In 10 days I will be boarding a plane to Tanzania as a volunteer for Uniterra, a volunteer program that aims to improve the socioeconomic status of women and youth in the developing world. I will be working with Uniterra's partner organization, the Tanzanian Tourist Board in beautiful city of Arusha located at the base of Mt. Meru. To say I'm excited would be an understatement. It's an awesome opportunity for me to contribute my skills as a multimedia journalist and learn more about East Africa.
This will be my first trip to the continent and I am already anticipating some culture shock based on my pre-departure training and what people have told me. The ones I am aware of so far are:
My travel clinic assessment also gave me a list of approximately 20 viruses and diseases that I could potentially suffer from while I'm there. Of course my doctor casually listed them off as if there was nothing to worry about...only death! I will have more updates before I depart including my list of travel essentials.
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Canada came out on the losing end of their summer match-up series with Italy, 20-18. It was a close game for the majority of the match. Canada entered today's game ranked 17th in the world, while Italy was ranked 13th. After today's loss, Canada vs. Italy's head-to-head record is 2-7. Below are interviews with Canada's men's rugby coach Mark Anscombe and captain Jamie Cudmore.
With my Sportfishing license in hand I entered my first ever bass fishing tournament. What ensued was a comedy of errors.My first ever bass fishing tournament on Moira Lake has got me hooked on fishing. Childhood friend Breanne Littley, my dad and I took the plunge and signed up for our first fishing tournament the Saturday before Father’s Day. With a general idea of how jig and spinner lures operated, armed with borrowed rods lent to me by ‘Bonner’ from work and with my dad in tow, we launched the boat and took off towards areas we thought fish might be lurking beneath the reeds. It was fairly late in the morning when we hit the water. Our first stop, the mouth of the Moira River. After about 20 minutes of casting with no curious nibbles and only a fistful of weeds, morale was fading. We made the decision to move out of the river and on to the periphery of the lake. After spotting several boats clustered in a narrow bay near the opening of the river we set the anchor and tried our hand. A half-hour went by with fish nowhere to be seen. A quick glance at our fellow boaters revealed they were indulging in some cold beverages. It was time to head back to shore and get some grub; we had a long day ahead of us. Stomachs full, we regrouped and headed to Papoose Island near my cottage. We set anchor at a quiet spot just off the island, dropped our lines and waited… It didn’t take long before our lines went taut. Much to my delight, when I lifted my rod a tiny rock bass emerged on the end of my line. He immediately went in the live well - I needed some proof that I caught a bass, even if it weighed five ounces. Breanne added a sunfish to the collection. I nearly added another bass, but before I could get it in the boat it made a wild thrash and escaped the hook. My dad embraced his role on worm duty. We released our captives and took a short break before getting back out on the water. With just 20 minutes left in the tournament, time was winding down. We had yet to land anything worthy of the scale. Ten minutes to go my line became tangled. In the middle of unwrapping the line Breanne lets out a ‘I’ve got a bite!” My dad makes a mad scramble for the net. The gaping mouth of a smallmouth greets us as she lifts it out of the water and into the boat. This one is definitely the biggest catch of the day for us! My dad quickly pulls in the anchor and we take off on a mission to get to make it to the weigh-in by 5 o’clock. We pull in to the dock exactly at 5 o’clock. A girl of about 12 equipped with a scale and a clipboard greets us. A quick weigh-in reveals Breanne has landed herself a 12-ounce smallmouth. After six hours of fishing, a bass less than a pound was what we had to show for our efforts. Lucky for us the tournament was hidden weight. A local teenager took home first prize. The One That Got Away Luck was not on my side that weekend. On Sunday Breanne and I took the canoe to a small island (if you can call it that). A week of rain caused water levels to increase considerably. Only a sliver of land was exposed on the island. We beached the canoe and waded into the knee high water. The island was covered in tiny perch and territorial sunfish. The sunfish ironically were the only fish not biting. Barely ten minutes into our adventure Breanne lands a small largemouth. Elated that it was a bass I snapped a picture and Breanne released him back in the lake. I was still in search of a pose worthy fish of my own. I waded out to the same spot Breanne had landed her largemouth. I had no sooner dropped the line 4 feet away from me than a fish struck. Startled I jerked before I had it hooked. You can tell I’m new to fishing. Figuring he must still be in the area I cast a few times in the same direction. Bite. Hallelujah! Now time to get him in the net to avoid another Saturday experience. I was cautiously optimistic. Breanne unhooked him; still in the net I carefully lifted him out for a picture. Finally something to put with this blog I had been planning to write. I kid you not, as Breanne reached for the camera the fish thrashed, popped out of my hands narrowly missing land and took off. This was the last bite either of us got. Feeling pity for me Breanne netted a sunfish for me to pose with, hence the photo below. Despite not landing the big one, the tournament was a great experience. If anything it has given me a greater appreciation for the skill and knowledge it takes to be a good angler. On the other hand I also learned sometimes it’s just about luck, or being unlucky in my case.
