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Remember way back at our pre-departure when you had the task of defining a global citizen? In the next few assignments we are going to pull apart some of those definitions to see if they work now that you are on internship somewhere in the world. I thought we would start with a relatively easy piece by looking at environmental issues where you are.
I was working on a project in Sri Lanka that would have those who lost their
livelihoods in the tsunami use composting as an entrepreneurial endeavor to generate income. In the couple of weeks I was there, I had the most exotic tours of garbage dumps you could imagine. Already a lot of good work was happening with material that held any value being scavenged from the dump, women's groups taking on recycling and composting for revenue generation tied with micro-credit lending and community recycling kiosks where people could drop off their recyclable goods.
However there was still an attitude about the environment that was a little shocking to my green sensibility. The litter and dumping in water ways was a disturbing. Many people burned their garbage on the beach just to get rid of it. The cars, buses and tuk tuks belched their black diesel smoke that left a layer of schmudge on my face by the end of the day.
Back in Canada, I recycle religiously, bring my own bags to the grocery store (and smugly feel superior to those who still use plastic), ride public transit rather than drive and carry my own water bottle. But the fact remains, I live in one of the countries in the world that pollutes far more than Sri Lanka ever has. So does that preclude my claim to global citizenship?
For this assignment, I would like to you to take a look around your new reality, wherever you are in the world, and describe for us what the environment looks like. Do people seem to care about environmental issues? Is there recycling? Is there recycling that doesn't include big, blue boxes? Is the government instituting programs to deal with issues? Are there things that we could stand to learn back in Canada to make the globe a little greener?
Look at the world through your green coloured glasses and tell us what you see. Pictures are always appreciated.
Due date - Friday June 13th.
So here is a thought. I have been reading through your blogs and very much enjoying them. Many people indicate that they culture is influenced by other people's cultures. So if you eat ethnic food or you go dancing at certain clubs or you wear certain types of clothes. Are we truly adopting another culture when we do this or just appreciating it?
For example, I like salsa dancing. So does that mean I can say part of my culture is Latin? I mean hey, I can pretty much speak Spanish fluently, I studied Latin American politics at school, I lived in Latin America for a year and I prefer Corona over all other beers. I have an extensive Latin playlist on my iPod, I like Latin looking fellahs and am a serious fan of the Latin American style of writing - magical realism.
So am I Latin in my culture construction? I would imagine that most Latin people would say not so much Larissa but thanks for the interest.
Let me go at it from another angle. You come to my house and I serve you perogies, teach you how to do the easter eggs and let you try on my red dancing boots. If you then told me that you considered yourself to possess Ukrainianess (new word) with your cultural identity, I'm afraid I might have to laugh you out the door.
Whaddaya think? Do I have a point or did they cut off the oxygen in my office again?
Hey Folks,
Well I certainly have been enjoying reading the blogs as I hope you all have been as well. Here are some highlights I have come across:
Most Consistent Blogger - Mahreen Nabi at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, India. Good stories, fun pictures and an easy writing style that makes it a pleasure to read.
Most Freaked Me Out Blog - Shona Bracken in El Salvador working for the Centro Intercambio y Solidaridad. I just added Shona's blog to the list. Take a look and see where she very casually eludes to an episode that sent my heart into my shoes.
Longish But Well Worth The Read Blog - Danielle Olsen in Istanbul with the NGO KAGIDER. Smart, reflective and fun just like the lovely Danielle herself.
A short extension will be given on the second assignment as not too many have it in yet. Let's say Friday and I will announce the next blogging assignment then. If you need details on what to blog on for the last assignment, check out my post below. I will endeavor to get ahead with my blogging so that you have the outline well in advance.
Blog on Bloggers!
The second assignment is a relatively easy one to help you get your feet under you before we start digging more deeply. Since you have arrived in your host country, what do you see? What has caught your eye? What made you think "wow, I am for sure in a different country now"? What surprised you in that it is similar to home?
One of my first big international trips was to Costa Rica for a year with the volunteer sending organization Canadian Crossroads International. I remember driving into San Jose and that feeling of having no context for what I was experiencing. So my young and naive mind worked very hard to find connections between my newly expanded world and what I knew from Canada. Things like they had an IKEA or that we had Shell gasoline stations too! Obviously, I was desperate.
