5 Days & Counting…

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by in travel posts

≈ Leave a Comment

Had you of asked me this time last week (or even yesterday, really) if I was excited to be leaving for China soon the answer would have been 100% “not at all”.

Between the stresses of packing, getting financials in order, paperwork, insurance, taking my 2nd year Chinese class, parting ways with the hubby, trying to see all my friends before I go, being anxious about who my roommate will be and just tying up all the loose ends… its difficult to find time and energy to be excited. It’s been difficult to explain that to people who ask. They usually butt in saying “oh shut up, you’re going to China!” making me feel really ungrateful… But it’s difficult to look forward to something when it’s putting all this negative energy into your life.

However… now things are pretty much in order. I just need to put things into a suitcase and fly away. I also got paired up with a girl in class today and I’m relieved with who I got. We had CH1000 together last semester and she seems relaxed and cool, not to mention smart, so I’m happy with how it worked out. I also figure that the month without John will fly by… I’ll be in class everyday! And if the date for my departure to China can sneak up on me like it has than the date for his departure can too.

So ask me now… am I excited?

Yes, definitely.

John and Uncle An – Shanghai, 2010

My Summer of the Elephant

28 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by in life

≈ Leave a Comment

For the past 7 years my summers have started the same way; submerged in warm bubbly water with a faint scent of lavender relaxing me while I pull out a book that has been waiting to be read for the past 8 months.

Yesterday my mom picked me from Toronto. We loaded up all of my stuff that was saved from my annual purge of belongings and headed to Guelph. Thankfully, since I’m staying here for less than one month, I was given a real bedroom (usually I’m put in the basement in a room that can only be described as a “wine cellar”) with a big comfortable bed and a window that shows me the sky instead of the bottom of an old bush and a few rocks.

After having dinner with my favorite Brits (<3 I’ll miss you guys!) I crawled into bed and finally got a good night’s sleep without having to wake up for something.

That’s when it happened. I looked at my pile of stuff to read and realized none of it had to do with school. I grabbed a book that has been sitting on my shelf for years. I has moved from Victoria and back with me and always gets passed over by a more sensational read… but this is my summer of elephants… the summer I will complete my life goal of riding an elephant in India… so I grabbed Elephantoms: Tracking the Elephant and ran downstairs to my mom’s big ol’ soaker tub.

I filled it to the brim with hot water and bubble bath and read for nearly 2 hours.

So my summer is finally here! The weather doesn’t quite agree – but I’m sure it will get there.

In just 27 days I’ll be packing up my bags and heading off for China and India… :)

BFFs in Kensington

19 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in life

≈ 2 Comments

My bestest friend from my days in Victoria took a surprise visit to Canada for the next couple of weeks. It was so incredibly lovely to see her…

We had some greasy pan-asian food at New Ho King on Spadina, bought delicious bread at Cobbs and thrift-store shopped until our men were sufficiently bored with us.

I didn’t love New Ho King – it was okay. Not the best asian food in the city and it was sort of expensive, too.  The pret’y British chap was ‘appy because he thought he got tons ov food ferda price… But everything in Britain costs a lot of brass, donnit?

Womp womp.

Anyway, I got a good picture of this chicken. And I love my 80% Canadian 20% British lady. <3

Getting a Visa

19 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in rant, travel posts

≈ 2 Comments

Today I went downtown to get my visa… What a horrible freaking mess.

First I ran all over the city looking for a photo booth that wasn’t out of service. I finally found one at Bathurst station… Only to be told that the photo wasn’t the right size and didn’t have the right background color. Conveniently the photo booth inside of the Chinese visa office takes the perfect picture for you (for the low cost of $10 freaking dollars……. grr).

