Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Montreal Springs
WARNING: This is a piece that I wrote for a class. I think that I have said this enough that most people know but here goes the disclaimer. I AM NOT AGAINST people march against tuition hikes. The facts in here are all recycled, I know you've heard it a thousand times. This is not about people who choose to wear red squares or march for a cause. It is about the senseless rioting taking place in Montreal and about the fact that the media continuously refuses the cover the negative aspects of it. There are two sides to every story so this is another one. Again, this is a class project so mind the drama of it all - it's homework.
The feeling of piercing your nose is an odd one. The pressure of the needle triggers your tear ducts and so before you even feel the pain, you begin to cry. The first time I was tear gassed was much the same. It wasn’t until after my eyes welled up that I felt the burning sensation in my nose and my throat. And that was just the first time. You could say that I have a tendency to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But I don’t. I just live on the edge of an eruption.
I go to school in Montreal and so for the past several months I have walked to school behind a parade of red felt squares, been yelled out of lecture halls, stood in the snow for 6 hours just for the right to attend classes that I’ve already paid for because I, like the ignored 2/3 of Quebec students, do not stand for the strike.
Many in Canada are eager to show their support, despite the fact that even with the proposed hikes Quebec students will pay under $4000 and still be in the top three for cheapest provinces in which to go to school. “But it will lower enrolment!” Except that even with students paying nearly $7000 a year, Ontario still maintains the highest proportional University enrolment numbers. I understand why Quebec students are scared. Their tuition has been frozen for the better part of 40 years and the idea of matching inflation seems abrupt.
So thank goodness reps of the student union CLASSE have their backs and are eagerly waiting to take upwards of 2 grand of tuition from every faculty in Quebec to fund the strikes. They call for free education but ironically demand a hefty sum from all student groups. To make matters worse, when the Quebec government was willing to negotiate the hikes they failed to show up for comment at the press conference to update students. Nothing says free education like a membership fee.
But none of that is objectionable. It’s an opinion that students have the right to hold and although I won’t march with them I was pleased to see that nearly 400,000 people showed up to the last protest, an incredible accomplishment for the movement. But that’s hardly representative of the turn that the strikes have taken.
On May 19th, Molotov cocktails were thrown at police on one of the busiest streets in Montreal. The news focused on the ‘peaceful demonstrations’ against Bill 78. On May 20th, more than 60 people were arrested for marching into the bar district on a crowded Saturday night and setting the streets ablaze. The newspapers spoke of a single incident of an innocent girl being handcuffed because she was drunkly shouting at police. I have watched my city erupt in flames in the early hours of the morning so often that the sounds of helicopters no longer register in my ears. But the media focuses instead on how unfair it is to prevent protesters from wearing masks. Where was the media the day that protesters in masks stormed a Montreal University and dragged females students out of the classroom?
Montreal has had an alarming number of school shootings so you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t think that masks are an appropriate thing to be worn by angry students wielding weapons. It’s just common sense. These measures were referred to as an ‘emergency bill’ because the province of Quebec is being destroyed by protest.
Just last week, Aljazeera ran an article that discussed the violence taking place on the streets of Montreal. It was one of the first major news stories to take attention away from the cause and discuss the actions being taken by radicals in a way that addressed the real problems taking place. Quebec – you have every right to protest. But when the Middle East comments on your incredible level of violence, maybe it’s time to put the rioting to rest.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Kony 2012? The quickest fad to become passé
It took less than 24 hours for KONY 2012 to leap from being the rally cry of anyone on the internet with a heart to a point of anger for bloggers and facebook users.
Background:
Kony 2012 is a documentary that was released for free on the internet detailing the infamous doings of Joseph Kony. It states that the US government is currently committed to helping the Ugandan Army track down Kony for his crimes but that the fear is that without constant support by the people, the government won't see a reason to continue support. The video, released by Invisible Children, says that on April 20th the whole world should be plastered with posters bearing Kony 2012 to raise awareness and make sure that everyone knows his name.
