All posts by nene azu

Campus Corner

Susana Baez : Life After UBCO!

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We recently caught up with Susana Baez, a former student  here who hails from Columbia, and interviewed her on life after UBC-O! During her time here, Susana was one of the most influential student leaders in her class. She continues to be a purpose driven young lady, brimming with confidence and taking Canada by storm. In this article we cover her experiences at UBC-O and what she’s been up to since she graduated from UBC – O in 2014.

  • How are you finding life after UBC-O? 
  • In terms of work and social life? Life in another Canadian city in general?  How was the transition from university life into working life?

I love this question because I used to always wonder about those students who had graduated already while I was still in school. I couldn’t wait to be done with school and start my life in the “real world.” Life after school seems exciting and full of adventures, but the reality of it is that this life after school also comes with many ups and downs. I loved my time at school and I felt like I took full advantage of every experience it offered. Now it has been a couple of years since I graduated and there are new and different exciting adventures and experiences that I am taking advantage of at the moment. Although every step has been worth it, it definitely came with a lot of hard work, sacrifice, solitude, and courage. I have been with the same company for about 2.5 years and still loving it! I love the people, the challenges and the rewards.

I left Kelowna about 6 months ago now and it was by far harder than I thought it would be. Kelowna had been my home ever since I arrived to Canada about 6 years ago. It felt like I was leaving all the memories, the friendships made and my second home. But I was ready for more! I am constantly craving new adventures and new challenges and trying to succeed in whatever I set my mind to. So far, Langley has been treating me well and it soon can be considered my other second home.unnamed

  • Did you find that certain skills you learnt at UBC are being applied in your workplace?

 Absolutely! Leaving the comfort of my home to become an independent student brought many challenges with it but rewarding ones! Best useful skill was probably learning how to cook decent meals (lol). After that I would say: doing my own laundry, smart spending, open mindedness, time management, working under pressure and teamwork. Open mindedness is a very cool one. I got to meet more people like myself who come from very far to get an education in Canada. I soon learned that Canadians are really nice too! These interactions made my university experience that much better and enhanced my overall outlook on life.

  • Were there any challenges you faced during your transition? If yes, how did you manage to deal with them?

There were times where I would start to doubt if I was doing the correct thing. Sometimes I even felt like I should probably quit, since being so far from family at times got really hard. No matter the distance, talking to my family and close friends makes these kinds of changes much more bearable. My family just always somehow helps me stay grounded and helps me keep a good head on my shoulders. They are 100% supportive of all my decisions and they know that me being far away from them is one of the many sacrifices I will have to make along the way in order to fulfill my dreams. Advice: Never loose touch of your loved ones! They will always be there for you no matter what.

  • You moved from Kelowna to Langley. Do you miss anything about Kelowna?

 Kelowna will remain that one special place that watched me grow from high school graduate to university graduate and working professional. I met very important people who I will stay friends with for the rest of my life and the memories I made are irreplaceable. Yes I will miss Kelowna but that doesn’t mean I’m never coming back! I love to visit a lot. Summers are the best in Kelowna!

  • It is a known fact that you were a student leader involved in many initiatives at UBC-O. Are there any that you’re still involved in? Are you now involved in anything new?

This was a key part in my personal development at school. Not only did it help me get out of my comfort zone, but also I met my life-long friends while being involved in so many cool initiatives! Work keeps me pretty busy so for now I am solely focused on advancing my career, but I would love to set some time to volunteering in an organization outside of work!

  • Do you have any advice for current students especially the first and final year students?

Your university experience is what you make of it. Everyone has a different story to how they spent their time at school. Just make sure that by the end of it you are able to look back and say, “I took full advantage of every opportunity that came my way and I am proud of how far I have come”.

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Canada Across the Map

Terrorism and Current Events: A discussion on the implications for the World.

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On Monday evening, a discussion was held in the International Programs and Services office of the University of British Columbia – Okanagan on current events happening in the world including terrorism & the refugee crisis. This session was put together and moderated by the eloquent Ms Stella Mozin, a 3rd year International Relations major, who also blogs for The Global Spectrum.

