Alright, so at the request of my good friend *Mauguine, I shall make a journal entry depicting my first few moments of University life With pictures of course!

So let's resume quite broadly what happened before I actually started. The first University related activity was the “Study Abroad” meeting which took place a good few months back. There I made my first good friend, Francois Paradis, a very tall white guy that speaks Japanese XD. So we pretty much stayed in touch after that day, we even played Paintball together, it was a blast, my “squadron” made of 3 people actually killed Bush! Yes you read that right, we were impersonating terrorists attacking an American Embassy where Bush was hiding in. I was the first to actually enter the building, killing a good few enemy soldiers. Then I proceeded with calling my “backup”, which were Francois and another random girl. We split in “half”, as if you could split 3 in 2… Anyhow, I took the right path, while they took the left and we totally owned Bush and his commandoes. ^_^ Great souvenirs I tell you (and sorry to those who actually like Bush, it WAS just a game y’know.)

Following this, I actually went to an event unrelated to my University; it was the “Discover McGill” event, XD. While there is animosity between McGill and Concordia, I do not have any ill feelings towards them though, as many of my friends actually attend that University. Invited by my friend Ben Lou, I got to meet some interesting students and participate in some of their activities. I have a special mention though, I got the change to meet this very nice girl, purely out of randomness. We were answering questions at a booth about apartment rights, and I helped her out. We then started talking as we went by other booths and I learned that she was Romanian too! Great coincidence! XD, she’s been in Canada for 13 years, just as I have, and at the moment, she also had sinus problems! (Not that it’s a good thing lol). She lived in Ontario until recently. She now stays in a very pricey apartment IMO, near McGill. So we just went around visiting all the booths and once finally done, I invited her to some Sushi. The guy that invited me to the event worked at a nearby Sushi restaurant, so all three of us went together. I ordered a plate, and we got 10% off thanks to my friend, we didn’t even have to pay up front, pretty cool if you ask me. Again we chatted, blew our noses a lot (sinuses, remember?) and had quite some fun. [[link] You can see here she’s having trouble with fitting the sushi in her mouth, I had to show her how it’s done, haha] On the way back to her apartment, we stopped by a street artist using spray cans, it’s pretty amazing to see in action, I actually saw the same style back in Barcelona and effectively, the guy was Spanish We also made a quick run by Pharmaprix (local drugstore), to get some much needed medicine! She then proceeded to get back to her apartment and waved us goodbye from the 6th floor.

So following this our first real University event was the “Start Right” program, which aimed to get us accustomed to the University methods and get us to meet some people. Great idea! There I also made another good friend: Michelle Azrak (Lebanese Girl’s name if you’re wondering), she was having a hard time opening one of those milk box cartons, so I showed her the “technique”. Impressed as she was XD, she decided to tag along, so we see each other every now and then. The program itself wasn’t THAT interesting, as I knew most of what they were trying to make us understand, so no comment on that part.

Next came the “Discover Concordia” program, which oddly enough resembled “Start Right” but without going too much into detail. We got some freebies, nothing TOO interesting, apart from the 256MB USB key, but even there, I’ve already got a few GB’s worth of USB’s at home.

Now comes the pretty cool part. I failed to mention that I am a JMSB (John Molson School of Business) student. It’s the separate faculty that takes care of Business students. The organized a FROSH week for us all, it’s something like initiation week, but really not as harsh as in the movies

So let’s start by the beginning, Friday August 29th. I got to the Loyola Campus around the time it was supposed to start. They told me I had to go BACK to the Sir George Williams Campus which was like 20 minutes away -_-“. I followed instructions, and as I got there, I saw that the people doing the sign-ins were getting onto the bus and so I pretty much went back for no reason. At least they gave me a beer before getting onto the bus (it was Bud though, tastes like ass I tell you). So let’s get back to the Campus where the activities were. There they deployed inflatable games: Twister, Life-Size Foosball and a Fighting Ring with hammer-like rods, where the point was to make your opponent fall by hitting him with it (sorry, I really don’t know what it’s called >_>. Other than that, we had Frisbees and a volleyball field, the tryouts are soon, for the Commerce Games, I’m going to try my luck at Ultimate Frisbee and Tube Water polo (yep, lol, water polo while sitting on a tube… very… interesting). There were also free hot-dogs, hamburgers, drinks and beer of course, I tell you, it was just like in the movies! XD Funny fact though, if you caught someone that was drinking with their right hand, you could call “buffalo!” and they would have to chug it down, before getting another one. Interesting way to meet people, I was actually caught by Anne-Marie that way -_-, shame on me!

