tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90294461490934077382024-03-13T13:19:57.502-07:00Formerly The Impending ZenithNailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-57314419162859674232009-09-08T16:13:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.246-07:00Taking care of businessA few short business items...<br /><br />As you may have noticed, I've changed the URL to this blog to better reflect my online brand. I started the transition from starshine_diva to NailaJ a few months ago when I switched my <a href="http://www.twitter.com/NailaJ">Twitter</a> account name. Now, all my public accounts can be found by searching for "nailaj". The sole exception in the URL game is Flickr, where my display name is now "NailaJ" but my URL remains unchanged at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starshine_diva/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/starshine_diva</a>.<br /><br />So please, do update your feeds and take note. My blog is now located at <a href="http://nailaj.blogspot.com">http://nailaj.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br />I've started the process of uploading my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starshine_diva/sets/72157622311395450/">2009 AKFC Awareness Trip</a> pictures to Flickr for easy public viewing. Hopefully, you'll see why I enjoyed Africa so much. Next step, the videos...<br /><br />... "real" blog posts to follow, I promise! Stay tuned...NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-1714628943790581732009-09-04T11:45:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.255-07:00Why blogging about Africa is toughMany of you have been asking me to blog more about my trip to Africa. As you can see, that hasn't happened.<br /><br />Sure, I've been busy catching up on work. I was out of town again this week too. It's not that I don't want to blog. It's not even that I don't have time to do it.<br /><br />It would in theory be very simple for me to treat this as any other assignment, look through my notes from each day's visits, select a few explanatory pictures, and put together a short text on what we saw and learned.<br /><br />But it's so much more than just that. It was an experience. It wasn't so much a cultural shock, at least, it wasn't different than I expected it to be. But the mounds of information we absorbed in the little amount of time we had to absorb it... I know I've said this before, but I haven't sorted it all out yet.<br /><br />I want to make sure that my blogs are truly reflective of this experience. I want to share the best anecdotes with you, from the personal and the professional sides of this trip. I want to show you the most beautiful or tearful pictures so you can better understand what I mean. I want you to feel like you were right there in Kenya with me.<br /><br />And until I figure out how to share all of this with all of you, I'd prefer not to post lame little textbook-style descriptions of the projects we visited in Nairobi and Mombasa. I'm not trying to be selfish. I just want to be true to myself, to my fellow tripgoers, to AKFC, and most importantly, to the efforts of all the thousands of people involved in each and every one of those projects, from start to finish.<br /><br />I hope you can understand... Until then, stay tuned!NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-55135237491524681972009-08-19T17:28:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.314-07:00FlashbacksAh, the things traveling will do to you! It's a different environment, a different way of life... sometimes a different language and in this case, a different continent and a different worldview!<br /><br />Coming home from Africa was quite an eye-opener, and I don't mean all the time I spent in the plane or waiting in airports!<br /><br />The trip as a whole didn't impact me too much while I was there. It was when I came back and compared the reality I was just in with my everyday reality that I realized how fortunate we really are. Then again, there is also poverty here in North America... it's just not as painstakingly obvious.<br /><br />Here are some of the flashbacks that I noted during my first two days back from Kenya. These are things that happened exactly like in the movies... Someone said something or I saw something that brought me back to my Kenyan experience.<br /><br />* First and foremost, how weird is it to wake up in your own room, in your own bed, and not knowing where you are? It's very confusing, trust me. It took a good while to remember that I was home... and this didn't happen to me in any of the hotels I stayed in, or ever before!<br /><br />* When I first brushed my teeth, I felt like something was missing... Water. Or more specifically, a water bottle. In Kenya, as per the travel clinic's orders, I used a water bottle to wet my toothbrush as well as to rinse my mouth after cleaning my teeth.<br /><br />* More water woes... I'm so used to taking a sip or two of water when I was my face or in the shower. It was very hard for me to remember NOT to do that while I was in Kenya. Again, the travel clinic instilled fears of getting sick from the tap water deep down into my core. Good job!<br /><br />* What about water pressure? There are places here where your water pressure isn't that great... namely cheap hotels or apartments. Luckily, the hotel was pretty good about strong shower streams, though there were times when the water would randomly stop, and sometimes you had to turn the tap completely to get a decent flow. Some places, even that didn't solve the problem. It made me wonder how people feel clean, especially when you have to wash that red Nairobi soil off the soles of your feet.<br /><br />* Hey, guess what! I can plug my laptop directly into the wall! Yes, after 2 weeks of using adapters "African-style", as someone put it, it came as a bit of a surprise to me to be able to just plug it in. The "African-style" comment came after the porter helped us with my so-called universal adapter. Unfortunately, all the plugs at the hotel were UK, and my adapter was stuck on Europe. Cheap plastic! After trying to find us a spare adapter somewhere in the hotel, he took one look at mine, grabbed a pen cap, and pressed down the trigger in the top hole before inserting my European adapter into the UK plug. Fantastic! Only in Africa...<br /><br />* My mom and I were lounging in the backyard when she said something about one of her plant attracting bees. I flashed back to the bee-keeping project we visited in rural Mombasa... I promise to tell you all about it later.<br /><br />* I went for a drive a couple of days after I got back, or possibly even the day after I got back. I was at a stop sign and trying to figure out what the car opposite to me was going to do: go straight or turn. You know Montreal drivers. They rarely signal, especially on suburban streets! I tried to make eye contact with the driver and it took a few seconds before I understood why I wasn't reading any signals... I was staring at the passenger! Note to self: Drivers sit on the right in North America, not on the left.<br /><br />I'm sure there were other moments that reminded me of life in Africa, but these are the fun that I noted. Spending time away from your reality also makes you realize what's important to you and what's not. Sorry, Perez. You didn't make the cut!NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-42230525738370256992009-08-18T18:07:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.301-07:00It's all coming back to me nowI had been meaning to blog more about Africa earlier, but working Rogers Cup tennis for 7 straight days basically took up all my time. It was eat, work, sleep, and lots of transit. But, I did manage to make some professional gains. It was my first gig as a bug operator for CBC, which means I was responsible for putting the scoreboard and stats in... and updating it too! This means I really needed to understand tennis, and after 4 days of actively watching it, I managed to figure it out :)<br /><br />But back to the topic of the day: Africa.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot77vbEXLI/AAAAAAAAAHo/Ja7QTG9UizU/s1600-h/img_3370.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot77vbEXLI/AAAAAAAAAHo/Ja7QTG9UizU/s320/img_3370.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371523246841945266" border="0" /></a><br />I've already given you an overview of the trip, and I do plan on going into more details about some of our visits, but I think it's also important to understand how different the worldview is, or, as it turns out, how similar life in Kenya is to life in Canada.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things that are the same... but not</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* Slowpoke! *<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/SotzM33YOpI/AAAAAAAAAGo/OaoGL2RL33A/s1600-h/IMG_5976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/SotzM33YOpI/AAAAAAAAAGo/OaoGL2RL33A/s320/IMG_5976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371513645561297554" border="0" /></a><br />Ya know how when you're driving, and the car in front of you is driving at a snail's pace and you just wish they'd change lanes and let you pass? You're gonna flash your high beams, aren't you? Well, in Kenya, they do that too! It's not a big realization, but it definitely showed me that some things we believe apply only to our culture are actually more universal than we think! And in East Africa, you don't get deer or moose crossings, but cow crossings. One time, our <span style="font-style: italic;">matatu</span> nearly hit a cow to try to get it to cross faster. It wasn't impressed. It moo-ed at us and hit back!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* The stars *<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2WVRMCNI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Ka897uqJF08/s1600-h/IMG_3535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2WVRMCNI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Ka897uqJF08/s320/IMG_3535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371517106607884498" border="0" /></a><br />Well, they're not the same because we're in different hemispheres, but they are just as beautiful. The difference is that in North America, you see stars lower on the horizon, while in Kenya, you really have to look straight up. I had a blast hanging out at the outdoor lounge at the Serena Mombasa, lying back and watch these natural gems sparkle. One night, three of us even saw a shooting star! My first confirmed sighting, and what a sight it was!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* Media *<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2WhnfSxI/AAAAAAAAAG4/qSNHAqsa42k/s1600-h/IMG_6127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2WhnfSxI/AAAAAAAAAG4/qSNHAqsa42k/s320/IMG_6127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371517109922646802" border="0" /></a><br />During our visit of the Nation Media Group facilities, I came to a startling realization. The more I listened and looked around, the more I was certain that while the media values, facilities and equipment are the same in Kenya as in North America, the East African newsrooms are evolving at a quicker pace. I believe that's because they're learning from our mistakes and successes. Basically, they're skipping the middle step, the trials and errors we made trying to achieve better quality and smoother content. Kenya is going digital this year. They're not in HD yet, but that's the next step. While here in Canada, we're struggling with upgrading from analog to digital because of the cost of the equipment, East Africans are at a natural equipment-replacement point and are able to purchase high end HD equipment as part of the renewal process. We tried to do it all too fast... We're in HD, but not true HD: True HD means that shooting equipment is HD, Audio is 5.1, transmission is HD, cables/transmitters are HD-capable, receivers and watching equipment are HD... If even one element is in standard definition, it's not HD. In Africa, they love gadgets. It won't be a problem to get people to buy HD TV sets, especially given that most people would probably be getting them as their first sets.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*Gender balance*<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2XFFXhbI/AAAAAAAAAHA/6YePMbxZ-YE/s1600-h/IMG_3427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2XFFXhbI/AAAAAAAAAHA/6YePMbxZ-YE/s320/IMG_3427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371517119443207602" border="0" /></a><br />Most of the Frigoken factory workers in Nairobi were female. However, this was done by choice, not because of gender bias. Sure, women are detail-oriented and good with veggies, but does that mean they should be the ones assigned to snap the tips off green beans? The reason Frigoken employs mostly women is because this job allows them to provide a secondary income to their families. In some cases, it is the only decent job a woman with relatively little education can get in the city. And they make it easy too... The plant offers a drop-off daycare service in one of the adjoining buildings, and if I understood correctly, it's free! How many North American plants can boast the same? Also, many of the farmers in the village were women, although their husbands may own the plots.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things that really are different</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*The buses*<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2Xjle0iI/AAAAAAAAAHI/2rHX6KMMtP4/s1600-h/IMG_6058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2Xjle0iI/AAAAAAAAAHI/2rHX6KMMtP4/s320/IMG_6058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371517127630967330" border="0" /></a>You've already heard the stories... The <span style="font-style: italic;">matatus </span>run on a completely different system than our North American transit. It's more of a taxi-like system, regulated by the government to some extent in that drivers have to register their vehicles and pay some sort of fee. It's also like taxis because the drivers are absolutely insane. That's where the similarities end, though. Matatus are little white Toyota minivans/SUVs, often covered in all kinds of slogans and celebrity names. The most popular ones? Tupac and Obama buses. The slogans sometimes don't make sense... Why would an East African <span style="font-style: italic;">matatu</span> driver decorate his bus to the theme of the Minnesota Wolverines? (No, not Michigan) Or "The Game"? <span style="font-style: italic;">Matatus</span> decide to patrol specific routes, but pick people up and drop them off anywhere along that road or in that neighbourhood... And at the rate that these buses pass, you can probably get anywhere on time! Sometimes, you could see multiple <span style="font-style: italic;">matatus</span> pulled over alongside the highway, trying to get people on board for the 2 Kenyan Shillings fair, which more or less converts to 2 cents.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*What time is it?*<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2YOHmJeI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/9WoWXtqw0D0/s1600-h/IMG_6201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot2YOHmJeI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/9WoWXtqw0D0/s320/IMG_6201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371517139048343010" border="0" /></a><br />In Kenya, you really can set your clock to the sun. Every day, without fail, the sun rises between 6:30 and 6:45 and sets between 6:30 and 6:45. It's absolutely amazing! You figure that's how villagers go by their day... So very impressive.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Nairobi vs. Mombasa</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> *Nairobi*<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot4OkyDgaI/AAAAAAAAAHY/lScsdO2Wr68/s1600-h/IMG_6045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot4OkyDgaI/AAAAAAAAAHY/lScsdO2Wr68/s320/IMG_6045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371519172356571554" border="0" /></a><br />Nairobi is like any other metropolis: busy, constantly moving, full of people crowding the streets. In fact, it reminded me a bit of NYC. The only difference, of course, is the predominant skin colour on the downtown streets. But they're all in suits and briefcases, going about their day.<br /><br /> *Mombasa*<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot4PH-5CmI/AAAAAAAAAHg/sq0HDAdtOm0/s1600-h/IMG_6298.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4CXLwYx-xm4/Sot4PH-5CmI/AAAAAAAAAHg/sq0HDAdtOm0/s320/IMG_6298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371519181805652578" border="0" /></a><br />Mombasa, on the other hand, is totally a beach resort... Until you get to the main part of the town. There, you can definitely see the different levels of poverty, which are much more obvious than in the Nairobi outskirts. It's not just the shantytowns... From the moment you leave the Mombasa airport and until you reach the touristy beach resort, you can see the true face of East African poverty.