So Queen's homecoming made it to the front page of The Toronto Star and even on CTV news. It alarms me the severity of what we did...now the next question is how to approach this with my residents. Some of my residents were directly involved in turning over a car and lighting it on fire. This bothers me, I am thinking of maybe having a Don tea-time or something where I will ask this question for discussion, "is being drunk a good thing?" I still don't know...
Other news on the Sarah front is that I am taking intermediate tap lessons again- fun times! I feel like I am ready to do anything in my tap shoes, because I still can't believe that I am actually learning to tap dance! I think my tap shoes represent the impossible- the extraordinary- they are just magical:)
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Shall we dance?
I saw an international ballroom dancing competition today! It was absolutely incredible- I don't think I have screamed that much in my life. There were five countries represented and I think what amazed me the most was the age of the contestants. It is strange having people younger than you achieve more than I ever could. You should have seen them! The confidence, the skill- it was really inspiring.
My favorite genre of dance is Viennese Waltz, although quick step and all the latin dances were pretty cool too. Sigh...there is just something about a guy who can dance and literally sweep you off your feet...
So the next question that pops to my mind is, when can I pick up ballroom dancing?
My favorite genre of dance is Viennese Waltz, although quick step and all the latin dances were pretty cool too. Sigh...there is just something about a guy who can dance and literally sweep you off your feet...
So the next question that pops to my mind is, when can I pick up ballroom dancing?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
A Sarah Chan update-- it's a long one!
Well, what has happened since the last time I blogged?
1) I completed training for Common Ground (the university coffee house) and my first shift begins this Thursday! I get to make everything from sandwiches to smoothies. I will be sure to share what secrets I learn there with all of you.
2) I realize that my floor may not need me as much as I had hoped. But there is a good and bad side to this. Sure, I feel less loved, but I guess it is less of a time commitment than it would be otherwise. It is just disappointing because during training I was made to expect homesickness, roommate conflicts and scared first years- but all I have gotten so far is a messy common room after a food fight that erupted because everyone was gaily and merrily celebrating a resident's birthday...sigh...they are just too happy!
3) I am struggling with what courses I should take this semester. Should I challenge myself or go with what is safe and perhaps easy? So far, my plan is to attend all lectures in the first week and we will see how I feel afterwards. I will tell you what I decide next week. The three courses are biomedical ethics (hard), business french (middle/hard) and french grammar (easy). The tough part is I can only pick one out of the three.
4) My honours project is on the go! Its title is, "Validation and implementation of immunocytochemical localization of estrogen receptor-alpha in the parental brain of the hamster Phodopus cambelli" Confused? So am I.
5) I think that is all for now- sheesh- life goes by fast. I am also looking at applying for grad school next year. It is a scary thought because I have to choose professors and things soon, as scholarships and the like are due within the next two months. And let's not even get me started on med school applications!
Wish me luck! Boy do I feel in over my head sometimes!
1) I completed training for Common Ground (the university coffee house) and my first shift begins this Thursday! I get to make everything from sandwiches to smoothies. I will be sure to share what secrets I learn there with all of you.
2) I realize that my floor may not need me as much as I had hoped. But there is a good and bad side to this. Sure, I feel less loved, but I guess it is less of a time commitment than it would be otherwise. It is just disappointing because during training I was made to expect homesickness, roommate conflicts and scared first years- but all I have gotten so far is a messy common room after a food fight that erupted because everyone was gaily and merrily celebrating a resident's birthday...sigh...they are just too happy!
3) I am struggling with what courses I should take this semester. Should I challenge myself or go with what is safe and perhaps easy? So far, my plan is to attend all lectures in the first week and we will see how I feel afterwards. I will tell you what I decide next week. The three courses are biomedical ethics (hard), business french (middle/hard) and french grammar (easy). The tough part is I can only pick one out of the three.
4) My honours project is on the go! Its title is, "Validation and implementation of immunocytochemical localization of estrogen receptor-alpha in the parental brain of the hamster Phodopus cambelli" Confused? So am I.
5) I think that is all for now- sheesh- life goes by fast. I am also looking at applying for grad school next year. It is a scary thought because I have to choose professors and things soon, as scholarships and the like are due within the next two months. And let's not even get me started on med school applications!
Wish me luck! Boy do I feel in over my head sometimes!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
I LOVE my residents!!
