Happy Holidays

This past week was my final week of classes, which normally means it would be relatively light and maybe just review for the midterms, but no such luck we were learning new stuff in each of the classes, some of it is even going to be on our midterm. But classes are now FINALLY over until the end of January (after our midterms). Our midterm schedule was finally released this past week, and it doesn't look too bad except we have an exam on the first day back at 9am and then one on a Saturday at 9am, but at least the Saturday one is our very last mid sessional exam.

Going into the mid sessionals it's hard to judge how we've been doing since we have only really had 3 practical assessments: 2 in ophthalmic lenses (the first one I did quite well on and the second was this week so wont get results for a few more weeks) and then the other was in clinical optometry where we had to do a drawing of someone’s retinal. We actually did the clinical optometry assessment at the end of November, but just got our marks for it this past week, and I ended up getting much better than I had thought.

I have actually surprised myself a fair bit this week as I managed to study for at least an hour or two each day! This is impressive for being so close to Christmas and such a busy week. See this week one thing I did was went with a group of my friends to an off campus housing place called the Heights which looks really nice since it's like an apartment of four rooms (which is good since there is four of us) and we each have a bedroom and our own bathroom/shower and so all we would share is the kitchen (which works since we all hang out in one persons kitchen all the time anyways). Plus this place also has a common area like a little living room right by the kitchen which is cool. I ended up looking at other places since some of my friends that are UK students aren't allowed to live in residence in their second year, also I found out that because they are almost done the new residence on campus then they will only be offering the suite style rooms next year (which is the basically same price as the place we looked at). But so over the Christmas break I will have to think about it and sort stuff out and figure out where I want to live next year.

Actually this week was basically filled with lasts and farewells, starting with last lectures of the term. Then on Wednesday one of my friends and I headed to the pub that evening and played a couple games of pool, as a nice end of term thing. Since at the start of the term it was basically a weekly thing that we would do, but lately with studying for exams and projects we hadn't done it in a while so we figured we would do one last one before the end of the term.

On Thursday a group of us ended up also going out for lunch to Pizza Express (a fancy pizza restaurant near campus) and had a nice relaxing last lunch all together before everyone went home. The place and food was actually so good and it was such a nice restaurant that we're planning to go back there every once in a while. While we were in the restaurant at one point we looked out and noticed that there was a blizzard outside! It was a cool day but I never thought I would really see any snow here, so it was quite a surprise. It lasted for about 30min or so and about a cm or two ultimately landed and stayed on the ground, which made it definitely makes it feel like Christmas time now!

 

Later that evening a smaller group of us who usually cook together ended up meeting at our one friends kitchen (as usual) and had a little bailies and biscuit party and a bunch of their flatmates (who we've gotten to know since we're always over there) also came and joined us, which was nice to see everyone again. Of course the bailies, chocolates and cookies were also a good way to finish off the last night of the term.

Friday was our final day of lectures for the term, and after class my five of us ended up getting together for lunch out our favourite hang out; Sac of Potatoes. Again at one point we had started meeting up there every Friday for lunch, so decided it would be a good way to end the term. One of my friends who is from the UK had his parents and grandmother was in town to pick him up so he brought them along and so it was a really great lunch and end to my first term.

I'll be heading back to Canada shortly for a few weeks so I can spend time with family and friends. While I’m in Canada, I don't know if I’ll end up writing much here, but when I get back I'll probably do a quick post, and then will be back mid-late January (well unless something big happens or I end up wanting to procrastinate my studying :P)

I hope everyone a very happy and safe holiday season and I'll see you in the New Year!

 

Cheers,
Jeff



*Word of the week: "liquid dish soap" back in Canada is called "wash up" (or more formally "washing up liquid" here) ... just something to think about when your washing the dishes this holiday season ;)

The last few weeks of term

I want to apologize as I realize it has been some time since my last post, but I'll fill you all in on what has gone done since then.


It has basically been business as usual classes and studying. Not too much excitement going on around here, since about half the school it seems had their midsessional exams. It seemed like basically all the business students (undergrad, masters, MBA, etc) had their midsessional exams starting on Dec 1st and went until Dec 12th, so the whole campus has definitely calmed down and been in study mode for the past few weeks. Myself along with the rest of the other programs basically aren't as lucky as we all have classes until Dec 18th and then our midsessional exams begin on Jan 11th. Which means it's going to be a fun Christmas full of studying :P ... but it should still be okay, since I have been doing a surprising amount of studying lately!

Believe it or not that was me studying! We had to make a pin hole camera for one of our labs, so we decided to decorate ours.

Aside from studying, my friends and I ended up going out to the German market a few more times to hang out and walk around (it's weird because it seems like you see something new each time). The last time we went was actually partially to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. We all had a great time, even though it was a bit cold (really it was only like 0ish, but its cold for here :P ) and then afterwards we went to a pub and had some food and drinks and hung out for a few hours.

One other exciting thing I did since I last wrote was I actually purchased some of my equipment! I ended up buying a Welch Allyn ophthalmoscope and retinoscope. I was finding that images that I could get with both were about the same as I wasn't noticing a huge difference between the two, so then it ultimately just came down to feel and for me I was finding that the Welch Allyn seemed much more comfortable and natural for me. The only downside is I ended up purchasing the equipment from Canada, so that means that I have to be patient and wait until I get back for Christmas before I can start using it :P

                        Ophthalmoscope                    Retinoscope


Talking about Christmas I have actually got my flight now and so I'll be home for three full weeks! I can wait to see everyone again and it looks like it's going to be a fun busy Christmas! The biggest trick will be for me to remember to continue studying, especially since I just found out I have an exam the day after I get back :P, but it'll be okay, as I don't think that course will give me too many problems.

That's pretty much catches you all up to date, but I'll also send off one more before I head off for Christams.

Cheers,
Jeff



*Word of the week: In Canada we have "sweaters" while here they call them either "pullovers" or "jumpers" ... which I really created some confusion at first when I overheard someone talking about a "jumper" they saw at the mall ... since my first thought was that they were very calm, and a bit excited for having just witnessed someone jumping off a roof !