A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Traveller`s Blog

Bonjour everyone; this is my first chance on a computer and the only little english that`s here. Hope everyone`s doing well, will try to keep a journal of everything here.

Hi Kenny--so how is it all going so far?? are you enjoying it?? is it like you imagined???

How nice to hear from you while you are away, Kenny!
Can't wait to read all about your experience! Enjoy it!!!

Bonjour Kenny, comment ca va?

It`s the third day I`m here and I`m really sorely homesick. I miss my parents so much and I haven`t made many friends here. They give out warnings if you speak English and each warning is 5% off your final mark. One of the guys I know already got one today and I`m really scared. I need someone to talk to and I don`t have anyone to talk to. I`m terribly lonely up here and I`m crying while I type this. It`s nothing like I imagined, and I feel so isolated, and so foolish for crying. So childish and not like a grown up guy. But I can`t help it, I cry everytime I think about my family. I really want to go home. It cost about $200 to get up here and I don`t want to be wasting that much money. I know how hard it is to make that money. I have a rooming partner and I`m really nervous of having my things taken and I`ve locked everything up. I`m scared of not having enough money to get home. I have a train ticket back, and the bus ride from here to the train station is about $85 dollars. I`m not spending any of the money I have, but there are things that I need to buy, but I`m scared of using it all up. I`m always checking my bag to see if I still have my things. I`m carrying my wallet, digital camer, keys, and mp3 whereever I go but I always have this fear of loosing things. The food here is terrible and I`ve been sick afte revey meal. Hope you guys are all doing well, miss you guys lots

Kenny--I had this very well written post to help you--and at the end--I just up and lost it---

I will try to give you the short version.
'
We have all been where you are right now.---Just hang in there--this is a great opportunity, you will be sorry if you go home early.---

Set aside some time each day and come and talk to us----it will be as if you are talking to us from home. And as an added bonus we will get to find oput what you are up to.--it will also give you something to look forward to.

as for the other times-----focus on your classes & the studies.--as far as not speaking English.--Look on it as a class---challenge yourself--turn it into a game.

About your roommate--he is likey in the same boat as you---go to him and get to know him---possibly you can turn this into a postive experience for you both.


about your items----It is likley ok----soemtimes you just need to trust. make a list,---leave some of them locked up in your room and check them a few times a day---carry the most important to you wioth you.
find out what the school's policy is on lost items.--if yoy feel more in control & more informed you will most likely feel better.

About your money.---take the amount you have--write the amount on a piece of paper--gestmate what you need to spend on the required items.--see what you have left, divide it by the # of days left of your stay and you will know what you have left to spend each day--if you have some left on one day---put it aside in case you need extra another day.---I think you will be fine---

Awww Kenny, BIG HUGE virtual hugs to you! Going away from home can be terrible! The first night I actually moved out of my moms I had my very first panic attack and I thought I was dying....it was very scary. I know you miss them terribly....but I'd bet that by the end of your time there you'll have made more friends. I'm sure there are other guys like yourself that are homesick and haven't made many friends. You should try approaching them and strike up a conversation. It sounds awfully strict there. Are you allowed to call home? I hope you can stick it out......one day you'll look back on in it as a learning/growing experience. Not now maybe but years from now. I'm sorry though you are having such a bad time of things though.

Is your roommate not very friendly? How many more days do you have there? Can you call your parents and see if they could send you a little extra money? I'd just put your money for your ticket separate from the money you have to spend. I know when we traveled across the country Mark had a money belt on and never took it off, even to sleep.

And remember you don't have to be a grown up guy......technically you're still a kid and it's okay to cry anyway. Being homesick is a really terrible thing. Just keep telling yourself that before you know it you'll be home. You may be getting sick after you eat because of your nerves....Try to eat the "safe" things, if there are any safe things.....Get a calendar and mark the days off on it, that might make you feel better. Or just draw out a little calendar on a piece of paper.

Tell yourself that you're strong and that you'll get thru this! Positive thinking can work wonders! And you are strong! And you WILL get thru this!

