twenty six and counting

It’s true- I turned twenty six yesterday. It feels a lot like 25, maybe even 24 but it certainly feels nothing like 23. So young then. So free.

On Sunday I had the chance to get together with my roommate from first year university. The topic of conversation made its way to the big birthday and it turns out that Dave had just turned 26. He confessed that it was the first time he actually thought about it being his birthday and what that meant for his life. He also said that a friend of his called him on his 26th birthday and said: “welcome to the years of nothingness”. Awesome.

So here I am- officially closer to 30 than 20 (although I suppose that actually first happened sometime around November 07, I just didn’t realize it). Over the past week I’ve been thinking about what was happening a year ago. I do believe I would have been on break from grad school, just starting to think about my placement (a little late I realize) and anticipating a full summer of lectures and a beach day every once in a while ( when i was allowed to go). I couldn’t have known then that I’d end up living in the middle east, come back to move in with one of my top 10 favorite people in the world and get great experience at a nice little NGO just north of Toronto.

That said, this birthday, more than any other has caused me to reflect on where I’m headed and what I want my life to mean in the coming years. Questions such as what does it mean to be a Christian continue to linger. Seriously, what does that mean? And does my life reflect that? More than ever I believe in Jesus and what he was about and what that means for the world at large- and yet at the same time, more than ever I think that I’m failing to fully comprehend it for my everyday life. It’s a mystery.

I also think about where I’ll be from a year from now and how this year is probably going to go by faster than the last one. There are some things I’m looking forward to- the chance to go to Malawi in the summer and possibly another African country in the fall is exciting. There’s the Epiphaneia conference to plan and a new project idea that I’m playing around with, which are both things that could make 26 an incredible year. More than those things I’m content to be back in Toronto and spending time with good friends- many of whom either are or may be moving out of the country this fall.

Sure I think about whether or not I want to, you know, enter into a covenantal marital relationship. Sometimes I joke that I have a competition going on between my sister and I: she started a family when she 20 and now has three children, I started school just before then and now I have two degrees. I guess that means she’s up 3-2, although I have no plans on evening up the score anytime soon. Perhaps I’ll try to settle the score by having kids but I feel like I might be missing a step in there somewhere. Who knows? Dave said on Sunday that 26 means that we’re officially on the clock now to get married. Time is running out? Shoot- I’d better stop blogging. I’m on the clock.

Maybe the clock starts at 27 because it’s just not a good time. I’d rather go to Malawi…

I didn’t actually do anything to celebrate my birthday besides receive some nice phone messages and play volleyball- like every Tuesday. Keith did give me cookies for my birthday but then promptly ate them after I went to bed. However, I do think that some classy people are taking me out tomorrow to celebrate another year. Wooh.

26 in 2008: In the words of Faith Ecenroad, “it’s a big year!”

the homeless stereotype.

I’ve been working on and off at the Gateway for almost three years.  To think that it’s been that long is crazy.  Simply crazy.  I remember walking down for my interview in September 2005 and having to step around a guy who was relieving himself onto a parking lot.  What I found over time is that that guy is mostly the exception to the rule and that most guys who find themselves homeless don’t pee on the street.  They aren’t on drugs and they don’t want to rob me.   Most of them have made some poor decisions or suddenly found themselves unemployed.  I think about what I would do if I a) lost my job and b) didn’t have family or friends to fall back on?  Well, I’d be at The Gateway.

Recently The Gateway was featured in the Toronto Sun.  Perhaps it will help to clarify some homeless stereotypes…

“When a man in his early 40s with limited skills gets downsized, he’s virtually written off,” says Dion Oxford, the director at Gateway — “The hand of God in the heart of the city, as the sanctuary bills itself — since it first opened its doors eight years ago.

“He is now viewed as unemployable, and that is a pretty destructive reality for someone so relatively young,” says Oxford.

and

There is still the impression out there, and right across Canada, that Toronto is somehow the land of milk and honey, and therefore the land of opportunity,” he says.  “But there is no way to survive in this land of milk and honey if all you can earn is $9 an hour, and you have no opportunity for even a roof over your head.

For the rest of the article, click here.

The Hour with George.

Last year I went to a live taping of The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos and at the time i thought it was pretty good. I mean, the content of that particular show wasn’t exactly incredible as I can only recall one guest, Haley Wickenheiser. What I do remember though is that Georgio worked really hard to make sure that after the taping everyone had a chance to ask as many questions as they wanted. It was actaully quite…umm…refreshing? to see him stick around for about 45 minutes when he clearly could have just left.

So that’s my nice George Strombo. rant. On to the rest of the blog.

Is it just me or did The Hour become terrible overnight? I don’t think that the content is terrible- just the delivery. Yes, George can handle himself in an interview and is known as being a straight shooter- but at what point did he try to become a comedian? I can’t decide if I get more annoyed at his attempt at humour or the fact that the audience thinks that his incredibly lame jokes are HILARIOUS. It’s almost unbearable. In fact it is.

