My first week in Ottawa has been very interesting. Having only applied for this program (the brand spanking new Masters of International Affairs at the University of Ottawa) on Aug. 16th , I had no idea if I stood a chance of getting into the program, Lucky for me, the program was approved very late so the normal onslaught of applicants for these competitive programs had not come until quite late and so there were still a few spots open 2 weeks before the program began. I learned about the program a week earlier from our former Haligonian neighbor Tim Shaw. Tim was once a Dalhousie professor in this field who has spent considerable time teaching in Stellenbosch. He happened to mention it over after-dinner refreshments with my folks, I jumped, and well, here I am.
I had been interviewing for a number of jobs back in the IT world, including what would no doubt have been a very interesting and incredibly stressful job with the Vancouver Olympics organizing committee. Although I didn’t feel this way at the time, I am now thrilled that I didn’t get the job. Another IT project, even for the Olympics, is still just another IT project.
I have only had two courses to date, but so far, I am in love, something that has been decidedly lacking from my careers to date. I remember the apathy and lack of imagination of my undergrad professors, and know that I’m incredibly lucky to be in such a well thought out program with very talented faculty and surrounded by such a broad swath of society. Because we are the first class of this program we have a unique opportunity to shape the experience of future students.
As we were running through the syllabus in one of my courses yesterday, I found myself excited about every topic we will study. Perhaps it is a matter of age and maturity, but I don’t ever recall feeling that way about any course before.
On my first Saturday in town, I cycled around the city checking out the climbing gym, visiting old haunts, and getting a lay of the land. It will certainly be a very different experience than I had 10 years ago when Jo rescued me from the dungenous apartment owned by a certain ‘slum’ landlord by the name of Prem Palta. None of my friends from those days are here now, but I have many memories from those days that are resurfacing, some of which are melancholic as I reflect on the tragic death 2.5 years ago of my dear friend Chris.
Despite Ottawa’s conservative reputation, it is really very active, diverse and interesting city. Culturally, it has just about everything. The lifestyle is very healthy, and it is a hotbed for social activism. This past Sunday, for example, a group calling themselves the ‘Fiery Grannies’, grandmothers from Canada and many parts of Africa, descended on Parliament to demand that the government keep its promise to deliver affordable HIV medication to sufferers in Africa.
All in all, this is a pretty exciting place to be for me right now. I don’t quite know what the career path is from here, but I guess that’s part of the adventure. And God knows I love an adventure. Decisiveness has not been among my stronger qualities to date. Just maybe that is about to change …
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I seldom leave comments on blog, but I have been to this post which was recommend by my friend, lots of valuable details, thanks again.
It doesnt have much to do with your post but prem palta is the worst landlord ever. she yells all the time and wears pajamas that give extreme cameltoe. She avoids any and all protocol in the landlord and tenant act for a quick buck and my apartment had mice and cockroaches. DO NOT RENT FROM HER.
thanks for update, what about her age? how old is she? she is offering me her home?
Kinda highjacking your post here, but I work with this Prem Palta lady. She wears those exact same pajamas to the office and spends her time managing her slums and dodging her responsibilities. I cant even begin to describe the sick disgusting things she subjects us to every day.
Living in one of her apartmenrts must have been absolute hell. Glad you made it out alive.
Please do share what some of the sick and disgusting things are. It's like a car crash, you just have to look!
Did Prem ever mention that one of her tenants died in one of her slums back in 2000? That's a discovery you just don't forget about!
I'm so glad I decided to google "prem palta" as I was just about to go to a viewing of one of her apartments. How bad was renting from her?
I have stayed there for a couple of years and I did not find any problems.. If anything was needed it was actioned promptly. I would recommend, the location is excellent. Prem was fine..
Anyone mind provided me with more information RE: Prem Palta? She is offering me one other places for a cheap price and on a month to month basis. I won't be spending much time at my apartment so I can deal with a shitty place as long as I can sleep in peace.
Prem is a pathological liar, charging top dollar for the crappiest house in the whole area. I calculated it and she's making $6000 a month for an under repaired POS house with mice, there have been burst pipes since we've lived here and everything is falling apart. She sends you nonsensical emails daily at times with random nonsense. She's also a bit of a craven, it was a real drag living with her because he was constantly complaining about her poor health(shes overweight) and how much everything costs.
Prem Palta - worst landlord I have ever had, expect to overpay for the shittiest living situation you will ever have the displeasure of experiencing in your life.
While surfing through the internet I encountered this site by chance and feel that I should write the true facts. I lived in this house for the same period the aforementioned anonymous writer is complaining about twice. I am shocked to read about false and totally over exaggerated accusations about the landlord. We had no frozen pipes at all whatsoever in spite of a very cold winter season, Any plumbing issues in the house, a professional plumbing company was called even for the slightest wrong thing which could have been remedied by a handyman. Prem told us that only professional companies will deal with all plumbing and electrical issues. The house is not in bad shape at all, everything worked well. All bathrooms are brand new, All units have been freshly painted and all our concerns were addressed promptly. Some people do not want to pay their rent and then have the nerve about making false accusations. I am very sure that I know as to who this person is because I lived in the same house within the same time frame. In my honest opinion people should have the consciousness to say the truth. I had no problems at all with prem at any time during my stay in her house and I would rent from her again any time, all the rents were reasonable and at the going market rate.
"she's making $6000 a month for an under repaired POS house"
She's making far more than that from the maclaren house alone. It had 16 people when I was living there in 2017. I was behind on rent a few times and she blamed me for not being able to pay her bills. I was a math major and she's trying to tell me that she made $10K a month but was broke. lol. She then got us to pay for cleaning. I later found out that taking the trash out, cleaning and shoveling is the job of the landlord. I wish I knew my rights back then. She duped me into doing all of that to save a few bucks. If that place is still being rented then I wish them the best.
If Prem can't kick you out legally she will try to get you to assault her or one of her workers. Watch yourself and never be alone with her!
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