Tango Protest

A couple weeks ago, Nanu (a second year from Argentina) took tango to the Inner Harbour of Victoria in an effort to raise awareness about cuts to arts funding in BC. It was a great success!

Here's a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W0f21HHFWE

An Everyday Reflection

On the bathing-tub of King T'ang the following words were engraved: "If you would one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day. Yea, let there be daily renovation." ~Confucian Analects

I think I like Confucius' take on daily renewal. It's something that I've found particularly true here at Pearson. Every day I think I grow a little tiny bit, learn something new, feel something different, and appreciate something else. I'd like to keep doing that every day in my life, reflect on the adventures of the day and be ready for the next one. Coincidentally we talked about Confucius's Analects in English today when Vikram Seth alluded to it in his travel literature From Heaven Lake. One really cool part of the IB is the diverse and fascinating literature we read in English. From Heaven Lake is about travels through Tibet and Sinkiang province of China!

I'm sorry I've been absent lately - homework and life in general can be consuming ( I know I said I would stop apologizing about that, but I can't help it!). But it's great to be back and blogging! How are you doing, my dear reader? I hope Spring has turned up in your life. Unfortunately this morning I'm pretty sure it nearly snowed on campus. Speaking of the weather, we had an EPIC power outage last weekend (Easter weekend). The power was gone for about 1 and 3/4 days and it was a most enjoyable adventure! We played Hide and Seek in the Max Bell Building and built campfires...we watched movies on our dying laptops and huddled close together for warmth. The wind howled, we didn't scowl. It was a great opportunity to put our laptops down and actually look at each other in the eye and connect. Every now and then I find myself sucked up by day to day survival and then something magically appears to remind me how lucky I am to be here. I think the power outage was a message to never lose track of that.

Okay so let's rewind the adventures a couple weeks, to one fantastic night where the Vic High R & B Band came to Pearson and played some INCREDIBLE live music! http://www.sd61.bc.ca/vichigh/band/index.htm Their impressive repetoire had us on our feet for hours and grooving to the beat. It was a party to remember.

Easter Weekend provided a much needed break. Block Week required a lot of studying and since we are completing our IB in less time than usual, academics here are quite rigorous. I decided to stay on campus for the 4 day weekend to spend some valuable time not doing much except chillaxing. It was wonderful. One day my good friends Juan Manuel from Panama, Eric from Alberta, Kay from Ontario, and Khalid for Ontario went into Victoria. We had a magnificent brunch at a really hip diner called Floyd's and then headed into the trusty Chapters Starbucks to get some internet (no internet during the power outage) and reading time. I have this lovely memory of all of us just hanging out at the tables or reading by the window on this cold, rainy day, enjoying each other's company in such a beautiful place. Maybe sometimes that's all we need: good company, good food, and good books.

The next couple days I hung up my beloved hammock on the East House lawn (pictures to come) and spent some quality time with friends. On Monday I took my first sailing trip off the docks! It was a gorgeous day so Techi (my roommate from Uruguay), Anwen from Wales, Chris our Director of Operations, a guest named John from UWC-USA, and I headed out on the boat Wings for an afternoon sail into the bay. It was a very cool experience, listening to the captain giving orders, pulling ropes, tying ropes, and bringing up sails.

On Wednesday we had a village meeting - our first in a while. Often, village meetings renew my perspective on being part of this UWC network. No matter what happens, what controversy arises, what is said, I always see friends leaving arm in arm after. It is so inspiring. Kay read a beautiful reflection about how our village meetings often revolve around small things (10:30 rule, spoons in the cafeteria, new furniture) but the hope is that if we can solve these day to day issues, one day in the future we`ll be able to help solve global crises and emergencies. By recognizing our common humanity in this unique village we are developing strong ties across oceans and mountains. When I hear the news, I hear it differently. If there is a bombing in Israel or Palestine I immediately think of my friend who lives across the hallway. I want to make sure she is alright. If I am shopping in a store and pick up and item made in Nepal, I think of my Nepali friend and how he is doing. I feel a completely different connection to the world.

