Travelling and Mi: lunch

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Snow!

Last week's monday was the first week that the new developer started. A cool young chinese guy, who came to support the JMIR team. I do not have to work with him, but it is cool to have a new colleague. =)

Christmas is definitely a big thing in Canada and people put a lot of time in decorating everything, buying gifts and celebrating the holidays! Both the new guy and I were therefor lucky, because we got to meet a lot more people from the department than just the JMIR team, since we had a christmas holiday party. The theme of the party was "A night at the grammys" (it should have been a lunch at the grammys since it started at noon) and a lot of people were dressed up in suits and nice dresses. Instead of the regular catering (something went wrong with the order) everybody brought their own (homemade or purchased food) and we had a great lunch while watching at the self-made "grammy-worth" movies. After the lunch and the grammy-awards we played several games as teams competing against others. The party was traditionally ended with a gift exchange (with stealing), that however took a little bit too long and was not so much fun, since the group was too big...

The next day (friday) we went out for lunch with a couple of people of the JMIR team. Unfortunately not everybody was able to come along, however the food was good! We ate at a Chinese restaurant close to work. Unfortunately I don't have pictures, but you can check it out on my foodmap, it is called "Hong Shing".

That weekend Toronto and the rest of Southern Ontario was hit by a snow storm, changing the whole city in winter wonderland! Road conditions became poor. However it was beautiful outside and I actually enjoyed it all as did some of the Canadians, who immediately went Hockeying (Ice Hockey!) and drifting (see vid). Unfortunately the snow snow is almost gone again.... but I might actually still have a chance for a white Christmas, because we are expecting snow again this weekend! (Which is actually rare in TO for this time of the year, as I am told.)

Although I don't mind the cold (you get used to it.. ) and I am packed in my clothes (my nice famous Canada scarf and black Northface jacket) the cold still got to me since I have pharyngitis, but that could also be due to a lack of vitamins and eating too much pizza etc. :-p

Oh and for the AMC peeps: AMC is not as bad as it seems like, the hospitals in TO could look even more dreadful, although the Wilson Center is supposed to be something big.. But I haven't checked it out yet.

Dreadful hallway

Lunch

Christmas Holiday party

First bit of snow - view from the office

Real snow

Winter wonderland

Snowy roads

Sneaky pic of ice hockey ppl

Not sneaky anymore

Thats how you work out in CA

Snowy Highway

To fight the snow?

Drifting

Snowy TO at night

It is not as bad as it seems like i.e. you get used to it = )

Monday, December 9, 2013

First Monday at The Office

Time for a new blogpost I would say!

Last Tuesday, I started my day at The Office at 10am (great time right?) and met with my new colleagues of the JMIR-team (JMIR = Journal of Medical Internet Research) at the Centre of Global eHealth Innovation. The JMIR team exists of 7 people with different backgrounds and functions and none of them (besides the professor) is a researcher in this field, which basically means I have to figure out things myself or discuss them with the professor. My work during the first couple of days mainly consisted of figuring out exactly what my research will be about, reading about my research topic "Quality assessment of mobile health apps", performing a literature study and writing of my research proposal and work plan. I have my own specious desk in one of the cubicles at the department. I never thought I would be working in an office at an cubicle, but I have to admit, I kind of like it, mainly also because of my specious desk.

In the weekend I took the time to explore China town a bit and to go into every store without buying anything ("Kijken, kijken, niet kopen") and found out that they sell 6 delicious buns for only 3CAD really close by. =) But don't worry mum, I still also cook my own dinner and eat veggies and salad!
I did not do much more besides resting (I'm still tired of who knows what?) and pulling a wardrobe into my bedroom so I could finally clean up my mess and did not have to live anymore from my backpack. =)

Today it was my first Monday at The Office, and it was a Monday I would say... (everybody knows what that means...). On top of that I had to start the day with a lil' bit of snow or "dust" as the locals say, since it was no more than just a tiny little layer.

Nevertheless, I still got some work done today and finally have my own badge, so I can enter The Office without having to wait for someone! Anyways... I note, that I don't write as much on this blog as I wished I would... Sorry guys that totally has to do with the fact that I live so close to The Office. Before I came to Canada, I thought I would post something everyday, pics of funny things I would have seen on my way to The Office, but now I live on only ten minutes walking distance from The Office and not much has happened yet.

Well that was it for today..I have Christmas Holiday party coming up on Thursday and we will go out for lunch with the JMIR-team on Friday, so I will probably have some new pictures by next weekend!