Hey everybody!
So today was the official move-in day and everyone is here. They are incredibly friendly and seem to be a very happy bunch! I think I really lucked out:) They cheered voluntarily and it was just amazing. I am so pleased!
Our cheer is really super too. It is to the song "Holla back girl" by Gwen Stefani- if you don't know it, it still is cool. It goes like this:
All seven days we got the cafe, two all-male floors, and an all-star staff
so Leonard holla back now
Leonard holla back now
Repeat
The best rez is Leonard- L-E-O-N-A-R-D!
The best rez is Leonard- L-E-O-N-A-R-D!
repeat three times
Followed by cheering madly!
WOOHOO- it is really a good time- but I can't wait for some down time. I slept at 6:00 am the other day- I am beat. Hope everyone is doing well, unfortunately, you can no longer post comments because I have been getting some unprofessional comments from strangers. I hope that is ok.
The best rez is Leonard!
So today was the official move-in day and everyone is here. They are incredibly friendly and seem to be a very happy bunch! I think I really lucked out:) They cheered voluntarily and it was just amazing. I am so pleased!
Our cheer is really super too. It is to the song "Holla back girl" by Gwen Stefani- if you don't know it, it still is cool. It goes like this:
All seven days we got the cafe, two all-male floors, and an all-star staff
so Leonard holla back now
Leonard holla back now
Repeat
The best rez is Leonard- L-E-O-N-A-R-D!
The best rez is Leonard- L-E-O-N-A-R-D!
repeat three times
Followed by cheering madly!
WOOHOO- it is really a good time- but I can't wait for some down time. I slept at 6:00 am the other day- I am beat. Hope everyone is doing well, unfortunately, you can no longer post comments because I have been getting some unprofessional comments from strangers. I hope that is ok.
The best rez is Leonard!
Friday, September 02, 2005
Welcome to Leonard, September!
So I am now officially the Don of Leonard Hall at Queen's University-Floor 3 East! I have 35 students, one of who moved in today for Football training.
I have to say that this is a great feeling, I have never looked forward to September so much in my life. I really hope to be an inspiration and positive role model to my residents. The residence coordinators really pumped us up this week during Don training with sensitivity workshops and a whole new vocabulary of politically-correct terms. I feel ready for anything!
I have also determined the theme of my floor decorations and that is....cereal box characters! So I am busy right now colouring these cartoons like mad. It is a fun time and I am liking how my floor is shaping up- I am a lot more creative than I give myself credit for sometimes.
Other then Don training, there is one more dilemma I am grappling with right now and that is my position on drinking, especially underage drinking. Do we turn a blind eye to maintain a good rapport with our residents? Or should we enforce the law? It is such a grey area- made more grey by my personal experience. I fell victim to the drinking culture in first year- my lack of drinking isolated me from the culture here, making residence not very fun for me. Yet here I am almost condoning it because that is "just what we do here at Queen's". What about those who enter university and need to be protected from alcohol because they don't believe in it or just don't want to be around it? Shouldn't they be considered as well?
Good grief! I have not yet even settled my own feelings about drinking, and already I have to determine how I feel about others drinking. Oh woe! the inner conflict!!
End Scene
I have to say that this is a great feeling, I have never looked forward to September so much in my life. I really hope to be an inspiration and positive role model to my residents. The residence coordinators really pumped us up this week during Don training with sensitivity workshops and a whole new vocabulary of politically-correct terms. I feel ready for anything!
I have also determined the theme of my floor decorations and that is....cereal box characters! So I am busy right now colouring these cartoons like mad. It is a fun time and I am liking how my floor is shaping up- I am a lot more creative than I give myself credit for sometimes.
Other then Don training, there is one more dilemma I am grappling with right now and that is my position on drinking, especially underage drinking. Do we turn a blind eye to maintain a good rapport with our residents? Or should we enforce the law? It is such a grey area- made more grey by my personal experience. I fell victim to the drinking culture in first year- my lack of drinking isolated me from the culture here, making residence not very fun for me. Yet here I am almost condoning it because that is "just what we do here at Queen's". What about those who enter university and need to be protected from alcohol because they don't believe in it or just don't want to be around it? Shouldn't they be considered as well?
Good grief! I have not yet even settled my own feelings about drinking, and already I have to determine how I feel about others drinking. Oh woe! the inner conflict!!
End Scene
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