Adventures in Domestication

     Alex and I found it quite difficult to become accustomed to various aspects of life in 10 Bishopden. The main issue we found, were those when it came to anything in relation to domestic work. I liked to think that I was domestic enough in Canada. I may have not been able to cook anything much, but at least I could turn the oven and stove on. You can imagine our surprise when we arrived and found our kitchen stocked with GAS appliances. At first I did not think much of it, I thought it would be simple enough... oh how naive I was.
     Our first attempt was with the oven. After a few failed attempts, we asked one of our Brazilian roommates to come and teach us how to use it. The next night we were prepared and ready to use the stove. However, once we fiddled with it and began to smell gas, we frantically tried to find our roommates to see if one of them were home, but no one was. We had heard that 20 student kitchen fires had occurred last year, and I was sure we were going to cause number 21 right then!
     I then texted and asked my sisters, as I do in every situation, but it seems that life in Canada has caused us all to find a thing such as a gas stove a foreign concept. They did help make the traumatic experience more funny though. Thank goodness our roommate came home at that moment and taught  us how to use it!
     Slowly, but surely, we will get used to the different way of life here in England!

Here is how the conversation with my sisters went:

Rain

     I don't know if it was because it was raining this morning, but on my way to class, I finally felt like I could actually do this. That I can actually carve myself a little home here in Canterbury. On my way to class, as I walked the nearly empty path through the woods, I finally felt at ease in this little English town.
     I cannot get over how similar the weather here is to B.C. Or how something as simple as the weather can make me feel so at ease and at home. I always love the way the air smells and feels back home. Living by the bay, the air has a hint of salt to it that just cannot be beat. I have always felt that that smell and feeling in the air was unique to home. Waking up to that smell in the summer is the epitome of comfort and familiarity.
     Although I am not as close to the sea here, I have found that same feeling in the air as I walk the path to campus. And, for that brief walk, I feel at home.