<br /><br /><br />Those are just some general observations about my trip to Kenya. Next post? Coming home, and realizing how different life truly is from one end to the world to another.<br /><br />Stay tuned...NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-35365548016011371492009-08-05T13:28:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.323-07:00Home.It truly is a strange situation to wake up wondering where you are. It's even more confusing when you wake up in your own bed with that feeling.<br /><br />On my first sleep at home after spending about 10 days in Kenya, one could say I needed an adaptation period. The landscape of my room looked pretty unfamiliar too... Though that could be because it was 3:45 AM and I had been more or less awake for 28 hours, traveling from Nairobi to London, London to Toronto, and being interminably delayed in Toronto before finally arriving in Montreal.<br /><br />Remember the travel delay at the beginning of my trip? The train to Ottawa? Well, I guess it was just fate that my trip should end the same way. Told you it was an omen!<br /><br />Luckily, the bulk of my trip, from Day 1 to... what day are we today? went more than smoothly. We visited multiple projects a day, spent a lot of time in <span style="font-style: italic;">matatu</span>-like buses, often snoozing because many of the days had scattered schedules that made for not so much eating time. There were times when lunch was at 5pm, and breakfast had been at 7am!<br /><br />All in all though, it was worth it. More than worth it! I've got loads of pictures and videos to sort through, stories to tell with all the knowledge I accumulated, and I met people, both AKFC Awareness buddies and those aided by the projects, that I will never forget.<br /><br />It was a lot to take in and I'm not sure I've figured any of it out yet, so I might take a few days to put my thoughts in order. Good thing I took some notes!! The pictures will also be a great memory aid. Hopefully, I'll be able to enlighten you with more details on what we saw and experienced throughout this once-in-a-lifetime journey.<br /><br />I promise to update soon, so stay tuned...<br /><br />-----<br /><br />On a side note, and a very emotional one, the first news story I saw after coming home from Kenya was a report on the death of two men in a helicopter crash in Quebec. One of them was my buddy Hugh Haugland, longtime cameraman for CTV, who was a kind and inspiring person, funny and dedicated, and a mentor to me. I remember him saying he longed to go to Afghanistan, as dangerous stories were his specialty - he covered 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, etc - but was going to respect his family's wishes and stay out of seemingly unavoidable harm's way.<br /><br />My condolences go out to anyone who ever had the good fortune to hang out with this great guy. It is a sad day for us all.<br /><br />Hugh, you will be missed.NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-43139708319857496192009-07-27T10:32:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.333-07:00Karibu: Welcome to KenyaWOW!<br /><br />Talk about an exhausting journey!<br /><br />After 2x 7.5 hour plane rides and a 4h layover in Heathrow, we finally made it to the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya at approximately 9:30pm East African time... That's 17h of traveling, folks!<br /><br />Friday in Ottawa, we had a full day orientation session, which was full of intellectual stimulation. It really got me thinking not only about what my interest in international development and how it compares to those of some younger, more accomplished people taking part in this trip. It also reminded me how much general/historical knowledge I <span style="font-weight: bold;">do<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span>have, and how much I love learning about this kind of critical thinking about world poverty, etc.<br /><br />I also realized that I'm pretty blunt on this and other topics, mostly about the real motives behind aid. Maybe it's because I have a more overall approach and I don't believe "it's just altruism" B.S.. Human beings, ultimately, are selfish. It's part of our nature.<br /><br />I took a lot of other notes on my perceptions of the day and the topic of the day, including some good quotes from the little extract of the Monk debates that we watched, but I think I still need to internalize it all before I'm ready to share. I should also wait until I'm more awake ;)<br /><br />The plane ride from YOW to Heathrow was great! Megan and I switched up our assigned seating to sit together... and no one sat in the third seat in our block! We were therefore able to stretch our legs out during the long flight, which was definitely helpful. I didn't get much sleep, however, and wasn't even able to sleep during our London layover!<br /><br />Once we got on our Kenya Airways flight to, you guess it, Kenya, I made myself sleep... and I did, after attempting to watch a movie. I then finished one of the books I had brought along with dinner, then slept some more, then had a snack, and dozed off a bit before landing. I got some great shots of the Alps and of the red Saharan desert from the sky... Gorgeous!<br /><br />I still need to go through all my pictures though, because you can bet I'm taking a whole lot of them!<br /><br />The only problem with my flight was sitting behind someone who had her seat back the WHOLE TIME, and next to a man who seemed to be sick and was constantly coughing/wheezing and picking his nose. SO not cool!<br /><br />Upon arriving in Kenya, Megan (who has been my amazing roommate from Ottawa to Kenya, and is also blogging for her company, <a href="http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/category/world-partnership-walk/megan-hamlet/">AbeBooks</a>) and I checked in, showered, and basically went straight to bed.<br /><br />Sunday morning, we were up early (1am EDT, which is about 8am EAT). We did the buffet breakfast with the rest of the group, then left for a mini-safari trip to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where we saw some orphaned elephants, some warthogs (PUMBA!) and a couple of rhinos. They were absolutely adorable! I was able to get some good pictures and videos, including a few good macro-mode flower shots for my mom :)<br /><br />We then proceeded to the Giraffe Centre where we obviously saw giraffes. We were also able to feed them, which provided some great pictures too! They were very friendly, with nice long eyelashes and a long tongue... which was actually kind of prickly! It felt as if there was hair on it or something.<br /><br />Then, instead of going to lunch (which we all really needed!) and then to the Nairobi National Park, we decided to make our way to the Aga Khan University Hospital/School of Nursing because the Aga Khan himself, the Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, was in town for some meetings. We tried to get in through a contact, but weren't able to make it in time. Instead, most of the group lined up on the sidewalk with other Ismailis to await him crossing the street from the Campus to the Hospital, hoping to get a glimpse. A few of us retreated to the Hospital entrance, because we figured that it would provide a better sighting angle, and indeed, it did!<br /><br />One of the guys in the security team allowed us to stand nearby, and the Aga Khan passed by a mere couple of feet away from us. He seemed happy and much more relaxed than during the millions of Golden Jubilee outings he has been taking part of recently. We were not allowed to take any pictures or videos because of media exclusivity rights, but it was nice to see him and his daughter, Princess Zarah, in such a casual setting.<br /><br />Finally, after many hours of waiting and pacing and starving, we went back to the hotel for a quick change of clothes and made our way to Nairobi's famous game meat restaurant, Carnivore. It was amazing to see the city at night! During our day trips, we got used to the insane traffic, the crazy passing cars, and the colourful matatu buses. There is a good balance between buildings and green space, and giant billboards border the roads. It is very different from North America, but in many ways, it is the same. Since we already had the general feel of the landscape and were used to the bumps, the night trip was pretty enjoyable.<br /><br />So was dinner! It started with a delicious soup that was probably a cream of some broccoli-like veggie and lentil. Then came serving after serving of beef sausages, chicken breast, chicken wings (which tasted awesome!), ostrich meatballs, lamb chops... in unlimited amounts! For desert, I chose the Black Magic cake, which was fantastic! It was definitely the best of the choices, at least from the ones I sampled from other people's plates ;) The mocha- flavoured Italian ice cream was a close second though...<br /><br />Today was the start of another long day, the first official day of our trip. Our 6:45 am wake-up call was just early enough to make our 8am bus for a village outside of Nairobi, where we met with the CEO of Frigoken, whose name currently escapes me, and two guys name Peter, who were part of the regional and farming management team. We drove down tiny slanted dirt roads to make our way to the farm lands, and stood amongst the flowering green bean crops as we got a briefing on the company's structure, activities, and their relationship with the farmers. There was so much information shared with us at this point, so I will need some time to put deeper thoughts together, but what I remember the most is the CEO explaining that Frigoken takes all the risks, and if the crops don't turn out, the farmers don't lose anything. This, and other transparent operating policies, creates what he referred to as a relationship of trustworthiness with the farmers and the villagers.<br /><br />Each farmer needs to meet a good list of requirements, including easy access to water and land ownership. The trading posts should be no more than a 30 minute walk from the crops/village, they need to respect the principle of fallow farming, and they are not allowed to cultivate more than one 250 meter square plot in order to ensure high quality. Frigoken provides the seeds, training, fertilizers (if needed), organic pesticides and their application, as well as many other resources. One plot/farmer will provide about 20 kilos of green beans, which are then hand-packed into approximately 800 cans, if I remember my numbers correctly.<br /><br />It was actually quite interesting to hear about the whole process, from the business perspective to the farmer's perspective, and to get a little glimpse of what it's like to live in a small Kenyan village. One Peter actually used to be a farmer in this village... it was his home! He got promoted to centre supervisor, then technical supervisor, and now overseas the activities of 8 centres, or villages!!! Pretty impressive, isn't it?<br /><br />It wasn't lunch time yet, though we were all getting pretty hungry! Instead, we made our way to the actual Frigoken factory and were guided through the whole plant, from receiving to labelling. Again, there was a lot to absorb in this portion of the trip... and I'm too tired to recall it all! One thing I do remember is that there were a lot of women working in the factory, both in the green bean and butternut squash portions of the plant. That is not a coincidence, but it's also probably not what you might think.<br /><br />The factory planners, when they were deciding on how they wanted to run the plant at its inception, decided that women would make better labourers because they are hard working and knowledgeable. The idea is also that these women provide a secondary income to their families. They live nearby and walk to work. There are about 20% of permanent workers (mostly women and male factory floor management), and the rest are casual employees who get more work in busy seasons and less when it's calm like now. The farms also employ more women than men, though that's more because of the culture than earning a secondary income. About 85% of the primary farmers are women, though the whole family works on the crops. At the factory, there is a small daycare centre for women who need to bring their kids to work. We were able to visit the space and it's spotless and gorgeously decorated with Kenyan interpretations of typical North American childhood characters like the Teletubbies, Winnie the Pooh and, get this... Bart Simpson!<br /><br />We finally went to lunch at a great Indian restaurant near a grocery store in the Ukay district - though I initially thought that was UK ;)<br /><br />Unfortunately, the food was perhaps a bit TOO good and we were all pretty sleepy during our tour of the Aga Khan University Hospital/School of Nursing. It's a fairly small campus, but the hospital definitely had more to offer. Today, unlike when we found ourselves there yesterday, we did not see any medical emergencies. Which was a relief, because they were pretty painful to watch and felt like an intrusion on the patients family's privacy.<br /><br />After a quick meeting with the head of the Aga Khan Development Network in East Africa, we headed back to the hotel and parted ways. We all needed a good shower after walking in the red dirt roads. They're gorgeous and make me look nice and tanned, but the tiny sand gets a little bit cakey after a while.<br /><br />I really enjoyed today's drive because it allowed me to see more of the true Kenyan landscape: bidonville-style villages, quick road-side matatu pick ups, all kinds of people walking or running alongside the highway, rickshaw delivery/transport guys going at car-like speeds in the middle of traffic, small tin markets, railroad tracks, the insanely huge Del Monte fields, and some very pretty lakes!<br /><br />I am pretty well aware that I'm in Africa now, though it took a long long time to sink in. It still doesn't always feel like a different continent, and I believe I'm become quite used to the sounds and sights, and after only 2 days!<br /><br />I do miss my alone time and my guitar... Even though I don't necessarily play it every day or for that long, I miss being able to reach over and strum a bit. Perhaps what I am really missing is the music... African favourites seem to be old 80s music!<br /><br />I will post pictures when I have the time to sort through them, which probably won't be for a while. But it'll be worth it just so you can see the Obama matatu buses! :)<br /><br />Tomorrow, we visit the Nation Media Group and have a briefing with the CEO of Aga Khan Foundation East Africa before heading to the beautiful (or so I hear!) coast city of Mombasa. I can't wait to see the ocean!<br /><br />Stay tuned...NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-55591269478038309882009-07-22T15:47:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.342-07:00Ndoto: Countdown to KenyaThis blog post is very special. Not only does it mark the beginning of my first overseas trip, it's also my first ever blog-by-email (NOTE: Blog-by-email failed. VIA free-because-it's-slow-and-not-really-working-station-Wi-Fi worked). Let's hope the formatting doesn't get too messed up!<br /><br />You might also notice that my grammar and spelling is poorer when I'm typing on my BlackBerry. I blame it on the fingers. I promise my brain is fully functional.<br /><br />"Ndoto" is the Swahili word for "dream". I found it when I first leafed through my brand new Lonely Planet Swahili language guide, and it seemed oddly appealing. I have been using it for the past week or so in my Gtalk and Skype status messages but now, I am finally ready to make it public!<br /><br />This trip truly is a dream. It definitely seems like a dream. Until last night, or even this morning, this whole experience didn't feel real. I guess the fact that I'm spending an extra day in Ottawa before the group arrives probably contributed to that, but it's mostly because I just don't know what to expect!<br /><br />Luckily, we received a lot of guidance from Aga Khan Foundation Canada, who is organizing the trip. I am also fortunate to have a good friend who is from Nairobi and who could enlighten me on weather patterns and local customs. I'm very thankful to be staying with her mother for a few days after the AKFC portion of the trip is over.<br /><br />The purpose of the trip, as I think I might have mentioned in an earlier post, is to provide promising volunteers with an opportunity to visit the project sites we work hard to raise funds for through the World Partnership Walk and meet the people whose lives we are attempting to change. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be a life changing event. For one, I will probably learn the benefits of packing light.<br /><br />More importantly, I think I will be humbled by the simpler way of life, one which I have always admired but never seem to be able to adopt. I will be using my laptop to backup pictures but I probably won't be online much, if at all. Sure, there are some health concerns, but if I'm smart with my choices, there shouldn't be any problems. I am a little concerned about theft based on the research I did on various travel sites, but people like to complain a lot... So I'm taking their feedback with a grain of salt. Or two.<br /><br />I am very excited about the opportunity to see for myself how poverty affects not just individuals but whole communities. I can't wait to be amazed at how happy children are to go to school or help out on the farm. I know that I will feel pain at some of the sights and wonder at parents' smiles even though they live in conditions that developed countries would term despicable.<br /><br />On a personal note, I am SO excited to be going to Africa much earlier than I had planned. To be honest, I had penciled-in Europe and Australia beforehand, but my first real overseas trip - I don't think trips I took as a baby count - and first exploration of a different continent couldn't start at a better place: East Africa, where my mom's family grew up, a mere border away from where my mom was born!<br /><br />I am also thrilled that I will be able to do a safari. The plan is to do a one-day trip locally, probably to see some giraffes and elephants, and then, once the AKFC portion of the trip is done, do a 2-day, 2-night stint in Masai Mara.<br /><br />All in all, it's sure to be an unforgettable, once in a lifetime trip. *insert more clichés here*<br /><br />I will be keeping a journal throughout the trip and might post them directly to my blog, so keep checking this space over the next 10 days!<br /><br />Bonus trip update: My VIA train to Ottawa was delayed by 45 minutes due to technical problems. Then they canceled it and put us on a train leaving one hour later. That's a 1h45mins delay. My dinner plans are definitely ruined, but I wonder... Is this a bad omen for the whole trip or just a coincidence? Also, could these "technical problems" be a pressure tactic? Inquiring minds want to know!<br /><br />Stay tuned...NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-79233164751373491692009-06-28T07:00:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.351-07:00East Meets WesternRemember that documentary I participated in at the <a href="http://cs.calgarystampede.com/">Calgary Stampede</a> last year? Well, it's airing TONIGHT!<br /><br />Entitled "<a href="http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/tv/docs/episodes/eastmeetswestern/">East Meets Western</a>", this documentary, produced by <a href="http://www.whiteiron.tv/">White Iron Pictures</a> takes a look at the two seemingly disparate cultures of the Calgary <a href="http://www.theismaili.org/">Ismaili</a> community and the events of the Stampede. It focuses on how volunteerism, commitment and mutual support links them and reveals the remarkable similarities between the two.<br /><br />The complete <a href="http://www.channelcanada.com/Article3086.html">press release</a> has been making the Internet rounds. You can watch the trailer & sneak preview <a href="http://www.whiteiron.tv/bin/east_meets_western.mov">here</a>.<br /><br />The documentary will be airing on <a href="http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/tv/docs/episodes/eastmeetswestern/">OMNI </a>in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., in English and - get this! - in Hindi! You can watch me make my national TV debut when the doc premieres on Sunday, June 28th at 10pm on OMNI.2 in Ontario, 10pm local time on OMNI.1 in Calgary and Edmonton, and 8pm local time in Victoria and Vancouver, on OMNI.1.<br /><br />That's all in English. The Hindi version premieres on OMNI.2 in Ontario on Sunday July 5th at 7pm.<br /><br />I, unfortunately, don't get OMNI, so I will be counting on you to let me know how foolish I look and sound when I'm excited. I mean, come on! Country music, rides, TV production AND meeting new people? There's no way I'll come off as the smart, cultured person I truly am!<br /><br />Hopefully I'll get my copy of the doc - and the gazillions of pictures that were taken during its production - at some point soon so you can laugh WITH me, not AT me.<br /><br />So cancel all your plans, set your PVRs (or VCR if you still have one!) and watch "East Meets Western" on OMNI tonight!NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-76599563501170799922009-06-27T11:24:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.359-07:00Has it really been that long?Once again, though I promised myself I would update my blog more regularly, I somehow managed to go without creating a new post for a whole month! This is despite adding it to my "TO DO" list on a regular basis.<br /><br />Proof that sometimes, life happens.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.worldpartnershipwalk.com">World Partnership Walk</a> was a complete success by all standards: The on-stage entertainment was spectacular, from the MCs to the dancers and musical performances. We finally got our cake - to celebrate the 25th anniversary - and ate it too!<br /><br />In terms of media, the Walk garnered lots of media attention. I did an in-studio LCN interview on the morning of the Walk, which attracted a reporter from Radio-Canada Première Cha<span class="Unicode">îne, a reporter from Quartier Libre, an alternative publication from Université de Montréal, and a photographer from Le Devoir. We also had pre-Walk coverage from CPAM and CJAD. All in all, that's pretty good coverage, especially when compared to the previous years.<br /><br />The turnout was exceptional too... Over 2,500 people attended the Walk in 2009, which is more than ever. By comparison, the 2008 Walk only drew 1,500 attendees. Montreal not only met its fundraising goal, it surpassed it by at least 60K! We raised over $200,000 on Walk Day.<br /><br />After the Walk, I went on vacation to Kingston for about 10 days. Didn't spend much time in Kingston though. Instead, we went to Toronto for a few days, to Canada's Wonderland and the Toronto Metro Zoo. What fun times!! The rides were awesome, and the animals were adorable. Plus, I got to meet a few new cool people.<br /><br />We also went canoeing on Gould Lake and had an island picnic, did a little roadtrip to the Sandbanks' Dunes Beach for a hot steamy day of sand, tan and splash... Here, we spent some time in the water tossing around the Frisbee and tiny little fish would approach us and bite our toes! It actually felt really nice... like a well deserved foot rub! But even better, when we were still for a while, a larger fish (possibly a steelhead trout?) came swimming around our legs. First one, then another, and another and all of a sudden, there were dozens! The best part, for me anyway, was this fish swimming up to me cautiously, then swimming through my legs, brushing my left leg a bit, then getting freaked out and hurrying through... then coming back alongside the other leg and brushing that one too!! It was absolutely awesome!<br /><br />One of our other roadtrips took us to Carleton Place on the outskirts of Ottawa, where we had a delicious dinner with yet another fantastic couple. In fact, this trip was full of little excursions, new discoveries - both on the road and at our various destinations, and, most importantly, I got to meet lots of great new people. Yes, I would say I've made new friends :)<br /><br />Back from Kingston and back to real life... I went straight to the World Partnership Walk Montreal post-mortem meeting, and then returned to my daily routine of translating, applying for various broadcast, new media, marketing or communications jobs.<br /><br />Then this weekend, I attended the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in my hometown, Montreal. What a blast! I met some more great people - though not at length because of my back to back scheduling - and enjoyed the whole experience, overall. Of course, the night was a bit long at times, especially since the first few picks went exactly as expected and Montreal was only picking 18th. Lucky for me, I was able to meet up with some of the folks I traditionally work with at Bell Centre events and catch up on the past few months. That was definitely a thrill, as was meeting the Habs' first rounder pick, Louis Leblanc in front of the Sheraton Hotel later that night.<br /><br />Did I mention the TweetUp? The organizers of the NHL Draft Tweet Up are exceptionally talented... Even though I didn't attend the second day of the event - gotta have a lazy day every now and then! - I've got nothing but praize and thanks to offer. Thanks to their great organizational skills, the NHL sponsored the event by offering 50 complimentary Draft tickets (valid for Friday and Saturday), which is how I ended up there in the first place!<br /><br />In summary, it's been a pretty hectic month... especially when I got the news that I was GOING TO AFRICA!<br /><br />That's right, folks! A the end of July, I will be taking a 17h flight to Nairobi, Kenya to participate in the <a href="http://akfc.ca/">Aga Khan Foundation Canada</a></span><span class="Unicode"> Awareness trip. Basically, the Foundation selects certain people that they think could benefit from the experience of seeing AKFC-sponsored projects first-hand, obviously to help further the cause by acting as its ambassadors. I was chosen because of my involvement with the World Partnership Walk. And as you should know by now, 100% of the profits from the Walk go straight to these AKFC projects, which means that I'm paying my own way all the way. It'll set me back a cool $5,000 but given the cost of doing this kind of voyage on my own, there is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't participate in this programme.<br /><br />We will be spending a few days in Nairobi and some in Mombassa, and the fact that we're travelling in groups and with local guides will help ensure our safety throughout the trip. I can't wait to see all these places for myself, experience the sometimes troubled culture of East Africa, and hang out close to where my mom's side of the family used to live. Plus, I'll probably get to see some pretty cool creatures in their natural environments. Overall, it'll be an excellent learning experience, no matter what I choose to do with the rest of my life. If anything, it'll help me better understand a different demographic of the world... and who can argue with the benefits of that?<br /><br />Of course, I will take lots of great pictures and keep a journal so I won't forget to update you.<br /><br />Stay tuned...<br /></span>NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-40452503367847034192009-05-27T11:38:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.368-07:00Follow-ups and promosLet me preface this post by saying that if you follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/NailaJ">Twitter </a>or Facebook, you probably didn't miss me much. Or maybe you aren't satisfied with 140 character updates. Either way, here's the deal:<br /><br />That first Dome gig for <a href="http://www.sho.com">Showtime </a>boxing? It was awesome!! It was great to work with a crew full of people I already mostly knew and meet some new people. I learned a lot about different aspects of technical producing and it was fun to see how the setup is different for Bell Centre activities that aren't hockey or concerts.<br /><br />That second Dome gig? Never happened. Though that had nothing to do with me but everything to do with union issues. Oh well.<br /><br />Union issues have been the bane of my existence lately. Well, maybe that's a little bit harsh. But with CBC cuts, job postings that are only posted to meet union needs or those that are either already filled or non-existent, well... you can probably deduce that I haven't been successful in my job search yet. Many positions have been applied for. Some have received letters of rejection, which, honestly, is better than no letter at all and leads me to believe that I at least got somewhere in the recruitment process. I am also still waiting on a couple of potential interviews that are taking forever to come to fruition. It might not work out so I'm not holding my breath. But it's nice to think about every now and then.<br /><br />And now for a friendly public service announcement. As you know, I have been working on the <a href="http://www.worldpartnershipwalk.com/">World Partnership Walk</a>. All my hard work culminates this Sunday, May 31st, when 2,000 people will gather at Mount Royal Park near Beaver Lake from 10am onwards. It's hard to tell at this point, but so far, I think our awareness-raising media and marketing efforts have been pretty successful!<br /><br />You might have seen our street-level ads via Pattison outdoor advertising if you've parked your car in a parking lot along Ste-Antoine street in downtown Montreal or drive alongside the Bonaventure highway.<br /><br />We've managed to get our PSAs on <a href="http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/quebec/index.html">Global Montreal</a> and <a href="http://montreal.ctv.ca/">CTV Montreal</a> - I caught one on the latter earlier today and I got so very excited!! And, although <a href="http://www.cbc.ca">CBC</a> Montreal would have aired them, we had a few tape delays, which is most unfortunate. We were also able to get a web banner on <a href="http://www.kahnawakenews.com/">KahnawakeNews.com</a>. Plus, I made it on the <a href="http://www.cjad.com/shows/19169">Kevin and Trudie Show</a> on CJAD 800 News last Friday for a quick segment on the World Partnership Walk. It was <span style="font-weight: bold;">so</span> great to speak with Trudie again... even if it was just over the air!<br /><br />In terms of Walk Day activities, I volunteered myself as Stage Manager, which means that I get to do a lineup and script for our MCs, David Gutnick from <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/montreal/">CBC Montreal</a> and Kimberley Sullivan from <a href="http://montreal.virginradio.ca/">Virgin Radio 96</a>. We have some dance items and music performances, and a great local DJ. Plus, we're gonna have a giant LED screen - think Bell Centre Jumbotron - with a live feed, which gets me excited in so many ways... I'm such a TV geek!!<br /><br />Of course, the Walk itself is for an amazing cause: raising funds and awareness on global poverty. I'm so glad that we'll be able to celebrate our 25th anniversary in style!! As you all know, 100% of the funds go directly to projects and programmes organized by <a href="http://www.akfc.ca/">Aga Khan Foundation Canada</a> that help people help themselves by increasing their quality of life and livelihoods. And to end my little pitch: it's not too late to get involved or raise funds: Simply log on to <a href="https://www.akfcnetcommunity.ca/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=516">www.WorldPartnershipWalk.com</a> and register as an Ambassador or with a Team. Of course, the easy way to contribute is to make a donation sponsoring me for the Walk, which you can do super easily by clicking <a href="http://www.akfcnetcommunity.ca/netcommunity/njinnah">here</a>!<br /><br />In other news, I've joined the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/group.php?gid=2264847995&ref=ts">Journalism chapter</a> of the <a href="http://alumni.concordia.ca/cuaa/chapters/journalism/">Concordia University Alumni Association</a> and attended my first meeting as an official member last night... I can't wait to help organize our great events next year!<br /><br />Still waiting on Olympics opportunities for the <a href="http://vancouver2010.com./">2010 Winter Games</a>, whether it's via employment or volunteer involvement, through the host broadcaster or VANOC.<br /><br />You can be sure that I'll keep you posted - even if it's with a delay - so stay tuned...NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-19310794261176512382009-03-31T12:43:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.406-07:00Good news, everyone!Yes, it's a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149460/quotes">Futurama </a>reference.<br /><br />But there is, indeed good news! Some bad news too... let's hit that first.<br /><br />I applied for the 2009 Foreign Correspondents Programme organized by the government of Finland. It looks like a great, all (mostly) expense paid trip to the country I long to visit: an amazing experience with (probably) amazing people discovering the amazing sights, sounds, and corporations that are so inbred in Finnish culture. The annual program takes place in August, which is great, because Finland is kinda like Montreal in terms of weather (minus the humidity).<br /><br />However, I wasn't selected for this opportunity.