Monthly Archives: January 2011

You say ‘legal’ as if I was always breaking the law.

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What’s up with all this “I’m legal now” business.

Seriously, you turn 19 and what – it’s okay to be wreckless. No?

I could’ve been Wreck-less as in Wreck-[beach-clothing]-less last week when I was 18 too. Totally not implying I’ve done this. Just going to leave it ambiguous and up to readers imagination there…

So, tomorrow is my nineteenth birthday. Which for most people is a milestone because you get to join in on the night life, hit up the lick-bo and do whatever you want. But it’s also Wayne Gretzsky’s birthday, my optometrist’s birthday, this girl I went to high school with’s birthday and this girl on my floor’s birthday too. Obvi, all the cool people I know were clearly born on Jan 26th ah-diong.

This is when I start my real “new years” resolutions. My birthday is at this amazing time when most people fail at their New Year’s Resolutions and want to start over. Me? I start now. Pfffft late bloomer – whatevah. It’s just enough time to figure out what my realistic goals should be for the year without the stress of the Christmas holidays and giving myself enough time to adjust and actually stick to them. Remember that goal about jogging up Wreck Beach stairs? Still on the list. I haven’t forgotten.

There’s not huge gaps between university students. In high school it felt like a senior wouldn’t be caught dead with a grade nine. But now, who can really tell the difference? I have Master students in my french class. I chill with a bunch of 4th years on Wednesday afternoons in the ASA (Anthropology Student Association). And there’s a girl 4 years younger than me in my Arts One class. Yeah. I couldn’t believe it either at first.

My brother tells me not to be intimidated by people with fancy job titles because experience and time is the only thing they have on you.

So then it’s kind of like oh jeeze Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Greyson Chance and any other Disney child star or little kid Ellen discovered on youtube just makes you feel a little depressed and mediocre. Oh gosh, did you know I’m a few weeks older than Taylor Lautner. This is ridiculous.

To anyone celebrating a birthday, the other Aquariuses out there, have a good one.

My philosophy is that birthdays should be celebrated. I’ve been fortunate to grow up in a environment where we could have a party and embellish a little. I think of the kids around the world who don’t get the chance to celebrate their birthday or who don’t even know the day at all.

Everyday is an opportunity to celebrate who you are. So, be happy.

And…let’s not think about how in another year I’ll be in my 20’s.

UBCMUNWASFUN

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Former Blogsquader, and resident big brother Merkie Mark, told me that keeping up with the Blogsquad was going to be hardwork and it’s true. Here is a post recapping events from last weekend. As BBFF KrystalV says “better late than never”.

As if our school wasn’t full of enough acronyms, last week I volunteered as UBCMUN. That is University of British Columbia Model United Nations Conference.

The Conference was an amazing experience. My roommate often asks me how I find these things to begin with and I don’t have a straight answer to that question. I really just stumble upon them. I was on the AMS Clubs website and clicked the link and thought “Hey, this looks cool.” So I signed up to volunteer.

As a volunteer I was acting as a Page during the different council meetings. There was the UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN Security Council, World Health Organization, World Bank, International Press Corps, and a Case Study on Myanmar.

Like in the real UN committee meetings, when delegates or state heads, council officials etc. want to pass notes to each other they can not simply get up and walk over, or shout across the table, they write a note and a Page will pass their note. Yeah, wish you had Pages in middle school, don’t cha?

I was lucky enough to sit in on the Case Study on Myanmar and I was amazed at how well researched the delegates were. I admit I was pretty intimidated at first by their knowledge and composure. But I realized that if you just act like you know what you’re doing, it’s easier to pick up what you’re supposed to be doing.

Sometimes people feel overlooked when they’re volunteering but it’s important to be diligent. My dance instructor used to say “There’s no small roles, only small people.” So no matter what you’re job is take it seriously and people will notice. After a couple of hours being a Page I was promoted to be a spy!

I even made the fake news!

It was pretty awesome. I got to sit in on one meeting and then went back to the next meeting and told them everything I heard. They were relying on me for important information and when I debriefed them, they took notes and asked me questions. Here I was trying to learn something from them, and there I was giving them information.

I think that the key to being a good volunteer: 1) Sign up for things you’re interested in. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from school it’s that you should do what you’re passionate about. If you’re able to find even just one thing you’re passionate about – anything whether representing Russia at Model UN conferences, flying planes, German opera, Settlers of Catan. Maybe you’re passionate about all those things. In that case you should call me. (So not subtle, Nicole) But whatever it is. Find it. Do it. Be good at it.

“Whatever you are, be a good one.” Abraham Lincoln

2) Be Proactive. While I was a Page I learnt to anticipate what was going to happen next. Was the person going to write a note back? Should I wait there? Being proactive and being able to be ready for whatever is next is a very useful skill.

The conference was so well organized. I was truly astounded by the Secretariat. Props to Dominika Z, the UN Secretary for the UBC MUN 2011 Conference. And Congrats to Lindsey R who will be spear heading the 2012 Conference. I was so lucky to meet such incredible people and it’s inspiring see how serious people take world politics. I know the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar got really into character, standing, shouting and all. I met a lot of interesting delegates and who knows maybe I’ll sign up to join them next year.

We’re young, now’s the time to let our voices be heard.

Awkward giraffes, happy llamas, cotton camels.

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Cotton camel toe socks aka. Tabi. Introduced to me honestly about 5 minutes ago. And one moment in my life that I said “This is going in my blog”.

My deLuxembourger friend on my floor has one greatest pet peeve about me. I like to wear socks and flip flops. And if I didn’t just lose all my dignity admitting that, I will have you know that you will only EVER catch me in this ghetup if you ever see me on my actual floor. I will never go outside this hallway in socks and flip flops. Even I have my limits, but for bumming around wth the girls, why yes I do believe I should be comfy and in style. What style? This is my own brand.

False. There’s actally about guestimate 6 girls on the floor who also rock this trend. It’s coming back I tell ya.

Tabi. Perhaps not new to you, but new to me, are traditional Japanese footwear (socks) with a separation between the big toe and the rest of the toes. These are like 10x better than toe socks. Because let’s get real – why would every single toe need to be separate? Am I the only person who thinks this is an amazing invention and that my life (or at least sock wearing days) has been utterly pointless up until now. Obviously exaggerated but still. I can actually live now with sock freedom. Man, I sound desperate. Seriously, Ned? Socks are turning you on right now? No wonder I am here in my dorm room at home on a Saturday night. Oh, geeze.

Immediately I have been searching this site:
Tabi

As if my flip flop sock dreams have been answered. Honestly, it’s crazy how there is a market for this. And it dates back to the Japanese! Of course they would, what do the Japanese not have…

At the same time, are these not the most awkward item of clothing in the world. As if there was not enough erm /grossness in the term “camel toe” alone. Ugh cue mild shudder.

On the other note of weird animals. The “awkward” giraffe is my new favourite “awkward-moment-gesture”. You know when there’s an awkward silence? Some people do the awkward turtle. I am trying to find a picture but there is none that is working.

Instructions for awkward giraffe: 1. With your right hand press your middle finger and ring finger to your thumb.
2. Lift your index and pinky finger. 3. Using your left hand motion the Yellow Pages logo, like a man walking with your fingers. 4. Put your left hand at your right elbow. I hope you can see the giraffe.

As for the happy llama. Well there’s this great little jingle about a “happy llama, sad llama, super llama, drama llama, big fat mama llama. Camel”
I’ll show you some other time if you ever bump into me.

Just thought I’d share. Goodbye the rest of my night. Hello eBay.