A German Train Ride

May 22, 2015

A German Train Ride

A while ago I watched this TED Talk about how Slow TV in Norway was becoming a trend, this inspired me while I was riding the train to Neuschwanstein Schloss (castle) to make my own version of slow tv in the form of the train ride.

WARNING: I filmed this on the cellphone, so the video quality is not superb and looks better small vs fullscreen. And my video editing skills are basic Windows Movie Maker skills.

I hope you like the video!

Also you can watch the TED Talk here - http://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_hellum_the_world_s_most_boring_television_and_why_it_s_hilariously_addictive?language=en

Philippines 2015 Field School

Hi all,
This is the first installment of the Philippines 2015 blog. We are a group of 8 Nursing students and 2 instructors who will be working in a hospital in Cebu City, Philippines, from April 27 to May 29, 2015. I'm hoping to keep a bit of a photojournal as we go along, starting with our picking up supplies from the Compassionate Warehouse to take with us. This first entry is going to be brief however, as I'm just trying to figure out how to make entries and start blogging. Yay for Luddites who dare to try to blog!! So, with luck and perseverance, there will be photos and entries to come.
Stephen

WTF or Healthy Nerves? What do you call it?

March 26, 2015

WTF or Healthy Nerves? What do you call it?

I am not the type of person who spends much time worrying and every time I have done something that scares me, it didn’t scare me until it was too late to do anything about it.

For instance, I remember when I was 17; I had started talking to my father in May, having successfully tracked him down through snail mail in Mexico and at the end of June, a week after graduation, I boarded a flight to meet him and the Rodriguez family in Mexico. I didn’t over think each step to prepare for my first international flight, my first trip alone, my first time away. I simply went through the steps, I applied for a Passport, I saved the bit of money I could from my cashier job, and asked for a suitcase for my graduation present. When the day of my departure arrived, I went to the airport and went through the motions. My flight was 6 hours and it was fun, it still had not occurred to me what my fate was after the airplane landed. Then after we landed and before I reached Mexican Customs, I stopped to use the washroom. Mexican washrooms are not like Canadian washrooms, not as cleanly, sometimes they have toilet paper, sometimes they don’t, sometimes they have a toilet seat, and sometimes it’s just the bowl. So this Mexican washroom gave me my first bit of culture shock. That culture shock turned into what I like to call the “WTF” (what the F*ck!) moment. In this WTF moment, I realized, in minutes, I would be meeting my father, a man, I had no memory of and had only talked to on the phone for the last two months. Not only was I going to meet this man, I had agreed to spend the whole summer with him, in a country I didn’t know, with a language I hardly spoke. And it’s in this moment that all the worries and all the risks started to come crashing down. But it is too late to turn back, there’s only one way out of that bathroom and that’s forward, towards the unknown.

That was my first WTF moment and in all my preceding adventures, I have come to recognize (and name) that moment, it always happens, and luckily for me, it happens when there is no alternative but to move forward. My Sailor and I discussed this moment; I wanted to know if he also experienced a similar moment. He wasn’t the biggest risk taker before I met him but he had some noteworthy adventures. He said that he wouldn’t call it a WTF moment, and he typically had what he liked to call “Healthy Nerves” and Healthy Nerves would set in sooner than my WTF moment. But he tried to use the energy from the Healthy Nerves to push him forward, a sign that he was on to something great.

Before my adventure to Germany, I suddenly lost most of my hearing and needed to organize financial support to get hearing aids. I had to deal with a pretty huge turning point in my life along with organizing my study abroad adventure which included packing up my home and putting it into storage. I had a month, January, to solve the mystery of what happened to my hearing, complete the application for funding for a hearing aid and receive said hearing aid, pack up my apartment and put it into storage, and to pack for Germany and have my paperwork completed. Then I had a week and it felt like everything had to magically or miraculously come together during that week. That’s when it hit me WTF was I doing! Why was I going to Germany when I didn’t even know how to be a deaf person in my own country? What if I didn’t get the hearing aids I needed in time? Why was I going to be learning German when I should be learning how to do sign language? Could I really handle the added challenge of being deaf and studying abroad? Was I putting too much pressure on myself and not taking care of myself? Should I really be doing this?

