I have never been much of a multi-tasker. I always thought by listening to music while studying I would not work as efficiently. However, I have recently stumbled upon a playlist for music that is perfect for studying. This music is very relaxing and enjoyable. So the next time you are studying, try listening to this music:
Danish Homestay: Last Day in Copenhagen
As you have probably noticed in my past posts, I am not staying with a Danish family yet and am just spending time in Copenhagen. That defies the concept of a homestay, doesn’t it? Tomorrow our flight leaves to the city of Aalborg on a different island of Denmark, making today our last day in the beautiful city of Copenhagen and we did not waste any time.
The Vikings have long been associated with the Scandinavian countries, Denmark especially. Today we were given the oppertunity to learn more about them and too see to-scale reproductions of their ships made from actual wood salvaged from the remains of sunken ones. To think that the wood is the wood that the real Vikings used so many thousands of years ago leaves me in awe. There were also full reproductions of Viking ships and costumes that we wore to take photos in.
Later, we bused to nearby Roskilde Cathedral, a beautiful brick and copper building from circa 1100 (!!) that is the burial site for many Danish royals. There was a christening going on there for a little boy now named Viggo so it was filled with nicely dressed people and beautiful choir music. It was a truly magical moment when we were walking through the many rooms with the royal tombs and we could hear both our tour guide talking about the history of the cathedral along with the organ and choir music for the christening. It’s hard to describe the grandeur of the many rooms of the cathedral, but how intricate and ornate everything was blew me away. Nowadays it’s all about minimalism. Driving into the area we saw a flea market and some shopping streets, so everyone asked for some time to explore. This fulfilled part of my travel philosophy (must-dos when travelling) which is to:
– Try the street food
– Go to a grocery store
– Go to a flea market
Our group returned to the Viking Ship Museum for another Danish lunch, which I enjoyed more than the lunch we got on Day 2. Perhaps it is because the flavour of the food wasn’t as different as it was yesterday, making it more enjoyable? One thing I have to say I do enjoy though is the bread and how seedy and nice it is. Though I’ve heard mixed opinions about it from peers, I absolutely love it and am considering making some when I get back home to Canada.
The Crown Jewels of the Danish monarchy are stored in the underground cellar of a castle called Rosenborg, situated in the middle of Copenhagen. The castle was beautiful, just like every other one we have seen and we even had the chance to see guards. Unlike what I expected, the guards interacted mildly with visitors rather than being strictly stern. Leading down to the cellar, we saw some questionable statues whose faces still threaten to haunt me. However, what made me slightly overwhelmed was the abundance of jewels and general pompousness of the entire collection. It made me wonder how royals could live such a rich and indulgent lifestyle without getting sick and feeling bloated with riches.
I mentioned doing a walking tour of the shopping district called Strøget in my Day 1 blog, but today we actually got the chance to shop there. We were given some freedom as to where to go and it was definitely a lot of fun that way. My particular group went to a store called Tiger, basically a combination of IKEA and the dollar store and we also went to the famous design store Hay House and took in the beautiful products and view. Once again, we concluded our day with a visit to Tivoli, where we had Italian food for dinner.
Something that shocked us was that when a pizza was ordered and you wanted to split it, all parties would have to each pay a ‘split fee’ that caused the price for the split pizza to be the the same or close to being more than just getting a whole pizza. As well, water in a pitcher actually has to be purchased when eating at a restaurant. That is unheard of in Canada. I am assuming that since we were in Tivoli Gardens when this occurred, it was just a common thing in tourist attractions. Even tickets for a single ride can cost $15 CND. That is a major thing I was warned about travelling to Denmark. The prices for some goods are either the same or much more than what we would be used to paying in Canada.
Another thing that I had noticed over the past few days is the friendliness of the Danes. A few occasions have occured in which someone will approach us with stories and goodwill. While my friends and I were taking photos together outside a coffee shop, someone actually decided to photobomb us. We ended up laughing and smiling at each other for about a minute! It was so sweet.
Tomorrow we leave Copenhagen for our homestays in Størvring which I am incredibly excited about. It will be very nice to meet the family I will be stay with and to learn more about their way of life and the education system through staying with them. I’ll keep my experiences posted but until then, enjoy the faces of these terrifying statues from Rosenborg.
Danish Homestay: Second Day in Copenhagen
After a very jet lagged first day, a full day of travel with a great night’s sleep was so wonderful. Our day began at 8:00am when we had a Danish breakfast at the hotel and proceeded to see the famous Little Mermaid statue, a homage to the famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. Apparently, when her head was stolen, the state counted it as murder! This shows that the iconic symbol is not only an attraction, it is also a huge part of Danish culture. We then took the bus north to Frederiksborg Castle and its Baroque Gardens, which was beautiful with its swans and lakes.
The next castle in our day of many was the Fredensborg castle, a summer residence for Queen Margaret the second. For lunch, we stopped at the seaside town of Helsingor, home of the Maritime Museum, Kronborg Castle (the castle Shakespeare set Hamlet in), and the industrial-yet-comfy restaurant we ate at. The funny thing is the all of these amazing sites were all within 100m of each other and the sea from which we could see Sweden. Outside of the restaurant was a large square that had people providing Segway rides for a price of what is about $10 CND. Obviously I had to take up the opportunity and I was quite surprised at how easy it was to control. Annnnddd there’s another thing crossed off my (imaginary) bucket list.
