It’s getting colder

I live in Montreal for close to two months now. I am studying for one month. The amount of things I experience and learn is great, and I would love to share as much as possible with you. On my desk is a list of things I would really like to write about, opinions, philosophies, frustrations. And at a certain point I will write about all of these things. But I figured today it would be better to just give you a short update of what is going on in my life, since you did not hear my voice for a while.

Let me start with the studying part of my life. This is definitely the most time consuming part of my life right now. I take six courses this semester:

-Counselling Skills
-APA-lab
-Ethics in Clinical Practice
-Group & Family Drama Therapy
-Improvisation and Drama Therapy
-Practicum + Supervision

Except for the APA-lab, which is all about style rules for scientific writing for publishing, I find all my courses very interesting and useful. APA is useful too, of course, but it is just very dry and boring to sit in class listening to someone talking about punctuation and how to refer correctly for two hours. My other courses are very practical oriented, which means I get to practice a lot in class. I love this, because I think it is very important. However, it also means that I have to do all the theory absorbing after class, back home. The amount of readings we have is crazy! I try to keep up and this far I managed to read all the recommended texts before class, but I am not as fast in English yet, so sometimes it is very frustrating. My classmates have difficulties with the amount of it all too, so that is in a way comforting. Next to the reading there is also  quite some writing to do: journals, reflection papers, essays.

My practicum took a while to get sorted out, but this week I will be able to start working in the field. There are two sights I will be working at as a drama therapist. One is a school for kids with behavioural problems, average age 17 years old. The other is a Jewish centre for the elderly, average age not appropriate to ask. Interesting combination right? I visited the school last week and I am very enthusiastic about working there. It is a small school (80 students) and I think the view of this school is close to what I believe in. It is going to be challenging for sure, so I like that. This Monday will be my first visit to the elderly. I think there might be some holocaust survivors, which is interesting for me, since I want to specialize in (war-) trauma. But I don’t really know what to expect yet in terms of population and mental conditions, so I am looking forward to Monday.

So bottom line is that I am pretty busy. But I do not want to complain about that, since I chose to be here for a reason and this reason is still there and very important to me. I think coming here to study was a good decision. These two years will help me become a better drama therapist, specialized and ready to apply for a job with WarChild, or start my own projects in Africa. It is a great feeling to see everything narrow down more and more, getting closer to my goal.

Studying is the reason I came here, so of course it is a big part of my life here, but I do also need some self care, some stupid fun. So what else is going on in my life?

I am trying to discover Montreal’ s nightlife bit by bit.This far I went to a small dance festival, a movie and of course a gay club. Yesterday two classmates and me tried to go to a concert, but we ended up nowhere really. The thing with the city seems to be that you have to have a plan. And everyone knowing me alittle bit, planning is not something I do in my free time.

I discovered a coffee shop, very close to school, which is a great escape from everything. Writing this down I realize this might sound confusing to my Dutch friends. I mean an actual coffee shop where they sell coffee. It is stuffed with second hand really comfortable chairs and sofas, the music is always great and they have good coffee. Except for shisha there is no smoking inside. I go here in between classes to eat my lunch or read a little.

I am getting ready for winter, although I really have no idea what to expect. Minus 35 – 40 degrees doesn’t tell me anything. I mean, that sounds very cold, but I have no idea what that is like. So I get myself informed and discover that I need to buy good boots and maybe even a winter jacket. My parents have send me my long black winter coat, but people keep telling me it is not enough… It is getting colder every day, so I feel I need to hurry up, before my balls freeze off (people really scared me).

I decided to move. I will follow my beautiful roommates to their new apartment which will be cheaper, cleaner and better located for me. This will probably happen around Christmas.

Well, I guess this is it for now. I hope I will have time soon to write about some of the topics I mentioned in the beginning. For now, you at least know I am still alive and kicking and what I am up to now a days