Learning from teenagers and students in kindergarten and pre-school

I am having a lovely visit with friends that I met through a program to connect newcomer families with Canadian families. Our friends through the program eventually moved to another province, and I'm visiting them now. The kids are obviously growing up! I can't believe how tall they are getting to be. Perhaps I am shrinking though?

I was so incredibly impressed by a lovely supper prepared by A, who is a young teenager. She made a lovely chicken dish with tomatoes and spices, as well as a salad garnished with lime juice. I don't know many other people her age who can cook so well! She seems to be doing very well in her new junior high school.

I was woken up yesterday morning by another A, who is in kindergarten. She explained that it was time to put a puzzle together, and she also noted that one of my eyebrows was white and the other one was the colour of my hair. She informed me that they looked like "Grandpa's eyebrows!" She'll be home from school soon, so I'm sure that she will have something interesting in store or some kind of plan!

Yet another A (there are a lot of kids whose name starts with A in this family!) is in pre-school. He is so adorable! We went for a walk the other day, and he had this indelible attraction to mud and puddles! He isn't talking very much yet, but he does have some interesting things to say when he does talk.

I went shopping with M. yesterday in downtown MH. It's kind of funny to see hills all around the city, because I am used to a very flat landscape. We had a nice time smelling all of the lotions and perfurmes at the bargain stores!

I tried to make a salad today the way that A & M had made it: lettuce, tomatoes, onions (optional), lime juice, corn oil, and salt. It was approaching the right quantities, but it wasn't entirely correct. I'll have to try again later on and get some more tips when everyone gets home.

Attending a Conference in a Backpack

So I shoved all of the stuff that I thought that I might need into my backpack, and got on a bus, and headed off to my first out of province conference to do a presentation of the research that I had been working on for the past months. I wonder how many people choose what they are going to wear by thinking about what might look best after being crumpled into a backpack?Anyhow, whether there are many or few, that is what I did....

I am finished!

I am finished my undergraduate degree....unless I somehow managed to fail something. I am thinking that that is not the case though. I can't believe that I am done. For the first time in my life, I have no homework to do. Thank goodness. After I get over my initial shock, hopefully I can enjoy this....while it lasts!

How I pulled my shoulder nearly out of joint

I decided that today would be a good day to go shopping for summer clothing. Not so. First of all, I couldn't really find what I was looking for. I decided to just try on a few things, including these cotton shirts that were on sale. I thought that they would be good for warm weather, and they were only about $3 each. Yeah. Sales. But when I tried it on, I realized that you could sort of see through the shirt, and this wasn't necessarily terribly complementary. So then I needed to take the shirt off. And I couldn't, because it was stuck. So I tried all sorts of things, including trying to pull it down over my legs (wouldn't fit over my hips), trying to pull it over my head (nearly ripped it). I'm thinking, "Who designs these things? No wonder this thing is on sale, because it is dangerous." And then after trying all sorts of things, I wondered if I was going to have to call the clerk in the store...b/c I was seriously and embarrassingly stuck in this shirt. But then I had one last attempt and bending over and pulling the shirt over my head with all the power that I could muster. And it worked. But I seriously hurt my shoulder in the process. Not a successful shopping trip.

Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia)

So I had a conversation about white water rafting in Uganda in the frozen food aisle of Safeway. Yes. I had followed my mother into the store as she was doing some shopping after a meeting that we had both attended. But I couldn't find my mother. So I did the next best thing, which was to pick up a shopping basket and wander around the store and try to look purposeful while pretending to grocery shop while looking for my mother. And before I found her, I discovered that it was free sample day! Woo hoo! And to my surprise, the Safeway free sample lady was giving away breaded tilapia fillets. So I delightedly tried one. And I realized that they reminded me of something else: white water rafting in Uganda on the Nile. You see, when I was white water rafting, the guide was talking about Tilapia. Apparently it is quite common. I can't remember specifically trying any, as I was staying with non-Ugandans. But I do remember that most of the food that I saw in markets was kind of the exact opposite of the Atkin's Diet. Lots of carbs. Lots and lots of carbs. Almost everything on your plate is a carb in a variety of different forms. So I was so taken with the carbs, that I must not have noticed the Tilapia. Strangely enough, I had just come from a meeting about Uganda before I ran into the Tilapia in Safeway.