In nearly one month I will be boarding a plane on my way to South Korea for the 28th Summer Universiade. In February, I was chosen along with 11 other aspiring sports journalists from around the world to take part in the Young Reporter's Programme through the International Federation of University Sport. The program will train us on how to cover a large international multi-sport event. The Universiade is the second largest only to the Olympics, it's also where many athletes get their start on the international stage subsequently progressing to the Olympics.
As the only Canadian selected for the programme I can't wait to get started and represent my country. I hope by writing for FISU and covering the games I can bring more attention to the Universiade. In Canada it has a relatively low-profile despite it being a major event that draws around 10,000 athletes from nearly every corner of the world. Through my coverage I am hoping to change this. For many athletes having the chance to perform on the international stage is a thrilling, once-in-a-life-time opportunity. It's a chance that may not come around again. For the students chosen for the Universiade men's soccer team the journey got that much harder this year. The Canadian Soccer Association chose not to sanction the event and as a result those chosen must pay their own way - nearly $4,000 - for flight, accommodation and meals. Athletes are having to turn to crowdfunding websites to get the money. It's a steep price for a university student to pay. Below are a few of the men's soccer players trying to raise money for their trip.
On February 3rd Wid Things Petting Farm in Pickering was hit by a fire that destroyed Norman Collier's farm house. Collier lost everything he owns in the fire except his life and his farm animals. No one suffered injuries humans and animals alike. My friend Breanne and I have started a GoFundMe campaign to help Norman through this difficult time and his hundreds of farm animals. Please spread the word or make a donation. So far the out pouring of generosity has been amazing and continues to grow. It's amazing what social media can do. For those of you wondering what I do on the weekends here is a brief glimpse into radio life. My Saturday begins at 4:30 a.m. Apparently my face is a hot commodity these days. The back of my head made a special appearance on the Ingersoll Times election article. And equally embarrassing is my appearance on Huron University College's website :| My professor was kind enough to show it to our class this week.
There is nothing original about mass produced products in the 21st century. Western U's campus is essentially Masonville mall's lookbook, this is especially evident every fall on campus. Lululemon, Aritzia, NorthFace and Hunter are a few brands with an omnipresence on campus. These are the places or brands of choice for those who can afford them or who chose to spend their OSAP on them. There seems to be a contentment even a relaxed confidence with wearing these brands. A prime example being Lululemon. What started out as exercise gear has become a staple for wardrobes that signify more than the 'I can afford it,' status. The clothing denotes a symbol of fitness essentially equating the logo with fit, exercise inclined women. Not to mention it draws attention to parts you may be particularly proud of, or you may be unaware that the Lululemon leggings do not reflect everyones bodies equally. There is pressure to succumb to the marketing persuasions and the promise of status associated with these items and brands. Whether or not we chose to acknowledge them is our own prerogative.
