Big Girls Don't Cry

I just realized I haven't updated you guys on my current living arrangement. As of last Saturday, I'm no longer staying with the family I was initially living with. There was an unexpected but totally understandable change of plans and thus leaving me no other choice but to move out. Fortunately, they didn't just leave me out in the dirt to fend for myself, in fact, they hooked me up a friend of theirs who rents out rooms to students. There are 3 other students staying here, all of which attend Laval University. The place is pretty legit. It has it's advantages:
1) The rent cost is really decent for all they offer/include.
2) It's a heck of a lot closer to the university compared to where I was previously staying (about a 15 minute walk! As opposed to an 1 hour bus ride). And I'm also really close to a grocery store.
3) I get my own room!
4) In terms of independence, it's a super opportunity for me to gain skills on self-reliance.
5) I don't have to worry about coming late and waking up/worrying anyone.
6) And of course more freedom!
So all in all, I'm really glad I'm on my own, it's a new, challenging and exciting experience. I haven't been scared or anxious about anything so far, 'cause what is that gonna do? It won't make things any less stressful right? I'm just leaving this all in God's hands. I know He'll take care of it and of me, just as He's been doing up 'till now. I see this all as an adventure! Haha I probably sound like a dork. Speaking of adventures, I want to share this video that I find to be ridiculously random, pointless and hilarious. Not to mention catchy!
Cheers!

Daredevil-ess

WOW. Okay, so I have a lot to share on what I've been up to whilst studying here in Québec city. Apart from touring the city, starting my classes (which are great so far), learning and picking up on a lot of french, meeting new people and cute french guy watching ;-) this past saturday, petite, shy lissa gained daredevil superpowers and fearlessly went out into the adventurous realm of white water rafting for the first time. And man was it ever epic. It was soo much fun! we went to this river called Jean Cartier (about 40 minutes away) where professional rafters who were also our guides, instructed us on everything: appropriate method of wearing gear, safety precautions, how to maneuver the raft, etc. I have to say it was quite the experience! Not only did we fight and ride a crazy strong current on an inflatable raft but also threw ourselves off a 30 foot cliff into the freezing cold water (that part was optional)! I have never felt such a rush in my life! I felt like Alice, just continuously falling, it felt like forever before my butt finally hit the water, which hurt by the way. If you ever get the chance to jump off a cliff into a river, I highly suggest you cross your legs and point your toes so that you fall pencil straight rather than on your butt/stomach/head 'cause that will really hurt and you may even need stitches (a girl was telling me that she knew someone who needed to get their butt stitched up due to improper falling position), but that's just a suggestion. So yeah, it was amazing, definately worth waking up at freakin' 4.15 am to meet at the school for 6.45 am. The scenery was just breathe-taking, sadly though for fear of getting my camera wet I decided against bringing it. I did however manage to capture much of Vieux-Québec! Here it is...

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is a day to celebrate all the mothers of the world! They truly are the most beautiful and precious gifts sent from above and we should never EVER take them for granted. But you know what? we shouldn't just be honouring them today, one day of the year, we should be treating them with love and respect all year round because they really deserve it. They've done so much for us, they've raised us, they've cared for us when we were sick, forced us to eat our veggies, put up with our tantrums, cleaned up after us (if you catch my drift), disciplined us, taught us many things, laughed with us, been there for us when our hearts were broken, lifted us up when we felt like the world was on our shoulders, gave us advice on life. And what's interesting is that they have like a sixth sense, mothers know everything! They know when we're lying to their faces. They are also always right, even when they're wrong lol. I may not have been too happy at the time but I'm now so glad and grateful for my mother's constant nagging and lectures because then I wouldn't be the person I am today. In the wise words of Abe:
 All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
- Abraham Lincoln
She's been through it all, she knows best and just wants me to avoid making the same mistakes she made in her youth. I used to think (actually, I still do) that she cares too much, but I'm so appreciative of her now because I 'd rather her care too much than not enough! Mothers will never stop loving us despite our faults and falls and rejection towards them. So here's to you mom, for all the years of putting up with me and my stubborness, for never giving up on me. There's no mother who compares to you, the best mother a daughter can have. You know what, I don't even have the words to describe how amazing you are and how much you mean to me. You are a true inspiration not only to me but to everyone around you. I just pray that God bless you and keep you always. In the future when I become a mother, I hope to be just like you. You are my best friend and the light of my heart mommy. Thank you. For everything. I love you so much.
Now for a mother's day video to make your day..

