Stoneham outside bouldering + Fete de Jean Baptiste

So yesterday was the biggest party in Quebec city, the birthday of Jean Baptiste. I checked out the party with some friends. But before that we went bouldering outside in Stoneham at Stone Bleu.

So first bouldering! This was my first time bouldering outside and the weather was perfect. We went to Stoneham which is about 40 minutes outside of Quebec. With our climbing shoes and chalk in tow we climbed up the mountain for about 30 minutes and finally arrived at the boulders! There were many sites and normally you have to bring your own crash pad as some of them are quite steep. But we didn't have any so we pretty much did it with no crash pad and just a friend spotting us. This was not the best of ideas but you know - YOLO!

I actually got a couple of injuries, one in my left hand for bracing my fall, and some scrapes on my right hand. But nothing really too serious. It was really fun to say the least but next time I will definitely be bringing some couch cushins if nothing else. Cause there were some routes I was too scared to try due to the fear of falling and hitting my head on rocks below.

Before this I have been only climbing indoors and it's a huge difference! The rocks outside are much harder on the fingers and usually there are not very good holds. There are a lot of crimps and finger holds as opposed to big jugs. Even the lowest level we tried was a challenge. But it was really fun!!!! Here are some pictures.

After the bouldering we came back realxed at my friend's pool and played some volleyball. Finally at night time we rode our bikes over to the Plains of Abraham for the biggest party in Quebec! After meeting up with everyone we started our way towards the big stage and it was crazy! Everyone was soooo friendly haha I got free beer, redbull and weed from people that were just passing by! The weird mix of cocktail got me high, low and everywhere in between. In between songs we squished our way to the front of the stage with me leading the way. I started random dance parties, got kisses from Quebec girls, conducted people behind me like an orchestra during the slow songs, joined circle mosh pits and started my own mosh pit!

I also pissed off some people haha. Some notable things were two girls who were pissed off at me cause I was speaking in English and told them they needed to pay me money to stand near me. Also some people were pissed off when I went to dance with them. But these were minor things and gotten over quickly with the state I was in.

I finally came back home at 3am had some pizza and went to bed after a long day of partying! Vive fete de Jean Baptiste!

Peace in Quebec!

Demo lesson for teaching in Japan

Here is the demo lesson I made for teaching in Japan. Honestly before I made it I was thinking what a chore. And the videos they put up on their website looked so fake and over exaggerated. But I am quite happy with the finished product even if I look like a tool lols.



Peace from Quebec.

Winter winter winter

The Quebec winter never seems to end. Not really complaining though since there is plenty of winter activities to keep me occupied. This past weekend a friend of mine gave me a free ticket to Masif the biggest ski hill close to Quebec. I went there with some friends from work and it was amazing!

I also broke my hockey stick, it was already breaking apart since the last time I used it but was just held on by my tape. So I decided to put it out of its misery and practiced my slap shot on it till it finally broke apart. I am quite happy about my progress in hockey so far. I just figured out how to do backwards crossovers on both my left and right leg.

My broken stick. 

Peace from Quebec.

Crunch time

It feels like this past week has been so busy for me. I got an interview for Interac Japan which is good since I passed it. But now I am waiting for the skype interview which if I pass will allow me to go to Japan in the fall. In the mean time I am busy preparing all the supplementary stuff for this interview. One of which is a mock 5 minutes demo lesson. Here take a look and tell me what you think about this whole process: http://www.interacamerica.com/index.php/demo-lesson

I also got my friend Diego staying with my this whole week. I met Diego through couchsurfing when I stayed at his place in Montreal on my epic bike trip from Toronto to Montreal. Diego is working the autoshow here in Quebec for this week hence for his visit. I learned a lot of new cooking techniques from him, man can this guy cook!

This week is also the first week I am starting to present my powerpoint on cheap traveling tips to my Cegep students. I have never done this presentation before and am a bit anxious. But I have no reason to believe it won`t go well.

Diego and I went bob sledding in old Quebec

Peace from Quebec City.

Quebec Winter Carnival

One of the largest attractions to Quebec city every year is the winter carnival. This festival lasts for 3 weeks and comprises of competitions, games and spectacles for anyone brave enough to face the Quebec winter. 

I have to admit prior to this year I have never heard of this event. But over the past two weeks I checked out the events with different friends who visited me. It was pretty awesome.

The first week my friends Di Ana and Anna came to visit. We braved -20 temperatures and collectively had our asses frozen off. We had to keep going inside to warm up. But on the bright side we did catch our own lunch courtesy of the ice fishing booth, and they were delicious. They were killed in front of us and smoked.

That same weekend the Calgary stampede also was in town and I got to ride one of their mechanical bulls, it was much harder than expected and I fell off my ass right after I uttered the phrase "Is that all you got Mr. Robot controller?" haha. Lesson learned. 

The second weekend my friend Holly from Toronto came to visit and we checked out the carnival again, this time the ice fishing was less than successful. But we did spend one of the days checking out Valcartier village which is like a Winter snowpark complete with tubing, rafting and skating all in snow of course! That was really fun and by night time the line was so small we could go on any of the rides multiple times. Oh! I almost forgot the best part about Carnival is the artic spas which are hot tubs placed outside in the cold. It was so relaxing and really helps out in the cold Quebec winter. Here are some pictures: 

My friend Holly made this photo which looks awesome so I am stealing it. 

Apple cidar from Quebec, bought one to try, it was good but I still prefer apple juice lols. 

Bonhomme the official mascot of Winter Carnival. 

Valcartier village, you sit on a tube and it brings you up to the top! Yay no exercise!

Snow rafting

My friend Holly and I 

Barrel saunas

Fuckin arctic baths, best part of Winter Carnival. Too bad we were only allowed to stay in for 20 minutes. But it was so relaxing.

Oh yea I also drove a dog sled, it was fun.

Heated hammocks

Catching my lunch

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The Canadian ice sculpture obviously the winner of the competition. 

Holly eating maple syrup on a stick. 

Peace from Quebec.