Archive for September 2014
Step Up Your Game (A Guide on Breaking the Ice)
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| Photo courtesy of: The Gouger |
First of all, the author wants to establish that this guide will not promise a hundred percent success result and that she will not be held responsible for the consequences of your action. Anonymeh also wants to acknowledge that this guideline might not work for everyone although it has been proven and tested to be effective... for her. So good luck and may the odds be always in your favour.
Hello
everyone! Lately, I’ve realised that one factor as to why us, teenage
immigrants, are rather desolated when we first get here is that, we don’t have
friends. (Nice one, Sherlock)
What I’m
trying to say is, when youth immigrants migrate to a new place, most of them do
not know anyone in that place besides their family. And that’s why I’m going to
give you tips on how to make friends or at least how to approach people! YAY! (Not
to be too self-serving, but these tips will be extra useful now that another
school year has just started!)
1. Bring 10 kilos of gum
- Effectivesness: 6/10
- Cons: You got to spend to buy gums
I know all of you have heard the gum technique, sometimes they work, and sometimes you’ll end up offending the other person “What you saying man? I have a bad breath?” (but hey, you
got to take risks!) On a serious note, I think this is a nice way to get to
know people especially during class. When the class is boring, a gum is like suddenly
the best thing you could have in your life. Alas, bring that gum and show how
generous you are with your classmates.
2. Wear a cool shirt
- Effectiveness: 7/10
- Cons: It’s hard to find a cool shirt
3. Say ‘bless you’ to someone who sneezed
- Effectiveness: 5/10
- Cons: It’s awkward
4. Borrow a pencil
- Effectiveness: 8/10
- Cons: You’re not really making a good name for yourself if you show up on the first day of class with no pencil or pen
I heard that
there’s a psychological trick that you can get someone to like you by borrowing
a pencil from them. Maybe this is because it induces a feeling that they (the
lenders) are doing something good for someone and now you (the borrower)
somehow owe something to them. Nevertheless, borrowing a pencil can be a great
friendship starter. You can give it back to them the next day and pretend you
forgot to bring one again then voila! Conversation! And they most likely will remember
you.
5. Wear a smile
- Effectiveness: 10/10
- Cons: Your cheek bones might get tired
What does,
basically, anyone tell you when you go to an unknown place and are supposed to
make friends? SMILE! Yes, you have to smile. It’s the international sign for
“Hello, I am friendly”. Always wear a smile when you execute one of my advices
from above. Or just do it all the time! It’s scientifically proven to be good
for your health!
6. Just start the conversation
- Effectiveness: 10/10
- Cons: NO CONS!
Sometimes
you just don’t realise that the other party might be the one who is shy. I
myself am someone who doesn’t like to be the one to initiate a conversation. So
you just have to have the guts and say hello. Ask them their names or classes –
who knows, you might be in the same class!
So that’s it
mate! I wish the odds to be always in your favour and keep that cheeks smiling.
If everything else fails just contact me and I’ll be your dear friend.
- Anonymeh
- Patrick Star, Spongebob
Conquering Conventions
Modern 21st century students have an advantage over their parents from the 1980s. Unlike our folks, we have access to much more advanced forms of technology such as the internet, personal computers, smartphones and digital communication.
Unfortunately, most of us, especially our parents, are left
to wonder about the effects of technology to our generation. Internet
addiction, for example, could be the effect of unmanaged internet use. Instead
of discussing about the negatives, why don’t we list down the positives?
Phone Homework
As of 2014, almost every teenager has an indispensable
resource called a phone. These gadgets are equipped with cameras that can be
used for retaining memories through photos. The texts on a page of a textbook
can also be considered as memories once they are read, absorbed, and
understood.
The question is, which is better? To take 3 photos of the 3
pages for your biology homework, or to bring home a 400 page-Biology textbook?
The answer is obvious. A smartphone can do wonders if used
appropriately. As for notes, I’ll enlighten you on that one later.
Google the word
The average student mainly uses Google to find out if a
workforce strike will affect school, or for Wikipedia links. Meanwhile, on the
wider spectrum, we use Google for references in grammar and words.
