Jan 7- First Impressions.

Thanks again Air Canada for your EXCELLENT service in luggage transport. *Sarcasm* But it's okay, Air Canada, Amberlea doesn't really need her clothes.

We had planned (upon our first glimpse of Rhonda) to drop our bags and leap into her welcoming embrace, but instead all we could do was stand there, separated by mounds of luggage and troops of security guards, and transmit cheerful and explanatory gestures to Rhonda and her friend.

Finally, we were able to greet each other. Oh it was so great to finally speak in real life. Her friend was Jonah, one of our new roommates. A great girl, with too good of a sense of humor, as Amber Rae found out when it came to cockroaches, her greatest fear. She was doing reasonably well, until Jonah calmly stepped over to the table where we were sitting, positioned her broom and dustpan under Amber Rae's feet, and said "oh let me get that cockroach out of the way for you." Of course there wasn't one, but we have seen several.

At the house, we also met BJ, our other roommate, a third year nursing student at the university.

Our house is amazing! It is on a narrow, but very busy road. There is a high gate with coils of barbed wire at the top, protecting our humble abode. Our upstairs room is spacious, with 5 beds neatly in a row. Our sleeping order is Canadian-Filipina-Canadian-Filipina-Canadian. WHOA SWEAT! Hence, no blankets, just one fitted sheet. YAY no making beds in the morning!!!