It goes farther than just simply brands. It's a particular style, especially noticeable I believe in fall that is consistent across both men and women. Over the past four years at Western U, not much as changed in the fall outerwear department. The same olive green military jackets, combat boots (granted more colours available then four years ago), Hunters, knitted sweaters, motorcycle jackets and lest we forget leggings, have a campus ubiquity which both blends in and yet is starkly evident when observing groups. This can be attributed to the limited selections available in London with Masonville and White Oaks being the primary locations accessible within a reasonable distance from campus. It can be said that lower end stores mimic the higher end fashion trends, piggybacking on the successful draw of styles by Artizia and Zara. Making styles affordable to anyone. It's a perfect environment to grow a campus conformity or rather uniformity. Whether or not it is a conscious choice or an unavoidable one it is particularly evident this fall season. Unfortunately I am out of luck when it comes to an olive green jacket and combat boots, fortunately or unfortunately for my individualism and bank account the mall is right across the street. I personally don't mind the uniformity, saves me the stress of having to be original. It has been two short weeks since my Broadcast Journalism program at Fanshawe College came to an end. During which time I have spent countless hours writing cover letters re-doing resumes and demo tapes to send to future employers who will grant me my first "real" job. The most difficult part in the process is not the effort in trying to come up with creative ways to write cover-letters but rather the waiting game you play in the wake of hitting the send button. So what does a new graduate do while they wait in earnest for the Ping signifying a new e-mail. Unfortunately sleeping beside your cellphone does not give you a reply sooner. In fact I am quite often awakened in the early hours of the morning to a new e-mail from Mehdi of the Huffington Post with his morning memo. Not exactly the e-mail I was looking for. I am now trying to figure out a way to unsubscribe from news alerts and promotional e-mails from La Senza and Aritiza as I can only suffer so many disappointments. In the meantime my once routine schedule of waking up at 8am to attend morning meetings at 106.9 the X has been replaced with the extended process of unpacking which I am drawing out as long as possible. It gives me the false impression of carrying out a productive task. On a brighter note my recent acquirement of my driver's license has afforded me a new freedom coupled with the difficult task of finding a reason to drive. So far taking my dog P.J to the dog park has proved a fruitful source of at least 30 minutes of productive time spent. I figure I can do this at least three times a week. I realized that this new lifestyle of waiting is suspiciously similar to retirement. As I am discovering it's actually quite difficult. This is not to say I am not doing work around the house, but by no means am I a domestic goddess who basks in the enjoyment of sparkling clean tile floors. For now I am just waiting in anticipation for a call, an e-mail or some sort of recognition that I will in the near future be able to put my hard earned diploma to work. Unemployed graduate living the retired life. What a weekend! I started my journey to the Boots and Hearts country music festival on the friday of the August long weekend. Armed with my grandmothers car, several umbrellas and a hastily thrown together wardrobe for that inclement weather, David and I set off for Bomanville. Dodging the traffic riddled 401 we found ourselves weaving in and out of micro towns and enjoying the ploughed hills of the country. Sounds pretty idillic and relaxing, it was up until we rounded the bend of the now dreaded concession road 20. We were so close I could hear faint guitar rifts riding on gusts of wind and then it happened. Snaking around the hill were cars, trucks and mini-vans stretched out for kilometres. Nothing had prepared us for the stop and go traffic that went on for the next two and a half hours. The already overcast weather did nothing to help raise our spirits and we spent the hours tantalizingly close to the action with no way to get there fast besides the sole entrance that was being used for both day parking and camping entry. As rain drenched cowboys and cowgirls passed us by on their way to the festival, I was grateful for the shelter of the car. There is nothing worse than being wet and cold during a concert. We finally made it through the gates only to be redirected into a field with hundreds of tents, shirtless guys and partially dressed girls decked out in cowboy boots- stumbling along with Coors in hand. Crushed beer cans littered the once grassy fields. Looks like we were in a good time. I grew increasingly anxious as cars passed by us within inches, Dodge