The flip side of this issue is the question of whether or not Invisible Children should be considered a reputable charity. The problem lies in the fact that only a reported 31% of the money spent by the organization goes towards charity programs. Furthermore, Invisible Children has refused to comment on whether or not the movement supports the capturing or actual killing of Joseph Kony. That's a pretty bare-bones explanation but it's a start.
My opinion (keep in mind, this is merely mine) is that people should stop criticizing the actual video. Yes, it was released by Invisible Children but whether or not you choose to support the organization is entire your decision. The movie is to raise awareness of one of the worst men alive and it's doing that, whether you like the viral campaign or not.
I was stunned to hear how many people had never heard of Kony before the video became a sensation. Here's a man who has been snatching children out of their beds in the middle of the night and forcing them to kill their own parents. This has been happening for 26 years and it saddens me that so many people had no idea that this was happening. I'll admit that even though I had heard plenty about the conflicts in Uganda and knew both who Kony is and what he is responsible for, I could not have told you until the video hit Facebook whether or not he was still alive and the problem was ongoing.
So go ahead - decide not to support Invisible Children. That's fine. But don't say that the spreading of a documentary to raise awareness about the atrocities in the world is a stupid thing to do. Regardless of who backs it, being informed about the world is never a stupid thing to do. And if you made the decision to support Invisible Children don't go back on it just because your Facebook friends think you should. Do your own research, make your own decision. If you think that this issue is important than spread it. If you don't, then don't. But don't make a market of turning children into soldiers about the organization who opened your eyes to it. As annoying as viral videos can be, it's sad to see people watch this video and boil it down to the pros and cons of a charity group.
Background:
Kony 2012 is a documentary that was released for free on the internet detailing the infamous doings of Joseph Kony. It states that the US government is currently committed to helping the Ugandan Army track down Kony for his crimes but that the fear is that without constant support by the people, the government won't see a reason to continue support. The video, released by Invisible Children, says that on April 20th the whole world should be plastered with posters bearing Kony 2012 to raise awareness and make sure that everyone knows his name.
The flip side of this issue is the question of whether or not Invisible Children should be considered a reputable charity. The problem lies in the fact that only a reported 31% of the money spent by the organization goes towards charity programs. Furthermore, Invisible Children has refused to comment on whether or not the movement supports the capturing or actual killing of Joseph Kony. That's a pretty bare-bones explanation but it's a start.
My opinion (keep in mind, this is merely mine) is that people should stop criticizing the actual video. Yes, it was released by Invisible Children but whether or not you choose to support the organization is entire your decision. The movie is to raise awareness of one of the worst men alive and it's doing that, whether you like the viral campaign or not.
I was stunned to hear how many people had never heard of Kony before the video became a sensation. Here's a man who has been snatching children out of their beds in the middle of the night and forcing them to kill their own parents. This has been happening for 26 years and it saddens me that so many people had no idea that this was happening. I'll admit that even though I had heard plenty about the conflicts in Uganda and knew both who Kony is and what he is responsible for, I could not have told you until the video hit Facebook whether or not he was still alive and the problem was ongoing.
So go ahead - decide not to support Invisible Children. That's fine. But don't say that the spreading of a documentary to raise awareness about the atrocities in the world is a stupid thing to do. Regardless of who backs it, being informed about the world is never a stupid thing to do. And if you made the decision to support Invisible Children don't go back on it just because your Facebook friends think you should. Do your own research, make your own decision. If you think that this issue is important than spread it. If you don't, then don't. But don't make a market of turning children into soldiers about the organization who opened your eyes to it. As annoying as viral videos can be, it's sad to see people watch this video and boil it down to the pros and cons of a charity group.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
General Rule of Thumb
All-you-can-eat is a gimmick, not a challenge.
I'll start blogging again when the pain around my waistline goes away.
