Hey, no time yet to make captions. Here are 2 more slide shows, the first one of Madrid, and the second one of various places in Morocco.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Semester 2 begins
Hello~
So, yesterday my second semester started and I am very optimistic about this term. So far, the three courses I have had: Religion and Society, Cultural Triangulations (African cultural diaspora), and Media and Politics, have been great. The professors appear to be eloquent speakers and organized.
The religion and society course is in French, and takes many different perspectives to look at and compare religions and how they affect society and how society has affected their manifestations in different places and times. I have to write three exposes for it, one concerning a comparision of the three abrahamic religions in terms of how they follow their Law, the second on how Christianity views Judaism (representations and realities), and finally the birth and growth of Yoga in the Occident. This course has a lot of work, but I think it should be very interesting.
The course on Cultural Triangulations will look at the African cultural diaspora in Africa, Europe and America. It will mainly look at art, music, and litterature to view how ideas and culture moved in those areas. Also, it will look at things like double consciousness. This course will be very interesting for a few reasons: it will largely be done from an anthropological perspective, it will teach me a lot about African American history, it will give me tools to look such phenomenons that happen elsewhere, such as Chinese Canadian culture in Vancouver.
The course on Media and Politics will answer one main question: who controls the media? The course is taught by a former editor of the Globe and Mail. Yes, he is a Canadian! But, also a dual citizen. It will cover a lot of concepts and theories I have taken in some of my Communications courses, but the case studies we will look at should be really interesting.
Today, I have the day off and a friend from Vancouver is staying with me for a couple days. She has had issues with Air Canada as they have lost her baggage. Good ol Canadian airlines. We are now off to be tourists. A bientot.
So, yesterday my second semester started and I am very optimistic about this term. So far, the three courses I have had: Religion and Society, Cultural Triangulations (African cultural diaspora), and Media and Politics, have been great. The professors appear to be eloquent speakers and organized.
The religion and society course is in French, and takes many different perspectives to look at and compare religions and how they affect society and how society has affected their manifestations in different places and times. I have to write three exposes for it, one concerning a comparision of the three abrahamic religions in terms of how they follow their Law, the second on how Christianity views Judaism (representations and realities), and finally the birth and growth of Yoga in the Occident. This course has a lot of work, but I think it should be very interesting.
The course on Cultural Triangulations will look at the African cultural diaspora in Africa, Europe and America. It will mainly look at art, music, and litterature to view how ideas and culture moved in those areas. Also, it will look at things like double consciousness. This course will be very interesting for a few reasons: it will largely be done from an anthropological perspective, it will teach me a lot about African American history, it will give me tools to look such phenomenons that happen elsewhere, such as Chinese Canadian culture in Vancouver.
The course on Media and Politics will answer one main question: who controls the media? The course is taught by a former editor of the Globe and Mail. Yes, he is a Canadian! But, also a dual citizen. It will cover a lot of concepts and theories I have taken in some of my Communications courses, but the case studies we will look at should be really interesting.
Today, I have the day off and a friend from Vancouver is staying with me for a couple days. She has had issues with Air Canada as they have lost her baggage. Good ol Canadian airlines. We are now off to be tourists. A bientot.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Marrakech 1
First impressions: A nice city, finally warm weather! We went to lunch on a terrase which was a bit expensive but beautiful and the food was great. Horrid service. The hostel we have has given us two rooms for the equivalent of 5 euros a day each. The two left over people are paying less than 3 euros each to sleep on the roof.
We spent the majority of the day in the market and we all bought stuff. A few people bought scarves, random jewellery. We then all bought matching hats, Ill post a picture later (they are super cute!). We all got a lot of random comments walking around: "Fromage white", "nice ass" (a ten year old said to my friend), "everything is free, spice girls!".
There are a ton more tourists in Marrakech than in the other cities we visited. Anyhow, dinner time! We will take it easy tonight as everyone is tired and a couple have unfortunatly fallen sick.
We spent the majority of the day in the market and we all bought stuff. A few people bought scarves, random jewellery. We then all bought matching hats, Ill post a picture later (they are super cute!). We all got a lot of random comments walking around: "Fromage white", "nice ass" (a ten year old said to my friend), "everything is free, spice girls!".
There are a ton more tourists in Marrakech than in the other cities we visited. Anyhow, dinner time! We will take it easy tonight as everyone is tired and a couple have unfortunatly fallen sick.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
This keyboard sucks
Hey all,
I am in Morocco now, and the keyboards here are even weirder than in France! Tonight we (myself and 5 other people from school in Paris) are in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. We are staying with the family of another girl who goes to our school, but who only half of our group has met. They are the nicest hosts I have ever had, what they told us was: "Any friends of our daughter's, are like our children". They took us to their country club for lunch, and out for delicious Moroccan food for dinner. After being in a really sketchy hostel in the Old Medina in Casablanca last night, this is an beautiful oasis. Tommorow morning we head to Marrakech and I have until next Saturday in Morocco. It is beautiful here, and in some ways reminds me of my trip last new years to the Dominican Republic. I hope I shall have the opportunity to update while here; last night the internet connection was non-existant. A bientot!
