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World Partnership Walk: Be the change.

Azmaira Hirani
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World Partnership Walk: Be the change.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” The World Partnership Walk (WPW) is an annual event held in 10 cities nationwide to help alleviate global poverty. Since its beginning 30 years ago the WPW has raised over $82 million for international projects to aid people globally, making this event the largest event of it’s kind!

Embracing Multiple Cultures
Embracing Multiple Cultures

100% of the donations go directly to The Aga Khan Foundation of Canada, better known as the AKFC. Each donation is put towards international development projects, aiding poverty within four categories known as Health, Education, Developing Civil Society and Rural Development. Previous projects derived under the AKFC through WPW include revitalizing a rural economy, ensuring clean water and sanitation, strengthening community-based organizations and educating new generations of girls and women.

This event raised $55 000 in donations and got 1000 people to walk within the first year. As it’s 30th annual walk is approaching this Sunday June 8th, 2014 the goal is to surpass the $7 million raised nationwide in 2013, Calgary being able to raise $1.3 million.

The event takes place at Prince’s Island Park, and the walk is a maximum of 5 km. Not only is the pathway filled with beautiful scenery that embraces our beautiful city, it is also filled with laughter, light and smiles!

Woah! It's NENSHI!
Woah! It’s NENSHI!

As an individual who has actively participated in this event for the past 7 years, it truly is a fulfilling experience that comes with many memories and is surrounded by positive energy. From running the 5 km, to participating in one of the localized dances, to raising money as an ambassador, all the way to volunteering in the event, the outcome of participating in this event is thrilling and life changing.

The Agenda for The World Partnership Walk this Sunday looks like this: 

8:30 am- Registration and breakfast for volunteers in the VIP tent

9:30 am- VIP Breakfast for specially invited guests and politicians, Global Village tent opens for VIP viewing

10:40 am- Formal stage show begins

11:30am- Ribbon cutting and launch* of the 30th Annual WPW

1:00- Award ceremonies

2:00- Entertainment on stage

3:00- Closing remarks.

* The launch of the WPW is kicked off with some local dances, zumba and yoga!

The Global Village tent is a very important component to the entire event. It connects all the donations and efforts that are made by the WPW. It is an interactive place to learn about the impact of Canadian support and the work being done within Asia and Africa, as well as the current/past projects, basically where 100% of the money raised goes. It includes hands on activities, a photo-op and a live Twitter Feed!

WPW
WPW

Come rain or sun, this walk will be happening! Why not get involved and help change the world by alleviating global poverty?

Ways to get involved:

  • Register and become a Walk Ambassador
  • Create/Join a team
  • Make a donation or sponsor an Ambassador
  • Become a walk volunteer in your city!

Check out these links to help you embark your journey:

World Partnership Walk-Calgary

WPW- Twitter

WPW Facebook

 

 

Top 3 Healthy Dinners

Daisy
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Next up on the series: Top 3 healthy Dinners! I know you might be wondering why you would be making dinner, but sometimes you might want to mix things up and treat your parents with a special easy-to-do dinner.

Also check out last week’s Top 3 Healthy Lunches if you make your own lunch. And look forward to next week’s Top 3 Healthy (as you can get) Desserts!

Let's throw some vegetables, spices, and eggs together in a pan to put into the oven. Check out the recipe here.
Let’s throw some vegetables, spices, and eggs together in a pan to put into the oven. Check out the recipe here.
Pasta is always a good option. Especially one that contains both carbohydrates from the pasta and vitamins from the tomato sauce and cauliflower. Check out the link here.
Pasta is always a good option. Especially one that contains both carbohydrates from the pasta and vitamins from the tomato sauce and cauliflower. Check out the link here.
The next thing you can go to is soup. It will fill you right up and if coked right, will taste delicious! Check out the link to the soups and salads here.
The next thing you can go to is soup. It will fill you right up and if cooked correctly, will taste delicious! Check out the link to the soups and salads here.

