Pay it Forward Review

If everyone does good actions without expecting a reward, the world would be better. That’s what the movie Pay it Forward teaches us. The movies tells the story of Trevor, a little boy who is really concerned by an assigment that his social studies teacher gave to his students. They must think of a way to change the world and put it in action. Trevor attemps to achieve this assigments with all his heart, while dealing with family problems : an alcoolic mother and an irresponsible and absent father. He first helps a homeless by taking him to his house, but when he figures out that he will not succeed to make him a better person, he tries to help his mother by fixing her up with his teacher. Finally, he attemps to rescue one of his classmates who is the target of bullies at school.

According to me, the Pay it Forward director, Mimi Leder, did an incredible job. Featuring Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment and Helen Hunt, the dramatic movie has a incredible communication power. We really feel the characters’ emotions while watching the movie. The interplay of the actors was perfectly dramatic and adapted to the plot.

I felt like this movie was really one of a kind. During all the movie, I kept asking myself : where is the movie going? What does thit scene bring to the plot? How will all the details come togheter at the end? It definitely kept my attention during the two hours that the movie lasted. Finally, the suprising ending concluded wonderfully this thoughtful story. It was not the ending that I was expecting and I think that it is an incredible asset for the movie.

The only thing that I could fault to this movie is the annoying same song that was on replay during all the movie. It would have been better if there would have been different songs because that only song got on my nerves! Nevertheless, I would definitively recommand that movie to everyone because it was touching and surprising.

Canada's Wonderland

The closer the Toronto trip is coming, the more excited I am about going to Canada's Wonderland. I have been there once and it was an amazing experience! Furthermore, I heard that there were new rides this year, and I am fearless when it comes to trying new amusement rides so this sunday will definitely be a thrilling experience!

But some of my friends are fearful and prefer trying calm rides... that is what is so cool about Canada's Wonderland : there are rides for all kind of persons. I am sure that they will find attractions that they will love, less bumpy and bouncing.

Canada's Wonderland is grandiose. It is the largest amusement park and waterpark in Canada. There is more than twenty-one roller coasters, eleven water attractions, twenty-two rides for kids and eleven family rides. Since you only need to pay 40$ to get into the park and try most of these rides, it is incredible! I would recommand that park to anyone who likes chills and thrills!

"Soon, a visitor shall delight you."

The scent of humid dust
Relents of a rainy day
Liquid clouds slipping off the slender branches
Hitting the ground rageously, fiercely.

Stuck between the wrinkled roots
Laying there, soon overwhelmed by his peers
Soaking up the earth
Glutting it until droplets pearl at the surface

The broad giant of the forest stands,
But soon he will bend
Under the strikes of the endless storm
The proud tree will bow down

Waiting,
To avoid despair.
Oh, if only the sun could appear,
What a delight would it be for that tree!

Calypso Waterpark

I will keep very good memories of my day at Calypso waterpark. First of all, the weather last saturday was perfect : about thirty degrees and sunny. In the bus, we could not wait to get in the water! Sometimes, when it is too cold, the waterpark is not a good place to be, but that day, it was amazing! The slides were really refreshing on this boiling hot day.

Also, Calyso waterpark is expanding everyday. This year, there were brand new slides that were all very spectacular and different from the slides that we are used to do. The park has a good reputation all across the world. He has not only won the "Innovation of the Year Award" at the 2012 Ottawa tourism award, he is also the biggest waterpark in Canada and had welcomed a million guests this year! Isn't that impressive?

A day at Calypso waterpark is really worth it because you do not have to wait in line for two hours to try the slides. Although some of them are so popular that you have to wait for a while before going in the water, there are slides that you just have to wait five minutes to try them! For a so famous waterpark, it is incredible!

Art in Ottawa : Skrillex

Last Saturday, I had the chance to assist to a special show that was held as a part of the Ottawa Bluesfest Festival : the Skrillex show. Since I'm still a student, I only had to pay 30$ to get inside the Bluesfest site and watch all the shows that I felt like watching. We arrived in front of the stage one hour before the show was supposed to begin. The atmosphere in the crowd was already charged with excitement and I couldn't stay in place. I was so excited about that show because I had heard good comments about it from friends who had gone there a couple of days before.  

When the show finally begun, it was absolutely incredible! Everybody was dancing and singing along when there were lyrics. The music was loud and so good! All the crowd was moving to the beat of the songs. There must have been at least 10 000 persons dancing in front of Sonny John Moore (whose scene name is Skrillex).

I am glad that I had the chance to see him in concert because it was really worth it. I really enjoyed the music during the two hours that I passed there. It was an awesome show and I would recommend it to everybody!

PS. I hate Stefan Rakoto. :)

My Experience in a Host Family

Living in a host-family is nothing new to me. This year, I lived in a nicaraguayen family for a week, so it was actually a more out of ordinary experience than living in a canadian family! The really first time that I met my family, I was stressed and tense. What if they do not care about me? What if I do not get along with them ? What if, what if, what if... I soon realised that my adoptive mother was as sweet as I could never have expected. She welcomed me and my two roomates with open arms and showed us every thing that we could possibly need to use during our stay. Our bedrooms are comfortable, the house is clean and nice and our bathroom is brand new. What could I ask more?

Now that I know my "mother" better, we get along very well. We chat with her for hours, we help her to cook dinner and we help her with the chores. We also did yoga with her! It was really fun and relaxing. We were just listening to quiet music and following our yogi as he was moving softly to the rythm of the songs.

On the first days, I did not feel very comfortable here in Ottawa. I found it hard to know almost no one and to be in new places all the time. Now I really enjoy my stay and I do not want it to end!

Introduction

Hi everyone, welcome to my blog !
My name is Anne-Catherine Fontaine and I'm a seventeen years old student from Sherbrooke. I really like to move: I actually dance, jog and play soccer. I also like to play piano, listen to music, and, above all, travel. I travelled quite a lot for a girl of my age; Costa Rica, Mexico, France, England, Nicaragua, Alaska... and I wish I could travel more!


This summer, I made the choice to participate to the Explore program of Ottawa because I wanted to improve my english and meet new friends. Since the begginning of the program, the activity that I enjoyed the most was the workshop on Health and Sports. I am really looking forward to the trip in Toronto that will take place at the last weekend of the program. I love amusement rides and I am fearless when it comes to try new ones!