One of the things that surprised me was how feminine the women were. They never looked slutty but I felt like a lumpy man standing next to them. The tight jeans, little tank tops, high heel shoes (called chankletas in Spanish, love that word), the full on 80's make up, the teased hair. There I was in my rain slicker with my hiking shorts and boots (it was a look), flat hair, no make up feeling and looking like the foreigner that I was.
I suppose what I was experiencing was a very immediate form of culture shock. I believe that culture shock is inevitable and cannot be avoided. It is all how you deal with it that will determine how much it affects you. Now when I rock up to a new country/culture, I look forward to the thrill of entering the unknown and trying to figure it all out. It keeps you on your toes and confirms that you are indeed alive AND living. It fits well with one of my personal mottoes - step out of, or take a flying leap out of, your comfort zone.
Assignment #2 - Due Monday May 26th
The first web posting for the York International Interns this year was for them to define their own culture. With most interns having completed this assignment, we have found that this is easier said than done. It seems pretty easy to define other cultures but to turn that microscope on oneself has proven to be tricky.
When I was growing up in a very diverse neighborhood in Ottawa, no one was really Canadian. Carlos was Italian, Karol was Norwegian, Wei was Chinese, Amir was Saudi Arabian, even though we were all BORN IN CANADA! So I was Ukrainian. This of course completely denied my quarter Irish and quarter Scottish components. I now consider myself just Canadian with a Ukrainian/Irish/Scottish heritage but I still identify strongly with my Ukrainianess.
So what is it to be Ukrainian other than the name? (watch the movie Dr. Zhivago and you will hear Omar Sharif refer to Julie Christie's character Lara in the diminutive Larissa) I can't speak the language but I can cook, I can do the eggs and I can dance in the red boots. That covers the 4 D's: dialect, design, diet and dance. But what else is there to it that makes me a Ukrainian?
It would be nice to claim my work ethic is because of my Ukrainianess. My grandparents worked like dogs to build their life in Canada during and after the first world war. My mother was born during the depression and many of her attitudes toward working hard and frugality I now possess. But is hard work a Ukrainian thing? Not exactly.
I am quite a proud person, of which I am not proud of. Ukrainians are quite proud. You don't see too 
many pictures of relaxed and casual Ukrainians. I take pride in my work, in my career, in my reputation, in my appearance. Well,at least I feel guilty when I look like a schlub. If one looks over the history of the borders of the Ukraine, one will see how often they have changed. For one to be able to hold onto their identity through such radical change and not to mention an attempted genocide, one has to have a certain amount of pride.
So when I polish my boots, layer on the mascara, dust my house before friends come over, check and double check that my underwear aren't hanging out my pants, accessorize, clean the corners of my stove...what have you. I consider this me being Ukrainian. I get confirmation that this is a Ukrainian thing when I go to St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Institute at 620 Spadina Ave and see the Ukrainian women TURNED OUT! They don't go anywhere without their perfectly ironed suits, stockings on, sparkly broach, hair divinely coiffed and fur coat. I know I have to bring my A game to be among these women.
What up Bloggahs! This site is for all interns participating in the York International Internship Program 2008 and those who love them. You can find here links to all YIIP blogs, instructions on the next blogging assignment and helpful, hopefully humorous, anecdotes from yours truly.
I believe in the power of the blog. Learning while having some fun is what I like. Have fun with your blog and checking out others blogs.
The York International Internship Program (YIIP) is an opportunity for York undergraduate and graduate students to work in another country, or at an international host within Canada, for three months starting in May.
I was working on a project in Sri Lanka that would have those who lost their
livelihoods in the tsunami use composting as an entrepreneurial endeavor to generate income. In the couple of weeks I was there, I had the most exotic tours of garbage dumps you could imagine. Already a lot of good work was happening with material that held any value being scavenged from the dump, women's groups taking on recycling and composting for revenue generation tied with micro-credit lending and community recycling kiosks where people could drop off their recyclable goods.
However there was still an attitude about the environment that was a little shocking to my green sensibility. The litter and dumping in water ways was a disturbing. Many people burned their garbage on the beach just to get rid of it. The cars, buses and tuk tuks belched their black diesel smoke that left a layer of schmudge on my face by the end of the day.
