Canadian

Wow...
During the recent London Olympics, going against my normal aversion to such girly things, I painted some nail art in the form of a bright red maple leaf on to the nail of my ring finger.  I look at it now, with its chipping edges and can't help but feel an ironic twinge.  My little show of support for our Canadian athletes seemed to be chipping away, reflecting my usual feelings of faith in my country. 

It actually started a little while ago before the Bank of Canada's decision to replace an "Asian" woman on the new $100 bill was made public.  In early August, a Canadian woman of Vietnamese descent passed away while in Vietnam.  While most of the reactions were condolences or expressed doubts about the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, there was one comment that I have carried with me.  One poster attacked her as a "drug addict" and that since she "wasn't born in Canada...she's not Canadian" (there was no information in the article concerning where she was born).   While many others jumped on on this comment and the poster was quickly labeled a troll, the comment has stuck and festered. 
I know, it was the thoughtless comment of a single troll.  A person hiding somewhere behind a username (one pulled from Tolkien, despite his decidedly anti-Tolkien world views) and an IP address.  But to think that that comment could even be made was disheartening to say the least.

I immigrated to Canada as a small child.  I was not born in Canada.  I've grown up here, went to school here.   I work here.  I volunteer here.  I donate here (Save the Vancouver Island marmot!!).  I go abroad with my maple leaf sewn proudly on my backpack and I tell others unabashedly what a wonderful place Canada is.  I cheer on Canadian national teams while wearing my red HBC mittens. I say "thank you kindly", "yes, sir" and "thank you, ma'am" (bonus points if you see the Paul Gross/ Brandt references).  I have maple syrup in my morning bowl of oatmeal.  I cheer on the Toronto Maple Leafs (as painful as that is at times...).  I keep a poppy in my car.  I buy Ontario wines to gift to oversea friends.  I teach children that our differences make us beautiful and strong.  But, apparently, I am not Canadian.   Which puts me in a sticky situation: what the heck am I?  What do I have to do here people?! Keep a pet polar bear?  I resist the urge to check my passport just to be sure...

Then this week, salt is rubbed into the wound by an unexpected source.  I read the articles on the focus groups and the Bank of Canada's redesign of the new $100 polymer bill.  First, of all, not sure why they didn't recognize actual Canadian scientists on the bill.  But, that's another issue.  The articles included quotes from some of the focus groups, which were anything but pleasant.  I now feel even more empathetic to that little girl who got bounced from the her starring role in the Beijing Olympics because her government deemed her not cute enough.  Because apparently, the Bank of Canada agrees with those focus groups members and have deemed me "ugly" (ouch) and "not representative of Canada".  Funny, someone should have told me earlier...since I recently gave a presentation called "How to Represent Canada".   If the bank was trying to protect me from the stereotypes of Asians in science, I'd like to say thanks, but no thanks.  That somehow, I feel I could handle...I have "The Big Bang Theory" and my cell phone calculator to help me with those issues.  By "ethnically neutralizing" the image (oddly, ethnically neutral is apparently Caucasian) the Bank of Canada gave credence and validity to those comments.  It's as if they've printed those insults (oh, excuse me, "focus group comments" *ahem*) on to the back of the bill.  And as with the troll's comment, there is a sense of sadness and fear that such comments were even made.

I can at least say that it's not all gloom and doom though.  There has been a general national eyebrow raised.  Comments on forums have been blasting the decision.  A CBC on-line poll has over 75% disagreeing with the Bank of Canada's decision.  And not all of the comments from the focus groups found me so repulsive.  Some praised the original design as being multicultural and diverse.  What the BoC really should have done was listen to one of the other released comments: represent other ethnic groups (yes, I know I'm leaving out the "contentious" part).  Instead of neutralizing, show and celebrate our diversity by having Canadians of different backgrounds working side by side. 

The question now is, do I put on another layer of top coat on my chipping maple leaf? Or do I get out the nail polish remover?

Take that Telus Guy!!

