4th year

I'll admit it. This blog has been forgotten about for quite sometime (but after a summer of 70 hour weeks, and a jump right into the school year I really had no choice but to opt out of posting).

But you found me. I'm back. and of course, I've got stuff to talk about.

I finally took the time this year to sit down and watch some of my favorite musicals (or new favorites) as I have only ever heard about their greatness...My only recommendation is FUNNY GIRL. This musical changed my life, and my impression of Babs herself.

After watching some original movies on Jane Fonda, I noticed that celebs might have been more interesting in "their day" (long before they are offered roles in the most recent J-Lo flick). This led me to hunt down a copy of funny girl and take the time out of my life to enjoy an older musical.

and enjoy I did.

get it. watch it. love it.

for you non musical people, I'm sorry...you are missin' out

ridiculous? just a little bit.

I will start by admitting bias before continuing on my rant about Rosie O'donnell. I am a Rosie fan. I have been since I first saw her show back in public school, and remember dreaming of the day when I would get the opportunity to go sit in the audience and dodge shooting koosh balls.

Yes, the show has been cancelled, but I knew she would make it back into the television realm...and she has. Her being on the View is old news, however my recent discoveries online are what lead me to write a post addressing my thoughts on such a Liberal viewpoint on that show.

To reiterate briefly, I am biased... She supports gay rights, is against the Bush administration, and is very critical on government and media actions (and the messages being carried out into the public sphere). All of these things incorporate her views into my studies, as well as my personal view points. Regardless, I find it funny that so many people are quick to criticize her (even Canadians sharing similar viewpoints) when they should make sense of her arguments, before joining the 'Rosie's a loudmouth' bandwagon.

For starters, I encourage someone to read her blog posts. Although at times abstract, and written in a non-academic format, the opinions expressed are always filled with examples and relevant to current events. I also love it when people are openly critical with no fears of the negative impacts of their opinion (MIT 4 life), but this is why I support her being on the View (and that she challenges little Elizabeth's conservative, pro-Bush mentality).

I do encourage all to stop by her website just to view her REAL opinion... and shortly after, you must stop by this website and see the great thought process behind American critical opinion. Is this actually a website that has a petition where they 'believe she is a danger to the morale of this country and emboldens those who seek to destroy us'?...and am I the only person who finds the joke in a site opposing a more extreme viewpoint, on the VIEW!!

My anger towards such a website, as well as criticism of someones viewpoint, I find ridiculous. and that is what drove me to write about it today.

I attempted to sign the petition under an insulting alias, but after being removed I felt a blog post would have to suffice.

blink, and you miss it.

and that's how I choose to conclude a year that has been one of both epic and odd proportions.

Yes, kicking off the year with a flight to Africa was something a little different. Actually, it was the best idea I think I have ever taken advantage of. Luckily for me, I came back to the most theory, work driven semester of my life.

For most students that would cause you to buckle down and settle into school like you were planning on doing September first of last year, but for yours truly, the option of "living life to its fullest" was just too tempting.

Luckily, with some small portion of good luck, I was able to pull myself together in time for final exams. Finally bringing myself back to the student I once was. It's amazing how after three years of university, you come to the realization that while you are paying for this, you might as well enjoy it.

and that is what I intend to do.

So, with the help of others, I made a list of things I want to do before I graduate (in this list, I included courses I wanted to take) and I am posting them on here to hold myself to them. I am going to refrain from my classic 'no more procrastination' promises, and actually break down how my next year will go. I have until August 1st (a one month ahead of the game start time) to finish/touch up this list of promises in hopes of making them all happen.

For my fourth year as an undergraduate student, I would like to:
1) Go away for spring break. London, I love you, but god help me if I am going to suffer through another seven days here knowing how many students are away in some sort of drunken fabulousness.
2) Get involved in two of three of the following organizations:
a) a band of some sort (the tenor sax in my closet is not gaining value there)
b) help out with a charitable group on campus (and/or help out with an event that aids it (charity ball aside...)
c) actually take charge in stepping up to the media plate (get involved in alternative media, magazines, etc. the information that I have fallen in love with but have been to afraid to write/work with)
3) see at least four plays, and audition for 2 (this ex-community theatre guru needs to get back on the theatre bandwagon)
4) 4 concerts, two of which cannot be bands that I know of (or paid more than $25/ticket)
5) Not max out any form of student debt offered to myself in my last year (although tempting, I think I should just rack up the hours at the old part time job)
6) Take Killer Culture
7) Take Genocide
8) Pay off credit card (not overwhelmingly large, but definately something on the 'to do' list)
9) Buy a suit (this one is a long time coming, but necessary)
10) Five weekends of the year are to be (mandatorily) spent in Toronto
11) (overly ambitious) New Years with the roomate at her house in Dublin

That is my list, and yes, subject to change or add (likewise to add criticism from those who suggest other courses, or the 'must have' profs before graduating). The new leaf has been turned, now I am just working on keeping it turned over.

and with a new season, comes new ideas

I might be a little late on the 'spring has sprung' bandwagon, but I do need to write about how I cannot believe another year has almost passed. Every year the 'March Blues' hit you, and for a split second you forget that around the corner is a month with three large tests, three essays, one project,and only 9 full days of class (not to mention a visit from a large rabbit, and a day devoted to mary jane mid-month)...