<br /><br />No hard feelings, though, because there are so many sporting events happening in Montreal in August that it would have been a shame to have to refuse potential work and not be able to build contacts for more potential work because I was on the trip of a lifetime.<br /><br />Hey, there's always next year, right?<br /><br />Meanwhile, the job scene seems to be opening up for me. Just as I was posting one of many Facebook surveys I've filled over the years - stating that my wish for 2009 was to establish a better flow of work - I get a call from Dome about a work opportunity.<br /><br />And here comes the good news, folks!<br /><br />I've got my first Dome gig! I'm booked to work boxing at the Bell Centre in Montreal this weekend... and I can't wait!! It'll definitely be different than the usual hockey, which has become pretty straight forward after 3 years of doing the job. Boxing, however, is a whole different world. And it'll be interesting to work for a broadcaster other than CBC.<br /><br />Just when I thought I was done being thankful for this chance to prove my worth on the TV tech production scene - ie, a day later, I get asked, booked, and confirmed to work the UFC event in Montreal in mid-April.<br /><br />Two days, two gigs. Pretty awesome track record, huh?<br /><br />I'm not expecting any calls tomorrow, but you never know ;)<br /><br />I'm honestly really glad that things are kinda starting to fall into place. I love this industry and the people who work in it, and as much as I feel that I'm intellectual enough to do something more journalistic, this is where I want to be right now. Things change, though, and I'm keeping all my options open because I <span style="font-weight: bold;">am</span> interested in journalism and current affairs and documentaries and new media and social media and so much more...<br /><br />... and one day, I'll probably switch gears and settle down with a nice full-time permanent job. Meanwhile, I'm going to keep playing the freelance game and hope work continues to pile up.<br /><br />To TPTB: Thank you.NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-89786137705820128312009-03-23T17:20:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.417-07:00On #IN09Wow.<br /><br />What a whirlwind couple of days IN09 was! I really should have blogged about it earlier, but when I came home to Montreal, I also came home to a pile of work. Not that I'm complaining...<br /><br />But I digress.<br /><br />Last week, I flew to Toronto for <a href="http://www.inexchange09.com">The Interactive Exchange</a>, formerly known as ICE, which took place from March 17 to 19, 2009.<br /><br />It was amazing. I met so many interesting people with so many interesting thoughts, working on so many interesting projects. These people are truly innovative. They have experience being successful in our tumultuous times. They have great ideas about where the industry should be headed.<br /><br />Sure most of the creative ideas came from social media types while traditional media emphasized that they wouldn't work as a business model... (Check out <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23in09&source=navbar&category=search">#IN09</a> on Twitter for all the fun.)<br /><br />Still, an amalgamation of points from both sides might lead to sustainable platforms, both in terms of business and content. Don't ask me which points though... I'm not that smart!<br /><br />Some highlights?<br /><br /><ul><li>The huge use of Twitter. Including the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/IN/53394065287#/photo.php?pid=2739688&id=53394065287">Twitter wall</a> and panelist <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcrow">David Crow</a> tweeting while <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcrow/status/1356946617">on stage</a> for "Future of the Medium (2): The New Rules".</li><li>Meeting people I only knew online and making new contact who have become online friends.</li><li>Discovering the variety of opportunities in interactive media, from news to gaming to social networking.<br /></li><li>Seeing what everyone else is planning, implementing, raving about, working on...<br /></li><li>Realizing that ethnography, aka the socio-anthropological impact of anything online is what really interests me.</li></ul>And most importantly...<br /><br />Finding out that there IS hope for the industry. Even though a lot of the news-related panels were a bit defeatists, I'm actually more optimistic now than before because I know the depth of creativity and the willpower of all those involved in helping the industry survive... no matter how different it will look and feel once it emerges from the turmoil.<br /><br />Every panel I attended, whether I was there by choice or because I was assigned to it - via my super sneaky plan to get into IN09 by volunteering - gave me a wealth of knowledge and helped me grow as an online media content producer and enthusiast. Some filled me with wonder and others with so much information that I'll probably take another couple of weeks to finish processing it all.<br /><br />And so, while this post was meant to be super insightful and full of goodies you may have missed if you didn't attend IN09, I'm just gonna leave it at this. And maybe I'll revisit the topic in a few weeks.<br /><br />Meanwhile, check out the <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23IN09&source=serp&category=search">Twitter </a>stream. It's worth it.NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-36771782600355765622009-03-11T09:10:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.428-07:00Why I WalkIn the past few weeks, I have been donating all my extra time to a very important charity project. After years of sitting back and watching the event unfold, I have joined the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.worldpartnershipwalk.com">World Partnership Walk</a> organizing committee.<br /><br />Those who have read my blog before already know about the cause. The Walk is an annual event in 9 cities across Canada to create awareness about global poverty and raise funds to find a solution to it. It's actually the <span style="font-weight: bold;">largest international development fundraiser in the country</span>, and 2009 marks its 25th anniversary!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy 25th, World Partnership Walk!</span><br /><br />Of course, now comes the part where I reach out to you and ask you to contribute to the cause. You're probably expecting me to tell you some sob story about the extremely poor children in Afghanistan or Africa who <span style="font-weight: bold;">live on less than $2 a day</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">some of the 3 billion people who do</span>. Or maybe you think I'll try to convince you by telling you that the Walk can truly help transform the lives and livelihoods of some of the poorest countries in the world, giving them <span style="font-weight: bold;">hope for the future</span>.<br /><br />Well, all that is true. But here's why you should support the <a href="http://www.worldpartnershipwalk.com">World Partnership Walk</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Global poverty is one of the most pressing issues of our time</span>. Even during these tough economic times, there are people poorer than you and I, more desolate and desperate. The recession is even tougher on them.<br /><br />The truth is that fighting global poverty is a war, and one that we can all contribute to ending. Last year, 40,000 Canadians raised more than <span style="font-weight: bold;">$5 million</span> via the World Partnership Walk, and every cent of it went to AKFC - that's Aga Khan Foundation Canada, a <span style="font-weight: bold;">non-denominational, not for profit organization</span> - international development projects that <span style="font-style: italic;">help communities help themselves</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Every cent. There's <span style="font-size:180%;">0</span> overhead. </span><br /><br />The Walk is organized almost entirely by volunteers like myself who donate time and energy and sacrifice sleep (lots and lots of sleep) to help change the world and give hope to those less fortunate than ourselves.<br /><br />This year, I know we're all strapped for cash. But we've shown in the past that being Canadian, being human, really, is being compassionate. Giving a little when we can't afford to give a lot, but hey, at least we're giving!<br /><br />This year, I want you to <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WALK</span></span> with me. I'll <a href="http://www.akfcnetcommunity.ca/netcommunity/njinnah">take your money</a>, of course, because that's definitely an important step to eliminating global poverty. But I want you to <a href="http://www.worldpartnershipwalk.com/content/view/105/105/">join me</a> on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mount Royal Park near Beaver Lake on Sunday, May 31st in Montreal</span> (and most <a href="http://www.worldpartnershipwalk.com/content/view/15/32/">other Canadian cities</a>), and <span style="font-style: italic;">walk the walk</span>.<br /><br />Why do I walk? Because I <span style="font-weight: bold;">care</span>. Because I <span style="font-weight: bold;">can</span> - and not because I <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">have</span> to for basic needs like food, water, education...<br /><br />I walk because it's my little way of making a tangible impact.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Changing the world. Spreading hope. Being a hero.</span><br /><br />Just like we always dreamed...<br /><br />-----<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />To help me reach my $1,000 fundraising goal, click on my personalized World Partnership Walk page at: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.akfcnetcommunity.ca/netcommunity/njinnah">http://www.akfcnetcommunity.ca/netcommunity/njinnah</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">While you're there, maybe you can create your own page, and together, we can make the world a better place. And make sure to receive all the latest Montreal World Partnership Walk updates by following </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.twitter.com/WPWMtl">@WPWMtl</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> on Twitter.</span></span>NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-5181552701997868002009-02-20T10:57:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.438-07:00More Thoughts on #ObamawaFirst off, I'd like to thank everyone who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">retweeted</span>/linked to my blog on <a href="http://starshinediva.blogspot.com/2009/02/watching-obamawa.html">Watching #<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Obamawa</span></a>. I'm looking at you, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mathewi">@<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mathewi</span></a>. The extra traffic was amazing - and that's great for my ego!<br /><br />//Silly economic downturn destroying media jobs... *grumble grumble*<br /><br />Also, I'd like to thank <a href="http://www.twitter.com/josephlavoie">@<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">josephlavoie</span></a> for pointing out that #<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Obamawa</span> was most likely a hybrid between Obama and Ottawa. Duh! I totally should have figured that one out!!<br /><br />And now that I'm done with housekeeping stuff, I just wanted to share a few more thoughts on the whole experience.<br /><br />What worked with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">CBC's</span> coverage of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Obama's</span> visit to Canada? What made it compelling enough to watch for hours, even as Peter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Mansbridge</span> himself laughed at the incredulity of the whole media waiting game?<br /><br />It wasn't the coverage, per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">se</span>, or the super cool camera angles (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">robo</span> cam on microwave truck, anyone?), or having reporters actually stationed at various locations key to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Obama's</span> visit agenda. It was the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">personableness</span> of the whole experience.<br /><br />It was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Mansbridge</span>, really. (And his team of producers, directors, camera operators, audio and lighting techs, switchers, etc)<br /><br />Seriously, though, it was the way <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Mansbridge</span> included the audience and involved them in HIS experience of covering Obama. When he mentioned to Keith <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Boag</span> that he couldn't hear him because the producers were talking in his ear. Or when he laughed at himself for filling time by reading the lunch menu. Or explaining why that microwave truck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">robo</span> cam shot was so shaky, or how they listened to the tape of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">GG</span>/Obama photo op again to clarify what had been said.<br /><br />It was his references to the whole team working behind the scenes to make the show fit for air, to provide content so we don't get bored and switch channels, and most importantly, to keep us caring about what Obama is up to at this very second.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Mansbridge</span>, with his demeanor and openness, effectively invited the audience into his living room, into the studio, into his life. He shared a bit of the magic with viewers across the country and across the world at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">cbc</span>.ca, and that's what kept us hooked.<br /><br />Even for someone like myself who has been in studios and control rooms and worked on live productions, getting that extra bit of information is gold. Maybe it's even better for me, because I can actually hear the control room conversations and almost feel the stress of the live environment. But bringing the show to life by revealing little secrets about how much work actually goes into producing that kind of stellar content is what gives CBC, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Mansbridge</span>, a boost. It's what makes it stand out from other broadcasters.<br /><br />The only noticeable exception of the network acknowledging itself is the <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cbcyourvoice">@<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">cbcyourvoice</span></a> Twitter account possibly purposefully choosing not to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">retweet</span> comments about the quality or content choices of CBC productions, but rather only comments on the news that is actually being covered. Understandably, since they could argue that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">retweeting</span> positive comments would force them to potentially damage the network by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">retweeting</span> negative comments in a quest for balance. But I think the willingness to expose themselves to criticism in that way would only enhance their profile and increase the trust Canadians put in the CBC. But that's just my opinion.<br /><br />Overall, CBC definitely stood out by its inclusion of basically all media types in its coverage of #<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Obamawa</span>. <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/02/18/f-obamaliveblogging.html">Live online coverage</a>, thanks to <a href="http://coveritlive.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">CoverItLive</span>.com</a>, some tweeting - though more would have been appreciated - by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cbcyourvoice">@<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">cbcyourvoice</span></a>, quick article and photo updates on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">cbc</span>.ca, along with live camera feeds - which I still haven't figured out the whole production aspect of... Mobile or control room? More than one producer? - and of course, broadcasting on CBC local and CBC <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Newsworld</span>, as well as CBC Radio One.<br /><br />Quite a production, wouldn't you say?<br /><br />Then again, would you expect any less for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">POTUS</span>' first official visit?