Our next stop was the Lousiana Art Museum which was unconventional in the else that it is a combination of art and architecture, which is a nice representation of the country itself. Danish architecture and design is incredibly unique and popular all over the world, and to see so much of the beauty of it is great. A beautiful outdoor garden overlooking the sea with statues by world famous artists marked the exterior of the unusual museum and the inside housed amazing artwork by both Danish and international artists. They were even giving out free large art prints to visitors, a fact that further highlighted the Danes’ appreciation for art and beauty.
What’s a trip to Denmark without visiting Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement part in the world (the oldest is in a nearby city)? I was amazed by how beautiful and intricate the park was, having sections for different cultures. A true theme park by my standards! To end a perfect day, I enjoyed an amazing lobster soup at a very nice restaurant and ended up sleeping at almost 3am local time.
Every day I am noticing new things about this thriving country. My understandings today were more in relation to the urban landscape outside of Copenhagen since we did a lot of driving out on the highways to the north of Zealand. One of the things I noticed was that the road lines were all the same colour. Rather than having yellow and white determining which side of the road you are on, it was all white. Small things like this remind me of how different cultures can be, even in the smallest of ways.
I noticed more interesting graffiti that I mentioned in yesterday’s post. As we were driving by the underground train system, we saw graffiti that read “grow peaches grow!”. Clearly quite different from the graffitied messages of North America, though I have to give discretion that I saw some of those style too. Though this may seem like a very 21st century thing to say, I was so impressed by the abundance of free wifi everywhere. Many public locations and landmarks provide wifi free of charge or sign up to anyone nearby. None of that Shaw Open stuff we have in Canada! Even the trains and buses have free wifi. A shop that I noticed was quite popular was H&M. Even in the smaller municipalities there were H&Ms and in a few cases there will be three separate stores near each other, each being women’s, chikdren, and men’s. Today was a day of many firsts, from first Segway rides to first time having boxed water (this matters to me okay?), I am a little sad that tomorrow is our last and final day in Copenhagen before our homestay officially begins. However, I cannot wait to meet the family I will be staying with and to learn more about Danish culture up-close.
Till next time,
Hui Wen
Danish Homestay: A Day in Copenhagen
As I mentioned in my last post, I am participating in a Danish Homestay program as a part of a program offered by Western Canada High School and Robert Thirsk to its students. Currently, we have just wrapped up Day 2 of the trip and the first day that we did not spend entirely on a plane. This entire experience feels quite surreal right now as I’m typing this in my Copenhagen hotel room at 10:00pm, perhaps because my inability to sleep on planes has caused me to be awake for more than 30 hours now. Luckily, our enticing first day in Copenhagen was more than enough to shake me from my sleepless trance.
After a 9 hour continental flight followed by a short layover in Frankfurt, our group of 35 finally arrived in Copenhagen at 11am local time. Though it was what would’ve been the early hours of dawn Calgary time, we were fascinated enough by what we saw on the bus ride from the gorgeous airport to our downtown hotel that it kept us awake. The first stop we hit up was a local sandwich shop that sold smørrebrød, a traditional Danish open sandwich. Our afternoon consisted of a walking tour of downdown Copenhagen and Strøget, one of Europe’s longest pedestrian road filled with shopping and street food. We also managed to fit in a visit to the Round Tower, which was once an observatory for Tycho Brahe. Nyhaven, the famous canal postcard scene, was our last tour stop and we were able to get a canal tour that let us see the intricate canal systems of Copenhagen and many landmarks, such as the opera house and the Royal Library. Tired and massively jet-lagged, we concluded our first day with a Danish buffet-style dinner.
There were many things initially that surprised me, the first being that there are bikes EVERYWHERE. I knew beforehand that Copenhagen was a very bike-friendly city but past every corner we strolled by there were bikes and bike pathways! We were probably quite a nuisance to drivers everywhere since we kept unknowingly crossing streets with the locals when the lights were actually red. The traffic control lights were smaller and less noticeable and instead of having one light for a crosswalk, there were usually two, sometimes even three to cross just one street! Also, lights turn yellow before they turn green. Everything was very close together as well. I had often heard that everything in Europe is closer together because an individual country is smaller, and it definitely is a huge change from spacious Canada. Our hotel room is one of the smallest I’ve ever seen, but gives off a cozy vibe, a common theme for the city. Graffiti is also aplenty here, but also makes for a beautiful and lived-in look. The ambiguity of the language was an interesting aspect and made it very interesting. While under a bridge during the canal tour, we even saw graffiti that read “No facism :)”. It was really quite an extraordinary first day and first time in Europe for me and we are set to visit many castles and museums on Day Two. See you then! For more photos of my time in Denmark, follow me on my Instagram.
6 Things To Do Before You Die
“Every man dies- not every man really lives” – William Ross
Statistics say that 95% of people procrastinate on their goals. Be different.