I spent a lovely night at all you can eat sushi (it's just cruel that they charge for the uneaten pieces) then went to see Montreal en lumiere. It was quite fun, all things considered - not the music festival that I had assumed it would be but I still wanted to ask all those parents what they were doing with their 6 year olds, surround by pot at 11pm on a Thursday. Ahhh Quebec. I do love you.
I went on a Ferris Wheel and my poor soon-to-be roommate discovered that I am not fun to be with at a great height in a bucket with seat belt or real door. But he handled it well. He'll be a nice addition to my ghetto apartment from Hell (seriously. Examples of my roommate wanted posters below).
I hope everyone's having a lovely end of February. Today I put on pants for pretty much the first time since Monday (it's now Thursday night) so I'm going to consider it a success. Lots of love from a very full student!
I'll start blogging again when the pain around my waistline goes away.
I spent a lovely night at all you can eat sushi (it's just cruel that they charge for the uneaten pieces) then went to see Montreal en lumiere. It was quite fun, all things considered - not the music festival that I had assumed it would be but I still wanted to ask all those parents what they were doing with their 6 year olds, surround by pot at 11pm on a Thursday. Ahhh Quebec. I do love you.
I went on a Ferris Wheel and my poor soon-to-be roommate discovered that I am not fun to be with at a great height in a bucket with seat belt or real door. But he handled it well. He'll be a nice addition to my ghetto apartment from Hell (seriously. Examples of my roommate wanted posters below).
I hope everyone's having a lovely end of February. Today I put on pants for pretty much the first time since Monday (it's now Thursday night) so I'm going to consider it a success. Lots of love from a very full student!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Why I Won't Occupy
Mood: Unfocused
Music: Lights by Ellie Goulding, You Silly Git by Dan Mangan, Lady in White by Royal Wood, Chicago by Sufjan Stevens, King of Carrot Flowers Part 1 by Neutral Milk Hotel
EDIT: Since posting this McGill announced that they have food and water but the power has been cut. Does not change my opinion. Someone has taken ill and they have offered medical help but it has been refused. Now several people are coughing. I'm curious as to whether they are linked because IMHO you shouldn't refuse the medical attention if it puts the other protesters at risk.
It has been an incredibly long time since I last blogged. I am only doing it right now because I have a test to do, a midterm next week and a paper that I should be writing (or at least doing research for).
I am officially going to come out and say it: I'm sick of people Occupying things.
I had a little sympathy when it was cities and I understood the cause (though without a specific list of goals I don't know what good it would do).
I was annoyed when they occupied a building on campus last semester to demand the resignation of the Principal and an end to tuition hikes, mostly because I thought the anger was directed in the wrong place and with all the misinformation that was flying about there were too many under-informed people using it as a way to inconvenience others without understanding the big picture.
But this week QPIRG decided to occupy the James Administration building on campus and I'm just so fed up with it.
For those of you who don't attend McGill here's a little background - please keep in mind that this is only as much as I can piece together myself so it's a no more legitimate source of information than anything you hear about on campus.
There is a group at most universities here with a Public Interest Research Group (in our case, Quebec) and at McGill a part of our tuition (about $4) goes towards funding them. They spread the money across campus to various groups including the Sexual Assault Centre, projects to green Montreal and KANATA (whose goal is to raise issues facing First Nations peoples). On the other hand, there are multiple rumours that some of the projects they fund are extremely left-wing and a particular rumour based on the fact that someone speaking on behalf of QPIRG may or may not have expressed sympathy with hezbollah. For the past several years McGill has made the fee opt-outable so that students can decide not to give money to QPIRG if they so choose. It tends to get quite contentious as people actively go around campus pressuring students to deny QPIRG money while the students from QPIRG fight to keep it.
For two years now I have decided not to opt-out. I have no real opinion either way but I felt that with so many people choosing to opt-out I did not feel like denying the groups that I supported the funding (groups such as SACOMMS, I feel, deserve funding). Now back in the Fall semester there was a referendum because QPIRG and CKUT (the campus radio) wanted to remove the 'opt-out' option. The question posed to students was:
Do you support CKUT continuing as a recognized student activity supported by a fee of $4.00 per semester for full-time undergraduate students, which is not opt-outable on the Minerva online opt-out system but is directly refundable through CKUT, with the understanding that a majority “no” vote will result in the termination of all undergraduate funding to CKUT?
