How to meet Canadians

Now it's the new year. 2011. Time to make some resolutions. Study harder, exercise more, practice English. Those are all pretty usual promises that are easy to make but hard to continue. How about make your goal this year to meet Canadians?

Making friends with Canadians is a great way to improve your English. It can also help you understand Canadian culture and make Vancouver life more interesting.

Many of you have asked this question but it is not an easy answer. Because of culture, language, and personality, it is difficult to know how to approach Canadians.

Here are some easy pointers for you to get you started.

1. Do something that Canadians like to do. This includes joining a Canadian activity club, yoga class or community centre. If you try to do an activity that has many Canadian participants, it won't be long before you start up a conversation with someone.

2. Volunteer at a Canadian organization or non-profit society. There are thousands of volunteer opportunities in Vancouver. If you volunteer you can get a chance to talk with Canadians and meet some people who have similar interests.

3. Join drop-in sports games and the community centres. There are many community centres in Vancouver. Most centres have drop-in sports games like volleyball, basketball and badminton. You can not only get a workout but also meet people are into sports.

4. Enjoy Vancouver's nightlife. Vancouver has various clubs, pubs, live shows and performances. Canadians love to go out especially on the weekend. Go somewhere out of downtown that doesn't have a large ESL population. Once you find a good spot that you can enjoy, don't be afraid to start a conversation with someone. Canadians love small talk especially when out on the town.

Check out the web list on the right for links.

Polar Bear Swim

If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate New Year in Canada, it doesn't get cooler than this. The annual Polar Bear Swim is a tradition across Canada. Canadians all all ages celebrate the new year by refreshing their body and mind in the ocean, river or lake. In Vancouver this takes place at English Bay.

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of strong swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year's Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers in that year to the record number of 2,128 swimmers in 2000.

Today, the swim takes place at 2:30pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event.

To be a club member you must register before the swim -- it's free. Registration takes place in front of the English Bay Bathhouse from 12:30pm - 2:30pm each New Year's Day. You may also register by clipping out the coupon in The Province and presenting it at the registration desk the day of the swim. Prizes are drawn from all registrations.

Ready, set, SHOP!

December 26th is Boxing Day, a holiday in Canada and the day after Christmas, when everything imaginable goes on sale, making it the most notorious shopping day of the year.

Expectant Boxing Day shoppers have been known to form lines early in the morning or late into the night (even though most sales will continue through the week), so wherever you go, be prepared for the crowds.

Here are a few tips.

1. Do research before you shop. Compare prices online before you shop to be sure you’re getting the most for your money.

2. Find the best deals. Retailers everywhere want to clear out their stock and you could find big savings on cameras to capture those holiday memories from Henry’s. Save big from clothing retailers such as Old Navy and Sears. Grocery stores want to sell off Christmas items so you’ll likely discover delicious deals for your New Year’s Eve party.

3. Prioritize your purchases. Determine your "must-have” items and plan to visit those stores first so you won’t be disappointed. And remember, a deal is only a deal if you really need the item, so shop with care and don’t be tempted by the low prices.

4. Set clear goals. To make the most of Boxing Day shopping, planning is important. Make your list, set your budget and determine how much time you will spend at the malls and stores.

5. Shop smart. Wear comfortable shoes, leave the heavy coats in the trunk of your car and bring snacks and drinks so you don’t waste time and money purchasing them at the mall.

6. Be patient. Boxing Day shopping can be even more hectic than last-minute Christmas shopping, so just relax and accept the fact that stores will be busy and the line-ups long.

7. Stay home and shop online. If the post-Christmas mall madness is more than you can manage, remember that many online retailers offer Boxing Day deals too. You can avoid the shopping chaos and take advantage of savings online.

Boxing Day's biggest deals will be found at the larger, name-brand stores, making it a good day to shop for electronics, appliances, furniture, designer clothes and accessories, and toys.

For downtown Vancouver shopping, both Robson Street and Pacific Centre Mall will be packed with deals--and other shoppers. Luxury retailer Holt Renfrew is a great place to shop for designer apparel: it's always pricey, but sales there lead to fabulous finds!

For mall shopping, you can't beat the behemoth Metropolis at Metrotown. With 450 stores, Metrotown is BC's largest mall, and it has its own SkyTrain stop for getting there car-free.

Enjoy!!

What should we do for Christmas?

Christmas is here. From all the staff at ULC we wish you a merry Christmas. For some of you, this is first time to spend Christmas abroad. You might feel lonely or even homesick, but don't waste this season feeling down. There are too many interesting things to see and do. Here is a great list of how to enjoy the holiday season.

