A Bit More Calm

Haha reading that last post the next morning kind of wears me out.  Sorry it's so hyper.  That would be due to the ice cream and chocolate-coffee sauce.

Life on Fire

Lately things have been so bursting with news and life and excitement I can hardly contain myself.  It reminds me of the magnificent display of pyrotechnics at the Celebration of Light Festival.  It is the biggest international fireworks competition in the world (and despite all the pollution) one of my absolute favorite parts of summer in Vancouver.  I just found out seconds ago that I will be able to attend once again despite all my excursions in Europe and Africa this summer!! HALLELUJAH.  Yet another happy piece of news. 

This is what my day consisted of today:
- a lot of sleeping
- a great international affairs speaker on marine protected affairs
- playing with toddlers, pinatas, dogs, and cats
- frolicking in the sunshine
- receiving university acceptance & scholarship
- talking to one of my favorite and trusted wisdom providers
- receiving an amazing e-mail from someone who read my blog
- recording a song for the Pearson CD from One World's fab a cappella group: THE FIGGY
- eating a ridiculous amount of ice cream and magical chocolate sauce at Seb's
- finding out I can make the fireworks this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While I know these wonderous times do not last forever, I am grateful to say the least.

An exciting thing happened two nights ago. Pearson students got to converse with the president of a country.  The incredible president of East Timor (or Timor Leste), Jose Ramos-Horta, inspired us through describing how his country is recovering and rebuilding itself after a 25 year genocide and Indonesian occupation.  Timor-Leste has a shocking and tragic history, one everyone should have known about when it was happening.  Please educate yourself on Timor Leste if you can.  Here's wikipedia for the president: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Ramos-Horta  This man is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and rightly so.  He champions the rights of women and is extremely charismatic, informed, and intelligent.
Our remarkable student from Timor Leste, Sonia, recently described her life during the occupation and war for independence at One World.  It was a deeply moving and heart wrenching story.  By bringing people like Sonia to Pearson those of us who have been lucky enough to never see the devastation and sheer destruction of genocide can learn vital lessons.  May we all work together to prevent future genocides and combat ones that are happening already.  I was one question away from talking with him, but simply being in his cyber presence was a blessing.

Life here has been super busy.  We have an Open Day coming up for anyone in the Victoria region- April 2.  Please join us for some fun!  Otherwise, it's my birthday in a few weeks! :)

Lastly, I received a really sweet and kind e-mail from Georgia recently.  I was shocked and so happy to hear Georgia and her family read my blog avidly and even talk about the adventures at the dinner table (!?!?!).   It means a lot to me.  I wish Georgia the best with her application and am sure many adventures lie ahead for her as well.  Lots of love and gratitude sent your way.

If this helps even one person, I will rest and be grateful.

I would like to have a cyber-toast for forgiving ourselves, forgiving others, reaching for our heart's desires, finding our paths, and meeting teachers and guides along the way.

Rumi has many great quotes, here's one shared with by my inspiring friend Liz:

This being human is a guest house.



Every morning a new arrival.


A joy, a depression, a meaness,


some momentary awareness comes


as an unexpected visitor.


Welcome and entertain all!


Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,


who violently sweep your house


empty of its furniture,


still, treat each guest honorably.


He may be clearing you out


for some new delight.


The dark thought, the shame, the malice,


meet them at the door laughing,


and invite them in.


Be grateful for whomever comes,


because each has been sent


as a guide from beyond.




Jalal ad-Din Rumi


In acceptance and celebration,
Emmy

pictures courtesy of: spiritofvancouver.com, concierge.com, chateaugranville.com, vancouversun.com

Springing Forward

Time keeps marching along.

I like this song.


I've been in very high spirits ever since returning from a lovely trip which confirmed what I'm going to do next year.  *SIGH OF ENORMOUS RELIEF*  Following said relief, my summer plans in Kenya became a lot more exciting....involving documentary film-making!  And nothing makes me happier than that.

Today as I watched a guy from Northern BC tickle his friend from Guatemala to the point he was rolling on the floor outside the student store window, I realized once again how unique this place is.  As I speak someone from the US, Norway, and Mexico are making deals to seize their vital junk food fix from a N. Irish student worker.

Life is great.


I don't know what else to say.  Besides today four people had a birthday today.

I love you M + D + Dannyboy

With my heart,
|e|




<3

One World Words

A friend mentioned I haven't posted in an extraordinary long time.  This is true.  Since I am off to visit yet another university soon, I will make this post short and sweet, in fact it shall just be a collection of the first words that come to my head when I think of yesterday and One World and all the glory and craziness and euphoria....

All I can think of right now is:

My jaw hurts.
My forehead aches.
My feet are sore.
My heart is bursting out of my chest,
A rainbow of euphoria
A beam so bright
I have to squint -
My heart is full.









[Full of love, magic, creation, music, dance, and wonder.]


With appreciation, admiration, and so much love,
Emmy

Reflections in the Water

Don't ask me where that title came from.  It just came out.   I think it has to do with having spent this project week on the other side of the country, and finding parts of myself and Canada here too.  It has been a whirlwind trip of visiting universities and while I am still not sure where my place will be, I have met so many wonderful people and had some time to reflect with one of my dear second years and visualize my coming future.

It is a scary thing leaving.  It is an exciting thing leaving.  Sometimes people ask me how Pearson has changed me. I can't really tell yet, to be honest.  I'm more sensitive.  More aware.  I care more about things that are important to me.  I defend people more.  The news is personal.  I appreciate food and homes more.  I appreciate my family more.  I can take care of myself better.  I realized I like going to bed early.  I can make friends with pretty much anyone.  I love the sound of Spanish.  I can identify languages and understand accents better. I don't know.  I think in general, I'm just better.  I hope I am.  I'm a bit more serious sometimes.  I have to continually remind myself to appreciate the small things. I question things a lot.  I can be impatient.  I'm still a messy eater.  I don't know.

Self indulgence aside, the next steps are shaky for a lot of us.  For anyone who has transitioned from high school to university (or transitioned at all), you know it requires an adjustment period.  One second year called it, "entering the void."  A temporary darkness.  When deciding where to go, what's important?  Is it proximity to home?  Reputation?  Small classes?  Good courses?  To be completely honest I'm a bit tired of all this.  I'm waiting to go somewhere and finally breathe a sigh of relief.  Something intangible, some kind of knowing.  Anyone got any advice?

Besides this, coming back to Pearson is always a beautiful thought. I can't wait to jump in peoples' arms.  I can't wait to be together again.  It's always lovely to be at home, especially my own, and Pearson is a fleeting glimpse of something extraordinary.  Something that lasts but a moment, but leaves imprints on your soul, something that sends ripples across the ocean.

Moving On

Today as I was painstakingly going through all these beautiful post-its and mementos from last year at Pearson, I nearly started crying.  It suddenly became apparent to me that this is going to end soon.  I couldn't bear the thought of leaving all these wonderful human beings who wrote me such wonderful notes.  It's breaking my heart.

I don't know what to do.

Cool Links

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

Amazing talk by an amazing woman


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYF0qU5WSew

Feist videos are the best


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQZhN65vq9E

We're doing this song for the musical cafe in the first ever all girl band at Pearson, "The Somethings"