Research Activities

Well...I've been cutting out slides like mad, and I've gotten the presentation down to around 15 minutes. Although I'm a little nervous, it is good getting all of this public speaking practice. I used to absolutely detest public speaking when I was a lot younger, but now I've more or less (depending on the time) come around to feeling more positive about it. It can be somewhat enjoyable actually. Last year at this time, I thought, "oh, I need to get research experience, I need to get research experience." So I spent my summer doing research, and then I've spent the last year doing research. And now I want a break from research! I like it, and I think that I would like it to be at least a part of my career....but now I really want a break!

Not quite finished

So there were some other unedited ramblings that I needed to have a go at. Sometimes I'm not sure if some of the phrases that I used are learned from Northern Ireland or not. I guess that I'll have to see if people look at me terribly quizzically or not.

I am so close to graduating, and I can't help thinking that if I hadn't switched faculties, I would be graduating with a B. Mus. instead of a B. Sc. (Hons). But I think that I'd take the B. Sc. (Hons) anyday. I did not enjoy my musical studies. I like music, but really, I am a social sciences/sciences type of person. This degree suited me a lot more. And I've met a few people that I was in music school with, and a number of them are working in shops that have nothing to do with music...and are planning on getting other training. But I admire them for sticking to it as well. A B. Mus. is certainly an accomplishment!

When I left the school of music, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with myself. I was kind of lost. I had wanted to be a doctor before that...forever....and then I realized that I wanted to aim for that again. But during my "What am I going to do with the rest of my life?" phase, I went and got tested for Holland Types. I turned out to be an SAE. Social. Artistic. and Enterprising. Interesting. I think that the typical doctor has another type. Like involving Investigative and Realistic or something. But that was my type, and I still wanted to be a doctor, and the psychologist administering the test looked at me a little quizzically. But we'll see where this all takes me. But low and behold, I didn't know what it was called, but what I want to do is called social medicine. So I guess that that is where the social comes in. And I wouldn't say that I am "out-there" about art, but I like artistic things. I think that you can be both an artist and a scientist. They come in different proportion I suppose. I feel like I am sort of on the line between the two, if there is a line. I have a friend who is incredibly scientific, but also incredibly artistic. And I don't feel like I spread out that far on the line. I'm more just kind of hovering around it with little fringe bits on either side.

But yes. SAE. That is me, apparently.

Presentations, dinner with ex's, other random stuff

My presentation is driving me completely crazy. So I want it to be interesting. I just do not want to put everyone through sitting through a completely boring, put me to sleep, how can I escape?, presentation. It is hard though. I don't want it to sound too terribly gimmicky and weird. I have a lot of ideas tossing around in my head, and I've tried out a bunch of them. A cameo by James Blunt has gotten the axe. Too stupid. But I used the Simpsons before, and it went over fairly well, I think anyway....from the feedback that I got...unless everyone was lying. But I can't think of another sleeping related story to tell. That I am an insomniac? Unrelated. But I can't believe that this is almost finished. My buffer before this fall is quickly fading. I'm excited, but also terrified. And then I have this odd feeling that perhaps they made some kind of mistake, and they are going to phone me and tell me that it is all wrong and that I haven't been accepted. Crazy, I know. So the presentation is driving me crazy. My grandmother is an artist. I wonder if this is how she felt sometimes when she was trying to create something. But a presentation is more than reading your research off the slides. It's a mix of art and theatre too. And I have to put more than half of it on the chopping block tomorrow. Too long. Too detailed. Need to make all the points concisely. And it is driving me crazy.