Rams and beaters carrying truck loads of drunk youth drove around spewing exhaust high into the air. We found ourselves a parking spot out of the way that we hoped would prevent any possible side swiping or accidental hit and runs. We trudged through the mud in our haste to get to the concert in the hopes we would at least make one artist before it ended. The rain had just started to spit so we grabbed an umbrella. Seems like a fairly innocent object that was until we got to entrance and security denied us entry because no umbrellas were allowed. No umbrellas? What is this? We couldn't really do a whole lot besides leave it there and pray no one took it before we came back or walk all the way back to the car. Some nice ladies at the Lost and Found tent agreed to look after our umbrella which was nice. However we didn't know what to do with the extra beer we had brought with us. We ended it up leaving it off to the side of the entrance in the hope that people would think it was empty and leave it. Later on when we left we went to check if they were still there and David's two coors were gone but what do you know my Stella was still there? Apparently cowboys prefer Coors to Stella. We finally made it into the festival! At this point we were both hungry and upon looking at the available options all of which were either deep fried or greasy we chose the over priced deep fried onion for $12. It was pretty good. We went to the main stage to catch the last bit of Cassadee Pope only to arrive as she was saying 'have a good night everybody.' As if our luck couldn't get any worse David accidentally hit the onion right out of my hand. After an hour and half we decided the weather just wasn't worth it and grudgingly left without seeing Dean Brody and Jason Aldean who I heard later were amazing... The first day may not have been the best but it sure prepared us for what to expect the next day. This time we didn't plan in getting caught in a large line up. I woke up early on the Saturday only to see a bulletin on the Boots and Hearts facebook page that the parking and tent parking had become unusable due to the severe weather conditions the night before. Some campers I heard had waited over 9 hours to return to their campsite only to be turned away and told to go home. All I can say is thank god I wasn't camping. Fortunately Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day. The weather dried out the mud and left a distinct combination of beer, puke and heat in the air. However this didn't faze us, we were ready. We left early and got in without a hitch, securing an even better parking spot. We made it just in time for Kira Isabella to take the stage. Our fold up chairs made it even better, not having to stand for every artist and fight to see over cowboy hats. After Kira Isabella, Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy made an appearance on the back of a flat bed truck, ironically 20 feet away from where we were sitting. After his performance David went to go get us food before Chad Brownlee came on. We were excited to see Brownlee as I had interviewed him earlier in the year and said I would see him there. Part way through Brownlee's set David shows up with one pulled pork sandwich and a pop, and an unimpressed look. Apparently a drunk guy had thrown the other pulled pork on the ground. This didn't dampen the spirits though, we enjoyed a nice rendition of Wagon Wheel by Brownlee. After his set we decided to walk around and check out the entertainment. Smaller performance kiosks were set up around the venue showcasing emerging artists and local talent. Rockstar had set up a motocross jump, handing out free hats and land yards to whoever was yelling the loudest. Well known French freestyle motocross jumper Ben Milot performed several jumps much to the crowds pleasure. The last day we decided to leave Miranda Lambert's set early to avoid the mess of traffic trying to get out of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Unfortunately leaving half an hour early did nothing to help our cause we ended up waiting two hours in a line of cars that did not move. Tempers were high and many people were trying to force their way into the line's barely missing hitting others cars. There was no one to direct traffic out of the venue and many drivers were frustrated with the poor planning. We ended up getting out at around 1 after having left at 9. Despite the ups and downs of the weekend it was well worth the price to see artists like Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Miranda Lambert, X-Factor winner Tate Stevens and Dierks Bentley who all gave energetic shows. Dierks Bentley stood out amongst the others for his casual attitude and nonchalance towards a fan who went up on stage and played his guitar while he sat down and cracked a beer. Bentley then signed and gave the same girl his guitar. |
MeganMulti-media journalist with an unstoppable curiosity. Archives
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