Then the guy at the counter was ridiculously rude. Like… SO RUDE. He kept telling me “I don’t care” when I tried to explain things to him and basically told me to lie on my visa application form – which I’m obviously not going to do.

waiting for my number to be called

But I found out that I may have issues getting a visa for a long enough period of time. My first “entry” will be around 27 days. Then I’ll be leaving the country to go to India. My second “entry” will be 112 days, but the maximum amount of time for any one entry period for any non-Chinese born visitor is 60 days – half of what I need. I can’t apply for a student visa because I’m technically not enrolled in the Shanghai school, I’m enrolled through York.

So the new game plan is to try and shorten my trip but the cost of moving the flight could be upwards of $800 at this point. If that’s the case then we’ve heard that you can renew your visa in Shanghai for 30 extra days 3 times… whether or not that is true has yet to be discovered. If it is untrue then I will looking at flying to Hong Kong to renew my visa there, but it’s only for for an additional 30 days, so I’d still be 2 weeks short… so if I can’t figure that out then I’ll be flying standby to get home (which would likely end up being cheaper than changing the date of my original flight).

What a mess. All because I listened to the wrong person *again*… who told me getting a 6 month multi entry would be fine… which would be true if I was doing my research through an institution in Shanghai. I may look into that option, too.

Regardless… it’s all really stressful. And while the new Chinese visa office is super nice (waaaay better than the embassy) the guy was so incredibly rude it made me remember how frustrated I get at Chinese people who work in places like that. They have hardcore superiority complexes given to them as a gift from their government and efficiency always trumps being kind – even though they are usually not more efficient and instead just end up being mean.

The Cabin in the Woods

17 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by in movies

≈ Leave a Comment

I posted my review of The Cabin in the Woods on Teenskepchick today but I’m going to repost it here because I loved that movie SO MUCH. But you really should go over there and read things because we got new writers and they are good.

Where to even start with this… you all need to go and see this movie. Quickly. GO.

This is the first movie I’m reviewing that I’m actually worried about spoiling it for people so anything that will spoil the movie will be blacked out. Like this The first one of the blackouts gives like EVERYTHING away… so please please please if you intend to see the movie do NOT read it. This movie is best watched with a blank slate.

Horror films used to be my favourite genre of film but they’ve all gotten really cheap and repetitive but this one completely redid the concept of a modern horror film. If you think you know what is going to happen in this movie – you’re probably wrong.

Title: The Cabin in the Woods
Director: Drew Goddard
Writer: Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz (Topher!), Jesse Williams and Anna Hutchison

It’s no secret that I 1) am a Joss Whedon fan girl and 2) have a serious Chris Hemsworth obsession.  So of course I went to the first showing of The Cabin in the Woods last Friday. I was a bit concerned because it looked a little bit like a Saw movie but I gave Joss the benefit of the doubt and went in pretty excited.

The premise of the movie is absolutely amazing. It’s about a bunch of teenagers going to a cabin that is off the grid in the middle of the woods. Each of the characters represents one of the stereotypical kind of people that are in these movies. *Except we find out that their personalities are being “guided” by an organization that is setting them up to be killed as a sacrifice for the old Gods.*

What ensues at the cabin is scary and gory fun as the teens are picked off one by one. It’s not the cabin story that makes this movie so great; it’s all the other stuff going on beyond the cabin that makes it so incredibly awesome.

The ending is so perfect for this kind of movie. Far too often movies try and take themselves too seriously but this one just goes all the way.

Pros:

It is a unique reinterpretation of a genre of film that has followed a pre-set formula for far too long. Horror films these days have gotten so predictable and mundane. The premise and ending of this movie is impossible to guess.

*All the really freaking awesome nightmares that are caged up. My eyes were completely glued to the screen for the last half of this movie. All the creatures that are running around killing everyone!!! Amazing. And when they are in the glass box and you see some of the creatures up close? * So freaking scary and awesome.

The acting was incredibly well done, by everyone. I didn’t love the main girl but she was good enough. I was glad Chris Hemsworth was in this… I’ve been worried that he was going to be type-casted as Thor-esque characters for the rest of his career (like would only be seen in a Battle of the Titans or something) and while he played the buff jock his character went beyond that. He was pretty great (sort of related… I’m super stoked for Snow White and the Huntsman).

