Day 3 - Not too shabby

It's 12am. Not to shabby for a blog post.

Tired, again, so I'll try to keep straight to the point, with a little flare here and there.

This morning, I woke up with the correct time zone on my alarm clock, which meant I had some nice sleep in. I went to breakfast where we had French toast, sausages, bacon and eggs. We started our day off by going to a lecture hall where we had various speakers come in and talk to us. One of them being of our program director at UBC. He discussed economics and entrepreneurship with us, and how he despises certain capitalists but loves the Grameen Bank. I think you Will would have really enjoyed him. In fact, you would have been perfect for this program. The networking opportunities here are endless. We also enjoyed our tech advisor's presentation on the engineer design process. Hey Matt, this would have been your calling. Another speaker was from Telus advising us to develop our core skills and follow our passions. And last was a Harvard Med School graduate who now researches and studies sleep at UBC. Us 52 Shads here asked an hour and a half worth of sleep questions. Everywhere and anywhere from sleepwalking to homeostasis. Let's just say, today I learned a heck of a lot. I can only imagine what's to come. At the lecture hall we were also given a few details on our Project House, which again, when I have time, will inform you of the details. All Shads across Canada will find out our "theme" tomorrow...it's a surprise!

Later on in the day we did Recreation (Rec for short). We played this game called assassin, but I "died" in the opening minute, so we played an hour of ultimate frisbee-which I absolutely loved. I'm definitely going to give you all a run for your money at home when I return. Some staff here have quite the skills.

Dinner was served at 5:15pm today. I left early because I had to prepare and practice my "Shad speaks" presentation. We were given free range of choice on any topic to discuss for up to 15min. I did a presentation that I had prepared for an American History course I did this past semester. I led a deep discussion on my topic which was really exciting. When I did the presentation back at school, the responses to the questions I posed involved one word answers. But here at Shad, people could not stop raising their hands and questioning my topic. The issues did not seem alien or foreign to anyone, and appreciation by all Shads was evident. I witnessed first hand the type of personalities Shad Valley brings together-youth who have a keen interest in learning and solving problems. What I liked most was that people cared. It was awesome.

We fitted in 8 speeches today because there was so much interest in everyone's topics. I'm really excited to see what my other fellow Shads are passionate about.

After presentations were over at 10pm, I hung out in the common room with the Shads who still had energy stored away for this fun time of the day. Everyone was on their laptop updating family and friends of several new stories they had today. We rented a drum set and keyboard so people were also jamming away to various songs and beats. It's quite the atmosphere at Shad UBC in the late hours. I had an intriguing conversation at 10:45 with a PA (program assistant). We talked for almost an hour on common interests we had including law and debating. This was an eye opener. It made me realize that Shad students are not only science-based entrepreneurs, but science-based entrepreneurs who are well-rounded with several interests.

Oh golly gee, it's 12:30am Pacific time...I think. I'll have to double check that one! Anyways, I should probably head out now. I keep hearing of the busyness of our days now. Tomorrow, the big secret will be revealed and we begin getting down and dirty into the energy sucker tasks. Should I say yay?

Though I know I will say bye and goodnight.

-Carolyn

PS. When is the last day of school? If it's tomorrow, congratulations all on another successful Chong year! And what DREAMS trip am I going on? Jan or Mar?

Day 2 - Sleepy

Good evening, or should I say morning? (It's 12:17am as of right now)

I'm actually going to make this quick, unlike yesterday. I am really lacking in some good sleep. Not that the bed is bad or anything, though the pillow is flat and has no plump to it. This morning I had a very early start. I got the time zones mixed up and set my phone and computer to mountain time because some "smart" fellow Shad told me...so much for smart. Anyway, I woke up an hour early, went to breakfast an hour early, and the cook told me to leave because breakfast wasn't going to be served for another half hour...luckily no one else was awake to see this.

