Taste of the World

We are now halfway through our first semester here. It has flown by at super-sonic speed! We are both enjoying our courses and we're slowly getting used to the reading load. Assignments are coming on thick and fast now. This coming week is our Reading Week (that means study week NOT spring break!) and we need it.

We haven't spent every single minute studying - despite what it feels like. One Saturday each year (10 Feb) Regent hosts a giant pot-luck dinner known as "Taste of the World". Students are grouped by nationality or continent (Australia & New Zealand - how about our blue-creamed pavlova as a symbol of cross-Tasman co-operation?, Asia, Africa, UK, Europe, USA, & Canada) and we co-ordinate to bring food that is typically from our home. We took lamingtons which disappeared quickly from the table. (Warning! The smaller you cut the sponge cake, the longer it takes to dip & coat them!) Have a look at the photos on the link at the end to discover some of the other culinary delights on offer. Once grace was said, it was a flurry of activity as people circulated around the tables, sampling lots of different things. After the food, we gathered in the chapel and had entertainment from those who were brave enough to share their culture. We just enjoyed the fun of Canadian-US banter, African dance, Japanese physical exercises, Salsa dancing lessons (try doing that in a auditorium!), and the embodiment of "an Englishman, an Irishman, and a Scot..." jokes.

Bronwyn had a great afternoon out yesterday (17 Feb) with a group of girls who had "Tea and Nibbles". We had tea from teacups (what a luxury), plenty of laughs and a fantastic sharing time. A real 'girly' time.

Today was the first fine Sunday we can remember so we ventured out to the beach. Most of Vancouver had the same idea but it was wonderful to have some exercise and see further than the clouds usually allow! We happened across a film set on the beach of a wrecked aircraft, for which film we don't know but it was a bit of a novelty!

The marked seasons mean that bulbs are a big feature of gardens here. It has been uplifting to see the snowdrops and crocuses appear and unfold to the sun each day. Our neighbour's lawn is littered with crocuses so it is a joy to see them out. The promise of less rain seems a little more realistic then! We saw, for the first time today, a tree with spring blossom.

Enjoy some more photos by clicking on this link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/n.b.mclellan/TasteOfTheWorldAfternoonTeaJerichoBeach