This WTF moment came early and I had the option to change my mind; I didn’t have only one way to go. My WTF moment came too soon.

So one week before I was to leave Victoria, I was rethinking this whole adventure. My Sailor and I discussed all the options. He supported me in whichever decision I made but ultimately it was mine to make. I was ready to throw in the towel, to take a step back, but I worried, would I regret not going to Germany? Would I look back and think “What if?”

Then, as best friends always manage to do, one of mine wanted a Skype call because she was having a rough day or week. I messaged her back and said, “I don’t think I will be much help, I am also having a rough go of it.” She said, “Perfect, we can cry together.” And that’s what we did. It was messy, beautiful and ended with smiles. I came away from that conversation with her, with the best advice, advice from someone who has known me since my preteen years. Her wise words were, “Go to Germany, you always push yourself and even when it’s difficult and seems impossible, you always succeed and come out the other side better for it. It wouldn’t be you, if you didn’t push yourself.” (I quoted my understanding of what she said and not her direct words.)  That’s when I realized, yes, it would be an extra challenge, but I could do it, like I have done, many times before. I needed to summon the worries and turn it into Healthy Nerves.

That’s what I did. That week, everything came together, sometimes through magic, and sometimes through sheer willpower and persistence.

The Healthy Nerves helped give me the energy to push forward and now, I am in Germany, and there is only one direction; forward.

5 Months Abroad in Japan!

It's hard to believe that it's been 5 months since I first arrived in Japan.  I had only a vague idea of what life would be like studying abroad, but I can safely say that my experience so far has been incredible!  I've gotten so used to life here that I frequently forget about the fact that I even have to go back home!  It's a really special feeling when you go to another country for the first time.  Everything is new and exciting!

My first memory of Japan was stepping off the plane and seeing two employees standing in the rain, holding up umbrellas so passengers wouldn't get wet as they exit the plane ramp to the shuttle bus.  I had heard stories about the excellency of Japanese customer service, but consider me impressed!

Tokyo is full of really neat, hidden side streets like this one

I spent my first two weeks travelling around the greater Tokyo area.  During this time, I visited several Japanese friends that I had made in Victoria.  Some of the things I did in Tokyo include: visiting an onsen (hot spring), traversing the famous pedestrian crossing in Shibuya, seeing some of Japan's history at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, and laying eyes on a giant, life-sized Gundam from the famous anime franchise.  My limited time in Tokyo was a fantastic experience, and I'd love to go back and explore it more someday, but before I knew it I was off to Osaka and Kansai Gaidai!

Kabuki Theatre stage at the Edo-Tokyo Museum

I remember the first time I walked up to the Nakamiya campus gates and being bewildered at the magnitude and majesty of Kansai Gaidai.  The Campus is quite large, and the school itself is very well-maintained.  School life was a huge shift in tempo from my mini-vacation in Tokyo.  We had Japanese language classes 5 days a week, and they were relatively fast-paced. Despite this difference, the English language lecture courses functioned similarly to how classes are back home.

I eventually volunteered in several Japanese student's classes.  This was a great opportunity to experience what the Japanese student's courses were like, and I even managed to make a few friends in the process.  There were several on-campus activities throughout the semester, but the most memorable for me was definitely the Halloween event.  There were a ton of unique costumes, and many students performed skits for entertainment.

Students gathered around the 'circle' for Kansai Gaidai's Halloween event

After the completion of my first semester, I had a bit of free time to explore the Kansai area in greater detail due to the winter break.  During the semester I managed to take a trip to both Universal Studios Japan, as well as Kyoto, and recently I attended a beautiful illumination show at Osaka Castle.  One of the friends that I had made while volunteering invited me to participate in the Japanese tradition of creating mochi (Japanese rice cakes) for New Years.  Taking a day trip out to Nara and learning about this tradition with a Japanese family was a great cultural experience.

