Arrival in Edmonton

So on Friday I left my sister's place stopped to visit with Heather and ask a bunch of questions regarding a Master's program....got some useful information. Then on to Vernon where Sal and I caught up a bit before the party...indulged in a little wine and good conversation with her friends...a nice bunch of women. On Saturday morning I left around 9 stopped for a coffee at the local Timmys then began an 11 hour drive to Edmonton. Vernon to Calgary was pretty easy...a couple of stops for tea and arrived in Calgary at 5:30 local time. Stopped for fuel just before the turn north on HWY2.
This 275km highway was just awful...blowing snow and white out conditions for 245kms and then treacherous icy conditions for the last 30 odd kms. This relatively easy drive under normal conditions should not take more than 2 and 1/2 hours however, on Saturday evening I was just over 5 hours driving. Between not being able to see due to blowing snow and the rather odd sensation on driving on an extremely glassy like surface, I could not exceed 80km /hr though most of the time I was creeping along at 40 and 50 km/hr. I did make it though the number of cars in the ditch was astonishing...and at one point I almost drove into the deep snow in the median when a swirl of snow blinded me. Luckily I stopped before dropping into the drift and was able to reorient myself and continue on.
Candas and Timothy met me after 11 pm and welcomed me with hot tea and curry...most welcome. In the two days that I have been here I have felt most welcome.
Today I went to the University of Alberta here in Edmonton and got registered, my student card and my loan papers signed and mailed... tuition is high so my money is sure to run out before classes do...so must find a job...since I have classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday...and the rest of the week off...it would be nice to find a part time job to supplement the loan money...
Back to the ordeal today....I put several layers of warm woollen clothing on before leaving and walked over to find the Brownlee Building.  I found the LRT entrance with little difficulty (Candas gave me an excellent map) and made my way via the underground over to the campus...only 30 minutes from the house via this nice rapid transit! upon arriving on campus I found the admin building to get student loan papers signed...but discovered that I needed my 'one card' fancy language for student id card...so over to the Cameron Library building basement for the card...where i found out that because I was NOT registered in any classes...I could not get the card...so...over to the HUB...and the long walk to the other end and into the Tory Building and up to the 10th floor where I found Jane, the Political Science Administrator, who took me to Ian, PoliSc chair, who got me registered in the necessary classes...rather 3 of the 4 required and suggested I speak with Greg about getting into his class...though full (5 students). Once that was accomplished I headed back to get my student id card...where they put the train/bus pass sticker on. This was a big relief because I did not want to have to then go to the SUB to get that...though I needed it to return to my room...anyway I got my loan papers signed and mailed then from guess where...the SUB!
I went back to the HUB and found a panini to eat when the pakoras at the Indian place were sold out...I also had a nice cuppa tea and rested briefly. I walked back to the SUB to the book store and found that I will only have to spend about 75$ on books...so far...that is very good....
I went back to the HUB and went down to the LRT and returned to Churchill station. After stumbling around for a good 30 minutes I finally found my underground ped way to the Brownlee Building. I decided to walk up 97 to Chinatown and discovered a few nice places to get food cheap before returning to my place.
Nice visit with Candas and Timothy once he returned from teaching then I came up to my room to contact Greg about the class I need ....he told me to come Wednesday at 9...so I probably will just have to get some kind of override so I can register for it...and have my 4 classes...all on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday...so I will have 4 days to try to find a small job...to offset my expenses....
On another note...my interview to get my 'green card' (an almost 12 month odyssey) is 9 March ...in Montreal...Liv is attempting to postpone and change the location to one more appropriate...say Vancouver...or Seattle even... though I suppose a road trip to Montreal in May would be nice....so if all else fails ....a postponement so I may finish the term here...before heading east..