In my spare time, I created a bucket list about the things I want to achieve before I die. Having a bucket list reminds you of what you really desire so eventually you can act on them. Even if you often live by goals or to-do lists, they are probably framed within a certain social context for example, performance, career, health, etc. A bucket list opens up the options. It’s completely normal to set anything and everything you have ever wanted to do whether it’s big, small or random. Now you can skim through the few 6 things I’ve ever wished to do!
1. Travel All Around The World
Traveling is the best for open-minded people. It exposes you to new cultures, broaden your mind, move out of your comfort zone, allow you to meet new people, and experience the different wonders of the world.
2. Learn To Play A Different Instrument
For a long time, I’ve been striving to learn the acoustic guitar. In fact, I have accomplished to learn the chorus of a few songs! Learning to play a new instrument not only teaches you discipline but also makes you smarter!
3. Learn A New Language
This is a task that I have been quite successful and satisfied at! Personally, I fluently know five different languages while still improving on french. Learning another language enhance one’s skills but you also start to understand its culture. Not to mention, this opens a wide door to a successful career!
4. Build a Habitat for Humanity Home
Habitat for Humanity build a simple house in order to address the issue of poverty all over the world. This brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Homes are built using volunteer labor. You can choose to donate your time or money. This type of devotion requires strong passion to help those in need.
5. Visit Hobbiton
Hey all you Lord of the Ring fans! Have you ever wanted to visit the Shire? Its location is actually in a farm in Matamata, New Zealand. Since filming the movies, this little farm has turned into a spectacular permanent attraction with 44 Hobbit holes. Tours are available and the knowledgeable guides share details of how the set was created.
6. Skydive
Yup. This is the most frighting one yet! I suggest only those who aren’t afraid of heights participate in this activity. However, I have made a full commitment to skydive when I have the chance to.
Quick Fact: Skydiving is actually considered a sport!
YYC Weekend Preview: April 3 – 5, 2015
Since everyone probably has already seen enough Easter related events advertised in Calgary, I decided to collect non-Easter related events taking place April 3 through 5th. Enjoy your weekend everyone.
King Lear at the Max Bell Theatre
One of the greatest Shakespeare tragedies, King Lear is in Calgary from April 1 – 12 featuring Benedict Campbell. King Lear tries to divide his kingdom and wealth evenly among his three daughters, but it’s no easy matter. Things end in madness, lies and deception. The play will be performed on Fridays at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, and on Sundays at 7:30 pm. The tickets are available for $35 and more here.
PUSH 2015 at C2
Returning for the fifth year in a row, this exhibition features artwork of various mediums, such as photographs, view paintings, sculptures, installation, and digital works, created by 36 emerging artists. Free of cost, the display was open everyday since March 25 and will be open until April 11 from noon to 6 pm. This event is taking place at the C2 City Hall Location (104-800 Macleod Trail SE) More information here.
The Haunting at Vertigo Theatre
Inspired by ghost stories written by Charles Dickens, Vertigo Theatres presents a tale of terror from April 2 to 12. David Filde is a young book dealer who has recently been hired into a private library. There, he finds some rare books that lead to a series of unexplainable events that he must prove that are not happening only in his head. The Haunting will be performed on Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm for the price of $25. Tickets availale here.
Cabinets of Curiosity at Glenbow Museum
Inspired by 17th century “wonder rooms,” this exhibition contains interactive and exotic collections of an Edmonton artist, Lyndal Osborne. Spoilers: there are things like emu eggs, porcupine pelts, and ant nests. The exhibit has been open everyday since February 28 and will stay until January 17, 2016. At the price of $10 for students and seniors, $15 for general admission, the exhibit is open on Friday from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. More information here.
Fighting with Depression
For this weeks blog, I will be talking about depression. This mental illness is common in today’s society, and it can lead to scary outcomes if people don’t get the help they need in time. Actor Robin Williams passed away during the summer of 2014 as a result of his lost battle with depression. His death came as a shock as few people knew about his struggles. Along with anxiety, depression is a serious matter that people need to speak to someone about. I myself have struggled with depression – mine started 2012 but I didn’t reach out and get help until much later.
This Wikipedia page is a list of people who have depression. From John Adams (2nd president of the United States) all the way to Thom Yorke (leader singer of Radiohead), the list is extensive. Even the lead singer of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain struggled with depression. Depression in some people can be hard to detect, because a person struggling with this illness can seem extremely upbeat and outgoing on the outside. We must do our part to end the stigma that prevents people from getting help. Getting help isnt’ bad, it is something people should talk about.
We need to let people know we will be there for them. Don’t be afraid to reach out, don’t see it as you are broken, it is just a bump in the road, you’ll get past it! You are all so beautiful, I know together, we can get through this! Remember, you are never alone.
These three songs always help me feel happy! So, give them a listen!
1. Make It Out This Town by Eve (Feat. Gabe Saporta)
3. Something Big by Shawn Mendes
Image sources:
Existentialism in the Eyes of the Beholder
Have you ever sat back and just thought about where your life is going? Not the typical, “Ahhhh what am I gonna do with my life and myself and my everything??? AHH. High school is almost over.. ahhhh,” type thoughts, not those. More so the thoughts along the lines of, “Where is the human race going? Do I have a purpose? Am I supposed to be here to do this? Or is there something bigger out there for me?” Even if you haven’t thought about it, I have, for the both of us! Me and you. Reader, we’re in this together.
