36 Hours to Go

I'm just 36 hours to leaving Ottawa and completing my hundred-day learning journey. I have so many thoughts and mixed feelings as I prepare to pack up and go. It's been a curious mix of disengaging, yet making the most and savouring every last bit of the space, time and moments here. It's also a somewhat painful mix of sadness, relief and hope. Exactly which parts of my time here fit into which category is something I'll know better as we go along.

For a while early this week, I forgot the whole thing about finishing up my Ottawa attachment and became a tourist in Quebec City. Met a friend who has come up from Singapore via NYC. We were in Quebec City for a day and a half. We couldn't have had better timing - we arrived right into their first winter storm! So we stomped our way through snow that was calf-deep, often going uphill along cobblestone paths. Yours truly not exactly athletic ah, so almost die-ded. Compensated by eating rabbit, escargots, pheasant and other local foods that supposedly boost energy. Quebec City is pretty! It was fun - got a feel of what a white Christmas would look like.


Coming back to Ottawa after Quebec City has been one big mad rush. Rush to ship final boxes (I've shipped the last ones today - a total of 6 boxes that've gone home over the weeks!), say goodbyes, tie up work stuff, settle finances, phone bills, attend my own send-off party :-), and... buying another piece of luggage! :-p See, isn't it cute? It's from Bentley - truly Canadian. My biggest Canadian souvenir to date. Someone has offered to take me outlet shopping tomorrow afternoon. I'm thinking whether I should - I'm afraid that I'll come back with loads of stuff and have to repack my luggage with just 12 hours to flying...

Precy, my very nice housekeeper at Les Suites Hotel

Culinary swansong in my Ottawa kitchen: a full dinner of roasted peppers cold soup; warm cream of leek and carrot soup; spinach, toasted almonds and pomegranate Christmas salad; baked sun-dried tomato pasta; maple pork tenderloin with fried pumpkin; herb crusted salmon; and balsamic vinagrette strawberry parfaits.

I had an awesome time with the GLD team yesterday evening. They were very sweet - gave me a send-off party at Sweetgrass, a Canadian Aboriginal restaurant in the Byward Market. People here have been very kind to me, and I leave with many heartwarming memories.

Met with Sylvia and Steve today - haha, passed her a lot of things from my apartment, especially all the Singapore foods (and kaya!). They also took me to an outlet mall where I got the second piece of luggage (lifesaver!). I feel a great sense of relief - at least now I know I will be able to get everything home... :-p