The McGill Office of the Deputy Provost is now claiming that the questions posed to the students were unfair as a student should have been allowed to support the continuation of the program without also supporting the mandatory fee, however the way it was worded suggested that otherwise the program would cease to be altogether. A recent e-mail sent to students states that the groups were informed that this was unacceptable wording prior to the referendum being held but that they chose to ignore it. Whether or not you believe this is up to you.
The motion passed and the administration is now refusing to uphold the decision because they apparently told the groups to change the wording and consider the outcome of the vote less than legitimate. Somewhat understandably the groups are annoyed and it has lead to a relapse in "6th Floor Occupiers."
I came across them the other day on campus and figured it would be done at the end of the day but instead the occupiers stayed. The next morning while I was in class two representatives from QPIRG and the McGill chapter came to speak to us about what was happening. They explained that they were holding "a surprise party" for the Provost (it included a cake) and that the students were being unfairly treated. The administration was denying them bathrooms so the students have been using buckets. They are not allowed food and water - a clear violation of human rights! And THEY CAN'T HAVE INTERNET!
Now this annoyed me for any number of reasons (and none of them, despite what my roommate thinks, is caused by their being vegan... or at least not much). First, the idea of the 'surprise party' is not cute - it's immature. If you actually want to hold a meaningful discussion with admin then present it that way - don't bring the provost balloons and a cake demanding his resignation. Furthermore, the internet? This is a school which kindly allows its students access to its free wi-fi. All the kids in there have their cell phones, turning of the McGill Wi-Fi is not a violation of their human rights. But finally there is the issue of food and beverages.
These students are not being held against their will. They made the decision to enter a SCHOOL BUILDING where people work every day and now they refuse to leave. The school will let them leave any time they want so long as they don't come back in. They are not being denied food and water - they are making the decision not to go and get it. The bathrooms? I'm stunned they're not being harassed about indecent exposure. People have to work in that building and you're pissing in buckets in their hallways. That is not the adequate way to go to the negotiation table.
If we had a fight and you came to my apartment uninvited and I didn't let you eat or drink or use my washroom you would probably eventually leave. If I turned off my internet you wouldn't have an basis to complain. No one would tell me that was cruel and unusual punishment. If you sat on my floor and started using buckets as toilets rather than leaving people would tell you that you were being immature and handling the situation badly.
I'm ready to get yelled at by the entire internet and I don't really care. This is my school, a place that I'm proud to attend, and I'm tired of seeing extreme methods of protest being used as an outlet to complain. Protests have a valid place in society but this is not civil rights, this isn't suffrage, this isn't the Vietnam War. Your sit-in is reminiscent of issues of the upmost importance to the progress of human rights and the idea that you would use it to host a 'surprise party' is shameful.
Music: Lights by Ellie Goulding, You Silly Git by Dan Mangan, Lady in White by Royal Wood, Chicago by Sufjan Stevens, King of Carrot Flowers Part 1 by Neutral Milk Hotel
EDIT: Since posting this McGill announced that they have food and water but the power has been cut. Does not change my opinion. Someone has taken ill and they have offered medical help but it has been refused. Now several people are coughing. I'm curious as to whether they are linked because IMHO you shouldn't refuse the medical attention if it puts the other protesters at risk.
It has been an incredibly long time since I last blogged. I am only doing it right now because I have a test to do, a midterm next week and a paper that I should be writing (or at least doing research for).
I am officially going to come out and say it: I'm sick of people Occupying things.
I had a little sympathy when it was cities and I understood the cause (though without a specific list of goals I don't know what good it would do).
I was annoyed when they occupied a building on campus last semester to demand the resignation of the Principal and an end to tuition hikes, mostly because I thought the anger was directed in the wrong place and with all the misinformation that was flying about there were too many under-informed people using it as a way to inconvenience others without understanding the big picture.