A special type of rice is first mashed together

Then, you make mochi!

I'm really excited about my second semester at Kansai Gaidai, and can't wait to share more of the unique experiences I have during my remaining time in Japan!

Summer Program at Hallym University in Korea!!

I was in Korea from June 29th until July 20th to attend a summer program at Hallym University in  Chuncheon, Korea.

The very first day, at the airport, there was a singer or some famous person coming out of the same gate as me at the same time, so I could not find the person who told me that he would be there to pick me up.  I was calm enough to go to the information desk and ask to announce his name and to come meet me in front of the gate. Finally, I found the person and the driver. The person who came to pick me up (one of the mentors who I will explain later) and I talked for about 3 hours in a car until we arrived at a dormitory in Hallym University.  When I got into my room, there was no one but stuff so I could tell that I had a roommate. But it would've been really helpful if I had someone who I could ask questions near me... Luckily, I asked for WI-FI password so I was not bored or afraid to be alone!

The second day was the orientation day for the summer program students. There were people from United States, Australia, Austria, Malaysia, China, Spain, and Japan (only me). And here I knew about the existence of Korean mentors. They are Hallym University students and they joined the program to help international students who do not know about school or any other things they need help with. I thought it was such a good idea because they took us international students to their favourite restaurants, singing rooms, shopping, and helped us to get to know each other and have fun as much as possible during the stay in Korea. They were very friendly and kind!! So at the orientation, we learnt some rules about school and dorm, and listened to a brief explanation of this course, and took a test to divide us into beginner and intermediate groups. For dinner, we went to eat Korean BBQ and papingsu which is a shaved ice dessert usually served with ice-cream, fruits, rice cakes, or sweet red bean paste. I loved the papingsu very much so I ate it so many time during this stay!!

Fruits papingsu and cereal papingsu! Yummy!!!

The next day, we had a Korean language class in the morning until lunch time and there we knew the result of our Korean test. We were not told our scores but I was lucky that I didn't have to go to the beginner class because I already took a Korean 100 course at Camosun College. Our teacher was a very funny person and he talked mostly in Korean so at first, it was kind of overwhelming but i got used to it day by day and actually I enjoyed his classes even though sometimes I didn't know why people were laughing! haha He taught Korean slang and young people's life-style. He taught us not only the Korean language but also other useful places to stay or live in Korea.

Our Korean class teacher in the middle!

"Rethink your Classroom" - Go on Exchange!

Studying abroad is more than earning credits at another prestigious institute - it's a life changing experience! Camosun has exchange partners all over Europe, as well as in Asia and Australia.

While paying Camosun tuition, you can study abroad at our partner institutions. You won't add a semester or year onto your program length as all approved credits will directly apply to your credential and can even be transferred to another Canadian institution.

Our Field Schools students have studied in Mexico, Bolivia, China, Nepal, India Philippines, Tonga and Namibia. Phew!

If you’re an incoming exchange student thinking of studying at Camosun, you may be interested in seeing some of our international students on campus in our why come to Camosun video.

Visit Camosun study abroad for more information and scholarship opportunities and contact Vivian Trinh with your specific questions.

The Australian Experience

By Natasha Gros, Exchange student in Australia

After 22 hours of travel I finally found myself in Melbourne. I had arranged airport pickup before my departure so when I got off the plane there was someone waiting for me and they brought me and the other international students who had arrived that day to our accommodation. I decided to go with on-campus accommodation at Swinburne residences, although it is really expensive the location is definitely worth it, right on campus and close to grocery stores as well as a street with lots of shops, restaurants, and cafes, it’s also a 10-15 minute train ride to the city center. I got a three bedroom apartment so I am sharing with two other girls who are from Australia; We hit it off right away which has made living here enjoyable.

The weather here in August was rainy and cold, it was hard coming from Canada’s summer, especially since I only brought a limited amount of cold weather clothes. I was informed that it was one of Melbourne’s worst winters but now it is spring and the weather is wonderful, so all is well!

