03/22/15

such funs

10 THINGS TO DO IN YOUR LAST 6 WEEKS BEFORE SUMMER:

1. Check your SSC for when and where your exams are.

2. Make a list of your last assignments (especially those big ones) and put it in your calendar.

3. Book your ﬂights if you haven’t already.

4. Didn’t get housing and too far down on the waitlist? Start looking for places off campus.

5. Figure out when you’re going to pack all your stuff together; remember that you have to move out by April 30!

6. Do some research on summer storage options.

7. Stock up on food because you might be a hermit when exams come around (but don’t overstock!)

8. Make arrangements to pause your MSP, phone plans, and bank statements if you’re going to be out of town.

9. Remember to say goodbye to your friends and keep in touch with them.

10.Enjoy the weather, ﬂowers, and our lovely campus before heading off!

Have lots of fun and good luck on your exams!

By: Anthea Low

03/16/15

Some feels for you

(I wrote this almost two years ago. Definitely interesting to compare how I used to think about love to my current perception of it. Let me know what you think!)

Illusion About Love

There’s a problem with this idea of love that I’ve been fed all of these years. The problem is this: I have been taught to think that love is the sudden rush of emotion, this incredible feeling of simply wanting to fall into somebody’s arms. The notion of labelling the various stages of a relationship sickens me. It’s like, after two months you have to be at this place in your relationship. I find myself constantly looking for signs of what to do next. I’m expecting the flowers and the rooftop poetry and the looking into each other’s eyes and just knowing bullshit. I understand what’s been missing, all along. What makes all the breaking up so messy, and what makes life after a relationship almost excruciating and ecstatic all at the same time.

There’s no place for the growth of a good friendship, a good companionship even. Because there’s the neutral phase when you feel nothing for someone, and then there’s the looking-across-the-room and then there’s the awkward silence that drives people crazy. But maybe that’s just how I see it ending. Doesn’t it happen like this – that the day after someone breaks up with you they pretend that the weeks, the months and years of knowing you just don’t exist anymore? And that the way you deal with it is to write them into a fictional story and somehow find interesting ways to kill them off? Because that’s what I’ve been doing all of these years. All of the people I love have slowly drifted away from me, sometimes pretending that none of what we had ever existed in the first place. And to be honest, I’m tired of the lonely gut-ripping feeling that I get when someone I love leaves me.

So I’m resolving to be a friend to someone above all else. I want to stand with someone through the drunken nights and through all of the sorrows that they’ll face. Because in the end, that love, the nuanced gradual touch that goes beyond physicality, that’s the love that will last anything. That’s the love that I need to foster in me, and it’s the love that will accept me as who I am. With all of my imperfections. It’s the kind of love that I don’t need to search for, or change myself to attain. It’s the simple, nourishing love that will wash over me, one that seeps through every pore on my body, till I am fully immersed in it.

Original post: http://skylerwang.com/post/49677369063/illusion-about-love-theres-a-problem-with-this

By: Skyler Wang

03/10/15

Those positive vibes tho

Here’s a small poem I wrote to help you get through the last stretch of school!

You already made it this far, DON’T GIVE UP NOW FRIENDS:)

Stressful Days

What is life without some of these

You need to enjoy the worries while you have them

Happiness is overrated sometimes

Feeling different emotions is what builds character

So next time you have a

stressful,

shitty,

bull-sh*t

day

take it all in

Breath by breath

Taste it

Feel it

and be in it

Cus tomorrow is a new day

where all these worries will be lost.

xoxo

Sharon Sehrai

Gage Apartments Advisor

03/9/15

5 ways to be cool as a cucumber

5 Ways to De-Stress on Campus

We all know midterm season is CRAZY, but it is important to keep sane during this stressful time. Here are a couple ways to keep cool as a cucumber:

1. Cardio Exercise

Most people don’t think of cardio as a form of relaxation, but it’s a great way to rid your body of toxins through sweat and get those endorphins going.

2. Yoga

Yoga is a great way to clear your mind and get in tune with your body. There are so many places to do yoga on campus. Check out UBCs yoga club or challenge yourself and try hot yoga at Hotbox.

3. Watch the sunset at Wreck Beach

We’re so lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, take advantage of it by watching one of the beautiful orangey-pink sunsets on one of the many beach on or close to campus.