Fact of the Day: How long can you hold your breath?

Rebecca Yang
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Everyone has competed in a competition that involves pinching the nose and trying to hold one’s breath for the longest. I have never won such games. So I have looked at the victor’s purpling face in puzzlement and have always wondered how long it can be humanly possible to go without oxygen.

But this all depends on circumstances and location (Outside, 2013). According to the Daily Mail, humans are able to hold their breath nearly twice as longer underwater, due to the “diving reflex.” The diving reflex slows the body’s metabolism and heart rate conserve heat and oxygen in cold waters. (Therefore, world records are usually assessed underwater.The world record for breath holding is held by Tom Sietas, who held his breath underwater for 22 minutes and 22 seconds (Daily Mail, 2012). The state of holding one’s breath underwater is referred to as static apnea. Of course, breath holding also depends on physicality. Males are usually able to hold their breath longer than women as they tend to have a greater lung capacity.

Our bodies never cease to amaze me. But oxygen deprivation can cause brain damage, so you would never want to hold your breath for that long anyways!

Tom Sietas is the current world record holder for static apnea. Photo by P. Vermeulen, retrieved from Deepest Blue.
Tom Sietas is the current world record holder for static apnea. Photo by P. Vermeulen, retrieved from Deepest Blue.

Heritage Park: Festival of Quilts

Wayne Lin
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On Sunday May 25, I volunteered at the Heritage Park Festival of Quilts. This is Western Canada’s largest outdoor quilt showcase. Before this, I have no idea what a quilt was. This festival impressed me a lot and change my ideas about quilting.

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The entire Heritage Village was decorated with different quilts, each with unique pattern. A quilt is definitely more than a blanket.

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It was my first time visiting Heritage Park, and I think it is super awesome. Some may believe it to be boring, but I view it as unique. The entire village brought me back in time with staff dressed in period costumes. It was amazing to explore the village with the quilts outside and inside the building.

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Within the sales tent, I discovered how quilts are made in modern technology and also the traditional ways of making quilts. Different vendors sold unique pieces of quilt materials. This brought me back to when I was a kid and my grandma showed me those sewing work she had done. This was a special experience. It inspires people in many ways. Check out Heritage Park upcoming events and experience it yourself.

IMG_4088             IMG_4089

Otafest 101: Cosplay Lookbook

Ailin Li
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Aside from all the panels and contests that take place at Otafest, one of the major hit points is the amount of amazing cosplay that people bring in. Although it’s held in Calgary, people travel from all over just to attend this convention (which should give you an idea of how popular it is and defend us nerds). If you’re not quite sure what Otafest is, check out this survival guide and get some first impressions.

I was quite pressed for time and ideas this year, jumbled with indecisiveness, which ultimately led to me scrounging up a costume at the last minute. What I did mange to piece together incorporated a wig, glasses, and colored lenses from one of my friends to whom I’m grateful. For those of you who have seen the anime, I went as Kuriyama Mirai from Kyoukai no Kanata, though since I didn’t have the school uniform I just wore my maid costume (which I had from Halloween). The friend who lent me the essentials attended alongside me as Ai-chan so we could be more easily identified. Our close friends got the reference, and one girl at Otafest did as well and even took our picture. The momentary spotlight felt good.

We tried to recreate the scene where Ai-chan is fixing Kuriyama's hair at the Otafest Photo Booth.
We tried to recreate the scene where Ai-chan is fixing Kuriyama’s hair at the Otafest Photo Booth.
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A closer look at our entire outfits. So yes, neither of us were actually in “costume” but it’s the thought that counts and we had fun with it.
Can you say #selfie?
Can you say #selfie?