The first week was very busy; there was international student orientation as well as first year student orientation which I attended as well. At orientation they guided us through some things that we needed for our time here, what we should expect here in Australia, they told us about their culture and teaching styles, and informed us of all the services they provide for their students. In the first week I also set up a bank account with ANZ, a cellphone account with Optus (they have awesome month to month plans), and got a myki card which you can use for travel on all trams, trains, and busses. Swinburne international also organized a bunch of events during the first week so that you could meet up with all the other students as well as enjoy some free food. They also organized events that allowed us to explore the city and its attractions, such as the street art, laneways, Chinatown, museums and art galleries. Swinburne also does semester trips which go to the surrounding areas of Melbourne, I went on one to Phillip Island where I got to see the little penguins, go sand surfing, and see some beautiful beaches and cliff walks, they also do a trip to the Heallesville Sanctuary and a surfing trip.

The city of Melbourne is amazing, they have really awesome restaurants, shops, and cafes and although it’s a big city they still have a lot of parks and gardens scattered throughout which are nice to visit and get a break from city living. They have a big market in the city center and I recommend getting fruits and vegetables there as they are much cheaper than at the supermarket. Footy, AFL, or Australian League Football is a big sport here and I recommend going to a game, even if you have no idea what is going on it is still a lot of fun. Melbourne has a lot of teams so there are a lot of games going on around the city. Hawthorn is the big team here and that’s the team that most of Swinburne roots for. I also really enjoy Swinburne as a school, I have all my classes at the Hawthorn Campus so I don’t know what the other campuses are like, but Hawthorn is not too big (although it seemed huge and overwhelming at first) and the teachers are really nice. I have found the majority of people at school and around the city to be very approachable and friendly, there are always the few that are not but I would expect that anywhere!\

For mid-semester break I went to New Zealand’s north island with a few friends from school. We rented a campervan and spent the week partaking in various activities. We visited Hobbiton to see firsthand where part of Lord of the Rings was filmed, we went to a Maori cultural dinner and were immersed in their culture, we also went white-water rafting, caving, canyon swinging, and of course went on plenty of hikes and enjoyed New Zealand’s natural hot springs. New Zealand is a beautiful country and I would recommend travelling there, but the costs for activities can add up quickly so make sure it’s within your budget!

The weather during the spring here is very temperamental, one day it will be rainy and 15 degrees and the next day it will be 28, it gives you a nice break from the hot days but do not expect to go to the beach everyday as spring is considered their rainy season! However, if the forecast for the weekend is supposed to be nice then I would recommend doing the Great Ocean Road, which is a stretch of road that goes along the coast as well as into the green hinterland. A group of my friends and I rented a van from Melbourne and made a weekend trip out of it by renting a house at the midway point of the Great Ocean Road. We spent a day driving all the way to the end to see all the attractions like the Twelve Apostles, The Grotto, Gibsons Steps, and more! And then we spent another day at the beach in Lorne, the water was still a bit cold as it was the middle of October but when it’s hot out its perfect to cool down in. I know that there are options to do a guided tour of the Great Ocean Road but I would recommend getting a group together and doing it in your own time. Most car rental places will only rent to 21 year olds or older so that should be taken into account when planning your trip, and if you’re worrying about driving on the opposite side of the car, on the opposite side of the road, it’s weird at first but you get used to it!

At the beginning of November is the Spring Racing Carnival, which is a huge week-long lavish horse-racing event, with the main race being the Melbourne Cup Race. It is considered the “race that stops a nation” and although I have never watched horse racing in Canada, I certainly got into it here. You can get tickets to the Flemington Racecourse and watch the race in real-life, but all the bars and restaurants are going to be showing it as well. I opted for watching the race at Federation Square in the city center, but next time I would have probably bought a race-day package that includes food and drink, quite pricey, but worth the experience. If you plan to go to Flemington for the races make sure you dress up, because in addition to horse-racing the Spring Carnival is also big on fashion!