It was well written, well directed and I think will be a cult classic in no time. Just absolutely brilliant. It’s literally a horror movie within a horror movie within a horror movie. It is smart and keeps the audience engaged and guessing. And then when the big mystery is revealed you’re like “omg, awesome”.

Sometimes when movies like this are made it is too blatantly obvious that it’s making fun of the genre. This movie wasn’t like that at all. It was a horror film while taking the clichés of horror films and flipping them around and making the clichés and movie even better.

Cons:
*Chris Hemsworth dies too soon  *

But really – that’s the only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of. Everything else was perfectly put together. I wish I could gush more and more about this film but I seriously don’t want to give anything away. I just want everyone to go and see it.

And if I haven’t convinced you yet – here is a quote from Chris Hemsworth on working with Joss and Drew:

Both are kind of geniuses in their knowledge of film, ideas for shots, stories. Their creativity is amazing, they’re constantly buzzing. Every take they get so excited as well, I love it, they would be like, “This could be the best take! I love my job! I love this film!” That enthusiasm is great. It keeps you moving forward and feeling good about yourself and what your doing. Also, I worked with J.J. Abrams on ‘Star Trek,’ and I’d known they were buddies before this movie. I said to Drew, “I can tell you guys are friends, you have the same style and humour and energy.”

I’m giving this movie 6/5 scary Japanese exorcist kids. Yes… more than perfect.

GO NOW.

Image cred and quote: Flicks and Bits

Food&Drink in Toronto

13 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in food & diet, life

≈ 1 Comment

Before heading off to China I’m trying to see as many of my friends as possible. So Wednesday I had lunch (that took over 3 hours, for some reason…) and a tiny Wii video game night with my new ENVS friend, Kaitlyn. She’s a doll… and my cats love her… but she’s horrible at Mario Kart

Yesterday I went to this fantastic vegetarian restaurant by Kensington Market called Green Vegetarian and it was super delicious. I recommend it to anyone looking for a great vegetarian place in Toronto. We got curry turnip cake, spicy mock chicken, a big ol’ plate of mixed tofu and hot & sour soup. It got me totally amped for going to China… I forgot how much I love all the tofu options over that. And being a vegetarian this time around I’ll probably appreciate it a lot more. It doesn’t look like a really great place when you’re on the street – but I definitely urge you to go in, even if you’re a meat eater.

Then when I got home I went out for beers with John and his friends, that have become mutual friends. We went to the first bar but they were closing early… so then we went to this place called The Unicorn on Eglinton Ave. and it was horrible. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Actually, that’s not entirely fair… at first it was really great. There were lots of drink options and the prices were pretty good. Our waitress was a total sweetheart… but then… omg… then… the live music started. All five of us immediately said “lets go!” It was so loud and so horrible. It was this band of like 4 really old dudes that were playing ACDC to the wrong tune while headbanging… it was the absolute worst thing ever. So if you get to this place when there isn’t live music, then it’s a good little spot, but as soon as you see the band setting up – run like hell.

So then we went to Tim Hortons where an old lady yelled at us for talking about aboriginals.

In short: Go to Green Vegetarian! The Unicorn is not magical… STAY AWAY! and Tim Hortons downtown always has crazy people.

Today we’re going to see Cabin in the Woods!! I’ll do a review on teenskep. We also went to Medieval Times last week and I’m going to write about that over there, too… I think. And tomorrow I get to see another Toronto besty and her beau for games night at my house! I am excited for China but will miss all these Toronto people! <3

A Mental Trip to the Mall

11 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in life, rant

≈ Leave a Comment

I went to the Eaton’s Center last week to pick up some stuff for a wedding we’ll be attending next week. I’ve been trying to get rid of stuff due to the upcoming move to China so mostly just walked around window shopping…which got old really fast so I went to go have a coffee as I waited for the boy to arrive.

