XPERIENCE XCHANGE

Volume III , Issue X
Friday, January 23, 2009
XPERIENCE XCHANGE
...Read, Contribute, Experience
“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.”
- Freya Stark
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday January 25
Raptors vs. Kings at the
ACC.
Sunday January 25
NHL All Star Game.
Watch the best of them all
play at once...it is happening in Montreal so find a
bar with a big screen.
Saturday January 31
Leafs vs. Penguins at the
ACC.
Friday January 30
Comedian Brent Butt of
Corner Gas will perform at
Massey Hall.
To find out more, check
out Toronto.ca!
For Sweden with LOVE
Hello everyone! This is your new Editor‐in‐Chief speaking. I can’t believe how things have turned out for me. I still remember sitting in my room in Sweden one year ago and reading the Xperience Xchange. I never thought that one day I will actually get to write it. But there it is, the day has come and now I get to write about the thing I can honestly say changed my life forever. Going back to before it all started, Sweden wasn’t exactly my first choice for an exchange desti‐
nation, but as it turned out it was the best decision I ever made. I can honestly say I was not im‐
pressed by the small Jonkoping when I first got to see it. It turned out the residence I was supposed to live in for the six months was an old mental hospital in the middle of a forest. I remember sitting in the room of another member of Team Canada that first night (we were the first ones in the building), star‐
ing at the empty hospital corridors and thinking about how we were going to survive in this place for half a year. But then things started to change. My opinion about Jon‐
koping turned 180 degrees in a matter of hours. Once the sun rose (for about 4 hours a day at first, but for more than 18 at the end), I actually saw what that place was really offering. And I’m not just talking about the nature: the forest, or the huge lake that miraculously appeared less than a 100 meters from the building. I’m talking about the mental hospital with the spooky basement filled with under‐
ground corridors and an aban‐
doned bomb shelter just waiting to be explored. I’m talking about the people that last night I didn’t even know existed, but today they are all moving into their new house, and into my life. I will never forget the following 5 months I spent in Sweden: the month‐long welcome party, the countless barbeques at the beach, skinny dipping in that freezing cold water, the late movie nights, even the old, abandoned haunted house next door. I had no idea that I could live in a city so small that it only needs one of everything: one McDonalds, one SUBWAY, one movie theater…You just have to wonder how these people always had something to do, because let me tell you, that tiny city never got boring. I will never forget deciding to spend the weekend on the other side of Europe on a Thursday eve‐
ning, or going at 160 km/h on the highway, because (as usual) we had to be at the airport half an hour ago. I will never forget spending Valentines on a 21 hour long ride aboard the “Party Train” coming home from beyond the Arctic Cir‐
cle. I managed to do things, to see places that I didn’t even know ex‐
isted. No borders, no worries, no advance planning! That is how half a year went by. I spent my last month travelling around Europe, but the time had come to go home. I felt sad it was all over, but it was time to accept the fact that the perfect alternate reality we had built there was never meant to last forever. Or was it? It’s been 7 months since I’ve been back in Canada and I still talk to my friends every single day. Long live the Facebook! I received 23 Christ‐
mas cards this year, from 10 differ‐
ent countries. I made friends for life and that’s what counts the most ‐ knowing that no matter what hap‐
pens next, whichever part of the world life takes me to, chances are I will have a free bed, warm break‐
fast and a whole lot of memories just waiting. By Marina Georgieva Xperience Xchange
WinterCity Festival
The WinterCity Festival presented by RBC is a city‐wide celebration of To‐
ronto's diversity of spirit—bursting with culinary experiences, a hot blaze of free entertainment and a showcase of this city's vibrant arts scene. Forget the weather and join the party in the world's coolest winter city! The festival is broken up into 3 parts so check out whatever you can! The festival runs from January 30th to February 13th. First, at Nathan Phillips Square, there will be free outdoor concerts so bundle up and go check out Thunderheist and Shad at 8pm on Saturday, January 31st. On Saturday, February 7th at 8pm, catch The Stills. The next set of events is the Warm Up series; one choice thing happening is the Steam Whistle Unsigned Concert. It costs $5 at the brewery and tons of local indie bands will be playing. The last set of events is Winterlicious at some of Toronto’s fin‐
est restaurants. While this is the most PHOTO FRENZY!! -
expensive part of the WinterCity festi‐
val, it is my favourite. Toronto’s finest restaurants offer prix fixe menus from January 30th to February 12th. Lunch is priced from $15 to $30 and dinner from $25 to $45. Reservations can be made from January 15th, just call the restau‐
rant of your choice. I’m pretty sure the CN Tower restaurant is part of Winterli‐
cious so if you want to eat above the entire city with an incredible view, I suggest calling quickly! The food is fantastic, and it is one of the only times you can eat at the participating restaurants without spending a million dollars! I’ve skipped a lot of the events happening, such as comedy acts, street theater, and discount admissions to museums and galleries around the city. Check out the website for all the details and a list of participating restaurants for Winterlicious! http://www.toronto.ca/
special_events/wintercity/index.htm Remember to send us pictures so you can win a prize!
