Monthly Archives: July 2013

22Jul / 2013

judgement.

today, i got off the bus and started walking to work. i was walking a bit far behind this guy who was wearing these funky sandals that were extremely intricate. they seems like they’d be a lot of work to put on, and they really didn’t look that comfy. the sole was super flat, and probably had no arch support. he also had those plugs that kinda freak me out (i feel like a hole puncher is used in some way). i was walking a little bit faster than him, so i began to gain on him. i noticed a tattoo on the back of his neck, just with a bit showing above his tshirt. when i saw it, i noticed that it was a folded-out box…. it looks sorta like this:

When i saw it, my heart felt heavy. one of my favourite people, Betty Yan, has two amazing tattoos that she loves for others to interpret. So, I started interpreting this man’s tattoo. to me, it says “stop putting me in a box. the box is no longer. i’ve defeated it by taking it apart. i do not fit into a box. so just stop trying. if you try to put me there, i’ll just take it apart. and that’s ohk. i can. but please – just stop.”

I was a residence advisor in my 2nd and 3rd year here at UBC. at my first advisor orientation, I sat down at a table for lunch with a group of mostly males. I began to talk with them, and realized that they were all gay. i’d never been around that many gay people before, and it was amazing. i became very self-aware in that moment. i began to sit back and listen; to observe. not solely them, but mainly myself. what was I thinking… what was i feeling? what did those feelings mean? why did I have those thoughts?

UBC is a place where so many different people come together. People probably look at me and my extremely loud pants and think “that girl is cray. how does she think she looks good in bright-pink skinny cords?” but others look at me and think “damn girl, you rock those pants!” either way, that’s ohk. people are free to their opinions, as long as they remember that they’re just that: opinions. I was wrong to judge that guy by his sandals and pulled-out lobes. i was wrong. i know that now. because as humans, we don’t fit into a box, nor should we. we should be free to do what we please, to not worry about the judgement of others, especially by those that call us a loved one, a peer, a friend.

thanks to my new-found love for Modern Family (I started watching it on a all-alone-Caitlin-morning), i give you this.

Mitchell doing the Gaga dance

remember to be you. remember that you don’t fit into a box. remember that you can dance like lady gaga when you need to. remember to not judge others: don’t judge – just love.

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10Jul / 2013

dear relaxing:

for those of you who have a hard time unwinding, this is for you.

I finished my summer class two weeks ago. After that, I had a few fun days. I took some time off from both of my jobs (really, I just put all my work on the same days and went from 9am-11pm 3 days in a row haha).

After the three days off, filled with “chill time”, I needed a vacation.

I spent the entire time with people that I love, surrounded by fun times, by my home-made mojitos and margaritas (delish. I’ll give you the recipe any day), by sunshine, by Arrested Development (finally finished it. heck yes i did), by steak, by blankets, by sand, by bumpin music, by laughing, by joy, by adventure, by mistakes, by yoga, by smoothies.

But, not once was I surrounded by silence, by me-time, by alone, by recovery. I spent the whole time livin it up. but isn’t that what your 20s is for? right? thats what I hear… but thats not what i need.

I work in an amazing space with amazing people at UBC. I work as a bartender with some cool people and some awesome guests. I love what I do. Both jobs surround me. Both jobs have me interacting with people. If you’ve met me, you’ll understand that I need this. But I also need some alone time – some time to recoup so that I won’t burn out.

But man, is that time ever hard to take.

People wanna do some fun things with you, like a 20s themed party and outdoor movies. And you wanna do all of the things. all of the things! but then there’s that voice that you know all too well in the back of your head that says “but really, is that what you want? is that what you need?” and you say “HECK YES IT IS!” so you do it. you go and you have oh-so much fun. but the next day, you realize just how much you would have benefited from some alone time. for example, I spent yesterday in interactions, from 9am-1am. When I came into work today, one of my fav people, Ms. Erica Baker, looks at me and says “are you ohk?” She knows that I’m feeling it today – I’m feeling tired and a bit depleted. I dont know it, though. What I mean is, i know it, but i dont know it. i deny it. “No, I’m great!” but my eyes don’t say that. My eyes say, woah man. lets just have a bit of a nap.

so from my heart to yours, take a nap. take some time to read that book you’ve always wanted to, not cuz its a classic and everyone talks about it, but because it’s hilarious, moving or what you wanna read (my fav is this book). take some time to rewatch your favourite show or to watch a new one. take some time to go for a walk with your thoughts.

Best part: when that’s done, and you’re feeling ready to take on the world again, you look a joyous as Amy, and you feel like it too!

Day off, here I come.

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03Jul / 2013

Colleger-what?

This summer I get to do something I’ve never done before. I get to work out of the CSI+C around some amazing people doing something I love (because it challenges me daily). I get to help set up and organize a place that’s going to be a home away from home – a place to be, not a place to do.

This place is called the collegium.

My bestie was a Collegia Assistant at TWU for her last year at uni, and she absolutely loved it. We would always talk about our roles when I was a Residence Advisor and how similar they are. When I heard about UBC-V starting a Collegia Program, I jumped at the opportunity to be involved, however they’d let me.

This summer, I’m working to set up all the fun things (like board games and kitchen supplies!) and all the not-so-fun things (like figuring out what data we need)  the collegium will need to function. Recently, I was able to help plan a hard hat tour for some of the student leaders and profesh staff at UBC. Was it ever a blast! Here’s a picture Houston White, one of the stellar people took the tour with us, took for us. This is the view of the kitchen from where the fireplace will be.

 

beautiful, right? just some floor-to-ceiling windows and an awesome view. No big 😉

I’m honestly jealous that I didn’t have one of these to go to in my first year. I was commuting from Langley, so approx 5hrs a day was spent commuting – not cool, man. I didn’t get involved in my first year. I spent all my time on the bus, doing homeworking and working at Olive Garden (heck yes, the breadsticks are delish). I’m hoping this collegium will be able to encourage students to take charge of their own learning with the help from the cool people staffing it and the cool people who are members.

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