Hello! Happy 3rd of March! (is anyone else surprised by how fast time goes by and how we've already gone through 1/6 of 2011?).
This week's post will be short, just reflecting a bit on the lovely 10 day break that I just had from February 17-27. It was nice to go home and relax, catch up on some sleep, and enjoy the outdoors by going skiing, snowshoeing, and skating on the Rideau Canal. But coming back to school and the workload is rough! I've felt more tired this week than I was before reading week, even though I've still be trying to get a good amount of sleep. I guess my body was enjoying the relaxing life and doesn't want to buckle down and work for the last 4 weeks of school?
If there is one thing that I learned while living in France last year, it's that taking the time to relax and enjoy your vacations is very important. In France, you never have more than 6 weeks of school consecutively without having 1-2 weeks off, and if you're starting out in a full-time job position you have a minimum of 5 weeks of paid vacation. Can you imagine what we could do if we had all of that free time! Well, not free necessarily, but it would give us the time to focus on other things that are important in life and really give us the time to take a break from work. I feel like so many people are constantly connected through their smartphones, laptops, etc. and never really take the time to unwind. Not that 5 weeks off will automatically do this, or that we even need 5 whole weeks to accomplish this, but I think it's important to recognize the fact that taking time to travel, see family, read a book, or go to the movies is important. Stress is a rising problem in North American society and the leading cause for many diseases and ailments, and I think that really taking the time to appreciate time off and make the most of it is a great way to fight this :)
So that's why this reading week - well, I did do a bit of reading - I tried to make the most of it. I spent a lot of time with my parents, saw friends I hadn't seen in months (some in years), and spent a lot of time outside enjoying the great Canadian outdoors.
I'd like to invite you all to do the same! One night my parents and I snowshoed 4km into Gatineau Park and stayed overnight in a chalet with no cellphone reception, no electricity, and no running water. What a nice retreat! Eating dinner by candlelight and boiling snow over the wood stove to melt water for dishes. You don't have to do something that extreme, but I'd encourage you to spend a night without any communication devices, or to take the time to write a letter to an old friend. Smell the flowers. It'll do you some good.
I hope you have a great week and I'll give you an update about my field placement next week! Stay tuned, my departure is now a mere 6 months away!
Sheila
Showing posts with label Activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Activities. Show all posts
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Learning by living
Hello everyone!
Tonight's note is inspired by my sister, who just found out today that she will be working as a tour guide at Vimy Ridge in France over the summer. Way to go Rosalie! She has been super excited all day about leaving to go to France and working and living there over the summer, and it reminded me how much travelling means to me and how important I think it is.
Let's face it - for someone my age, I'm a pretty accomplished traveller. I've visited 24 countries (2 of which I've lived in - Canada and France), and will be moving for Peru for 8 months in September. I love travelling. I've looked for opportunities to travel, and taken every chance I could get. A lot of it comes down to priorities, in my opinion. For instance, I barely ever go to the restaurant or buy fast food items (I would rather pack a lunch from home). This allows me to save up money that I can put towards a trip instead of spending more on a daily basis. I have also managed to do quite a few trips on a tight budget, by staying in youth hostels (sometimes with up to 18 people in the same room!), buying groceries instead of eating out, and shopping for cheap travel options. Three of the trips I've taken (Arizona/Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador) have been to volunteer, and so for those ones I was able to fundraise to cover part of the costs, too. Travelling is important to me, and I will continue to do what I can so that I can continue to see the world!
I feel travelling is important for quite a few reasons. The biggest one is to learn: learning by experiencing a new language, a new culture, speaking with new people who may have different religious or educational backgrounds as you, living in a new climate, and enjoying the beauty that is around you. Even though I am currently completing my 4th year of university at a well-reputed institution, I feel I have learned much more through travelling than I ever will through formal education. I love the feeling of arriving in a new place, discovering a new currency and learning to barter with locals at a market in a foreign language, while trying to figure out your bearings in a new city. Visiting museums, finding remnants of the past, and exploring natural wonders have made each experience unique and enriching.
So as Rosalie prepares to fly off to France to work for the summer, and I continue my preparations (and plan fundraisers to help subsidize costs) for my trip to Peru next year, I am quite excited for all of the things I am going to learn. My main goal is to be fully trilingual by the time I graduate. I am already fluent in French and English, and would love to feel 100% confident in Spanish (as of right now, I can hold a conversation, but my vocabulary is lacking). I am sure I will make lasting connections and really get a feel for the way of life in Huacho, Peru. I am looking forward to live on the Pacific coast for 8 months (and I hope the weather will cooperate!). I wonder what traditional dishes will be like! And how punctual people are. Oh the things I will learn to live with and adapt to. Life is an adventure. Why not start now?
Have a great week!
Sheila
Tonight's note is inspired by my sister, who just found out today that she will be working as a tour guide at Vimy Ridge in France over the summer. Way to go Rosalie! She has been super excited all day about leaving to go to France and working and living there over the summer, and it reminded me how much travelling means to me and how important I think it is.
