Reading Week!

'ALLO, 'ALLO, 'ALLO!!!

Hello my dear children! Yes, I'm back, to bring another ray of sunshine into your otherwise miserable lives, and giving you all a reason to live! My last post was...well...looooong back, been quite busy since then. Had a couple of assignments to submit, a presentation to do, then the usual work as well, lots been happening over the past month and a half!

Well, for starters, my parents came over for about a week, so that was nice! Had hardly been two or three weeks since I'd left Dubai anyway, though it was nice seeing them, showing them around York and what not. On a Saturday afternoon, my parents, Avi and I had lunch together, so that was a nice little together.

After that, well, I had work to get to. Of course the work load has increased since last term, since I'm taking 2 more courses, but enough about that. I didn't come here to relate my sob stories to you, that's your job, since you live such miserable lives and have nothing else to write about.

Well, we here celebrated 9 days of what is known as Reading Week. If you're wondering what it is, then let me tell you that it is called by a different name in the United States; Spring Break. Although it hardly felt like spring here... Six more weeks of winter all because that stupid Groundhog saw his stupid shadow! But anyway, enough about that.

Since we had 9 days to lounge about the place, Avi and I decided that we might as well lounge about at Niagara! I hadn’t seen Niagara, Avi’s seen it 4 times I think.

So Saturday Avi came over to York to spend a couple of days. We both had decided that we’d go for a couple of movies this week. So after spending a Saturday afternoon at a shopping mall which we didn’t know existed until sometime quite recently, a place called ‘Yorkdale’, we bought a couple of DVD’s at HMV, and headed back home to watch them. Avi got the ‘Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth’ DVD, while I got the ‘Iron Maiden: The Early Days’ one. I guess so much of detail isn’t really necessary, but what the heck.

So that night, we watched Avi’s DVD, and decided we’d go for Black the next day. The following day we woke pretty late, so by the time we got around to going for Black, it was already 3pm or so. But I must say, the movie is really very good. Nice to see Bollywood making good movies for a change. Some of your might have already seen it, some of you might not have as yet, and some of your might never want to see it. I think that about covers everybody. I don’t quite know why I did that…

Anyway, so Monday we left for U of T, and on Tuesday we left for Niagara. We caught the bus that travels all the way from Toronto to New York, and passes through Niagara. We got off at Niagara, and made our way to The Falls.

Absolutely stunning! I have never seen anything quite like The Falls in my entire life! The volumes of water flowing is unimaginable, and the town always has a low rumbling sound, which is the falls flowing! It’s that loud, yes it is.

So, after we walked around for an hour and finally located our hotel, we made our way back to The Falls and clicked a couple of pictures. I also caught my first glimpse of Bush Country.

By this time, we were rather hungry, so we made our way to T.G.I.Fridays (ring any bells?) and had dinner, after which it was difficult to move. So finally, very tired, we made our way back to our room, and watched T.V. for a loooooooooong time. You have to understand, Avi at least has a T.V. in his Common Room, I don’t even have that…don’t ask why.

Saw the latest episode of American Idol…so incredibly stupid, yet funny, yet we watched it, so I guess that’s why it’s so high on the ratings charts all the time.

After a while, we found out it was going to snow overnight, so we finally fell asleep. Woke up the next morning to find snow covering everything. So after we checked out from our hotel, we had breakfast at this place called ‘Denny’s’. I had pancakes with blueberry topping and whipped cream and honey, and two glasses of hot chocolate. HEAVEN! Of course, I couldn’t finish everything, so I had to give up a large chunk of my pancakes, but it was still delicious. Finally we left Niagara and came back to Avi’s place.

That evening we saw Hitch. I actually quite enjoyed it. The best part was that now they’ve reduced cinema tickets to $9.95 (tax inclusive) so now we’re paying less with tax, than what you pay in Dubai WITHOUT tax. HA! Okay…

While we were waiting in the cinema for the movie to start, this usher comes into the cinema and says, “Guys, could I have your attention please? Um, unfortunately there is something wrong, and we have to move you all to Cinema 4. So could everybody hold on to their tickets and follow me please?”

So after we all filed our way out of Cinema 1 and into Cinema 4, the movie started half an hour late. The funny thing was that I heard people saying stuff like, “This blows!” I’ve never heard anyone say that before! It sounds quite funny, you must admit.

So finally, we have dinner at this Indian place close to Avi’s place, and we go to sleep.

The next morning we both jump out of bed (well I jumped out of my sleeping bag) to this LOUD SIREN RINGING IN THE ENTIRE BUILDING! I ask Avi what it was, and he says, “Fire Alarm.” Well, so we both quickly make our way to the outside of the building where we find most of the students already assembled. After about 10 minutes, they let us back into the building. And to top it all off, I’ve got an aching shoulder (still do, in case any of you are worried).

So I tell Avi, I really need to get back to my own place, and so I left back for York. Been spending the last two days in total rest and relaxation. It’s been a fun trip.

And that my friends, is pretty much how I spent my Reading Week, and everything leading up to it. Hopefully the photos I have posted will whet your appetite enough till I post again. I shall definitely try and not keep such long gaps between posts, but forgive me if I do.

Till next time,

Take care and have fun!

][mran