I was brought up with a strong religious background, so I have always known the Christian perspective of things. I never took the initiative, until recently, to really think about what else is out there, what plans the universe had for me. But with a fairly imaginative mind and a few Google searches, my interests were piqued. According to Google, Existentialism is defined as, “a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.” An extremely wordy definition broken down, this simply means it’s the idea of a person acting upon what they want to do to further themselves and their lives, simultaneously affecting the lives of people around them.
I never fully grasped the concept of Existentialism until I began to question what I had been taught. Not out of disrespect for the background I was raised in, nor to spite my parents and elders, but because it is important to question things. The idea of conforming to a belief because it is what you have known your whole life is unhealthy. A narrow mind misses many opportunities. Forming an understanding of faith, beliefs, practices and lifestyles of other people is something I believe every person should do. Educating oneself is an important practice to begin at a young age, feeds the curiosity and well, it’s a bonus.. you’re never going to run out of conversation topics! Okay, but in all honesty, this habit cultivates an open mind and the chance of finding what your true calling is whether it is constricted to the social norms or it eradicates their existence.
Within the radical theory of Existentialism, “It focuses on the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence,“ I disagree. Humans have the incessant need of having answers for everything, that is the cause behind all profound discoveries, but it does not simply stop there. The possibility that everything we have worked towards and the discoveries of anything and everything in the entirety of our existence, means nothing? It’s impossible to even begin to comprehend. Though there may not be some big reveal; in the grand scheme of things, we as humans have purpose. The bigger picture is completed when each individual is content. Follow passions, live your ambitions out and accomplish your goals. In hindsight, “Existentialists assert that a human being is “thrown into” a concrete, inveterate universe that cannot be “thought away”, and therefore existence (“being in the world”) precedes consciousness, and is the ultimate reality.” The reality of our fleeting existence should scare anyone enough to want to try. Try for what they want and what they dream.
I support the notion behind pursuing what you want. At the end of the day, there is very little joy that can come from something done out of big money’s sake. Have a fall back plan or have like, nine. Does it really matter what you choose to do? Choose what makes you want to wake up and live your life, or at least give yourself the opportunity to be able to still explore your passions even if you’re stuck in a dead end job with a horrible boss. The bitter truth is that a steady income is ideal for a comfortable life. Everyone wants freedom, but keep the dream alive while being realistic. WORK HARD PLAY HARD. But seriously, do that, do cool things, be your own life goals. You got this homie, keep doing you. Life’s happening and life’s good and it wants what’s best for you. So follow the Existential lifestyle, or don’t, up to you. But keep an open mind and think of the bigger picture! You’re not here to simply struggle through day after day of mediocre-ness. You’re here for a purpose. Find out what it is, follow it, and never let the dream die.
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
(Source)
What is the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows?
John Koenig is the creator of the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a project to fill in gaps in our language by inventing hundreds of original words to describe human emotions. What is the word for the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own? What about the desire to feel intensely again? Or the awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience?
Koenig originally started this project on his website, but he has started posting videos of his definitions on Youtube not too long ago. They are reminiscent of Shots of Awe in that they combine beautiful visuals, music and ideas in order to form thought-provoking videos. There are many videos, all of which I recommend you watch, but here are 3 that I was particularly moved by.
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Sonder: The Realization That Everyone Has A Story
sonder – n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
I mentioned this word in my previous about Common Magic, but that was before I realized that there was actually a video illustrating the concept too. When I watch the monochromatic images flash by, I can’t help but feel how my life is both so significant and insignificant at the same time. I am the main character in my own story, but so is everyone else in their stories. I am just one person in a world in billions, but there is only one me.
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Yù Yī : The Desire to Feel Intensely Again
yù yī – 玉衣
n. the desire to see with fresh eyes, and feel things just as intensely as you did when you were younger—before expectations, before memory, before words.
According to Koenig, the etymology for this word is: “From Mandarin Chinese yù yī, literally “jade suit.” Some Han dynasty royals were made to wear ceremonial burial suits made of jade, stitched together in hundreds of pieces threaded together, like a suit of armor made of jade. Literally, it is to be ‘jaded’ in an attempt to protect yourself.”
Once you watch this video, this is the only first time you’ll ever get. Once you watch this video, it will be forever imprinted on your mind and when you watch it again, it will never be the same. You already know what to expect. Is that sad? Perhaps. I’ve often heard teenagers say they wish they were children again so they could remember what it felt like when each day was simple. Filled with laughter. Eyes glinting with wonder. Pure and innocent.
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Onism: The Awareness of How Little of the World You’ll Experience
onism – n. the frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die-and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.
You might be familiar with Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken:
| “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, | |
| And sorry I could not travel both | |
| And be one traveler” |
It is a fact of life that when you take one road, that also means that you’ll never know what’s down the other road. Somehow, countless choices have been made in my life that has led to me writing these words right now. Perhaps if I had taken a right instead of a left or a u-turn instead of going straight, I would’ve been a completely different person than I am now. But, I’ll never be able to know. That is because I am here, which means there are a million other places where I am not.
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Conclusion
Language, as powerful and expansive of a tool it is, still has instances when it falters. The human experience is so complex that there are times when words simply don’t do it justice. However, I think Koenig is doing an extraordinary job in filling in these holes.