Anyhow, I actually went out for dinner with an ex-boyfriend a few nights ago. We're good friends, and it was actually fun to hang out as friends. His version of it is that I broke up with him, but I thought that it was a mutual break up. However it went, we both realized that it was just not meant to be in the longterm based on our career interests etc. Not to mention the superficial movie and food and child interests. We could actually be hilariously honest with each other now that we aren't dating. He told me that he thought that my parka made me look pregnant, that when we went out for sushi he felt like he was on Survivor or Fear Factor, and that he would give Atonement a 10/10 for its boringness. Okay, I might agree with the parka thing, but I love sushi and I thought that Atonement was a beautiful film (James McAvoy helps with this, of course). But I told him that I thought Rambo (2? or 3? or 4? why do they keep making these horrid films) was the second worst film that I had ever seen. I mean, it has a thin, stupid plot, senseless violence, exploits a humanitarian crisis for profit, and the main character looks like a caveman. Not to mention the idiotic and bland and stereotypical helpless blond character. Give me a break. And my ex went out and bought something like the extended trilogy or quatriology or whatever it is called when they put too many terrible sequels and remakes together and sell them. Bleh. And I told him that he was too critical and that if he wore different shoes with his jeans it would look better. So that probably doesn't sound like it would be fun to hang out in a situation like that? But actually, it was completely hilarious. Sometimes I think that it is really hard to have cross-gender friendships, b/c one person is allows bound to have a crush on the other person or mutual crushes or something of that sort. Okay, well, there may be some exceptions to the above. But I actually, I think that it might work when you both are fond of each other...but you know that a longterm relationships is just totally not in the cards. At all. But hanging out and slagging each other off...well...this just might work. So while he is complaining that everyone keeps on trying to set him up with people that he is not interested in.....

...that leaves me looking for a Jim Sturgess look-alike with a brilliant personality, great sense of humour, and whose dream it is to practice social medicine and live in remote areas of Canada and Africa. Extra points are awarded for a cute accent, cooking abilities, and musical or artistic talents. Wish me luck, because I may need it.

The Syringa Tree & Other Adventures

I had a rockin'(!) Saturday night last night hanging out with my parents and my friend Heather and her daughter. Heather had extra tickets for a play called "The Syringa Tree", which was about apartheid in South Africa. At first I didn't entirely understand what was going on, as one actor plays all of the characters (and has a South African accent). But after a few moments it became apparent what was going on, and the story became fascinating. The plot centered around a little girl named Lizzie and her family, their servants, their neighbours, and their grandparents. It was interesting to see Lizzie's interpretation of apartheid changed as she grew up, and she went from acceptance to horror. It was a powerful story. I'd like to read the book written by the actor that wrote and acted all of the parts! And a huge thank you to Heather for sharing her extra tickets!

My brother has been obsessed with the movie "Across the Universe" since he saw it last year. I finally watched it, and I have to say that I thought that it was great too! Rock musicals are not what I would imagine I'd enjoy an incredible amount, but who can resist the music of the Beatles?

My parents were on holiday a few weeks ago, and my brother and my grandmere and I went out for dinner one night while they were away. I wasn't feeling very well, so I went for a walk. As I was doing this, I ran into a man who stepped on my ankle. I don't know how he managed to do it, but it hurt an incredible amount. As I limped off clutching my ankle (while wondering if I would ever walk again!), he said, "I really got you good, didn't I?" Is that some sort of apology? What an awkward situation. Luckily I can walk again.

Almost done!

I am one paper and one presentation away from finishing this wonderful undergraduate degree. Yipee!!

The Circle of Control

A huge thank you to all of the parents who took part in the study on children's sleeping arrangements at www.babysleepstudy.org . I am now working on data analysis and writing up the results of the study. As I am doing this, I am reminding myself about the circle of control. Wish me luck.

