Student Life

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 2022 To swipe or not to swipe: Dating in a postlockdown world

How online dating is transforming the singles landscape

Naomi Gupta

Contributor

Since March 2020, the comings and goings of COVID-19 have altered the structure of our social lives. For nearly two years, people of all ages reduced their inperson activities and turned to an online world of family gatherings, end-of-year parties, and even dating. Some embraced this shift in dating culture to challenge themselves. Others met this change with angst and uncertainty but adjusted to the conditions as the pandemic progressed. Regardless, the pandemic brought forth new ideas and practices surrounding the dating world and changed how people viewed their love lives.

New and creative ways of meeting people

COVID-19 measures restricted meeting at bars, restaurants, clubs, and other social gatherings for extended periods. Ultimately, people had to rethink how they spent time with others.

“Everything was closed, so coming up with dates required a bit more creativity,” Felix Tymoshenko, U1 Management, shared in an interview with The McGill Tribune. What once was a typical dinner-then-drinks outing was reinvented into going on outdoor hikes, getting takeout from a restaurant, or participating in virtual games such as escape rooms.

Many consider the unconventionality of pandemic dates to be a good thing: It allows for change and a way to think outside the box. It’s also, arguably, a better way to get to know someone. While the typical dinner-and-drinks setting is a comfortable option for many, it’s easier to discover someone’s true personality while participating in an engaging activity. It also makes dating more appealing to those who find settings like coffee shops or bars dull and repetitive.

“There are endless possibilities of things to do, many of which I never considered before COVID-19: Hiking, biking, or even swimming,”Émilie Fortier, U1 Arts, said.

Changing attitudes: Higher standards and clearer intentions

Dating coaches and experts have also found ways in which attitudes toward dating have shifted over the last few years: People have set higher standards when it comes to dating. For example, Hinge Director of Relationship Science, Logan Ury, has discussed how alone time spent during COVID-19 isolation allowed individuals to gain insight and clarity on different aspects of their lives. Known as the “Hard Baller” trend, people are more likely to be upfront about their dating intentions as soon as their first or second date with someone.

Meeting romantic partners: Shifting from “in person” to online

Although the pandemic sparked creativity and a better sense of self-understanding, one thing remained a challenge: Meeting people. In-person meetups were limited, which prompted many to turn to dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge. Although they might seem like a convenient and accessible way of meeting others, criticisms abound about online dating apps. Their rise in popularity has contributed to looks being an overvalued aspect in current dating culture through the abundance of profiles to look through, almost like a game. The ease with which one can swipe left or right prompts users to dismiss potential partners with whom they might share affinities but who don’t perfectly adhere to contemporary and often Eurocentric beauty standards.

Are online dating and “in-person” dating mutually exclusive?

The dating app user experience invites further questioning of their impacts on users’ day-to-day lives. Many wonder whether staying “safe behind a screen” affects people’s ability to approach someone they find attractive in real life or contributes to negative feelings of self-worth. Does creating a perfectly curated version of one’s life on dating apps

According to Tinder’s 2021 report, 40 per cent of users said they would continue to use virtual methods such as video chatting even in a postpandemic world (freepik.com).

make users reluctant to meet people in real life out of fear of exposing the less appealing parts of their personality?

Apps, such as Hinge, offer “prompts”: Open-ended questions that help users enhance their profiles and attract people with similar tastes or interests. This function certainly diversifies dating profiles from their usual content type, which helps divert users’ attention from looks to personality traits. However, it remains unclear if such prompts will help counter the appearance-based focus of modern dating culture. Will online dating prevail in the post-lockdown world? Only time will tell.

Soaking up the holiday season at Le Grand Marché de Noël de Montréal

Getting to know the market’s welcoming vendors

Mahnoor Chaudhry

Student Life Editor

Montreal’s first snowfall brought with it the spirit of Christmas, lighting up Dollarama stores in Christmas decor and my tongue in the green and red of Christmas candy (yes, already, and no, I would not like to watch my sugar intake, Aunt Karen).