Now that we’ve all had enough of my face, I’m going to share with you my top 15 favourite cosplays from Otafest 2014. Keep in mind that there were hundreds of people and even though there may have been better costumes, these are just the people who I could conveniently get pictures of. In no way was this list easy to create and you might disagree with my opinions, but the main point of this blog is to pique interest and hopefully you’ll be persuaded to attend Otafest next year and see all the cosplyers for yourself! Begin the countdown.

The lovely Merida. Not Japanese, but it was still a pretty decent costume.
#15 The lovely Merida. Not Japanese, but it was still a pretty decent costume.
#14 The number of SNK cosplays this year were unreal but I think this one was one of my favourites. Captain Levi decked out in his cleaning gear, teehee.
#14 The number of SNK cosplays this year were unreal but I think this one was one of my favourites. Captain Levi decked out in his cleaning gear, teehee.

 

#13 Several Magical Girls were also spread out throughout the day, but they never got together for a group picture. Here is my favourite, Mami Tomoe.
#13 Several Magical Girls were also spread out throughout the day, but they never got together for a group picture. Here is my favourite, Mami Tomoe.
#12 BRS is by far the most confusing anime I have ever seen but the graphics are so beautiful and that giant weapon took her 2 weeks to make so she might as well be on this list.
#12 BRS is by far the most confusing anime I have ever seen but the graphics are so beautiful and that giant gun took her 2 weeks to make so she might as well be on this list.
#11 Digimon was the first real anime I watched as a kid so it will always hold a special place in my heart.
#11 Digimon was the first real anime I watched as a kid so it will always hold a special place in my heart.
#10 People have mixed feelings about SAO, but I quite liked it even though the second arc was quite unnecessary. Hopefully they can redeem themselves with this new season, Gun Gale.
#10 People have mixed feelings about SAO, but I liked it even though the second arc was quite unnecessary. Hopefully they can redeem themselves with this new season, Gun Gale.
#9 I haven't had the time to watch Legend of Kora, but Avatar was one of the only reasons I even watched Nickelodeon. Two Avatars, one picture.
#9 I haven’t had the time to watch Legend of Kora, but Avatar was one of the only reasons I even watched Nickelodeon. Two Avatars, one picture.
#8 I can't imagine how stuffy it must have been inside that Happy costume. Mascots make me slightly uncomfortable to this day, but I'm starting to warm up to them.
#8 I can’t imagine how stuffy it must have been inside that Happy costume. Mascots make me slightly uncomfortable to this day, but I’m starting to warm up to them.
#7 I love Studio Ghibli and I was just so impressed with this lady's interpretation of Totoro that I just had to include it. I need her to hook me up with a dress like that because she just looked fabulous.
#7 I love Studio Ghibli and I was just so impressed with this lady’s interpretation of Totoro that I just had to include it. I need her to hook me up with a dress like that because she just looked fabulous.
#6 Like I said, lots of SNK cosplay. These two took the cake over most others because of the meticulously crafted maneuver gear. Arts and crafts skills are over 9000.
#6 Like I said, lots of SNK cosplay. These two took the cake over most others because of the meticulously crafted maneuver gear. Arts and crafts skills are over 9000.
#4 I don't actually play Kaitlyn in LoL (I'm more of a support girl), but her costume was beautiful and so on-point. I saw her all three days and finally decided to get her picture on the last day. I'm very glad I did.
#4 I don’t actually play Caitlyn in LoL (I’m more of a support girl), but her costume was beautiful and so on-point. I saw her all three days and finally decided to get her picture on the last day. I’m very glad I did.
#4 This man was on stilts all three days and I even watched him play a very menacing rook in Cosplay Battle Chess. You could see the looks of terror wherever he went. Props to you, stilt man.
#4 This man was on stilts all three days and I even watched him play a very menacing rook in Cosplay Battle Chess. You could see the looks of terror wherever he went. Props to you, stilt man.
#3 I hope no one rage quits on me for this, but Jack Frost and Elsa are my forever OTP. I even got a hug from Jack Frost. This partner cosplay just made me happy on so many levels.
#3 I hope no one rage quits on me for this, but Jack Frost and Elsa are my forever OTP. I even got a hug from Jack Frost. This partner cosplay just makes me happy on so many levels.
#2 This costume isn't the most flashy, but whoever was inside just played the character so well. When No Face comes up to you, he sticks out his arms to reveal a handful of gold. Beside him was a buddy warning everyone, "don't take his gold!" I didn't see him break character once and the costume shape was just very perfect in my opinion.
#2 This costume isn’t the most flashy, but whoever was inside just played the character so well. When No Face comes up to you, he sticks out his arms to reveal a handful of gold. Beside him was a buddy warning everyone, “don’t take his gold!” I didn’t see him break character once and the costume shape was just very perfect in my opinion.
#1 Horologium won the top spot in my heart this year. The Lucy "inside" was painted by a panelist at Otafest, but aside form that the rest of the costume was beautiful. And I don't know if you've ever tried walking around in a box, but it's not the easiest thing. The art and attention to detail was amazing, and I think this costume was just one of the truest representations of the art and passion that goes into Otafest.
#1 Horologium won the top spot in my heart this year. The Lucy “inside” was actually painted by a panelist at Otafest, but aside from that the rest of the costume was also amazing. And I don’t know if you’ve ever tried walking around in a box, but it’s not the easiest thing. The art and attention to detail was amazing, and I think this costume was just one of the truest representations of the art and passion that goes into Otafest.