4. Nap

This one is just self-explanatory. Nothing beats a solid nap. Bonus points if you nap in the upper atrium of the aquatic center!

5. Try something new and exciting

There are so many different clubs, programs, and cool events going on at UBC. Try something you find interesting. This could be trying a Latin Dance Class or watching on UBC improv team perform.

By: Karimah Naguib

03/9/15

Spring into hiking!

How-To: Pack for your first overnight hiking trip.

As we jump into an unusually warm spring here in beautiful Vancouver, you might be beckoned to a weekend getaway in the great outdoors. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you. But for those who are planning an overnight hiking trip for the first time, you might be a little confused on how to organize all your seemingly camping-essentials in that tiny 50L backpack of yours. Disclaimer: you’ll have to leave your fluffy cotton pillow behind.

Preparation is essential for any outdoor adventure. How you fill your pack will determine the character of your trip. Here are some tips that may help you prep a well-organized pack for this weekend. Note that this isn’t the end all be all list, but it will help start you off along the right track.

Put the heaviest items closest to your spine.That’s usually your food and water, plus your stove, fuel and toiletries (both for the sake of convenience and to keep everything with an odor away from the rest of your gear)
Put low-priority items you won’t need until camp in the bottom of your pack. (Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes to sleep in, etc.)
Put high-priority items you need constant, quick access to in the top or side pockets of your pack. (Your headlamp, your first aid and emergency kit, your guidebook, your cell phone, snacks, your water bottle (if you’re not carrying a hydration pack), any extra layers you expect to need before you hit camp, and so on.)

Organizing the Inside

All right, you know where to put things in your pack — but how are you supposed to keep it all straight? Try these tips for fine-tuning your packing system:

Pack similar items together in stuff sacks, either color-coded or labeled (write on the bag with a permanent marker, or write on a piece of duct tape and stick it to the bag).
Divide your weight equally throughout your pack so that it’s not weighing down on one side. That might mean that you’ll have to split your tent gear (tent body and poles on one side, rainflyon the other) or pack it on one side and put something(s) of comparable size and weight on the other side.
If you’re hiking in bear country, anything with an odor — including toothpaste, soap and your cookware – either stow it in a bear-proof canister or be prepared to hang it off a tree when you’re setting up camp. Here’s a good Youtube video that will show you all the tips and tricks to establish a good pulley system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKYBhsy3gZQ

Don’t Be That Hiker

Friends don’t let friends dangle items on the outside of their packs. That’s usually a sign your pack is too small (or that you’re carrying too much stuff — try asking yourself these three questions), and it’s a great way to lose said items or get yourself hung up on trees or bushes.

The few exceptions are sleeping pads and bear canisters, which are often so bulky that they have to ride on the outside of your pack; hiking poles or snowshoes; the occasional water bottle that’s made to clip to your pack’s straps for easy access; and an extra outer layer that you might stuff into your pack’s bungee compartment, if it has one.

If you have something particularly bulky that needs a home — like a sleeping pad or bear canister — consider placing it on top of your pack’s main compartment, then fastening the pack lid over it to hold it in place. Whether or not that’s actually a workable solution depends on the size, height and balance of your pack and load. — but it usually works pretty well.

For an example of a good gear list, check this out: http://www.patc.us/volunteer/trailpatrol/Forms/BPChecklist.pdf

By: Carrie Kwok

03/9/15

March ProfTalks Summary

March ProfTalks- Our Ideal World in in 50 Years

Dr. Matthew Yedlin

Dr. Issy Laher

This month, we invited Dr. Matthew Yedlin and Dr. Issy Laher to ProfTalks Medicine and Applied Sciences. Our conversation started with the two professors sharing their areas of research and what their ideal world would look like in 50 years. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Matthew Yedlin emphasized education as a key factor to bettering our world. Specifically, he wanted students to think more critically and have more opportunities to interact with professors through mentorship programs. Similarly, Dr. Issy Laher also agreed that education is key to improving our world in relation to pubic health. Instead of relying on medication and technology, he stressed the important of early prevention by exercising and eating properly. In this one-hour discussion we also covered other topics like “How are online portals like WebMD transforming the ways people are engaging with doctors and other medical services” and “What are some ways we can minimize the waste from obsolete electronic devices?” This ProfTalks was an enriching experience for both the residents and the professors, and we look forward to the next ProfTalks!

