Ben and Jerry's!!!!

On the way home from Montreal, we went to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory! I was beyond excited...I had been there once with my mom and the Housley family when I was 13. Matt was not as excited as I was, but that didn't matter to me... my heart was racing the whole time with excitement. The new flavor that we got to try was Apple Pie. I didn't really like it...it was too sweet and if I want apple pie I will just eat apple pie. I think their new flavor creation department has really gone down hill since Ben and Jerry left and Unilever took over! It was fun anyway though, and the drive through Vermont was gorgeous. I can't wait till it starts snowing so we can go skiing!

The Ballet

While we were in Montreal, we went to see the ballet at the place des Artes. It was so fun! We hadn't been to the ballet since we firse moved to Hong Kong so it was a real treat. The great thing about Canada is that they give deep discount for students...My US student card saved us lots of money by the end of the weekend. The ballet was good but it was little too modern for my taste...the stage was white and sparse and the dancers wore these unisex looking white outfits. Also, they didn't wear toe shoes. I don't go to the ballet that often, so when I do, I want to see the full extravaganza! The point was to get back to the "essence of the dance", but for me half the fun is the costumes.

Matt and I went to the Biodome in Montreal. Inside the Biodome, there are four different ecological zones and the animals that correspond to those zones. It was pretty fun. My favorite part was watching the penguins swim around. We also went up the Olympic Tower. IT was a great view, but all I could think is, Wow, Montreal is flat! And grey! Because it is winter, all the leaves were off the trees.

I am sure all of the Yeckels know Grandma and Grandpa's poster collection in the living room from all of their travels...They have a poster from the Insectarium in Montreal, and I had always wanted to go to there. This weekend I had my chance! Matt and I went to the Insectarium and the Botanical Gardens. It think the Botanical Gardens are better seen in the summer...all the trees were bare and the flower beds were covered with tarps! The green houses were still worth looking at though...I guess we will have to go back in the summer.


Matt getting eaten by a spider.


Matt with the bare trees in the Botanical Gardens.

Montreal

For Thanksgiving, Matt and I went to Montreal. I was sad to miss a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (especially because we are back in the US now) but we had a great time in Montreal. It is such a cool city! I loved it, and I already am planningour next trip back. It is the kind of city that almost make me looke forward to winter...all the chic montreal women had beautiful boots and coats, and there were little coffee shops and cafes everywhere that you could sit and warm yourself and drink hot drinks and eat french pastries. It was so much fun!


I really felt like I was in a different country. Every one spoke French, but the beauty is that they also spoke English. So convenient! Also, no inconvenient jet lag! There were moules and frites offered on the menu everywhere, so it was like heaven for me because moules mariniere is one of my all time favorite dishes.



It was fun to be back in a place where mst people speak a different language and the street signs and menus are in a different language. Despite taking three years of French in high school, my French accent is HORRIBLE and I remember nothing. I think you really have to practice a language with native speakers to cement it in your brain.

There were cool old buildings everywhere and lots of churches. It was so much fun!

Persimmons are for sale now...It reminds me of last year in Beijing! I was addicted to Persimmons, so much so that I had to ration myself. I can literally eat three or four big persimmons in one sitting. They are beyond delicious. It is hard to believe that this time last year I was living in Beijing!

Halloween

This year for Halloween, Matt and I did not plan ahead and so had costumes that we pulled out of our closets...I was an eskimo, wearing all white with a fuzzy collar and boots. I had a little fuzzy purse and I handed out york peppermint patties. I don't think I was very effective though cause someone asked me if I was dressed up! Matt wore my Dad's old silk Chinese robe with the bandana tied around his head. I loved my costume cause it kept me warm... It was freezing in Boston on Halloween night! We went to a party with Matt's high school friends Kevin and his girl friend Christine.