Author Archives: ericacommons

Naked Staches FTW.

I am so impressed by this website for Movember by Naked Creative (where two pals of mine, Andrew and Scott work). It’s called Naked Staches. Basically, Naked Creative has built this beautiful site all for the cause of Movember and has committed to uploading daily photos of the mustaches of their staff that are competing in their stache competition. Goes without saying, but I’m totally putting this into my bookmarks bar.

Andrew (or as I know him, Andy)

His motivation: “My genes have always worked against me having a stache. This is my chance to help change the face of men’s health and to prove to the naysayers that a guy from the Philippines can rock a LEGENDARY stache. I’ll no longer need to suit up, I’ve now got the power of the stache!”

Scott

His motivation: “Being a part of Naked Staches is an honour and a challenge. I know I’ll be one of the underdogs but nobody ever suspects the Asian guy.”

Christina (Personal favorite mustache grower)

Her motivation: “There’s a huge stigma against women with facial hair. I plan to have lots of fun challenging this social disgrace while raising money for this great cause.”

I’ve never been more excited to watch mustaches grow through these daily photo updates. As a bonus to watching daily photos of my friends, the site is hilarious. Especially, go through the people competing and read their bios. If you are into Movember I highly suggest you visit Naked Staches by the folks at Naked Creative and donate for the betterment of men’s health.

Keep up the hard work, Andy and Scott!

Truth.

I can’t seem to find any UBC-branded college ruled notebooks that have more than 3 sections to them. I think this is a scheme to get me to buy many notebooks instead of just one. Every time, I end up buying more than one notebook. You win this time, UBC Bookstore, you win.

“Erica to CPs, Erica to CPs, Over.”

This is the hardcore look of a crowd pumper. A team of 280 out of 700 volunteers at We Day.

Lessons learned from We Day:
Peanut butter never tastes good on olive flavoured bed.
Noise canceling headsets are never flattering.
CTV cameras will avoid you and your awkward headset at all costs.
Your closest friends can surprise you.

This has been my third year leading crowd pumping at We Day. I’ve been to We Days in both Vancouver and Toronto, I’ve pulled the sleepless We Day prep nights many times, and I’ve been hanging out behind the scenes for a long time. This year surprised me.

The surprise was my friends. Not a lot of my friends see what I do with Free The Children and Me to We. The worlds don’t usually mix. This year, they did. Many of my friends and Totem Park residents signed up to crowd pump and had the experience of having me as their staff lead. My golly, the passion and enthusiasm they showed in their outfits and energy stunned me. It’s awkward leaving residence at 5 in the morning in neon spandex, I know, and they not only did it but enjoyed themselves.

It’s so moving to have people walk up to you in residence and thank you for getting them involved in We Day. It’s so powerful to hear people tell you that the speech they heard made a difference in their life. It’s so wonderful to hear that someone got to meet Al Gore or shake Jesse Jackson’s hand. It’s absolutely inspiring to see the ripple effects that has happened since I first demonstrated the We Day dance to Vancouver.

Let’s back up here, since I first demonstrated the We Day dance to Vancouver?

You might recall a video of all the Totem Park advisors doing the We Day dance back in August. Since then, Place Vanier and UBC REC has learnt the dance too. For the last month and a half, I have been working on crowd pumping dance rehearsals and encouraging people here in the west to volunteer for Vancouver We Day. Slowly, the numbers went from 75 to 280 crowd pumpers signed up and attending practices.

It all started with a dance in my friend’s dorm room. Then, bringing it to my advising team. Then, flash mobbing the residence advisor orientation talent show with my team and Granville Island with the MOB. Then, running crowd pumping rehearsals and getting Totem Park involved. Now, inviting my friend Michel Chikwanine to hang out with residents in Totem and share his story while he’s here in Vancouver. It keeps going. Next week, we’ll have a Me to We workshop in the Haida House lounge. Next month, the Global Citizenship Committee will be bringing the Vow of Silence to Totem Park.

It all started with me showing Mark the We Day dance in his bedroom, a bbm from Jobin asking me to work for Me to We, and the best neon spandex wearing friends a girl could ask for. Look at how far we’ve come.

Truth.

There are very few things to get you through dry readings and nights of studying. These things are Mr. Noodles, a few Crunchie bars, grape Bubbalicious bubble gum, more sugar, onion rings, hot dogs, bagel bits, and maybe a few more snacks before the night is done. That’s usually how homework gets done. That’s the truth.

Rapid Transit Now.

You know how you always hear of the “Great Trek” and how this university was built by students? Dude- you can be a part of that.

I cannot express to you how passionate I am about speaking out that UBC needs rapid transit. I only wish it could come sooner. So far, UBC is at the BOTTOM of the list for rapid transit and that list goes for the next 30-40 years. Please visit this website to send an email to Metro Van and TransLink to let them know you want rapid transit too. Im not even a commuter student and I can understand the need for something more than the 99. SkyTrain baby, we need to rock one.