So there you have it, folks! Hope you enjoyed my Otafest 2014 Lookbook, and hopefully I convinced you to take a look for yourself next year.

Socially awkward? You’re not alone

ife
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Socially awkward moments happen to everyone, especially me. According to some friends of mine I am very socially awkward, so awkward that it’s hard for me to keep a conversation going with a person. Being socially awkward is something that hasn’t been a major problem for me, but I still show it because I find it very hard for me to introduce myself or hold up a conversation with other people. I see being socially awkward as a force that is generated by our own fears and worries of what others think. And how we see these situations, can prevent us from fully interacting with others out of fear of embarrassment.

But whether we like it or not, everyone has to learn how to deal with social awkwardness at some point in their life, especially if you’re more socially awkward than the average person. But don’t be afraid, because where there is a problem, there is indeed a solution, and there are definitely ways to overcome the feeling of being socially awkward.

Here are some ways I found and although I haven’t implemented all these steps into my life, I find it best to take progress in steps.

Worry less about what others think:

Worrying about what others think is a lot easier said than done. If we are worried about what a person will think, because of human nature, we try to live up to their expectations. But that is very straining and it rarely works out well in the end. You shouldn’t try to force it, but keep it natural and authentic by just being yourself.

 Be friendly:

670px-Initiate-a-Fun-and-Friendly-Conversation-Step-2

I personally find it hard to smile, but to make friends, you must smile. From what I’ve seen, people enjoy being around a nice and happy person. Even if you start mimicking happiness, it will eventually turn into something real and lasting because it will grow on you.

 Be sure of what friendly gestures you want to make before you feel confused:

a_ldating_hugs_0223

One thing I strongly dislike about being awkward is bad timing and hesitation when trying to greet someone. It’s very embarrassing to greet someone and end up doing 5 different hand gestures and in the end it ends up getting untouched. You should decide to either go for a fist bump, high five, hug, or don’t bother at all.

Ask questions:

conversation-sm

Some people, like myself, aren’t predominantly very good at having lively conversations with others because we become nervous. Avoid babbling, stammering, and stumbling over your words because you can come off as a tense person. My advice is to let them talk. Because by listening, you are able to generate a response that is usually in form of a question. As a result you will grow more comfortable and feel compelled to discuss about yourself.

Being socially awkward isn’t a bad thing, but for that person who is more socially awkward than average; I hope these tips can help you.