By: Ju Young Park

03/9/15

Get that groove goin’

Music For Studying

By: Sanjana Akella

Tip # 1

Classical music is peaceful and harmonious making it a good option to listen to when studying. There is evidence that listening to Mozart could improve mental performance. Check out the “Mozart Effect.”

Tip # 2

Listen to sounds of nature such as rain, waves, jungles or animals while studying. While this is not exactly music, it is relaxing and make you feel like you’re in another world.

Tip # 3

Other study friendly music genres – jazz, acoustic, ambient, electronic. Movie soundtracks are great too! Songza, 8tracks and Youtube (for starters) are great sources for study music. Check out The Study Music Project! (http://www.studymusicproject.com/playlist/)

Tip # 4

Productive Procrastination – create a playlist with all your favourite songs in advance to avoid having to search for new songs every 5 minutes. This will save you time, allow you to plan how long your study session will be and help your level of concentration while you study.

Tip # 5

Make playlists that last for 40 to 50 minutes. When the playlist ends, this will act as a reminder to take a short break from studying.

Tip # 6

Listen to music before you go to bed or before an exam. This will make you feel relaxed and put you in the right state of mind.

Tip # 7

While choosing the best music for studying is important, you should avoid spending hours selecting the songs. At the end of the day, what matters is not choosing the best music in the world but that your study is productive.

03/9/15

The Best Pad Thai 4ever

My Favorite Pad Thai Recipie By: Ju Young Park

This weekend, try my favorite Pad Thai recipe. It is yummy, healthy and you can cook enough to last you the whole week!

Ingredients (For 2-3 servings-total 40 minutes cooking time)

(Most ingredients can be found in Asian/Indian grocery stores)

For sauce:

4 tbsp. of tamarind
4 tbsp. of sugar
8 tbsp. of fish sauce
1 tbsp. of dried chili pepper

The rest:

½ of package rice noodles
Some peanuts
Cooking oil
3 cloves of garlic
500g of shrimp or extra-firm tofu
Green onions
1 eggs
1 cup of bean sprouts
Ground pepper
Lime

Steps:

Soak the rice noodles in hot water and set it aside for a couple of minutes. Check back frequently for the right texture- it should be flexible but never mushy! When you have the right texture, run it through cold water to stop the cooking and set it aside for later
In your wok or a big pot, roast your peanuts
Then, add in oil, garlic, tofu/shrimp and green onions
When they are cooked, add the cooked noodles to the wok
Pour the sauce over the noodles and gentle mix the ingredients together (Be careful not to break all the noodles!)

Make room for the eggs by pushing all the noodles to aside. Crack and scramble the egg
Add the bean sprouts
Finally, taste your noodles- add some ground pepper and more fish sauce if you want
DONE! Garnish it with a wedge of lime, fresh green onions and some peanuts
ENJOY

03/9/15

Coo coo, wait…what bird is that?!

Birds Commonly Found on Campus!

Fox Sparrow

ID: Round body, brown back, blotchy coloured chest, sometimes with a reddish tinge.

Where: Spends most of its time near the ground, around shrubs. Look near the bike kitchen and the flag pole outside Gage.

Sound: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Fox_Sparrow/sounds

Song Sparrow

ID: Similar to the Fox Sparrow, but less blotchy on the chest with more defined streaks. It`s colour is typically brown or grey.

Where: Spends most of its time near the ground around shrubs. Look by the flag pole and near the bike kitchen.

Sound: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/sounds

Anna’s Hummingbird

ID: Small, shiny red feathers on the neck and head; broad tail and long beak.

Where: You can find these in the branches of short trees. They look like a little knob on the bare branch. They are right outside the entrance to the Apartments

Sound: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/sounds

Spotted Towhee

ID: Larger than the sparrow, distinctive feather colour and pattern, thick beak, chunky body, long and rounded tail

Where: Look around ground shrubs and edges of forests, they hide out in thick shrubs near the ground. Look near the upside-down tree and totem forest.

Sound: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/sounds

Black-capped Chickadee