So much drama today!  After much anticipation, it was to be the debut of my new smart phone.  My old phone, was an paper weight/ alarm clock at best.  It turns out that phones that have no receptions are rarely used.  Anyways, after much soul and bank account searching, I decided to bite the bullet and get myself a new smart phone.  While my DREAM would be the new Samsung Note (I've been addicted to K-drama's lately, and apparently this is the only phone available in Korea...even the the homeless girl who sleeps on a cot in the factory has one).  Ah, the power of product placement.  But, considering my squatters' budget, I decided to go with the Samsung Ace, an entry level smart phone that would have been about $100.  As I was discussing these plans, it turns out that my aunt actually knew someone who works for Samsung.  This little bit of serendipitous luck meant that I was able to get my hands on the Nexus S (I had to go outside, or rather LEAP outside, my original budget but..).  I made a quick stop at the Telus store and was told that I could simply get a sim card and switch all my credits over to the new phone.  Yea! 
So, the phone finally arrived in my greedy little hands yesterday and I rushed to the Telus store to get my new sim card.  This is when things started getting complicated.  As soon as I mentioned I had an unlocked phone, there was a distinct change in tone...or rather sneer.  I was told after a scan of the barcode on my phone that there were 2 models of Nexus S and that my AT&T would not work with Telus because of frequencies and was pretty much refused a simcard.  At this point I bit my tongue and held back the desire to tell him that the i9020A was indeed Telus compatible, and that it was the i9020T that had the 1700 freq. Anyways, I was so thrown off by the demeanor that I thought forget it and just left.  But then I drove by the gas station on my way home and thought...dang it, I just wasted gas money!  Plus, I really wanted to use the new phone.
So, as it turns out, my mother had another errand to run, so I tagged along and went to the mall that was close by.  This salesperson, much nicer.  Got my card home, switched the account info over, popped it in, presto!...nothing...
Not good.  Slivers of doubt crept into my brain.  But no!  It had to work, it had to be something else.  I tried searching for a network to connect to and came up only with Rogers.  Then one forum said something about having to manually reset the APN.  I checked my phone, and sure enough, there was absolutely nothing there.  Found a site that had the info listed (as the telus site had incomplete info), searched for the network again and, PRESTO!  Telus appeared.  Now, I am happily connected!

Am wondering if I should take my phone back to the first Telus store next week and see if that guy will help me look for a case for my phone :P.

one year ago

It's hard to believe that it has already been a year since the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the eastern coast of Tohoku. I remember that week leading up to it well. I had just a job interview that I was sure I had failed in spectacular fashion due to the cold medication I had taken...for the flu that had me knocked out for the rest of that week. I woke up on March 10th, my birthday. Not expecting much from the day except a cup of soup while curled up in bed. What I got was the news that Japan had been struck by an earthquake and tsunami. As most international news is, it took a while for the details to trickle in. The news I was getting wasn't promising. Northeaster Japan...Tohoku. Where my friends were. As I scoured the net and TV for more details, I ran through a mental list of people and started emailing, praying for quick responses. To my horror, nothing came. Keeping a vigil, surrounded by the glow of electronic screens, stuck with horror at the details that were coming. I actually remember thinking, "the mountains will protect them". I eventually found out that Akita had been spared the worst of it (I knew it was unlikely that a tsunami would hit Yokote, but a 9M earthquake...) and that the radio silence had been caused by the blackout. Slowly, as power returned, responses trickled in from Akita (the Tokyo, Gunma and Chiba peeps were able to respond pretty quickly). This only left the handful of people who were in Sendai (not comforting as this city was getting a lot of airtime) and Fukushima (even more unsettling). It took almost 2 sleepless weeks of trying and me remembering that cellphone companies had emergency boards before I was able to track down everyone. It turns out, the last one elusive person had been evacuated and couldn't get to her computer. And now, as this dreaded anniversary approaches, the TV screens are once again filled with images and stories from that day. I thought that this would be a quick post, but some posts take over and write themselves. As I was writing, I realized that I think this is the first time I've actually typed all of this out. Maybe I couldn't before. I can't help but wonder at how much that day has filled my thoughts and actions so often this past year. And so, I go to bed tonight with a heavy heart and dreading what my birthday will bring this year(definately more pessimistic than optimistic). Ganbanppe Tohoku!

