Featured Winter Scenery in Ottawa: Icicles

As you know, the temperature of Ottawa in winter is much lower than my hometown, like mimus 20 degree Celsius is quite ordinary. Therefore, an interesting phenomenon happens here after snow; almost every building, particularly house, get the same "hairstyle" - bangs. :) That's right, you can find icicles of different size and length hanging on the eaves everywhere.I don't know exactly how do these icicles form, but they are really beautiful! In a crystal clear sunny day, you are able to see them sparkling and shining even from far away.

After I came to Ottawa, I used to miss Vancouver, especially its English Bay, because there is no sea around this capital city. With every passing day, however, I found that each city has its own characteristics and I have to learn how to appreciate them. That is enjoying what I have and what's available at the moment. Although I cannot hear the waves of the sea right now, I could see this amazing natural work of art here, which is definitely unavailable in Vancouver.

One thing important I have to mention to you is that once you get a chance to visit here, don't be too concentrated on those icicles to forget where you are, I mean right under them, that's terrible...

Don't want to grow (January 18)

Today is my birthday. I should have done something different from the usuals. It seems, however, nothing special is gonna happen today. I will be going to school taking evening course just like what I did yesterday. A good thing is I received many birthday wishes from people both in China and Canada. Thanks all of you! Thanks for remembering my birthday!


Birthday reminds me that I'm older than yesterday, so I really don't want to celebrate it. I don't want to grow up. I like eating birthday cake very much, but if I can stop growing at the cost of never eating it anymore, I won't say a word.


Recently I watched a movie called "Butterfly Effect". I like the story's idea, creativity, plot and the way it goes. From my understanding, it tells us that life is not perfect, nobody can play the role of God and help everyone around him/her lead a good life without the cost of any things. The only thing that we can do is to cherish what we have right now, family, friends or lovers . Life is all about change and balance, isn't it? Sometimes, we have to face the reality, even if it is unsatisfactory and we are not willing to accept it. Okay, now I have to accept the fact of growing; it is the rule of nature, no more complaint. ;) Besides, I also got the message from the movie that even the smallest choice we made or the action we carried out may bring dramatic difference to our future life, so we'd better be careful for what we choose and be responsible for what we do now and don't regret ourselves over time.


Today I visited my elementary school's alumni website, and saw many familar names from there. A lot of stories relating to these names came to my mind suddenly, though some are segments, they are still vivid and just like happened yesterday. As a matter of fact, it has been more than ten years after my graduation from elementary school. The time really goes by so quickly, now everyone is a grown-up. Maybe someone is even father or mother already. I was amazed by seeing some pictures of them on the website, cause their appearances changed a lot and I guess I don't dare to call their name if I meet them somewhere on the street.


I don't know why I tend to recall the past quite often these days... really don't know...Miss my family, especially the one I lost. Grandma, I love you!!!

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I was wrong. My expectation made early afternoon was totally wrong this time!!! Today is not as usual. I got a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig surprise, oh my goodness! I even felt the Butterfly Effect myself, really! To say it simple and clear, I'll list what happened in the evening in time order.

1. My class of today was cancelled by our Prof. (Did he do this for my birthday, haha, just kidding)

2. Because my group in this class arranged a group meeting (half an hour early before the class)originally, even this class was cancelled, we still decided to meet at school for discussion.

3. When the discussion was in process, my cell phone rang. The call was from Xue (She was not in my group). She didn't know our class was cancelled and she came to the school. When I told her I was in classroom at that moment, she said she was coming to meet me.


4. After she entered the room, I noticed that she held a box in her both hands. "What's that?" people asked. She said she bought me a birthday cake to celebrate my birthday. Woa~


5. When the group meeting was over, Xue, Jessie, Carlos and I decided to go somewhere for dinner.

I felt that the whole thing was just like God's arrangement.

• If My class wasn't cancelled, we wouldn't have had time to eat a birthday dinner together.



• If my group cancelled the group meeting, I wouldn't be in the classroom.



• If Xue got the notice of cancellation of class, she wouldn't have come to the classroom.
  

All in all, if any of the assumptions above was true, then we cannot have today's wonderful dinner together! Thanks Xue and everyone accompanied me today very much! I have had a happiest time on birthday!!!!!!!!! Oh~ and that cheese & chocolate cake was tasty, I like it!

Because I didn't bring my camera to the school, I took pictures by my cell phone. Therefore, the pictures' quality was affected.

Cheers~

classsic Canadian food - fish and chips

Fettucini - my birthday noodles ^^

my cheese & chocolate birthay cake with a very special candle ;)

After I went back home, finally got a chance to shoot a good one by using camera :)

Peace Tower Visiting (January 2) - nearby buildings & statues

These rocks are embedded in the lamp posts as part of the fence surrounding the Parliament Hill. I like the roughness and strong texture they represent, which show that the constructions are ages old and have pretty long history. Besides, this design and style go well with the Parliament Hill buildings. What a match!

Peace Tower Visiting (January 2) - Memorial Chamber

Memorial Chamber is on the third floor of the Peace Tower. It is a room of gentle light built to honour Canadians who died in the armed conflicts in which Canada has fought since Confederation. While the tower was constructed by a nation grateful for peace, the Memorial Chamber testifies that the struggle for peace comes at the cost of human life.


It was originally designed out of a response to the profound devastation wrought by the First World War. This monumental event created a need for a national memorial - a place of reflection and solace to remember the sacrifice of the many Canadians that fell in Europe between 1914 and 1918. Since, this memorial has grown to include the names of all Canadians who have died in military service in past and present conflicts.


When visitors pass through the door of the Chamber, the first thing they see is the Altar of Remembrance, resting on steps of stone. Because the Chamber's designers assumed that the memorial would commemorate an event unique in Canada's history, the First World War, they made the Altar the centerpiece and focal point of the room. Embedded in the floor around the Altar are brass nameplates identifying the major actions in which Canadians fought in the First World War.

the door of Memorial Chamber

the Altar of Remembrance

statuette of kneeling angel who is watching over the first Book of Remembrance
There are four of them beside each corner of glass-topped case.

the first Book of Remembrance

In it are inscribed the names of the 66,655 individuals who lost their lives in the First World War.

This book was completed in 1942.

The second Book of Remembrance listing 44,893 names was placed in the Chamber in 1957.

the Newfoundland Book of Remembrance

It honours the 2,363 Newfoundlanders who perished in the First and Second World Wars.

They are listed separately from the main books because Newfoundland did not join Confederation until 1949 - four years following the end of the Second World War.

Peace Tower Visiting (January 2) - Hall

Parliament buildings' interior is richly carved, which impressed me very much. Those sculptures are so amazing! Here are some pics. Enjoy ^^

I made this photoStitch so that you can get an entire view of the hall