So yeah, I got my T-shirt and FROSH bracelet, then I just went around, talking to as many people as possible, I can assure you, a good 80% of the people are very interesting and thankfully, we pretty much all share the same goals in life, so we all get along well. As to not go too much into detail, I can resume my day as: getting to know, and trying to remember 100 people’s names (extremely hard, I tell ya’, playing Ultimate Frisbee and then getting pressured into signing up for the tryouts by one of the girls there, playing Volleyball, Twister, and ducking it out in the fighting ring. I also got to eat a “healthy” 4 hamburgers, 1 hot-dog, and something like 3-4 beers, Coors Light this time though, it’s the only one that’s barely passable. I then left at around 4 so I could take a shower, since we were having a party at Light Ultraclub later that night.

So after freshening up and getting back to Montreal, I met with Francois and we went to Light’s. Odd thing is, we had our backpacks, we looked kind of nowhere XD (But we needed to, since I was staying over at Frank’s that night, since we were going to the Beer Festival the following day). So, dumb as we looked, we went in and met some new and familiar faces as well. Coolest thing though, Frank actually KNEW one of the bouncers, you know those very serious and beefy looking guys? Yeah, he was actually pretty cool, he even let us put our bags in a special locked room We then just went around talking with whoever we recognized, finally ending at an Asian group’s table. They were quite cool, and one of our friends Phelicia even drank a little too much, so much that she had to dart over to the toilet as to not soil everyone. When we had enough, and also for the fact that the Alouettes de Montreal (Local Pro-American Football Team) were coming, whom I dislike first of all, and whom take too much place anyways, we finally left, and again with the “special treatment”, by the “secret” VIP backdoor.

I’ll shortly go through the beer festival. In the morning, we met with two Japanese families that I got to know thanks to Francois. He actually already had done an exchange to Japan in high school, and he knows many Japanese people. Anyhow, we all went together to the beer festival, where we talked and tasted beers from here and there, not too many obviously because well, first of all I’m broke XD and it’s not like I wanted to get drunk or something. One thing I can tell you though, Japanese LOVE beer, and they drink A LOT of it too

So the next day I came back home and I FINALLY had time to rest (well kind of). I had to help out at my Dad’s Birthday preparation. I did so and met some people I hadn’t seen in quite a while, it was pretty fun, but also very tiring, ah and again I failed to mention that I had sinus problems all that time XD, quite fun to be crying all the time with a runny nose eh? XD

Alright! So let’s FINALLY get to the point! My first OH-SO-AMAZING-FIRST-DAY-OF-UNIVERSITY!
So let me try to remember… Ah yes! I woke up too late, as usual, I took my dad’s lift, but we got stuck in traffic, first day of classes is always the worst on the highways… So he ended up just dropping me off at the nearest Metro Station, and he went back home the lazy bum! Haha. I got to school something like 15 minutes late, not too shabby I believe -_-“. So the first class had already started: Business Communication. I believe it is one of the most interesting courses I’ve ever taken, it might just be because of the professor’s enthusiasm (and yes not I wrote “ professor” not “teacher”, we’re on a whole other level here ^_^), but it seems to me like it’s going to be an amazingly fun class. The first activity, after the course’s introduction, was to find someone, learn some things about them and then make a short presentation to the class. I gladly did so by choose my also late-arrived partner; we actually came in at the same time and sat close to each other. I went by and presented myself, so did she, and we just left for some coffee because we were both getting kind of sleepy. So taking this 15 minute break, we introduced each other and chatted some before getting back to class. There, the activity started, everyone seemed pretty good at public speaking, which was a surprise, although it’s to be expected of Business students, I believe. And for the first time in my life, I actually knew half of the class before starting! It was something I was overjoyed of, it’s unprecedented. Many of them, I had met the previous days, but a handful, 5 of them I believe, came from Vanier, my college, so there were some familiar faces indeed. While on break, we met up with Michelle and hanged out a while, then we went by Man-na, a local Korean and EXQUISITE restaurant where we know some people, to have lunch.