Video of the Day: Kid Predicaments

Eryl David
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In today’s newest trend for viral videos, this 30 second video I found is sure to warm your heart and leave you wishing you were a kid again. I find that when we are young, we tend to be very open to our parents or those we are close to about our problems and questions. One has to wonder when that starts to no longer happen as much. There is the inevitability that we all grow up at some point, but it’s perfectly fine to be a kid at heart.

“I wish I was four again.” Don’t we all, kid, don’t we all.

Top 3 healthy lunches

Daisy
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Remember the Top 3 healthy breakfasts post from last week? Well, now here are some healthy, delicious lunches you can bring with you to school, or work, or in fact,  any place. These are portable, easy – to – make lunches to bring joy to your day.

Tune in next week for the top 3 healthy dinners!

Chicken is always the meat to go to when you want to eat healthy. Never mind a chicken wrap where you insert any of your favourite vegetables, and get the carbohydrates from the bread. Check out a recipe you can use here.
Chicken is always the meat to go to when you want to eat healthy. Never mind a chicken wrap where you insert any of your favourite vegetables, and get the carbohydrates from the bread. Check out a recipe you can use here.
A wonderfully filling lunch in your favourite form - a salad! Enjoy a barley and black bean salad! Find the recipe here.
A wonderfully filling lunch in your favourite form – a salad! Enjoy a barley and black bean salad! Find the recipe here.

 

And of course...the original...and the best, mom's lunch. Remember this from your childhood movies? Even one had a nicely packed lunch with a sandwich, some other fruits, and a small snack. Well it turns out that this is still one of the healthiest lunches out there. Enjoy! Click the link here to see some foods you can put in your lunch.
And of course…the original…and the best, mom’s lunch. Remember this from your childhood movies? Even one had a nicely packed lunch with a sandwich, some other fruits, and a small snack. Well it turns out that this is still one of the healthiest lunches out there. Enjoy! Click the link here to see some foods you can put in your lunch.

 

3 places to buy prom dresses in Calgary

A N
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Prom is just around the corner, and if you’re like me, you always buy everything last minute and can’t spend a ton of money. I noticed that there are hardly any stores in Calgary that sell prom/grad dresses for a decent price, but have no fear, that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist! I went dress shopping this week and found multiple stores that sell prom style dresses for as cheap as $50!

1. RA Clothing 

The store is located on 17 Ave and has a variety of really nice clothes. They had a small selection of dresses, but all of them were gorgeous! The quality was amazing and they weren’t too frilly or princess like, so if you are looking for an alternative choice to the average prom dress, this is the place to go. The staff is always amazing, every time I go into their store, they always greet you and can help you find what you are looking for right away. The woman helped me and my friends each try on a dress that suited us properly and gave us some advice on what to look for. The only concern is that their sizes run small and they are a bit more pricey than the other two on this list. All of their dresses were around $250-$300, but they were also the best quality out of the stores I have included in this list.

Source: www.yelp.ca
Source: www.yelp.ca

2. Vespucci Consignment 

This second-hand store is conveniently located on the corner of Elbow Dr and Heritage Dr and specializes in gently used designer clothes. They have a whole floor dedicated to beautiful prom and grad dresses that people have donated after wearing them! For the most part, the dresses are modern (I didn’t even see one 80s prom dress), and they have a large variety. The dresses are colour-coded and vary from short and strapless to long ballgowns! Their prices are reasonable, but definitely not cheap. I don’t know about the long dresses but most of the short ones I tried on were anywhere between $100 and $300, which is still a good price for the quality you are getting.

source: www.yelp.ca
source: www.yelp.ca

3. Winners

Believe it or not, Winners is the place I bought my prom dress. They had a huge selection of frilly and sparkly dresses that are sure to get people turning their heads at you. Most of their dresses were longer, or high low style, but they had a few mini dresses too! I tried on seven different dresses at Winners and took about half an hour to decide between my top three choices, they were all gorgeous! Although the quality isn’t as nice, Winners was the best place to find a cheap dress. Besides, how important is the quality of a dress you are only going to wear once? All of their dresses were $50 and there was a style for everyone, they had everything from short neon pink dresses to long elegant blue dresses. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better place to find my dress!