<br /><br />Good job to everyone at CBC. I applaud you.NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-2986024587973561232009-02-19T10:06:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.449-07:00Watching #ObamawaToday, POTUS Barack Obama made his first foreign visit of the presidency to our wonderful northern country.<br /><br />As Canada hosted #Obamawa - a Twitter term coined by the Ottawa Citizen and that I still don't completely understand - I decided to watch how people were watching the event.<br /><br />So I set myself up with <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/02/18/f-cbc-obamacoverage.html">CBC Newsworld</a>, the cbc.ca live camera feed, <a href="http://tweetgrid.com/grid?l=1&q1=obamawa&q2=cbc">a tweet grid with the #Obamawa and #CBC search terms</a>, and, of course, my <a href="http://www.twitterfox.net/">TwitterFox</a> running at full capacity.<br /><br />And wow! What a science experiment!<br /><br />It was so interesting to see people react, not only to what was going on in Ottawa, but to CBC's coverage of it. For example, when CBC's Rosemary Barton squealed on live TV that she'd seen Obama, the tweets came rushing in. Some people thought it was unprofessional and made comments like<br /><br /><div class="msg"> <a href="http://twitter.com/photofour/status/1227354977" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/photofour');" target="_blank">@photofour</a>: <span id="msgtxt1227354977" class="msgtxt en">Prez Obama in Canada...waiting to see how many CBC reporters faint...<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/ottaross/statuses/1227206069">@ottaross:</a> </span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">CBC broadcasters, professional journalist & newsreader, descend into a flurry of giggling and awkwardness. #obamawa<br /><br /></span></span><span id="msgtxt1227354977" class="msgtxt en">While others, like myself, thought it was a great moment of transparency, and exactly what live TV is all about... It showed viewers that yes, reporters are human beings too, and it's not always easy to be objective.<br /><br />Another great moment? The interviews on the Hill. CBC's Susan Bonner was sort of put on the spot to help fill while Obama and Harper were meeting... and was confronted with loads of people looking for their 15 minutes of fame. Sometimes, it went really well, but at other times, well, not so much. Here are some of the reactions I saw to that:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://twitter.com/sushiboy21/status/1227285583">@sushiboy21:</a> <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">CBC seems unaware that black people can actually be born and live in Ottawa. #obamawa</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/MizJJ/statuses/1227268952">@MizJJ</a>: <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">I love how CBC is trying to find any and every black person to talk too. Did she just ask a black boy if he was Canadian?!? #obamawa</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/idarknight/statuses/1227263990" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/idarknight');" target="_blank">@idarknight</a>: #obamawa<span id="msgtxt1227263990" class="msgtxt en"> Senior on CBC - "I saw a man who will put the world right" - kids: he's inspiring - that is a leader for you, regardless of state</span><br /><span id="msgtxt1227354977" class="msgtxt en"></span><span id="msgtxt1227354977" class="msgtxt en"><a href="http://twitter.com/pmikeyreid/statuses/1227286033">@pmikeyreid</a>: </span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Best answer to the "What brought you here to see Obama Today?" question: A Car. - A couple from Chicago on CBC</span></span><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/JordanCournoyea/status/1227287243">@</a><a href="http://twitter.com/JordanCournoyea/status/1227287243">JordanCournoyea</a>: Wow CBC interviewing people at Parliment is a train wreck</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/CraigSilverman/statuses/1227303412">@CraigSilverman</a>: <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">CBC interviews with the crowd were a bit messy but I found myself smiling the entire time. It shouldn't seem scripted. #obamawa</span></span><br /><br />Some of the tweets show how despite living in a world of 24h news and live streaming events, a lot of people still don't understand how it works "in real life". A reporter MUST look for the story, and when there's no time for pre-interviews or a pre-screening process, it's tough to make sure you get good content on the air. My take? It was a<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"> painful situation to be in, and she handled it really well. BUT, I totally would have had an intern around to help screen candidates.<br /><br />Another golden moment? The lunch menu incident. This really got the tweeters going. While Harper and Obama were meeting - and CBC was waiting for the 20 second photo op though the special programming should have been off air already - Peter Mansbridge was forced to fill. Because interviews on the Hill are nice and all, but it gets old. Fast. Here's how Twitter reacted to that, starting with my tweets:<br /><br /></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/1227310997">@starshine_diva:</a> Love that Mansbridge puts his glasses on to read the menu... and then complains about filling air time with it. LOL!! @cbcnews #Obamawa</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/1227315504">@starshine_diva</a>: <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Mansbridge looks like he can't believe he's trying to fill with lunch menus. Ah, 24h news. Love it. #Obamawa @<a href="http://twitter.com/cbcnews">cbcnews</a></span></span><br /><br />Meanwhile, around the tweet-o-sphere:<br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/saleemkhan/statuses/1227314073">@saleemkhan</a>: 1207ET "I can't believe I'm reading all this but you know, we do have to fill time." - CBC anchor Peter Mansbridge reading #Obama lunch menu</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/pferguson/statuses/1227322184" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pferguson');" target="_blank">@pferguson</a>: <span id="msgtxt1227322184" class="msgtxt en">I love how Mansbridge on CBC laughs at himself and the situation that he "has to fill time" when he discusses the lunch men<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span><span id="msgtxt1227322184" class="msgtxt en">u #obamawa<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/CdnFoodieGirl/statuses/1227316534">@</a></span><a href="http://twitter.com/CdnFoodieGirl/statuses/1227316534" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/CdnFoodieGirl');" target="_blank">CdnFoodieGirl</a>: <span id="msgtxt1227316534" class="msgtxt en">Listening to the menu for Obama's lunch in Ottawa today. It's funny to hear Peter Mansbridge read from a menu.</span><span id="msgtxt1227322184" class="msgtxt en"> #obamawa<br /></span><div class="msg"> <a href="http://twitter.com/seven24/statuses/1227316192" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/seven24');" target="_blank">@seven24</a>: <span id="msgtxt1227316192" class="msgtxt en">Peter Mansbridge (@cbcnews<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>) is reading the lunch menu. Now Keith Boag is analyzing the ingredients. I think its lunch time. </span><span id="msgtxt1227322184" class="msgtxt en">#obamawa</span> </div><br />Of course, this excercise was not only interesting to me from the social media perspective, but from the production perspective, and my tweet <a href="http://www.twitter.com/starshine_diva">stream</a> definitely shows that. What I loved about this experience was seeing people react to what I was seeing - and noting what made them tick. What they loved, what they laughed at, and what discouraged them. And seeing it all in real time was a wonderful comment on society, and a great way to share this historic event with a community, albeit a bunch of people online whom I don't really know and probably never will.<br /><br />And on that note, here are some random tweets I really enjoyed from the day:<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/jpappone/statuses/1227271696">@jpappone:</a> <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">#obamawa Watching CBC TV's coverage of Obama's visit, I am left wondering: Newspapers really think they need to compete with this idiocy?</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/geenalyn/statuses/1226858709">@geenalyn: </a><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Obama is visiting Canada today, CBC kids programs have been interrupted for the coverage. My son, age 4 just said "there's barack obama"</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/blankwhitewall/statuses/1226854766">@blankwhitewall:</a> <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">The people on the CBC are gushing over Obama like old ladies at a Clay Aiken concert. Calm down Canada calm down. He's gonna think ur uncool</span></span><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/eleckie/statuses/1227151489">@eleckie</a>: <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">I love CBC's Obama news coverage - "this just in, nothing new has happened for 20 live minutes."</span></span><br /><div class="msg"> <a href="http://twitter.com/gilliebee/statuses/1227369977" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/gilliebee');" target="_blank">@gilliebee</a>: <span id="msgtxt1227369977" class="msgtxt en">I was hoping that Harper would turn on the charm. Maybe that switch is broken? </span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">#obamawa<br /><br />On CBC vs CTV vs CNN:<br /><br /></span></span><div class="msg"> <a href="http://twitter.com/datachick/statuses/1227274311" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/datachick');" target="_blank">@datachick</a>: <span id="msgtxt1227274311" class="msgtxt en">How important is #obamawa t<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>o US? @CNN is covering Clinton's arrival in Seoul instead.<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/kschwab/statuses/1226809382">@kshwab</a>: </span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">#obamawa - CBC Newsworld: good coverage capturing the excitement, live hits from the hill and stuff. _boo_CTV, bunch of talking heads<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/bgrier/statuses/1226793475">@bgrier</a>: </span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">fail CTV #obamawa coverage requires me to install Silverlight. Hello CBC...how do you do</span></span><br /><br />Bonus? @cbcyourvoice picked up one of my tweets:<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/cbcyourvoice/status/1227229974"><br />@</a><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/cbcyourvoice/status/1227229974">starshine_diva</a>: I wonder what they do with the decoy limo when they reach their destination. How do you camouflage a limo and lookalike?</span></span></div></div> </div>NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-65350792529410304522009-01-29T11:19:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.488-07:00Losing the Right to PlayThose of you who read my blog regularly know that I'm kinda into sports. If you've payed attention, you also know I hope for nothing but the best for the world, and so, support many good-doing initiatives.<br /><br />One of my favourite charities, understandably, is <a href="http://rtpca.convio.net/site/PageServer">Right to Play</a>. Sound familiar? Zdeno Chara just raised <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=406149&navid=DL%7CNHL%7Chome">$24,000 dollars</a> for the organization by winning the Hardest Shot competition at the 2009 NHL All Star Game this past weekend in Montreal. Some of your <a href="http://rtpca.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=athletes_map">other favourite athletes</a> might have mentioned it in an interview at some point.<br /><br />RTP combines education with fun by helping children learn through sport. Their aim, as per their <a href="http://www.righttoplay.com/">website</a>, is "creating a healthier and safer world for children through the power of sport and play." Now who wouldn't love that?<br /><br />Apparently, the International Olympic Committee doesn't think that's good enough anymore. Since 2000, RTP has been allowed access into the Althlete's Village at Olympic Games to speak to the athletes and raise awareness for the cause - hoping to engage them into becoming Right to Play Ambassadors. These ambassadors help spread the word about RTP and its goals, via conferences, fundraising, and trips to Third World countries (that are occasionally covered by various media partners).<br /><br />Since the IOC decided not to renew it's Memorandum of Understanding with Right to Play, the charity finds itself lacking a primary means of recruitment and fundraising. This is a huge blow, a gazillion steps back from all the progress it has accomplished in the past few years. Where in 2004 nearly no one was aware of its existence, RTP is now highly respected and recognized around the world as an organization of value, thanks to Olympic athletes like Clara Hughes, Chantal Petitclerc, Kyle Shewfelt, Adam Van Koeverden, Donovan Bailey, Beckie Scott, Hayley Wickenheiser, Catriona Le May Doan, so many more...<br /><br />The list is endless - and that's just from the Canadian website. Whole sports teams and leagues, as well as corporations, have officially partnered with Right to Play.<br /><br />The problem, according to <a href="http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/27180/56/">this</a> article published by the Lethbridge Herald, is that the IOC wants to focus on its own similar programs. It still supports Right to Play's activities though. Isn't that's sweet?<br /><br />Apparently, the whole controversy boils down to, what else? Money! It's a sponsorship issue.<br /><br />Gary Mason of the Globe and Mail <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090122.BCMASON22/TPStory/Comment">writes</a> that when the Vancouver Organizing Committee learned that RTP had managed to sign a major sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi Motor Sales - which, if you're keeping track, is a major competitor to Vancouver Olympics' major sponsor General Motors - VANOC and GM were "worried that Mitsubishi was going to use its sponsorship with Right to Play as a way of getting Olympic exposure."<br /><br />A deal of sorts was struck between VANOC and Right to Play, whereas Mitsubishi's name wouldn't appear on promotional material distributed during the Games or on the RTP website during that two week period. But somehow, the IOC got involved and the final decision was a resounding "NO!"<br /><br />There's no denying that this charity is legit and that it does accomplish good. In fact, its aims are truly allied with the IOC's, whose <a href="http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/index_uk.asp">website</a> says one of the goals of the Olympic movement is to "contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind."<br /><br />Wouldn't that goal be easier accomplished by associating with an organization like Right to Play? I think so.<br /><br />However, complaining and trying to raise awareness about how wrong this brusque denial really is will not help Right to Play promote its message worldwide. Instead, as regular citizens of the world, all we can do is <a href="http://www.righttoplay.com/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=2502&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS">join the movement</a> and hope for the best.<br /><br />Help make the world a better place through Right to Play, <a href="http://www.righttoplay.com/site/PageServer?pagename=JointheMovement_Levels">click here</a> to donate one time or once a month, whatever your budget can handle.<br /><br />And don't forget! A donation makes a great gift!NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-58576722498947233902009-01-02T15:29:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.477-07:00Welcome, 2009!While I did want to write a blog post about my crazy weekend in Tremblant with a few friends, the time has come for a recap of 2008 post.<br /><br />(For the record, the Tremblant story included setting off the house alarm, being stuck in the driveway because of freezing rain and slippery roads, having no food and sending two of our folk out to the grocery store in a taxi - then the taxis stopped running and they had to beg a good Samaritan for a lift most of the way home. Oh, and the spa jets spewing everywhere because it wasn't full - or warm - enough.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">< /2008></span><br /><br />2008 was a year full of endings and new beginnings. Some of my bittersweet endings include finishing school and temporarily losing my HNIC job. But endings are simply the door to new beginnings, and those were simply awesome.