Purell is my new favourite thing...but also an old favourite!
Honestly, at my current job I don't know what I would do without it! I think I use more purell here than when I was in China. And China didn't provide soap and water in bathrooms...
Also, I found this quote this morning and really liked it:
Learn avidly.
Question repeatedly what you have learned. Analyze it carefully.
Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
What are you going to do to the monster?
One of my coworkers found this video. It's pretty funny! To view it, copy and paste the following into your internet browser.
http://www.break.com/index/what_are_you_gonna_do_to_the_monster.html
http://www.break.com/index/what_are_you_gonna_do_to_the_monster.html
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Another opinion on homelessness...
Yesterday one of my students was telling me about a notice posted near the Bow River in Calgary (the Drop-In Centre where I work is next to the river). Today, he brought a copy of this notice in for us to see:
WARNING
So long as the CALGARY DROP-IN CENTRE is allowed to harbor drug addicts and chronic criminals it will be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL THE RIVERSIDE BIKE PATHS between CENTRE STREET and the ZOO.
These are not "homeless" - they get welfare cheques in Saskatoon, Vancouver and (even) Calgary! They are TRANSIENTS BY CHOICE, and PREDATORS BY NATURE.
- a message from a concerned East Villager who knows.
Ed Mielke (age 61)
This message is extremely sad to me. It is a pretty clear reflection of the ideas and opinions many Calgarians share. For those of you who don't know, Calgary is a BOOMING city. With the increase of wealth, the divide between the wealthy and poor has grown exponentially. Low-income housing is non-existent and rental properties are scarce.
The Drop-In Centre is a place of HOPE in the city. I feel very thankful that so many of the clients I work with every day see value in the services it provides. The average client stays at the Drop-In Centre for 6 months. They are thankful for warm meals, hot showers, clean clothes, and a place to sleep for however long they need it. Contrary to popular belief, those who access the services at the Drop-In are not all drug addicts, criminals, unemployed or predators.
Yes, there are some who have made choices that have brought them there. Yes, some have mental illnesses and some are addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling. But in my experience with the people I work with daily, that is not the "norm," nor is it even the majority.
I see people who are an inspiration. They have a desire to LIVE, to survive and overcome the obstacles in their path. I see people who have a wealth of knowledge and experience and who have a lot to teach me ... they have a lot to teach US! Every life that I have encountered has changed my own.
So to Mr. Mielke and other Calgarians who share his opinion, I want to invite him to spend a few days at the Drop-In Centre with us, to talk with the people who live there and to experience their stories and to be impacted by their lives. I want him to experience the beauty that I see every day in learning from those around me, especially those who have a different experience than my own.
WARNING
So long as the CALGARY DROP-IN CENTRE is allowed to harbor drug addicts and chronic criminals it will be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL THE RIVERSIDE BIKE PATHS between CENTRE STREET and the ZOO.
These are not "homeless" - they get welfare cheques in Saskatoon, Vancouver and (even) Calgary! They are TRANSIENTS BY CHOICE, and PREDATORS BY NATURE.
- a message from a concerned East Villager who knows.
Ed Mielke (age 61)
This message is extremely sad to me. It is a pretty clear reflection of the ideas and opinions many Calgarians share. For those of you who don't know, Calgary is a BOOMING city. With the increase of wealth, the divide between the wealthy and poor has grown exponentially. Low-income housing is non-existent and rental properties are scarce.
The Drop-In Centre is a place of HOPE in the city. I feel very thankful that so many of the clients I work with every day see value in the services it provides. The average client stays at the Drop-In Centre for 6 months. They are thankful for warm meals, hot showers, clean clothes, and a place to sleep for however long they need it. Contrary to popular belief, those who access the services at the Drop-In are not all drug addicts, criminals, unemployed or predators.
Yes, there are some who have made choices that have brought them there. Yes, some have mental illnesses and some are addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling. But in my experience with the people I work with daily, that is not the "norm," nor is it even the majority.
I see people who are an inspiration. They have a desire to LIVE, to survive and overcome the obstacles in their path. I see people who have a wealth of knowledge and experience and who have a lot to teach me ... they have a lot to teach US! Every life that I have encountered has changed my own.
So to Mr. Mielke and other Calgarians who share his opinion, I want to invite him to spend a few days at the Drop-In Centre with us, to talk with the people who live there and to experience their stories and to be impacted by their lives. I want him to experience the beauty that I see every day in learning from those around me, especially those who have a different experience than my own.
Taxes, Spring & Walking!
Last night I did my own taxes for the very first time! I know, that probably sounds pathetic, BUT until this year it has always been really complicated. Either I was in the states, in school, in China, or SOMETHING. Plus, I did my 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 taxes all in August of 2006! (I guess Revenue Canada doesn't care when you do them, as long as you don't owe them money!) That may have contributed a little to the complication. Anyway, I definitely recommend the online QuickTax - plus, I get a bit of a refund, so it's all good!!
I am starting to realize how BUSY life is. Between a full-time job, part-time job, Chinese class, small group, church, grad school applications (with test preparations), job applications and attempting to have a life, it all feels pretty overwhelming. I am debating leaving Pottery Barn - especially since I decided to stay at my current job through the summer (until I start whatever I'll be doing in the fall). Plus, the weather is getting warmer and spring is coming - makes me want to sit out on my porch and read a book! I guess this is all partially to do with the anticipation of spring and unknown of what comes after that I'm feeling!
Last night I went for a 6K walk with my "Weekend to End Breast Cancer" friends. It felt so good! Though I'm not sure I can handle 10x that much in one weekend! :-)
I am starting to realize how BUSY life is. Between a full-time job, part-time job, Chinese class, small group, church, grad school applications (with test preparations), job applications and attempting to have a life, it all feels pretty overwhelming. I am debating leaving Pottery Barn - especially since I decided to stay at my current job through the summer (until I start whatever I'll be doing in the fall). Plus, the weather is getting warmer and spring is coming - makes me want to sit out on my porch and read a book! I guess this is all partially to do with the anticipation of spring and unknown of what comes after that I'm feeling!
Last night I went for a 6K walk with my "Weekend to End Breast Cancer" friends. It felt so good! Though I'm not sure I can handle 10x that much in one weekend! :-)
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Reminders of China
I miss bubble tea! Last year it was almost a daily thing for me to walk over to the school store and get my hot bubble tea, either the regular milk tea flavour or coffee! The girls who worked at the little stand knew who I was, even though we were never able to understand each other!
Lately, I've been missing my hot bubble tea. The Drop-In Centre where I work is really close to China town and the people I work with love bubble tea too, so we often walk over there to get it at lunch time - although usually it comes frozen, kind of like a slurpee with black pearls. BUT, the greatest find in the last few weeks is a little hole in the wall place that sells hot bubble tea. Every time I get it, it's like a sweet (and kind of chewy) reminder of home!
Oh, and the lady who works there is trying to set Shen-wei up with her daughters! *SMILE*
Saturday, March 17, 2007
I think I must be CRAZY!
WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER
On July 27-29, 2007 I'll be participating in a very special event called The Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
I'll walk 60 kilometres (37.28 miles) over the course of two days with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, treatment, and services through the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
I've agreed to raise at least $2,000, but I've set my personal goal at $2,500. So I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation? Use the link to the right of this page, and go visit my site - and please take the time to support me. Please keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train.
According to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, approximately 20,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and about 5,400 will die from the disease. Thankfully, I've never known anyone who has had to fight this terrible disease - and I am hoping to keep it that way! That's why I'm walking so far. To do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
To the Right I have added the following links:
The Weekend to End Breast Cancer page
My own personal page for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer
My team "The K's"
On July 27-29, 2007 I'll be participating in a very special event called The Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
I'll walk 60 kilometres (37.28 miles) over the course of two days with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, treatment, and services through the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
I've agreed to raise at least $2,000, but I've set my personal goal at $2,500. So I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation? Use the link to the right of this page, and go visit my site - and please take the time to support me. Please keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train.
According to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, approximately 20,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and about 5,400 will die from the disease. Thankfully, I've never known anyone who has had to fight this terrible disease - and I am hoping to keep it that way! That's why I'm walking so far. To do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
To the Right I have added the following links:
The Weekend to End Breast Cancer page
My own personal page for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer
My team "The K's"
Just moved!
I've decided to move back over to Blogger from Xanga. It looks better AND I have more freedom with what it looks like!! So from now on, this is where I'll be!
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