http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090122/090122_trainsbackup/20090124/?hub=CP24Home"
reading the comments make me angry, then anxious, then worried, then angry again.
i still haven't decided if i want to take the year off or not.. but now, it's looking like a good idea.
the thing is... i applied for an internship at the Inter-American Development Bank for the summer... and one of the stipulations is that I have to be enrolled in a post-secondary institution and be planning to return the year after.
but if i do continue with the winter semester, it'll probably run into the summer, and jeopardize my application anyways.
um, life.
also the yorku community on.. livejournal (don't judge me) is full of all sorts of lols about the strike, people's opinions, and frustrations over the lingering smell of thai food and hummus left over outside the president's office as a result of a 3 week sit-in, amongst other things.
http://community.livejournal.com/yorku/
Showing posts with label controversy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label controversy. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Things I have learned...
Sometimes when the days never seem to end, and when the 21st of December cannot come fast enough... it helps to think of the things that I've gained from this program.
6 months is a long time. It doesn't seem that long when you're living it, but when it comes down to the last couple of weeks... you start to feel how long it's been.
... how long it's been since you have seen your friends, how long it's been since you've been in your room, how long you've spent with the same people without any additions...
It's hard to look at the bright side, when every morning you just want to come downstairs make some toast and leave without having to greet everyone with a big smile on your face. (I like my host-family, I really do! It's just tiring.. always living in someone else's house for the past 6 months..)
But enough bitching. Yes it has been 6 months of being away from home, but I definitely gained some things out of it. (Woohoo, forced cheeriness and looking at the brightside!)
1) I've learned a new language, whilst improving another.
I can understand Portuguese pretty well now. My Portuguese is actually pretty much on par with how my French was before I left for the program... which is actually amazing, considering I didn't study at all before I left. I remember being at the camp in Montreal before leaving for Brazil and feeling so overwhelmed when everyone started studying during the evenings and quizzing each other...
I've improved on my French. I can understand a whole lot more now than I could before. I've (unfortunately) picked up on a lot of Quebec slang, but hopefully NOT the Quebecois accent. I could barely watch TV in French, but I've been to the movies and have been able to understand the films and enjoy them... all in French and no subtitles! I've also been reading books here in French.. although it was a graphic novel... (Persepolis) and the pictures helped, but I still understood the French!
I've also gotten accustomed to talking in Franguese. Where I begin in French... but end up speaking in English with a couple of Portuguese words thrown in for good measure. This is sort of the norm within the group.. so I apologize in advance if I come home and speak retardedly for the first couple of weeks.
2) I've learned about 2 new cultures.
I've learned a lot about the culture in Rio Grande do Sul - the Southern-most state in Brazil. The town we stayed in was incredibly traditional, and kept most of their customs, and I was on a team to teach the rest of the group about the culture of the region. I learned about the traditional dances of the region... and we even took classes to learn 2 of them to show to the group. We also dressed in traditional clothing for the day, baked a traditional cake, and learned how to lasso!
Living in a different country for 3 months gives you time to discover and appreciate the cultural differences in all facets of life. I learned how to eat beans and rice everyday at lunch. I learned how to have churrasco almost all week. I learned what churrasco was (basically giant slabs of meat spiced with salt and barbecued over a charcoal fire)... and I learned how to eat incredibly salty food, all the time. I also learned how to make some of the food I ate while I was there.
I also learned to appreciate and love a Brazilian music. We went to a lot of bailes (dances) while in Manoel Viana and we all learned to dance traditional gaucho dances to bands playing gaucho music. But also going to parties and hanging out with some of the young people in the town, we also got to know a lot about the youth culture in the town... (which honestly was incredibly hilarious and will make for a lot of ridiculous stories for you guys when I get home) and as well the music that they listen to. There was a lot of American hip-hop and pop, but there was also a lot of Brazilian funk, that although the Brazilian participants seem to hate... we seemed to love. (Enough to search it out and put it on our ipods upon our return)
Also, I learned how to appreciate Canadian culture a lot more. At the beginning of the program, the group was given the task to put together a spectacle of sorts to show the town what Canadian culture was. It was pretty hard to do. Canada didn't really have a culture... or so we thought. But upon our arrival in Valleyfield, by wanting to show our Brazilian counterparts what Canada was all about, I think we were all able to discover things that are an integral part of being Canadian (Tim Hortons being one of those things...).
I've also learned a lot about Quebec culture. The typical Quebecoise dishes - Pâté Chinoise... Poutine... (I've also learned that poutine is the best "I'm drunk and fucking hungry" food and that it really is okay if I have eaten a poutine for every meal on a weekend, not including breakfast, and that cheese curds are the most amazing snack food ever). I have also seen a lot of Quebecoise movies, and they've all been really good. It's weird because they kind of have to do their own thing here... so they have their own movies, their own TV shows and their own music.
