By: Jon Davidson

Edited by: Peter Milobar

It’s winter, you say. “Why should I know how to swim? It’s not like I’m going near any water.” Your point is valid. But you know what? Learning how to swim is a very important skill and I’m here to tell you exactly WHY you should learn how. First, a little bit of information- in the last year there have been 49 fatal drownings in BC, with the last one being September 16^th. That’s a large number of drownings, and it’s scary that this number is actually BELOW average for the province this year.

If he can do it…

Now—why is the present a good time to learn how to swim? Swimming isn’t a skill that you can learn overnight. I’ve been swimming since I was a little kid and still I’m not the greatest at it, but I can save myself and others in the water. If you want to learn, now’s the best time to sign up for lessons and swim lengths. Not only is swimming great for saving your life, it’s also great exercise when you know how to. If you start now, you’re going to be able to show off to all your friends next summer—I guarantee it.

Save lives while looking good

The other reason why now is the best time to learn? Well, it’s cheap! For $12, you can get six lessons at the UBC Aquatic Centre, versus the $50 or so your parents would’ve paid while you were kid. If you already know how to swim, did you also know that your student card give you access to the pool? Well, you do now! UBC isn’t just one of the best places to get an education, but it’s also a great place to learn how to swim. The pool is spacious and the instructors are great—you’ll have a wonderful time and be ready to show off next summer. Maybe you’re looking for something a little bit more short-term… well, if you don’t know, UBC’s Storm the Wall (a mini-triathlon) has a swimming component to it, so the more the better! But remember, swimming isn’t just about lengths or distances or fitness or anything like that, it’s also about saving your life. You never know when you might need to swim, and when you do need to swim, it’s always better to know how to.

Have fun swimming!!

Follow

By: Peter Milobar

Laying awake in the middle of the night- plagued by thoughts about midterms, quizzes, and even when Connect will start- this is the hard reality for many UBC students. However, waking up groggy can lead to sickness and a lack of mental awareness in class. Here are some basic tips on how to have a good night’s rest:

Is this you??

Set a regular sleep schedule: It seems like both the easiest and the hardest task to manage, but going to bed around the same time each night is very important, as well as waking up at around the same time. It is also very important to be smart about napping- there’s nothing I like more than coming back to Totem Park to take a “power” nap and waking up nearly 4 hours later. In young adults, this can actually lead to a level of insomnia, so try and keep the naps short! Also, if you’re like me and living a near werewolf existence try and only change your sleep schedule by 15 to 20 minutes daily instead of all at once. 

Increase light exposure during the day: As you may or may not know, melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone controlled by light exposure that helps you regulate sleep. As much as we fight it, increased exposure to light in the morning is actually very helpful; so open those blinds and take off those shades! At the same time boost the production of melatonin by turning off your laptop and phones, giving yourself some time between planning to sleep and having fun Yik-Yakking, and Redditing.

Don’t have this kind of light exposure

Eat right before the night! I know with Magda’s being open so late, it becomes easy to pop in and get the casual chicken strips and feature fries, but eating a big meal at night will take a lot of work for your body to break down. This may keep you up trying to process these rich fatty foods. Similarly drinking too many liquids can result in frequent night trips, especially caffeinated drinks as they act as diuretics; only making trips worse.

Busted!

While it is sometimes hard to keep your bedroom more sleep friendly in residence, as we do everything in these rooms, but what you can do is download some sleep friendly apps to help you out! Some will feature soothing sounds, sleep timers and more! I’ll go through some top three free ones:

1. Sleepbot 

iPhone and android  – free

Find out what’s missing during the dark of the night! Its got it all- sleep cycle alarms, movement tracker, sound recorder, sleep depth log, and with some previous bugs fixed it works better than ever!

2. Relax melodies 

iPhone and android  – free

Relaxing melodies, cheerful scenes, and binaural beats will take the edge off your minds

3. Sleep better 

iPhone and android  – free

While there are some premium costs, the basic app offers a smart alarm with 5 different sounds and has colorful graphs to interpret sleep statistics

Have a great sleep UBC!!