As someone who has never celebrated Christmas and never been in Montreal over the holidays, I decided that this was my year. I would sit at home, binge-watch horrible Christmas movies, bake gingerbread people, trip over wires while trying to decorate a Christmas tree, and freeze to death in outdoor Christmas markets. I began with the final item on the list and dragged my friends to Le Grand Marché de Noël de Montréal at Quartier des Spectacles.

Walking on Ste. Catherine between Balmoral and Clark, we saw stalls decorated in green and red lights and a huge sign indicating that this was, in fact, the great Christmas market. Hundreds of people were swarming between stalls that displayed goods ranging from warm clothing accessories and unique delicacies to scented candles and handmade woodcrafts. There were also fire pits in the middle, hot drinks, and crepe stands on the side, and an extremely pricey restaurant at the very end.

At the first stall, the vendor was giving out free samples of different kinds of wines, all of which left a tingling maple aftertaste. Intrigued but having sworn off alcohol, I asked my friends to taste-test the Maple Wine for me, and they all endorsed its unique flavour, recommending it to all wine fanatics.

Next, I stopped at a handmade stone and wood jewelry stall, which sold delicate rings, rustic necklaces, and minimalist earrings on display. Kira Confections, wo-manned by Kira herself, has had a stall at Christmas markets for two years running.

“Since the pandemic has slowed down, so has the business,” Kira told The McGill Tribune.

Nevertheless, she still enjoys it and is continuing to sell her work through Etsy.

I was then drawn to a woman selling the cutest sewn gnomes. As it turned out, Nina Ahrendt, the vendor, also works as a project administrator at McGill and took up this unique hobby to help enliven the Christmas spirit.

“I have a hobby of creating and sewing gnomes in all shapes and sizes for Christmas, to make sure the Christmas spirit is present in every home,” Ahrendt said. “I’m Danish and we have a great tradition in Denmark to decorate for Christmas.”

Ahrendt has been setting up stalls at Christmas markets for the last five years and claims that she actually got lucky with COVID-19.

“People couldn’t spend anywhere else [during the pandemic] so they actually spent money at the Christmas markets, but I think there is less money available this year.”

I then spotted a man with the kindestlooking face advertising some interesting confections, and although I was quite tired of walking by now, I knew I had to chat with him. Elias Masmoudi was selling handmade Tunisian sweets, a venture begun by his grandmother in 1972 that has continued with their family name.

“We hand-made sweets and sold them for weddings, and then it got bigger, and we now sell them during Christmas and even other holidays, such as Ramadan. We have stores in France, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Tunisia now,” Masmoudi told the Tribune.

Though this was his first time setting up a stall in a Christmas market, Masmoudi has been selling the goodies himself since 2017 and claims the pandemic had helped its success.

“In 2017, we started online and the online business got better with COVID, it didn’t get worse. 2021 was a great year and 2022 is now alright,” Masmoudi said.

I asked if I could purchase a $10 sweet box and, after finding out I was writing for a student newspaper, he said he would add in some extra sweets. By the time I got the box, it was filled to the brim with delicious delicacies, bringing a smile to my face. Masmoudi, along with all the other vendors lining the Ste. Catherine walkway, really are spreading the Christmas cheer.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 2022

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com | STUDENT LIFE 15 Dough, gravy, and seriously good baking at Ta Pies

Discovering the art of the Australian and New Zealander pastry

Matthew Wagman

Contributor

Hope has arrived for the 70-odd Australasians at McGill. No longer must they carry Marmite in their purses to liven up lunches or frantically search Mount Royal for the most dangerous-looking critters to feel at home. Less than two kilometres away from campus, off Jeanne-Mance Park, sits a charming little shop called Ta Pies, with an array of offerings from the lands down under.