... okay so this list looks like it might turn out to be a long one... soo I think I'm going to do it in installments. Look out for part 2 coming up next.
6 months is a long time. It doesn't seem that long when you're living it, but when it comes down to the last couple of weeks... you start to feel how long it's been.
... how long it's been since you have seen your friends, how long it's been since you've been in your room, how long you've spent with the same people without any additions...
It's hard to look at the bright side, when every morning you just want to come downstairs make some toast and leave without having to greet everyone with a big smile on your face. (I like my host-family, I really do! It's just tiring.. always living in someone else's house for the past 6 months..)
But enough bitching. Yes it has been 6 months of being away from home, but I definitely gained some things out of it. (Woohoo, forced cheeriness and looking at the brightside!)
1) I've learned a new language, whilst improving another.
I can understand Portuguese pretty well now. My Portuguese is actually pretty much on par with how my French was before I left for the program... which is actually amazing, considering I didn't study at all before I left. I remember being at the camp in Montreal before leaving for Brazil and feeling so overwhelmed when everyone started studying during the evenings and quizzing each other...
I've improved on my French. I can understand a whole lot more now than I could before. I've (unfortunately) picked up on a lot of Quebec slang, but hopefully NOT the Quebecois accent. I could barely watch TV in French, but I've been to the movies and have been able to understand the films and enjoy them... all in French and no subtitles! I've also been reading books here in French.. although it was a graphic novel... (Persepolis) and the pictures helped, but I still understood the French!
I've also gotten accustomed to talking in Franguese. Where I begin in French... but end up speaking in English with a couple of Portuguese words thrown in for good measure. This is sort of the norm within the group.. so I apologize in advance if I come home and speak retardedly for the first couple of weeks.
2) I've learned about 2 new cultures.
I've learned a lot about the culture in Rio Grande do Sul - the Southern-most state in Brazil. The town we stayed in was incredibly traditional, and kept most of their customs, and I was on a team to teach the rest of the group about the culture of the region. I learned about the traditional dances of the region... and we even took classes to learn 2 of them to show to the group. We also dressed in traditional clothing for the day, baked a traditional cake, and learned how to lasso!
Living in a different country for 3 months gives you time to discover and appreciate the cultural differences in all facets of life. I learned how to eat beans and rice everyday at lunch. I learned how to have churrasco almost all week. I learned what churrasco was (basically giant slabs of meat spiced with salt and barbecued over a charcoal fire)... and I learned how to eat incredibly salty food, all the time. I also learned how to make some of the food I ate while I was there.
I also learned to appreciate and love a Brazilian music. We went to a lot of bailes (dances) while in Manoel Viana and we all learned to dance traditional gaucho dances to bands playing gaucho music. But also going to parties and hanging out with some of the young people in the town, we also got to know a lot about the youth culture in the town... (which honestly was incredibly hilarious and will make for a lot of ridiculous stories for you guys when I get home) and as well the music that they listen to. There was a lot of American hip-hop and pop, but there was also a lot of Brazilian funk, that although the Brazilian participants seem to hate... we seemed to love. (Enough to search it out and put it on our ipods upon our return)
Also, I learned how to appreciate Canadian culture a lot more. At the beginning of the program, the group was given the task to put together a spectacle of sorts to show the town what Canadian culture was. It was pretty hard to do. Canada didn't really have a culture... or so we thought. But upon our arrival in Valleyfield, by wanting to show our Brazilian counterparts what Canada was all about, I think we were all able to discover things that are an integral part of being Canadian (Tim Hortons being one of those things...).
I've also learned a lot about Quebec culture. The typical Quebecoise dishes - Pâté Chinoise... Poutine... (I've also learned that poutine is the best "I'm drunk and fucking hungry" food and that it really is okay if I have eaten a poutine for every meal on a weekend, not including breakfast, and that cheese curds are the most amazing snack food ever). I have also seen a lot of Quebecoise movies, and they've all been really good. It's weird because they kind of have to do their own thing here... so they have their own movies, their own TV shows and their own music.
... okay so this list looks like it might turn out to be a long one... soo I think I'm going to do it in installments. Look out for part 2 coming up next.
Friday, May 9, 2008
um wtf
No, your eyes do not deceive you.Those are high-heeled Crocs.
I cannot wait to see you wear them, teemed with your cut off denim skirt, lacy capri leggings, and spaghetti-strap tank top.
OH SO CLASSY.
Comfort AND style, ladies. Yes, you too can have it all.
And all for the very affordable price of $49.99.
If red is too racy for your tastes, these beauties also come in a sophisticated black.
Feeling sassy? Maybe the bronze, or the two toned silver/lavender.