Think about a word that outweighs ‘sad’ yet retains the
meaning of sadness. Forlorn, dismal, morose, and the confusing ‘melancholy’ are
just a small fraction of the synonyms I’ve found. This is actually very useful
advice, implement this to your English homework routine if it’s not yet a habit
of yours.
So you’re probably wondering about bringing a laptop to
class? No! As your vocabulary and writing style (more on this later) evolves,
you will rely less on technology, but being a bookworm does not mean you have
to abandon it. So if you’re with a teacher who abhors all forms of technology
from the 21st century, explain the benefit of smartphone
dictionaries/thesauruses for the long run.
All around charmer
So you’re too smart and you think that having a supermodel
body is not necessary. Or you think that Aphrodite can’t be seen as
intelligent, as she is too beautiful for smarts. Well, lucky for you, the fair
compromise would be to listen to lectures while exercising.
But I don’t have Japanese-sensei with me whenever I go for a
jog - of course! In most circumstances you won’t, but you do have, again, a
smartphone! Whenever you think that you can listen to music while exercising,
consider listening to a tutorial, lecture, lesson, etc. An example could be
just listening to French lessons while running on the treadmill.
The advantage here is just way too good to be true, but the
method is feasible. Healthy, cultured, charming~. You could soon be like
Leonardo Da Vinci, a polymath, after some time from double benefits. Two
rewards in one time. Thank you, to whoever makes lectures and the like!
I can listen, why subtitles?
HD TV, HD video, subtitles and
CC/DS. Well, you may not like this one because subtitles are distractive.
However, the mild distraction does have an unconscious advantage. Watching a
Korean drama with English/Korean subtitles won’t make you fluent in Korean or
English.
Subtitles at best, could be a
supplement to language learning. Also, it can provide tacit knowledge in
natural-sounding native communication.
Simply watch films with
subtitles, even if you already have a good grasp with the English language. ESL
people eventually become, or already are, great at English, but they could have
a quaint accent if they speak. But why not just observe native speakers at a
park or school? Because, technology will, for this generation, just be a
supplement to our education, but extensive hands-on experience with a
supplement is the key for the language barrier.
Note taking is outdated
But asking questions and
discussions are not. This is especially true if you’re currently in high
school. In a class of 30, it is most likely that everyone will have different
intellectual abilities. You could be in the “upper” group, while the teacher
caters to those from the average. You lose, unless if you study ahead.
Take a copy of the teacher’s
notes for reference. Study from a different source, perhaps a book or a study
on the internet. Retain useful information and integrate what you’ve learned
from school and from the different source together. Expanding your knowledge on
a single topic can snowball into deep, complete understanding, and sometimes
even uncommon information.
Tactical Reading
The strategy is to read, relate and retain knowledge from
books to support experienced knowledge. However, the twist is to take 4
different categories of books from your local library. Young adult fiction,
non-fiction studies, objective non-fiction, and a genre which piques your
interests.
Young adult fiction is
self-explanatory; typical books that fall under this genre include Hunger
Games, Harry Potter, Mortal Instruments and a whole lot more.
Non-fiction could look dry and
intimidating with their “big” words, but they involve a plethora of theoretical
and practical knowledge. Although textbook-type books often come to mind when
thinking about non-fiction, it is a lot bigger genre than that. Non-fiction
also includes biographies and autobiographies of prominent figures. Try reading
the biographies or, if you’re lucky, the autobiographies of the people that
inspire you!
Lastly, get something else,
consider it the dessert of your 4 course [book] dinner. Anything that will make
you a more interesting person, as well as increasing your overall insight about
anything you’re curious to know about. Could be languages, modern technology,
musical instruments, movies, anything at all that will have you something to
talk about while in school or at a dinner party.
Specialize in One Topic
Earlier I mentioned that you
should expound on some studies. Unfortunately, specializing is taking it to a
whole different level.
Have you heard proverbs about
every person having some kind of talent?
That is true, each person has
innate abilities just being inhibited for reason I am not known of. Until they
have cultivated their abilities, they will remain a “loser.” So if you know enough
about yourself, I’d recommend you to refine your most prominent talent.
This could be musical, academic,
physical, social, technological, lingual and even creative success. This is
also how child prodigies are made, they specialize in one field.
