The One With Jewish Canadians

If I was overwhelming cool and alternative, I could tell you that I am so excited to be taking an entire class dedicated to Leonard Cohen. But, as you may have figured if you're an avid reader of this blog or know me in real life, I am about as alternative as vanilla ice cream. Whilst Leonard Cohen is great, I am mainly taking this course because I like having Professor Mayne as a teacher, and because I am trying to become the first British Christian to be an expert on Jewish Canadians. In all seriousness, if I did my entire degree at uOttawa, I would definitely make my minor Jewish Canadian Studies - I could learn Yiddish! I want to learn Yiddish!

And Prof Mayne is completely to blame for this interest! Maybe if I ever go on Mastermind (why would I ever go on it?), I can having Jewish Canadians as my specialist topic.

Also, Native Writing in Canada is out to be replaced with History of Jews in Canada. Why? Because the prof for the former was kind of dull and because the latter is my academic opium. I may have a problem; is there such a thing as Jewish Canadian rehab?

I can't articulate succinctly why I find the area so fascinating, but I like being able to study a group which has such an ancient history and yet has always had to adapt to the contemporary situation it finds itself in. Plus, it comes with a wealth of literature and art and music and what have you and it's so striking and so poignant.

There are moments when you realise that the year abroad cliches are true. Getting to study something I would never have imagined in a million years I would ever study, let alone find interesting, and loving every minute of it - and it's all thanks to study abroad.

When I found these stuck all around campus, I thought they were cheesy. Now I think they're brilliant.