I hope you found this article helpful, and I hope you enjoy your prom or graduation! Whether you are just going into Grade 10 or graduating high school, I wish you the best of luck next year. I would love to hear where you bought your prom dress in Calgary, so leave a comment down below!

 

Throwback Movie Review: Clueless

Davinder Malhi
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Screen Shot 2014-05-24 at 4.42.18 PM

Clueless is a nostalgic 90s movie that gives us a look into the fabulous lives of rich American teenagers. Clueless centres around a 16-year-old girl named Cher. Cher is popular, rich, and hot (the three things that matter most to an upper-class high school girl). Cher and her best friend Dionne must juggle the weight of popularity, boys, and high school, whilst trying to help the new girl become known. All this stress would be fine, if Cher wasn’t beginning to develop feelings for someone totally unexpected.

clueless-cher-dionne-amber

When I first heard of this movie, I didn’t expect very much. But when I watched it, I was totally blown away.  It contained just the right amount of comedy, romance, and drama. One reason why I loved this movie was because of its casting. The actors were very suited for the roles they played in the movie. For example, I can’t think of any actor that could’ve played Cher better than Alicia Silverstone. While the storyline of Clueless was pretty good, there were parts in the movie where I was questioning what was going on and there were some unanswered questions at the end of the movie, which I didn’t like. The costumes in Clueless were iconic; Fashion was its own character in the film. Clueless defined many of the trends set in the 90s, such as, chokers, big hats, feathers, plaid, etc. I loved the fact that fashion played such a huge role in this movie, it really helped the viewer get to know the characters better. My favourite thing about the entire movie was the memorable lingo. Clueless had me saying its cheesy one-liners days after I watched it. Some of the most memorable quotes were:

  • “Ugh, as if”
  • “Whatever”
  • “Dionne and I were both named after famous singers of the past, who now do infomercials”
  • “Do you prefer fashion victim or ensembly challenged?”
  • “And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.”

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Overall I would rate Clueless “★★★★” out of a possible five. Even though the storyline struggled a-bit at times, the actors, costumes, and fun lingo made up for that lack. I would recommend Clueless to everyone and anyone who is looking for a fun movie to watch on a Saturday night.

iPhone 6: The hype is high, will Apple deliver?

Dani Kilani
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iPhone 6 “leaked photos”

The iPhone 6 is coming soon and some mock versions are popping up as guesses to what it could look like. In all this, the following video is probably the most accurate of what features may be included what will not be included.

 

Healthy snack ideas for school

Purnoor Tak
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Eating healthy can sometimes seem like a chore, but just taking a few extra minutes every day to prepare a healthy lunch can help you for years to come.

From www.askmen.com
From www.askmen.com

The first one is really simple; just bring you favorite fruit to snack on! Eating fruits such as apples, bananas, plums, etc., can be beneficial to your overall energy level, while also providing important nutrients and vitamins.

From http://1ms.net/fresh-fruit-desktop-background-341574.html#
From http://1ms.net/fresh-fruit-desktop-background-341574.html#

You could also try making a trail mix with your favorite nuts and seeds in them. And as a treat, try adding dark chocolate chips or M&M’s. Just go nuts! Nuts provide you with filling protein, fiber, and are linked to lower cholesterol and better heart health.

From http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/summertime-trail-mix/
From http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/summertime-trail-mix/

Anyone like ants on a long? If not, you should start incorporating them into your everyday-lives. Not only can there be a wide variety of flavours and textures you could put onto the log, you can also feel great about eating celery, which reduces inflation and lowers blood pressure- especially important during finals. One of my favorite ways to eat them is with cream cheese and some cranberries, but you can try all sorts of fillings like almond butter, walnuts, raisins, etc.