We miss you too, and :ding: you lots and you just hang in there as best as you can. Whatever gets you thru it.

Good advice from Carol Kenny!


Don't allow negative feelings to overwhelm you Kenny, know that this will be a good experience for you :wink: and each day will be easier
Find the positive in each day and focus on those
The first week or so is the hardest in missing family and your usual routine.

do you have a choice of foods to eat?? like a cafeteria?? maybe just fresh fruit and veggies and salads instead of cooked dishes that you may be unsure of,, also being nervous and unhappy can also make your stomach upset after eating.

I imagine it's hard to not have anyone to talk to,, and I also imagine there are several there that feel as you do,, observe a little more of those around you ,, I'm willing to bet there is someone there that needs a friend just as you do,, don't be afraid to reach out to make a friend , a new friend can bridge the gap that has your fears and anxieties preventing you from really enjoying your experience there.
Continue writing here daily we support you every step of the way !

Kenny....it's a whole different world there isn't it? Going to Quebec is just like travelling to another whole country....it's a culture shock.

Be brave...you're gonna be fine, we're sending you prayers and hugs. We miss you also, type when you can. Someone is usually around to keep you company.

It's o.k. to cry, being homesick is normal. Can you call home at all?

i can't say anything that hasn't already been said, but i can tell you the words are true. and i can tell you that the first time i ever stayed away from home, not at a relatives, i was literally sick to my stomach. so i don't know if it is the food or the home sickness. but it is real.

i would imagine, also, if your family is typical of many asian decent families, you are used to more rice than you are getting there. try adding any kind of carb, especially bread, when you get the chance. it isn't rice, but your body will treat it like rice.

we have that problem because we eat so much rice, and have a very asian diet at our house. both my girls have trouble when they travel to the american side of the family because of it.

by the way, if you can watch tv, both of my foreign exchange students (who came to me at 17 for 8 months at the time) used tv to work on adjusting. they both did well after the first week.

Wondering how you are Kenny.....

Kenny - everyone has written some very true and good advice. I don't really have anything to add, but did want you to know that I am also thinking of you, and always here if you need someone to write to!

I understand how hard it is to trust a perfect stranger with your possessions in the room, but I'd like to think that someone who was as interested in the same program that you were, would be trustworthy. Of course, one never really knows... but try not to make that the focus of your time there. Afterall... this is an opportunity of a lifetime and you really want to get as much out of it as you can, right? Material things are just that... and most can be replaced, so please try to relax a bit and ENJOY yourself! :wink:

It's kinda funny - my daughter is starting college in Sept., and is already talking about doing the study abroad program in her junior year. In the program she is in, they either go to Prague or Florence. She does not speak either language, and I am more concerned about that than she is!!! Let your parents take on some of the worries, and just try to have the best time you can!!! Oh, and please take lots of pictures so you can share them with us???

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I get to go on the computer most days if I finish lunch early, but most of the time, they`re either all in use or I ònly have time to check my email. I fell a bit better now. Didn`t cry when I read my mom`s emails, but started to tear up when I read your posts. Thank you everyone for your advice and words of wisedom. They are very strict about talking English, and I call my mom every night. She calls everymorning at 6:45 to wake me up, but I`m up early every day so I call her instead. I just found out today that my dad is unemployed and I don`t want them to have to send money here. They give up $80 for meals on the weekends for two weeks to that averages out about $6 a meal, which is not bad. I`m probably just going to have get a few croissents at the supermarket and that can be a meal. My mom told me to pack instant noodles (one of the few things that I listened to her for) and I can have those for a meal. Tomorrow there is an excursion and there are probably no restaurents beacsue we`re visiting a ghost town. I might go out after dinner to pick up some buns. I think the $80 will be enough to last the two weekends and perhaps longer. I still have about $200 in the suitcase that I haven`t used or touched yet along with my passport, and return train ticket.

I am feeling better now. I`m getting into the hang of the French thing and the thing is, even though our French is terribly incorrect in terms of vocab and verb tenses, we still understand each other and get what we try to say to each other. My teacher is very young (she`s 22) and I think she does a great job. She talks slow enough to understand and her explaination of things is excellent. She doesn`t tell you the english meaning of a words but will use simplier French words or french synonyms to explain the word.