Follow

By Phebe Kwok

Edited by Peter Milobar

One of the things I love about Vancouver is the cultural diversity in its food scene. While it is often praised for its quality, some may argue that food in Vancouver can be on the pricier side. However, if you look in the right places, you can easily find food that is affordable, Instagram-worthy, most importantly, oh-so-delicious. Here are 7 places you may want to try next time you run out of places to eat on campus:

• La Taqueria (Mexican)

Website: http://www.lataqueria.com/

Directions from UBC: Take #99 Commercial-Broadway Stn, and get off at w Broadway & Heather St.

Price range: <$10

Recommended dish(es): Tinga de Pollo, Carnitas

BEST TACOS EVER!! Makes me wish everyday was Taco Tuesday.

• Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Japanese)

Website: http://www.santouka.co.jp/en/

Directions from UBC: Take #44 Downtown, get off at Burrard & Robson, take #5 Robson, and get off at Robson & Cardero

Price range: <$15

Recommended dish(es): Shoyu Ramen

Brace yourselves…winter is coming!! Ramen is always a good idea for a cold winter day in Vancouver.

• Peaceful Restaurant (Chinese)

Website: http://www.peacefulrestaurant.com/

Directions from UBC: Take #84 VCC-Clark Stn, and get off at w 4 Ave. and Vine St.

Price range: <$15

Recommended dish(es): Beef Rolls, Shanghai Stir-fried Noodles, Peaceful House Stir-fried Noodles

• Anton’s (Italian)

Website: http://antonspastabar.com/

Directions from UBC: Take #4 Powell, get off at Granville St. & w Hastings St., take #135 SFU, and get off at Hasting St. & Madison Ave.

Price range: <$20

Recommended dish(es): Penne Alla Calabrese

I’ve never not seen a line-up outside of this restaurant. If you are planning to go at a certain time, make sure to go either before typical dinner hours, or be prepared to stand in line for half an hour (or more).

• Phnom Penh (Vietnamese/Cambodian)

Website: N/A

Directions from UBC: Take #84 VCC-Clark Stn, get off at E 2 Ave. & Main St., take #3 Downtown, and get off at Main St. & E Georgia St.

Price range: <$15

Recommended dish(es): Chicken Wings, Butter Beef

WINGS FOR DAYS. Enough said.

• The American Cheesesteak Co. (American)

Website: http://americancheesesteak.com/

Directions from UBC: Take #44 Downtown, and get off at Burrard & Davie St.

Price range: <$15

Recommended dish(es): The Philly, ACC Fries

• Stepho’s (Greek)

Website: N/A

Directions from UBC: Take #44 Downtown, and get off at Burrard & Davie St.

Price range: <$15

Recommended dish(es): Kalamari, Chicken Souvlakia, Roast Lamb (Tavernos Speciality)

Hands down the top go-to Greek restaurant in Vancouver. Line-ups can definitely be expected. Make sure to arrive early, or reserve 24 hours prior!

So get yourself some good grub and stay awesome Totem!!

Follow

By: Peter Milobar

            While the ease at which you can use your UBC card may leave you with the blissful impression that your meal dollars are endless, I can assure you that they definitely are not! For many of you, there may come a time in your not so distant future where you will walk up to the cashier brandishing your UBCcard only to have it ungracefully declined. However, with some careful planning and due diligence, you can finish first year without such a horrible fate—and, if you are really committed, with a surplus of meal dollars. What follows are some tips to turn this dream into a reality.

• Purchase A Blender: My greatest gift to you, seriously! A blender provides you with a nutritious snack at all hours of the day. Aside from purchasing the blender itself, a blender gives you access to smoothies at a fraction of the cost that is offered at the Dining Hall. I would recommend checking out the nearby grocery stores, where you can purchase berries and juice in bulk for cheap. Since a smoothie is a meal in itself, making a single smoothie will save you the ~$10 you would spend in the Dining Hall.

Looks delicious to me

• Oatmeal and Honey/Berries: Another healthy choice, oatmeal can be purchased in bulk for dirt-cheap. While some of you may be so intense that you can eat oatmeal plain, there are tastier complements—such as honey and berries—for those of a lesser constitution.