The last time I remember watching and not being completely annoyed was when the former Prime Minister himself- Monsieur Jean Chretien was on. Who knew he was so interesting? Here’s the interview, complete with a Tuesdays with Morrie plug.

If he would stick to the interviews and get rid of the ‘late show’ style intros he’d be far better off. And CBC, let’s not push people too hard to laugh unless those jokes are worthwhile.

conference day one

I’m currently in Ottawa attending the CCRDA conference “Keeping the Faith“.  Essentially a plethora of different religious, faith-based NGOs have come to examine the impacts of faith and spirituality on international development.  Before arriving I was kind of nervous that I’d be the youngest person here which I wouldn’t have been too thrilled about.  After surveying the registrants I think that there are probably five people out of 100 who are younger than me- which is great- except they are all students!  Some guy asked me what I did and when I answered he said “all the programs?” in an “aren’t you a little young” kind of way.  Ah well.  I definitely feel a little green as the break out sessions tables have me with seven other ID vets who have been doing this for twenty five years.  Oh well, everybody’s gotta start somewhere.

I think I’ll just put up some quotes from the day for your enjoyment. 

“we’ve shifted from a world where the assumption is that poverty would always be with us to a point where we can imagine a world where malnutrition is not a problem; we have the tools.”

“in today’s world we need to shift from poverty to equity- what kind of world would be fair?”

“in addition to a poverty line there should be a greed line.”

“the security issue is something we all share: no one is safe unless everyone is safe.”

“economics is the means, it is not the ends.”

“what makes the difference with gender and development is the data: when the amount of education a mother gets translates into a larger headsize for her child, you know it makes a difference– you need evidence, facts, instead of myths.”

“there is no such thing as neutrality.”

“how many projects have you seen that develop art?” (answer: none)

The highlight of the day for me was listening to a thirtysomething share about his experiences starting the first Jewish humanitarian organization in Canada.  He is a master story teller.  The point of his anecdotes were to address the fact that faith-based NGOs can do nothing greater than offer empathy to those they serve.  He ended with an aboriginal proverb: “if you’ve come here to help me you are not welcome; if you’ve come here to share my life then by all means, come in.”

Day two includes: Gender Panel, Environmental Panel and, as if that wasn’t fun enough…a Peacebuilding Panel!

food aid announcement

I would think that unless you are living under a rock you may be aware that the price of food has gone up drastically worldwide.  In fact, the price of one of the worlds most consumed commodities- rice, has doubled in the past six months!  I haven’t really felt the burden of the market change as it hasn’t doubled the cost of the food I eat yet but even if it did I probably wouldn’t feel the sting of it as on average only 11% of a Canadians income goes toward food.  Of course, if 60% -70% of my income was consistently used to purchase food, like much of Africa and Southeast Asia- and then the cost of food doubled, well… now we’re starting to see what this food crisis is all about.

The World Food Programme has called the food crisis ‘the silent tsuanmi’,  as “millions of people who were not in the urgent hunger category six months ago now are”.

Rewind for one second. 

In grad school I did a project with a friend about the Canadian Foodgrains Bank who lobbied a couple of years ago to have the amount of foreign aid dollars used to purchase food abroad increased from (if I remember correctly) something like 10% to 25%.  It turns out that they were offered (again, if I remember correctly) 50% flexibility, meaning that they could use half of the money to purchase food locally, instead of shipping it from Canada.

Last week I came across CIDA’s announcement  to contribute an additional $50 million to the WFP.  This of course is good news in itself, however of greater magnitude was the fact that the Canadian government completely untied where foreign aid money can be used to purchase food.  

Where food is purchased has been part of the politicization of foreign aid since the ‘generousity’ of the West first sought to ‘help’ the less fortunate in the 1950’s.  Some might say that is is a self serving industry that makes it money at the expense of the world’s poorest, while others would say that some philanthropy is better than none.  It is a debate that still rages in the USA where foreign aid money combine with farmer subsidies and shipping contracts to seemingly help the donor more than the donee.

All of this to say- way to go Canada.  The announcement means that foreign aid money has a greater ability to reach many, many more people. 

 

  

it’s back.

I’m sure there are countless bloggers posting about the return of the The Office tonight. I know at least one personally and I’ve got to say, I wish he was around to partake of the hilarity together. Soon enough.

Now I’m not going to actually comment on the show tonight, but instead I’d like to focus on the rumours that NBC is contemplating a spin-off show to debut sometime in 2009. I can’t think of too many spin-offs that have been a success in recent memory; perhaps only Frasier in the last twenty years might be considered successful. Even though a couple reports that I’ve seen suggest that The Office writers will introduce a few new characters and then create the spinoff around them, I was trying to think who from the current cast would be able to carry their own show. Yes, I do find it kind of pathetic that I am actually writing about this.

Nonetheless….

Jim Halpert may be the obvious choice to have his own show. He’s smart, good looking, hilarious and every girl I’ve ever met wishes they were Pam. However, I think that the success of Jim’s character is found in his ‘normalness’ admist so many strange characters. Odds of Jim Halpert getting his own show: 7 out of 10.