But this week QPIRG decided to occupy the James Administration building on campus and I'm just so fed up with it.
For those of you who don't attend McGill here's a little background - please keep in mind that this is only as much as I can piece together myself so it's a no more legitimate source of information than anything you hear about on campus.
There is a group at most universities here with a Public Interest Research Group (in our case, Quebec) and at McGill a part of our tuition (about $4) goes towards funding them. They spread the money across campus to various groups including the Sexual Assault Centre, projects to green Montreal and KANATA (whose goal is to raise issues facing First Nations peoples). On the other hand, there are multiple rumours that some of the projects they fund are extremely left-wing and a particular rumour based on the fact that someone speaking on behalf of QPIRG may or may not have expressed sympathy with hezbollah. For the past several years McGill has made the fee opt-outable so that students can decide not to give money to QPIRG if they so choose. It tends to get quite contentious as people actively go around campus pressuring students to deny QPIRG money while the students from QPIRG fight to keep it.
For two years now I have decided not to opt-out. I have no real opinion either way but I felt that with so many people choosing to opt-out I did not feel like denying the groups that I supported the funding (groups such as SACOMMS, I feel, deserve funding). Now back in the Fall semester there was a referendum because QPIRG and CKUT (the campus radio) wanted to remove the 'opt-out' option. The question posed to students was:
Do you support CKUT continuing as a recognized student activity supported by a fee of $4.00 per semester for full-time undergraduate students, which is not opt-outable on the Minerva online opt-out system but is directly refundable through CKUT, with the understanding that a majority “no” vote will result in the termination of all undergraduate funding to CKUT?
The McGill Office of the Deputy Provost is now claiming that the questions posed to the students were unfair as a student should have been allowed to support the continuation of the program without also supporting the mandatory fee, however the way it was worded suggested that otherwise the program would cease to be altogether. A recent e-mail sent to students states that the groups were informed that this was unacceptable wording prior to the referendum being held but that they chose to ignore it. Whether or not you believe this is up to you.
The motion passed and the administration is now refusing to uphold the decision because they apparently told the groups to change the wording and consider the outcome of the vote less than legitimate. Somewhat understandably the groups are annoyed and it has lead to a relapse in "6th Floor Occupiers."
I came across them the other day on campus and figured it would be done at the end of the day but instead the occupiers stayed. The next morning while I was in class two representatives from QPIRG and the McGill chapter came to speak to us about what was happening. They explained that they were holding "a surprise party" for the Provost (it included a cake) and that the students were being unfairly treated. The administration was denying them bathrooms so the students have been using buckets. They are not allowed food and water - a clear violation of human rights! And THEY CAN'T HAVE INTERNET!
Now this annoyed me for any number of reasons (and none of them, despite what my roommate thinks, is caused by their being vegan... or at least not much). First, the idea of the 'surprise party' is not cute - it's immature. If you actually want to hold a meaningful discussion with admin then present it that way - don't bring the provost balloons and a cake demanding his resignation. Furthermore, the internet? This is a school which kindly allows its students access to its free wi-fi. All the kids in there have their cell phones, turning of the McGill Wi-Fi is not a violation of their human rights. But finally there is the issue of food and beverages.
These students are not being held against their will. They made the decision to enter a SCHOOL BUILDING where people work every day and now they refuse to leave. The school will let them leave any time they want so long as they don't come back in. They are not being denied food and water - they are making the decision not to go and get it. The bathrooms? I'm stunned they're not being harassed about indecent exposure. People have to work in that building and you're pissing in buckets in their hallways. That is not the adequate way to go to the negotiation table.
If we had a fight and you came to my apartment uninvited and I didn't let you eat or drink or use my washroom you would probably eventually leave. If I turned off my internet you wouldn't have an basis to complain. No one would tell me that was cruel and unusual punishment. If you sat on my floor and started using buckets as toilets rather than leaving people would tell you that you were being immature and handling the situation badly.