This is not a picture from the internet… #candid shot

• Pre-Cooked Chickens: Grocery stores often offer pre-cooked chickens and other types of meat. Pre-cooked chickens often sell for ~$10. Even though you will need to remove the meat from the chicken, there is often enough meat to last 3-4 days. This is a phenomenal bargain considering that the same quantity of meat would cost $20-$30 at the Dining Hall.

So much better than the caf

With these tips, you should be well on your way to eating healthy while minimizing your living costs at UBC. If you’re even the least bit skeptical, know this: these tips allowed me to have $500 leftover last year while being on the minimum plan!

Saving money had me like

Follow

By: Peter Milobar (Residence Advisor- HMSM House)

1. LAYERS

I cannot stress the importance of dressing in layers enough. Reason number 1: lectures halls tend to be kept at sauna like temperatures. You will regret not wearing a t-shirt under your sweater when you are sweating through your 50min lecture. Reason 2: Vancouver weather is more indecisive than me trying to choose a movie on Netflix. It may look promising in the morning and then be a monsoon in the afternoon… prepare yourself for anything.

Don’t be uncomfortable like this guy

2. UMBRELLA ETIQUETTE

Umbrellas can be extremely useful if used properly, but during class change on main mall they can become a lethal weapon.  Rule 1: your umbrella is now an extension of your body. Be aware and keep it under control. (This means not poking biker’s eyes out as they ride by). Rule 2: The taller of the two umbrella carriers should be the one to lift their umbrella over the other one when passing. Rule 3: Umbrellas should be stored under your seats during lecture not on the seat next you. No one likes soggy seats.

 Now this is the way to hold an umbrella

3. BEST HOT CHOCOLATES ON CAMPUS

Hot chocolates are a winter staple and are the single best cure for a bad day in my opinion. 1. Mercante: subtle and sweet, this is my favourite hot chocolate on campus, also because it’s on the meal plan 2. Blenz in University Village: Blenz is great because they have both milk and dark chocolate options, although very bold flavors. 3. Bean Around the World Thunderbird location: this hot chocolate has a classic taste and this café is also a great spot to study.

Feeling like some yet??

4. PROPER FOOTWEAR

Footwear can be tricky, but I have one word of advice: after September toms, flip-flops and sandals are a big gamble. Stick to runners and boots. Nothing worse than sitting through a lecture with your feet sitting in their own soggy Jacuzzi.

Enjoy your first winter at UBC!

Nailing it so far!!

Follow

By: Lauryn Rhode (Residence Advisor – Shuswap House)

Over the past 19 years, I’ve developed one sure-fire way to rid me of my worries and allow for some great relaxation time: brunch. Brunch has the answer to most of my problems, or at least allows to me grab some delicious food while thinking about what my next step will be. Feeling stressed about midterms? Take a study break and head for brunch. Looking for a place to catch up with friends? Brunch. Looking for a way to charge up before a busy day? Brunch!  Below are some of my favourite spots to grab delicious food and search for the answers to the problems in my life:

1)     Siegels Bagels: 1883 Cornwall Avenue

·     Siegels Bagels hosts an impressive collection of authentic Montreal style bagels with every topping from cream cheese to smoked meat. One of the best things about this location (other than their delicious bagels) is that they are open 24 hours! This means you can satisfy your brunch craving whether its 2 o clock in the afternoon, or 2 o clock in the morning.

2)     Jethro’s Fine Grub: 3420 Dunbar St

·     Jethro’s is my go-to savoury breakfast location. While they do have other menu items, I’ve been hooked on ‘The Rooster’ ever since I tried it. The Rooster has a shot of espresso and dark chocolate chips folded into buttermilk pancakes, and is topped with a hearty dollop of whipped cream.

3)     Sunshine Diner: 2649 W Broadway

·     Not only does Sunshine Diner have a brunch menu that includes 14 different kinds of Eggs Benedict, it also has a great atmosphere that really enhances your brunch experience. Only a couple stops away on the 99, Sunshine Diner is a great place to grab brunch if you’re looking for a fun, upbeat atmosphere!

