Another Day in Paradise

Well I made it through the EE deadline. Now it's upcoming block week and four exams. Then it's Christmas! I'm so looking forward to the break, as much as I am going to miss this place. I'm also looking forward to sharing the winter break with some new friends.

Sometimes when I'm feeling philosophical I wonder what our 10 year reunion will be like. Will we be married? Will we have thriving careers? Will we be happy, sad? What will we look like? Will we have children? The other night I was discussing these myriad of interesting ideas with my table and somehow everyone seemed to think I would have children by the time I was 28.

These ideas often get me thinking about what matters in the end. I don't believe it is our diplomas, our awards, our money. Why are we kidded into thinking that these are the indicators of a good person? In the midst of all this university searching I just wonder whether it matters that much if I go to Harvard or to UBC. Who am I impressing? Who is judging me? I think there's really only one answer: myself. Or two: myself and God.

Maybe all I need to do is leave each day in gratitude and peace. To maybe bring a bit more joy into the world, be it through a good laugh or giving someone aq hug. Right now we have a Pearson representative at the COP 16 conference facing gigantic issues of global importance. That's what we're told they are looking for here, people to help combat global problems. Sometimes, ironically, the quest for peace becomes a battle. Sometimes that is so overwhelming - how am I supposed to do this when I can't even hold my own life together? Being 18 is being on the brink. My driving instructor told me it's when you have many roads in front of you, it's just difficult to find the right road.

Here is an awesome admissions video recently released for pearson: http://pearsoncollege.ca/videos

I think about all the people who have been here before and after me. Who walked on this same foot path, who looked up at the same impressive forest, who slept in the same room. Yes, some of them have become foreign ministers, deputy prime ministers, CEOs of world banks and giant corporations, some have become legendary astronauts or psychologists....and I think some of them have gone and lived in the countryside, raised children, and lived off the land. Maybe what's important is to use this education in small and big ways. No one can save the world alone. I learned that the hard way. Perhaps all we can do is small actions. We can forgive ourselves for the seeming importance we think we possess and look at the stars at night and revel in insignificance.

After all these lofty ideas all I can say is that I feel like a paradox, doing everything and nothing to make this world better...living in such a privileged place often lulls us into the belief that everything is fine. Is it really?


Anyways thought I would finish with an excellent poem on success:

Success
by Bessie Anderson Stanley, 1904

He who has achieved success has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women
The respect of intelligent men and
The love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has left the world better than he found it
Whether by an improved poppy,
A perfect poem or a rescued soul;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty
Or failed to express it.
Who has always looked for the best in others and
Given them the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory a benediction.



---

EE and Universities

Okay I know that you are probably sick and tired of my complaining and ranting about the IB and schoolwork so I thought I'd give you a little update on my extended essay. The EE (as it is fondly abbreviated) is a 4000 word research paper on pretty much any topic of your choice necessary for graduating with an IB diploma. I chose to do mine in social and cultural anthropology on the topic of: transnational Sikh marriage ceremonies and how they act as a cultural performance to reveal gender, structure, and agency.

Today was a writing day and I didn't get as much done as I thought. Anywho, the final draft deadline is this Monday so it's going to be a giant sigh of relief to get this finished.

After reading a motivational comment on my last post (I have a sneaking suspicion about who left it), I am definitely looking forward to the Christmas break. I am planning to take some students home with me :)

On another note, I probably already mentioned that I have applied to UBC for next year. It makes the most sense as for universities but I can't help but wonder if there is somewhere that is a better fit.

PROS - UBC
- close to home
- in Vancouver
- good reputation

- beautiful campus

CONS- UBC

- giant student population, overwhelming

- rain

- programs maybe not that exciting
- big adjustment

If anybody out there goes to UBC or has any ideas of other Canadian universities (I'm interested in Mt. A and Queens) that have great programs please drop a comment.

Although today was a writing break and I did get some writing done I also researched the extraordinary benefits of napping! Check it out:

http://ririanproject.com/.../10-benefits-of-power-napping-and-how-to-do-it/

http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/powernap.htm

Love,
Emmy

Academic Lethargy

Does everyone reach a point when they feel like they just can't write anymore, just can't think anymore? The inertia for me to finish my schoolwork tonight is nearly crushing....I can't bring myself to do it, so here I am again, writing blog posts. I think I've "hit the wall, academically."
Is this the aim of the IB? To make its students apathetic, tired, and sad? Probably not. Nevertheless it snowed buckets today. Besides being ambushed by some campus children, it was a beautiful day.

I better put my head down and get the work done.

Uggh.

Yours in dilligence,

Emmy

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

As I write this tiny snowflakes are falling all around campus blanketing us in the first snow of the season! It is quite exciting and beautiful.

I found some old pictures of the campus after a week of snow when parts of the bay are frozen....looks quite amazing! Apparently this only happens every 10 years or so.

Pictures from : http://racerocks.ca/PCbooklet/booklet.htm

Seals, etc.

While the picture above might seem a bit scary, harbour seals are actually quite adorable. Today, after a long nap, I made a cup of tea and sat on the picturesque Director's Lawn. Down in the Bay, there was this harbour seal making friends (I hope) with a bunch of sea birds, occasioally popping his head out of the water and taking a look around.

It's quite common to see the seals up close and personal when kayaking. Although I sadly do not partake in the plethora of water activities here: SCUBA diving, kayaking, sailing, etc. I recently joined climbing (I think I already told you this) and it is mega fun.

I'm doing quite well on this blogging regularly thing!

Woot!

