Half through midterm/paper season

It has been a while since I have written here and I know I don't have to apologise for that, as I have never made any life-binding commitment to posting something every week, but I feel morally obliged to keep you guys informed of my current situation across the 'pond'. Needless to point out to you that papers and midterms, my two companions along the way, have kept me busy and even up at night. However, I just got back the grades for my Medieval French midterm and was quite shocked to see that I got an A+ (94%) for it. Thank you, mister Perceval!!

At the moment I am working on my Canadian Literature class paper, which is very demanding, but nonetheless interesting to attempt to handle. One of my 'new friends', Matt (American journalist who's now taking some science courses at U of T) is helping me to make my 'performance meet up with my potential' in the sense that he has been going through the parts I've written so far and gives suggestions and corrections. Very inspiring comments and ultimately useful advice for my possible future in journalism, so I feel I'm learning à cent à l'heure!

I also got splendid news from my 'relatives' in Canada (thrice removed at least!). The Satre-family is related to my grandfather; Martine (the lady-of-the-house) is my grandfather's (pa's) niece and they come to visit Belgium every year and usually drop by my grandparents' house as well. E-mail and websites made it easy for me to get in touch with them and they promptly invited me to spend a long weekend in Montreal and Danville with them. So, I will be going to visit Montreal and the surrounding country side from Dec. 8 till Dec. 12. I consider it to be a well-deserved treat after my exams, which end on the 7th. I spoke to Martine on the phone today and she seemed very happy to hear me and was looking forward to meet met in about a month. She also wanted to 'vérifier si je me rappelle encore un peu de patois de Saint-Trond de ma jeunesse' All very well, but I didn't realise we spoke 'un patois' in the vicinity of Sint-Truiden... :)

As much as I want to go on about my great life in Toronto and about the things I have been doing here (not much actually, as I come to think of it, apart from reading, writing and studying.), Les Damnés de la Terre is awaiting me. Prof. Tcheuyap likes to present us with texts and articles that mainly deal with violence in every possible form of appearance. Quite heavy bed time reading, I have to admit!