4)     Café Crepe: 1032 Robson Street

·     This one is a bit of a longer trek, as the closest Café Crepe location is all the way downtown… but if you love Crepes as much as I do, it’s worth it. Café Crepe opened my eyes to an endless possibility of Crepe toppings. From savory crepes topped with vegetables and delicious cheese to sweet combinations with mounds of Nutella, Café Crepe has it all.  If you’re looking for a unique twist on great crepes, Café Crepe should be your next stop.

5)     Only U Café: 5737 Dalhouse Rd

·     Only U Café is conveniently located in University Village (right across from Starbucks) which makes it the perfect place for a mid-day study break. While they don’t take student card, they do serve all-day breakfast at a modest price. With everything from pancakes to morning quesadillas, Only U is sure to have something you’ll enjoy.

Follow

By: Krishtha Sahota (Residence Advisor – Ritsumeikan House)

Midterm season is officially here. Unfortunately. For many students midterm season is essentially a midterm every week until exams begin, for others midterm season is a term’s worth of midterms condensed into one week. It doesn’t matter what your midterm schedule looks like, as long as you actually know how to write one.

There are a couple of factors that come into play when you write a midterm. Here are a few that you have probably had to deal with: stress, time crunch, blanking out on information, and of course, hunger/dehydration/having to go to the bathroom.

Read the sections below to find out how to master the midterm.

Come Prepared

 This should be the obvious one, but you’d be surprised how many people come to a midterm without a calculator or pencil. An easy way to remember everything is to put all your midterm supplies into a Ziploc bag/pencil case. Here are the essentials:

• 2 pencils
• Lead (if you use mechanical pencils)
• Sharpener (if you use regular pencils)
• 1 good eraser
• 2 pens (in case one dies on you)
• A non-programmable calculator
• A ruler (optional)

Midterms can be awkwardly timed and you may not always eat food before the exam, so make sure to bring some with you! A granola bar is your best bet when you get hungry. More important than food, is water. When you’re stuck on a question, there’s nothing better than drinking some water to calm the nerves and tackle it once again. Personally I like drinking coconut water because it has electrolytes and sugars that keep me refreshed throughout the exam. You can choose any drink, but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea (all three will dehydrate you more).

Before You Start Answering Questions

When the prof says, “You may start your exam”, don’t start your exam.

Before you put pencil/pen to paper, take some time to look over the entire exam. Generally there are different sections in an exam, look over each one and mentally think about how much time you should allocate for each section. This should only take 1 minute (I’m being generous with that 1 minute).

This may sound counterintuitive, but you don’t have to start writing an exam from question 1. When you are reading over the exam, mark questions that look easy/hard. Start with the question that you DEFINITELY know the answer to. Starting the exam off with a question you know you got right sets the tone for the rest of the exam. You’ll feel more confident about the rest of your answers.

During the Exam

So your now writing the exam and you come across a difficult question. You think about it for a couple of seconds and you can’t find the answer. This is the time to fold the page/mark the question and skip it. Don’t spend your precious time on a question you don’t know the answer to, do the ones you can answer first.

You’ve now been writing the exam for a long time and you may be close to finishing (hopefully). When you get to the “10 minutes left” mark, this is the time to go back to the questions you missed.

Take Time for Yourself

Just because you are in an exam, doesn’t mean you need to give all your time to that exam. If you’ve blanked on information, you can take a minute and stop writing. Take some deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth, drink some water or snack on something (just take your mind off the exam for a bit). Then go back in with a clear mind.

Sometimes people drink a bit too much water before the exam and end up having to go to the bathroom. You may not want to leave the exam halfway through, but if your full bladder is hindering your concentration, then just go. It’s much worse when half your mind is on the exam and the other half is trying to stop you from exploding.

Let it Go

The exam is now over. You’ve handed it in. There is nothing you can do to change your mark, so just let it go. When you get your midterm back, that’s the time to figure out how you can improve for the text one. Until then, don’t fret about the questions you may have gotten wrong. Remember that it’s only one midterm out of dozens of midterms that you’ll write in your academic career. In the grand scheme of things, no one will care what you got on your first math 104 midterm.

Follow