It started off with a quick introduction of the attendees, a very diverse group in terms of faculty, age and cultural background, who brought along their different positions on the issue of ISIS and suggested solutions to the refugee crisis currently.  Many people gave their stance on the media, bombings in Paris and retaliation by France, with memorable comments from Laurence Watt on the importance for mediation and calls for assistance from Canada by Stella Mozin.

The conversation got very interesting as people spoke about their respective countries and their positions on the situations. We got some insight on the Turkey situation with Russia and on the flight that was shutdown, the borders that were closed in India and the ripple effects on the Nepalese economy as well as the terrorist group Boko Haram’s insurgence in West Africa. Many spoke on Western media and their role in reporting specific events and embedding fear in people which aggravates Islamophobia and racism.

The talk ended on a good note as many people aired out their frustration with our governments and spoke about reaching out to the greater Kelowna community to reach others who may not share the same views as us on these subjects. More talks like these are to be held in the coming semester and hopefully they can happen in more central locations i.e downtown Kelowna.

 

 

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Campus Corner, Events

Global Fest 2015: Celebrating Diversity, Embracing Differences.

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This year’s annual celebration of Global Fest was a blast!
Every year it has gotten bigger & better and this year’s edition was the best one yet! The morning session began with a special opening address from the Vice Chancellor, Deborah Buzzard and the manager of the IPS office, Leah Sanford who spoke on the importance of the diversity on our campus and the opportunities they present to learn from the different cultures.

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There were presentations from different countries and regions, with memorable mentions including Chilean music + tortilla chips, having your name written in Taiwanese and dishes from different Tanzania, Nepal & different parts of the world. Many people walking through the FIPKE building, students and staff alike, sampled dishes and listened to the students and staff who represented the 26 different countries  on showcase at the event.

 

Global Fest Night Performance

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The night section begun with a poem from the Master of Ceremony of the event, yours truly, Nene Azu and was characterized by music and dance performances that from India, Iran,  Russia, Canada & China among many others. There were also  memorable performances from Sam & Eaton (rap) ,UBCO Beats(acapella) , the ASA and the Latin Dance Club(dance) who graced us with amazing dance performances.

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Overall the event was a success and the International Programs and Services Community Animators did a spectacular job at putting it together. I believe the UBC community looks forward to more events like this as it embraces our diversity and celebrates diverse cultures.

 

 

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Campus Corner, Events

Misconceptions About Islam at UBCO

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The current events that happened in the past week in regards to the bombings in Paris and Beirut as well as the catastrophes and general sense of loss in various parts of the world, make it a good time for introspection and soul searching. Sadly, a bi-product of these attacks has been the rise in public displays of Islamophobia and discrimination all around us.

The Muslim Student Association, led by Adnan Bhat, held a talk last week on the Misconceptions about Islam; an informative session and open Q&A. The talk offered an avenue for genuinely curious minds on the UBCO campus to actually learn about the tenets and beliefs of Islam from  Sheikh Navaid Aziz, the guest speaker,  who is a chaplain and youth counsellor from Calgary.

As he begun, he greeted the crowd and encouraged the members of the audience to approach the session with an open mind. He went on to touch on many aspects that are highly controversial to the the way Muslims are viewed as well as Islamophobia in general. He spoke extensively about the problems of taking a small percentage of Muslims as representative of all of Islam,  quoting versus from the Quran and introducing counter examples from other religions. He linked these occurrences to the media and their largely reductive and negative portrayal of Islam.

The Sheikh continued by giving a brief introduction to the concept of Sharia Law, explaining its focal point was to protect people, faith, intellect, wealth and honour, and explaining some of the differences that exists between the different ideologies, Sunni and Shia. He also touched on the four types of Jihad, introducing the literal meaning of “Jihad,” or “struggle,” as waging war against ignorance, taking care of parents, and speaking the truth to a tyrannical ruler.

When asked about the Hijab and Niqab during the Q&A period, the Sheikh responded that cultural differences are at the heart of misunderstandings about women’s clothing. He reiterated women’s prerogative in choosing to wear a head covering, and he further reinforced that the most respected/valued member of the home, according to the Quran, is the mother.