From http://www.naturalfoodpantry.ca/recipes-BK/snacks/ants-on-a-log/
From http://www.naturalfoodpantry.ca/recipes-BK/snacks/ants-on-a-log/

Otafest 101: First Impressions

Jessica Mai
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Otafest 101: First Impressions

Hi everybody! I have another event post here for you; similar to the Calgary Expo, it’s Otafest! Otafest is essentially the same as the Calgary Expo, but with the focus being on Japanese anime and manga. This year I was blessed with a sacred media pass – one of the many passes that allows you to skip the lines, interview the people, and take lots of photos (with permission!). It was actually my first time attending Otafest, even though I’ve heard a lot about it in past years.

Sona - my main support champion in LoL
Sona – my main support champion in LoL

When I first got there, there is this big hill I dub Otafest Hill – full of cosplayers and people attending in regular dress lounging on the hill under the beautiful sun (which then turned into rain. Classic Calgary). I saw a multitude of tails, ears, dresses with really long trails and dresses that looked like they came straight from Game of Thrones (which some of them did). Everybody seemed to be having a good time and I was already ecstatic to join in on the festivities. Listed below I have my first impressions of the multiple things at Otafest, in classic Jessica form because segues are weird.

Inuyasha!
Inuyasha!

The lines: the only line I worried about was the vendors line, which was almost three hours of standing in MacEwan Hall sweating in the radiating body heat. The same for the Artist’s Alley line, but with less radiating body heat.

Artist’s Alley: much like the Calgary Expo, Artist’s Alley is where artists draw an homage to their favourite/popular TV show, manga, etc and sell them. They also offered commissions, which is where the artist takes requests and draws them for you (I bought one from local artist Daisy Strange – check out her twitter here!). Oh my lord these drawings blew me away. I saw multiple League of Legends ones, and of course I bought ADC Jinx, my main character. I also bought much fan service (an anime/manga dedicated to making you melt with… ahem… anatomy) and a multitude of posters dedicated to my favourite animes.

Vendor’s Hall: this is where the magic happened. I looked around this place at least six times because the amount of stuff made me cry tears of joy. They had cute plushies, MORE POSTERS, pencils, cosplay items, jewellery replicates, almost anything under the sun! Except for an Iwatobi Swim Club track jacket. I was disappointed they didn’t have that.

The people: almost everybody I talked to were very friendly; I made made multiple friends whose name I didn’t even find out (but we were kindred spirits I swear), and whether or not you cosplayed, it was a great to bond with other people to discuss how they made the costumes, the struggle of getting it on and off, and the cost.

Overall: I loved it, and I most definitely will be going again next year – maybe I’ll see you there too!

Jinx! Homegirl ADC in LoL
Jinx! Homegirl ADC in LoL

Choosing the right university

Laurie
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University_of_Calgary-Fall
I should include this image. Can you tell where it is? Well, you’ll know by halfway through the post anyways. (Image source)

This is a bad advice column.

Choosing the university to attend next year was a difficult decision for me–and I don’t think there’s a way to make sure you choose the best one. Or perhaps you can, but only for a certain piece of criteria.

Luckily, likely a number of you graduating this year have already made your choice and enrolled. Thank goodness. Now you won’t have to read about my thoughts on this.

Anyways, here is how I made my choice.

For some reason more than the program or university itself, but the location has been hounding me for this past year. When I was younger, I was adamant that I didn’t want to move away. In junior high though, the gradual weight of five t-shirts, a hoodie, a pencil bag and various stationary porting the McGill crest gradually swayed me in the direction of Montreal (from various Montreal relatives and graduating cousins). When my sister settled in Toronto for her residency I started wanting to go there.

