The Best Part of Christmas Break. . .

One thing that all university students will tell you is that the Holiday break is the best time of the school year. It's like being twelve again, waiting for school to let out, waiting for the first real snow fall, but university does have a twist. I asked some people at Nipissing what they thought the best part of the Holiday Break is, and here is what they had to say:

• The "break" part. Doing absolutely nothing school-related, defiantly.
• Reading books for FUN.
• Going home. 
• The epic family party on Christmas Day.
• Spending time with Family.
• A little sleep perhaps.
• Going home and being able to relax with the family. 
• Reading something OTHER than a textbook.
• Mum's cooking.
• Band practice.
• Family, and sleep
• Seeing all of my family and having someone cook for me!
• Having time to sleep, and maybe some real food.
• Going back to my own church.
• reminding myself of why I'm putting myself through the agony of education.
• Holiday specials
• Getting a head start on next semester's workload.
• Drinking during the week.
• Going on trips to warmer places!
• Christmas baking!
• Seeing my pets again.
• Playing cards with my family.
• Seeing my hometown friends.

Overall I think it's clear that the biggest thing you will miss while at university is your family. The break gives you free time to be with the ones you love and becomes very special to most university students.

Fun Things to do in the Bay!

I know that finding things to do in the smaller towns can be tough, especially in Winter. Lucky for all of you, I grew up in Sundridge which is a town of 1000 people about 30 minutes from North Bay. What did we do for fun you may ask.  Well here is a list of the best things to do in the Bay.

• Go Sledding (there are good hills by Canadian tire on Mckewen, of course the hill by the Monastery Hall,  and in the park on Memorial)
• Volunteer at the animal shelter. (This is my favorite thing)
• Go for a walk on Memorial, by the waterfront.
• The pool hall and bowling alley (connected) on Main Street.
• Browse Allison the Bookman the greatest used book store on Main Street, across from the bowling alley/ pool hall.
• Window shopping at the North Gate Mall, or at the old North Bay mall
• Cheep night at the theater (5.00 tickets on tuesdays)
• The ski hill will open soon.
• There are skating rinks at lower rez. and on Memorial.
• Borrow snowshoes / ski equipment from the athletic center
• Walk the trails by the university (either Duchany Falls, or the ones by the Monastery Hall)
• Go swimming at the YMCA
• Go to the Bars (The Wall, The Zoo/Cecil's, The Moose, 100 George's, The Bull&Quench, Blur)

So now if you are bored and there is nothing to do, you have a list of the epic things to do in North Bay!

The next Question coming up is about the bars in North Bay. What is the best bar in North Bay and Why?

How to De-Stress During the Exam Period

This week I made a group on Facebook in tribute to my blog called Nipissing Answers. On this I asked how students de-stressed during the exam period. Here are some of the answers I got:

• Spend time outside the house/ away from studying, like going for a coffee with a friend or taking a walk... to get caffeine... for the studying ahead.
• History Pub night, coming up Thursday December 9th
• Have sex!
• Yoga and hot chocolate... not necessarily at the same time...
• Build a Snowman, run through the snow, and when you fall make a snow angel!
• Do studying outside with sidewalk chalk!
• Free Hug Week! (December 6th - December 10th)
• Do the dishes
• Beat up on your roommate
• Surf Facebook
• Go to a playground
• Study hard, and then you don't have to worry about the questions.
• Sleeping, eating and doing stuff you enjoy is important to remember when you are in study mode.
• Long hot baths
• Listening to music while studying.
• Get snacks and junk food
• Make your BF give you a massage
• Dance!!!!!!

Here are some places you can visit in case of being stressed that are on the nipissing university website

Academic Skills Program: Student Affairs

Personal Counseling 

Disability Services 

Exam Kits

Where to Meet Guys at Nipissing

I asked this question on facebook and in my Canadian Women's History Class, to get the answers from my friends here at Nipissing;

Where do you meet guys at Nipissing? 

As you may know I have the best boyfriend in the freaking world, he's a Canadore Grad, who now works as a mechanic at Crappy Tire. I therefore need to meddle in my friends love lives and find out where to take them to meet the best guys.

1. If old Lassie episodes are anything to go by, you can meet them at the bottom of wells, and trapped in hay lofts.
2. Through Clubs and Shared Interests.
3. Canadore. . .
4. Most people meet their significant other through work or in shared classes. Other than that, I say online dating sites
5. Ask guys where they meet girls and we'll go there.
6. All the guys I've met up here, I've met through being random. i.e. talking to random guys, sneaking into the theatre to listen to people play piano, etc. So if you're sitting next to a guy on the bus, talk to him! ^_^
7. I hear Halloween parties work (from the guy who met my roomie at our halloween party)
8. Nowhere 
9. I think you might have to lower your standards if you want a Nipissing guy.
10. In my Home Town... there aren't any here.
11. Downtown, 100 Georges has the best guys.
12. Blur (the new dance club)
13. That's a good question, let me know when you figure it out
14. Men's washroom?
15. Math class
16. Police Foundations, at commerce court
17. Business class
18. Fannie's . . . . is that appropriate?

Here are some dating sites for all those lonely hearts out there: 

• Plenty of Fish - Free safe site
• E- Harmony - Has free weekends and weeks, but is mainly membership orientated 
• Match.com  - Requires a membership