My room mate doesn`t talk much to me, but he hangs out with the `cool``ganster` people, the `bad boys`. He left the key in ther door last night and I found it in the door when I went to use the washroom this morning. I sleep with my small `man bag`with all my stuff inside and I carry it along with me every where.

I still feel sick after each meal and I find that I am using the washrooms a lot. I`ve been getting a large plate (you make your own) of pasta salad instead of the main plates that they make and it fills me up fuller. There`s no fridge here, but the monitors on my floor lent me a pot to boil water for tea and noodles. I can`t wait to type here again, thank you so much. It means a lot to hear from you guys!

kenny

Kenny thanks for posting----I am glad u can get to a computer ot least once inwhile.--it is real nice that your mom can call you every day to wake you up, even cooler that you are already awake most of the time.

sounds like you are getting the hang of things.---I think that will help you so very much.---it also sounds like you are getting to be quite the budgeter with yo r money.--and you will never be sorry you learned that trait.--it will be useful the rest of your life.

aboput your room mate. I agree with lynne aobut him--but if he is not the typwe of person you would feel comfortable hanging out with, then look around campus--i am betting you will be able to find someone who is more like you.

again like Lynne-- I say,take as many pics as you can and be sure to post them to us either now or when you get home.

Hope to 'talk' to you soon.

Glad you posted Kenny.

Sorry to here about your dad's unemployment....hoping he finds something really soon.

You are doing good with your budgetting, you'll be fine. I'd keep an eye to that $200 though if it's just in your suitcase. Your room mate might be trustworthy but if he's hanging with a bad crowd....

Kenny...are you drinking bottled water or tap water? That could explain the bathroom trips.

Keep safe..we'll be waiting for your next post...and remember to try have some fun.

There was a concert tonight and it starts at 10. I was there with a few girls, and was told it was at the church. Turns out it was a stage in front of two pubs. I went near the stage (but not inside the bar patio area) and the securite guard stopped me and drew a rectangle in the air and said something. I didn`t hear him so I leaned forward to tell him I can`t hear you (je ne peux pas t`ecoute) and he just shrugged. I turned back and am now back at the residence. Oddly, most people are there at the concert, even the monitors, and one of the two dorm computers is free. There are two computers on the sixth floor for thirteen floors of people...go figure. I always thought the French were weird.

There are people who I talk to, but just not like a close friend I would talk to.

I have the money in my suitcases. I have two suiceases (from the same collection) but one smaller than the other. The money is locked in the smaller one which is then locked in the bigger one.

I`m drinking the water from the water fountains, not straight tap water but I doubt there`s a difference. Being able to read your posts is really nice and comforting to know that there are people who, though I`ve never met face to face, do care. Thanks for the support everyone!

Kenny

Were alway thinking of you and your fine flower stories. Just hang in there, and stay as nice as you are.....Your a doer and good fellow. Your daddy will find more work.

We miss you and hope you do like our chatter. Your one of the gang here.

;o)

Dodge says so.

Well, again one of the computers in the dorm is free, and I am on now for afew minutes literally. Mostly everyone's at the bar, but I stayed back with some other friends. I went to Val Jalbert today, and they had a huge white bleeding heart with seed pods but I didn`t have enough time to collect seeds. It sure looked nice! They also had some really nice white dianthus with a pale pink center and this really neat salvia which was a pale blue almost white flower spike with dark blue individual flowers that came out from the stalk. They also have a wildflower that I`ve never seen before here. It`s orange and about the size of a dress shirt button and a bright orange. They look like little asters. I have to get a pic of them!

Wow
They sound really nice.......They are a little later than our flowers, but sound nice.
Hope you get photos......
For your memories.

Have a nice time.