These videos can be a lot to take in. It will take time to let the ideas really sink into your mind. That’s what I love about videos like these though. It forces you to step back for a moment and reexamine your life. It is during this period of introspection that we learn to see the world in a new light and to be one step closer in understanding what it means to be human.
DFTBA! (Don’t Forget To Be Awesome!)
Website: http://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDetdM5XDZD1xrQHDPgEg5w
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ObscureSorrows
Blogger of the Month, April 2015: Katie Kim
As April rolls around, a new Blogger of the Month emerges with it. Katie Kim is a grade 10 AP student at Webber Academy. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics, but hit her breakthrough when she released her blogs summarizing world history. Those posts have proved to be educational for both Katie and her readers, while remaining entertaining and concise. A favourite post of mine from Katie covers 10 English Based Korean Slangs. It seems that her blog posts about world culture and history generate the most attention. (You can read all of Katie’s posts by clicking here!)
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Katie and have a chat over some coffee. What started with the intent of doing an interview, but that quickly turned into a casual conversation. Although I had never met her before, it was just as easy as catching up with an old friend. Katie is very down to earth and we just had fun discussing some casual topics.
Thus, the following “interview” is going to be more of a transcript of our conversation. Katie’s answers will be in regular script while my questions will be italicized. If the conversation seems a little bit off-track and out of order at times, that’s totally my fault. I think we all know by now how scatter-brained I can be. I also had to omit a lot of parts to cut down on the length of this post, so certain parts might also seem out-of-context or random. The transcript might not convey this, but there were lots of giggles and smiles throughout the conversation. Join me in getting to know Katie Kim!
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When did you join Youth Are Awesome?
This was my first year.
So you joined September of last year?
Yup. Well.. I actually missed the first meeting, so I joined in October, technically.
That’s fine! I think we’ve all missed a couple of meetings. I’m guilty. Anyways, why did you join Youth Are Awesome?
Well, honestly speaking, I just needed volunteer stuff, that’s why I joined Youth Central. But, specifically speaking, I joined Youth Are Awesome because I like internet stuff. I have some friends who volunteer with Youth Central, but I found Youth Are Awesome on my own.
What do you like to blog about?
I started off doing the Crash Course: World History stuff, I did three of those, but right now I just blog about a variety of stuff. I’ve been doing a lot of “top 10” or list-type blogs because I find them interesting.
Right, your Crash Course blogs! So, would you consider yourself a history nerd?
It was more of a time-saving scheme. For our history course in school, we had to do notes and they literally take 7 hours to do.
That’s brutal! So, you mentioned that you like “internet stuff”. Could you elaborate on that?
Well, I spend a lot of time on Facebook, probably more time than is necessary. But in my defence, I actually do school stuff together with my group mates through Messenger. I mean, the internet has everything, who doesn’t like the internet?
So, are you into blogging specifically?
I had Tumblr for a while, so yeah, I like blogging. I like posting stuff where people won’t judge as much as they would if you’re posting on Messenger or wherever. I have two Tumblr accounts. One’s a full-on fangirl account. If you’ve seen some of my blog posts, a lot of them are about Korea. I really like K-Pop, so I have one of those accounts. The other one’s just an “ordinary” person blog.
Who/what inspired you to get into writing and blogging?
Nothing much, really. I just saw it and thought, “This is cool, I want to do this.”
What is your favourite blog post that you’ve written so far?
I like my Crash Course blogs the most because they took me a lot of time. I was writing notes at the same time as I was writing the post, so it was kinda saving time and kinda not. I was trying to summarize an entire chapter in 500 words or less.
Did that end up actually helping you in school?
It actually did! Some of the things I wrote in my blog post were on my midterm, and when I saw that I was thinking, “I taught people the stuff on my midterm! Yay.”
Okay! What do you do in your spare time aside from Tumblr, Facebook, and blogging?
I play the cello and the piano. I do lessons for both of them; I’m actually preparing for my grade 9 exam for piano. For the cello, I don’t do the levels but I do orchestra.
What’s your favourite thing about Youth Are Awesome?
I really like that it’s written by youth, so the content is relatable, especially some of the current events. If you read news articles, they’re all written by adults and there’s specific viewpoints that they take. But with youth, it’s different, it’s interesting.
What is your opinion on youth in writing and/or media?
Some youth need to cut back on their media use. Like me, for example, I’m on it way too much. Media can be really useful, but if you do something bad on it, then…that’s bad!
Do you like being on Youth Are Awesome? What do you think of our large group?
It’s kind of weird, in the sense that you’re doing something together, such as a blog series, but you’ll never see them in real life. There’s a weird connection that you build with the bloggers.
Do you have a favourite blogger?
A favourite blogger? You mean other than myself? Just kidding! Anyways, I liked that one blog post about IB vs AP because, for a while, I was debating whether I should go into IB or AP and that blog post helped me get a lot of information. I ended up going into AP because that’s what my school offers.
Right, okay. Do you ever wish that you went to a public school?
I did go to a public school up until grade 6, but for high school… I guess, I have a lot of friends who go to Western and they’re always all out partying.
So you wish you could go out partying more? I think you could just go join them!