A modest terrasse greets customers, with regulars enjoying doughy delicacies in fauxwicker chairs. The small storefront is kitted out with a bold red-and-black colour scheme and a whimsical neon “ouvert” sign featuring a steaming pie. The tiny interior is crammed with homemade and imported Australian and New Zealander products and, puzzlingly, a towering shelf of Hot Ones’ sauces. Jars of appetizing sweets, from Tim Tams to fresh Lamington and Anzac biscuits, top the counter. Facing it is a freezer brimming with frozen shrink-wrapped Australian baked goods and a variety of drinks. For all your pantry needs, a nook nestled by the door holds everything from burger-flavoured chips and Milo powder to candy bars like Peanut Slab. Naturally, there are tubs of Marmite.

But, as this eatery’s name highlights, the real centrepieces are the pies, personally-sized and ready to go from a heated case next to the cash register. Don’t despair if your favourites are gone—the freezer and the case under the side counter have more that can be easily reheated at home. If you shop from the frozen pies, there are tons of additional flavours like Pepper Steak and Thai Curry Chicken, larger sizes, and even a 50-cent discount on each pie.

All pies feature the same blessedly versatile puff pastry dough, holding whatever it must while lending a buttery, flaky component to the flavour and texture profiles. The Classic Beef and Cheese is a concentrated blast of savoury richness, its cheddar and shredded beef combining into a powerful entity within the light-as-air pastry cloud. The Steak, however, can’t match up—chewy strands of meat are stewed to blandness, and adding mushrooms or cheese doesn’t help. Their final beef option is the incredible Ned Kelly (fittingly named after an Australian outlaw). Topped by a crackly layer of sharp cheddar, it consists of ground beef, chewy bacon, a creamy baked egg, a healthy amount of tangy barbecue sauce, and a mess of chopped vegetables for good measure. The pastry struggles, but it ultimately manages to hold together this otherwise lawless expanse of incongruously delicious sustenance.

Their only poultry option is the Butter Chicken, a brick-like mass of curry-tinged dough wasting no time in delivering a burst of warm spices when its crust is pierced. Whole lumps of breast meat and elusive vegetable bits in a thick orange sauce are spiced just enough to warm the palette without requiring liquid intervention. The Sausage Roll could replace a normal pie, a convenient scroll-shaped mound of laminated dough folded around a beautiful melange of spiced pork, beef, vegetables, and a touch of gravy begging to be wolfed down.

If all this talk of meat is tiring you, there are also a few worthwhile vegetarian options. The best is the Spinach, Ricotta, Mushroom, and Roasted Tomato—the classic Mediterranean combo ingeniously upgraded with the earthy bite of mushroom. The Curry Squash is less impressive, with a thick under-spiced layer of pureed gourd atop peppery, crunchy mixed vegetables. At $7-8 per pie, the overall value largely depends on which selections you make.

Rounding off the meal with homemade Australian desserts is essential, especially the dreamy Afghan Biscuit ($4.25)—a decadent lumpy disc redolent of cocoa. Topped by a swirl of rich chocolate icing, garnished with crunchy cornflakes and a walnut crown, its interplay of textures and flavours offset each other to create a rice crispy treat and whoopie pie’s love child. The Anzac Biscuit is simpler, a satisfying thick oat-sprinkled and coconut-filled golden round balancing between snappy and chewy. Just like everything at this gem, it’s warm and comforting, even for a North American like myself.

Each pie flavour is baked with a unique set of ingredients and displayed in a heated case (Maeve Reilly / The McGill Tribune).

Gear up! It’s going to be a snowy winter

Ways to combat the cold and stay motivated during Montreal’s icy season

Margo Berthier

Staff Writer

As we reach the end of a long and strenuous semester, a brutal winter is steadily making its way to Montreal. The hints of snow and dips in temperature from these past few weeks only represent a mere glimpse of what is to come. As of January, expect a winter season filled with plenty of snow, rain, and mush, as well as record-breaking cold temperatures. Here are some ways winter will change your student lives on or off campus and how to adapt to this icy transition. So buckle up, it’s going to be a snowy ride. Winter is coming.

Gear up!