Kenny, yep--what dodge said--I agree.

so nice to hear from you and it sounds like you are starting to enjoy yourself a little better enjoy the flowers for me too

I try to get on here once a day, and usually I just read posts, and it's great reading about how everyone's gardens are working out! I just just out at the dollar store and bought some lemon air freshners, a deck of cards, a box of dryer sheets, and a small bottle of detergent. I haven't lost anything yet (hope I haven't cursed it) and am starting to get used to the environment. They've been digging some island in the parking lot and today I saw them putting in top soil; hope they're going to plant some nice flowers! It's always raining here. The good days, it's sunny, then it rains. On bad days it rains the whole day, and on worse days, it teases you and it alternates between rain and sunshine five minutes of each. Haven't cried when I call home and I hope that's a sign I'm getting accustomed here. One thing I have found out for sure, the food here (the main plate) is getting smaller and smaller. I've been filling myself up on pasta salad instead of a main plate (it was four meatballs and some boiled veggie pieces last night) I'm glad I'm able to fill up on pasta, better than not having anythign to fill up on (the pasta salad is probably left over pasta from the previous meal mixed with some dressing and some egg yolks). I see some really neat plants here and when I checked, the zone of this region is 3b. I'm hoping I'll be able to take some cuttings homes and even some small plantlets. I've seen lots of tiny heurchas around campus and I'm willing to guess they either bought them this year or they're divisions. It's 4:50 and dinner's at 5. I guess I have to go line up now before the whole mad rush and crowd beats me to it.

Kenny--sounds l ike you are adjusting--and are finding theings of interest to you.--I am also glad you are adjusting to the food----

I think you are making good choices all around.--Keep us posted and I wish you all the best.

.

Good show Kenny.Guess you will be back soon..........Glad posies are around to make you feel better......We all have a first time away.Your doing well in spite of all the differences there.

Good luck .god bless and keep coming.

Glad your settling in Kenny, be strong and enjoy yourself.

I can't believe they only fed you 4 meatballs...that's cruel.

What an experience you're having. Good or bad you'll have something to talk about for months!!!

Sure Kenny...

Lets you find out how the rest of the country lives.......
And what you like and not like of your neck of the woods......That is how to learn.......

I had 2 meat balls for supper last nite, with spaghetti.

I pigged up.

It was so good to read your post again today, Kenny. I does sound like you are settling into a routine there - how much longer do you stay? Have you been learning much, aside from all the social things you've been describing here?

Good evening everyone. Today is Saturday July 19th, and it is 8:12pm. I went with the rest of the students to Cape Trinity today. It was a 3.5 km hike up the mountain, but I only got up to 1.1 km before I went back down with some friends. On top of the mountain there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, Notre Dame de Saguenay. It was said that she appeared up on the cliff some time ago and they erected a statue there in 1881. Mostly everyone is at the bar...again, and I'm proud to say I'm here on a computer instead.

I was told by one of my friend (who doesn't drink) that he was with a group of friends at the bar and babysat them to make sure they got back to the college safely. He said one guy was really drunk on my floor and this morning a shower cubicle REALLY stank. I'm guessing he puked there and didn't bother rinsing afterwards. A few moments ago I noticed the caretakers put Brisé (broken) on the door.

Good news I got pics on photobucket. I wasn't sure to do photobucket or facebook first (the connection's really slow) and I figured you guys might be able to see on photobucket cuz not everyone has facebook. The link's here: http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a383/kennyso/Quebec%201

bless you kenny. making good choices at your age isn't always easy, but you are doing them. i hope all is well. how much longer do you get to stay?

ok, i looked at most of the pictures. it is beautiful there. but it does look like you are eating a lot of pasta and either chicken or tuna salad. good for you, but not a steady diet of it i'm glad you are making friends and having fun!

HI Kenny,

Nice seeing you this evening.. Glad your a fine loyal fellow.
ANd having fun on the computer.....
Really hot in my place.90º for 3 days now.
Unusual......

Went on a motorcycle ride to cool off.

I loved the water falls there.. That sure looked rapid ..Rapid falls.

The scenery is very nice.....
I was in Quebec, but mostly in farm country and The Shrines.

kennny--such beautiful pictures of the countryside and of the school--and thanks for making sure there weer pics of other kids as well---
\
now about the food.............are you fairng any better these days???