No! I mean, I just think that there’s a lot more slack in public school. I don’t actually know how a public high school works, since I’m not in one, but I always see these Snapchats about Tutti Frutti and other stuff.
Well, that’s probably because it’s Western! They’re in the heart of downtown; they have a Tutti Frutti right across from their school.
Yeah, I guess. But I mean, the nearest shopping centre we have is a 20 minute walk away!
So, do you read a lot of books? Do you write? Are you a poetic person?
No, I’m not a poetic person, but we do have to do NaNoWriMo in school.
Wait, you were forced to do that?
Uh, yes. But, I really liked writing my own story! At the end of it, they provide you with your own promotional code and you can turn your story into a book. You don’t have to publish it, but they turn it into a book for you and it was really cool having my own book.
So, you’re basically just a normal teenager? You’re not trying to go about being the next Mother Theresa or Ghandi or anything? And there’s nothing wrong with that! I’m not judging you.
It would be nice if I did something extraordinary, but at the moment I don’t have anything like that going on.
You’re in grade 10, you have time. Finding something you’re passionate about totally changes your life.
I really like blogging because you put all your energy and thoughts into it. You don’t have to talk to specific people about what you want to talk about. You can just rant and people will actually listen to you.
If you could go on a one-day vacation to anywhere, where would it be and why?
I kinda want to go to a tiny island near Australia. Maybe Guam!
Well, I didn’t say it had to be on earth.
Shoot! That changes everything. Hogwarts would be really cool… My final answer will be that weird land that only Shadowhunters can go to in The Mortal Instruments.
~~~
In order to avoid dragging this interview on forever, I had to cut it here. If you want to listen to the entire, uncut, conversation, you can click the box down below! To close off, I’d like to give a big thanks to Katie for meeting me in the middle of her super busy schedule.
Anxiety Attacks: please don’t blame yourself
Having an anxiety attack is bad enough. Feeling like you’re weak because of it or being told that you need to try better to “push through it” does not make the situation easier. At all.
We all get anxious sometimes, and those of us who are teenagers seem to be extra skilled at having anxiety. Tests, relationships, peer pressure, work, etc.
Sometimes it just all becomes too much. And for those who struggle with an anxiety disorder, that “too much” feeling can come easier and more intensely. For some, an anxiety attack could just come up out of the blue. For others, triggers like noise, crowds, tests, stress, or decisions can be what tips them over the edge into an anxiety attack. The cause for anxiety attacks can vary, and furthermore, the attack itself can look different for everybody. Common elements of anxiety attacks include unsteadiness, blurred vision, feeling like you’re moving at a different pace/disassociated, lightheadedness, and feeling like you’ve lost control.
Picture this: I’m standing at the front of a church at a music workshop as part of a choir. Everyone else is called up, including the band and strings players. As people begin crowding around me, I feel trapped. It feels like I’m frozen in the middle of a commotion of movement and noise around me. It feels like the world is moving all around me. On top of the movement and talking, the instrumentalists individually start to toot and squeak and bash and screech. It’s like a storm is enveloping me. So much is happening at once, I feel so small and so powerless. If only I wasn’t in the eye of others, I’d sit down, for my legs can’t seem to hold up my unsteadiness and lightheadedness. My eyes dart around, stimulated by all the noise and movement, but also trying to make eye contact and let someone know I need help. My eyes are watery and tears start trickling down. I can’t get out of the situation, so I must breathe deeply and with intention. Still, tears swell in my eyes, and my head is woozy. As the conductor settles everyone down and begins putting things together, I can breathe easier, but still I am shaken.
It brings a feeling of weakness. Not just the physical unsteadiness, but also mentally as you feel like you shouldn’t be anxious or cry or that you should be able to handle this. That feeling that you’re “over-reacting” or being “over-dramatic”. On the one hand, it must be recognized that there are strategies to fight anxiety and cope more effectively. However, severe anxiety can be a mental disorder, and I want you all to know that it is NOT your fault. You are not weak. You are not “whiny”. You are not “over-dramatic”. Everyone experiences situations differently, and everyone has different levels of sensitivity. For some of us, things feel like “too much” quite often. But guess what? That does not define us. We are just as valuable, just as strong, just as capable, and just as awesome as anyone else.
My one request is that if you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or any other mental health concern, please, please seek help. No one deserves to live a life that is more difficult than it needs to be. Their is therapy, medication, and other treatment options that do work. Never lose hope <3
If you are at risk right now, or if you simply need someone to talk to, Kids Help Phone, ConnecTeen, Woods Homes, and the Distress Centre can provide you with immediate help over the phone or through messaging.
Images:
Thermometer
Depression, anxiety, and…
People think I’m weak.
I can’t keep calm
Weekly Pinterest Top 10 (#9)
The weekly Pinterest roundup is back! I’ve decided to try something new with my header image, and I think that it looks pretty cool. (Hopefully nobody hates it.) It’s been pretty hard for me to adjust back to this whole waking-up-before-eight thing, but I have managed to get through this week, so far. If you’re also in a spring break hangover, please allow me to ease the pain with some good ol’ procrastination. For all the previous posts in this series, you can visit the links provided: Weekly Pinterest Top 10 #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8.