I thought I would end with a transcript of the end of Abiodun Williams' - a PC grad and world leader in his field - speech from a particularly memorable International Relations session. I hope you find it as poignant and moving as I did. For more info about Mr. Williams - http://www.usip.org/specialists/bios/current/williams.html

My friends,

Some of you will acquire wealth, some will acquire power, and some will achieve fame. Wealth, power and fames are not ends in of themselves but means to ends. If you acquire wealth, I hope you will remember that it is a gift, however hard-earned and therefore it must be shared with those less fortunate. If you acquire power, I hope you will remember that it gives you a tremendous opportunity to serve the powerless. If you achieve fame, it gives others, including the less fortunate to get to know you and seek your help.

You’ve earned on merit a special kind of education. It is my hope that what you’ve learnt about human values and human relationships in the international and multicultural environment of Pearson College will be a life long influence on your judgments and attitudes.

Pearson College has changed since I arrived here as a student in the fall of 1977. But the spirit of idealism commands the shores of Pedder Bay today as it did three decades ago.

You must never trade idealism for cynicism, and never confuse cynicism with wisdom. Cynicism corrodes, idealism strengthens. Cynicism imprisons, idealism liberates. Cynicism destroys, idealism builds.

May the idealism of Pearson College serve as a continuing source of inspiration, and spur you to build bridges of understanding throughout your lives. And wherever your paths may lead, may you always work for a better world.

Project Week Spring 2010 Photos

The Rose Garden at UBC - we went exploring the giant campus one afternoon.
I think the small town people found UBC a tad overwhelming (very understandable)
One day we had a wonderful lunch at the beautiful Kits beach (Makyla, ON, me, and Francis from Tanzania below)

Enjoying our tasty food from Capers - Sam, Lara's friend from Montreal, Emma from PEI, and Lara from Montreal at Kits beach.Our group at Eagles Estate after a morning volunteering in the beautiful heritage garden. It was good to get our hands dirty.

I'm still here!

Just a quick post to let you know things are still alive and relatively well on this end. Project Week certainly ended with some crazy events - you very well might not believe me when I tell you. Since we have returned I have been sucked up by many commitments.... I'm sorry!

Right now it's Block Week (i.e. practice exam week) and I should get back to some productive studying. Ha.

Anyways, I promise to update you soon. I have not forgotten.

Peace and love,

Emmy x

Project Week Madness....So far

Yo Homies!

No I have not simultaneously combusted into a gangster...but things have changed from 'roomies' into 'homies.' As I write I hear the excitable voices of my fellow housemates this project week. Introducing -

1) The wise and yet still so fun loving and down-to-earth grandmother of the group - 2nd year from my very own delightful province - ALY PIERIK!

2) The outgoing and always bubbly (like champagne) and smart, sweet, BRANDI from Newfoundland. Oh and yes, she has the most fabulous accent.

3) The cheerful, bright, and flower-like (in a gorgeous stunning way) and adorable small island girl - EMMA from PEI!

4) The girl with the incredible blonde curly hair and who is bilingual, witty, and very smart - LARA from Quebec's own MONTREAL!~

5) The strong, deep thinking, free spirited, and adventurous (and mild health freak. actually MAJOR health freak dairy free vegetarian obsessive exerciser) MAKYLA from Guelph (ie Canada's hippyland).

and in case these names are sounding a bit homogenous..*COUGH CANADIAN GIRLS COUGH*

6) The sweet and tall and smart and talented FRANCIS from Tanzania!

and of course there's me. I'm a cross between a overprotective mother/annoying tour guide/wedding planner/and B&B host. I must admit, I think I would run a good B&B if I had one. I think at least 30 Pearsonites have slept in my basement this past year and it has been a beautiful experience. It's not like having guests. They do everything and more for themselves and me. They're extremely easy going (except when you give them the wrong directions), savvy, flexible people.

Anywho so I suppose I should speak a bit about this week. There are 2 simultaneous projects happening here and one second year riding along for the journey. The first project consists of Emma, Lara, and Brandi. They are working on a newspaper about all sorts of things in Vancouver. Makyla, Francis, and I are volunteering with 10 000 Villages (an amazing fair trade store: http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca ) , The Land Conservancy and doing some yoga/dance like things. It has certainly been a packed week so far.

