I got my pack back, the day before I left for Canada. And now, guess what I've lost? Just my card-holder. I.e. the thing with my credit card, my two ATM cards, my ISIC card, my USCD student ID - which I need for my meal points on campus, and I think there was something else in there, but I'm not quite sure what.

I guess it just makes travel all that more of an adventure, right?

Besides that minor annoyance, Canada's been pretty good. Yesterday was amazing: caught a Greyhound out to Whistler, a ski field and village an hour or two away from here. Beautiful drive, with lakes and waterfalls and snowy mountains and alpine trees. Just like people say Canada looks like.

At the mountain there were lots of snowboarders, and skiiers and... Kiwis! We got served by at least three of them - one lent us free gloves from the lost property so we didn't have to rent; and then at church, there were even more. In fact, I feel like I've met more Kiwis, Aussies and Brits than Canadians here. Unlike in San Diego, saying you're from NZ has no "wow" factor here. But I can see why they love it here: lots of mountains, lots of beautiful scenery, adventurous people.

And the weirdest thing is that I've started hearing the NZ accent. Pretty much up until now, I'd been all "but we don't have accents." And now I'm like, oh yes, we do. I guess I've just become so accustomed to the American accent.

* Pics are up in the "Canada" photo album, props to Bron (still don't have my camera).