Sheikh Aziz wrapped up the Q&A session with a short discussion on how family values and legislation within Islam are very different from Western styles and again pointed at misconstrued understandings of Islam. He also talked a little about Islamic banking in response to a student interested in working in the UAE.

The Muslim Student Association provided snacks and the event was generally a success, more so a success of the mind as many were very open and ready to learn from the Sheikh.There was a lot of media coverage on the event and a good showing from the campus community.

 

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Campus Corner

Omar Mwangari : Life After UBC-O!

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Omar Mwangari graduated from UBCO in 2014 with an honours in Psychology and minor in English. As a student here, he was an integral member in the International and Aboriginal Programs and Services offices, and he also co-ordinated major events from Global Fest to Jumpstart.

After graduating, he began work with Cintas as a Management Trainee and has been working with them for the past year and a half. We got in touch with ‘Omie’, as he is known,  and asked him a couple of questions in relation to his transition from university life to work life.
1. How are you finding life after UBC-O now that you’ve moved to another Canadian city?

Life is great post-UBC. Work has been good even with the relocation from Kelowna to Edmonton. The fast-paced Edmonton offers unique challenges that build character and further prepare you for the different leadership positions that come with being a Cintas partner.

2. How was the transition from university life into working life?

I would say I found it easy! I had social support (family, friends, peers, mentors) who cared for my well-being and success. I couldn’t ask for more.

3. Did you find that certain skills you learned at UBC are being applied in your workplace?

All skills learnt at UBC (and throughout my life), be it in class or on the social front have been of great help. Not only did these skills (e.g. leadership, budgeting, public speaking etc) get me through the Cintas doors but also sustain me after.

4. Were there any challenges you faced during your transition? If yes, how did you manage to deal with them?

As cliche as this may sound, the biggest thing for me (which I believe is shared across many working class members who just recently finished school) were the cravings for a sleep-in day(s) and the procrastination – more so now with the harsh Edmonton winters. Gone are the days of pressing the snooze button, knowing your friend has you covered in class. The key is to remember that the world is no longer at your beck and call: you have yourself, your family, your peers, and the company to consider. If I were to sleep in, chances are that I will have signed, sealed and delivered my own termination papers.

5. You moved from Kelowna to Edmonton. How’s the new city treating you? Do you miss anything about Kelowna?

Edmonton has been great. As I noted earlier, it brings with it unique challenges that I may not have been exposed  to while in Kelowna. However, at the end of the day, I feel like Kelowna will always be my second home (after Mombasa, Kenya). It’s no surprise I stop by every now and then to visit.

6. It is a known fact that you were a student leader involved in many initiatives at UBC-O. Are there any that you’re still involved in? Are you now involved in anything new?

I try to get involved in the community, but I haven’t done that to my satisfaction. I do, however, try to put in the same (if not more) effort at Cintas as I did at UBC.

7. Do you have any advice for current students especially the first and final year students?
Word of advice: ask yourselves, after the completion of your degree (that point in time when you are super busy trying to apply for jobs), whom will you have in your corner to write you a reference letter? Does this person really know you well to speak on your behalf? The small steps you take right now not only make you stand out in interviews but also shows to your future employer how driven you are, how much potential you have. This goes a long way into deciding whether you are the right fit for their company or not.
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Uncategorized

The Other Side

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The Other Side Project was started by Mirabelle Arodi, a student here at UBC, who is currently on exchange at McGill University.
The project focuses on the concept of home, from a more individual lens and contrast it with mass media representation of countries.

The Project contrasts these images by placing both images side by side, with a student’s photo of home and an image from a major news outlet that is representative of home. The project is an attempt to counter stereotypes of different parts of the world and share the true image that actual citizens experience daily and call home.