I'm ready to get yelled at by the entire internet and I don't really care. This is my school, a place that I'm proud to attend, and I'm tired of seeing extreme methods of protest being used as an outlet to complain. Protests have a valid place in society but this is not civil rights, this isn't suffrage, this isn't the Vietnam War. Your sit-in is reminiscent of issues of the upmost importance to the progress of human rights and the idea that you would use it to host a 'surprise party' is shameful.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Hunger Games!
Ok. I admit it. I long resisted reading The Hunger Games for any number of reasons, not the least of which was because in the last few years I've done remarkably little reading for fun. Add to it the fact that, when described, the plot sounded uncomfortably like The Most Dangerous Game as well as a monologue that has which has creeped me out since about 7th grade when I was introduced to them both.
This semester my reading lists include (but are hardly limited to) Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, Fathers and Sons, Hard Times (Dickens), and Pride and Prejudice. So the last thing I need to be doing right now is taking on extra books for reading.
But this afternoon a friend dropped off a copy of The Hunger Games. I put off reading it until I was done my homework, done reading my poems for English tomorrow, done another "4%" of Anna Karenina. I figured my eyes could stand no more than a chapter or two so at 8:30 I began reading.
IT WAS SO GOOD.
I have had no sleep this week so priority one should have been going to bed early but sadfdsafg it was well worth it. The girl who gave it to me said that apparently it's better not to read the second two books because it ruins things, but it's taking all the strength I can muster not to Wikipedia the plot.
All I'm saying is that I'm suddenly so excited for the movie.
Also - way better than The Most Dangerous Game (I don't care how good 'the original' is or how much I'm supposed to love Russian literature, some things need to stop being taught in schools).
Go read it.
This semester my reading lists include (but are hardly limited to) Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, Fathers and Sons, Hard Times (Dickens), and Pride and Prejudice. So the last thing I need to be doing right now is taking on extra books for reading.
But this afternoon a friend dropped off a copy of The Hunger Games. I put off reading it until I was done my homework, done reading my poems for English tomorrow, done another "4%" of Anna Karenina. I figured my eyes could stand no more than a chapter or two so at 8:30 I began reading.
IT WAS SO GOOD.
I have had no sleep this week so priority one should have been going to bed early but sadfdsafg it was well worth it. The girl who gave it to me said that apparently it's better not to read the second two books because it ruins things, but it's taking all the strength I can muster not to Wikipedia the plot.
All I'm saying is that I'm suddenly so excited for the movie.
Also - way better than The Most Dangerous Game (I don't care how good 'the original' is or how much I'm supposed to love Russian literature, some things need to stop being taught in schools).
Go read it.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
So Long Outside World
TL;DR - I'm leaving - no internet or phone for a week!
The term is finished, finals are done and I'm off to America! Today was my last day of exams and I must say, I'm a sorry excuse for a student. My poor roommate is currently shut in her room studying for what will be her 3rd exam in 36 hours - she had 5 midterms, 5 term papers and 5 finals. I started my finals on Monday (a strenuous day of Art of Listening) and concluded today with my only other exam (an open-book at that). That's not to say that I will do particularly well on either, due to my utter disinterest in all things finals-like by this point in December but still. Thus marks the end of the most useless reason to stay in Montreal two weeks after the end of term.
I spent today lounging about watching Torchwood (I forgot how good it used to be) and waiting for my laundry to finish. Doesn't sound like much but I discovered that our couch blanket is in fact a Snuggie so I'm going to consider today a success. Also, I'm going to question how it took us 4 months to realize our blanket has sleeves.
The real reason I'm posting this is just to say that I'm going to be relatively tech-free for the next week. I'm staying with my family in New Hampshire until the 28th and so I'm going to be avoiding facebook and my phone until I'm back in Victoria. This will either be a lovely escape from the world and all the stress of the past semester or I will have gone crazy by Friday. So don't be surprised if I've update my status by tomorrow.