I think I might have chosen Toronto if it weren’t for the fact my Toronto relatives warned strongly against it, telling tales of massive classes with thousands of people. Although, my sister’s perspective on the matter was simply that once you get past five hundred or a thousand, it doesn’t really make much difference whether the total number of people in your class is that or tripled. There will be big classes at Toronto or McGill.

But such lovely buildings (Image source)

I also had to consider people. I think I know someone going everywhere that I applied to but I also wanted to maximize the number of people I knew for an easier transition.

graph
Number of acquaintances as a function of longitudinal location. Note location of greatest local maxima

But also, not receiving any major scholarship offers from anywhere also meant that I had little reason to go anywhere else. I was somewhat hopeful as Toronto offered me the greatest amount of money for a single year, but it didn’t even cover residence. Which I might expect as: downtown Toronto? Yes, it was probably a deal.

In the end the final straw for me was inconvenience. I’ve only moved once in my life and that ended up taking around a year—albeit, slowed by renovations and the fact that my parents refused to use anything but our minivan to transport furniture once piece at a time. I didn’t want to compact everything I might need into a suitcase and then buy too many things when I get there. It all felt wasteful and inconvenient and pointless when I could stay at home.

Still, I think I will regret not going elsewhere.

Not living in residence—which is where I hear people make most of their friends—may mean that I’ll be completely disengaged from university’s social life. (Then again, I’m already used to that in high school.)

And not taking this chance to go away means that I’ll be staying in Calgary for the next four years. While a city I certainly appreciate more after starting with YAA, it is where I grew up—a bit on the smaller size and it feels somewhat explored already.

Always a good time to insert one of Calgary’s picturesque sunrises (or perhaps a sunset?) (Image source)

So yes: where have you decided to go and why? Or perhaps this is a where do you want to go and why? Or even a where did you go and why?

Tropical Delight Noodle House: The ultimate Malaysian delight

Azmaira Hirani
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Warning: The food you may encounter at the Tropical Delight Noodle House is exceptionally delicious and definitely an explosion on your taste buds.

Such a bold claim! I’m willing to make it. This Malaysian noodle house is located within the northeast side of Calgary. It’s location is just off McKnight and 12 St NE (4604 12 St NE) My taste buds have never been so excited before. Malaysian cuisine is composed primarily of invigorating spices, including flamin’ chilies and coconut, from coconut milk to coconut oil to coconut water. This unique combination of spices, seafood, pastes, coconut, rices and noodles ultimately create the blueprint for the best Malaysian Noodle dishes.

As a first time customer at this quaint restaurant, I was thoroughly impressed overall with it as a whole, including the menu layout, service and of course, the food! I seriously would not toy with you about this amazing quality of food, reader. As a noodle enthusiast, I wholly enjoyed the cuisine at Tropical Delight Noodles House. It had different characteristics that separated it from ramen noodles, pho and even Thai; these differences are what made it so intriguing.

On UrbanSpoon, this noodle joint achieved a rating of 94%! I would not give it any less. On a Friday afternoon, at around 2 p.m., most tables at the restaurant were full. This was shocking, considering the noodle house seemed to be in the middle of nowhere! The hours of the restaurant are short, they open at 10 a.m. and close latest at 5:30 p.m., but closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Although the atmosphere of the restaurant did not create an aura screaming Malaysia, nor did it leave me saying wow, the food left a great impression on me and I would definitely go back!

Laksa Soup (Malaysian Style) Spicy:

Shrips, Tofu, Egg, Fish Balls, Lettuce with Rice Vermicelli (Noodles)

The portion serving was enough to fill two people. It was brought out within 5-8 minutes after being ordered and was very hot. The ingredients listed above were placed within a coconut milk infused with chilies and multiple spices. It was brought out with a side of pineapple chili which too was amazing. Each of the dishes brought out were unique and different (don’t worry, in a good way). It was not difficult to eat and was explosive to my taste buds!

Price- $8.75

Laksa Soup
Laksa Soup
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