<br /><br />There was working the playoffs for HNIC in Toronto and making a bunch of new friends in the process, then the week in Calgary for National ISTAR, which also included being part of a documentary on Stampede and caveing in Canmore. In August, I worked on the Beijing Olympics, which was a great experience work-wise and for my personal life. I earned a lot of confidence on and off the job thanks to this stint in Toronto. I made and strengthened friendships, some of which will last a lifetime. I also learned a lot about myself, and grew emotionally - though not always due to positive events.<br /><br />August was also the impeding doom month, health-wise. On 06/08/08, I broke a tooth biting into soft pastry. On 08.08.08, aka, Opening Ceremonies, I had an acid attack and wound up in the hospital. I had additional dental issues throughout the year, but nothing too crazy - just expensive!<br /><br />The Fall was odd for me because I didn't go back to school. Instead, I travelled to Kingston to visit Ryan, worked at HNIC for the beginning of the Habs Centennial season, went to Toronto for the Golden Jubilee Darbar, then back to Kingston for Ryan's graduation. I also went to NYC for Labour Day week(end), visiting my cousin at school.<br /><br />I also made it to Ottawa earlier this week for the World Junior Hockey Championship, seeing Team USA vs. Kazakhstan at Scotiabank Place. It was the second time I made it to Ottawa in 2008 (or was that 3 times?), since I met up with a bunch of Habs fans in the Capital City for Habs @ Sens for Hockey Day in Canada.<br /><br />This past year was also a good year for boys. And that's all I'll say on that topic ;)<br /><br />So much happened in 2008, and as you can tell, I can't remember most of it - especially the early stuff.<br /><br />But what I do know is this: 2008 was a year of change and growth, whether professionally or personally, emotionally or rationally.<br /><br />Overall, there were a lot more positives in this past year than negatives, and I hope that 2009 will continue this upward trend... despite being faced with a series of depressing events in late 2008.<br /><br />So, 2009, I welcome you with open arms. Maybe this will be the year I accomplish my destiny!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><2009></span>NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-86904587736752231752008-12-21T10:34:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.499-07:00Courtesy of a friendOne of my friends shared an interesting theory with me this morning.<br /><br />First, he informed me that he'd finally found a counter-argument to, and I quote, "all the people who are like "this world is fucked, I don't want to bring any children into it so no kids for me" argument."<br /><br />Naturally, I was intrigued.<br /><br />Basically, he says it's a lame excuse, because most of the people who say that are, simply put, smart people. And since smart people tend to end up with smart people, we also end up with couples that are made up of two not-so-smart people.<br /><br />Think about it.<br /><br />To be blunt... if two dumb people procreate, chances are we'll end up with a pretty dumb kid. (No offense intended - just explaining the theory). Sure, statistically, we could also end up with a super smart kid, but that's not the usual case.<br /><br />Similarly, if two smart people breed, we will most likely end up with a smart kid. Perhaps a super smart kid. Also, there's a small chance of them having a super dumb kid, but once again, those chances are slim.<br /><br />However, if the smart people don't believe in raising children in a messed up world, they won't breed. The "dumb" people, however, will continue to have kids, thereby increasing the number of "dumb" people in the world, and therefore probably contributing to making the world an even more messed up place, since the proportion of smart to dumb people will decrease dramatically.<br /><br />Therefore, my friend argues that smart people who say they believe that their kids should have a better life should in fact have kids so that they can change the world with all their smart ideas... Darwin style.<br /><br />And eventually, we'd end up with a better world that people might actually want to raise kids in, more often than not.<br /><br />That's a pretty smart theory there buddy... Wanna breed?NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-15364766439040940512008-12-19T10:07:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.279-07:00DetoxingLately, I've been looking for new ways to detox.<br /><br />Despite my fairly calm, easy life, I've been very stressed. I guess the whole job searching thing will do that to you. Not to mention unexpected dental fees, crazy work hours, deadlines, insane travel time to get anywhere that's anywhere, and a busy home life. Add to that personal stress like potential relationships, tricky friendships, family visits, and PMSing, and you've got my life.<br /><br />Understandably, I can be a ball of nerves at times.<br /><br />I tried taking baths, and that worked for a while. But sometimes you're just too exhausted for a bath - and fear falling asleep and sinking lower and lower in the not nearly big enough tub - or more likely, you just don't have time to relax and detox in the bath. Or the will for it.<br /><br />I tried candles and incense, but as much as I try to contain it to my room, it does flow into the rest of the house, to everyone else's detriment - which just causes additional stress and frustration.<br /><br />Yoga's been a great help but it just hasn't been as mind-clearing as usual in the past few weeks... Perhaps because I have too much on my mind or maybe because it's often my only form of mental relaxation. Random meditation/breathing exercises at home are a temporary solution, but consequently the positive effects don't stick around for long.<br /><br />Music has been kinda working, but as much as I love Britney Spears' new CD, listening to Circus on repeat just won't cut it. Classical music worked on one day, the Star Trek soundtrack on another. Random country music favourites also help, but they're just not mind-numbing enough. In fact, I'd say they're thought provoking with their catchy tunes and deep lyrics.<br /><br />So what else can I try?<br /><br />My problem is that I tend to want to avoid thinking about several issues at the same time, and while one solution will take care of one of the negative thoughts, it might bring up another. It's a bit of a vicious circle, and I'm not quite sure how to deal with it, other than doubling up on the yoga - which would be both expensive and taxing on the body. Seriously folks, after a good, active yoga session, my body honestly doesn't wanna stretch and bend like that again for oh, about a week or so.<br /><br />And as much as I look forward to going to work as a form of entertainment - because of the excellent fun I have with my coworkers, the excitment in the air, and, of course, the hockey, work itself can be a cause of stress - or at least a reminder of it.<br /><br />So I've taken to filling out surveys. Every night before I go to bed. Or at least, that's what I was doing a few weeks ago. Of course, everyone was in exams - or stressed out over the upcoming holidays - and so I had a constant string of new questionnaires to fill in, courtesy of friends' Facebook notes. Similarly, they'd feed my latest obsession by filling in the surveys I posted for procrastination purposes. Which fueled my search for more detailed and creative surveys to answer.<br /><br />I've stopped doing the "must fill uber long survey instead of sleep" thing - mostly because I want to spend more time reading before bed, but when I feel particularly lethargic - a defensive reaction to stressful thoughts - I quickly search Facebook notes for a new survey to fill, or visit one of the many MySpace survey sites for something completely random.<br /><br />What I really need, though, is <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217123831.htm">a good cry</a>.<br /><br />After an extremely stressful week last week and several mini panic and/or anxiety attacks, I got over my immediate stress quite nicely with the above detoxing techniques... but I was so close to a breakdown that the tears are still lingering just under the surface. And while I'm not necessarily trying to hold them back, I'm not letting them fall free either. It would suck to have a long, hard cry for something that wasn't quite worth it. Somehow, I don't think it would accomplish anything long term - and so I'd be forced to cry once more to let it all out. And that's just not my MO.<br /><br />Hopefully, having a bit more alone time during the holiday period will help - I'm looking forward to a mostly empty house, no crazy work hours or transportation issues, nearly no deadlines, and some "me" time.<br /><br />Stay tuned...NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-10787757635916872692008-12-02T15:11:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.272-07:00Because I have to.I need to blog.<br /><br />Why? I don't know.<br /><br />About what? No clue either.<br /><br />But still, I need to blog. I need to write, to create, to express... whatever it is I'm thinking, feeling, experiencing...<br /><br />And yet, I find myself devoid of inspiration. Well, not exactly.<br /><br />Here's the thing. I actually come up with great blog topics... when I'm brushing my teeth at night and the computer is off. I head to bed and try to relax and instead I'm writing my blog in my head. The words are gorgeous and the sentences just flow like a beautiful river... But I'm definitely too tired to get out of bed, let alone wait for the laptop to start up, then load blogger and start typing.<br /><br />Sometimes, I'm lucky and I remember the topic and the gist of what I was going to say at some point the next day. Most of the time, it's a glimmer of thought... lost among dreams and their interpretations and lists of things to do today.<br /><br />In other words, it's gone.<br /><br />I've tried keeping a recorder near the bed so I could dictate my blog to my (future) self, but that was during a period of fairly limited creativity. I always have a pad of paper and a pen by my bedside, but turning on the light when my eyes are that tired is just not an option. And though I have penned songs in the dark with some success, it's just not the same when you have to write out complete sentences.<br /><br />I don't know what the solution is. I don't know why I can't think creatively while I'm awake(-ish). This free writing thing I'm doing right now is kinda working, but that's because I don't need to think about the topic itself, since, well, circular logic here... I'd get into it but I'd just confuse myself, and probably mess you up too...<br /><br />The good news is, no matter what I choose to type about, the words always appear as if by magic. And I like that. I'm glad that's not gone yet.<br /><br />Well, I guess practice makes perfect, as they say, so I'll just have to keep doing this random blog about whatever thing.<br /><br />Stay tuned...NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-57681045992233298202008-11-15T06:11:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.512-07:00Letters from Home 2.0This week - and since Wednesday - I have been stranded without my best friend.<br /><br />As part of his final training course and in order to properly graduate from the Canadian Forces, Ryan is working in the field, completely isolated, for 7 days. Unlike a random trip or any other course - and ironically since he's training to be a signals and communications officer - he doesn't have access to his phone or email, or have any other contact with the real world.<br /><br />In the old days, when we weren't so dependent on technology, this sort of separation was probably easier to handle, given that you often didn't speak to someone for a long period of time even if they lived as close as the next village over. Unless you met them at the market or at work every day or they lived on your street, you pretty much had to grin and bear it.<br /><br />Imagine dating in those times!<br /><br />Despite Ryan not living nearby since he joined the Forces, we've been more or less in contact daily... or at least a couple of times a week. Of course, when he got access to the Internet, we were basically in constant communication during evenings and weekends. And that suited me perfectly, because Ryan and I share just about everything with each other. He's my main wall to bounce ideas off of and he helps me through periods of uncertainty.<br /><br />Needless to say, I've been a little lost without him... and though I know this is only one of several occasions when I won't be able to contact him when I need to, it's the first time this is happening for real. To keep myself sane, I have been writing him long email updates at the end of every day. I shudder to think of all the reading he'll have when he does finally have email access later this week.<br /><br />In a way, these emails, text and facebook messages or random voicemails are the modern incarnation of letters from home. Of course, people still do send handwritten (or typed and printed) letters to their friends and family in the Forces... especially those overseas who may or may not have access to modern communication tools.<br /><br />And though I have sent Ryan some of these letters, I'm so grateful to be able to email him - albeit with a delayed reaction - because it still is way more instant than snail mail... especially at the rate of one letter a day.<br /><br />Despite having a lot of friends living or working out of town, and family that is more or less away on business most of the time, this experience is not comparable. Not even close. Because although this time around it's a practice, next time, it'll be for real. Next time, there are real chances that Ryan won't make it back, won't read my letters, won't be there to comfort me when I need it... and that makes me sad, because it's not just a concept, it's a reality.<br /><br />There's no way I can understand what it's like for a spouse to lose a loved one to war or its after-effects, or worse, lose their mind to PTSD (aka Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Ryan and I are almost that close and his loss would probably have the same impact on me as losing a spouse, and just considering the possibility is simply devastating.<br /><br />That's why songs and music videos like John Michael Montgomery's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP8JAEhU3KU">Letters from Home</a>, or George Canyon's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fMoi7WAaHw">I Want you to Live</a>, which never fails to make me cry, by the way, are so close to my heart. In a way, they do help, comforting me because I know I'm not alone in these feelings, in this situation. There are many more examples - and not all of them are country music ;)<br /><br />Still, I'm glad I can send multiple, massive emails to Ryan, letters from home, v 2.0, and I know they are just as appreciated as the old school version.NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-3299916342788884202008-11-06T12:12:00.000-08:002009-10-15T07:37:35.522-07:00The Obama FactorSo the United States presidential race has finally come to an end, and not a moment too soon, as Quebec is going to be electing a new Premier on December 8th.<br /><br />I know. Enough with the elections, already!<br /><br />First, there were provincial elections in Quebec. Then I had a municipal election. Then the federal campaign, and of course, the crux of the USA election. And now Quebec elections again. Oh, and of course, the primaries about 2 years ago.<br /><br />Yeah. I've got a headache too.<br /><br />I'm to really into US politics. However, when Primary season started, I was curious. It was my first time exploring the American electoral system because it was the first time I was actually really aware it was happening, and so, intrigued.<br /><br />Luckily, one of my friends, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11483751856572661008">Alex Leduc</a>, is a pro at American politics. (In fact, if you really care for the stuff, you should check out his <a href="http://www.alexleduc.com/">blog</a>. He's quickly becoming Montreal's next major US political analyst, with TV appearances to boot!)<br /><br />Alex explained the basics of US elections to me, and though I can't remember most of it, it really helped me understand what was going on. Honestly though? I really didn't want to spend <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">that </span>much time on it. In fact, I can probably say that I didn't care what happened day-to-day, as long as I got the big lines. I do care in the sense that American politics affect what happens in Canada and around the world, but really, I don't need to know what each candidate was doing every moment of the day.<br /><br />Unsurprisingly then, I don't tune in to CNN too often. I actually really dislike CNN and their coverage. Mostly because it's biased, often unconfirmed and poorly researched. I'm not talking about all their segments. But their style leaves a lot to be desired. I mean, since when is every story either breaking news or developing news?<br /><br />Perhaps I should specify that I'm referring to CNN Headline News here.<br /><br />What bugs me the most is that so many American citizens watch CNN (or worse, FOX News), and take everything they see and hear for fact, unquestioningly. Yes, this is a generalization, and probably encourages a stereotype or two. But you know what I mean.<br /><br />Anyway. I'm not stupid, and knew that CNN would have the best election coverage on November 4th. And so I tuned in.<br /><br />Boy, what a treat.<br /><br />First off, the holographic interviews were way cool. Probably super expensive and uncomfortable for the anchor, but still an awesome piece of technology that I can't wait to explore.<br /><br />Second, wow! Biased coverage or what?<br /><br />Third, I realized that I'm extra picky about live TV productions, now that I've seen how some of it goes. And I should probably be a little less critical and remember how stressed out everyone is in the control room. Especially the audio techs. I complain about them a lot.<br /><br />Want proof? Check out my Twitter stream below:<br /><br /><div> <span class="entry-content"> MUST know more about how the holographic interviews are done. Green Screen? 3D motion capture? </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990854851" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T03:48:56+00:00">10:48 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> </span> </div> <div>--<br /><div> <span class="entry-content"> A friend suggests green screen and 360 camera coverage. But how is it "projected"? On air graphics or actually in studio? Thoughts? </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990863453" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T03:51:57+00:00">10:51 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> </span> </div> <div>--<br /><span class="entry-content">I guess the USA doesn't have issues with revealing projections for closed States while others are still voting... ie like in Canada </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990872881" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T03:55:34+00:00">10:55 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">How it's done: <a href="http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/68876" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.tvtechnology.com...</a> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990881561" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T03:58:53+00:00">10:58 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">OMG Enough with the screaming. At least they're mixing it down... But seriously. I shouldn't have to turn down the volume. </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990906731" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:03:00+00:00">11:03 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">Also, #cnn enough with the "random black people in the crowd" shots. Do you know you're promoting racist stereotypes? </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990913201" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:04:01+00:00">11:04 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">More dets on the holographic interview technology: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/57quvw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/57quvw</a> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990949856" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:11:50+00:00">11:11 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">McCain admits defeat? I can go to bed now. Just one more holographic interview, plz! </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990979172" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:19:36+00:00">11:19 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">Why must we still differentiate by race? Why is Obama's victory a big deal for African Americans, as says McCain? It's a big deal for all! </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990987180" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:21:44+00:00">11:21 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--</span><span class="entry-content"><br />I wonder what happens if a candidate admits defeat on a projected result - which then turns out to be wrong. Can he still claim presidency? </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/990994923" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:23:57+00:00">11:23 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a><br />--<br /></span></span><span class="entry-content">As much as I don't want to hear crowds screaming too loud, please mix in some bg audio when showing crowd shots. </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991015780" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:30:29+00:00">11:30 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">I can't really blame the audio mixer(s). It's a tough situation, diff. mixes coming into HQ, and prob. a whole lot of control room yelling. </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991057563" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:47:23+00:00">11:47 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">Loving the sky shots. Wonder if it's a track or a jib... Does that make me a geek? </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991061885" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:49:17+00:00">11:49 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--</span><span class="entry-content"><br />Wonder if the mixers have time to adjust incoming audio for optimal broadcasting before putting it on air. </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991072037" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:53:50+00:00">11:53 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva?page=2#" class="del" title="delete this update"></a></div>--<br /><span class="entry-content">@ #cnn This interview is totally ineffective. </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991072906" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:54:15+00:00">11:54 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <a href="http://twitter.com/cnn/status/991060415">in reply to cnn<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></a><br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">omg! CNN showed old white people! They can't support Obama, can they? I thought it was all black ppl and youth! </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991075213" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:55:20+00:00">11:55 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">Me? Jaded? Naaaahhh </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991077224" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T04:56:17+00:00">11:56 PM Nov 4th</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva?page=2#" class="del" title="delete this update"></a></div><span class="entry-content">I wonder who wrote @<a href="http://twitter.com/BarackObama">BarackObama</a> 's speech. And how long he's been memorizing it. </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991086561" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:00:07+00:00">12:00 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a><br />--<br /></span></span><span class="entry-content">HA! Alabama Senate race: Sessions vs. Figures </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991091741" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:02:37+00:00">12:02 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span><br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">That 106y old must feel so justified to have Obama mention her in his acceptance speech. Maybe a bit used, but it's for a good cause, right? </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991113560" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:14:39+00:00">12:14 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span><br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">If I were producing or mixing, I'd add crowd noise to CNN's Chicago feed </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991121624" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:18:02+00:00">12:18 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">And as if on cue, I think I hear some clapping... though it sounds like it's coming through the stage mic. </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991122386" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:18:18+00:00">12:18 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">Quick! Spot the cameraman in the crowd! It's like Where's Waldo, but tougher! </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991125481" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:19:29+00:00">12:19 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">Wonder how much they spent on getting Obama's kids' hair done... </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991127088" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:20:05+00:00">12:20 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">It's 12C in Chicago. 13km/h winds, 67% humidity. They must be freezing out there. Thank God for all those warm stage lights! </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991133568" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:22:46+00:00">12:22 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">LOVE! The behind the stage shot featuring the USA-lit building. And the Barack/Michelle snuggle as they walk off the stage. Cute! </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991134835" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:23:18+00:00">12:23 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /></span><span class="entry-content">WOW. Just felt the weight of this moment. Historical. I wonder what happens next... </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a href="http://twitter.com/starshine_diva/status/991137768" class="entry-date" rel="bookmark"><span class="published" title="2008-11-05T05:24:30+00:00">12:24 AM yesterday</span></a> <span>from <a href="http://www.naan.net/trac/wiki/TwitterFox">TwitterFox</a></span> <br />--<br /><br />It's quite funny, isn't it? Partway through, I realize I'm hyper critical and start to feel bad.<br /><br />Anyway. Hope you laughed, because I did.<br /><br />Also, if you could answer any of my gazillion questions, that would be awesome.<br /><br />Thanks, and stay tuned...<br /></span>NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-82331431055806707202008-10-24T14:29:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.533-07:00On job searchingSo today I spent the day applying for a job. The whole day. One job.<br /><br />It's often been said that job searching is a full-time job in itself, and never have I felt the full weight of that statement until this week.<br /><br />Earlier this week, I spent a whole day trolling through various media job sites looking for open (and interesting) postings. I found 7. Now, it's not that I'm picky or anything - in fact, I even put far away jobs that I am borderline qualified for on my "must apply" list. And often, I start the process and stop it promptly, when I realize I have no clue what the acronyms in the qualification questionnaire stand for.<br /><br />Of course, I don't just apply for anything. I don't apply for jobs I am under-qualified for, unless I really really really want it. Even then, I don't expect to get called for an interview. It's also a waste of time to apply for too many jobs, since writing cover letters can get to be a tedious task. However, I do still apply for jobs I know I can do but am over-qualified for - like the ones requiring a high school diploma and good people skills.<br /><br />Yeah, somehow, I don't get called for those interviews either.<br /><br />Job searching in journalism is not easy right now. Not only is the economy in recession - and therefore everyone's cutting back - the media industry has been in its own recession of sorts for a few years now. That means newspapers are cutting local staff (like at the Montreal Gazette, for example - sign the petition <a href="http://www.petitiononline.com/mng30111/petition.html">here!</a>) and consolidating resources by producing less content and operating from one central location. Some broadcasters are under hiring freezes which means that although they have a number of open positions, they can't actually hire you in the end... This is also the cause of vanishing job listings - the ones that mysteriously disappear although the application deadline is still ways off.<br /><br />In other words, it's a tough life, and you've got to spring on anything that comes your way, no matter how under or over qualified you are. It's also a very depressing situation.<br /><br />The solution, or so I've heard, is to reach out to your network of contacts, and ask, push and even beg for a job - paid or unpaid - so you can learn, build more contacts, and hopefully eventually get a real position. Just don't fall into the endless internship scenario - I've known a few smart people who have - where you work hard for free and never have an honest chance of getting hired simply because there are no jobs (because there's no money) whether or not an extra hand is needed.<br /><br />All in all, there's nothing to do but try everything. Again, over and over, and hope it produces results. Until then, try to balance the job search with the voluntary work... and perhaps a bit of a personal life.<br /><br />Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to write a cover letter for this kick ass job I'm applying for.<br /><br />Stay tuned!NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-46499979620327518022008-10-14T09:40:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.542-07:00Election DayIf you live in Canada and haven't noticed yet, we've got an election happening on this side of the border too. Sure, we don't have charismatic, groundbreaking candidates like Barack Obama or VP wannabees that light up screens and fire up debates like Sarah Palin, but it's an important event nonetheless.<br /><br />Faced with choosing from the usual parties - Liberals, Conservatives - we're lucky to have strong contenders in the NDP this time around. And thanks to a poor political decision by the so-called main parties to dismiss Green leader Elizabeth May, our most environmentally conscious party is also attracting some attention - though they probably won't win any seats. And the Bloc, is, as always, present, but barely.<br /><br />To me, this campaign has been a fight on several levels. Not only did Stephen Harper, Stephane Dion, Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe and Elizabeth May have to battle each other on the silver screen and on the streets, they also had to fight for the attention of Canadian citizens. While this is always the case - Canadians do vote, but tend to have a defeatist attitude as to the importance of their choice - this campaign was especially tough due to the stiff competition south (and north west) of the border.<br /><br />In fact, I'd say most Canadians are more concerned about the American elections than the Canadian ones. They care more about the issues, candidates and platforms in the US of A than those in their own backyards. Indeed, CBC did a fun piece asking students who they were voting for, and most said they would vote for Obama (or McCain, in rare occurrences). Most of them didn't even consider that a reporter from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Canadian </span>Broadcasting Corporation would be referring to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Canadian </span>elections. A large portion of respondents couldn't name our country's Prime Minister, let alone the leaders of our main political parties. Not to mention that many weren't even aware that we were having elections of our own.<br /><br />Now that's freaky! How can we trust others to elect the right leaders to promote the causes that matter to us as individuals and as a country when most of the population don't know these people exist... and couldn't care less?<br /><br />Yes, I agree that what happens in the USA is important to Canada, and it is on many levels - political, economical, environmental, geographical, military-wise and trade-wise... But when a Canadian chooses to watch a debate between US Vice Presidential candidates over the one and only English-language Canadian leaders debate, how can you not be a little shell shocked?<br /><br />I mean, sure, there are replays and extracts and loads of analysis - but you'll get the same for the less-relevant-to-you USA VP debate. Just tune in to CNN Headline News any time of day and you'll get your fix. Browse the Internet, watch the morning shows or daytime talk shows. Or late night comedy shows, for that matter. You'll be caught up in no time.<br /><br />But in Canada, where coverage is not as extensive due to more limited resources - and lets not kid ourselves, limited interest - how can you not watch the debate live? The way the leaders interact, the tone of their voices, when they choose to get angry and when they choose to remain calm... That says a lot about them as people, as party leaders, as politicians, and as potential leaders of our country. Of YOUR country. How can YOU not take that seriously?<br /><br />I bet that in most news-watching households in Canada, the US election is more prominently featured as dinner-time programming then our Canadian equivalent. I know this to be true in my area, at least. Sure, the Canadian election gets its air time as well... but as soon as we've got the latest update, it's time to click back to analysis of Obama, McCain, Biden or Palin's latest speech. Every day, 24/7.<br /><br />Even today, on election day, most people are still thinking about whether or not they'll vote. I can't say I've decided who I'm going to vote for, but I'm most definitely going to get my lazy butt out of my pyjamas and walk to my polling station to mark my ballot. Because it's important for me to have a say, even if I don't think my voice will change anything. Especially in a riding like mine, which could be considered an automatic seat for one of the main parties. Still, if I don't vote, then I can't complain about the results, can I?<br /><br />Did you know that political parties actually get cash for every vote in their favour? So whether or not you can change anything in the short run, you do have a direct impact on your favourite party's future influence and activities.<br /><br />What if you can't put your faith in a certain leader? Then vote for the platform that seems most deserving to you (do your research thanks to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/leadersparties/partyissues/">this </a>great tool, courtesy of CBC).<br /><br />Even that option can be tough when you don't agree with a party's stance on all the issues, but as always, politics, and any kind of democratic system, really, is about picking the lesser of two evils. Think back to your class president elections in high school. It's the same deal, but on a bigger scale. And even if you didn't care who would lead your class to greatness back then, chances are you cast your vote anyway so you wouldn't feel left out. Just to go through the motions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So why not here, why not now, when your voice is so much more important?</span><br /><br />You might not concern yourself with the outcome of the elections, or maybe you really, truly believe that no one party or leader fits the bill. Then spoil your ballot. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Spoil your ballot to make it count.</span> Did you know that if enough people spoil their ballots - and in doing so declare that none of the choices are suitable - the results in that riding can be refused? We'd get another chance to have our say - and hopefully, our little rebellion would cause the parties to change their stance or offer better alternatives.<br /><br />No matter how you see it, voting is not just a right. It's a responsibility. By not voting, you're letting down your neighbours and your riding, your fellow citizens across Canada, the populations in countries around the world that depend on Canada for food, aid, funding and development, the scientist and artists here at home who also need funding for research or to work... Or simply to survive...<br /><br />By not voting, you're not only letting everyone else down, you're also letting yourself down.<br /><br />And how, may I ask, can you live with that?<br /><br />Please. Go vote today. It's your only chance to have a say, on a small or big scale. Embrace your Canadian citizenship. And don't forget...<span style="font-weight: bold;"> if you don't vote, you can't complain!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Find your polling station - and register to vote on location! - at </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.electionscanada.ca/">www.electionscanada.ca</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span>NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9029446149093407738.post-67951159609098867782008-10-07T12:49:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:37:35.551-07:00Kingston: Canada's Original CapitalThis past weekend, I went to Kingston to visit my friend and army recruit, Ryan. He assured me that I would love the city, and guess what? I did.<br /><br />The only disappointment I had was the weather - but then again, all of Eastern Canada had a cold spell. Stupid lack of jacket.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />I took the train from Montreal to Kingston mid-day on Friday - from one former Canadian capital to another. It was scenic, sunny, and flat. Like the Prairies. And there was hay and cows and I am always amazed at that kind of scenery... especially when it's so close to home and not on the other side of the country.<br /><br />When I arrived in Kingston, I really had no idea where I was. Honestly. Even when I took the train back to Montreal on Monday, I had no clue where the taxi was taking me. My image of Kingston is really just two parts of the base, downtown and the waterfront. Though that's not all I saw.<br /><br />The cab driver I got on my way in was a lot of fun to talk to. A former member of the Armed Forces, he was a vehicle mechanic. He told me about being stationed in South Africa for a peacekeeping mission and the racial tension that existed there. He mentioned how he left the Forces because they wanted to transfer him to Shilo, Manitoba... as his daughter was entering Grade 12 in Kingston. He would have had to leave his family behind, and that was not a pleasant thought. So he left at the end of his contract. Turns out that about a year later, the Army started offering early pensions in order to reduce the size of the Forces. Bad timing, tough luck.<br /><br />It's these kind of stories that make us wonder what kind of live we'll lead in the future. No matter our training, education, and employment history, we could all be cab drivers someday. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I have a lot of respect for the good ones - those who drive you around, talk if you want to but give you space if you need it, and are <span style="font-style: italic;">happy </span>to do the job. But lets be honest - it's not really anyone's first choice of employment.<br /><br />This guy gave me a recommendation for a small restaurant called Copper Penny, which he said is his favourite place to dine. Why? You can dress any way you want, and go with any company, any night of the week, and have a great time. Oh, and the food options are varied.<br /><br />So on Friday night, Ryan and I decided to test his theory. I'd spent the afternoon reading on his perfectly made bed in B7, and all that work made me really hungry! Sure enough, we had a grand time. We also explored Princess street a bit, but it was freezing so I was happy to get back to my temporary home - B58 in the McNaughton Barracks.<br /><br />Saturday consisted of more downtown exploration. We'd asked the cab driver for a good fish and chips place on Friday night and he recommended The Pilot House so we headed there first to actually, you know, find it. When we were confident that we could find our way back - aka, locate City Hall and the Market Square - we wandered off, waiting for the place to open and air the hockey game(s). Up and down Princess Street we went, hopping into random shops... and Kingston's got a lot of those!! Lots of cool, retro spots and some quirky niche ones too...<br /><br />Once again, it was freezing so we took advantage of everyone else's heating. Ryan bought a jacket at the S&R Department store - lucky him!<br /><br />The Pilot's House was actually a fish and chips place, primordially. The menu featured a variety of different options, from tilapia to cod to halibut and sole, which is what I ordered. Ryan was a bit of a loser and ordered the same thing... instead of choosing a different fish and sharing! Silly Ryan! We also both got a pint of Strongbow (mmmmmm... Thanks, Kali, for introducing me to this beer alternative!) and shared an apple crumble for dessert. How quaint!<br /><br />I couldn't catch most of the NYR vs. TB commentary but the game itself was really not that bad... The whole time, I was trying to figure out whether CBC had a truck there or not - a technical glitch answered my question: it was the MSG feed. Hence me not recognizing the reporter. Also couldn't hear much of the intermission segments but I did like the apparent on-screen chemistry during Coast-to-Coast... though the desk looks a wee bit too small for three people. In true geeky fashion, I was once again amazed by Kelly's use of the Telestrator and yes, I could hear the audio fades in and out of segments, and that made me giggle.<br /><br />We then continued our touristy day by taking the Historical Trolley Tour of Kingston. We went all around town, seeing Fort Henry, Martello towers, Kingston's many penitentiaries, its large collection of park sculptures, and Queen's University. The tour also featured about a gazillion of Sir John A. Macdonald's former homes, as the first Prime Minister of Canada was a citizen of the town. I'd definitely recommend the tour to anyone visiting Kingston... It's a great way to get to see a bit of everything without investing too much into it.<br /><br />It also proved to me that Kingston is a runner's town. It feels like just about anyone who lives in Kingston goes for runs, and at all hours of the day. Maybe it's the beautiful scenery or the fact that Princess Street, aka the main street through the downtown core, has benches scattered every few feet for seemingly no other reason than to stop and stretch.<br /><br />After a bit more wandering through the Market Square and Confederation Park (where Ryan stretches when he runs), Ryan and I headed back to base to change for a night on the town - er... lake, I mean. We got two tickets for the 1000 Islands Sunset Dinner Cruise and made it to the ship just in the nick of time - literally. We were the last two passengers to board, and didn't get our picture taken. Not that we would have bought it, really, but it's always funny to laugh at later. Instead, we took our own pictures - successfully, I might add, though only having charged the camera battery for oh, 10 minutes.<br /><br />The cruise itself was lots of fun. We sat next to two conventionners from Calgary, which brought on conversations about the weather. And members of the Quebec Association for the Blind were also on board. The tour guide had a smooth silky voice - very charming in his explanation of which islands made good real estate investments - and he also ensured the rest of the entertainment for the night, singing classics and favourites while accompanying himself on the guitar, and eventually, getting people to dance along. The food was also way better than I expected, given that it's a ship and all. And the sunset was beautiful.<br /><br />We called it an early night after we hit land around 9pm, especially since our Sunday was full.<br /><br />Originally, we'd planned to meet up with Ryan's roommate and hook up their Internet - but instead, we relaxed, went to one of the many Timmy's in Kingston for breakfast (mmmm... Pumpkin Spice doughnut), and headed back to B7. The plan at this point was to visit the Communications Museum which was located accross the street. After sorting through some computer issues, we finally made it outside - but not inside the museum. Since it's closed. On weekends. Despite this latest setback, we were still ready to make the most of (what was left of) our day, and headed back downtown.<br /><br />We stepped into the Tea Store for the second time this weekend, and after exploring all the different scents and options - this place is worse than Lush. Honestly. - I settled on having a cup of Minty Sunrise. It was the most peaceful yet refreshing smelling herbal tea - and since I don't drink "regular" tea except for green teas, I was thrilled. It was hot. Served in a glass cup too, which probably wasn't a good idea. Despite me wanting to warm up, I'd much rather be able to hold my cup without burning my hand. Either way, the tea was stunningly perfect. Exactly what I was looking for in my, oh, probably 15 minutes of sniffing. Needless to say, I brought some home with me. Also noteworthy, the warm scone was to die for. Next time I'm in Kingston or in Ottawa, I'm definitely taking advantage of their free Wi-Fi offer too!<br /><br />The teas were still too hot 10 minutes later, so we took them to go... to the movies, next door. We saw Burn After Reading, which was utterly confusing but totally hilarious. Just... don't really expect it all to make sense. It is a parody of sorts, after all, and not a storyline that you can just escape into. Still, it was insane in a good way, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.<br /><br />We settled on sushi and a movie for the night - yes, another one. But got the sushi to go from TA-KE. Delicious, really, and a varied selection. Some sushi combos that I hadn't seen before, like salmon, apple, pumpkin, avocado and more in a maki roll. Delicious. But we bought way too much, and army guys aren't really keen on late night sushi, it seems, so some of it went to waste.<br /><br />While we were waiting for our order, we went into the most amazing shop. Ever. It's called Minotaur and is basically a games shop. It's everything Capitaine Quebec should be but isn't. It has board games and D&D dice, novelty items, cards, figurines... Everything a gamer and geek could want but items anybody and everybody can enjoy. It was in this store that I spotted my first ever GRUPS game, though I'd heard loads about it from Wil Wheaton. I also spotted Munchkin, and almost bought one of the many versions on the spot - save for the fact that I'd have no one to play with. Which made Ryan and I muse about both buying the game and playing long-distance, at the same time, through Skype. A virtual games night, in a way. Which sounds like an awesome idea - except for the lack of in-person interaction and the possibilities of cheating on dice rolls... Minotaur also had a whole lot of cool pirate gear, and other items that made me think of Christmas gifts.<br /><br />After picking up our massive order of sushi, Ryan and I retreated to his bunk so that he could multitask and do laundry. We watched Labyrinth, which is another crazy-insane-hilarious-but-in-a-good-way movie. It was my first time seeing it though having heard a lot about it, and I wasn't dissapointed!<br /><br />And that's about it for my trip. I took the train home on Monday morning, happy but maybe a little sick from all the cold nights - doubling up on the sweaters didn't quite work as planned. Silly lack of jacket.<br /><br />On the train ride home, contemplating the multicoloured trees, I realized how happy these little trips make me. It's nice to escape from "real" life and shed your responsibilities for a weekend every now and then. And though these trips are fun to daydream about, it's important to actually go through with it. Minimizing the costs, like staying in army-sponsored accomodations for $30 a night, also helps ;)<br /><br />The point is that I won't always be able to do this. I'm lucky to make a decent amount of income right now with relatively few expenses so that I can afford little escapades like these. But soon enough, I'll have a full time job that will perhaps require me to work overtime and/or weekends. Maybe I'll have a family to take care of, and kids with activities I wouldn't want them to miss. Or any kind of responsibility I just can't temporarily abandon. Now is really the only time I can do this without facing too many consequences. And it makes me realize how important it will be to make the time to take a weekend off now and then, to find myself, centre myself and be happy still and again.<br /><br />I figure a good rule is to escape once a month, but that's probably too optimistic. If, once I've settled into responsibilities and commitments, I can take one weekend off every two months, I'm sure I'll feel thankful for the break, relaxed and rejuvenated when I come back. Taking time for yourself is not a crime by any means, and I think it's time that I realize that. I now accept that it's a need that must be fulfilled, and if a weekend in a world different from my own is what it takes, then that's what it shall be.<br /><br />Ya know, if I can pull myself away from work and all.NailaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13051264350972635364noreply@blogger.com2