{Art}
When we think about paper and art, we may generally think of it as a canvas on which to make art. Or maybe, you think about origami. Well, these pictures feature a different side of paper art. Perhaps you’ve seen stuff like this before, but this is my first exposure. The precision and dedication needed to make something like this must be tremendous, and the results are amazing.
{Beauty}
Red lips are an amazing way to add a bold but tasteful flair to any outfit. The problem is finding the right shade. I have learned through trial and error that orange/coral does not compliment my skin tone very well. Recently, I went and picked up a raspberry pink tinted lip balm and it looks quite gorgeous (if I do say so myself). Hopefully this chart can help you find that perfect shade of red you’ve been dying to rock!
{Decor}
I’m assuming that most readers on this website aren’t old enough to have a house of their own, but you can take these decorating tips to your bedrooms. I’m always tempted to mix patterns with solid colours just to play it on the safe side, but the guide in the original post has inspired me to experiment a little bit.
{Fashion}
If I were a superhero who’s power was fashion, high heels would be the villain. Most people who know me in real life can’t even believe that I don’t know how to properly walk in heels, but it’s true. I have been gradually training myself (because I have been forced into wearing heels for my graduation banquet) and it has not been a fun process. Fortunately, this little tip has really helped and I find myself getting more and more comfortable. Hopefully this can help all those other girls (or guys, who knows) out there who are just as challenged with heels as I am.
{Food}
The road to healthy eating is laden with sharp objects, fire, and dying puppies. Okay, that’s a little bit extreme, but let’s all just admit that healthy eating isn’t the easiest thing. This image suggests some healthier alternatives to the not-so-good foods and other additives that are predominant in modern, home-cooked cuisine. The first step on the path to a good diet is taking control of what you eat and keeping control.
{Hair}
The idea of reverse hair washing is intended to get the gunk out of your hair and give yourself a power clean without drying out your hair. You get some conditioner and lather it into your hair, wait a couple of minutes, and then shampoo while the conditioner is still in your hair. This method isn’t made to be utilized every day, as it may become damaging to your hair. But if you happened to use a ton of hair gel or spray on a certain day, reverse hair washing can be useful to make sure your hair is clean and your follicles aren’t clogged.
{Laugh}
I’m not sure when this was aired, so you might have seen this before, but this interview is new to me. Steve Harvey is a hilarious man who is naturally sassy. When you mix a man who won’t take anybody’s silly business with an…interesting family, sparks will surely fly. I guess that when your daily roster of sustenance includes a bowl of corn, you may be able to associate this bowl of corn with a safety net. Whatever the reasons are for Pumpkin’s demands, it made for this great collage.
{Live}
Have you wondered why a certain invention doesn’t exist? Well, it just might. The original post features the full 31 awesome inventions that you have probably thought about inventing before, for yourself. The only question I have is if these inventions are real or not. And if they are, where can I buy them?
{Love}
If you are a hardcore Harry Potter fan, you may have figured this out for yourself, but I totally had my mind blown. I feel dumb for not realizing this before, but it sheds a whole new light on the Dursley family. Obviously, I’m not condoning their terrible behaviour, but this theory could explain something. Although, the only flaw is that everyone around Harry would have been reduced to terrible people as well, and that didn’t necessarily happen. In any case, it’s always great to consider new possibilities–especially when someone has gone to all the trouble to make a cool image for it.
{Nails}
Lastly, I will leave you with a beautiful nail design that exudes spring radiance, while remaining earthy. Taupe is a professional and clean colour, but it’s also quite drab. Add some pink, and now you’ve got some flair! The gold adds a touch of elegance and whimsy to sophistication, and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous colour palette on your fingers. For some reason, the combination reminds me of ice cream, probably due to the warm and sugary tones. I’ll end here before I start drooling…
Hopefully you were able to find something in this post that made you laugh, inspired you, or just wasted a good few minutes of your time!
FTC: This is not a sponsored post, and all opinions are completely genuine. ♥
The people-friendly cities of the future
The first step to creating the great cities of our future is to create them accessible to their inhabitants. Congestion, traffic, and exhaust fumes are all complaints common to citizens of many major cities in the world today. Numerous cities are currently built not for people, but rather for cars.
Several countries have already begun work transitioning their cities into a more livable form, including a number of European candidate cities participating in the “COST Action project”, which brings together experts and non-experts to investigate modern ways in which city planners can promote “well being, good health, and a sustainable use of resources”. Besides the aforementioned, an efficient system of people-friendly transportation can eliminate the hours lost by workers in traffic as well as contributing to social inclusion when affordable means of transportation are made available to everyone.
Global metropolises have been among the first to take action to make their cities more people-friendly. New York City has adopted the “World Class Streets” initiative as a part of their twenty-year “PlanNYC for a greener and greater New York” vision. This strategy features the conversion of many public spaces for the purpose of creating an effective, wide-reaching cycling network to get around the city. Melbourne and Mexico City are among others who have followed in their work towards making their urban landscapes more accessible.