< I’m not sure Niagara Falls would allow that…. Page 2
by Gillian Dowie
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I need to review a movie that it not exactly about travelling, but it has its ties. I saw this movie recently and it left me thinking about the world and life in general...a sign of a really good movie. Revolutionary Road got a lot of buzz but it was deserved. I don’t want to ruin the movie for anyone but the basic point is that the suburban life that a fabulous couple fell into left them quite unhappy and un‐
fulfilled. They deicide to move to Paris to change their lives and do what they’ve always wanted, but it doesn’t work out, and that is when the drama starts. The story is sad but fan‐
tastic, and who doesn’t love Kate and Leo? I watched Titanic a week before I saw this movie so I was particularly into the 2 of them. I think this story makes women appreciate where we stand now in society, but also realize that we have to keep stand‐
ing up for ourselves for a long time to come. The end‐
ing was a surprise to me, but it also fits perfectly and I don’t think the movie would have been as good and effective any other way. The link to travelling is that they felt trapped in their lives and wanted nothing more than to sit in cafés in Paris and see the world! This movie will show you why experiences like exchange are so important to your per‐
sonal development...so see it! By Gillian Dowie Page 3
So, I’ve been hearing from a very reliable source of mine that Team RISExC is doing extremely well in get‐
ting to know its new home away from home. I’m sure that by now you’ve all real‐
ized how much the T dot has to offer to the city ex‐
plorers. Seen the art yet? If not, then you’re definitely missing on something very special. A big part of what makes Toronto a year‐round tour‐
ist destination is exactly the wealth of museums and art galleries it has to offer to its visitors. I’d say that the number and quality of art galleries that have opened in Toronto, especially in the past 12 months, is pretty a m a z i n g . A new star in the Toronto scene, The Gordon Daniel Gallery, is opening doors just next week. I’ve been closely following the set up process, so I’m more than sure that it’s just going to be fabulous. The grand opening will be on January 29th with a special show by Toronto’s talented photog‐
rapher Sai Sivanesan. Check out his work at http://
www.saisivanesan.com/. Like it? Then come and see what he's been working on lately. By Marina Georgieva Xperience Xchange
ties, though the beaches and small towns definitely have tons of stuff to offer. The bars close when the has a wealth of diverse nature. There owner says so, so don’t be sur‐
are white sand beaches, mountains, prised if you stumble out at sun‐
valleys, cloud or rain forests… Panama rise…but be careful, because there attracts loads of tourists for those rea‐
is so much beautiful stuff to see I find myself writing this pro‐ sons, and has been opening up many that you won’t want to be spending file place on a particularly backpackers hostels and resorts in re‐
your days hung over and sleeping. cold day, so I feel it is neces‐ cent years. It is the last country in Cen‐ The country is quite small which sary to highlight a hot place that has a tral America before hitting South Amer‐ makes it easier to travel around reputation for great parties, beautiful ica, so it is close to the equator and and see everything and do every‐
beaches, and an all around incredible hot!! As for nightlife, people in Panama thing, from hiking through a cloud time; Panama! Panama allows people are always celebrating something, so forest to surfing on the Pacific to to visit 2 different oceans in one day, ask around to see what is going on! Pa‐ sunbathing on a beach beside the the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea (I nama City is where to go for great par‐ Caribbean Sea. would stick to the Caribbean side), and PROFILE
PLACE
Where in the World?
What’s one the main reasons to go on exchange? That’s right, it’s to travel! So, do you think you’ve seen enough? Do you think you know all the places worth visiting? Well let’s find out. For you folks, who are currently out there exploring the corners of the earth, we’ve created this special new challenge. We’d like to share with you these pictures, sent to us by you fellow exchangers. Can you guess where they were taken? Page 4
We’re starting you off easy, but next time you might just not be as lucky. Did you guess them both? Then send us your answers at [email protected] and you can win 2 tickets for the Absolute Comedy club! Let’s find out who’s seen the world! Want to be the next challenger? Send us some pictures and we’ll put them in next time. Xperience Xchange
50 Places to See Before You Die
49. Bali. (Indonesia). You Want to see the world? Everybody does! The thing is: it’s just too big, time is never enough, and… paid leave is in pitifully short supply. And yet, there are so many jaw‐dropping locations in the world just waiting for you to discover them. So how can you possibly choose where to spend your limited time and resources? Well, some very smart people from BBC once did a poll and they came up with the 50 places on this planet that you absolutely, defi‐
nitely have to see. Over the next several issues of XX we’re going to present you The List (as the folks from MSN travel simply put it) of the world's most majes‐
tic monuments, the lost cities most likely to send shivers down your spine, the waterfalls to make you weak at the knees, and reefs, beaches and moun‐
tains that will be forever carved into your memory. Been there? 50. French Polynesia.