Polymath, a dead term
In basic definition, a polymath
is a person who covers a wide range of expertise. Or simply, someone who is
multi-talented enough in many fields. A modern polymath could be someone who
can cook like a chef, write like an author, paint like an artist, understand
like a psychologist while keeping a healthy social, intellectual and physical
composure.
Wouldn’t you love it if you were
an engineer who has an attractively healthy body, artistic talent, broad knowledge
including languages, and social tact? I would, and you would too if you were
given the option to choose over a polymath engineer or an average, regressing,
waning middle-aged guy.
Luckily, you probably have access
to a smartphone, the internet and a computer which make being a polymath a lot
easier.
So for the sake of simplicity,
you, young student, should integrate technology to your education the “right”
way. Unlike most of your colleagues and classmates, you can actually begin
investing time on yourself for your polymath standards. Just remember to use
technology and improve at the same rate it does. You don’t want to be like your
friend’s grandmother who has not caught up with modern technology. I would like
to remind you to supplement your life with technology, and culture yourself for
modern, evolving society because everyone wants to have good future, but we
want to have the best futures.
- Angelo
Transit Etiquette
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| Photo courtesy of: Brent Granby |
Most, if not all, of us youth here in Vancouver take transit as a mode of transportation. It also applies for the non-youth like moms with strollers or kids, senior citizens, and so on. Although transit here in Vancouver is accessible, it comes with a price. There are many unethical people (examples are: people who take more space than necessary, groups who talk SUPER loud, and so on) who make transit not so good. This blog entry is to remind us youth (who would probably use transit to school or work) and hopefully others too, about the proper behavior in the bus or train.
·
If there is limited number of
seats, don’t take more than one seat. There are many of people who would
want to sit, but are probably shy to ask for one.
·
Even if there are a lot of
seats, don’t put your feet up the seat. It makes the seat dirty. And
what if an attractive person wants to sit beside you and you have your feet
up? You lose the chance, bro (or sis).
·
Give your seat to those
needing of one. If you see an elderly person or a mom
with kids or disabled person coming in, be courteous and offer your seat to
them. They probably need it more than you do. Plus, doesn’t it feel good to
help someone in need? Offer your seat!
·
If you’re in a group or on the
phone, don’t talk too loudly. Be reminded that there are people around
you who are living their day. You probably don’t intend to bother them, but you
do if you talk louder than your indoor voice.
·
If you have your earphones on
and want to listen to songs, don’t blast your music. When you have loud
music playing on your ears and everyone can hear, it can get quite disturbing.
Also, it’s probably better for your ears to have a cap to volume anyway. If you
don’t have headphones, don’t listen to your music through speakers.
Would you not last a 15-minute ride without listening to music? Come on!
·
If it’s raining, don’t put
your umbrella on a seat. It makes the seat wet, and unusable. You wouldn’t
want to sit on a wet seat, right?
·
Since most of us here are youth
and take transit to school (or work), we carry our backpacks. If you’re in the
train or bus and it gets crowded, remove your backpack. We tend to not
notice that our packs bump onto other people when we move. So if it gets
cramped, remove your pack and either carry it, or put it on the floor. Don’t be
a hindrance or a bother to other people!
The seven things listed above are only guidelines or reminders to keep transit ethical and fun. There may be more that I didn’t mention, but these are the most noted bothers. Make sure to observe these things, and make the people around you happy. I hope you have a fun time going back to school!
- Jose
What's Up, Vancouver? (September 2014)
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| Photo courtesy of: Scooter Lowrimore |
Playland
Still open Friday to Sunday until September 21, 2014
2014 Vancouver Fringe Festival
September 4-14, 2014
Youth Volunteer Recruitment Day at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House
September 4, 2014
Arts in the Park (Richmond) 2014
September 7, 2014
The Long, Long Table: A Community Affair
September 9, 2014
The Color Run Vancouver
September 13, 2014
Wesbrook Village Festival 2014
September 20, 2014
The Amazing Y: Cross-City Scavenger Hunt
September 20, 2014
RiverFest 2014
September 21-27, 2014
MetamorFest 2014
September 27, 2014
The Art Of Leadership Conference
September 30, 2014