Let's face it - for someone my age, I'm a pretty accomplished traveller. I've visited 24 countries (2 of which I've lived in - Canada and France), and will be moving for Peru for 8 months in September. I love travelling. I've looked for opportunities to travel, and taken every chance I could get. A lot of it comes down to priorities, in my opinion. For instance, I barely ever go to the restaurant or buy fast food items (I would rather pack a lunch from home). This allows me to save up money that I can put towards a trip instead of spending more on a daily basis. I have also managed to do quite a few trips on a tight budget, by staying in youth hostels (sometimes with up to 18 people in the same room!), buying groceries instead of eating out, and shopping for cheap travel options. Three of the trips I've taken (Arizona/Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador) have been to volunteer, and so for those ones I was able to fundraise to cover part of the costs, too. Travelling is important to me, and I will continue to do what I can so that I can continue to see the world!
I feel travelling is important for quite a few reasons. The biggest one is to learn: learning by experiencing a new language, a new culture, speaking with new people who may have different religious or educational backgrounds as you, living in a new climate, and enjoying the beauty that is around you. Even though I am currently completing my 4th year of university at a well-reputed institution, I feel I have learned much more through travelling than I ever will through formal education. I love the feeling of arriving in a new place, discovering a new currency and learning to barter with locals at a market in a foreign language, while trying to figure out your bearings in a new city. Visiting museums, finding remnants of the past, and exploring natural wonders have made each experience unique and enriching.
So as Rosalie prepares to fly off to France to work for the summer, and I continue my preparations (and plan fundraisers to help subsidize costs) for my trip to Peru next year, I am quite excited for all of the things I am going to learn. My main goal is to be fully trilingual by the time I graduate. I am already fluent in French and English, and would love to feel 100% confident in Spanish (as of right now, I can hold a conversation, but my vocabulary is lacking). I am sure I will make lasting connections and really get a feel for the way of life in Huacho, Peru. I am looking forward to live on the Pacific coast for 8 months (and I hope the weather will cooperate!). I wonder what traditional dishes will be like! And how punctual people are. Oh the things I will learn to live with and adapt to. Life is an adventure. Why not start now?
Have a great week!
Sheila
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
A little bit about me!
Hello! My name is Sheila Ball. I am currently in my 3rd year in the International Development Honours program at the University of Waterloo, completing a Minor in Geography and Environmental Management as well as a Diploma in Environmental Assessment.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. I am half French-Canadian (on my mom's side) and half English-Canadian (on my dad's side), so I have spoken French and English my entire life. I love spending time outside, and for this reason I enjoy each of our seasons. Whether it is skating on the Rideau Canal or skiing during the winter, or swimming, playing ultimate frisbee or soccer during the summer, there is always something to do! At home I also enjoy playing my piano; I took classical music lessons for almost 11 years, and so my piano feels like an extension of my emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
At school in Waterloo, I like to keep myself pretty busy. On top of taking a full course load, I am also a member of the University of Waterloo lifeguard club. We attend many lifeguarding competitions each year, notably the Ontario University Lifeguarding Championships, to be held at Queen's University in March 2011. I also play ultimate frisbee regularly. I am a volunteer with the International Student Organization's SHADOW program. At the beginning of each semester, I get paired with a newly-arrived international student and show them around campus. I am also completing courses to get a Student Leadership Certificate through the Organizational & Human Development office on campus. On top of this, one weekend per month I teach a Standard First Aid & CPR-C class on campus. Needless to say, I am quite busy! Sometimes things can get overwhelming, but I love it!
That's all for now, but stay tuned as I reveal more information in the coming weeks about my field placement, why I am doing it, and what got me here!
Sheila
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. I am half French-Canadian (on my mom's side) and half English-Canadian (on my dad's side), so I have spoken French and English my entire life. I love spending time outside, and for this reason I enjoy each of our seasons. Whether it is skating on the Rideau Canal or skiing during the winter, or swimming, playing ultimate frisbee or soccer during the summer, there is always something to do! At home I also enjoy playing my piano; I took classical music lessons for almost 11 years, and so my piano feels like an extension of my emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
At school in Waterloo, I like to keep myself pretty busy. On top of taking a full course load, I am also a member of the University of Waterloo lifeguard club. We attend many lifeguarding competitions each year, notably the Ontario University Lifeguarding Championships, to be held at Queen's University in March 2011. I also play ultimate frisbee regularly. I am a volunteer with the International Student Organization's SHADOW program. At the beginning of each semester, I get paired with a newly-arrived international student and show them around campus. I am also completing courses to get a Student Leadership Certificate through the Organizational & Human Development office on campus. On top of this, one weekend per month I teach a Standard First Aid & CPR-C class on campus. Needless to say, I am quite busy! Sometimes things can get overwhelming, but I love it!
That's all for now, but stay tuned as I reveal more information in the coming weeks about my field placement, why I am doing it, and what got me here!
Sheila
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