I have been keeping on top of my readings and school work, yet found myself content analyzing in a lab until 4 am last night. perhaps my 'not procrastinating' scale needs to be revisited, but that is a point on its own, and a subject discussed in many posts before...

At the end of the month I will be taking up new surroundings closer to the downtown core, as well as switching up my summer job, and possibly taking a summer course (I know, who is this man writing here). But this year has been full of drastic changes, I mean...four months in Africa is something that ought to change a person....no, I haven't been watching video's of a certain secret, thank you alex, but all in all spring brings about an end to the dull,wet, grayness that is winter... and I have never been happier to see the sun.

And think, in just three weeks I will be priveledged to stand back on Barney's patio (London local, yes)... and now I can enjoy all the new facebook groups that involve 'London Summer Crew', isn't that what life is all about?

But, until the end, I shall continue to youtube my life away, and even do my occasional 'makemyplaylist' just to make sure not all 100% of my time is school geared.

a fresh new look

In an attempt to not procrastinate today, I decided to totally update. Hopefully this will draw me to writing, posting, and describing all of my adventures to the general public.

I have to post some YouTube clips that cannot be missed (I apologize in advance for the randomness of these videos, all tagged as my favorites!).

1) RV Salesman - took me by surprise, but I love it
2) Hairspray - one of my favorites
3) Listen - that's right...it's Beyonce
4) Will and Grace - got to love the blooper real

Sadly, Youtube was my life over reading week...

reel of pics one

Boats in Zanzibar...a view from the Freddy Mercury Restaurant.

The scariest boat ride ever to the wildlife reserve.

I had a tour of the hospital and this is where they hang dry their laundry. (the hospital is also the place that we got the best views for pictures as it is on top of the city)

Sam's going away party at Tunza (Danny and Jodie on the right)

Paulo, Michael, and I at Fonelisco orphanage hanging out.

Mount Kilimanjaro

it's been a long time.

Even though that was sadly stolen from Timbaland's voice, it directly applies to this lovely blog o' mine.

For the last two months I have continuously said that I would return here and start writing, posting, and rambling on this blog...as per most of my procrastination tactics, I found a way to put this off.

After two months, I don't even know where to begin. I HAVE to start with the internship (which has disappeared from active conversation and has become two word files and a folder of pictures on my computer that I flip through almost nightly), then onto everything else in my life that has seemed to unravel post-Christmas-returning-to-north-america.

But pictures will come next, perhaps today (as I ignore a professor attempting to teach great research methods), I will begin my catch up on life, love, and popular culture (the key third aspect to my life).

badaye.

Africa!

Finally enough power to get through my entire inbox and back into the blogging world. Sam and I originally thought it would be a good idea to have our 'academic blog' but it ends up being very exhausting trying to get through all emails and then onto blogs in one hours time.

so today I splurged and bought a second hour...lol.

So, how is Africa?

I can't even begin to describe all of the wonder that is Africa (well, Mwanza specifically). Being here makes me want to explore every other country just to see the cultural differences!

Sam and I are trying to be adventurous as possible by doing just about everything we can... like eating goat meat, trying every hot sauce we find, standing inches away from a caged lion, taking a boat to an island that rocks back and forth so much you almost touch the water, and camping in the middle of the serengeti...without a gun (apparently necessary).

We have gotten used to the cultural norms of the area. Hearing the Muslim 'Call to Prayer' (at about 5:30 am, noon, and in the evening), Sam staying very covered up, and being seperated (once) at dinner where I ate with the men in the living room and Sam ate outside with the women.

Not all of the society is so patriarchal, but we have definately seen some instances of it.

Sam and I are still hollered at in the streets (Pendo told us we should take 'Mzungu' as a compliment but we are still unsure if everyone's intentions are complimentary).

On the weekend while watching the news we found out that homosexuality was actually illegal here which I had never even though to look into before coming. Obviously not here for romantic reasons, but still very interesting news to recieve while watching the news at a local hotel.

I am now very comfortable with my Swahili...and my love for bartering is only growing. I can't wait until I am back trying to barter back in Canada!

Sorry this post is not very exciting, but I forgot my camera so no pics yet!

kwa heri!

and of course, the link...

