I'm voicing my opinion!

Little recap for the unaware: for the second time in my undergrad time at McGill, there's a major strike going on. The first time was in my first year, when the TAs went on strike, and it resulted in one of my profs having to mark 1000+ exams and his decision to give no partial marks (I got 2/6, which I'm actually pretty pleased with). Now, it's a much bigger strike that has pretty much alllllll the university support staff on strike. We're talking receptionists, technicians, lab peeps (special shoutout to Frank because I love him so much)..... Pretty much think of anything, and trust me those people have something to do with it. McGill is firm in their belief that students remain mostly unaffected, and after the millionth thing went wrong today, I lost my mind. So I took matters in my own hands and did something dramatic:

I emailed the principal of McGill University.

Secretly I feel super awesome. And I kinda like what I sent, so I'm posting it here for all of you!

"Dear Principal,

I would like to officially take you through my day to show you how badly the strike is affecting us students.

This morning I went to McGill Health Services to get blood works taken, as asked by my McGill doctor. But of course, the technician is on strike, so I have to go to the Montreal General on my own time, terms, and money to get said tests done.

Then I proceed to my 4th year chemical engineering reactions class, a class I've been looking forward to since I got into engineering. But of course, we're told the lab is cancelled due to the strike, and so we'll have to content ourselves with a youtube video instead this semester. At this point I have to mention, engineering at McGill (or chemical anyways) is already so little practical experience, now we flat out get NONE?

After class, I'm hungry, so I make my way to the cafeteria in McConnell. My parents and I worked out a food budget where they put some money on my card for the semester, since I spend so much time on campus and have little free time to make meals. But of course, I'm told there's no money on my card, which surprises me since I filled it up last week. I'm told it could take a month or until the end of the strike, because a girl today came in and said she filled it on the first day of class and it STILL hasn't gone through.

After having to pay cash for my meal instead, I go meet one of my professors, who told me he might have a research project for me. But of course, I'm told the project requires lab technicians who are on strike, so the project is cancelled.

Do I need to keep going? Because there are so many more, equally frustrating stories due to this strike. I know there are a lot of important matters at hand, but I think you've all lost the focus here: you are a UNIVERSITY. Your focus should be your students. Instead, we're getting the short hand of the stick and picking up all the negative consequences of this strike. So don't say we're not affected. And maybe it's time to start thinking how you can better the situation for us.
Because without students, McGill is nothing.

I hope this letter will urge you to better an unfair situation for us.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth
U4 Chemical Engineering "

If I can't eat it, I'll blog about it

During a momentary bout of insanity, I decided to attempt this very hardcore diet for the next few months. It's not that I'm trying to drop 100lbs or anything crazy like that, but I figure it would be great to rid myself of my non-stop cravings for sugar, junk food in general, and carbs. Another plus with this diet is portion control, so I figured I could learn to eat less and still function normally. Yay!

Except not. Ok maybe it's because the fifth day is the hardest (pretty sure I'm making stuff up?), but EVERYTHING LOOKS DELICIOUS today. Things I don't normally eat look ah-mazing today. I never cared much for cheese, except maybe one little slice of brie per six months. But now? Now I want to put cheese on everything. Also I know I live in Montreal which is like home of smoked meat (and my next statement will not please a lot of people), but one bad trip to very greasy joint Schwartz's left me totally turned off. Then today I see one of the engineering cafeterias now offers smoked meat sandwiches, I see one being made, and now it's all I can think of.

I feel a little better talking about it. And right now, I need to take a moment to curse all you skinny girls with your stupid fast metabolisms. I want to curse every guy who's ever called me "curvy" or "filled out" (it's an insult in disguise). And finally, I want to curse my parents (in a respectful manner) for a little conception hiccup that left me "filled out" and my brother all skinny.

You know, because of all the problems stated above, I'm left having dreams about cheating on my diet. I'm left watching my best friend eat all he wants while I go hungry (slash snack on celery) even though he's the anorexic one in this relationship. And I am left thinking maybe I can use my engineering degree to make "healthy" chocolate.

Just a thought.

#5: Eat a St-Viateur bagel

Delicious and very famous Montreal St-Viateur bagels.
It was kinda like biting into a cloud.

#23: See the Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibit

This is some of my favorites from the Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts.
As Madison put it, it really walks the fine line between fashion and art. Imma let you all ponder on that one.

They had these projections of faces on the mannequins, so this is the talking Jean-Paul Gaultier, welcoming people to the exhibit.

Shoe within a shoe. Can't decide if it's ridiculous or genius.

This dress is made of film tape.

#20: Eat a Beavertail

My University Bucket List

Since this is my last year before graduation, I decided it was important I accomplish allllllllll the little things at school and around the city I had meant to do over my undergrad.

So, with my accomplice Madison, I wrote up a list of thirty things I want to do/see/eat/etc. before May. When they get done, I'll post the photo evidence on here. By May 1st, all 30 things should be done and I should feel ready to become a "grown up".

I hope you all enjoy!