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Your Voice

Dumbfounded

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Walking down Discovery Avenue,
I am dumbfounded by the avenue,
that is a college education; this oh so glorified education.
The road to scholarly liberation.
Yet is this truly liberation,
If I am perceivably in need of salvation,
Salvation which led my motherland to procrastination;
and poverty; the malnourished child plagued by starvation…

Am I but a dumbfounded youth?
Cascading through these undulating truths;
Lost in the sound of maroon leaves,
and cold feel as the summer leaves.
The cold feel that is winter’s presence,
marked by hot chocolate & spine chilling breeze.
I wallow in this university centred adversity,
perplexed by animosity and academic controversy.
I traverse the Okanagan in search of serenity.
What Serenity?! Am I a lost cause? Am I…?
… hope is my only escape,
I only hope it can save me.

– Nene Azu

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Campus Corner

Jumpstart Okanagan ’15

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Jumpstart Okanagan 2015!

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The annual orientation that introduces first year international students to the lovely Okanagan campus was a huge success once again.

From The Americas to Europe, Africa to Asia and Australasia, current students welcomed incoming first years with enthusiasm and excitement. The experience featured sessions that highlighted keys to university success, resources on campus as well as fun events and places to visit in the region.

Below you will find some quotes from Jump-starter’s this year:

“Woooooooooooooh! Jumpstart was so amazing met some of my best-friends here. ”
– Alix Rossetto, France

“The rodeo was spectacular, I got to ride a mechanical bull! If you don’t do it you’re missing out!”
– Arlene Hassan, Maldives

“Really nice and helpful for new to Kelowna students, the leaders and students were open and very friendly. Definitely do it , helps to meet new people. ”
– Nourah Ndour, Burkina Faso

“Jumpstart was wonderful! I loved the time we visited the farmer’s market and went on the hike. It really helped me familiarize with the campus and the new environment. ”
– Catherine Fleck-Vidal, Germany

“Did a good job picking leaders as they made as feel welcomed and comfortable from the get go as well as the help from move in. The rodeo/fair was really good, but the farmer’s market was my personal favourite.”
– Karlie Lovinggood, Cayman Islands

” A great experience, met so many people and learnt so much!”
– Lawrence Li, Hong Kong

Jumpstart has been running for the past 7 years and from the quotes and feedback, hopefully it will be here for many years to come; warmly receiving the international community to UBC.

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Events

Upcoming Events: August – September 2015!

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Jumpstart 2015!   
Undergraduate International student orLogo_-_Jumpstart23021ientation hosted by the IPS.

A one-week preparation to academic life at and orientation to UBC’s Okanagan campus for new international undergraduate students.

Grad Jumpstart 2015!
Graduate International student orientation hosted by the IPS.
A one-week preparation to academic life at and orientation to UBC’s Okanagan campus created specifically for international graduate students.

Spark Extended Orientation! (Month of September)spark
UBC Okanagan’s five-week extended orientation program designed to welcome back our returning students and introduce our programs and services to New-to-UBC students. It is highlighted by the following week long events:

– Week of Welcome!
– Wellness & Recreation Week!
– Involvement Week!
– Academics Week!
– Diversity & Equity Week!

– UBCSUO Frosh!
Week long activities that welcome students to university living hosted by the Students Union.
It includes concerts, fun activities on the commons and many more!
One of the notable days during this week is:

– Clubs and Course Union Day

A day set aside for all the clubs and course unions on campus setup booths in the academic courtyard so students know what extra-curricular involvement options are available on campus.

* this page will be updated regularly and is not the final list of events for the months of August and September 2015.

 

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Your Voice

The Global Spectrum

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I am the sound of radiant colours,
An impression of diverse waves,
The prodigy of multiculturalism,
Reconciliation of better days.

      I am the possibility of cultural understanding,
A conqueror of stereotypical thinking,
The Caesar to inter-culturalism; my Cleopatra,
On this winding road: a universal adventure.

 I am the echo of Mahatma Gandhi,
An embodiment of Nelson Mandela,
The fearless leader of the Cherokee Nation,
Revolving around this global spectrum.

I am the continuum of diversity,
A piece in a world filled with controversy,
The introspective pawn traversing a chess table,
Maneuvering a tale that is far from stable.

      – Nene Azu

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