Mostly I study, but the methods in which I study are varied. Though I spend a lot of time in the Grammer textbooks and practicing congugations and articles over (and over, and over . . . ), the homework is varied. This last week has found me writing stories and songs in French (which has served to expand my vocabulary!! - especially as the song had to rhyme!)
I also spend time reading novels in French, listening to French music or movies; and I attend a Bible Study at the University in French with Campus Crusade for Christ. This has given me the opportunity to hang-out with Francophones and converse about general life in French.
I also have found it useful to get out and use my French. I always count it a grand success when someone in a store does not switch to English on me; or if I go to a restaurant and am given a French menu, without the waiter asking if I prefer the English menu.
The school itself also offers many varied activities each week and there are always animateurs (activity directors) who are francophone and who talk with students. Some of the activities are cultural based - watching a Québec film, visiting an historic site in Québec - and some are conversation groups with one or two animateurs. Last Friday, I went to a hockey game between the Québec Ramparts and the team from Rimouski. I learned there that Patrick Roy (my favourite hockey player from the Montréal Canadiens) lives in Québec and coaches the Ramparts; so I actually got to see him, definitely a highlight.
There is another student from my school in Calgary - Ambrose University College & Seminary - who is completing his OnSite internship in Québec. Most Sundays after church, we head off into the city to explore. My two favourite restaurants that we have found are the Crêpe Breton and Aux Anciens Canadiens. At the Crêpe Breton, you can order crêpes stuffed with almost anything you want, I generally order the 'breakfast' type with eggs, bacon and cheese. At Aux Anciens Canadiens, you can order a 'table d'hôte' which includes two beverages (meal and dessert) an appetizer, the main dish, and a dessert for $15 at lunch time. I love this restaurant because it serves traditional Québec cuisine (meat pies) including my favourite dessert in Québec (and perhaps overall in life) - la Tarte au Sucre d'Erable (maple sugar pie).
From time to time, when the tables are covered in paper stock, a meal becomes an impromptu French session; and I am sure that the servers are amused when we leave to read all the verb congugations and phrase tips I have written all over the 'tablecloth'. After lunch we check out various 'touristy' sites: the Citadel, Vieux-Québec, the Observatoire (art gallery on the history of Québec with an amazing view of the city), once we took the ferry accros the river to Lévis (another town).
Here, I am standing on the edge of the wall of the Citadel - the star shaped fortress on the perimeter of Vieux-Québec. It has a sequence of two or three walls before one reaches the heart.
While I took this picture, I was standing on the first wall and looking in towards the centre. There are still yet two more series of ditches and walls. Quite formidable!
This is my friend Will. Behind him you can see the tower with a circle on top. This is a rotating restaurant where we ate brunch this day. It was cool, because during an hour and a half, the restaurant rotates in a complete circle and you have a bird's eye view of the entire city. I took a few pictures and the following is a picture of Vieux-Québec and the harbour. In the distance you can see l'île d'Orleans - which is in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.
And to close off - for those who have been asking, yes, it has finally begun to snow in Québec City. Just yesterday one of my profs told us to not worry - the snow would come; and indeed it had in most of Québec, just not here. As the city and residents began preparing for the snow in September, I was beginning to wonder if it would ever come and what exactly they were hunkering down for! I had begun to despair that I would not see snow here before I left. (Though I won't remain to see the huge piles that block one from seeing across the street.) Well, today it snowed for about 7 hours straight and it looks like it has been snowing for weeks. If the depth on 'my' driveway is to be believed (ie: no wind drifting) it dropped about 3 inches today. I wonder if it will stay or melt away before the next storm? 
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