Sunshine and Rainbows, (I wish)

Emmy

Daydreaming again

For some reason procrastination has become my middle name and here I am again dreaming of travel destinations.

I really want to go to Tahiti. Can you say beautiful?

If only there were au pair jobs there.

*sigh*

This is what BC looks like right now:

TOK DAY!

Another quick note:
We had a wonderful special topics day a while back focussed on a feature of the IB - Theory of Knowledge. In the morning we attended various workshops. I led one with the other peer counsellors about active listening. In the afternoon we had TOK talks, where you could challenge someone to talk for 5 minutes on a TOK related topic, for example: Should our ethics supercede our culture when making decisions about what we eat?
I did a short one on spirituality and the brain. It was inspired by a fascinating talk by Jill Bolte Taylor on her "Stroke of Insight." If you've never heard of TED you are missing out. It rocks.

http://www.ted.com
and search Jill Bolte Taylor.

- Em xx

Where I'm Dreaming Of

School work gets you down.
Nothing like procrastinating with cool photos to lift you up!

First Year Production + More

Hello to the world!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, wherever you are. Yesterday was truly a lazy day for me. I woke up. Looked at places to travel during the summer. Watched a lot of episodes of Friends. Slept. And that's about it! There is something to be said for the art of doing nothing. I can't say it's an art well-practised at Pearson, but it is certainly necessary now and then.

There is this general rumour that November is a rough month. With all the work that needs to get done, I can agree somewhat. However, I've been waiting for all this stress to hit me and it really hasn't done so yet! Perhaps it's all in our attitude. What if we just approached each month normally? And were grateful for the chance to be educated here? One of the most frustrating things for me is when people don't realize this place is so much more than a school. It is an incubation period as my friend Spencer says. It is a time to garner all the skills and support required to positively influence the world.

Speaking of the world, our First Year Theatre Production was yesterday! I think it was a big hit. For photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dbhawley/sets/72157625253168475/

The title was "Holding a Mirror up to Nature." It featured one scene from Hamlet with the whole cast and then several scenes from different eras, cultures, and places. From Athol Fugard to Commedia, it was a wonderful show. I did the lights with Mischa from Slovakia and it was a great (albeit sometimes stressful experience).

Besides that....project week happened a while back! I had the chance to meet some new people whilst staying in Victoria and volunteering with the Red Cross and going to a conference on the weekend. It was tres relaxing.

I have joined a new activity - climbing! We have a new climbing wall in the gym so I'm looking forward to being more active, even if it means being in a completely male-dominated activity!

On another note, I am looking for au pair jobs around the world for the summer. So far there are two prospects: one in India and one in Italy. I don't really know what I'm going to do this summer, but I really want to travel. I know it's going to be challenging to leave this place. I can't really imagine it yet. Maybe I don't have to.

I better get back to that pile of work.

Drop me a note to let me know how you are.

Peace and love,

E

PS: there are some cool photos on the Pearson college home page: http://www.pearsoncollege.ca/

November blues?

Hello dear readers,

I'm constantly amazed by the wonderful people who somehow stumble upon my blog. The comments really inspire me to update more often, thank you for commenting :)

This is going to be a really random post, since I'm in a rush....sorry for any confusion.
Well it's been more than two weeks. I'm sorry. I guess I just got wrapped up in school again. Let's see...this is what I've been working on. They don't call it November for nothing! (Reading that over, let me apologize for the Canadian tendency to apologize for everything!)


- My theatre independent project, actually quite fun
- My theatre research investigation
- My theatre Independent project portfolio (not as fun)
- Theatre First Year production - I'm doing lights!
- Rewriting my EE (sigh)
- Tests everywhere
-English world literature essay
- Math IA
- Anthropology IA (Internal Assessment)

Sometimes the days here pass so fast it's all a blur and I'm gripped with a horrifying anxiety at how soon it is that I am going to have to leave. At this point, I'm so scared. I know I'm going to be depressed for a while afterward. Maybe I just need to accept that. I'm planning on doing some travelling.

Ah, this brings me to another interesting topic. A teacher at Pearson has an amazing organization called Kule which sends volunteers to Kenya in the summer. It is open to anyone so if you're interested check out the website: http://www.kenyakulefoundation.org/

Maybe the trick with writing here is shorter, more frequent entries.

I went for a mushroom walk the other day with David and a bunch of students. It was quite interesting. The nature here on the coast is truly remarkable. There's nothing like breathing the sea air every day. It think it's one of my favorite parts about being here, right on the ocean, in a forest. I never forget how lucky I am. Sometimes I have these 'epic moments' at a meal or in class, when I'm in some crazily unique position and I can't help but wonder how I got here. It's such a blessing. I know I say that so much, but maybe it attests to how I feel.

I was reminded the other day that it was my selection committee that urged me to start a blog. I'm really glad I did, looking back. I'm really so grateful to them for allowing me this opportunity. So a quick shout out to John and all the great people on the BC selection committee.

The other day there was a helicopter hovering above campus taking some pictures! Apparently Chris Blondeau, our Director of Operations, pulled some favors from his time in the military so we can create a new brochure!

Pearson is currently embarking on a publicity and fundraising campaign. I think partly because we are desperate for funding but also that in Canada, we are not very well known at all! This is a tragedy because even though we are an international school we are also a Canadian school. So pass on the word!

In other news, I have applied to the University of British Columbia for next year. I can't decide whether or not to apply to other places. It may not be the most exciting choice, but I think it makes the most sense. I love Vancouver and I think it would be a great school to go to.....

Well, I have to run to grab some lunch. But sending you lots of love.

Will update soon.

Hugs,
E