On one side of me there were 3 self-important d-bag business guys. One was going over how to “convince people …” of something and the others were jerking his ego, so I’m guessing he was likely the boss or the other two were new. It reminded me of working at Future Shop when I had to be one of those people. For some reason the guys on the floor selling shit at future are REALLY proud to be doing what they’re doing and they think it takes a really special talent to be who they are. I remember my first week of training when I got up and did a mock-sales pitch in front of all of them… I just threw on my high school drama cap and voila, they were amazed. When I left they were like “such a shame, you’re a natural.”… What a compliment, a natural d-bag.

On the other side of me there was a woman with a baby who was meeting up with three people she hadn’t seen in a long time, but knew really well. They kept trying to talk to her but she kept standing up bouncing the baby, talking about the baby, feeding the baby, getting distracted by the baby… I’m not suggesting that people shouldn’t be absorbed by their children sometimes, but this was ridiculous and it was obvious her friends were getting annoyed too. I had actually just been shopping for some kids clothes for a friend who just had a baby last week… And baby clothes are expensive! And they only last for like a couple months! That, coupled with annoying baby woman and the fact that I really just wanted to look at all the sparkly things in Swarovski reminded me once again that I don’t want kids.

Also… in that one day we had to buy gifts, clothes and cards for the wedding that we’re not even *in* and is supposed to be like a low-maintenance relaxed kind of deal. …Friends getting married is expensive.

5.5 weeks until I go to China where I’ll have all new things to occupy my mind! I’m still not excited… more nervous and stressed out about the details being all ironed out.

Survivor

05 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in rant, tv

≈ Leave a Comment

I’ve watched Survivor since season 1…since Richard Hatch won that very first final tribal council. Like any good Survivor fan girl I love Ethan and Colby, have a love-hate relationship with Russel, an obscure crush (on Silas Gaither and slightly less obscure on Yul Kwon, at least he actually won), have a favorite winner (Bob Crowley, a retired physics teach who looks like he could be Bill Nye’s dad) and cried when Rob finally won.

When the show first came out  my mom and I watched it religiously. It became a time to bond. Every Thursday at 8pm we’d be ready to sing our own version of the theme song and get excited during challenges. When I moved from Bothwell to Mississauga I instantly bonded with a new friend over Survivor. We would call each other during the commercials to gush about what had happened. In university it got a bit more difficult to watch as I’d have to fight the hockey boys in the common room for the TV but I still managed to follow along. Now, while I don’t have cable, I watch it online on CBC each week – still getting worked up when people do something stupid and screaming at my computer when I don’t like someone.

So here’s what bugs me… When I tell people I watch Survivor and they say something like “that show is still on?” or “no one watches that anymore…” or “Everyone stopped watching that after the first season because it got repetitive.”

*huff*

This season, each episode has had 10 million viewers. 10 MILLION. That is not no one! And sure, it’s basically the same mix of people – but the outcome is always different because there is always a different winner who gets to the top in a different way. And there are interesting characters that make it a hoot to watch (this season: the self-proclaimed “Tarzan” and Colton…when he was on. Oh, and the incredibly attractive model, Jay… who is in the picture, seriously, he’s stunning). You watch, pick a favorite and then root for them for the entire season until they do something so incredibly stupid that you just want to punch them (this season my favorite is Kim! She hasn’t doesn’t anything stupid yet… I freaking love her).

It’s like any reality television. It’s not like Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model or So You Think You Can Dance change their formula every year! And obviously this formula is successful. This is it’s 24th season (and at least 2 more are planned) and that’s just in America alone. The show has variations all over the world.

So yeah – I still watch that show. And I probably always will watch that show and I will defend it until my death. I love watching the challenges, rooting for my favorites, screaming at the idiots, laughing at the ridiculous fights, feeling awkward for the people who don’t know better, imagining that I’m on one of the seasons kicking ass and talking about it to my friends afterwards… (okay, that last one is a lie. The only person I actually know who loves it as much as I do is Hemant Mehta the Friendly Atheist).

GO KIM!