Shortly after, the second class of the day started. Math is more boring than I remember it, seriously -_-“. I did not sleep however, but instead just concentrated on just finishing my work for the day. After that was out of the way, I only had to get back home, and get changed into my really classy looking suit ^_^, for the night’s cocktail party, where we could meet the JMSB staff. It’s called the Suco Lounge, (oui, un Louuunge, for those who watch Gad, haha).

I didn’t get there late! I swear! XD I met up with Francois, who also came on time. It seems there weren’t many people there yet, it was only 6 at that time. I got my two drink tickets and a JMSB pin! It’s really cool and looks very professional on my suit, hehe. So for the moment I went over to our Dean and chatted a little with him about Concordia’s history, then people finally started arriving. I went over to the bar and got my first “cheap drink” as I call ‘em, I guess that since they were free, they couldn’t give us anything that was actually good… So I decided on a Cranberry Vodka, it’s passable, once again. I went over to some people, introduced myself and all the tralala, the usual, you know. So now I’ll just resume the rest, since to an unknowing person, this wouldn’t be very interesting .

I made a good number of friends, many of them I now have in my classes and we chat a lot, I can’t wait to have some group work, they’re all very interesting people, many however are in Accounting and Finance, seriously, everyone seems to be wanting to become a CA… -_-“ (Chartered Accountant for those of you who are n00bs out there, lol). After the disgusting mini-burgers, frozen sushi and chicken on a stick with orange sauce, the Dean and the staff finally made their little speeches. Next I decided to go for a Vodka on the rocks, to keep it simple and at least have SOME taste, seriously, why do all nice looking places have bad alcohol? Later on, after the cocktail had ended, we were offered to go to the Peel Pub until later. We did so, and I sat with my newly formed group of friends. I ordered a Whiskey Cola, first time I had ever tasted a mix of whiskey with something, and I have to say, for once, I did not dislike it, haha. We chatted some more, took a few pictures and then finally went back home! I did take note of the place though, they’ve got a good variety of shooters for $1 on Thursdays, hehe, might become an usual soon.

Ah, I really need to mention this though. This first day, short and full of happenings as it was, actually felt like over 3-4 days! It was an amazing first day, THE most fun of my life I’d say. I met some great new people, made some hopefully long lasting friendships and partners of business. And one notable thing about University, people are from all around the globe, Quebec is certainly one of the best places for these kinds of meetings. I am very excited and can’t wait to actually get more involved in University life!

In hopes that everyone shall have as much fun, have a great year everyone!

And now follow the pictures, with SOME comments where needed.

[link] So those that I remember, starting from the left: Geoff, ??, Michelle, Francois, Me, Francesco and Sarah.

[link] Same as above, but less people.

[link] Again, from the left, Anne-Marie, Brigitte, Elisa, Renee, Maxence.

[link] Same people here and there, with some newcomers.

[link] Me and my buddy Francesco!

[link] Part of the “asian” gang, only name I recall is Karen, cause I have her number XD, but I still see the others, they all hang out together usually.

[link] Anne-Marie and me, she’s the one who called buffalo on me, nice way to meet eh?

[link] Geoff, Michelle and mah buddy Frank.

[link] Frank and two random girls we met, they swore he looked just like a guy they knew, they even nicknamed Frank, but I forget what it was >_<.

[link] The gang at the Peel Pub.

[link] Frank and the Korean-Japanese chick, he’s really obsessed by Asian, I can’t even compare it to something else, XD, it’s an addiction I guess. And yes, she KIND OF looked naked in the picture, but I swear she’s not, it’s really just the position, which is very odd indeed, just disregard this fact >_>”.

TADA! If I’ve anything to add of change I’ll do so in red!
I really hope I didn't miss anything...