September 2, 2005 - A Day of Destiny/Shopping

It is my final Friday in Brandon [Manitoba, Canada -- aka the mother country], before I leave for Taiwan. Today, I ran through the stores for the third time this week, trying to obtain items which I apparently will not be able to get in Taiwan, or at least not in my size. Double AA Lithium batteries were successfully, but the legendary pair of size 13 cheapass sandals continues to prove elusive. Throughout the land, people ask me "Where are you going? Taiwan, eh? Are you teaching? No? Are you sure you're not teaching?" This would appear odd to a lesser man perhaps, but for someone who has majored in English and is descended of teachers, constant assumptions that I am going to be a teacher are par for the course.

I have decided to use my digital camera, newly empowered with the aforementioned batteries of Lithium, to take photos of Brandon to gaze at longingly should I feel homesick overseas, or to amuse people with our own prairie variety of ridiculousness. Hurl's Food Mart... mmmmmm.

I met some of the Taiwanese exchange students who are coming to Brandon while I go to their university. There are 6 of them coming here, and only me going there, so as I factor it, the exchange rate means I am worth 6 Taiwanese people!! That's not bad. I'll take that deal. One of them, who has adopted the English name Neo for reasons unknown (perhaps a fan of the acting skills of Keanu Reeves), has offered to give me some calligraphy. I am assuming this means characters of some form. I look forward to the surprise this Sunday.

In other news, I am going to the Lake [Pelican Lake, Manitoba, Canada] tomorrow to haul big metal objects out of the water so they can be stuck back in come spring. It is long celebrated tradition in my family, the moving of the boat hoist and dock into the water in spring, the digging it out and fixing it every weekend in summer, and the hauling it out in fall. Occasionally, the boat is used. I hope to have my last stint of seadooing and maybe some waterskiing for some time (but probably no less time than if I had just stayed here in Canada).

I fly out on Monday from Winnipeg, and apparently some friends of mine are going to meet me at the airport, but I'm not sure. They don't have cars, so this seems a bit of an inconvenience for them. Oh well, we shall see.

See ya.
Ryan

Favourite Quotes of the last week or so, okay its the summer:
"You are like a portable folk fest" Kris Brown
"Aquaman is powerful strong!!" Kris Brown
"Ah Brandon, it's never seemed so incomplete." Kyle Lougheed
"There's not going to be a sequel, there's not even an original" Kyle Lougheed
"Well I've already starting writing it, I have to finish it." Downtown Parking Ticket Nazi
"Yeah, now that's one bad hombre." Ray Silvius
"Nuts to you woman!" Ray Silvius to girlfriend Jill Bucklaschuk (repeated numerous times)
"No Ryan, a person cannot act as their own midwife, even if she's properly trained" Megan Wilton
"You are being far too responsible. Saving money, sheesh." Dr. David MacLeod, leader of BU's Office of International Activities.
"So, are you gonna teach?" Entire Population of Brandon