Out for a night in the town? how about the "chocolate/cotto"? You'll be a magnet for all the guys once they see you in these. Every man is looking for a woman who tries to mix trash and style.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THESE EXIST. THIS IS LIKE TRYING TO MAKE TRAILER TRASH NOT TRASH BY TELLING THEM TO CLEAN THEMSELVES UP, AND AFTER 15 MINUTES THEY EMERGE WITH MORE LIPSTICK ON, WITH THEIR CLEANEST PAIR OF DENIM CUTOFFS, AND WITHOUT A CIGARETTE IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT ONE IN THEIR HAND AND THEIR NICEST LIGHTER IN THE OTHER.
IN FACT THEY'LL PROBABLY BE WEARING THESE SHOES.
Friday, April 25, 2008
WHUT
why the hell is livejournal bombarding me with ads for the international muslim matrimonial site?
does anybody else find it weird that this may actually exist?
isn't there some sort of irony in the fact that the ad features a woman in a hijab, while there is a button juxtaposed on the bottom left allowing you to "browse photos now!"?
isn't the whole point of the hijab to place less emphasis on physical beauty when courting?
i'm not pretending to be an expert, this is just what i've been told by friends who are muslim.
and i am not being racist.
but this is fucking weird.
are there any muslims out there who can give me their take?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Exactitudes
I don't know if you guys have heard about photographer Ari Versluis and stylist Ellie Uyttenbroek's ongoing project "Exactitudes".
The basic premise is that they have been taking pictures of people all around the world since 1994, and focusing on people in particular "style tribes". They take shots of people in certain poses and in effect, erase their individuality, displaying all the pictures of a particular "tribe" in a 3 x 4 format.
It's really interesting, and brings up questions of individuality when you see it. Certain groups who pride themselves as being different and unique (i.e. scene kids, goths, punks) when photographed and displayed that way, turn out to be part of something where they are in fact exactly like everyone else.
It's also reminiscent of Berndt and Hilla Becher's typography of German industrial architecture, and August Sanders' work, in which he created a typological catalogue of more than six hundred photographs of the German people.
Hilla and Berndt Becher - Pitheads
Anyways, here are a couple of images from the Exactitudes exhibit I found on Style Bubble.
Cardi-clad, geek chic boys.
(Sasha, we should include this as an example image)
Scarf wearing, "emo", short haired girls.
You can see more of the work on http://www.exactitudes.com/ .
(Just click any of the images, and the particular "style tribe" of whoever you clicked on, will show up)
There was a section of french boys that I saw on there that I wanted to show you guys, but they wouldn't let me save the whole series, and I didn't think of doing a screen shot til now, and I am having a really hard time trying to find them again..
EDIT: I found them!
The guy in the top at the middle totally looks like Xavier from Justice.
Just sayin'
So my question is, is this another spin on stereotyping?
Are all those boys in "The French Touch" actually French?
If they aren't, then is that okay?
Are we pigeon-holing people based on their style?
The photographs are on display now at Selfridges in London, and I believe they are looking for new 'tribes' to add to the book which comes out at the end of the exhibition.
You can hear Ari Versluis talk more about this project here
The basic premise is that they have been taking pictures of people all around the world since 1994, and focusing on people in particular "style tribes". They take shots of people in certain poses and in effect, erase their individuality, displaying all the pictures of a particular "tribe" in a 3 x 4 format.
It's really interesting, and brings up questions of individuality when you see it. Certain groups who pride themselves as being different and unique (i.e. scene kids, goths, punks) when photographed and displayed that way, turn out to be part of something where they are in fact exactly like everyone else.
It's also reminiscent of Berndt and Hilla Becher's typography of German industrial architecture, and August Sanders' work, in which he created a typological catalogue of more than six hundred photographs of the German people.
Hilla and Berndt Becher - Pitheads
Anyways, here are a couple of images from the Exactitudes exhibit I found on Style Bubble.
Cardi-clad, geek chic boys.
(Sasha, we should include this as an example image)
Scarf wearing, "emo", short haired girls.
You can see more of the work on http://www.exactitudes.com/ .
(Just click any of the images, and the particular "style tribe" of whoever you clicked on, will show up)
There was a section of french boys that I saw on there that I wanted to show you guys, but they wouldn't let me save the whole series, and I didn't think of doing a screen shot til now, and I am having a really hard time trying to find them again..
EDIT: I found them!
The guy in the top at the middle totally looks like Xavier from Justice.
Just sayin'
So my question is, is this another spin on stereotyping?
Are all those boys in "The French Touch" actually French?
If they aren't, then is that okay?
Are we pigeon-holing people based on their style?
The photographs are on display now at Selfridges in London, and I believe they are looking for new 'tribes' to add to the book which comes out at the end of the exhibition.
You can hear Ari Versluis talk more about this project here
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