Archives: Recreation

Car-Free Vancouver Day

On Sunday June 14th, many areas of Vancouver went “car-free” for the day. On Main Street for example, instead of the usual congest one sees on the weekend, there was a street festival stretching a few dozen blocks. As a part of the Leave Out ViolencE campaign, I had a booth for PeerNetBC (non-profit organization that provides workshops and training for peer-led groups) near King Edward which was also next to a stage!

There were four or five booths beside the PeerNetBC one and it really goes to show how connected the non-profit/youth-led groups in Vancouver are! I knew the colleague of the guy who was there from Check Your Head (above). One of the Points Youth Media girl beside my booth (below) was the sister of this girl I knew from my organization. One table over, the girl participated in the My Circle program with my friend. And the City of Vancouver ladies two tables away I knew from Youthpolitik and also from presenting a workshop at City Hall a few months  ago. Wow!

For those of you who read the Vancouver 24 Hours newspaper, you probably have seen the cynical comments in “letter to the editor” about how useless Car-Free Vancouver is when it comes to reducing traffic and helping the environment. That part is true, in my opinion. I had to have one of my colleagues drive me over and park a block away to get the board there. A lot of people simply drove as close as possible and parked infront of someone’s lawn. However, I don’t think the value of a street festival-type event such as this should be measured by how much it helped the environment. I saw tons of kids and families there having a blast and I think it’s just a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Not only does it gives non-profit organizations a chance to showcase their services, but also lets merchants/performers promote their products/acts. It sort of adds a little culture and recognition to a city that sorely lacks it. I know I would’ve spent the day couped up at home if it wasn’t for Car-Free Vancouver.

QOTW: Do you think there should be future Car-Free Vancouver Day’s? Have you been to other street festivals?

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Cream of the Crop as Shown by Google

I have faith that the readers of UBC blogs like mine are the cream of the crop of the student population here at this lovely university (slight sarcasm intended). As to how you guys got here, some were via Twitter, Facebook, my email signature, and a plethora of places filled shameless self-promotion; while others found it through search engines like Google. I’m quite happy that I come up first when I search “Phoebe Yu”, but what keywords did other people search to get to this blog? Some had mindnumbing questions, others were just curious. I will try my best to appease such curiosities. Much thanks to Google Analytics for stat tracking.

Bring on the keywords!

480 ubc runs on weekends
No, it doesn’t. You’ll have to take the 98 B-Line and then the 25/41/49/99 bus.

phoebe yu birthday
I’m flattered you’re trying to find someone’s birthday on Google, wait, on Google, seriously?!

chinese girls ubc commerce
Umm… *gulp*. There are a lot of us here… but we’re not sure if we want YOU here…

at ubc we like them yong [sic]
-Disturbed- (this is actually a line from a Sauder Frosh cheer, haha you’ll see)

mean things to do to someone to get them back

  1. Tell them to Google stupid things
  2. Get that featured on a blog

Oh wait, you just did that. Cream of the crop indeed.

Continue reading →

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You Asked, I Answer

If you had to make 7 things mandatory for each first year at UBC to do, what would they be? – Matt Corker

Excellent, excellent question Matt. Here it is in brief and I will expand this into a blog post one day.

1. Attend the Pep Rally on Imagine Day and cheer your heart out
2. Join a club, council, or association on campus (shameless promotion: International Business Club, for example)
3. Take a interest in the AMS candidates and vote in the AMS election
4. Take advantage of free swimming at the aquatic center
5. Visit the Rose Garden and trek down to Wreck Beach
6. Read the Ubyssey (optional: and comment on UBC Years and all the lovely people on the Blogsquad :D)
7. Visit all of your TAs and Profs during office hours, at least once; bonus points if you discuss non-homework related topics

Seven items are so short! The Ubyssey also published a 90 Things to do Before You Graduate UBC back in September, check it out, doing all of them might not be recommended hehe.

What’s the meaning of life? – Krys

42.

What was the lowest moment of your life, and how did you get out of there? – Lisa

Is this supposed to be one of those deep, thought-provoking, soul-searching questions that uncovers the mask I have been hiding behind, only to unveil behind it a hapless kindred spirit toiling without rewards? Of course not! The lowest moment of my life was probably when I went on a trip to Alberta and we went deep inside this cave that was at least a few hundred meters below sea level. I got out of there by taking a mining cart with the rest of the tourist group.

Where did you encounter the word “loquacious” and what does it mean? – Jason Yang

Easy question Jason, thank goodness! I encountered “loquacious” in my SAT prep days (remember those? haha). It means being excessively verbose or chatty, much like this blog.

What/who inspires you the most in life? – Travis

Of course it’s you, Travis. Other than my hardworking VP Finance, I am inspired by one particular quality: selflessness. To give up wealth or your own emotional well-being to service others is truly admirable. I’m also inspired by people who have overcome significant challenges to come out a new and better person.

How much sleep do you get every night? – Tysune

Usually between 5 and 6.5 hours. 9 hours on weekends. I feel bad now. Eastwood is going to come and tell me what up!

How much actual studying do you do during the school year on a usual day? – Tysune

Haha oh dear. I think about 90 minutes max, and then cramming before a due date.

Thank you for all your lovely questions! I picked and chose seven because that seemed to be the number we’re working with today. I encourage you bloggers out there to all take a narcissistic moment and have people ask your questions!

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Pop Culture, it’s What We Live For

You know you’ve been studying too much computer science when you hear the lyrics “there are only 2 kinds of people in the world” in Britney Spears’ Circus, and immediately correct it in your head to, “No, there are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don’t. Take that Britney.”

Midterm today.

And now, to borrow a concept from the website Overheard in New York: SPOTTED IN UBC.

SPOTTED IN THE SUB. Last Friday evening – five middle-aged men intensively playing a game of Yu-Gi-Oh cards next to the food court. I was tempted to stay and watch.

SPOTTED IN THE COMPSCI BUILDING. The day before Valentine’s Day – a couple who looks like they’re about to consummate their relationship on the sofa in the atrium in open view. OH MY EYES! MY EYES!

Did you spot something outrageous, delicious, hilarious, or gorgeous (like Jennifer Aniston’s dress at the Oscar’s)? Feel free to email them to me and share the *cough* learning experience.

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