Oh CANADA!!

Yes, taking advantage of the proximity to another national border, I had the chance to visit Canada's capital city of Ottawa. The class I am TA'ing for is part of Syracuse's Freshman Learning Communities Program where students interested in a particular major get placed on the same floor as other incoming students and then take an intro class together before they get the chance to declare their major. The IR learning community also sponsors a yearly trip to Canada to talk about US-Canadian relations which gives students a great chance to see foreign diplomacy in action, learn about issues that extend beyond our borders, and do so without having to board a plane.

We spent the morning meeting with representatives from the US Embassy in Canada who talked about everything from the extension of non-traditional embassy agencies like the Department of Homeland Security to Canadian stances on NAFTA and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

We then had some free time and I went around with the 2 Peer Mentors who are undergrads that had previously been part of the learning community and are now in charge of facilitating students through this year as well as teaching classes once a week. We had a great time taking in the sights of Ottawa. I must admit, it was a BEAUTIFUL city. The streets are busy but wide and inviting, the buildings not overwhelming or looming, and the people were very laid-back and friendly. There is a lot of British influence and the emphasis on preserving the original architecture has resulted in a stunning conglomeration of high copper-plated turret-towers on stone facades alongside modern skyrise and banks of office windows.

We toured the Parliament learning of their bicameral system headed by ministers representing the more than 33 million Canadians. The architecture, again, was breath-taking including statuary built into the walls with faces of historic leaders and monarchs, walls made from limestone rich in fossils, and archways buttressing out in sweeping lines across the vaulted ceilings. A personal highlight was, while waiting for the elevator that would take us up to the top of the "Peace Tower" overlooking the city, I ran into a family from Mexico City visiting Canada for their first time too. They had tried to cut in line ahead of us, thinking that the group was waiting for a tour guide. Since nobody spoke Spanish behind me, they were successful in elbowing their way through until I heard them discussing their need to continue forward and I kindly remarked in Spanish that there was a line and we were all waiting for the elevator. The woman was seriously surprised to hear anyone address her in Spanish let alone to tell her that she couldn't go forward any more. But, we ended up being good friends as we talked about their trip and they complimented me on my Spanish skills.

Following the parliament, we had some more free time wherein I bought some authentic Maple syrup contained in little glass maple jars and a French baguette from a little bakery run by French Ontarians. It was interesting seeing all the signs in English and French, the measurements all converted in metrics, and hear the fluid interchange between the Angliphone and Francophone cultures. I realized just how little I really know about Canada and, being such a vital trading partner and ally, I should really take some time to get to know more.

It was a fantastic day trip--exhausting but fantastic! I got home to find out that my car had broken down and after an ordeal in the rain we managed to get it to a garage that will look at it on Monday.

In other news, I've had a great time getting out to some cultural events including a night of Spanish opera (Zarzuela) in the small town of Homer, NY. I had never imagined having access to world-class Spanish lyrical theater, but in a small theater that had been a church and now converted into a civic center, I found a gem of culture performed only once a year. Also, I braved the waters of Lake Owasco in driving a waverunner for the first time. Leaving the crammed and admittedly dismal city center of Syracuse, the open countryside and sweeping hillsides sprinkled with long-skinny "finger" lakes is a truly breath-taking and relaxing atmosphere. I'm excited for the full onset of Fall as the leaves are just now starting to change color and the promise of a colorful cascade of leaves awaits me.

Otherwise, these next couple weeks will be full of midterms, presentations, and projects so hopefully I'll be able to keep up. Classes are picking up in intensity and the weather is dimming down but Syracuse remains a constant adventure.





Inside Parliament, the House of Commons chambers. Usually, meetings are in session while tour groups pass through so they don't let you go inside, but since they are out campaigning in preparation for the October 14th elections, we were able to go inside.





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Ottawa as seen from the Peace Tower.

A beautiful bridge over Ottawa River

Katie and I enjoying our French baguettes and toasting to the maple syrup bottles

LOOK AT THIS PURPLE HOUSE!! I ran into this beautiful house right on a main thoroughfare of Skaneateles, a major tourist town about 30 min outside of Syracuse

A boat docked on Skaneateles lake overlooks a quiet park

This is inside a beautiful park called Watkins Glen. Amazing geology and lots of money for trail-making have made it a great afternoon getaway as well as the site for some incredible engagement photo opps.

I was amazed by this statue in the visitor's center at the Peter Whitmer Farm. Documenting the restoration of the priesthood by Peter, James, and John, the statue is incredible--yes the angels are really floating!

Finally, the peer mentors and I pose outside of Parliament.