Pam: If Pam’s circumstances change it won’t be because she gets a new job on another show. Yes, we know Pam is really into art and is more talented than a receptionist need be, but a jump to her own show is simply not believable. If Pam changes careers she’ll go to corporate to do design work for Dunder Mifflin- and that wouldn’t be a new show. Odds of Pam getting her own show: 2 out of 10

Dwight Schrute is perhaps the logical choice to get his own show. He has acquired a cult following in his four seasons on the show and has enough experience to make me believe that he could manage his own branch one day. However, the beauty of Dwight Schrute lies in his loyalty to Michael (except for The Coup) as the number two. DKS is the perfect Robin to Michael’s Batman and he won’t be going anywhere. Odds of Dwight getting his own show: 5 out of 10.

Phyllis: Nope.
Stanley: He’ll retire.
Creed: ummm. ew?
Meredith: Nope

It is no secret that Andy Bernard is my favorite character on the show. His metaphors are incredible, his singing hilarious and his attempt to move up the corporate ladder is without precedence. He also went to Cornell and graduated in three years and was drunk the whole time. Odds of Andy Bernard getting his own show: 8 out of 10

Toby: I hope not- because his relationship with Michael is perhaps the funniest bit on the show.

There you have it. Now on with the rest of my life.

good bye March

Last week was one to forget. Straight up.  Among more substantial things, at work we lost one of our substantial funding sources due to a clerical oversight from a previous employee and I got two speeding tickets seven minutes apart while on my way to do some volunteer work (there is a story there).

At least April is here, or presumably will be in three hours or so. In honour of a new month I’m going to share some things that I am looking forward to…

1) Ian and Lauren are moving back to Ontario which, in my opinion, can’t happen soon enough- although Lauren does need to finish up her grad work.

2) I’ve joined a Toronto rec volleyball league which starts this Wednesday. This, combined with Sunday afternoon floor hockey and a weekly ultimate frisbee game means that I’ll be running around like it’s 2006. I’m excited. “Hey Big Tuna, check out my calves… they’re insane!”

3) Raptors in the playoffs. I’m going to try to get some tix when the time comes but even if I can’t get some I’m pretty pumped. I am definitely of the opinion that finishing sixth and playing Orlando is the best case scenario.

4) Next weekend is the Epiphaneia weekend of fun and planning. It’s been seven months since the four friends were together all at once and I do believe it will be magical. Oh, and we have our three main speakers booked a year in a advance. Hot dog.

5) See #1.

I am almost through with blogging.  It might be the end of an era as what began as a fun little adventure three years ago seems like a tiresome activity.  That said, I shall press on for now and attempt to draw some meaning from the blogosphere.  If I was going to blog I would say that I had a pretty good easter, played entirely too much Rock Band on Sunday and had the best Thai food of my life yesterday.  I would also mention that I am looking forward to attending a Good Friday service next year that focuses more on the death of a Saviour than the resurrection of the King.  When that Friday gets here it will still be true then that Sunday is coming- but what’s wrong with just letting it be Friday?  I came across Fake Republic who shares the sentiment.  *there wasn’t anything wrong per se with the service that I did go to*

I would also  say that I became furious with Patrick Roy and his son Jonathan after watching the incident they were involved with on the weekend.  That kid is an idiot.   Hopefully both those guys never end up in the NHL (again).  Honestly- how is he not in jail right now?  WordPress isn’t cooperating so you’ll have to make your way here to watch it.

I’m currently in Detroit awaiting my flight to Denver.  The airport offers pay as you go wireless but NWA has a little signal that I managed to get on.  Apparently it’s for worldclass travellers.  Hotdog.

Yesterday I recieved a book in the mail called Blue Clay People.  It’s the story of William Powers and his experience as the directorof projects for CRS in Liberia during the late 90’s.  So far it reminds me a little bit of a book I read last year called The Road to Hell but is much less cyncial about development work- although perhaps that will come.   In any case it’s a great read…

—-

Like most people who go overseas to do development work, I did so expecting to find out what it’s like to be poor… That’s not what happens.  Instead you learn what it’s like to be rich, to be fabulously, incomprehensibly, bloated with wealth”.

 —

And Wendell Berry as quoted in the intro:

“We have lived by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world.  We have been wrong.  We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption that what is good for the world will be good for us.  And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and to learn what is good for it.  We must learn to cooperate in its processes, and to yield to its limits….For it is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it.”

vacation

I have transitioned from being unemployed (underemployed actually…) to being on vacation due to the fact that I got a job.  Can you believe that?  Apparently getting a job really is what you do when you’re not in school.   So on March the 3rd, 2008 I will officially become the Programs Coordinator at Emmanuel International Canada.  What does a Program Coordinator do you ask?  That is a good question and one that I look forward to having an answer to in the coming weeks and months.  At the moment I do believe it has something to do with coordinating with field officers about their projects/programs and working with CIDA and other donors on getting said projects funded. 

In honour of getting a job I’m going on vacation- to Denver.   Adios Canadian winter….