In the meantime good luck to those still writing finals tomorrow morning (that means you Departmental Survery kids!). I hope everyone has a terrific holiday and is surrounded by family and pleasant interactions - see you in the New Year!
The term is finished, finals are done and I'm off to America! Today was my last day of exams and I must say, I'm a sorry excuse for a student. My poor roommate is currently shut in her room studying for what will be her 3rd exam in 36 hours - she had 5 midterms, 5 term papers and 5 finals. I started my finals on Monday (a strenuous day of Art of Listening) and concluded today with my only other exam (an open-book at that). That's not to say that I will do particularly well on either, due to my utter disinterest in all things finals-like by this point in December but still. Thus marks the end of the most useless reason to stay in Montreal two weeks after the end of term.
I spent today lounging about watching Torchwood (I forgot how good it used to be) and waiting for my laundry to finish. Doesn't sound like much but I discovered that our couch blanket is in fact a Snuggie so I'm going to consider today a success. Also, I'm going to question how it took us 4 months to realize our blanket has sleeves.
The real reason I'm posting this is just to say that I'm going to be relatively tech-free for the next week. I'm staying with my family in New Hampshire until the 28th and so I'm going to be avoiding facebook and my phone until I'm back in Victoria. This will either be a lovely escape from the world and all the stress of the past semester or I will have gone crazy by Friday. So don't be surprised if I've update my status by tomorrow.
In the meantime good luck to those still writing finals tomorrow morning (that means you Departmental Survery kids!). I hope everyone has a terrific holiday and is surrounded by family and pleasant interactions - see you in the New Year!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
So Close and Yet So Far
I'm sitting in my bedroom eating chocolate, blogging, and listening to Simple Gifts. I've somehow convinced myself that this is legitimate studying for Art of Listening.
It is that time of year again! And by that I don't mean the holiday season, I mean the season of hiding in my room while pretending that Christmas isn't coming just so that I can focus on schoolwork. I haven't blogged in a long time and I don't know whether or not to feel bad about that. I went through a bit of a down period so I didn't want to be that emotional girl who was whining about her feelings on the internet. When I got back on track there was so much happening with McGill, MUNACA, student protests and the world in general that I felt like there was no safe way for me to weigh in without insulting anyone. Perhaps over break when I'm safely away from all the protest badges (those things have sharp backings!) I'll cowardly blog my opinions.
For now, this is just a chance to check in. My finals don't actually start until the 19th and so in the meantime I'm trying to convince myself to study. Today is the second day in a row that I've managed to not even put on a shirt and so it's safe to say that I've reached a new low. I don't know why Grace hasn't crawled away in horror but our dirty, stress-filled apartment remains home base for long procrastinated exam cramming sessions. Let me just say, I could never have anticipated just how little I would ever care about 'defining the parameters of the term 'modernity.''
So before I go, some highlights from the semester thus far! People keep telling me that I need to start a blog called S*** my Prof Says and I'm beginning to think they might be right.
1. My prof yelling at a boy who was talking in class 'You make me sick!'
2. My Art of Listening prof who is now INCLUDING ON THE EXAM Stalin's impact on music in the 1960s (I'm dangerously close to e-mailing him a link to Wikipedia...)
3. A discussion in Lit class on the "edible complex" (bake with your mother, eat your father?)
ANNNNDD
4. Cheesemaking.
Yes, that's correct. In anthropology we were learning about the different jobs you can get that qualify as 'anthropology.' The first woman interviewed in this video studied Haitian immigrants to the US and how societies in low-income groups function when faced with the difficulty of living on the margin of legality. Fair enough - I see how that's a group to study. Next, there was a man who studied oceanographers. I paused a little at that one but I get it - there's a group who is isolated for long periods of time, often in single-gender groups and whose traditions, eating habits, ceremonies and relationships all form based on their isolation. Again, valid.
The last person interviewed studied people who learn how to make cheese. We literally learned about people who learn about people who learn how to make cheese. How anyone comes to the conclusion that this is a special society worth dedicating a life of research to, I cannot fathom.
