Beyond Grammar

As I mentioned in an earlier post, one of my secret identities (in the name of education) is Gramma Grammar. Here's a photo of me in my wig and shawl, along with the ESL class at our end-of-year potluck.


More valuable than the English lessons, however, are the unique friendships that develop among students and volunteers despite cultural differences. The other night we had supper here with a young couple who are recent refugees from the Middle East. As they shared their experience in beginner-but-improving English, I was overwhelmed at how what they have lived is so completely foreign to my small life. Yet we sensed a wonderful camaraderie with them that I can't explain. After supper (Jeff's famous ribs, of course), I was helping the wife with some English work while Jeff and her husband were watching guy stuff on the computer. At one point I overheard Jeff trying to explain to him the difference between a knock out and a technical knock out (wrestling jargon, I think?) and I recognized that there are some things that will always serve as common ground for the average male. His wife and I preferred potting some plant clippings that have been rooting around our apartment for the last months, a gift to them that I hope will be symbolic of a newly planted friendship.

"People will always do the stupid thing"

This entry should really be credited to my old friend (who I haven't seen in years), Andrew Maves. Andrew, if you read this, you might not remeber telling me this but I remember it like yesterday. Andrew and I were in Saint John, NB working on some renovations (church work) and Andrew, who was obviously entertaining some memories, looked over to me and said, "JEFF, people will ALWAYS do the stupid thing." It sunk in and made sense to me because I, being a "people," had done many stupid things. Well, this week folks really made me appreciate that timless phrase, and without going into too much detail about the idiotic, juvenille, elementary, imature and stupid things people did to me last week and early this week, simply consider yourself warned! Mabye not today, mabye not tomorrow but mark my words! "People will always do the stupid thing!"

In case you don't get it, here are some pictures to help illustrate the stupedness in people!

Back to Basics

Greetings my humble friends and foes,

As you may have noticed, Jenny has been the one creating all the interesting posts for all to indulge in on this blog of ours. Yet this day yields another suprise... It is I (Jeff) that has been writing all the blogs in the guise of my lovely wife Jenny A.K.A "Delia"!

BREEWHAAHAA! Just joking It was Jenny all along, like you suspected, that has been creating the interesting blogs. However, I had you all going there for a second huh? Oh yeah! You all know it too! Anyways, here is my "beef" (vent) for today! What is with "cops" A.K.A "C'OPs" (SEE-OH-PSS), "PoPo" (PO PO), "Oinks" (Oh-INKS)? As you may have all read by now (see last post)Jenny and I got a Quebecquois speeding ticket (I assure you, Jenny was the one driving... or at least telling me how to drive, hehe).

Well this is my question: How is it that cops are like good salesmen? I mean, he comes to my window and knocks just like a regular salesman would at a door. I roll down the window (knowing who it is always makes it a little slower of a roll) and say "Yes, officer" kind of like the ol' "yeah I know why you are here and can we just get on with this already" thoughts run through my mind. This is probably how I feel everytime a sales guy tries to pitch one on me. Anyway, the cop comes back with the ticket and tells me, "You were going 115 km/h in a 90 km/h zone, but I marked it down 114 km/h. This will save you $25.00." WOW! I thought after he left and I quickly reverted my window to its original position. "I got a deal on this one, I saved $25.00"!

The funny thing is, I still have to pay $111.00, and I didn't get anything out of it. But because of the "discount" I felt like I got a deal on the whole thing, and a part of me felt like I ripped the guy off. I'm not sure if this all helps but here is a picture to envision what I was thinking at the time.

Easter in the East

If you can't fly, just drive. At least that was our motto last week. We looked for cheap flights to New Brunswick for Easter weekend to no avail. So Thursday afternoon we decided to just drive the 15 hours. It was a relatively uneventful journey there minus snowy conditions (yes... in April!) and a speeding ticket in Quebec. Apparently pretending you don't speak French doesn't make you ineligible to receive an all-French ticket. I can see the headlines now: "French-speaking couple hides behind Ontario plates and Anglophone facade in hopes of evading speeding violation on snowy Quebec highway." Don't worry, I already mailed in the fine payment.

It was a surprise visit for the family and, thankfully, they hadn't moved or changed the locks since we were home at Christmas. Conveniently, we arrived just in time for turkey dinner. Spending time with family was amusing and memorable. We also had brief visits with friends in Montreal on the way there and back. Jeff and I both miss the uniqueness of the Acadian culture, so it was delightful to be back.



Ethan and Uncle Jeff




Jeff's mom and our niece


Jeff's dad (aka "Beau pere") giving Jenny some well-needed tips






traditional stop at the beach, come snow or shine


Driving back to Ontario through la belle province (i.e., Quebec)