Montreal winters are synonymous with extreme below-freezing temperatures, sometimes dropping below -30°C (86°F). It’s time to store away your light fall jackets and bring out the big guns: A proper winter coat is a must! Pair it with gloves, a cozy hat to keep your head warm, a scarf to protect your neck from icy winds, and insulated winter boots for a slip-free walk on icy sidewalks. Layers will be your best friend as you can always peel them off when you get warm inside––even those drenched in sweat.

Watch out, getting to McGill will take longer!

Winter here also means snow-covered streets and more traffic. So, along with the additional time required to bundle up and slip on your winter gear at home, there will also be a couple of extra minutes added to your commute time. Keep warm and take advantage of the bus and metro system: McGill station, on the metro’s green line, is embedded in Montreal’s renowned underground city. This interconnected network of underground tunnels, while giving access to the metro stations, also houses shops, malls, offices, and entertainment venues, allowing you to walk through Montreal without having to step a foot outside. From the Quartier des Spectacles to the Eaton Centre, passing through Place d’Armes and Bonaventure, this system allows you to get from place to place while avoiding the brutal wintry winds.

Shifting from outdoors to indoors

It can be tempting to hide out in bed when there’s snow on the ground, but keep in mind the myriad of opportunities found on campus to bring the energetic thrill of the outdoors inside. Some of these activities, including ice skating on the lower field rink, will keep you in shape and elevate your mood over the winter. Moving your athletic routines inside for the winter months can be helpful to find consistency, keep the blood pumping, and focus on something other than your mounting pile of coursework. The McGill Fitness Centre offers a wide variety of pay-as-you-go exercise classes and intramural sports. From pilates and spin classes to intramural basketball, volleyball, and badminton, you are sure to find the weekly activity that will get you moving, even in the dead of winter. lives drastically—the darkness and shorter days mess with our humour and lead to symptoms such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and an overall lack of motivation. A great way to elevate your mood and combat the lack of summer sunshine is to eat an abundance of vitamin D-rich foods, including salmon, mushrooms, eggs, oranges, tuna, tofu, milk, and even a sun lamp if you’re feeling fancy.

Try and make it to your classes

Winter is an especially rough time for students who feel much less willing to trek to school. When winter arrives, class attendance takes a serious hit. Many McGillians feel discouraged from going outside, and when they do, they tend to return home much earlier due to shorter days. Many students opt for warmer and more accessible solutions, such as working from home or in cafés.

Although you can’t really blame students for wanting to avoid going to class during the dark, snowy, winter days, there are alternatives. Try to avoid getting caught in this spiral of demotivation, and find a feasible routine to make your days easier. Wear appropriate winter attire, take advantage of the metro, stick to your weekly activities, take your vitamin D and, if needed, stay and work at home from time to time.

Find out what the stars have in store for you this holiday break

Abby McCormick Student Life Editor

As the winter semester draws to a close and the grassy terrain of campus turns into a snow-covered glaze, you may be at a loss for how to get into the groove of finals season. But don’t fret, dear reader—the stars are here to help guide you through the exam period and winter break.

Aries (March 21- April 19)

Your hard work has paid off this semester, Aries. You’ll breeze through your finals and, in a surprising turn of events, land yourself a stellar internship for this summer. Go get ‘em!

Taurus (April 20- May 20)

Money doesn’t grow on trees, Taurus. But you might forget that this holiday season. You’ll splurge on lavish gifts for your friends and family, and they will absolutely love them. Just remember— you don’t need to break the bank: They love you without all the glitz and glam.

Gemini (May 21-June 21)

Beware, Gemini! Mars will supercharge the moon on Dec. 7, which will bring out your argumentative side. Just make sure to keep your emotions in check. You don’t want to say something you’ll regret.

Cancer (June 22- July 22)

Your cool, calm, and collected demeanour is going to come in handy this winter. A disagreement in your professional life will make waves in your inner circle, but with the help of your superb negotiation skills, you will make the most of it.