 

Purses and Poppers

05 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in crafts & eats, food & diet

≈ Leave a Comment

Last month I did a trial run of purse painting with a small green purse. I’m glad I did because I didn’t love how it turned out and knew how to do it a bit better for today. Today I did a similar tree on one of my favorite travel bags that is super boring.

I actually really like this one! It’s definitely not perfect and if I was more artistic it could be much more awesome… but given the fact that this is the first thing I’ve painted since like high school… I’d say it’s not too bad!

I also baked these chedder poppers… which again, John loved and I didn’t. I thought they were too eggy. So if I can ever find the recipe again I’ll do it with less egg and MOAR CHEESE.

Bookshelf: Black Swan

03 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by in bookshelf, systems science

≈ 2 Comments

I started reading Black Swan by Nassim Taleb (2010) but didn’t actually finish it. I found his writing style to be really difficult to follow and I got fed up with it part way through. I’m also not a big believer in the significance of black swan events…

A black swan event is something in the everyday experiences that shatters our knowledge about what we think we know. It comes from the english thinking all swans were white, until someone actually saw a black swan completely shattering the previously held belief that all swans are white.

Some characteristics of black swans are the following:

A black swan event is an outlier – they are very rare and are outside the realm of regular expectations. There is nothing in the past that could point to the possibility of the event happening, thus they are completely unpredictable.

The events have an extreme impact – the event is a tipping point in society creating a large change in that field of knowledge.

Retrospective not necessarily prospective predictability – despite their outlier status human nature wants to come up with an explaination after the event. Humans have a natural tendency to explain things, and black swans will be explained with hindsight. The difference between retro/prospective is pretty simple. The example given is an ice cube. Prospective: the ice cube melts and you try to envision the puddle. Retrospective: there is a puddle and you try to figure out the previous shape, it’s much less certain and more difficult.

Overall black swan events and humans can be summed up in this quotation “Black swans being unpredictable, we need to adjust to their existence rather than naively try to predict them.”

So there are two approaches to dealing with them. You can respond how they would in statistics and ignore the outlier, or you can study the extreme outliers – because this is often where change and tipping points occur. Typical statistical methods will misdirect our gaze away from this. The mean, median and mode are all in the middle of a bell curve, but if we’re focused here than we’ll miss what’s going on in the edges.

Taleb charcterizes this with these terms “mediocristan” and “extremistan”. Mediocristan is what we tend to do – if we say we have two people from the US with a million dollar income between the two of them people usually split the income 50/50…however in extremistan, which is more like real life, the distribution will be closer to one person having $50 000 and the other have $950 000.

So we’re blind to black swans and their effects, because of this and because of other reason. For example humans have a tendency to think they know the future based on the past, we also like to pigeon hole knowledge rather than seeing it as something new and humans reduce complexity. This last one is a real problem for me – complex issues are complex because they can’t be reduced, this is a fundamental characteristic of systems theory – there is irreducible complexity that needs to be dealt with.

Anyway – black swans are these events that have a large impact, are unpredictable and humans are blind to their effects because of the way we’ve been taught to think about knowledge.

The significance of black swan, beyond their simple existence, is lost on me. It seems like Taleb is simply encouraging people to be humble and to not try and predict the future because events that will change our life are ultimately out of our control. I mean – that’s interesting, but I still think we should constantly try to be proactive in preventing disasters and issues from hitting our society. Which he sort of advocates for by saying we should build robustness within our systems that are particularly vulnerable.

I am not convinced that almost all historical events that are significant come from the unexpected – which is what he claims. However, he may simply say this is my bias from hindsight giving me this opinion, but I think he’s wrong. I do, however, agree that we should try to create resilient systems that can resist change as much as possible (if it’s a positive system!).

Anyway – I don’t recommend the book. It was painful to read and the arguments can be found online here and there… If you’re SUPER interested in probability and this concept, then obviously read it. Otherwise just read some reviews and the wikipedia, you won’t be missing much.