Sugar Bush (Maple syrup) Trip

Sugar Bush
Glad that I signed up for this trip! At least I could tell people that I've done something really 'Canadian'. Come on, even the maple leaf is on the country's national flag!
I learnt quite alot about the history, extraction and health benefits of maple syrup. The maple sap is only extracted only between the end of february and end of march period every year, when the trees' leaves are gone, because the taste of the sap changes to bitter when the leaves come back. The preparation is just basically evaporation to slightly above melting point. And one serving of maple syrup actually has more antioxidant benefits than 2 servings of broccoli (according to the guide)!
The pancake breakfast with sausage was fine- though could have been better I thought. Everyone at the table thought that having sausage with pancake and maple syrup is very strange. Then it made me recall that there is actually such a combination in McDonald's breakfast in Singapore!


Mandy
Really happy to make friend with Mandy at Suagar Bush! We've met twice before actually-at the ISC potluck and the ethnic dinner-but we never really got to speak to each other much. So I'm glad we got the chance to talk more today!She was very nice to reply to my fb status yesterday night about Chicago. And I didn't know that Jonna stays in London Hall or that she is from Sweden. Jonna and Mandy are going to Chicago in April.
Mandy is such a gem of a friend - genuine, bubbly, natural, always cheerful and has an impeccable sense of humour. She is from Germany and speaks Spanish, Latin and another language (I have forgotten which) on top of German! She actually went to a Spanish summer school to learn the language. I think the good thing about living in Europe that you'd normally know more than 2 languages. I was so excited after speaking to her that I considered signing up for the Munich summer programme! But I came back, checked and was quite disappointed that the applications have closed. (Footnote: I said "quite" because at the same time I was struggling to come to terms with the idea that I'd be away from home again shortly after returning to SG).
We were so funny- we went back to get a second round of maple syrup souvenirs and became the last 2 'sheep' to board the bus. Ar...so embarrassing. But Mandy took it quite easy and so did I, ha!

Why no more 93.8 fm internet streaming?
Mediacorp has stopped all internet streaming for its fm radios!! Hmmph. So mean. I thought I could tune in to 93.8 fm and 'hear' Singapore news but not anymore. It'd be so much better to listent to news from back home rather than listen to mp3 all the time.
Well, what to do.

I didn't realise how tired the maple syrup trip made me. I came back, made lunch, fell asleep at 4pm and woke up at 7pm! Now I'm trying very hard to recall what I'm supposed to do...PLT paper? I'll take a shower first, I guess ;)