Ongoing through December 24
Grouse Mountain - The Peak of Christmas
What: Grouse Mountain celebrates the holidays with a month of family fun: live entertainment, real reindeer, breakfasts with Santa, free ice skating, and more.
Where: Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver
Cost: See site for details

Ongoing through January 2
Bright Nights at Stanley Park
What: Stanley Park's Bright Nights is an annual Vancouver holiday tradition where over a million twinkly lights transform the forest into a winter wonderland.
Where: Miniature Train and Children's Farmyard, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Cost: $9; $6 for seniors & kids 2-18

Ongoing through January 3
Magic of the North at Vancouver Aquarium
What: Vancouver Aquarium celebrates the season with a special exhibit on Canada's Arctic Ocean, Scuba Santa, a Christmas Tree switched on by their electric eel, and much more!
Where: Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver
Cost: $21; $16 for seniors & students; $13 for kids 4 - 12; free for children 3 and under

Saturdays & Sundays through December 25
Christmas in Kerrisdale
What: Kerrisdale’s shopping district gets in the Christmas spirit on Saturdays, with Christmas decorations galore, free horse & carriage rides, roving quartets, and visits from Santa and his elf.
Where: West 41st Ave, between Larch St. & Maple St., Vancouver
Cost: Free

Friday, December 3 - Sunday, January 2,
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
What: Every year, the Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms into a celebration of light for the holidays, with live music, kids activities, and more.
Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Cost: $15 for adults; $5 for kids

Saturday, December 4 – Sunday, January 2
White Christmas, The Musical
What: The Arts Club Theatre Company’s holiday offering is a stage version of Irving Berlin's famous film, perfect for kids and adults alike.
Where: Stanley Theatre, 2750 Granville St., Vancouver
Cost: $25 - $74

Friday, December 10 - Sunday, January 2
VanDusen Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights
What: The gorgeous VanDusen gardens turn festive with elaborate light decorations, a Candy Cane Tree, Gingerbread Walk and much more.
Where: VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver
Cost: $13; $9.50 for seniors & youth; $7.25 for kids 6 - 12; $29.75 for families

Thursday, December 23
Free Horse & Carriage Rides for Christmas
What: Kerrisdale invited everyone to come for free horse and carriage rides and a chance to see Santa--who will hand out chocolates--in person, too.
Where: West 41st Ave, between Larch St. & Maple St., Vancouver
Cost: Free

Halloween

It's time to celebrate Halloween! This is Canada's most unique holiday, full of costumes parties, fireworks, and candy. Why don't you come to the ULC Halloween party this Friday, October 28 at 6:00pm. To get ready for the event, here are some costume ideas. Remember there is a prize for the best dressed!

1. The $10 Pirate – White Long-Sleeved Shirt, Red Bandana, Eye-Patch, Hoop Earring, Black Tights/Pants, Black Boots – Ahoy There Me Harties! (cost – $2.00)

2. Train Engineer – Pair of Overalls (striped ones are ideal, but any will do) White T-Shirt, Red Bandana to tie around neck (cost – $1.00)

3. Cheap-Skate Ghost – Old White Sheet (done) Oh, and to dress him up a little, why not add a colourful Bow-Tie!?! (cost – Free!)

4. Inexpensive Bag of Candy - 1 Dry-Cleaners Bag, 20 Multi-Coloured Balloons (cost $1 for Balloons)

5. Stingy Skeleton – Black Turtle-Neck, Black Pants, White Acrylic Paint. Use an anatomy text book to re-create a rough skeleton out-line. (cost – Free!)

6. $9.99 Witch – Long Black Dress, Witch’s Hat, Black Gloves, Large Pendant etc. (cost – $9.99 for hat at Walmart)

7. Cheapy Scarecrow - Straw Hat, Old Jeans, Plaid Shirt, Straw to Stuff out Neck and Cuffs (cost – $3.00 for straw bail from local farm)

8. Money-Mad Scientist – White Lab Coat (see if you can have or borrow an old one from a highschool, or University Lab) Pens and Pocket Protector, Lots of Hair Gel to make a crazy “do” (cost – free!)

9. No-Money Mummy – One roll of good quality Toilet paper, and that’s a wrap! Hah! Wrap, get it? (cost – .50)

10. Tacky Tourist - Loud Hawaiian Shirt available in husband’s closet, Camera around neck, Hawaiian Leis, Straw Hat, Sun Glasses, Zinc Sunblock on nose, Maps (cost – free!)

