Oh man, it has been a while. So, let's see...the last time I updated was prior to my crazy trip to Toronto for my big Ottawa job interview at Queen's Park. I got to spend the night in a swanky hotel, and then wander around quite aimlessly in the downtown TO the next day before the interview. Did you know that there are Second Cups *everywhere* there? Even more than there are Tim Hortonseseses in North Bay.
BUt the interview itself was so odd. From the impression I had gotten from all of the other people who (thank you, again) had shared their wisdom and expertise with me on the group interview, I was expecting it to be somewhat competitive and kind of like a round table discussion. The way it actually unfolded was taht we (seven candidates and two interviewers) spent half an hour doing the written test of Parliamentary History, then introduced ourselves and did a three minute presentation we had to prepare at home (this is where I made my big mistake as, I was the only one who got cut off for going over--but I'm not sure how bad it was), then took a break, then came back. We were each given a weird word and told to come up with a dictionary-style definition for it. (Mine was "smargadine," for those of you playing at home, which is an oil based margarine-like product made by a company of the same name in the 1960s that claimed to reduce hair loss.) After presenting those, we were given two minutes to write a short story involving our word and definition...in our other official language. After that, we were given a group exercise: The Canadian government was sending out an expedition to a distant planet who would be expected to survive on said planet for several years without help while preparing the planet for colonization. Each of us were given four pieces of paper that had an age/sex/occupation written on them, and we had to negotiate between the seven of us what five people (out of a possible 28) we would take to the new colony, and then prepare a three minute group presentation on the reasons for our choices. I was able to get two of my people in, which may be a good sign, and it may not.
So that was the interview...completely non-competitive. I have no idea if I'll get the job. They had 250 applicants, and are interviewing 115, and taking the top 37 for the job. If I don't get it, I had my ste. marie interview two days ago and I know I aced it, so at least there's that, but I would really like to have this job. I went out for coffee (yes, at a Second Cup) afterwards with a couple of people from the interview, and it was really fun--I bet it would be a good group of people to spend the summer with.
Not too much is new--Kori was up for the weekend. We went to a taping of Air Farce, played around in Barrie (Old Navy rules), played Cranium, and went to a museum. I had a lot of fun. Not very much homework, perse, but a lot of fun.
I've been spending a lot of time with the object of my affection, painting and cuddling and watching movies and whatnot. It's good to be home.