Seriously?

Apparently, we had an earthquake today. While it was pretty strong for those closer to the epicenter, I have to say, I didn't even feel it. This was a bit surprising as I was pretty sensitive to little tremors. Maybe because I was driving at the time (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!). Anyways, the best part was when I got home and turned on the TV. I expected a little story about the quake, but wow! People were calling in like it was the most traumatic experience of their lives. The reporters were doing their parts by asking sincerely about damage (there was none) and what it felt like etc. Oh, and since were earthquakes considered weather events??!? News reports talked of buildings being evacuated and cameras fed live shots of power plants. Given the recent events in Japan, alright, I can understand the uneasiness. But people, get a grip! The plants released statements that basically said, people, chill. The wording was something like this is an "unusual event" but it's still a level 0. One report showed footage of a news conference (supposedly during the quake)where everyone ran for the hills. I personally wouldn't have known there was quake if you had shown me just the footage. I thought maybe I had just been desensitized after some of the quakes I'd been through. But then, one "eyewitness" relayed what one of his co-workers from California said after being evacuated. "Guys, seriously? That was nothing"

Not the tea lady, but pretty good!

In my continuing efforts to avoid disputes in the morning, I found myself at the local Second Cup this morning for breakfast. I decided to take advantage of their Tuesdsay Chillers promotion and try their Matcha Chiller. First, I usually don't do the coffee shop thing. It's hard for me to justify spending over $3 for a cup of something that I could make easily for a fraction of the price. But, I figured mental health is priceless. Secondly (pun!), I'm usually pretty skeptical when it comes to green tea items on menus here, ever since the Starbucks fiasco (I don't care if it's a grande, green tea does not have a mint flavour!). Anyways, much to my pleasant surprise, the chiller acutally has a matcha flavour! It's the small, unexpected joys in life...like the construction crew that just started in with their jack hammers right outside the window...

I'm a criminal...

At some point during the school year, I hurt my back. I can usually stretch it out, but this time has been different. It's been hurting for about 2 months now, and has only gotten worse. So, I finally decided it was time to see my old chiropractor. It just so happens, that his office is down the street from my old junior high school. While the school is now closed (such a shame, it's a beautiful building), I couldn't help but go and see it anyways. As I drove up, I was saddened to see the construction equipement, the half torn down walls and the broken or boarded up windows. As I walked around the back of the gym, along the same path that I had sketched for art class, the first place I ever saw fireflies on the night I had my first slow dance, I heard a gentle but frantic flapping sound. Trapped between a screen and a piece of plywood, was a little swallow. Half climbing up and down screen with his delicate feet, as his wings beat hopelessly against the screen on one side and the wood on the other. I tried to shoo him up the window to where the opening was, but he couldn't make it. I nervously looked around and weighed my options. He might be able to make it out on his own. But on what was expected to be one of the hottest days in recoreded history, it didn't look promising. It was already above 30 degrees, even though it was before 9am. I looked him in the eye and my choice was made. Grabbing my key to Skippy (old car) which had the best edge, I sliced open the middle of the screen in one stroke. The swallow instantly dropped down to the gap and flew out over my shoulder and into the sky. Still apprehensive about the screen, I went to the chiropractor's.

Major Withdrawl Symptoms

Well, it all started last weekend. I was shopping in an Asian supermarket when this song came on. It was the Chinese version of an EXILE song, Lovers Again. This particular song was not only released when I was working in Japan, but my baseball boys had used in as part of a hilarious presentation during the school festival (complete with dancing ichi-nenseis and sakura petals). And now, I've been stuck for the past week on this "natsukashi" rampage. I've been sing choral competition songs to myself, looking up zen-ken results, and of course I got an email from an old student as well (great timing). Then the dragon boat team had an otsukaresama enkai at a place that had a real izakaya vibe. Oh, the agony!! I predict I will start watching koshien over a very shakey internet connection soon...