I'm beginning to think that the point of the video was just to teach us why not to just settle for a BA.
But none of this matteres because the term is almost done! I have an exam Monday, an exam Wednesday, then I board a Greyhound for the USA. My first White Christmas in many years and I look forward to it! I can't explain in words how excited I am to get out of Montreal (love it as I do) for a couple of weeks. I am beginning to despise the kids who post on Facebook things like 'heading out! Only 3 weeks at home =(." Cherish it! I would happily have avoided these electives if I knew that my exams wouldn't even start until the 19th this year.
So in parting I just want to say Merry Christmas to everyone and a happy holiday season. May your lawns be snow-covered and your driveways clear. To my family - only a week to go! I can't wait to see you and I swear I will deny being related to the first person who mentions anything about anthropology, modernity, African colonialism or any music created... ever.
It is that time of year again! And by that I don't mean the holiday season, I mean the season of hiding in my room while pretending that Christmas isn't coming just so that I can focus on schoolwork. I haven't blogged in a long time and I don't know whether or not to feel bad about that. I went through a bit of a down period so I didn't want to be that emotional girl who was whining about her feelings on the internet. When I got back on track there was so much happening with McGill, MUNACA, student protests and the world in general that I felt like there was no safe way for me to weigh in without insulting anyone. Perhaps over break when I'm safely away from all the protest badges (those things have sharp backings!) I'll cowardly blog my opinions.
For now, this is just a chance to check in. My finals don't actually start until the 19th and so in the meantime I'm trying to convince myself to study. Today is the second day in a row that I've managed to not even put on a shirt and so it's safe to say that I've reached a new low. I don't know why Grace hasn't crawled away in horror but our dirty, stress-filled apartment remains home base for long procrastinated exam cramming sessions. Let me just say, I could never have anticipated just how little I would ever care about 'defining the parameters of the term 'modernity.''
So before I go, some highlights from the semester thus far! People keep telling me that I need to start a blog called S*** my Prof Says and I'm beginning to think they might be right.
1. My prof yelling at a boy who was talking in class 'You make me sick!'
2. My Art of Listening prof who is now INCLUDING ON THE EXAM Stalin's impact on music in the 1960s (I'm dangerously close to e-mailing him a link to Wikipedia...)
3. A discussion in Lit class on the "edible complex" (bake with your mother, eat your father?)
ANNNNDD
4. Cheesemaking.
Yes, that's correct. In anthropology we were learning about the different jobs you can get that qualify as 'anthropology.' The first woman interviewed in this video studied Haitian immigrants to the US and how societies in low-income groups function when faced with the difficulty of living on the margin of legality. Fair enough - I see how that's a group to study. Next, there was a man who studied oceanographers. I paused a little at that one but I get it - there's a group who is isolated for long periods of time, often in single-gender groups and whose traditions, eating habits, ceremonies and relationships all form based on their isolation. Again, valid.
The last person interviewed studied people who learn how to make cheese. We literally learned about people who learn about people who learn how to make cheese. How anyone comes to the conclusion that this is a special society worth dedicating a life of research to, I cannot fathom.
I'm beginning to think that the point of the video was just to teach us why not to just settle for a BA.
But none of this matteres because the term is almost done! I have an exam Monday, an exam Wednesday, then I board a Greyhound for the USA. My first White Christmas in many years and I look forward to it! I can't explain in words how excited I am to get out of Montreal (love it as I do) for a couple of weeks. I am beginning to despise the kids who post on Facebook things like 'heading out! Only 3 weeks at home =(." Cherish it! I would happily have avoided these electives if I knew that my exams wouldn't even start until the 19th this year.
So in parting I just want to say Merry Christmas to everyone and a happy holiday season. May your lawns be snow-covered and your driveways clear. To my family - only a week to go! I can't wait to see you and I swear I will deny being related to the first person who mentions anything about anthropology, modernity, African colonialism or any music created... ever.
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