holidays are made for reading and remember things that are worth repeating...

so, i'm here in the thick of final exams, staring furiously at this computer screen, my prison. trying to write a take home exam about globalization, markets and states in africa, about the human development paradigm and the informal sector and gender inequalities and displaced people and so much more, all fit nicely into twelve pages. how can i possibly be expected to understand all of these complex issues (each of which we spent three one hour classes on) into twelve pages? it is not that it isn't interesting - it is - but just that it's such a vast topic and i am such a small little person.

well, ok, i'm also just tired of doing homework, but seriously. university is so crazy - we are given so much information that we must absorb in under four months, and then we move on to the next topic. obviously there are themes that run along like little mountain streams between classes, but still. Inequality and Development, in 3000 words or less. Society and Environment. Health and Development. Global Earth Systems. How can i even begin to understand anything, and why do we all try so hard to do so? we are not very humble animals, are we?

and all i can think about today is how i bought my ticket to vancouver for december 24th and how, now that i have done it, i am overwhelmed with how much i want to be in B.C., even just for a short while. as i mentioned before, i saw my parents and sister for a few days in november and was overwhelmed with how good it was to see them. there is nothing like parental love of the unconditional kind, and i missed it, despite the many idiosyncrasies of our little family unit. and B.C., oh B.C... i've been thinking a lot about the ocean and about the mountains. it's beautiful here, much more beautiful in an urban way, but it is no match for vancouver when it comes to scenery. and i love living here, i feel totally invigorated by its alive-ness and the thousands of young people who all seem so involved in their community. but i think i've been so busy and so overwhelmed that i haven't spent too much time thinking about home. and now that i get to have a visit i can't stop thinking about it. close friends! homecooked meals! reading (fiction!) in front of the fireplace! no fear of freezing to death on the way to the grocery store!

well, what can i say, the grass is always greener. probably when i land in vancouver i will miss the nightlife, the row houses, the french language, the cheap beer in every corner store. all the things that make this place sooo montreal.

also, i will miss my matt, whose entire family now thinks i am the most cold-hearted witch of a girlfriend, leaving their matthew out in the cold eastern winter to brave the holidays alone. which i guess i kind of am, but we all gotta look out for ourselves, right? isn't that part of the whole christmas spirit thing?

hm. well, maybe what i am most looking forward to is being done with these pesky exams. speaking of which...