Everyone arrived at my house on Tuesday. That night a bunch of my homies took in a Canucks hockey game while the remainder of us chilled at home. The next day was filled. We woke up early, ate a quick breakfast, and then went to a nearby lake to spend a couple hours volunteering in a heritage garden. We dug lots of trenches! It was great exercise, much to Makyla's joy. After that we came home, ate a great lunch, and then headed out downtown to volunteer at 10 000 Villages for 3 hours and...

(This is where my computer went AWOL and lost the rest of possibly the most entertaining of all the blog posts I've ever written. A lot has happened since I lost the rest of this entry. For example a spontaneous tea party with amazing oat bars and an emergency toilet plunge).

I will work myself into another funny mood and finish this when I stop crying/laughing

Yours in pieces,

Emmy

One World

I hear you asking, what is this One World thing she keeps going on about? Well dear reader, One World is a magnificent show that is like no other. It is when 200 magnificent students get together and perform a night of music, dance, and song from all over the world. The process began right after Christmas as the student body at Pearson College began rehearsing for acts.

Acts ranged from hula dancing to Japanese cheerleading to reggae rhythms to classical Indian dance to Irish dance....everything was choreographed and performed by the students. Students stayed up until midnight some nights to rehearse. We take this all very very seriously.

Then Judgement Day comes. Libby Mason - our incredible Director and theatre teacher - sits down with her panel, watches us perform our acts, and decides which acts are in the show. Many are cut since the show is only 1.5 hours long. There are also auditions for spoken word links and MCs. In the end I was in a total of 3 acts: Choir, One World Dance, and a Women's Link.

For the remaining month, the whole campus would spend most of their Sunday in the Max Bell Hall doing a 5 hour rehearsal of One World. These were quite intense and at times tedious. All that hard work was so worth it though....the final product was truly astounding. It was so exciting to be part of something this big. I have done performances before but never on a scale like this. The Royal Theatre (where we perform in downtown Victoria) holds around 1300 people. We do 3 shows.

The big day arrived faster than I thought it would. Before I knew it we were in the huge green room and had professional looking dressing rooms and overhead speakers for the stage managers to tell us what to do....my gosh, it was just breathtaking. I did make up for a few hours before each show and I really enjoyed that. Everyone looked so beautiful. The shows just got better and better.

I won't forget the feeling of pure bliss as I heard African rhythms pounding and I just danced and danced and danced. Or the moment the curtain rises and you can just hear everyone gasping at the spectacle of 200 gorgeous people all in their national dress. I kept whispering 'thank you...thank you..." and the whole thing was just surreal. I can't believe it sometimes. I can't believe all this is happening to me - the Pearson experience always seemed like a far away dream and now the actions are playing out for real.

I'm now on Project Week in Vancouver. I'm volunteering with some friends at a wonderful store called Ten Thousand Villages ( http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca ) and doing some gardening, yoga, and dancing. It's going to be so relaxing and fun.

In other news:

- I went to RaceRocks a week ago with all the BCers and it was a whale of a time

- I have my EE topic: Comparing Sikh and Hindu wedding ceremonies and how they relate to gender roles in India

- We had an incredible International Affairs with Dr. Abiodan Williams....incredible and inspiring man

- I feel massively closer to everyone after One World

- We had the most EPIC brunch ever the day after One World. Much to my disbelief they actually had kumquats and pomegranate on the table, amidst 50 other things.

Hope you are well.

Peace and love,

E

One World = One Phenomenal Experience

There are no words.

There are only blurry happy colourful images of human connection and

beauty exploding on a stage.

One World 2010 - Pearson's fantastic and breathtaking multicultural display will always always always be with me.

Curtains falling, friends laughing, jumping into people's arms, spinning around in happy circles of joy, nervous tension, breathe, breathe, breathe, make up brushes flying in my hands, faces, faces faces, microphones booming, tear inducing music, heart stopping dance, and soul touching stories.

Togetherness. This is what we are about.

I will write a detailed explanation of many events that have swept me up and away from this blog and into a world where there is no sentence structure. Just joy.