For this weeks reading by Eric Fong and Elic Chan, I felt that I took more into my own considerations and learned the important factors about preference, language, central aspects of residences and demography. Before moving on, Id like to say that Lisa Lee did a fantastic and easy to follow job on her presentation on co-ethnic residency/preference. I learned from her presentation that, it was mainly focused on Indian and Chinese focusing on that they are seen as the largest visible minority/ immigrant groups in Canada, mainly through the bigger cities Toronto and our home, Vancouver. I was shocked to experience that there are co-ethnic preferences within moving preference into a neighbourhood where it is highly populated by one race or another. Thus this incudes, friends, family members, shops/mall, religion and lower funds of income. In a way it is disappointing to see that people coming into Canada from other countries, want to be or feel closer to home once they arrive to Canada making places now highly segregated with ethnicity issues and leaving out others. An example can be of Surrey where it is a highly populated area of East Indians in Newton, and many Canadians or other ethnicities do not want to move there thinking or feeling that they are not wanted or because of how it is already situated and how there is a strong sense of culture and language already embedded in that area. So, because of this, there needs to be a better solution and plan in that one does not feel left out and or thinking that one is not wanted in a certain area or place. So in that being said, language has barriers and should have an central aspect of where everyone has a sense of belonging. Perhaps helpful situations or ideas can be of the young generations translating or volunteering something that can bring society together by being more multicultural and embracing other races and different cultures to unify as Canada, and not little India, little Italy, China town, etc. People that do come here obviously come for positive reasons and want to learn English because it is an essential language that is now needed throughout the world to work and to excel in ones education. In class, Justin mentioned this and I agree and think that people should learn English so that there won’t be such a preference for co-ethnic residency. There should be some differences (race) in one’s neighbourhood, a unique and exotic taste of different cultures and foods, to be humble, friendly and accepting of change, of people and of race, because we are all in end, just people like you and me.

When I went to the Halloween club crawl event, I felt that it was very open, loud exciting music and super cool costumes worn by students. I loved how everyone was mingling and a lot of students like myself went alone and just joined in conversations with other peeps, wanting a good time and dancing to funky songs. As a sociologist major, I of course observed the place, the people, the costumes and the food and started talking to new people within minutes. It reminds me of Lisa’s presentation co-ethnic residence because in some ways it relates to this event that was super fun. If one did not want to join a group, or if one did not want someone to join that group at the Halloween event, then there are problems were that individual may feel less welcomed or intimated by numerous reasons that we should all understand and work with, but thankfully this event was open to everyone that there needed not any kinds of so called “groups” but more of an welcome to show support to our school events at UBC. On the contrary, I do see on campus that there are co-ethnic preferences that play important factors in being in a group or club, example: one needs to meet the criteria to join a club or one needs to be of a certain ethnicity to join. I believe that because of our norms and values groups are just naturally configured like this, but it is wrong and soon enough they won’t be existing anymore due to people getting angry and frustrated by their nonsense. All in all, the Halloween night was an eventful one with lots of dancing, drinking, and most importantly, mingling with new students from all over the world!

On October 1st, I was walking to our 433A seminar class, while the HKSA (Hong Kong student association) stopped me and asked if I would wear their yellow ribbon to help and show support for the protests and democracy movements in Hong Kong. At first, I had only heard of this movement through media and the newspaper, but after seeing and talking with the HKSA it was real and that information was more alive and I could tell that each one of them had so much dedication to what they were doing. I had asked them why there were poster boards and markers and they replied that if a message were to be written, they would take it back to Hong Kong and be sent to the protesters on the streets! At that moment I was astonished and thought that, I should be also campaigning about Tibet and its troubles within China. This was an excellent way to excel their club, show and spread awareness, and dedication to their people in HK showing, they are not alone and that this movement has been seen worldwide. A few days later, someone had mentioned that there will be an event for the HK movement in front of SUB and that it would be good that not only HK students show up, but other ethnicities, and organized clubs to join. Once I arrived, there were many students dressed in yellow, ribbons all over and yellow umbrellas to make a statement that they are not giving up, and whatever weapons the police use like the tear gas and pepper spray, the umbrella will defend, guard and prevail truth. It was one of the most amazingly well organized event that I have ever been to, nothing like it and I felt special being able to participate in a country that allows the practices of language, orientation and freedom. I believe that this generation is for the better and that we can strive to make changes to benefit for all.

I would like to relate this event with the reading: Beyond the self: How structures limits agency. (HK movement – yellow umbrella).  In this reading there are points that have relationships, and procedures that abide with people, production, and human relations. The questions I would like to discuss are dealing with the HK movement (people) and how will the supporters protest back, (production) how their lives produce persistence? and how human relation will connect this HK movement for the better, and if universal suffrage was allowed in HK what issues would arise in the future?

Ever since the pro-democracy protesters started occupying the busiest districts in HK, the Chinese government has been trying to limit the spread of this news in mainland China by suppressing everything that is related to the occupy central movement. For example all the posts about the movement have been censored on Weibo, the most popular social media in China. Instagram was also blocked in large parts of China due to the protest. How did this occupy central movement, led by a 17 year old student, have caused such panic to the Communist party’s authoritarian control over the rest of China? Being the third most important international financial center, after London and New York City, what influences to the rest of China, or even on a global scale, does it have?

(Imagine Day)

 (IAM UBC)

This event was so inspiring because it had a lot clubs to browse, general knowledge on different faculties and departments, music, food, and free stuff like a coupon to Davids Tea and a lot of candies and pens! Despite it raining on Imagine Day it still went well and I learned a lot of interesting and new things. For ex: I didn’t know that groups like the Indonesian Society had sponsorship with Air China, so when you travel you save an extra 10%!!! The BBQ in the chemistry building was to die for, too bad I didn’t get any.. Hence not being a chemistry major. However, I did enjoy what the Arts faculty put together and how we were on schedule with bringing and catering in sandwiches and salads from Subway! That was yummy and was a nice way to meet and interact with new 1st year students and old friends. It was very nice to see how Buchanan space was almost filled with tables of presenters and posters to encourage us to sign up with their according academics. The most favorite part was seeing the faces of the 1st year students following their awesome team leaders that held signs, had face paints, logos, etc. this was totally a great way encourage them to a huge university and to welcome, let them know what and who we are, what we do and represent! “I AM UBC”

How do we connect as “I AM UBC?”, in the beginning of class we discussed and connected that we are all foreigners and are on Salish Coasts peoples territory. So with that in mind, we all must share everything together and learn and take from one another in a seeding manner. UBC has a very natural, resourceful, beautiful area that has a lot of rich history and a proud area that we all can connect to. From the perfect untouched forests, to its beaches and water UBC is US. Just being able to have the resources and the ability to learn in such a space makes UBC a sense that it is our home, our space and that we all need to stick together and support one another. Imagine day shows us just that and that its one of the days were all our colours and spirits come out to join the big family connection to UBC.