How to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving

Here is a challenge for all you students studying ESL in Vancouver. As some of you know, it's Thanksgiving and Canadians love to eat, drink, and relax during this harvest holiday. However, the main reason for this fall holiday is to give thanks for our food, health, and loved ones.

Typically Canadians love to eat turkey during this holiday. We generally roast the turkey in the oven along with stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, and pumpkin pie.

The challenge is for you to roast a turkey for your friends this weekend. Here is an easy and delicious recipe that your friends will never forget.

Roast Turkey Recipe

Preparation time: About 4 to 5 hours.

Ingredients

* 1 turkey, approx. 12-15 lbs. (5-7 kg) for 10 to 12 people

* Juice of a lemon
* Salt and pepper
* Melted butter
* 1/2 white onion, peeled and cut into large pieces
* 2 sticks of celery cut into big pieces
* 2 carrots
* fresh parsley
* fresh rosemary, thyme, sage (found in one pack)

Method

1. To start, if the turkey is cold, bring it to room temperature before cooking. Keep it in its plastic wrapping until you are ready to cook it. While in the refrigerator, and or while you are bringing it to room temp, have the bird resting in a pan, so that if the plastic covering leaks for any reason, the juices go into the pan.

If you get a frozen turkey, you will need to defrost it in the refrigerator for several days first. Allow approximately 5 hours of defrosting for every pound. So, if you have a 15 pound turkey, it will take about 75 hours to defrost it in the refrigerator, or around 3 days. Make sure you have enough time to defrost your turkey.

Remove the neck,heart,liver from inside the turkey. Don't worry, they are already in a small bag inside the turkey.

2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

3. Wash out the turkey with water. Dry with paper towels. Put the juice of half a lemon inside of the turkey and outside. Take a small handful of salt and rub all over the inside and outside of the turkey.

4. For flavour, put inside the turkey a half a white onion, peeled and quartered, a bunch of parsley, a couple of carrots, some celery, and the rosemary, thyme, and sage . You may need to close the body hole with some aluminum foil so that the stuffing doesn't easily fall out. Make sure that the turkey's legs are tied together, held close to the body.

5. Rub melted butter all over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle salt all over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle pepper over the turkey.

6. Place turkey on the bottom rack of the oven in a roasting pan big enough to catch all the juice.

7. Put the turkey in the oven and cover it with aluminum foil loosely like a tent around the turkey. Here is table to show you how long to cook it.

Pounds Kilograms Hours of Cooking
6 - 8 Lbs 2.5 - 3.5 Kg 2 - 2.5 hrs
8 - 10 Lbs 3.5 - 4 Kg 2.5 - 3 hrs
10 - 12 Lbs 4.5 - 5.5 Kg 3 – 3.5 hrs
12 - 16 Lbs 5.5 - 7.5 Kg 3.5 - 4 hrs
16 - 22 Lbs 7.5 - 10 Kg 4 - 4.5 hrs

8. Be sure to take the turkey out of the oven every hour and pour the turkey juice from the bottom of the pan onto the turkey. Be sure cover the whole turkey. You can also pour more melted butter on it as well. Don't forget to cover the turkey again with the aluminum foil.

To check the turkey cut into the breast. If the meat is pink or the juice is pink, it's not done yet.

9. For the last 20 minutes take off the aluminum foil to allow the turkey skin to turn brown.

10. Once you remove the turkey from the oven, let it rest for 15-20 minutes.

Making Turkey Gravy


Get all the juice off of the bottom of the roasting pan. Pour into a small pot. In a separate small bowl take two table spoons of corn starch or flour and add just enough water to dissolve the corn starch or flour. Beat the mixture with a spoon to remove lumps. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the juice, stirring constantly. You may not end up using all of the cornstarch mixture. Only add as much as you need to get the desired thickness. Allow time for the cornstarch to thicken the gravy. Add salt, pepper, sage, thyme, or other seasonings to taste.

After you are ready to eat!

Why study at the library when you can study at ULC for FREE?

At the request of ULC students in Vancouver, the school is now open on Saturday from 10am to 1pm. The best part is that it's FREE!

During this three hour session, students can study ESL on their own like they would at the library. However a ULC teacher will also be at the school to answer any questions students have or to mark homework.

This session is open to all ULC students and their friends. Students should bring their own work and be prepared to ask the teacher questions or hand in homework.

Come to school between 10am and 1pm every Saturday. Please buzz #710 to get into the building.

See you soon!