Many tropical tourist destina‐
tions like to call themselves Paradise on Earth, but in French Polyne‐
sia, these words are probably more de‐
served than anywhere else in the world. There is real ambiance here ‐ from the warmth of the air, scented heavily with tropical flowers to the fiery romantic sunsets that signal the end of another fabulous Tahitian day. Whether you want a private island picnic near Bora Bora or a canoe delivered breakfast in your overwater bungalow, French Poly‐
nesia is the ultimate South Pacific island paradise. And although it is a mere #50 in our count‐
down, it will always hold the first place in my hearth. Page 5
can drive around the entire coast of Bali in a single day. That’s how small it is. But its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so. Just ask the people who have seen it what Bali means to them and you’ll get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangi‐
pani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse‐
pounding surf, enchanting temple cere‐
monies, thrilling dance performances and ribbons of beaches are just some of the images people cherish. 48. Abu Simbel (Egypt). Abu Simbel is famous for its four imposing statues of the seated Pharaoh Ramses that guard his temple's entrance. They and the tem‐
ple behind them were originally carved out of the same sand‐
stone cliff, over three millennia ago. It is sim‐
ply one of the most magnificent monu‐
ments in the world. 47. Angel Falls
(Venezuela). With its impressive 979 me‐
ters, it is the worlds’ highest waterfall. It was named Angel Falls after Jimmy Angel, an Ameri‐
can bush pilot and gold‐
hunting adventurer, who discovered it in 1937. The height of the falls is so great that its waters are turned into mist long before reach‐
ing the bottom. Amaz‐
ing? No, that’s an un‐
derstatement. 46. Zermatt (Switzerland). From the moment you step off your Swiss‐red train, and catch sight of the paved streets and horses with sleighs patiently waiting for their rides (there are no cars here), you know you are in a special place. Now look up! There’s Switzerland's most fa‐
by Marina Georgieva
mous landmark‐ the most beau‐
tiful mountain in the world and considered by many true mountaineers to be the peak of all peaks: the Matterhorn. Don’t forget the Toblerone on your way up! 45. Museum of Qin Terra Cotta
Warriors and Horses (China). The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are said to be the most significant archeological excavation of the 20th century. You have no doubt heard of the so‐called terra‐
cotta army, the remarkable accumulation of life‐sized clay figures of sol‐
diers with which Ying Zheng, the First Emperor of China, decided to have buried. The mu‐
seum covers the striking area of 16,300 square meters and is divided into three sections. Altogether over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed. It’s a treasure that you just have to see. 44. Iceland. Iceland is not only closer than you think, but far differ‐
ent than you ever imagined. In a sin‐
gle day you can walk on a glacier, watch graceful whales, see the gey‐
sers and steaming solfataras, take pictures at volcanoes, raging rivers and magnificent waterfalls. And then you can read the ancient Sagas and later indulge in award‐winning cui‐
sine. Welcome to Iceland. One of the most beautiful countries on earth! Note: The article uses excerpts from outside sources. For access to them, please follow the hyperlinks.
To be continued...
Xperience Xchange
Escape the Cold on READING WEEK!!
By Gillian Dowie
weeks in Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other such destinations have been popular options in the past. You can easily go to a travel agent and talk about money‐savvy options…
there is a Travel Cuts in the student centre on campus and they’re usually pretty good. But for those of you who are like myself and much prefer to use the internet for convenience pur‐
The semester has just begun, but it is poses, use the internet! Redtag.ca of‐
already time to start thinking about ten has very cheap deals, and searches reading week…for everybody! For the within price ranges that you suggest Ryerson students out on exchange, yourself. There are tons of sites to you will likely be getting a break of a week or so as well. On my reading week in France, a friend from Ottawa flew over to meet me and we spent our time in Paris and Barcelona. We got a Ryan Air flight from Paris to Bar‐
celona return for 40 Euros each…it was awesome! The Oops hostel in Paris and the Kabul hostel in Barcelona were fantastic, fairly cheap and highly recommendable. At the other side of the world, I heard that those who went to New Zealand and possibly check out though, and Google is your Australia got 2 weeks off! People took friend here. You can try roadtrips up coasts and visited differ‐
www.tripcentral.ca, www.selloffvacations.com (catchiest ent islands and did all sorts of fun stuff…bungee jumping and zorbing, all theme song ever), or www.expedia.ca. Traveldiscounters.ca and voyagesdes‐
sorts of crazy and awesome stories have emerged from those exchangers. tination.com…I could go on and on. I’m sure many of you out there will Basically, as you can probably see, this soon be planning with your new stuff is pretty common and tons of friends all sorts of things to occupy students head south for reading week your vacation time. For those of you (even more for semester’s end). I’ve here in Toronto, I recommend using heard the Oasis Cancun is THE destina‐
the week to escape the bitter February tion for partying…but it’s all good as cold that the outbound exchangers long as you’re with friends, and there already escaped. Cheap all‐inclusive is a swim‐up bar in the pool. *Note: Page 6
pay attention to people who spend hours in the pool without getting out…and they consistently drink the entire time…where do you think they are go‐
ing to the bathroom?? Don’t be that person. That’s it for now. The next newsletter will be out in a fortnight!
Remember to send your ideas, stories and pictures to
[email protected] , or stop by the office located on the 11th floor of
1Dundas St West #1131, 416-979-5000 Ex. 2611