I Like Maple Syrup On My Crêpes

Je suis arrivé au Québec! Oh it's not my first time by the way, I was last here when I was around hmm...8 yrs. old? It is my first time on my own. It's awesome, kinda like a mini France, everyone speaks pure french, the signs are all in french, everything is in français, it's great but frustrating at the same time because I don't understand it all. I really wish I knew more but I guess this is why I came here lol. It's a cute little city, I already visited Vieux-Québec (that's Old Québec) and it is gorgeous!! I felt like I was walking down the little cobblestone streets of Europe with the historical buildings, little cafe's and nik nak shops. 
School begins next week, I can't wait, I'm looking forward to meeting new people. I'm really glad I came a week prior to the start of classes because this way I can familiarize myself with the bus route and all that. Laval University is like an hour bus ride but that's only 'cause they don't have a subway like Toronto, so the bus makes more turns and frequent stops.
I'm really lucky to be staying with the people I'm staying with, they are awesome.. not to mention superb cooks! I'm glad I made this decision, although it gets a little lonely at times, and my mind goes a little skitzo when people start speaking to me in french, I don't regret it one bit! That's what we should all do, challenge ourselves more, get out of our comfort zones, otherwise how will we ever find out what's on the other side of the hill? haha okay enough Confucius talk. 
Stay tuned kids for more exciting/crazy/awkward french adventures with petite lissa!

C'est La Vie

So, I'm off to Québec City in like 2 days. I'm gonna be in a French-speaking city, 10 hours away by car from my hometown, on my own (well technically I'm staying with family friends but you know what I mean) and it's only now starting to register. Hmm. The reason I'm going... to brush up on my extremely (emphasis on the extremely) poor french. I'll be studying at Laval University, apparently it's quite a popular school. My feelings at the moment are a mix of excitement and anxiousness with a smidge of fear which makes sense considering it'll be my first time experiencing this kind of independence. To be honest, it's kind of another reason why I made my decision to go, as much as I love my mommy and will really miss her (I'll admit-- guilty of being a mama's girl), I need to do this for my own good. I've lived at home my whole life, I need to get out there and see the world from a different perspective. It'll be an adventure! And hopefully a beneficial one lol. This is one bird about to leave the mama nest.
Random fun facts:

• The word Québec means 'Where the river narrows'.
•  Québec contains more than 3% of the world’s fresh water reserves.

 
With that I leave you with an amazing song from one of my all-time favourite bands...

Some Kind of Magic

I'll let the lyrics of the following song speak for me..

I Caught Myself lyrics by Paramore 

Down to you
You're pushing and pulling me down to
But I don't know what I
Now when I caught myself, I had to stop myself
I'm saying something that I should have never thought
Now when I caught myself, I had to stop myself
I'm saying something that I should have never thought of you

You're pushing and pulling me down too
But I don't know what I want
No I don't know what I want

You got it, you got it
Some kind of magic
Hypnotic, hypnotic
You're leaving me breathless
I hate this, I hate this
You're not the one I believe in
With God as my witness

Now when I caught myself, I had to stop myself
I'm saying something that I should have never thought
Now when I caught myself, I had to stop myself
I'm saying something that I should have never thought of you

You're pushing and pulling me down too
But I don't know what I want
No I don't know what I want

Don't know what I want
But I know it's not you
Keep pushing and pulling me down
But I know in my heart it's not you

Now when I caught myself, I had to stop myself
I'm saying something that I should have never thought
Now when I caught myself, I had to stop myself
I'm saying something that I should have never thought of you
I knew, I know in my heart it's not you
I never know what I want, I want, I want
Oh no, I should have never thought

Dear X,

 What are you doing to me? Tell me what exactly is it that you want? Don't you realize how much this hurts? You suck me in then you push me out, you tell me one thing, then tell me the contrary. I feel like a ragdoll just being played around with. Precisely what you're doing, playing and screwing with my feelings. I just can't take this emotional rollercoaster. You're a jerk. You're sweet.You don't want me. You want me. It drives me crazy! So why can't I just let you go, why do you make this so difficult? I'm weak and I don't want to be. This is so bad.. this.. me desiring you despite me knowing that you're bad news. Just an unhealthy, endless cycle. How can I handle someone who is emotionally and psychologically unstable? I wish you would stop having such a negative outlook on life, but who am I to say that, I haven't been through all the crap you've been through. Okay so you may have your issues, but you're not the only one! Frig! I can't get you out of my head. Am I suppose to continue putting up with your stubborness, stupidity, cruelty and constant apologies? Your bittersweet nature that doesn't cease to allure me?
You know what's fascinating? How certain songs you listen to seem to hit you the hardest when you are in a present situation in which the lyrics seem to be so much more relevant because you can earnestly relate. It seemed like every song I listened to was speaking directly of you. Of us.
The song hot n cold by Katy Perry totally expresses what I'm feeling at this very moment. Honestly, I don't know what to do with you.

-- Signed,
Hopelessly in love