Aside from the more well-known cities of the world, Medellin, Colombia, is the poster child for people-friendly cities. With networks of outdoor escalators and a fully-integrated cable car system, its impressive innovation has given Colombia regard as one of the foremost leaders of urban design, beating out many Western nations including Canada. Medellin’s architect was faced with a huge challenge: The entirety of the city and its 20 thousand inhabitants are situated on steep, mountainous terrain. In fact, the location of the city itself is a hindrance to the efficient transportation of its citizens around it.
To work around this geographical obstacle, The Gondola Project was born. Composed of numerous cable cars that link together the entire city along with other modes of transportation, it was built at half the cost of a typical light-rail system and is more environmentally friendly than more conventional methods of public transportation such as buses and subways. The outdoor escalator system cost the city only $6 million, which is a fraction of the cost of Calgary’s $1.2 billion budget for the 2011 extension of the LRT system. On Medellin’s successful design, former Vancouver city planner Brent Toderian comments, “It’s about repurposing technologies that are used elsewhere and realizing they can be helpful to a modern city.”
At the current time, Calgary is the fifth-most congested city in Canada. However, Calgary is also a beautiful city with the potential to be so much more. By following the lead of many others, a more people-friendly, environmentally conscientious Calgary can be in our future.
Sources:
“Urban planning innovation puts Colombia ahead of Canada”, from CBC News
“People-Friendly Cities Action”, from Da Vinci Institute
“The cities of the future are people-friendly cities,” from Gehl Architects via Denmark.dk
“Calgary ranked fifth-most congested in Canada,” from CBC News
Monthly music favourites: March 2015
{Source}
As we say goodbye to March and hello to April showers, I have successfully concluded the month with a playlist of great tunes you can jam out to! Whether you’re on your morning commute to school or at a party with friends, there is something here for you to enjoy.
• Atlas Hands by Benjamin Francis Leftwich
(Fact: I found this song through a commercial!)
“When the stars are the only things we share, will you be there?”
• Much Better by The Jonas Brothers
(Anyone wishing they would get back together as much as I do?)
“I believe that the road that people lead helps you find the one you need.”
• Trouble I’m In by Twinbed
“You are my favorite medicine.”
• I Really Like You by Carly Rae Jepsen
(Guilty. Pleasure.)
“I really, really, really, really, really, really like you.”
R e a l l y .
• King and Cross by Ásgeir
(Check out the Icelandic version here!)
“I’ve found my strength now.”
• Constant Conversations by Passion Pit
(Check out the Alternative Version here!)
“Yeah, they love you when they need you, but someday you’re gonna need to find some other kind of place to go.”
• Flaws by Vancouver Sleep Clinic
“Seasons don’t change, ignorance remains.”
• Fix You by Coldplay
(Oldie, but a goodie. We’re also singing this song in our school choir!)
“Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones.”
• Take a Walk by Passion Pit
“I remind myself that times could be much worse.”
• Take Your Time by Sam Hunt
(The music video is one example of how artists are bringing awareness to domestic violence. For more information on the music video, resources, and how you can help, click here and here.)
“I don’t wanna steal your freedom. I don’t wanna change your mind.”
• Shut Up and Dance by WALK THE MOON
“Oh, don’t you dare look back.”
• Cry Like a Ghost by Passion Pit
(Can you tell I was really loving Passion Pit this month?!)
“It’s not just you who felt the pain.”
• My Everything by Ariana Grande
“It’s time I push my pride away.”
• Life Is Sweeter by The Afters
“I’ll find the stars to let me through.”
I hope you enjoyed my first Monthly Music Favorites! Stay tuned for next month’s edition!
Best wishes,
Kandace 🙂
10 Uncommon Phobias
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder usually known as an irrational or overwhelming fear of an object or activity. Each individual may have differing fears and phobias. Here’s a list of 10 uncommon phobias…
1. Didaskaleinophobia – Fear of Going to School
Those who suffer from didaskaleinophobia feel intense anxiety at the thought of attending class each day.
2. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – Fear of Long Words
Every spelling bee contestant’s worst nightmare, this phobia consists of 36 letters inducing the fear it represents. This town can be found in the United Kingdom.
3. Arithmophobia – Fear of numbers
Arithmophobia is the irrational fear of numbers. Arithmophobic individuals can feel intense anxiety or panic in the face of mathematical equations or calculations.
4. Porphyrophobia – Fear of the Colour Purple
Sufferers of porphyrophobia may fear anything purple, including grapes, eggplants and purple paint.
5. Kinemortophobia – Fear of Zombies
Fear of the living dead, kinemortophobic individuals shiver at the thought of a zombie apocalypse.
6. Coulrophobia – Fear of Clowns
Coulrophobes may suffer from feelings of intense dread or terror, nausea or anxiety when it comes to clowns.
7. Sciaphobia – Fear of Shadows
Like every horror movie come to life, sciaphobia is the fear of shadows.
8. Genuphobia – Fear of Knees
Genuphobia is the fear of knees of kneeling. Genuphobes may suffer from excessive sweating or dry mouth at the sight of knees.
9. Nomophobia – Fear of Being Without One’s Mobile Device
Short for no-mobile-phone phobia, symptoms of nomophobia include panic and desperation when separated from one’s smartphone.
And lastly…
10. Trypophobia – Fear of Clustered Holes
If this picture makes you feel uncomfortable or gives you the chills, you may suffer from trypophobia, the fear of clustered holes.