Hey everyone! It's great to see that everyone is starting to blog all the time. I hope that you are all enjoying it.

Hmmm, what should I blog about. I have been so busy lately! In fact, I have been so busy that I don't have time to cook lunch or supper any more, so I have been eating all of my meals here at the university. If I can get the special in the Education Cafeteria, that's not so bad because they have a daily lunch special that is only $4.99. Usually it is pretty good. The only problem is that they are sometimes late getting the lunch ready, and I don't have time to eat it, or it isn't ready when I have my lunch (I have to eat my lunch at 11 or 11:30 because of class). When the special isn't ready, instead I have to spend almost $8 for my lunch. Yikes!

Supper isn't so bad though because usually I have time to go to Mac Hall, and there are lots of choices there. Lately, my favourite place to eat is "Opa!". That is a Greek place, and it has amazing food. I really love the lamb slouvaki. My other favourite places are the place with the Vietnamese subs and the Vietnamese Noodle place. I've also seen a lot of my students working there, so it's fun to see them out of class.

Now, the only problem is that I'm worried all this university food isn't healthy for me. I wonder where my students like to eat on campus. Maybe they know some better and healthier places . . . . .

Here we go . . . . . .

Yahooo! Here we are in the computer lab. All of the students are blogging about what they think about the LEAP program and what they think about blogging. I can't wait to read what they have to say about the LEAP program and what they have to say about blogging. Personally, I really love blogging. I think it is a great opportunity for students to practice their English in a non-threatening situation - especially because they don't have to worry about their grammar or their spelling. The main point is just communication. That's what's so fun about it. Plus the students get to pick their own topics instead of me saying "okay class, please write an academic essay about cheese" zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anyway, I am sure that they blogs are going to be a big success this semester and that everyone is going to benefit. I can wait to get feedback from the students later in the semester.

Happy Blogging Everyone!!!

These are my students from last semester - good luck you guys!

www.saliaahrabian.blogspot.com
www.gahvln.blogspot.com
www.chenzhenfei.blogspot.com
www.tonysheep.blogspot.com
www.caleb9999.blogspot.com
www.kevinjiang1028.blogspot.com
www.kevinleap4.blogspot.com
www.amancila.blogspot.com
www.anpan172.blogspot.com
www.roywanghang.blogspot.com
www.elephant0713.blogspot.com
www.sabrinazone.blogspot.com
www.bluemaster121.blogspot.com

www.almuqate2006.blogspot.com
www.corradeyour.blogspot.com
www.jjj-joy.blogspot.com
www.mitra1977.blogspot.com
www.ryan-potato.blogspot.com
www.wenli2006.blogspot.com
www.weimysteryviking.blogspot.com
www.teddyinleap.blogspot.com
www.nikolayplotnikov.blogspot.com
www.cici2980.blogspot.com
www.michael-85.blogspot.com
www.agnes-wss.blogspot.com
www.sxue.blogspot.com
www.nickyang4b.blogspot.com
www.sese527.blogspot.com

An Important Aspect of Academic Life

It's time to talk about an important aspect of academic life - going to the pub! This is a picture of my favourite pub in Calgary . . . can you guess where it is?

I hadn't gone to a pub in ages, but recently Calgary has gone totally smoke free in all bars in pubs, so I thought it might be time to try one out again. You see, I used to smoke. In fact, I smoked cigarettes for 16 years, but I finally quite for ever on April 17, 2003, and I haven't touched a cigarette since then. Because I don't smoke any more, I always avoid places where people smoke. That means that I could never go to the pub. However, now I can! As of January 1, 2007 all pubs and bars in Calgary are complete smoke free. It's so great because now I can enjoy pub food like the steak in the picture without having to worry about breathing all that nasty second hand smoke.

You know, I don't really like drinking either (I am the king of ginger ale), but at least if someone is drinking beside me, it doesn't really affect me the same way as if someone is smoking beside me. Anway, I really recommend that all my students try out the pubs here on campus (Dinny's Den) They have great food. They are a good place to meet new people, and remember, you don't have to drink. You can always order a ginger ale like me :-)

I'm back on campus!

Hello world,

Here I am back on campus after a nice long break. I have officially been on holiday since December 22. That was 12 days of pure relaxation! Mostly I just hung around the house reading books and watching TV. I did go skating once on Bowness Pond, but the ice was really rough so I stopped after just 20 minutes. I guess the most exciting thing I did over the holidays was visit my parents in Olds, Alberta. My parents have an antique shop in Olds, and I got to see all the stuff they are selling. Some of it is pretty cool. I also got to play with my parents two dogs and their cat. All in all, it was a great visit.

Anyway, I'm back, and I'm raring to go. I can't wait to start teaching again. See you soon!