So, we do have our other blog going on, and since I have yet to figure out how to put up a links column (I know, how MIT of me?) I figured I would share it with any readers here as it has pictures already up:

http://samandrobheadeast.blogspot.com

I will keep updating this as well with non-academic/'uwo' approved writings.

:)

someone ate half our goat?!

I felt the need for a full fledged update on our African adventures. Our blog via Western is wonderful, but not really set up for the social/adventurous aspects to our time here in Mwanza.

First of all, I am starting to really fall in love with all aspects of the lifestyle here. One of my previous pet peeves in life was being late, I hated it. But over here everyone who shows up late claims that they are running on 'Africa time' so scheduling rendez vous, and meetings can be hell...but I am starting to love the idea of leaving at 1 for a 1 o'clock meeting half an hour away.

I have always been adventurous in the food department, but this week Sam and I were delivered a raw de-feathered chicken in a bag (sorry vegetarians) and had to hop on the 'butcher' band wagon and give it our best. We ended up with two wonderfully cooked chicken wings, chicken soup (yes, we boiled the bones for 'stock'), and amazing chicken sandwiches.

We feasted on goat on saturday night (but the host of the party did notice the chefs who cooked it also helped themselves to half of the meat). The goat was interestingly tasty...just in case you were curious.

We spent the weekend living up the 'night life' in Mwanza. Some very interesting adventures.
Friday we had a night spent at 'all ends of the spectrum'. We started at a very local restaurant for dinner where a few drinks, and a filling meal came to about $5 Canadian. We moved onto the Talapia, the tourist-y hotel (absolutely stunning) where a dinner and drinks would run about $15 Canadian (drinks alone $2/each). We then ended up at the night club the Rock, which was an interesting adventure of pit pocketers (nothing stolen, just having hands in my pockets all night), and intense dancing.

Saturday was the goat roast and Rumourz, an interesting night of typical North American bars (it felt like I was at Molly Blooms, but with more dancing).

Sunday Sam and I decided to laze around and head out to Tunza, a 'closed' resort that is open to white people in the area, and watch the sunset...

This week has been very busy with getting in touch with all of the organizations in the area, including more visits to the Yogurt Mama's (a group of inspiring, and hilarious women) as well as another trip to the orphanage for a swimming adventure... The children there are hilarious and love trying to learn english, and are so proud to teach you Swahili (pictures to come).

Speaking of pictures, I have posted some on the Western-linked blog (linked through my 'dashboard' until I get the address of Sam) if you would like to see the apartment and our pet 'Toby'.

Tuesday night was our wildest adventure yet, fit for my blog of intersting stories from the night life. Sam and I were out celebrating Eid (a Muslim holiday I believe that is a two day holiday in Tanzania) and we headed out to the Rock.

It was packed. After paying cover and moving through the concert on the patio we made it inside. I had people pulling me aside saying 'watch your pockets, watch all your stuff, people are after the mzungu's' which is always an interesting way to start the night (mzungu= us white people). Sam and I decided to stay on top of our game by avoiding the bar, but we quickly realized that the place might be too busy for us and we should leave.

Jody, another Canadian volunteer, wanted water and to step outside so I told her I would go with her. We got near the doorway (a tunnel like hallway) and everyone started pushing and shoving (apparently the concert had just ended and everyone outside wanted in, and vice versa)...So Jodi and I were stuck in the mix, clinging to eachother while being tossed around and into others/the wall... Finally, after a little break we got our footing and stood off to the side in the main entrance. Not two seconds later someone grabbed my shirt and yelled 'MOVE' so we were back in the chaos.

I was holding onto my pockets as hands were going inside them, but also trying to wave at Sam and our friends to start moving outside as it was getting too wild. Jodi and I were launched out of the doorway and landed safely off to the side. We found some of our local friends who came to see if we were okay as we began contacting the others.

Our German friends came outside and some had their pockets slit inside and money stolen ( and by slit I mean all of their pockets cut open). We decided we should leave.

Apparently they saw the guy who stole the money and went after him, I watched them return after being hit by locals and having sore arms now deciding it was a lost cause (only $20, not worth fighting for).

We rounded up our group and watched the craziness unfold as we headed outside: fights, people arguing, dancing to no music, really intoxicated people, etc.

Outside I was talking to our friend Mbamba and someone kept grabbing my arm, after a quick headbutt from Mbamba the guy was leaving our group (sam and I hopped in our friends car to leave) and left more craziness behind.

We were going to try another venue, but we realized this was our cue to call it a night. Normally not this crazy, but a day full of celebrating had led to a crazy night (probably better described with visuals, and hand gestures...but you can use your imagination).

Anyways, everything here is still going wondefully and we are actually hosting a surprise party for Jodi tonight! We have planned mini-Canadian nights for our time here (Halloween night, Christmas, etc).

Hope everyone is safe and warm at home :)