Avianto's Journal

I finished my research here in Canada, so even though this is a hard thing to do, I have to leave Canada. I have to finish my Master thesis back in Germany soon. S o o n.

I’ve only stay in Canada for 4 months but I kinda like it here. Other than the Canadian winter weather which is insanely cold and windy, I have nothing to complain. My research went very well, the place where I did my research was a really great place with lots of great talented people around, most of the people I’ve met are nice and friendly, sceneries are great, cities are beautiful especially Montréal, skating in the Rideau Canal was wicked experience and lots of nice things happening here. So really, I truly enjoyed being in Canada in general and Ottawa specifically.

I’m gonna miss this country… It may not the best place on the planet but it is one of the best in my personal note. I don’t know if I could come back here again but I definitely planned to come back. I love this place, it is an amazing place.

So I’ll be leaving Canada on Saturday afternoon from Montréal. So long Canada, hope to see you again!

to leave your bike outside in the winter? The answer is:

Especially when it was -30°C like today.

Today in Ottawa. It was as low as -40°C, for those with °F standard -40 is the magic number when °C and °F show the same -40 number.

For those who are not familiar with the words “feels like”, just take my words: “That’s the only thing you should worry about”. Never care for the word “Sunny” because if it is sunny outside then it means it is colder than usual, it may sounds strange to some of you but that’s the truth – in the winter, when it’s sunny then it’s cold. Never care for the other number that has lower number than the “feels like” number because that number is not what you are feeling.

Welcome to Canada.

Screenshot taken from weather.com website.

It’s been snowing a lot here in Ottawa for the last couple of days. The pile of snow is getting higher and higher everyday.

I’ve also been very occupied last weekend. Finishing, polishing and adjusting one of the CIMS‘s project before Christmas break.

Other than that not much happening. Waking up early, waiting for bus under the blistering snow, working at CIMS until late night, went back home also under blistering snow – not to mention waiting for an hour if I missed my bus for a split second because the bus is only running every hour on weekend… and the bus was often arrived early… Nice.

Bush is in Ottawa today. And he got a really “warm” welcome from Canadians. More than 5.000 people, more than 12.000 people according to the demonstration organizer, are marching down the street while waving banners and posters showing their true feeling about the leader of the United Empire of America… which can generally resumed as… “Bush Go Home” and home means Texas, not United States of America.

The demonstration were mostly peaceful, a brief clash between a few demonstrator and riot police but… it’s not even a “clash” by my standard, OK I am not being fair here since I’ve seen worse back in ’98 in Jakarta. Back to the demonstration, it was very peaceful and energetic, almost like a carnival. No violence, no damaging public or private properties, no riots, everybody enjoyed venting their opinion about Dubya, which is of course oppositional opinion. This was one of the most peaceful demonstration I’ve ever seen. The police are friendly and helpful, kinda made me bite my teeth when I remember how over-acted and over-reacted Indonesian police were and still are.

There are couple of pictures if you like to read more.

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