Malaria Prevention

"You should do whatever you can to keep from getting mosquito bites. If you can, sleep in a room with screens on the windows and doors. Use a mosquito net over your bed. If possible, spray the net with permethrin (one brand name: Elimite). (Permethrin is a spray that repels mosquitoes.) During the evening, wear light-colored pants and shirts with long sleeves. It's important to protect yourself with a bug repellent spray that contains no more than 35% of a chemical called DEET. Avoid going outdoors without protection in the evening, when mosquitoes are typically more active. Medicine is also available to help prevent malaria."
If you plan to travel to a country where malaria is common, you'll probably take a medicine that may keep you from getting malaria. This is called "prophylactic" malaria medicine. Remember, however, no medicine can protect you 100% and you should still take other precautions to prevent malaria.

Prophylactic malaria medicines require you to start taking the medicine a few days or a week before you leave on your trip. You keep taking the medicine during your trip and after your trip for about 1 to 4 weeks, depending on which medicine you are taking. It's important to keep taking the medicine after your trip because the malaria parasites could still be in your blood. If you stop taking the medicine too soon, it could give the parasites an opportunity to grow and make you sick. Malaria medicines have some side effects, and not everyone can take them. Your doctor can tell you which medicine is right for you. What type of medicine you take also depends on where you will be traveling.

"Mefloquine (brand name: Lariam) and atovaquone/proguanil (brand name: Malarone) are two medicines you can take. If you can't take one of these, your doctor might recommend you take doxycycline (brand name: Vibramycin). Doxycycline makes you sunburn easily, so you must wear a hat, long sleeves and sunscreen whenever you're outside during the day."

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/travel/384.html

So I've pretty much decided against doxy. My friend was taking it for a few months and ended up getting malaria a bunch of times. Besides, I already sunburn easily, and I don't want to increase the risk of that. There's another medication that I know of from previous travels, but there was something like a 1/10,000 chance of psychosis with that one. What if you're the 1/10,000? Not fun. I also ran into an Australian during previous travels who had forgotten to take his anti-malarials for one day and ended up with malaria. And both of my parents have had malaria from previous travels, and their descriptions of it did not make it sound enjoyable. So I am going to do whatever I can to prevent it.

Clothing to wear on 3 continents!!

I need to figure out what to pack to wear on 3 continents, in several different cultures, in different climates, and that I can put in a backpack without it getting completely ruined. So...the requirements are as follows:
1) conservative so as to be acceptable in W.A. and also to help prevent malaria
2) adaptable enough to be worn in a warm climate, but something that I could add to in a cooler climate (ie the UK and Canada)
3) material that doesn't need to be ironed and will wash easily and that looks okay if you pull it out of your backpack and put it on
4) comfortable shoes- i need a pair for looking dressier and also a pair that are just plain comfortable for walking

So...in my brainstorming/consultations with my personal stylists (ha ha ha- they would be thrilled with me consistently wearing jeans and a hoodie everyday, I'm sure....), I've come up with some of the following options:

1) fairly longish dress made of non-wrinkling material that can be worn with cardigan and leggings and flats, or could wear light cotton shirt over for being conservative factor/malaria prevention
2) a pair of red shoes. I have no idea why, but I have been wanting red shoes since last fall. I seem to be on a kick of red things at the moment.

and that is all for now. I am going to have to think more. I can't go shopping everywhere I go, and I also want to get stuff that I won't be heartbroken over if it gets ruined. Hello Value Village. My self-appointed personal stylists (GM and L) should be rolling over about now. Some potential items are above. Conservative factor varies by item.

More Stuff that I Couldn't Quite Get Rid of...

Comhaltas Cards from Glens of Antrim & other Comhaltas branch

A Picture from Last Summer

One of my best friends came to visit last summer from Northern Ireland. We had a lovely time, and this is a portrait of us done in about 2 minutes when we were out one day. I'm unfortunately tidying my room for a self-change project for one of my courses, and I found the portrait in a basket in my room. It's one of those things that you don't want to get rid of, but you don't exactly know what to do with it. So I decided to scan it and blog about it.