low-level staffer who sets up and stuff.

We estimate that there were about 600 attendees during the three days. On Saturday we ended up having to turn away about 100 or so because we had hit the capacity limit of 500 people at a time. It’s so incredible to see how much our “baby” has grown in the last four years: this year, before the con opened, we had more people waiting in line to get in than we had at the first convention back in 2004.

I could go on and on about all the stuff that happened because there was so much and it was very awesome. But that would take up a lot of time and personally I’m thinking that I’ll go with the saying a picture is worth 1000 words. So enjoy the pictures.

(Basically all of these pictures are examples of “cosplay” which basically means dressing up in character and often being able to imitate said characters are well. Thanks to my friend Lindsay who took most of the pictures.)

(Last brackets, I swear...for additional con info, here's an awesome article written by William Wolfe-Wylie for Mount A's student newspaper, The Argosy: http://www.argosy.ca/view.php?aid=39583)

This is from the pre-convention meeting, a nice stack of registration booklets that we had to fold and assemble.

The lovely staff t-shirts, in a great shade of orange (reminds me of frosh week...my residence has orange frosh shirts)



Here I am, in most of my costume (I'm missing the jacket because it was hot), posing with an X-Men comicbook. As mentioned before, I went as Dark Phoenix from the third X-Men movie.

And now, random cosplay, don't ask me who the characters are, just enjoy that they look cool.

7. Animaritime

I’d like to say that the reason for the longer than usual gap between entries was because I’ve been productive. Sadly, this is not the case; I just haven’t felt up to writing an entry. But because I really do want to get an entry up before Animaritime, which is this weekend, I better actually go and do it before it’s too late.

(I have been somewhat productive this Reading Week though! Just not so productive that it would keep me from doing anything else).

Alright, Animaritime. First off, what the heck is it, you ask? It is the only anime convention in Atlantic Canada and it is run by the Mount Allison anime club (also known as the [Insert Catchy Name Here] Anime Club). We started four years ago (the same year as the club was founded) and haven’t looked back since. We are also pretty insane, which has been helpful.

The main things that go down at an anime convention are lots of anime showings, panels for discussion of various aspects about anime ranging from “Bishounen Survivor” (basically a battle of the anime pretty boys) to celebrating the good dubs (and not talking about the bad ones) to looking at gender issues and other more academic stuff. We also have events like trivia and we have a plushie making event (plushies = little plush toys that attendees sew and stuff and decorate) and piñatas. There are vendors selling stuff, amateur artists selling/showing their work, an auction, a masquerade of costumes, a garage sale, and much more stuff. All packed into three days of geeky fun. It’s a good time, if exhausting for the poor staff (we run on Bawls, one of those high energy drinks).

This is the fourth year of the con, as I mentioned before. It’s actually a bit sad, because it will be my last on staff. Of course, I’m also somewhat excited/liberated at the thought of not having to run it last year, because it does involve a lot of work, even for those who have less work than others, like yours truly. But it’s also really fun and definitely one of the highlights of the year (and the reason why I haven’t gone home for Reading Week since first year).

I think that covers the basics, for more info check out the website: http://animaritime.mtaanime.org

Other than Animaritime, not much has been going on so far this week. I went to Saint John on the weekend to make my costume with help from my aunt; it’s Dark Phoenix from the X-Men 3 movie. It turned out nicely, I am happy (especially because it’s finally done…I originally wanted this done for Halloween but that didn’t happen). I got back to an empty house and a very affectionate cat (it was the first time she’d been alone for so long and she’s a people-loving kitty). Monday consisted mainly of doing some cleaning, chilling out, and buying food that only I like to eat because I can. I also rented the movies Marie Antoinette (staring Kirsten Dunst) and the aforementioned X-Men 3. Both were enjoyable, I’d seen the latter before but wanted to check out the costume again. Marie Antoinette was actually more historically accurate than I had expected. I don’t think it’s something I’d need to see again though; it was okay but not wonderful.

Tuesday I watched X-Men 3 and went to a meeting about the Animaritime opening ceremony (despite the fact that I won’t be there since I’m scheduled on the registration table during it I think). I also bought ice cream (I had enough groceries on Monday that I couldn’t buy it then). I also actually got some work done, finally. Hopefully I’ll do more of that today.

I’ve also been playing lots of the Sims 2. Love that game. And I’ve been catching up on some of my Asian dramas (I’m following one from Korea called The Snow Queen and another from Japan, Hana Yori Dango 2 Returns).

Oh, and I have a cold. Which is less than fun. And that’s it, I think. I’ve been enjoying myself a bit more than maybe I should, but hey, this is my vacation, I might as well have a good time.

6. Dreaming of Reading Week

Reading Week will soon be upon us, hurrah! Of course, right now I’m really wishing it was now. I’m getting fairly stressed with stuff this week. I am still working on my Linguistics survey which should have been done last Friday and has caused me a lot of frustration so far, especially because I had to basically get an extension on an extension, which just sucks and looks bad and makes me feel pretty lousy too. Especially since it’s my own fault for not starting earlier.

I also have two mid-terms at the end of the week to worry about; Canadian Women’s Lit and Japanese. Plus there is just trying to keep up-to-date with all my regular class work, which I’ve been proven to be bad at, though not so bad that I fail. In the end, I’m just not dedicated enough to cut back on the things I love to do which aren’t academic. I sometimes wish I was a bit more, though I don’t want to be one of those people who have no extra-curricular life because of their need for straight A’s. But in general I’m pretty happy with things; I get my assignments done and do well on them. It’s not perfect but hey, neither am I.

But after all this, Reading Week. Which probably will include some reading because I have a fair amount of school stuff I want to do, plus reading for pleasure is something I refuse to give up (and often do at the expense of other readings, admittedly…but it makes me happy and that’s important too). What are my big plans? Well, on Friday I have to skip my Linguistics class to catch a bus to go out to Hampton, where my aunt Diane will pick me up and take to me to her home in Quispamsis. While I’m there, we shall finish my costume that originally was going to be for Halloween but ended up being for Animaritime instead. The costume is Dark Phoenix from the X-Men 3 movie because who doesn’t love a metallic red trench coat? I’ll be back in Sackville on Sunday and then from Monday to Thursday I will be hopefully working at Tim Horton’s and doing stuff for school. Oh yeah, and getting ready for Animaritime, because it’s the next Friday, Saturday, Sunday (I promise a post shortly giving background info on the convention).

And then Reading Week will be over, alas. It never is long enough, but hopefully it will be productive and a nice break.

And then I have a midterm the day school starts again. Joy.

Oh, and even better than all this, I just discovered that I have a paper due on Friday. That I haven’t started. Oops. Note to self (and everyone): CHECK YOUR DUE DATES!

This is a pretty short entry, because well, I should go and get to work writing that paper/studying/doing something productive.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!