Leo (July 23- August 22)

Let’s go, Leo! You’re almost done with the semester. While your workload might have you feeling stressed right now, you will enjoy a restful holiday season, surrounded by friends and family, which will leave you recharged and rejuvenated.

Virgo (August 23- September 22)

Questions like ‘where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ and ‘what does the future hold?’ are often overwhelming. But, luckily for you, Virgo, the full moon on Dec. 7 will bring clarity to your career prospects. Specifically, you will uncover a new mentorship opportunity that is sure to bring you tons of wisdom.

Libra (September 23- October 23)

Libra, your strong problem-solving skills are sure to come in handy this month. You will notice some tension emerging on the homefront, but ultimately you’ll manage to smooth the waters before things get out of hand. In the end, this will bring you all closer together.

Scorpio (October 24- November 21)

Unfortunately, you’re in for a rough patch at the beginning of this month, Scorpio. The full moon on Dec. 7 will bring out financial stresses that will add uncertainty to your already busy life. But, luckily, all will be resolved as the new moon begins. You will learn new budgeting techniques that will help keep your finances in cheque.

Sagittarius (November 22- December 21)

With the sun in your sign for most of December, you are on your A-game, Sagittarius. From a flirty new romance to a lively social life, you’ve got it all. Just make sure to hit the books from time to time… those finals aren’t quite over yet.

Capricorn (December 22- January 19)

Watch out, Capricorn! Your academic focus and drive have been a huge advantage this semester, but as finals loom, you’re reaching burnout. Make sure to take time for yourself and spend time with those close to you—there’s more to you than just the studious exterior.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

You’re in for a rewarding winter break, Aquarius! You will develop a new hobby that is sure to keep you occupied and fulfilled during your time off. Who knows, you might even meet a potential lover while you’re at it.

Pisces (February 19- March 20)

As the semester comes to a close, you are taking time to reflect on the best and worst parts of it. Whether you regret not getting involved more or not prioritizing your grades, do=n’t be too hard on yourself; next semester will bring tons of opportunities to grow.

CROSSWORD CORNER

DOWN:

1. Film with overlapping stories set in the UK 2. Doing this could bring one in contact with relatives they would rather avoid 3. Poisonous to cats 4. Justin Bieber wrote a song about kissing under it 7. Official, maybe traditional, name for a crazy carpet 8. Dancer and Prancer and Vixen and Comet 9. Classic holiday cake with a cylindrical shape 10. Heated and spiced with cinnamon, cloves, anise and more 11. Chicken noodle and wonton are iterations of it 12. Montreal street know for its bars and seasonal lights 17. Official last day of the season according to the almanac (month/day) 18. All I want for Christmas is you singer 20. That last but also first season of the year 21. Known as Buddy the Elf in Santa’s workshop 23. Cause of shivers and runny noses 25. Colour associated with freezing temperatures 26. Rain in solid form

ACROSS:

5. Original advertisers of Santa Claus 6. Centre of a home that uses wood to create heat 13. Some would argue it is a Christmas film 14. Marshmallows and cinnamon elevate this thirst quencher 15. Michael, but not Jackson (his holiday counterpart) 16. Essential skill in hockey and ringette

21. We seek it after a brisk walk to campus 22. Those dreaded things before break 24. Not a creature was stirring, not even a _____ 27. Looking forward to ___ over break 28. We dread slipping on it 29. Sung three times before “rock”

29. Jinglebell riah Carey 26. Going home 28. Love Actually 22. Toboggan 23. Soup 24. Yule log 25. Ma - Mistletoe 19. March Twentieth 20. Coca Cola 5. Will Ferrell 7. Hail 9. Reindeer 13. Ice 15. Across: 27. Cold Chocolate 17. Poinsettia 18. Finals 21. Buble Die Hard 12. Relaxing 14. Skating 16. Hot Laurent 6. Fire place 8. Blue 10. Winter 11. 1.mouse 2. Mulled wine 3. Warmth 4. St Down: