TGLC Anthology 2009

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Trent Global Living Community Anthology

description

In the month of October, the global living community was thinking of fun and creative ways to put our numerous experiences, stories, travels and diversity into sometime tangible. Through coming together on a weekly basis we were able to muster up several creative, original and novel ideas. Collectively, we decided that putting our experiences down on paper and sharing them with the Trent community, our friends and our families would be an excellent way to inform others about who we are and what we stand for. Through sound group cohesion and consensus building, we concluded that an anthology would be the most suitable project for achieving such a goal

Transcript of TGLC Anthology 2009

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Trent Global Living Community Anthology

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What is TGLC

"The Trent Global Living Community is a home for students who share a common interest in

global citizenship and diversity. Members of TGLC are enthused about learning from each

other as well as living and growing together in a residence environment. This home nurtures

respect, establishes a network of support for students from all around the world as well as

provides the opportunity to explore various cultures and to build inter-cultural friendships.

Each year, the Trent Global Living Community has enjoyed planning dynamic programming

that is inspiring and broadens our understanding of the world and global issues. Various

guest speakers, discussions and service opportunities to Trent University and the

Peterborough community made the programming very enriching."

About the Anthology

In the month of October, the global living community was thinking of fun and creative ways

to put our numerous experiences, stories, travels and diversity into sometime tangible.

Through coming together on a weekly basis we were able to muster up several creative,

original and novel ideas. Collectively, we decided that putting our experiences down on

paper and sharing them with the Trent community, our friends and our families would be an

excellent way to inform others about who we are and what we stand for. Through sound

group cohesion and consensus building, we concluded that an anthology would be the most

suitable project for achieving such a goal. In addition, we realized that there are so many

talents, so many stories and so much creativity radiating out of our group that sharing these

stories with others would be extraordinary for our development.

The word ―anthology‖ usually refers to a collection of selected literary passages. For TGLC,

it is a collection of our unique and incredibly diverse stories from our experiences travelling

and volunteering abroad to our experiences living in this inclusive, cohesive and intimate

residence community. Putting together this anthology has been an efflorescence of our

creativity and exuberance. In this anthology you find an eclectic compilation of personal

stories about friendship and diversity, poetry that pertains to global citizenship, song lyrics,

perceptions on development and many more all created with a unity for purpose.

We hope you enjoy reading our stories and learn more about this global living community.

This anthology has been an enriching and rewarding experience bringing members of the

group closer together learning more about diversity, global citizenship and the importance of

reaching community cohesion.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction............................................................................................. ..........................page 2

Tim Shah..........................................................................................................................page 4

Faye Condie.....................................................................................................................page 10

Diego Garcia....................................................................................................................page 12

Maliina Boassen............................................................................................................. page 15

Meghan Johnston…………………………………………………………………………… page 16

Rebecca Cain...................................................................................................................page 18

Michelle Gauthier.............................................................................................................page 21

John Paul Nyereka...........................................................................................................page 27

Shirin Nuesslein...............................................................................................................page 31

Emily Balderston...................................................................................................... ........page 35

Kate Simpson.......................................................................................... .........................page 37

Maxim Gertler-Jaffe.........................................................................................................page 41

Tabea Naeder..................................................................................................................page 44

Jaya Bastedo...................................................................................................................page 48

Emma McNamara............................................................................................................page 52

Kengo Miyata...................................................................................................................page 56

Mitch Beck........................................................................................................................page 59

Caitlin Currie.....................................................................................................................page 62

Last thoughts................................................................................................................ ....page 66

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Name: Timothy McCann Shah

Date of Birth: February 11th, 1988

Major: Environmental Resource

Studies, Minor: Geography

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Passion: Accumulating knowledge and

learning on a continuous basis

Favourite quote: ―The best way to find

yourself is to lose yourself in the

services of others‖

-Ghandi

Tim is young man filled with passion, leadership and a desire to build community. He

grew up in Canada‘s most diverse city, Toronto. Growing up with a mixed-heritage of

East Indian and Irish descent, he has learned to value, appreciate and celebrate the

unique culture and identity that everyone brings to this world. He has a passion for

many sports including his favourite childhood game of hockey. Tim really enjoys playing

hockey, soccer, squash, baseball and basketball with his friends and two brothers. He

vehemently supports his home sports teams including the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leafs

and the Blue Jays. Tim likes reading books and magazines on topics from climate

change policy and urban geography to foreign affairs and biographies. Tim blogs about

environmental issues and current affairs on a regular basis through his blog entitled

―enviroboys88‖. He is a firm believer in unity and every so often quotes Gandhi ―Be the

change you wish to see in the world‖.

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People of Berlin - people of

the world - this is our

moment. This is our time. We need to internalize this

idea of excellence. Not many

folks spend a lot of time trying

to be excellent. We need somebody who's got the heart, the

empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a

young teenage mom, the empathy to

understand what it's like to be poor or African-

American or gay or disabled or old - and that's

the criterion by which I'll be selecting my judges.

If you're walking down

the right path and

you're willing to keep

walking, eventually

you'll make progress.

Barack Obama’s presidential victory

On November 4th at 11:30pm there were cheers, roars, vivacity, mounting energy

and excitement radiating out of Champlain College, Trent University, Canada and the

World. When Barack Obama was announced President-elect of the United States of

America with his stupendously deciding 349 electoral votes, a message was sent to the

world- a message of relief, hope, optimism, and the everlasting notion of change, which

has been central to his campaign since day one. This enlightening news instilled a

sense of growing optimism for many of the students in TGLC and the Champlain

community. The ubiquity of his campaign, his name and fame has demonstrated how

salient his victory really was. For days we had been talking about the possibility of

America seeing its first bi-racial President, one who has crossed racial, ethnic and

generational lines making history for a country that has historically had problems with

racial animosity. His charisma, depth of knowledge, intellectual curiosity, calm

demeanour and ability to inspire and bring together a nation has been remarkable so

much that as Canadians, our almost indefinite reluctance to move south has suddenly

changed. This victory will reinvigorate a sense of global citizenship; something we have

been patiently waiting for.

Memorable Quotes

When Obama first announced his candidacy in February 2007, his home state of

Illinois was fully aware of the long battle and road ahead. But it was not just the state of

Illinois, but a growing crowd of fans who has been following him since 2004. From his

days as a magnanimous community organizer on the dangerous and crime stricken

streets of Chicago‘s Southside, to taking out student loans to attend Harvard Law

school to being the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review- he has

brought a new definition to the word change, setting an example for generations to learn

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from. His endeavours to unify and embrace inclusivity on Harvard‘s divided and

segregated campus contributed to his growth as a leader driven by change and vision.

A recurring theme in his books and personal interviews has been an emphasis

on cooperation. At Harvard, he was able to effectively use cooperation and bring people

of disparate views together from law school to his days as a community organizer.

Furthermore, it was the use of cooperation that aided him through community work in

the inner city of Chicago, working with disempowered individuals living below the

poverty line. He brought the community together through cooperative tactics such as

actively engaging citizens and informing them about their civil liberties and rights. Their

economic hope and opportunity increased through cooperating with one another.

Obama now recognizes that the long bumpy road ahead is going to require mutual

responsibility from all citizens in order to reach social solidarity. He preaches the

virtues of personal responsibility, family virtues and community. Our very own Trent

Global Living Community is premised on community-building, diversity, tolerance and

respect for others, elements that have been fairly palpable in Obama‘s speeches and

character.

Barack Obama‘s values and rhetoric are widely shared within the Trent Global

Living Community. The inclusive nature of our staircase parallels the inclusive nature of

his campaign which brought together millions of Americans who were increasingly

becoming more cynical of their nation. Our community believes in this unity and bridging

the divides that we find on our campus. Through valuing and appreciating the character

of every individual who enters our building, we strive to connect and build bridges of

friendship, trust and respect. We are built on recognizing the diversity of others,

embracing respect, compassion and inclusivity. Obama‘s campaign has recognized that

all villages have values; all villages have a truly unique feature which we could

recognize, embrace and admire. As Colin Powell so eloquently said, Obama is a

―transformational figure with style and substance, a new generation coming on to the

world stage‖. He has given the whole world a chance to breathe optimism and

overcome the cynicism that many have had for so long. His words have emanated from

a world seeking hope, faith and a better and brighter future. The vivacity from Obama‘s

victory has imbued our community; we have become inspired by his charisma and we

can now uniformly say ―change, we can believe in‖.

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What is diversity?

On September 22nd, 2008 our group got together in the LEC pit to share our

stories, experiences and ideas on what diversity means to us. Having this workshop

allowed each and every one of us to better understand our backgrounds, our cultural

traditions and what diversity means to us on an individual level. Many students brought

various items, reading passages, stories, and clothing that symbolized their

representation of diversity. Since the Trent Global Living Community was initiated in

2006, it has been in the pursuit of diversity, community, unity, cultural understanding

and equality. We hope to continue these common themes throughout the year and pass

them down to future TGLCers.

Diversity focuses on the representation of a variety of not only backgrounds, but

a variety of approaches, perspectives, attitudes and practices. There are both primary

and secondary elements to diversity. The primary elements comprise of age, ethnicity,

gender, physical abilities/qualities, and sexual orientation. All of these elements are

unique to an individual and no one should be discriminated against for them. These

elements are found within our community, college and campus as whole. As one

TGLCer said, ―Diversity is variation on our shared human condition‖. It is all about

celebrating and embracing our differences with strength, acceptance and cohesion.

Secondary elements of diversity include things that are prone to change such as level of

educational attainment, geographic location, income and marital status, and religious

beliefs and work experiences.

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Amidst this disunity, we are presented with numerous problems and obstacles -

namely bigotry and intolerance. In no way can we embrace the culture and traditions of

others if we impose undue pressures on them to conform to so called ―societal trends

and norms‖. What is needed is strength, solidarity and understanding to create

cohesion amongst such a diverse community. We are intolerant at times when we are

uncomfortable and unfamiliar with new individuals who enter our environment. However,

it is our compassion and respect for each other that will always be the catalysts for

maintain our bonds of affection. Overcoming this inherent racism is challenging and will

prove to be for generations, but nevertheless the mitigation of racism begins

somewhere. That somewhere is where bridges are being built connecting across

borders and recognizing the unique and distinct traits of each individual. Is diversity a

matter of conforming to traditions and societal norms? No, it is a matter of celebrating

these differences. We all live in this shared world with varying aspirations that may take

us in unified or separate paths. Our aspirations may be different, but this diversion is

accompanied with a positive contribution to making the world a better place. As

Berners-Lee once said, ―we need diversity of thought in the world to face the new

challenges‖. And in order for this to happen, we can quote Gandhi who said ―always aim

at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your

thoughts and everything will be well‖. An open-mind is the key to understanding and

living together.

In order to truly cultivate diversity and walk in a path of unity, we must

understand and respect our collective differences. This will help us foster an

environment of acceptance, respect and open-mindedness, and allow us build

community spirit and develop a superior capacity to craft alternative solutions. Martin

Luther King once said ―Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate

cannot drive out hate, only love can do that‖. In this world of incredible d iversity and

differences, we need universal language and love. Diversity is sharing and loving in

solidarity where everyone irrespective of their age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and

physical abilities is included and accepted for who they are.

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TGLCers at ―What Diversity Means to Us‖ Talk

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Name: Faye Condie

Date of Birth: January 22nd 1990

Major: Science of the sorts

Home/City: Calgary, Alberta

Passion: Jumping in puddles

Favourite Quote: I could have been

someone, Well so could anyone, You

took my dreams from me, When I first

found you I kept them with me babe I

put them with my own Cant make it all

alone I‘ve built my dreams around you

-The Pogues

Faye, Fayzer or Condie was born on a beautiful day in January in the year 1990. She is

a radical character who often says things no one else has considered in group

conversations. She challenges people to think outside of their own thought, opinions

and values and put themselves in the shoes of the conservative type. Her most amazing

experience in her years of life was the 24 hours she was able to spend on Jupiter. She

says while there she threw Frisbees with Jupidogs and played mini putt but came home

in time for the Calgary stampede. Faye has lived an unusual life but she has spent most

of her days travelling on the train around the city of Calgary. Her favourite pastimes are

eating meat, watching entire series of television shows in one sitting and making

sarcastic comments. In the future Faye wishes to use a time machine to come back and

live her life all over again.

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My travels have not brought me anywhere exotic. I‘ve never been anywhere with

a unique culture or different from my own. My entire life has been spent around white,

middle class, North Americans like myself. The only exception to this unshakable trend

has been my experiences on public transit, which is in my opinion, one of the greatest

displays of diversity in this modern world we live in. It is not a stretch to suggest that

Canada and the United States are universally recognized for the diversity and

multiculturalism they possess. I do not disagree. But it is only on public transit that

people from different backgrounds, with different world views and opinions, are required

to interact with one another, at least to some degree.

One particular time that resonates in my mind was an experience I had on my

way home from a movie. It was fairly late and thus the cleaning staff for many of the

buildings downtown were making their way to work. At the same time a Billy Joel

concert was taking place at the Saddledome and some of Calgary‘s elite were taking

public transit to avoid the hectic battle for parking downtown. As per usual, the train was

also scattered with its usual riffraff, teenagers, and club-goers. I walked in, sat down,

and turned on my music. Not a minute into the first song I felt a tap on my leg. I took off

my headphones and looked over to see what appeared to be a hippie patiently awaiting

my response. ―Do you have minute?‖ he asked. I nodded and he proceeded to tell me

his personal view on global warming and how he felt the government of Canada should

deal with the potential threats credited to climate change. Caught a little off guard, I just

continued nodding and staring out the window. As soon as he had wrapped up his final

point the woman in front of me (a business lady most likely on her way to the Billy Joel

performance) turned around. She then brought up the flaws in his argument. He wasn‘t

taking into account the economy. His view was idealistic and possibly even

misinformed. An East Indian man who had been reading the newspaper glanced over

and mentioned how wasteful he felt Canadians were with energy. It doesn‘t take that

much time or energy out of a person‘s day to turn off a light bulb.

By the time the train had arrived at my final destination the entire car was in a

civil discussion about the environment. Everyone had a position, but at the same time

everyone had been able to find some common ground. There are problems in the world,

like environmental degradation, that affect everybody. No matter how diverse a group

may seem there are universal concepts for which every person‘s opinion is equally

valid. Financially stable or poor, educated or not, every person is affected. It is on these

topics that we see that while we are all diverse, we are all the same as well.

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Name: Diego Garcia

Date of Birth: 17, February 1989

Major: International Development

Home/City: Toronto, Ontario

Passion: You!!!

Favourite Quote: ―Nothing

contributes so much to tranquilize

the mind as a steady purpose, a

point on which the soul my fix its

intellectual eye.‖ – Mary Shelley.

Diego was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He lives in Toronto and likes to live life, and just

be. Nothing more can be said, you might have to get to know him better to hear a more

complete explanation of who he is.

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It was the weekend; I was sitting on a rocking chair on the patio looking into the

distance. The unruffled but lively goats a few meters outside my house were going about

their usual habits. On the end table beside me sat a copy of Naomi Klein‘s book, The Shock

Doctrine, a pack of unfiltered cigarettes, and a mug of delightfully dark coffee. I sat still for a

minute, close my eyes, breathe and attempt to surround myself in the incredibly pleasant

rural atmosphere. The sound of a buggy awakens me from a temporary rest, and a group of

toddlers taking a ride with a donkey makes me grin as they totter across my house. I set

myself and prepare to read, when I hear a familiar voice. ―Etudiando o que?, Studying or

what!‖ shouts a boy speeding by on a bicycle. I guess I was studying. I was studying about

a concept that Naomi Klein called ―disaster capitalism‖. Ironically, I was reading this material

in a country that officially considers itself a socialist republic. I put the book down as I finish

reading a couple chapters, and after a few moments as I sip my coffee, this man

approaches the front gate that surrounds the house.

From the patio I noticed certain obvious characteristics about him. His white stubble,

his straw hat that fit his small, rotund head perfectly, and a slight slouch that gave away his

old age. The man stops at the front gate, stares at me for a moment or two, and then yells

out, ―Marcial!‖ Taking a puff of his cigar he calls out my host father‘s name again, until I

intervene and as I approach him, I tell him that Marcial isn‘t home. ―Ah‖, he replies. I

assumed he was looking for wine, as my host father would make home made wines out of

what was seasonally available at the time, rice, beets and pineapple. ―T‘ere‘l canadienseh?

are you the Canadian?‖ he asks me in the fluidity of a language that can only be described

as the Cuban dialect. ―Si, yo soy el Canadiense,‖ I answer. Now that I was closer to this

man, I had the sense that he fit the characteristics of a ranchero, a farmer, and was indeed

in his old age. He asked me to come closer, and at this point I had opened the fence, stood

in front of him, nearly surpassing the man in height. Suddenly, he grabs my shirt, extends

his arm, and points to my left. ―Ve todo eso?, you see all that? The revolution gave us this

town.‖ Where he was pointing was the direction of the downtown that I came to know so

well, the amazingly calm, clean avenues of Coralillo, Villa Clara. ―Ante la revolucion, he

declared, revealing that recognizable cigar stench as he waved his fragile hand in the

opposite direction, no‗bia nada ‗qui, soamente esa casa viea y aguna otra casa por alli.‖

The old man then put the cigar back in his mouth, patted my shoulder lightly, gave out a

joyful chuckle, and with that he was gone. He left me there, thinking blankly.

I stood pondering his simple, wise words, ―before the revolution, there was nothing

here, save that old house, and other houses here and there.‖ I knew very well where his

tenuous hand led to and what he was talking about. It was a path I knew like the back of my

hand, memorized from the countless occasions where I went to visit my friend Ben who

lived on the street that was parallel to mine. It was the countryside, my part of town, where

the unusual was usual. Horses, cows and stray dogs had as much right to the land they

were walking on as you did, hence the heightened acuteness of all my senses that I

developed upon treading that road again, and again during the evening hours. It was a

rustic area where the largest standing structure in sight happened to be the one of the most

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ancient in all of Coralillo. On route to Ben‘s house, I would pass that aforementioned

building, what seemed like a 19th century abode, several times. I never found out if any one

lived there or what it was used for in the past, but every time I walked passed it I felt a

sense of antiquity, a feeling that was starkly different from the liveliness that was familiar to

me downtown.

This recollection is one of the few situations throughout my Canada World Youth

experience where I can remember exactly what happened. What I recognized was that in

any place of unfamiliarity, there seems to be an invisible cultural and historical

consciousness, a consciousness that I can never truly grasp as an outsider. Cuba does

indeed have a revolutionary history, but that history is part of a large umbrella of complex

societal politics and regional diversity. I realized that this history should not be tediously

deciphered, but respected. We should not constrain our potential for knowledge on inflexible

judgments, regardless of the political philosophies that our opinions represent. Instead we

ought to listen to others and focus on human kindness and its relationship to living with

dignity, love and appreciation.

An intense debate sparks between two TGLCers at one of our many discussions

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Name: Maliina Boassen

Date of birth: February 11, 1986

Major: Int. Dev. Studies

Home/City: Nuuk, Greenland

Passion: Children, helping others, playing music

Favourite quote: "Be the change you want to

see in the world" - Kate Simpson :)

Maliina is a Native Inuit from Greenland. She left her home when she was 16 and was

desperate to see what the world had to offer, which is why she went to Ohio, USA as an

exchange student. Ever since she has loved to see new countries and learn about other

cultures, beliefs and values outside of her own. Maliina believes in celebration of

differences, in stead of creating conflicts due to differences. Maliina's stay in Lester B.

Pearson College (United World College) in British Columbia is what really changed her

to a better person. She began opening her eyes to the world more profoundly and

emerge a feeling of helping others which is why she started volunteering for elderly

people and orphans. Maliina plays the flute whenever she feels stressed or homesick

and go for long walks in the nature, pretending that she is home. Maliina's younger

siblings are the ones who keep her going, because they are the true diamonds in her

heart. Maliina plans to go home to Greenland subsequently after her studies to

contribute her knowledge to her community and beyond.

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Name: Meghan Johnston

Date of Birth: April 9, 1990

Major: International Development and

History

Home/City: Ottawa

Passion: Empowering others

Favourite Quote: ―There are no great

acts in life, only small acts performed

with great love‖

Meghan Johnston believes that every person has the ability to create positive change

through every action that they take and that by working together we can make the world

a more just, peaceful and compassionate place. She is in her first year of university, and

while everyday brings her more confusion about her place in the world and where her

life is leading her, she knows that she will always be happy encouraging others to

believe in themselves and their passions. She is addicted to laughter, food, learning,

and traveling. She loves talking, meeting new people and trying to see things upside

down. Meghan wishes to thank all those she has crossed paths with (family, friends,

acquaintances and strangers), they have all taught her something valuable and have

given her a more complete view of the world.

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I was surrounded by people. It was my first day in El Salvador and I was marching in

a protest commemorating Rutilio Grande, a phenomenal human rights activist assassinated

30 years ago. There were thousands of people walking down a dirt road singing, shouting

and waving signs. Cries of ―Rutilio Grande vive‖, Rutilio Grande lives, came from every

direction. I had come to El Salvador to learn about the brutal civil war which had engulfed

the country in the 80s and to build houses in solidarity with the people of a rural village,

Alegria. Walking on my own, I tried desperately to take in the overwhelming emotions

coming from these passionate individuals who believed so firmly in activism and human

rights.

As I was trying to drink everything in, I saw my friend Mary deeply engaged with a

young el Salvadorian girl who I guessed was 9 or ten. Suzanna was in fact 14 years old and

lived in a nearby town. It became her mission to overcome our language barrier and have a

meaningful conversation. At this point my Spanish was horrendous, but Suzanna

encouraged me and wouldn‘t give up. I was so amazed that even when I couldn‘t answer

one of her questions or had no idea what she was saying, she just kept talking instead of

getting bored and walking away. We were able to ask basic questions for over an hour

through body language, gestures and the little we both knew of each other‘s language. I

learned about her school, her family and what she liked to do. This was my first

conversation in Spanish, as fractured as it may have been.

Suzana was a curious, intelligent and energetic girl who hadn‘t been afraid to walk

up to a stranger, introduce herself and to be willing to learn from them. More than this, she

was deeply caring and compassionate for someone who she had just met. Throughout our

walk she kept offering to carry my water bottle and backpack for me and after pointing to my

chapped lips she pulled out her lip gloss offering it to me. She told me I was ―bonita‖,

beautiful. But it was Suzanna who was unbelievably beautiful in her kind and loving nature.

It is from her: her patience, her fearlessness, her curiosity, and her unconditional love that I

draw the strength to believe in a world where all can live peacefully regardless of cultural

barriers. Suzanna turned to me and in English proudly and confidently said ―I love you‖. It is

in these words that connections are founded and built upon; it is through these words that

our lives become meaningful.

I believe that true change occurs in our interactions with each other. There is so

much we can learn from all of those around us, and I believe that there is so much we can

learn from the children of this world we just need the courage to open our eyes and to listen.

I have met countless children in my travels and here in Canada who have inspired me to re-

examine who I am and my place in the world. These children have motivated me to live with

unwavering love, to question the world around me and to challenge myself to journey

outside my comfort zone and act upon my beliefs with courage. As I strive to create a more

just, compassionate and peaceful world, it is their stories which keep me going.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the recognition that some things are more

important than fear” - Irshad Manji

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Name: Rebecca Cain

Date of Birth: 04 May, 1985

Major: Business Administration and

International Development Studies

Home/City: Luanda, Angola

Passion: helping orphans and singing

opera

Favourite Quote: ―kids can make a

difference‖

As a child Rebecca dreamed of protecting the orphans of the world. She continues this dream

and planes on opening a home for orphans in Angola. The home would be a place where the

orphans could feel safe and loved, a place they could call home and see each other as family.

The children would also have a good education and be encouraged to go into their

communities and help others in need. She still has not figured out how to fund the project, but

is taking Business Administration as one of her majors to help her hopefully make money in

the future to sustain this project. She also is hoping to find others interested in helping the

orphans of Angola through funding, volunteering, raising awareness or all of the above.

―We are all blessed to have been brought up in so much wealth. We have a roof over our

heads, food on the table, someone that loves us, some sort of protection, schooling, and

much more. There are kids out there with none of the above. I feel we should all do

something to help.‖ says Rebecca.

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The Most Beautiful Girl

When I was in high school a group of students and I volunteered at a government hospital in

Swaziland. We would go there once a week and spend time in Ward 8, which was a ward in the

hospital where abandoned kids lived. Friday was the best time of the week for me, not because

the weekend was around the corner, but because I would get to see the kids. I loved going there

to visit them. It seemed to make such a difference in their lives to know that someone actually

cared for them and was willing to go and see them every week. When we would arrive the kids

would run to greet us with wide smiles while others, who found walking a challenge, would hobble

over to us with enthusiasm. It was amazing seeing how happy they were over such a simple thing

as a visit. We would usually take them out and go to a park to play with them so that they could

see the world beyond the dark walls of the hospital. The kids who had no physical or mental

problems would usually get adopted or reintegrated back into their extended family. The other

kids, on the other hand, were left to live in a small room in the hospital surrounded by wards of

sick and dying people. It was not the best environment for a kid to be brought up in but at the

same time I felt happy that they actually had some place to live. The children ranged from ages

1month to 24years old. One of the babies whom we took out was a sweet little child who would sit

there and watch the world go by with a slight smile on her face. Her name was Lucianda. She

always had that sweet contented smile which filled us with so much love. A toddler who had AIDS

could enjoy life and smile at the beauty of the world while we constantly complained about

minimal things. This child was a real wake up call for me. How could I complain about my life

when I was fortunate enough to have a life. I am healthy yet complain about minimal aches and

pains, while this little child with AIDS was enjoying the little time she had left and not once

complained. Months passed, then the little girl started to look the other way when we would look

at her, as if she did not want to make eye contact. Her smile was now gone. Then one day she

turned her head the other way and did not want us to touch her. She died the next day. Our

hearts sank when we heard the news and we held a little funeral at our school along with the

abandoned children. The other children did not seem to understand what had just happened and

played merrily around the little tree we had just planted. Most of the children we worked with were

mentally handicapped or too young to understand. A month later another baby was dropped off at

the hospital and the children thought it was the same baby and started calling her Lucianda. This

is where I met the little girl who changed my life for good.

Her name was Sandan and she was about 1 year old. The moment we laid eyes on each other

we felt a deep connection. She stretched out her arms to me and I picked her up and this is how

our bond began. She was a fragile little thing and I had to quickly learn how to hold her properly

as it seemed that anything one did when touching her would produce a little groan from her. I

asked the nurses why this little girl felt so much pain and why her legs were like that of a skeleton

and they replied to me that she had AIDS. My heart dropped at the sound of those words. How

could such a delicate beauty have AIDS. She had barely started life, yet her death would be near.

She was so innocent and had done nothing wrong. Tears still form in my eyes at the memory of

my little baby. Every week she would wait for me and would cry when ever I had to go. She

refused to be picked up by anyone else. It was as if she had chosen me to be her mother. After a

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year she started to get sicker. Her skin broke out into large bloody wounds and the nurses told us

that no one could touch her. The sadness that overtook me was one that I had never felt before.

The sadness of a mother having to watch her daughter die a slow painful death and not be

allowed to comfort her baby. The only thing I could do was watch. In school they taught us about

AIDS and we had extensive lectures on the topic but while I stood there in front of her crib

watching her watching me I felt helpless and felt like I knew nothing. Surely there must have been

something I could have done. I was 17 at the time and felt like everything I learned in school

meant nothing as the only thing in life I wanted to know was how to save my baby and no one had

the answer. NO ONE!!!

It was at that point that I knew that I had to do something. It was too late to help my baby but it's

still not too late to help the ones that are unborn. I need to fight to make sure that less babies get

AIDS in the future from what ever means. My baby got it from her biological mother at the time of

birth. She was lucky to have not been one of the babies that got it through rape. How could we

just sit there and watch the news and do nothing? How could anyone sleep at night knowing the

horrors of the world and not do a thing? Someone once told me that it takes courage to get up

and do something. I disagree!!! If one has any sort of love in ones heart then that love can easily

over ride insecurity and fear. Everyone of us has it in one to help, the question is, do we care

enough to get up and do something?!

TGLC with Mike Robinson

The 2008-2009 Jack Matthews Fellow

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Name: Michelle Gauthier

Date of Birth: September 30, 1989

Major: Psychology

Home/City: Hamilton, ON

Passion: Music

Favourite Quote: ―Do what you can, with

what you have, where you are.‖ –

Anonymous

Michelle is a first year student who took a year off to do a program called Katimavik

which continues to be a major part of her life. She finds pleasure in just being immersed

in the company of her family and friends and she always tries to see the positive in

everything. Michelle plays the clarinet and loves to row. Indecision takes the best of her,

although it seems to subside when it comes to important decisions. She loves to travel

and would love to see the world one day. She would like nothing more than to help

people, which is why she decided to seek a career in psychology. It takes some time for

her stories to get out, but give her the time and you will get to know her.

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Katimavik

(to the tune of Make a Man Out of You from Mulan)

Let‘s get down to business

To participate

In Canada‘s-leading-national-youth-

program

Called Katimavik

You‘ll live in 3 different communities

And you haven‘t got a clue

Who‘ll be sleeping in the bed next to

you.

Orleans was very snowy

When we first arrived

But it was warmer than Alberta

Which we barely survived

We like our house because it‘s pretty big

And our neighbours here are neat

Overall, we think Ottawa‘s pretty sweet

Katimavik

You must adapt to the new surroundings

Katimavik

And be willing to volunteer

Katimavik

You‘ll learn to work in a team

And cooperate like a giant flock of geese

I‘m never going to be the same

Say hello to a real pay check

I‘m going to make bread for all my

friends

Next year‘s got me scared to death

I still need to find a job

I hope this isn‘t really where it ends

Katimavik

Tu dois t‘adapter à ton entourage

Katimavik

Être prêt à faire du bénévolat

Katimavik

Tu vas apprendre à travaille en équipe

Et coopérer comme une envolée

d‘oiseaux

Working and living in the community

Provided opportunities abound

We lived with families during billeting

And they showed us around

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We‘re really sad we have to go

And when there‘s things we have to do

We‘ll be sure to remember all of you

Katimavik

You must adapt to the new surroundings

Katimavik

And be willing to volunteer

Katimavik

You‘ll learn to work in a team

And cooperate like a giant flock of geese

Katimavik

Tu dois t‘adapter à ton entourage

Katimavik

Être prêt à faire du bénévolat

Katimavik

Tu vas apprendre à travaille en équipe

Et coopérer comme une envolée

d‘oiseaux

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I Was a Katima-Victim

Here is a tale of an experience that changed my life. I will take snip-its and summaries

of my nine month adventure. Who would think that living with eleven strangers would turn out

to be such an enjoyable thing? It was just that. Some people may call it hectic, maybe even

crazy, but I like to call it Katimavik. So besides living and working with a group of eleven

under the supervision of a leader, Katimavik‘s goal is to get youth involved in volunteering in

Canadian communities. We participants have 35-40 hour volunteer work weeks in three

different communities across Canada for three month periods. All the participants have to be

between the ages of 17 and 21. During the program I forgot about the age differences

completely. It was about forming friendships. When we were not working there was an

assortment of different things we could participate in: free time, planning activities, and doing

leadership workshops. Each trimester the participants get 48 hours off. They can go

wherever they want, plan to do whatever they want, just get away from the program for a little

bit. Now that I have provided a brief overview of what this whole Katimavik experience is

about, let me help you understand a part of my own particular experience.

Trimester one. This was the experimental time. I had no idea what I should expect

from all of this. Beautiful Inverness, Nova Scotia. Never heard of it? Neither had I until my

trip. It is on the West Coast of Cape Breton Island. It is very small, a population of about

1200 people, and our house somewhat reflected that. Imagine putting 12 people into half a

duplex to live for three months. That is what we experienced. Standing in our too-small-

kitchen-to-fit-a-table we could see the beach. No obstructions in the way, and so we called it

our backyard. The group became very close with each other and having personal space was

rare. Looking back at how small this house was makes me appreciate it. Without being

forced to have to see someone all the time, our group would not have been as close.

I worked with one other participant at the Inverness Cottage Bakery. This is a place for

those with disabilities to work baking bread and cookies and make crafts to be sold to the

community. We helped assist them in those areas. Outside of work, the group volunteered at

many occasions, but one in particular was Celtic Colours. It is a Celtic music festival held

every year. We helped direct traffic in the parking lots, sell water, usher people to seats, and

then stacked chairs afterwards. As previously mentioned, it was not all about work. Almost

my entire group decided to go to Halifax for our time off, so that is what we did. We stayed in

a hostel and just wandered the city. The most memorable part of this trip was that we

happened to stumble upon two individuals giving free hugs at a park. This really excited us

and so we asked if we could join them. For about an hour we would give hugs to passerby‘s,

making some of their days and just confusing others. Winter came all too soon and it started

to snow in our kitchen; we knew it was just about time to depart.

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Our next placement was also very snow ridden. In December Legal, Alberta does not

hold back on its snow and very cold weather. With unexpected delays in our flights, we

arrived late and feeling tired at our home, but were welcomed by our new leader with freshly

baked cookies. The group, now down to only seven, did not stay awake for too long upon

arrival. Christmas is when a lot of people start to feel homesick when they are away. Our

Christmas did not feel like Christmas to me, and I am a little thankful for that. This trimester

was filled with many surprises. Before we had arrived, our leader had volunteered us to work

at Camp Easter Seals. We had to travel south, which took us near Calgary for this. There

were many experiences and challenging tasks brought to our attention. What this camp does

is give disabled individuals the chance to have fun and do crafts. Some things that we

experienced were feeding, dressing and washing individuals. All this time spent with the

campers really gave me the chance to become friends with some. With all these events

going on, it kept my mind off of what I was missing back at home and provided me with the

opportunity to enjoy this Christmas with my new ‗family‘. Santa even visited and it was very

heart warming to see how excited the campers got. It was a very rewarding experience.

Starting in January was the volleyball league in town. For some reason our group was signed

up to participate in this. None of us could really play which made it much more entertaining

for us, but a little more frustrating for those we played against. It gave our group another

chance to have bonding time. It is just one of those things that you know you are not going to

win, so might as well just have fun, and sure enough that is what we did. Alberta gave us the

best ‗going away‘ gift that we could have asked for. The Northern lights danced for us. What

a sight it was.

We left spring in Alberta, to the remnants of the major snow storm in the Ottawa area.

By now I was ready for spring. This trimester, our group is back to 11. We had four new

members, and the amalgamation actually went surprisingly well. This is our last trimester and

time has already flown by. This year was Katimavik‘s 30th anniversary, and because of that

we had to do a special environmental community project. Many thoughts were thrown around

and in the end we decided on doing a garbage pick-up around the neighbourhood. This was

very successful and we had accumulated approximately seven garbage bags full of

recyclables and garbage. We got community members to join us as well as alumni. It was

interesting to see the types of things people will just discard. We had found a full pop can in a

bush, a half box of pizza, a CD and then just little things like wrappers and cups. In this

trimester I had also done something I never thought I would ever do. Recruiting a couple of

other people in my group to join me, we set out on our mission. This mission was to raise as

much money as we could for the Canadian Cancer Society. I was inspired by the people

close to me that had been affected by cancer. To help the incentive, the three of us girls were

going to be shaving our heads, but only one of us could actually donate the hair. We rose

over $600 in less than a week. The end of April came and my hair went. I was surprisingly

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calm about the whole thing up until I was about to sit in the hair dresser‘s chair. It was

probably one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.

When the program ended, each of us slowly got delivered to our respective places.

The airport crew was first and so I had to say goodbye to them before being driven to the bus

station where I would be departing from. All of us went our separate ways, but with our

memories of the past nine months and the promises of seeing each other again. It is still very

much a big part of my life and I love talking about it to whoever has the patience to listen. This

is one experience I will recommend to everyone.

TGLCers at the Champlain Winter Dinner

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Name: John Paul Nyereka

Date of Birth: January 9 1986

Major: Economics, International

Development Studies

Home: Lilongwe, Malawi

Passion: Developing myself

intellectually and creatively so I can

contribute to developing Rwanda

Favourite Quote: "The only thing we

have to fear is fear itself."

-FDR

John Paul was born and raised in Rwanda. He lived there up until the war in 1994 which

forced his family to flee to neighbouring Zaire. After living as refugees there and in

Kenya for five years, the family settled in the capital of Malawi, Lilongwe, where John

Paul excelled in his studies, became a professional videographer, started an IT

company, and was a member of the Malawi Central Region Basketball League. In

2008, John Paul earned a highly competitive scholarship in WUSC's Student Refugee

Program, which brought him to Trent University. The Trent community's activism,

diversity, and social consciousness have made John Paul feel at home in a radically

different environment, and have empowered him to contribute his unique perspective to

the university dialogue. In addition to learning many important things in class since

arriving at Trent, he has also learned to like some vegetables.

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In my young life I have had a lot of experiences, in a great many areas, which

have taken me on a winding path paved with roses and thorns (depending on when you

bother to look down). However, my intention is not to write a long biography of what my

life has been; rather, I would like to share with you a particular part of my life that I

enjoyed.

In late January 2005 a family friend, Pious, came to visit my family in Malawi from

Belgium. It is customary when someone visits from the West and to ask for specific

items the family would like to be brought as gifts. This practice serves several purposes

including avoiding unrealistic expectations among those you are visiting and increasing

the excitement of one‘s arrival by ensuring that everyone gets their requested gift. I

must say it is very effective in the latter regard, as was shown by the many smiles we

had when picking Pious up from the Lilongwe airport.

One of the gifts in the bags he brought impacted my life in the most profound

way; it would never be the same afterward. I know what you are thinking: I asked for

something really thoughtful, something full of potential. In fact, I had asked for Puma

shoes and brand-name t-shirts and of course, jeans. If you are wondering how clothes

could change my life, go no further because they didn‘t! What changed my life was one

of the gifts brought at my father’s request. He has always been a technology

aficionado, and gets very worked up by new gadgets. For instance, he was so amazed

about being able to access internet on his Smartphone that, being a doctor, he would

literally show his patients their diseases on his Sony Ericsson! My mother has to go

through his technology demonstrations everyday—poor mum.

At the point in his life when Pious came, my dad was crazy about something

fairly new on the technology scene: the digital camera. He obsessed about being able

to take pictures and look at them on the small LCD screen; it was the coolest thing on

his mind at the time. In accordance with Uncle Pious‘s offer, my dad ordered the latest

digital camera as his gift. Unfortunately and to his disappointment, Pious had a different

idea of what the ―latest‖ digital camera was and brought a fairly bulky video camera that

was a bit too big to carry around. Moreover, it was a little too complicated for him to

operate without making a fool of himself. Luckily the two bottles of cognac Pious

brought with him had helped calm him down! As always, when a new gadget is brought

into the house, I was put in charge of figuring out how it works.

Little did I know it this would mark the beginning of a relationship with that

camera that would take the both of us into unexpected places. This serendipity was

almost too exciting to handle. I started taking photos of family holidays, then friends‘

dinners, and editing the footage then recording it onto VCR tapes. Very soon, I became

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quite famous among Malawi‘s small Rwandan refugee community, and started getting

invitations to film other peoples‘ occasions and celebrations as well.

Through it all, I particularly liked shooting Rwandan weddings, so I am going to

share some of the memorable moments from those occasions that really made my

days. The most common incident—which frequently occurred and left me both laughing

and irritated—would be when I would be shooting and a group of people would come in

front of me and ask, Nagezemo? Urabe watcyizemo sha? This translates to ―Am I in the

video? You should put me in, young man.‖ Some of the more esteemed people in our

society found it not classy enough to just show up like that, so instead they would track

me down during the slow hours of the weddings, when everyone was eating, and they

would gather their families and then call me to take a video of them. In doing this they

were not really expecting to ever see the final video—rather, it was just the inspiration of

being behind the camera that mattered to them. After figuring that out, I would just put

them behind the camera and let them talk and eventually….....you guessed it, not

record anything at all! They will be happy either way, when I told them I was done, and

I must say it usually earned me great favours later on.

To get a good sense of my work and its conditions, I should give you some

background on the Rwandan society in general and their ceremonies in particular. The

Rwandan community is very hierarchically structured, mostly based on income and

nobility which includes generosity, having intelligent children and oratorical skills.

Oratorical skills are on particular display during festivities such as weddings and

funerals—after all, Rwandan weddings last a whole day and a good part of the night! In

a typical Rwandan wedding schedule, you will find two recurring activities which stand

out: enjoying refreshments (food and drinks), and delivering speeches. There is a

speech on anything and everything that you could imagine; there is even a speech

about wanting to give a speech, which is followed by a speech about accepting to hear

a speech, after which comes a speech of appreciation of recognition, and so on and so

forth. All these speeches are delivered in the Rwandan language Kinyarwanda. They

are characterised by plentiful and flawless poetry that is divulged through them.

To have a successful wedding there is a need to have the most notable orators

playing the role of the parents on the side of both the bride and the groom. This is a

common setting in Rwandan weddings; in fact it is unheard of for the real parents to

speak during the wedding, a celebration of food and words. Shooting these weddings

gave me a view I never imagined into my own culture; I could observe people more

closely through the lens, and catch priceless glimpses. One time, I captured an uncle

who was really throwing down the food like he had not eaten for a month. He tried to be

subtle about it too; he would look around at the photographers to make sure no one was

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watching, and only then start shovelling huge mouthfuls. His skill at flying under the

radar ended when I captured him on camera without him noticing, and focused in on

him. It was hilarious, but as for my relationship with him after that? Let‘s just say he did

not like me for a while.

Don‘t get me wrong though, not all the work was funny. There were some

serious and tense moments sometimes especially during photo shoots. These take

place after the church ceremony, when all those invited to participate, as well as any

other assertive guests, follow the newly married couple to a beautiful place—usually a

roundabout somewhere in the city—to take pictures that would preserve the moment.

The groom‘s mother-in-law usually has the final say as to how the shooting goes, and if

you haven‘t worked for a mother-in-law before, let me tell you they are some of the

toughest bosses in the world! This is just my opinion. The tension always came after

taking photos of the family, when the ‗boss‘ would start bringing all her lady friends for

me to take videos of. This would be followed by the children, then a rerun of them in

different poses followed by different combinations of people and children. Parts of it

would be fun like some of the poses that would be struck—especially when the lady

‗boss‘ and her ―BFFs‖ were on the scene. She would always insist on more and more

and stress how important the moment was for her, and I would cave, until the point it

was way too much and I had to approach her to say, ―I am sorry but I have run out of

battery.‖ That way was the only way to end the chaos gently!

Lastly there would be those moments which are outright surprising. In one

classic example, I had been shooting a wedding for the whole day and part of the

evening. After a long day of standing around shooting, I usually would sit with some of

my friends and have a beer. That was a treasured moment for me because I was

mostly working during the best part of the celebrations. So one time, I was with my

friends socializing and having fun when suddenly the father of the bride walked up to

me and began sermonizing. I approached him and congratulated him and he asked me

if I wanted a beer. It is customary to accept such an offer. I responded by saying, ―How

can I turn down your never-ending generosity?‖ He took me to the bar stock keeper,

and ordered him to give me anything I wanted for the whole evening. I turned to him to

thank him for his kindness, and he said to me, ―She is now wed! You could have

married my daughter!‖

They lived happily ever after!

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Name: Shirin Ping Nuesslein

Date of Birth: December 1989

Major: International Development

and Psychology

Home/City: The world! Home is

where the heart is =).

Passion: Engaging in deep and

meaningful conversations

Favourite Quote: ―Let your vision be

world-embracing, rather than

confined to your own self.‖ -

Baha'u'llah

Born to multicultural parents, Shirin Nuesslein had lived in Malaysia but was

mostly raised in Germany. Besides travelling within Europe, she has had the

opportunity to visit the rainforest of Malaysia where her grand parents had

resided in a little village as subsistent farmers. With itchy feet and an

adventuresome heart Shirin decided to spontaneously come to Canada by

herself after grade 10 to attend an international school. Year after year she has

been returning to Canada where she is currently pursuing her undergraduate

degree. She is a Baha‘i who believes in the oneness of humankind, equality of

women and men, elimination of prejudice and backbiting, harmony of science

and religion, and independent investigation of truth. Shirin has a strong desire for

learning and deems great importance to spiritual and moral education. She finds

her source of joy and inspiration in art, while contemplating about life, reading

wise writings, and most importantly while doing service.

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Reflection on What it Means to be a Global Citizen

I believe a global citizen is a promoter and supporter of ‗unity in diversity‘. To

cultivate appreciation, to show tolerance and respect towards other cultures, to

encompass a common vision of one unified people, and to encourage others to align

their school of thought to this notion; these aspects should be the endeavour of

everyone who feels passionate about the idea of a unified world. This vision is only

attainable when our words are also reflected in our actions. We should continually

bear in mind that we are all part of one humankind and unless we are serving

humanity we can not develop a prosperous, fair and ever-advancing world

civilization.

Just like Baha‘u‘llah, the founder of the Baha‘i Faith, describes aptly, we should

envision that ―The Earth is but one Country and Mankind its Citizen.‖

Reflection on some Experiences that have furthered my Understanding of

Global Citizenship

Thinking globally is only one of many important habits we can acquire in our quest

for solutions to global issues. Looking at the current state of the world, where

individualism, competition, dogmatic materialism, and apathy are dominant

expressions of human behaviour, this vision of a unified world and the celebration of

global citizenship might seem utopian and unrealistic to some people; however, we

should always bear in mind that there are, in fact, places in the world where this

vision is already taken as a serious goal.

Being born in Malaysia, and brought up in Germany amongst family friends from

various ethnic backgrounds, I was raised with an assortment of customs from

different cultures, an open mind, and an eagerness to learn and an appreciation for

diversity.

Ever since I had gone abroad to Canada I have had so many opportunities to go

beyond the mere awareness of global citizenship, and broaden my horizon on what it

means to be a world citizen. These ‗living & learning‘ opportunities include attending

an international school, participating in a service trip to Honduras, and coming to live

in the Trent Global Living Community. I am going to share some moments of

inspiration and learning experiences from my life, which emphasize how important it

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is to see ‗living & learning‘ for life as complementary to one‘s academic education; to

see education in a light that is for the betterment of the world.

Encouragement, support, service, good intention, friendship, diversity, and vision –

these words portray only a glimpse of the beautiful atmosphere of community

prevailing at Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute (NCCI), the international school I

attended. NCCI was designed as a school where academic excellence is pursued

within a moral framework. The moral framework that is followed consists of 19 Moral

Leadership Capabilities, three of which are the following: ‗thinking systematically and

strategically in search for solutions‘, ‗evaluating one‘s own strength and weaknesses

without involving ego; and ‗encouraging others and bringing happiness to their

hearts‘. Throughout my two years at the school I learned how important it is to be

educated in moral responsibilities and the obligation to society that comes along with

greater knowledge and understanding learned in the classroom. In Western society,

we spend the majority of our formative years in school, after which the average

graduate enters the working ‗society‘. In my opinion, it is not sufficient for a student

to be entering the working world with academic knowledge only. Unfortunately, there

are a myriad of trained professionals who use their knowledge to oppress and not to

uplift.

Just like in a family there was always someone you could lean on and would listen to

what‘s on your mind. Just like in a family you saw what it means to trust – for

example, you were ensured to find your sweater in the same place at school as you

left it the day before. Just like a family we consulted as an entire school body, from

primary school up to the principal, to point out the good and successful achievement

but also give suggestions to improve the atmosphere. Just like a family we also

learned through sharing and service. Going on a service trip was, in fact, a

mandatory component of our course called ‗World Citizenship Curriculum‘. We

served at an orphanage in Honduras where we facilitated classes on virtues, taught

lyrical dances about social issues such as poverty and racism, and we also

experienced physical hardship while building mixing cement by hand in the zenith of

the sun and little shade. Our friends in Honduras gave us much inspiration. They

demonstrated that happiness is in no way dependent on any material means and

that building a trusting and caring support network is essential, and that education

should be considered as precious and not burdening. We saw with our eyes how

children at the age of five brought their little baby sibling to the soup kitchen to

ensure nourishment for their family members. We saw such loving little boys who

would selflessly take one pencil crayon at a time to ensure everyone gets a chance

to colour. Also, we saw intelligent and eager children who could not go to school

because the teachers were on strike and these children did not complain about their

daily chores. Rather, they were happy they had a safe shelter.

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With the Diversity Dance Workshop, where we practised multi-cultural dances and

lyrical dances about social issues – including poverty, racism, abuse, drug abuse,

and gang violence – we performed in high schools and public settings to bring

awareness to social ills and celebrate unity in diversity!

I believe it is not sufficient to see an outstanding degree as the road to success.

Education only seems useful if it is used as means to contribute to the

transformation of society and the development of a world civilization. It is a gift to be

living in TGLC while being engaged in academic study. It is an enriching learning

environment where the willingness to learn is fostered and allows us to explore and

grow as a community. This process enhances the growth and development on an

individual, but also the collective level. Naturally, those privileged to live in such

atmosphere should feel responsible to emanate and share the skills and lessons

learned from this experience. Reflection on this topic led me to conclude that the

process of moral reasoning has to be incorporated in academic institutions so that a

firm foundation can be established and our full potential in serving humanity may be

harnessed. These institutions should truly be spaces for dynamic learning.

.

TGLCers with Professor Lorne Ellingson

―University as a path to personal growth‖ talk.

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Name: Emily Balderston

Date of Birth: March 14, 1989

Major: International Development

Home/City: Owen Sound, ON

Passion: Being alive

Favourite Quote: Empty yourself and

Let the universe fill you (Yogi Tea)

Emily is a first year student, currently learning how to read excessively and think

critically. She loves to jump around, garden, Nordic ski, cook, and talk. Last

year she had a wonderful experience in Katimavik (a nine month volunteer

service program for youth) during which she travelled, met amazing people from

across the country, and discovered the value of learning by experience. Emily‘s

future goals including finding meaningful work, travelling extensively and living

more sustainably.

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The Power of Understanding

Listen.

When I worked in a senior‘s home in Quebec, there was a kind old resident who

allowed me to escort her down to group activities that were run in the common

room. However, as a couple of months passed, she began, less and less, to

accept my offers to come down for bingo or crafts. Soon I dreaded stepping into

her room to invite her to the activities. Each time I went, though the kind voice

remained, I could see that she was tired and drained. It made me sad and

scared. One day as I lingered at her door, after she had once again turned down

my offer, she pointed out the window by her bed. I went to see what it was, but

saw nothing. She told me that often, as she lay there, she watched her squirrel

friend scurry back and forth. This, I could see, brought her great joy, and though

to me it seemed insignificant, I understood.

Learn.

I spent a couple of weeks working on a dairy farm. I had very little interaction

with the farmers. They were overworked, stressed out and worried for their sick

cow. They spoke to me only to list off my next chores and how to complete

them. Several times they spoke harshly to me for innocent mistakes. I found it

hard and frustrating to continue working for them. Two days before I left one of

them showed me how to make cheese. I watched as she eagerly showed me

how to stir the milk, let it set and thicken in the moulds. She encouraged me as I

followed her lead. I understood.

Teach.

I lived with two francophone girls who adored the song Imagine by John Lennon.

Though their English was very limited and they knew little of the song, they

played it over and over and hummed along. One day they asked me what it

meant. I sat down with them and we played the song, pausing after each line so

that I could provide a translation. I watched as the meaning of the song set in on

their faces, and they smiled. They understood.

When you share an idea, a thought, a skill with someone else you open them up

to a different perspective; your perspective. Through travelling I have discovered

that the power of shared understanding can break down the barriers of age,

language and culture. I understand.

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Name: Kate Simpson

Date of Birth: June 12 1990

Major: International Development

studies

Home/City: Pembroke, ON

Passion: Women‘s Rights

Favourite Quote: ―Courage is the

discovery that you may not win, and

trying when you know you can lose.‖

~Tom Krause

Kate started her life in an interesting way by being adopted, and now has a

wonderful relationship with both of her parents, and her birth mother. Kate‘s real

social justice initiatives started in high school, when she joined the social justice

committee, traveled to the Dominican Republic in grade eleven, and Kenya in

grade twelve. Although social justice has always been Kate‘s passion, she enjoys

many other random hobbies; such as playing Hamlette (yes you read that

correctly, it was a spoof of the play Hamlet) in a play, playing about a million

sports, crafting, and cruising in her minivan listening to Celine Dion. Some things

that annoy Kate are racists, ignorant people, slow drivers, trail mix pickers, and

the word moist. She wishes to live in some part of rural Africa for the rest of her

life.

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Monica

A story of a Kenyan Mama, and the reasons why she is the most amazing

woman I have ever met…

It is not only that she has 6 children, 1 of which she adopted, as a result of AIDs.

It is not only that she gets up at 4am to ensure her children are ready for school,

do chores and to walk 20 minutes each way to the river with her daughters to get

their days water.

It is not only that she, with the help of her sons takes care of her family‘s goats.

It is not only that she gets to see her husband once every month, because he

has to work in the city.

It is not only that she runs a store, which not only provides for her own family, but

has also created an income for many of the other families in the village by giving

them a place to sell their jewelry.

It is not only that she is very involved in her children‘s education, through the

school‘s parent group.

It is not only that she goes to bed last, to ensure the day‘s chores are done and

to spend some time making jewelry for her store.

It is not only that she is one of the leaders of a woman‘s lending association in

her village

Monica is the most amazing woman I have ever met because she does all these

things with more compassion, joy and love than I thought was allowed in one

person. She is the heart of her community, and has forever changed my world.

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The Misconception of the Global South

When people think of the global south they might think of poverty, instability,

danger, dirtiness, sorrow, and all around a place you would not like to visit. These

ideas have been cemented through the help of the media. I am sure you have seen

an infomercial before with some person from a rich country tramping through a poor

city in perhaps Africa or Latin America, telling you all sorts of melancholic stories;

giving the idea that we as the western, more privileged country need to go in and

help these poor people. We are told that we can help them by giving them handouts,

and forcing our ideas about development down their throats; I am not trying to tell

you that all of these organizations are terrible or that the sob stories aren‘t true or

that we shouldn‘t help these people. I just want you to look at these countries in a

different way.

I have had the privilege to travel to some of these so called ―dirty poor‖

countries, and found what you might not expect. I have experienced what true joy is,

I have had some of the most heart warming hugs, I have meet some of the strongest

people, seen some of the most beautiful places, met some of the most industrious

individuals, and have witnessed great innovation. I can go on and on. Where did I

find all of these things you ask? In Kenya and the Dominican Republic. Both

countries are unquestionably a part of the global south, ranking 91st and 145th

respectively out of 175 countries according to the Human Development index. Both

countries have experienced colonialism and all of its brutalities. Both have been

victims of the World Bank‘s structural adjustment programs which ultimately helped

the rich much more than the poor. And yet you find some of the most remarkable

people in some of the most beautiful settings, living in some of the most disturbing

conditions with little to no opportunity to rise out of their current situation.

All of the aforementioned points have certainly confused me. These citizens

living in these countries do not share many of the amenities and extravagances that

we have in Canada, yet they are some of the happiest people I have ever seen. As

cliché as it sounds, money doesn‘t buy happiness; however, I can tell you that it is

true. I would also like to go one step further and elaborate why this is. The

communities that I visited acted like one big family; they supported each other

unconditionally in times of desperation. Experiencing and simply witnessing their

unconditional love for each other will truly give you goose bumps. I have never felt

so comfortable and welcomed in my entire life when I visited their homes, and I

couldn‘t even speak their language. Where as in Canada, and I do realize that I am

generalizing, people tend to want to fend for themselves and are even embarrassed

to ask for help; I like to call this a ―closed door‖ society, where people keep their

problems to themselves and not in a community and shared space. However, it is

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possible, and important as global citizens to emulate what these people do so

naturally.

We can live in a space that embraces and celebrates other cultures, rather than

diminishing them; a place that you feel comfortable sharing your problems, fears and

frustrations. A place like the Together Living Learning Community that I live in this

year, we share a passion for development, world culture and truly care about the

lively hoods of other people. It has been such an enriching experience having the

opportunity to live with a group of such motivated individuals.

Countries such as Kenya and the Dominican Republic also have such deep

cultural roots, although these are starting to be tattered as a result of globalization.

These roots should be celebrated, rather than demolished, as we can learn from

some of their values and outlooks on life. I truly hope that these countries do not

develop in the way that Canada or the United States have, because this would mean

that their amazing and truly unique culture would be over taken with the western

―closed door‖ society; and although Canada does have its amazing traits and

characteristics, we have a lot to learn from these countries. What I want the reader

to get from this is to know that more is not always better, I want you to explore and

look into your roots and experience some of your own family culture that might have

been trampled by globalization. I also hope that you do not think of the global south

as just a place of desperation, poverty and filth. Instead, I want you to see countries

like Kenya and the Dominican Republic for their magnificence.

Monica

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Name: Maxim Gertler-Jaffe

Date of Birth: September 9th, 1990

Major: Cultural Studies (Film and

Social/Critical Theory)

Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Passions: Socially-Conscious, anything

film, theatre (acting and directing),

music, writing, politics and ethics.

Favourite Quote: ―The Roots of

Violence: wealth without work, pleasure

without conscience, knowledge without

character, commerce without morality,

science without humanity, worship

without sacrifice, politics without

principles.‖

- Gandhi

Maxim Gertler-Jaffe was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to two Social

Scientists. He grew up there with his younger sister, and would accompany his

parents on their travels around North, Central, and South America: going on

sabbaticals, attending conferences, and visiting family. He was raised to be

socially conscious, and the time he spent abroad further reinforced this. His first

taste of social activism independent of his parents came in Grade Six, when he

took part in Oxfam‘s ―Students Against Sweatshops‖ campaign. Since then he

has volunteered in many community organizations: The Fellowship for

Reconciliation and Peace, Saskatoon United Way, and the Saskatchewan

Council for International Cooperation being particular highlights.

Maxim has always found enjoyment in the arts; he began as an abstract painter,

by the age of four he had moved on to sculpture, and has since enjoyed dabbling

in any form of expression he can find, though sometimes to the annoyance of

those around him trying to sleep. His friends in high-school got him interested in

filmmaking and he has since taken part in the production of promotional videos

for a few different events and organizations and has worked on many of his own

short films. Maxim is now at Trent University in Ontario to receive a good liberal

arts education. He intends to continue his life pursuing his passion for socially-

conscious expression.

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Reproducing Reality: Film, Diversity, and Empathy

Mighty long arms

but you don’t know where

to reach,

Your vision’s clouded over

by self-gratifying

speech.

Let’s play a game of Blind Man’s Bluff

Learn a new way

to see

Our condition through a camera

Reach for shared

vivacity.

Any form of creation brings a certain amount of anxiety. The desire to create

something distinct and personally representable conflicts with the knowledge that

there have been innumerable perspectives expressed before; some of them must at

least bear some relation, and in some way precede, your work. I have worried about

this when filmmaking and I am worrying about this now as I choose to write

something about film. After all, there is a whole discipline involved with studying the

medium; any time I have spent ruminating about its nature would pale in comparison

to those authors of the uncountable books, articles, and even movies about the

subject. However, my unease fades as I realize that I want to write about this very

property of film; part of its power as a medium comes from its unoriginality. This

makes it an art-form well-suited for examining the diversity of the world‘s

innumerable perspectives.

Film is a reflection of reality, a kind of copy of an original. Contrast it with the

written word. Whereas a novel is a medium that often takes advantage of the

opportunity to immerse the reader in the intimate thoughts of characters, film

requires a more external interaction with the characters. We experience a

character‘s world as they experience it, but we often only see their reactions through

their exterior. This leaves the character more open to interpretation, so it is easier for

the audience to stretch how they feel the character is reacting in order to better

reflect how they might see themselves reacting in the situation. In a novel, the reader

might better understand the character, but the ambiguity of that character in film

makes it easier to relate to them. They are in a sense an empty shell, or might as

well be, since the audience cannot know specifically what is inside that shell. It is

easier for the audience to fit their experience to the emotion they see than to the

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specific motives for that emotion, which they are not as directly confronted with in

film. Film allows the audience to better empathize with the characters.

For an artist interested in portraying diversity, audience identification is

a valuable tool. Identification with the characters is one way to keep the audience

interested in situations that seem to have no relevancy to their own lives; they may

not see themselves in that situation, but they can see themselves feeling the same

base emotions as the character in a comparable situation. By creating empathy for

the characters, the artist is showing that these diverse situations are really just

variations on the same human condition.

The ability to use film this way creates many opportunities for constructive

filmmaking. It combats racist prejudices by emphasizing our shared humanity.

Empathy is the ultimate form of realism in that it allows the most direct relation for

the audience between the film‘s subject and the real world. Such realism also has

the potential to strengthen the fight against class in-sensitivities and other problems

that the audience may have deemed overblown, irrelevant to them, or that they did

not fully understand. These problems are not as easily dismissed when they are

made so real to the audience.

Another fitting property of film is that it leaves less ambiguity about these

problems. While character-wise film may be more ambiguous, it is much more direct

empirically. The novel relies on the reader‘s imagination to recreate the action; they

can only relate what they read to what they‘ve already experienced, and are not as

easily informed about situations of which they were not previously aware. Film is

much more confrontational. It imposes images and ideas on the audience, with the

potential to shock them through situations they had never before thought possible,

situations they would not have been able to adequately comprehend through

imagination-fueled approximations. While a good writer may be able to come close

to bringing the reader to a similar comprehension through skilled description, it is an

ability inherent to the visual medium. Film allows the filmmaker to fully impress upon

the audience the situations presented, forcing them to confront ideas they are

unfamiliar with.

When taken together, all these reasons show film to be a medium well-put to

portraying diversity. Its nature requires external representation, allowing the

audience to put themselves in the place of the characters, places that they might not

have been able to even imagine or comprehend before the film confronted them. It

humanizes others and gives a sense of reality to their situations, building empathy

for them and their hardships. Its power comes from its ability for reproduction of

reality; it reminds the audience of their own real experiences by representing other

people‘s real experiences. Film draws connections between people, allowing for

shared understanding and, ultimately, maybe even social change.

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Name: Sina Tabea-Chloé Naeder

Date of Birth: November 17th, 1986

Major: History, Politics

Home: ….unknown and yet to be

found

Passion: Living in places around the

world, having adventures, feeling

moments of unrestrained joy and

happiness and going beyond the

horizon.

Favourite quote: Watch your

thoughts; they become words. Watch

your words; they become

actions.Watch your actions; they

become habits. Watch your habits;

they become character. Watch your

character; it becomes your destiny.—

Lao-Tze

Tabea is a typical Third Culture Kid and is unable to honestly answer the question

where she‘s from. After being raised in Kenya, spending shorter periods in Israel,

Bosnia and France, she finally managed to spend several years in one country:

Germany. Then however she got the travel bug again and moved to Canada. Yet

she values her family above everything because ‗Home is where the heart is‘! She

loves having fun, is quite talkative, rather silly and has horrible time management

skills. Thankfully she has good organisational skills as she still strives for excellence.

She would do anything for her loved ones, including moving to another country –

which is what she‘s planning on anyway. She has decided to raise her three children

tri-lingual in Africa, learn several more languages herself, learn as much as possible

and to work for an NGO as she is hopelessly idealistic and romantic.

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These are four of the fables I was brought up with in Kenya. We know these tales better

than we know the tales of Snow White or Sleeping Beauty and I personally still don‘t

know what the deal was with the Puss in Boots or what the story of Rapunzel teaches

me apart from cutting my hair on a regular basis.

Our myths explain the world around us and why things are how they are. They explain to

us why the owl howls just before sunrise, why the mosquito buzzes in our ear or how the

lion became king of the animals.

Tabea Naeder

I. Why the Hippo lives in the water

Hot Hippo desperately wanted to live in the water. But the God of Everything and

Everwhere, Ngai, told the animals to live on the land and the fishes to live in the sea.

This is the story of how Hot Hippo came to live in the cool river instead of on dry land.

Hippo was hot! He sat on the river bend and gazed at the little fishes swimming in the

water. ―If only I could live in the water – how wonderful life would be‖, he thought. So he

walked and he ran and he strolled and he hopped and he lumbered along until he came

to Kirinyaga (Mount Kenya), the mountain where Ngai lived. Ngai was the God of

Everything and Everywhere. Ngai had told the animals to live on the land and the fishes

to live in the sea. Ngai had told the birds to fly in the air and the ants to live under the

ground. Ngai had told Hippo he was to live on the land and eat grass. ―Please oh great

Ngai, God of Everything and Everything, I would so much rather live in the rivers and

streams. I will still eat grass!‖, begged Hippo. ―Aha‖, thundered the voice of Ngai, ―so you

say! But one day you might just eat a fish to see if it tastes good and then one day you

will eat all of my little fishies.‖ ―Oh no, I promise I wouldn‘t!‖, answered the Hippo. ―Aha,

so you say! But how could I be sure of that? I love my little fishies!‖, replied Ngai, the

God of Everything and Everywhere. ―I will show you. I will let you look in my mouth

whenever you like to see that I am not eating your little fishies and I will stir up the water

with my tail so you can see I am not hiding the bones.‖, suggested Hippo ―Aha, then you

may live in the water, but….‖. Hippo waited. ―But you must come out of the water at night

and eat grass so that even in the dark I can tell that you are not eating my little fishies.

Agreed?‖ ―Agreed!‖

And Hippo ran all the way home until he got to the river where he jumped in with a

mighty splash and he sank like a stone because he couldn‘t swim but he could hold his

breath and run along at the bottom which he does until this very day. And he stirrs up

the bottom by wagging his little tail so Ngai can see he is not hiding any bones and

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every now and then he floats to the top and opens his mouth ever so wide to show Ngai

he has eaten no fishies!

II. How the zebra got its stripes

In the early days when the earth was young, the land was hot and dry. In this new world,

water could only be found in a few small holes scattered around the desert. At one such

waterhole, a baboon stood guard. The baboon proclaimed that he was the owner of this

waterhole and no one could drink there. He said that this water was his alone. The

baboon would always chase anyone who came by to drink. The baboon had built a fire

close to the pool so that he could protect it even during the very cold desert nights. One

day a zebra came by to allay his thirst after a very long and tiring journey. In these early

days, the zebra had no stripes. He wore a dazzling coat of pure white fur. The baboon

jumped up in anger when the zebra approached. "Who are you? Go away! I am the lord

of this water! It is mine." The zebra was in no mood to listen to this selfish baboon. "This

is not your water, you ugly monkey, it belongs to everyone" shouted the zebra.

The baboon was furious and said that if the zebra wanted the water, he must fight for it.

The baboon and the zebra were soon engaged in a fierce struggle. Locked in combat,

they rolled around back and forth around the waterhole. Finally, the zebra gave one

mighty kick and the baboon was sent flying high up into the rocks behind the

waterhole. But the zebra had kicked the baboon so hard that he lost his balance and fell

into the baboon's fire. The zebra sent burning sticks flying into the air when he tried to

escape the fire. These charred sticks left black scorch marks all over the zebra's fine

white coat. Hurt and frightened, the zebra galloped to the plains where he has remained

ever since. Eventually, the zebra came to like his new apparel which made him stand

out among the other animals.

The baboon in the meantime, had landed on his rear-end with a mighty thud against the

hard rocks. The baboon has remained in the koppies ever since, nursing his bald red

bottom, still as angry as ever.

III. How the Crocodile Got Its Skin

The crocodile originally had a smooth golden skin, and it stayed that way because the

crocodile would spend all day in the muddy waters and only come out at night. All the

other animals would come and admire its beautiful golden skin.

The crocodile became very proud of its skin and started coming out of the water to bask

in the other animals' admiration, even while the sun was shining. He began thinking he

was better than the other animals and started bossing them around. The other animals

became bored with his change in attitude and fewer and fewer started showing up to

look at his skin. But each day that the crocodile exposed his skin to the sun it would get

uglier and bumpier and thicker, and was soon transformed into what looked like bulging

armor.

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Crocodile never recovered from the humiliating shame and even today will disappear

from view when others approach, with only his eyes and nostrils above the surface of

the water.

IV. How The Turtle Got It's Shell

A long, long time ago the world as we know it now was a very different place. It wasn't

just the world that was different. The animals were also different. The turtle didn't have

its shell. In fact the turtle used to be the fastest animal that ever walked on the planet

until one very unfortunate day.

It all started when a group of animals decided to hold a big race around the world to see

which animal was the fastest traveller. The cheetah called his best friend, the hyena, to

try and come up with a scheme to beat the turtle. The big day finally came and animals

from around the world came just to participate in this race. As the race was about to start

the turtle noticed that the cheetah was wearing a big grin on his face. But that didn't stop

the turtle from competing in the race and winning it. Later on in the race the hyena

jumped out in front of the turtle who was coming first and dropped a rock the size of the

turtle's body on him. The rock was so heavy that the turtle slowed down to a crawl.

Eventually the cheetah caught up to the turtle, stole the lead and won the race.

A couple of millenniums have passed since that day and the rock seems to evolve into a

shell by itself. Now no one knows how that happened. The shell is still on the turtle‘s

back and he is spending all his time trying to finish that race while the Cheetah now is

the fastest animal alive.

TGLCers hanging out at our delicious potluck

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Name: Jaya Bastedo

Date of Birth: November 24, 1989

Major: Environmental Science and

International Development

Home/City: Yellowknife, Northwest

Territories

Passion: I have many passions but I

am especially passionate about

community, experiential learning and

laughter.

Favourite Quote: At the height of

laughter, the universe is flung into a

kaleidoscope of new possibilities.

- Jean Houston

Growing up in the Northwest Territories Jaya has always felt a deep connection

with the outdoors and northern culture. She loves cross country skiing, camping,

the smell of rain and picking wild cranberries at her cabin in the bush. She

spends her summers at Camp Wanapitei leading young kids on canoe trips

through the Temagami area. Last year she took a year off before starting

university to participate in a volunteer exchange program called Canada World

Youth. During the program she got to spend three months volunteering and living

in a host family in Prince Edward Island and four months in Yichang China. She

has become obsessed with the idea of community living and learning through

experience and she now loves sharing her university experience with TGLC.

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My Chinese Mother

We do no use complete sentences

Our language is gestures and laughter

Zao shang Hao!

Her smiling face reflected in my bedroom mirror

Frantic and late I rush

But take time to hide my laundry

She hands me a bag of baozi

Bye Bye!

I rush out the door

Back home again

Tired and happy from teaching

My underwear flutters on the balcony

Wo de… ni bu… Xie Xie

She just smiles

Chi fan!

She hands me a bowl of rice

We sit at the table

Hao chi de hen!

Lotus root and pork stew

Spicy green beans

Deep fried corn

I race to clear my plate when we‘re done

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But she‘s always ahead of me

Xie Xie, Xie Xie

I hand it over

Zou, Jaya, Zou,

She‘s standing by the door

Marching on the spot

A walk? A parade?

I follow her out the door

We walk through her city

I want to know the stories of the people, the food,

Everything

Instead I follow

And through her gestures,

Greeting neighbors,

Bargaining with shopkeepers,

Grabbing my arm to cross busy streets,

A story is told

We walk to the river

Boats lit up in the dark

Music

People dancing under the bridge

We join in

My Chinese mother

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Me

And a hundred others

Dancing on the bank of the Yangtze river

I want to thank her

Thank her for everything

Xie Xie Shi A‘yi, Xie Xie!

Xie Xie, Xie Xie

She smiles

Hugs me

And understands

Together we dance

Jaya and her host family: clockwise- Dadu yuan xūxū, Jaya, her counterpart

Grace/Yuanli and Mam xeaiyi.

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Name: Emma McNamara

Date of Birth: October 17th, 1988

Major: International Development

Studies

Home: Peterborough

Passion: Acquiring knowledge from

anyone and everyone

Favourite Quote: ―A good head and a

good heart are always a formidable

combination‖ –Nelson Mandela

Emma is a passionate young woman whose has a great enthusiasm for life and the day

to day adventures that it brings. She has grown to become a passionate global citizen

who through the idea of universal responsibility believes in equality for all and that there

needs to be collective action by all to attain this goal. Emma grew up in a small,

supportive family consisting of her Mom, Dad and older sister, Sarah. With the support

that Emma has felt from her family she has been able to explore many different

avenues and continues to learn as much as she can. Through school activities and

community engagement, Emma has become involved in many various volunteer

experiences including lobbying on Parliament Hill, the Students‘ Assembly for Electoral

Reform, a Make Poverty History Youth Committee and most profound, a cultural

enrichment volunteer trip to Kenya. Throughout Emma‘s life she has taken on obstacles

with enthusiasm and has learned from each and every experience that has been

presented to her.

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As I boarded a plane on route for Kenya my heart filled with many different

emotions, feelings of enthusiasm, nervousness and a vast sense of adventure. Entering

a new country with little knowledge of it and its people gave me the opportunity to open

myself up to any new learning experience that presented itself to me. The overall theme

that I learned, that this trip was able to provide me with was that of learning about

resourcefulness, creativity and passion.

Far too often I find myself taking many of my everyday luxuries as common

amenities which are sometimes naively thought as everyone being able to have no

matter where they live, their lifestyle or their education level. Fortunately this

enlightening adventure gave me the opportunity to educate myself on a small fraction

the immense poverty that occurs in Kenya. In addition, I gained insight into some of the

bright and hopeful ways that people are dealing with their poverty. At the same time

also learning how they were turning their creativity and resourcefulness into useful

practices to find alternatives they can use to continue living happy, full lives for

themselves and their families. There are two main events that I clearly remember that

will stay with me and be in the back of my mind for a very long time to come. Both of the

events that I was able to observe were in the small village of Ulungu, in the Eastern

region of Kenya where we spent about a week living. We stayed at the local minister,

Ben‘s house which was situated at the center of the village with St. Luke‘s Church, a

vocational school for girls, a nursery school, a windmill powered well and a water depot

all within a stone‘s throw away.

My first introduction to the lives of the girls at the school was by touring their

small classroom which was to accommodate about 20 female students learning to

become seamstresses as their trade. For many of these girls, the vocational trade of

becoming a seamstress is the alternative that many of them are faced with when they

are unable to continue their education into high school due to family priorities and

responsibilities. This trade is a way for them to attain some financial security or

contribution to their family. While I was at first saddened by the fact that many of these

girls would never achieve an education past form (grade ) six or eight, I later found

myself once looking closer at each girl individually—especially Macy who I grew to have

a friendship with—I found that these girls were using their creativity to find inventive,

resourceful ways to be able to practice their sewing skills without wasting money and

fabric. The ingenious solution to their lack of resources was found in a small butcher

shop in the neighbouring city of Kitui, about one hour away by car, a rarity in Ulungu.

The girls and their instructor were able to make a deal with the shop owner to be able to

use his scrap butcher paper to practice their sewing skills as well as making patterns

and models of dresses and clothing they were able to construct. Through the inventive

nature of these young girls they were able to find an unconventional solution to their

ever present dilemma. This is just one simple example of how creativity can be

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harnessed and used to jump start new ideas and initiatives which are able to transform

marginalized girls such as those who attend this vocational school into young women

with the power to take their lives and potential into their own hands and find new ways

to develop their skills to evolve their lives into the successful ones that they are working

hard and striving to have. To be able to see the ways that these girls were able to use

their resourceful nature in an innovative way to gain access to materials that are

unconventional but are functional for the task which needs to be performed gave me a

outlook on how I personally have not been imaginative enough for many aspects of my

life. For many people in the North I find that unless the specific thing is placed in front of

them or they have direct access to the resource, they are unable to complete the task

because they do not think outside the box enough to look for the alternatives that may

be right around the corner. Many people give up much too quickly in achieving what

they want because it is either too hard to accomplish in their eyes or it takes too much

effort for them to take the steps that will give way to their goal. The girls from Ulungu not

only taught me to look for alternative outlooks and perspectives on specific tasks but to

use potentially unconventional outlooks on life to get the full perspective of all those

involved and all the different ways that life can be good.

The trip to Kenya sparked a passion in me that I never felt in my sixteen years

before I travelled to rural areas. Here was where those who wanted something not only

went after it but usually succeeded in attaining their goal because they were so zealous

about it. I was able to see how people adapt to their environment and surroundings to

get the most out of it.

On the Sunday we were in Ulungu we went to one of the small local Anglican

Churches to hear the sermon. What I learned that day did not happen in the church but

afterwards when we went for a walk to see one of the local wells that the community

members use that they were hoping to replace with a safer, more efficient water

distribution method. On the walk we were able to see many people along the way;

working on their farms, as well as sculpting pottery in small shops doubling as their

homes, as well as groups of children playing mostly with just with each other goofing

around but then we came across a group of boys. The group of about ten boys in total

had about four of five of them with handmade wooden bicycles. This was one of my

highlights of my time spent in Kenya as this was one moment that was absolutely full of

enjoyment and the sense of pride these boys had as they shared with us. Their

homemade bicycles and sense of satisfaction in showing the mzungus that they too can

use the resources available to them to their advantage just as their parents do with

business ventures and their everyday struggles.

In the minutes that we spent with these children I felt a sense of complete

admiration for what the boys could do by using their imagination and creativity. They

were able to create and construct different types of bicycles made almost completely

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out of scrap wood, sticks and branches with the exception of small wheels from various

old vehicles or tools. With the initiative that these boys demonstrate to create the

bicycles they so desired instead of waiting and wishing to get them is astounding and I

found myself thinking this is what more people need in their lives. Personally I took my

time in Ulungu to heart. I found that by visiting with the young girls at the vocational

school as well as meeting the boys on their bicycles gave me a real visual on what it

means to take control of your life in even simple ways. Imagination, creativity and

passion are traits which need to be present in my life to bring out the best in it and learn

from those around me in all the ways possible, especially unconventionally. I think that

by taking a page out of the books of the young people that I met in Ulungu, I and others

will hopefully be able to open our lives up to new opportunities and learning experiences

to benefit us in the best way possible.

Group of boys with their handmade bicycles ready to race in Ulungu.

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Name: Kengo Miyata

Date of birth: March 15th, 1990.

Major: TBA.

Home: Tokyo, Japan.

Passion: experiencing different culture.

Favourite quote: ―When in Rome, as the

Romans do.‖

Kengo was born in Osaka, Japan. When he was in 4th grade, he moved to the biggest

city of Japan, Tokyo. He speaks the Osaka dialect even though he now

lives in Tokyo. He graduated from an all boys‘ junior high school and high school. He

was the president of the student council for a year. He has played baseball for over

three years as a back catcher and still plays today. He has also learned martial arts

and has three years of intense training. He envies Canadians because they can watch

major league baseball in the Rogers Centre. He has mainly learned English by

Canadian teachers. He likes cars, books and hi-tech things. Since he came to Canada,

the Canadian culture and the people that have surrounded him have influenced him in

a very positive way.

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How to overcome reverse culture shock

Since I have been studying in Canada, I have experienced many differences

between Canada and my home country Japan. When I returned to Japan during

this winter break, I faced reverse culture shock for a while. I was home in Japan

for three weeks which allowed me to spend quality time with my family and

compare Canadian and Japanese culture. Reflecting on my experiences during

this past break, I would like to introduce how both countries are different and

how I overcame this reverse culture shock.

First, I would like to give some examples of the differences between both

countries.

In Japan, everyone looks similar because they tend to follow the same trends

and care a lot about appearances and what other people think or how others

may judge. For example, if you are wearing clothing that is not traditional, you

may come across in society as different or strange. Japan has a population of

127 million people and is a homogenous society. Many people dress similarly or

share the same cultural traditions.

In Peterborough no one wears the same kind of clothes. There is a bit more

diversity here. If you are wearing something different, you can still be accepted

and come across as unique.

When they bump someone‘s shoulder they do not apologize.

There is a stereotype in Japan that people in North America do not apologize

for anything because we think they are litigious persons. In fact, Canadian

people have demonstrated to me that this stereotype is completely untrue.

Because even if a small matter occurs, Canadian people immediately apologize

for these incidents. Canada is not as densely populated as Japan. The

sidewalks here in Canada are wider and there is generally more space on the

streets. Therefore, bumping shoulders with someone else does not happen as

often.

In the end, these facts made me struggle with reverse culture shock. Because

throughout my experiences in Canada, even if Canadian society and Japanese

society are extremely different, I suppose I have been adjusted to Canadian

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society. Therefore, it was hard for me to readjust to Japanese customs.

However, the way I got over reverse culture shock was by simply talking with

my family and going out of my house into reality. Eventually, these ideas

prompted me to reaccept and readjust to Japanese society. At the same time I

realized that I like Canada, Trent University and friends in this university.

TGLCers hanging out after WUSC discussion with Paul Davidson

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Name: Mitchell Thomas Beck

Date of Birth: May 16, 1990

Major: Some joint major between

Biology, Geography and Environmental

Science

Home: Caledonia, Ontario

Passions: Self-Actualization, History,

Religious Philosophy, Biology,

Citizenship, World Issues, Ethics, Team

work, Life long learning, Running, the

Wilderness, teaching, Politics, Culture

and Art.

Favourite Quote: ―Greater in combat,

than a person that conquers a thousand

times a thousand people, Is the person

who conquers herself‖ (The

Dhammapada)

I come from the small, cozy, conservative and somewhat infamous town of Caledonia.

To understand who I am is largely due to my upbringing. I am an only child and have

been fortunate enough to have two excellent parents who have sacrificed much in their

life for my welfare. I have always been passionate about many things in life including my

resolve for personal growth. My community was always very supportive of me just as

my parents and family were but for a long time I have wanted to travel and explore my

country along with some places around the world. My new home is Trent University and

I love the atmosphere that it exudes. Currently, I am heavily involved in all forms of

learning at Trent University. My short term plan for my future is to hopefully be a Don

next year, take a special GIS course at Fleming College third year and fourth year study

abroad perhaps in Whales. Afterward, I intend to pursue graduate studies and would

one day like to teach at a university, perhaps, as a professor. However, the most

important thing that I have been pursuing this year has been discovering ―who I am

being‖ and focussing not necessarily on the path I wish to follow but instead the

direction that I wish to head in my life.

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My Residence Experience

There may be few moments in life when someone has the luxury to step back

and see their place in the big picture without being caught up in one of life‘s duties,

responsibilities or obligations. Such moments may hold the power to change a person

for all time. I have been fortunate enough to have experienced one of these precious

moments this year which would not have occurred if I had not lived in residence. Living

within residence gave me the opportunity to undergo a process of self-discovery,

essentially, so I could know myself in part. I often found myself becoming more aware,

oriented, open and flexible with others as the year progressed. This year showed me

how important community really is to me as it was a catalyst for my own personal

growth. It did not cause the growth but it certainly helped speed up the process. A

community can be both liberating and restricting but it was the restrictions that taught

me a lot about myself. I learned to recognize the sensitivities of others and to show

restraint in behaviours that might offend people. This is why living in a residence

community was sometimes difficult as I had to integrate and cooperate with many

people of various backgrounds often on a fundamental level. For example, sharing a

common space such as a co-ed bathroom or living on a floor composed almost entirely

of women required me to be flexible, aware, and open with others so that I could

successfully integrate myself into a unique environment. Living with my peers also

opened my eyes further to the strengths and weaknesses of my character as I was

always able to receive helpful feedback from them. Unlike a sycophant who always

agrees with you or a clique which may impose its narrow beliefs of the world upon you,

a residence community works to dismantle your narrow vision of the world and helps

you to adopt a healthier, wider frame of reference.

Although many of the people I lived with in residence have had ―transformative‖

experiences abroad, many have told me that living in residence at university has been a

unique experience for them. Throughout this year I have often dwelt on the importance

of this rare, fleeting opportunity to capitalize on my exposure to numerous people of

diverse backgrounds. I believe it is an important time to reach out and build deep, fruitful

relationships with many different people. At the same time it is also an extraordinary

chance to hear the life stories of your peers, to reflect on the experiences that you have

in common and the ones that make you one of a kind. However, university residence is

exceptional not just because you live in close proximity with diverse people of the same

age but because of the life stage you and your peers share. It is a life stage of almost

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unprecedented personal growth as you are likely thinking critically about yourself, the

world around you, the lifestyle you wish to have or the career path you wish to take.

What is so special about living on campus with your peers at this time is that you have

the opportunity to see the choices they make under these same circumstances and to

learn from their achievements and missteps. Thus, I feel it is an important time to

immerse yourself in a powerful peer learning experience. In the end, this year will

always be special to me as it was the first time that I felt that the mold of my life was

fully in my hands to break.

TGLCers with Dr. Robin Lathangue

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Name: Caitlin Currie

Date of Birth: October 7th 1989 Major: Women Studies Home/City: Whatever city she happens

to be in Passion: HIV/AIDS Awareness, Gender Equality and Laughing

Favourite Quote: ―Never retract, never explain, never apologize; get things done and let them howl.‖ – Nellie

McClung

Caitlin Currie was born a rather stocky child in a suburb just out of Ottawa. Her parents

often lent her out to farmers so she could plow their fields or the city so she could roll

over their freshly laid cement. Much to her parent‘s dismay, Caitlin soon grew out of this

phase and became the beautiful smart young lady she is today. Nonetheless, the she

kept the strength that only years of hard physical labor can produce. Caitlin spends the

majority of her time sleeping and eating tofu. Though, when she can, she also

contemplates the different roles that various minorities play in society, all the while

making time for her favorite Trent group, Trent Prevention Initiative. Caitlin‘s favorite

moment in life was the moment she realized that, if she wanted to, she could do

anything she wanted. The only limits are the physical laws of nature.

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Eunice

You‘ve been lied to. HIV can be passed through a touch. Eleven months

ago I met a woman. I was immersing myself in Ghana, in West Africa. Ghana is

a beautiful country full of beautiful souls. And it was on one humid January day,

in the east of this small country, when I met Eunice. When I first met her, she

sat extremely frail on a bench in the middle of the compound. The moment I

saw her, I knew she had the deadly virus. Although she greeted me with a

genuine smile, I could see the pain she was feeling in the pupils of her eyes and

the curl of her shoulders. It was almost 30 degrees out and yet she wrapped

herself in cloth and begged the sun to allow her to soak up its heat. When I met

her she was in her late thirties. She had little education and speaks very little

English. Our verbal communication was limited but we did not allow our

friendship to be contained to morning grins.

I spent the next two months living beside her. She gradually became

more than a neighbour. It began with a small gesture, such as politely asking if I

was hungry, and developed to a mother-daughter relationship. She laughed at

me when I didn‘t cook rice as she would, she would pester me about where I

was venturing off to during the day, and each time she would spot me, she

would yell out my name in a tune she had embedded with love.

Eunice didn‘t normally stay in the room she was living in when I met her;

she had come there because she was growing weak. She needed to be near

the hospital in the city. She left her village, her family, her home with the hope

she needed to become strong again. I was once told that Eunice was a

business women; she could sell anything in the market. I still wonder how her

family survived without her able and present.

Near the end of my stay I met her daughter; she came for a brief visit. 15

and already as beautiful as her mother she told me of how she dreamt of being

a journalist. She spoke to me delicately as we played games together on the

cracked cement. I could see the pain she also held her in eyes. I discovered her

strength as she completed housework for her mother; she continues to keep

her head up. Not only for herself, but for her family.

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I watched Eunice‘s journey in the city, her path towards health. She

gradually began to eat more, sleep less and became stronger. With the support

of those around her she no longer crouched on the bench; she could now work

around the compound. She no longer draped cloth over her shoulders; she

walked freely. Eunice began to stand tall and her ebony skin rediscovered its

glow. A woman, who could once see her final stage of life at the beginning of

AIDS, could now go home again to support and love her family. Nothing made

me happier than seeing the pain in her eyes disappears and the beauty of her

smile sprawl across her entire face. Each time I looked her, each time I now

whisper her name, I think of another reason why I want to demolish this deadly,

life consuming virus in my lifetime.

I told you, you‘ve been lied to. HIV can be passed through a simple

graze, a crossed path. And now I touch each of you. I pass on Eunice‘s story so

HIV will not only be her battle, or my battle, but all of ours.

TGLCers and friends with Dr. Maitseo Bolaane, visiting scholar from the University of

Botswana, who discussed Botswana’s political economy and diamond industry

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Walking Barefoot

Only after being in Ghana for two months did I finally take off my sandals.

I had kept my soles from truly feeling the red dirt that was underneath me. I

suppose I was scared. Worried that it would hurt, frighten me or even that I

would enjoy it. But after two months of living in solidarity with a rural village, I

felt that I could only continue this journey if I stripped myself of my last worries

and fears and allow myself to become vulnerable. The only thing that separated

me from Ghana and my true self was the sandals I had purchased at the market

for 5000 Cedis‘ or 50 Canadian cents. But I just leaped. I took them off and

never looked back. The sensation I experienced was thrilling. The feeling of the

hot dirt on my feet overpowered the heat on the back of my neck. I squished my

toes in the sand and jumped into the muddy ground when I fetched water. My

neighbours laughed at me. They asked the children why the white girl was not

wearing shoes. Only the children ran through the village with bare feet. I smiled

at them, knowing well enough I wouldn‘t be able to give them an answer. Each

time I looked down I saw filthy feet; my feet had turned black from the ground

and painful calluses and blisters were forming. The transition my feet took was

parallel to that of my soul; both were being worn away and rebuilt at time

passed. Walking barefoot around a village in Ghana was the way I chose to

physically journey and came to be the way I journeyed emotionally.

Back in Canada, although cultural norms and weather won‘t permit me to

undo my laces and walk around shoeless, I will continue my journey with bare

feet. When I look down, although I will see whatever footwear I chose for that

day, I will know underneath are the same dirty feet with the scars of blisters.

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Thank You

TGLC would like to thank all the people that helped make this year a

great and enriching experience for all the participants. We would like to thank

Dr. Michael Allcott, Mike Robinson, Paul Davidson, Lorne Ellingson, Dr. Robin

Lathangue, Dr. Maitseo Bolaane, TGLC Alumni, Trent Housing Services

including Judy Morozuk, Colleen Lewis, Laura Storey, the Seasoned Spoon,

and everyone else who made this year a rewarding and fulfilling experience for

all of us TGLCers.

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