Archive for July 2014
Summer Activities in Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful city. It is beautiful in autumn, in winter, and in spring. But in the summertime, Vancouver's beauty shines as bright as the summer sun. Since summer is the only time of the year that Vancouverites get more sunny days than rainy ones, it is the time to go out and enjoy the city's beauty. The following is a list of fun things to do to make the most out of your summer in Vancouver.
Watch the Celebration of Light
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| Image source: Jon Rawlinson |
Grouse Grind
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| Image source: Mike Kamermans |
Picnic or Camp by the Lake
Summer is the only time of the year that Vancouverites get to experience more sunny days than rainy ones, so this is the perfect time to go outside and enjoy the sun with the people you love. Take advantage of it by having a picnic with your friends or camping with your family. Greater Vancouver Area is home to a lot of breathtaking lakes which are ideal spots for picnicking, camping, and other fun outdoor activities. If you are not sure which lake to visit, this list might help!
Go to the Beach
Vancouver is blessed to have beaches that are just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. If you find yourself a little bit too overwhelmed by the city life and want to de-stress, enjoying the sun by the beach will help! If you like playing sports, Vancouver beaches also have spaces for badminton, volleyball, Frisbee, and other sports! Check out the Vancouver Parkboard's website to know which beach best matches what you want to do!
Bike Around the Seawall
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| Image Source: Arvin Asadi |
The Fair at the PNE
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| Image Source: Raul Pacheco-Vega |
Attend Free Outdoor Movie Events
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| Image source: Yaletown BIA |
Shop at Night Markets
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| Image Source: GoToVan |
We only have a little over a month of summer left (I know, time flies so fast!), so make the most out of it!
Sean
One Page at a Time
Being “you” is easier said than done especially when you are adjusting into a culture that you are unfamiliar with. As a young
migrant, it can be tough to adjust to cultural differences between your adopted country and home country while you are trying to map out your identity as an individual.
As an immigrant, it is common that you are first identified
by your racial background – a part of a greater whole – a culture with its own
ways and tradition. But aside from that, you are also an individual molded by
experiences and stories strengthened through time. All of these can be a lot more complicated
when you are parachuted into a new life – a new culture that may be different
from what you are used to together with new experiences that shapes your new
personality. And even then, there is a bigger question:
How are you going to fit yourself in this new culture
or society with their own ways? How will you find a way to keep ties to your
roots, fit into this newly introduced culture all while you keep on growing and
mold yourself as your own person or as an individual?
It is fairly easy to get lost with these questions as it is
a lot to take it all in at once. But each individual has their own ways of
dealing with it. Some just go with the flow; some manage to paint it all
together in one canvas – a mosaic with vibrant colours clashed together as an
art. Sometimes it is a tug of war. It is a battle between keeping your identity
and losing it in order to fit in and even then, there is no assurance or
certainty that you win the game.
Finding balance is the key to answer the question. It is
important to realize that being in a new place or country does not necessarily
mean forgetting your roots nor does it require you to completely ignore the new
ways of living and continue your old ways. Your roots, culture and tradition
will always be yours and there is no shame of being proud of it. The same goes
for trying out new things and exploring this new culture in front you for it
expands your horizon and will let you explore greater things and experiences
that will later on help you to become your own person and become a part of a
larger community that is molded by individuals just like yourself – each with
their own experiences and stories to share.
Trying to fit in does not mean forgetting. Embracing your adopted country does not mean
turning your back from your home country. Sometimes it is a matter of putting
pieces together to create a bigger picture. It is a way of building bridges and
opening a door to new possibilities and vital connections that put both aspects
of old roots and new ties into a well-rounded individual with the capacity of
living in the best of both worlds.
As far as individuality goes, it is a story with an endless
possibility and the course of its progress is entirely up to the person holding
the pen: you. So let your pen find its way to your paper because sometimes,
being ‘you’ is a story written one page at a time.
Janine
What's Up, Vancouver? (July 2014)
July 4-5 2014
July 5, 2014
July 7-11, 2014
Free Outdoor Movies at Stanley Park
Every Tuesday from July 8, 2014 to September 2, 2014
Shrek: The Musical (Theatre Under the Starts)
July 11, 2014 to August 22, 2014
Khatsahlano Block Party
July 12, 2014
Make A Wish 2014: Rope for Hope
July 22, 2014
Youth Strengths & Prevention of Delinquency and Gang Involvement: Academics and Community Acting Together
July 23, 2014Free Outdoor Movies at Stanley Park
Every Tuesday from July 8, 2014 to September 2, 2014
Shrek: The Musical (Theatre Under the Starts)
July 11, 2014 to August 22, 2014
Khatsahlano Block Party
July 12, 2014
Make A Wish 2014: Rope for Hope
July 22, 2014
Youth Strengths & Prevention of Delinquency and Gang Involvement: Academics and Community Acting Together
Vancouver Celebration of Light 2014
July 26 & 30, 2014
ArtStarts Presents: Story Fabric with Ewa Sniatycka
July 27, 2014