PS. I love how they speak French here!
I am in Morocco now, and the keyboards here are even weirder than in France! Tonight we (myself and 5 other people from school in Paris) are in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. We are staying with the family of another girl who goes to our school, but who only half of our group has met. They are the nicest hosts I have ever had, what they told us was: "Any friends of our daughter's, are like our children". They took us to their country club for lunch, and out for delicious Moroccan food for dinner. After being in a really sketchy hostel in the Old Medina in Casablanca last night, this is an beautiful oasis. Tommorow morning we head to Marrakech and I have until next Saturday in Morocco. It is beautiful here, and in some ways reminds me of my trip last new years to the Dominican Republic. I hope I shall have the opportunity to update while here; last night the internet connection was non-existant. A bientot!
PS. I love how they speak French here!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bye bye Paris!
I am done exams now. Had my last one today. It went quite well. Now I am off to Madrid and then on Saturday I will go to Morocco. I will update here when I can. :)
Monday, February 9, 2009
Switzerland Photos
Finally, the pics. I think watching the slideshow sums up what I did on my trip. Enjoy.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Vancouver denies citizens of light
Vancouver is a city known for its rain and nasty weather. Its citizens and tourist enjoy sun and the beach for only a limited amount of time each year. Every year I look forward to the summer in Vancouver, one of the only times the city losens up and people gather to enjoy the great outdoor scene the city has to offer. I was happy to be arriving back in Vancouver in mid summer... but after I saw this (click here!) I am not so sure I want to return.
How much lamer does Vancouver want to become. Yes, the Celebration of Light has officially been cancelled for this year, and perhaps indefinatly. The event generates $37 million for Vancouver and costs a mere $4 million. Can people not do the math and see how it would be benificial? They are afraid of pollution from the event, but seriously I think it is worth it. What other events in Vancouver do we have that bring so many people together? I think that it is one of the only big events we have to be proud of on a yearly basis and am appalled they are being cancelled. Paris' New Year's fireworks were cancelled for similar reasons, and there was a noticable grumbling and a lot of dissapointment. There may be a recession going on ( or a "financial crises"), but we cannot use that as an excuse for cancelling things that will lift our spirites. I know we are not American... but they are spending billions bailing out financial institutions and their automobile industry... can we not save our FIREWORKS? Our fireworks are economically good for the city and lift moral... how can we deny that from the city? If HSBC cannot finance them anymore, I think the city of Vancouver itself should finance them. Come on Vancouver, live a little!
How much lamer does Vancouver want to become. Yes, the Celebration of Light has officially been cancelled for this year, and perhaps indefinatly. The event generates $37 million for Vancouver and costs a mere $4 million. Can people not do the math and see how it would be benificial? They are afraid of pollution from the event, but seriously I think it is worth it. What other events in Vancouver do we have that bring so many people together? I think that it is one of the only big events we have to be proud of on a yearly basis and am appalled they are being cancelled. Paris' New Year's fireworks were cancelled for similar reasons, and there was a noticable grumbling and a lot of dissapointment. There may be a recession going on ( or a "financial crises"), but we cannot use that as an excuse for cancelling things that will lift our spirites. I know we are not American... but they are spending billions bailing out financial institutions and their automobile industry... can we not save our FIREWORKS? Our fireworks are economically good for the city and lift moral... how can we deny that from the city? If HSBC cannot finance them anymore, I think the city of Vancouver itself should finance them. Come on Vancouver, live a little!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Exam Time
As you know, I spent last week in Switzerland. There I had virtually no internet access as was unable to update my blog. Now, I am back in Paris, but I have exams starting Thursday. Studying for my first exam on Social Policies in Europe has proven to be difficult due to language. No, my exam is not in French, it is in English, but my professor is French and his English is not perfect. Therefore, I am having a hard time interpreting his questions. Additionally, the prof/TAs are not replying to our emails for clarification. In general it is difficult to contact professors here, and they do not have office hours. It is definatly frustrating. The most confusing is #3 "Can one speak of the three worlds of welfare reforms when looking at pension reforms, health care and employment policies?". It is unclear as to whether he wants us to analyse whther those are the three worlds of welfare reforms or if he wants us to use the three worlds of welfare capitalism to speak of the reforms. The first take is more literal, however the second approach would make more sense in that it corresponds a bit better with our readings. If he does not clear this up, I would definatly complain about it if this is the question he chooses (he will ask 1 of 5 predetermined questions). Another questions first part is "Does Europe matter?". Um, yes?
So, I promise to give you all an exciting account of my time away this weekend, but until then I must study. Hope you are all doing well!
So, I promise to give you all an exciting account of my time away this weekend, but until then I must study. Hope you are all doing well!
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