After breakfast we sat down in the common room of the first year rez @ UBC. We spend huge amounts of time here. We did this secret ceremony thing where we each wrote on a piece of paper what our deepest fear of being here was. It was nice to see a lot of people shared common perspectives and ideas. It made me feel not soo, alone I guess? Corny, I know. Anyway, after that we went outside on the grass and played a whole bunch of ice breakers. I came in second out of all 52 UBC Shads in rock paper scissors. Let me tell you, there is strategy involved and I have it! After we had lunch consisting of pizza, beans, and other stuff. They have tons of variety. I always have chocolate milk-yummm. After lunch we watched some business video that was aired on ABC television from back in the 1990s. It was about this business called 'Inovate' or 'Ideas', one of the two anyway, and it was about this company who would take various products and make them better. The segment was about a grocery cart and how they made it and yaaaaaa...kay i'm really tired all of a sudden, so I'm going to just go really fast here. After the video we learned of our project houses (which I'll explain when I'm not soo tired) and had a competition to see who could make the best newspaper house. Ours came in last, we won an award for best effort though. We named it the "Love Shack"...though it looked more like a long house. (the picture is of my group's attempt at this, I know it's blurry, but it's the only one on fb I could find! also, i'm the one in the pink shirt and brown shorts) We then had dinner. I went to Shopper's later with a bunch of people after realizing the bookstore closes @ 5pm everyday. Bought a bunch of pretty vancouver postcards! Anyways, now I'm in bed and it's 12:31...so much for a quick post. I know you mom like to know every single detail so I'm only doing this for you...that's right, be thankful! But it's good in a way. I will definitely look back in the future and thank you dad for getting me on blogger, that's for sure. The showers are good. I'm impressed with the water pressure, it's fantastic. You can change the the setting too! Unfortunately however, they do not soften the water...errrr, my skin is drying up. The weather today was cool, but when you walk around a tee and shorts are fine. I only brought 1 sweater, should have brought another. I'm hoping to run to the bookstore and buy a campus sweater. I'm desperate.

Okay, I really have to go. Once again miss you ALL. Good luck tomorrow Nick!

-Carolyn

P.S. You can check out the experiences of Shad students from all over Canada on the Shad Valley 2010 blog. I will be contributing an entry tomorrow, but it won't be posted till Wednesday. You lucky followers can get a sneak peek! I think my blog here however is a lot prettier than theirs! shhhh.

Day 1 - Sun. Jun. 27

Hey everyone back at home in Ontario and PEI!!

Just a quick hello here from BC. It's 12:30am right now so I'm going to make this quick. Flight was awesome, I had no issues whatsoever. The attendants were nice and helpful when I asked questions. My layover in Calgary was a breeze! I arrived in the terminal and was quickly greeted by a PA Kailey (program assistant). I think that was her name. She told me she had been studying my picture and that I looked a lot more serious in the one she was given... I picked up my bags and off we went in a van to UBC. It was about 20-30 min at most. I was stuffed in the back with suitcases so I had no clue where we were going. Shad staff kept telling me I had a lot of stuff, whatever. When we arrived we had sandwiches, juice, and cookies/pop. The PAs are soooo welcoming and energetic. All are Shad alumni, most who went to UBC. We made signs for our dorm rooms and then we were off on a photo scavenger hunt with 5 other people. We walked around tirelessly for a long 3 hours around the campus! It's definitely beautiful, that's for sure. Very similar to MAC, but nothing in comparison to Waterloo haha. The residences we are staying in are nice and clean (don't worry mom!). I saw the Thunderbird center where the sledge hockey and stuff were for the Olympics. Many new buildings there, but they need to mow the lawn...maybe they should get some tips from 7 Eferding, just sayin'. Then we came back, had dinner in the very nice dining room 10s from rez. We had pasta, veggies, fried noodles for the HUGE ASIAN POPULATION (50%+ I calculated), turkey and gravy, and jello and those nanaimo bars for dessert. Similar layout to the convent. Then we went on a 30 min walk to the Rose Garden and took some pictures. We returned to do an icebreaker game which involved showing my gorgeous bio-tile (ask dad). After that, we were sent to bed. I unpacked, and made my bed (man do I miss you mom).

All in all, it's been a good start to the month. I met a lot of new people, many with whom I share similar interests. No one from Hamilton though, nearest is Burlington. But MANY from Toronto, what a surprise. Anyway, I really want to go to bed. I'm exhausted. Lunch is served @ 7:30am Mon. morning, and we have to be ready to go by 9am. Shouldn't be a problem considering my previous sleep patterns...

Say hi to everyone at home from me, I miss you ALL already.

-Carolyn

P.S. the picture of the Rose Garden is not one I took, I stole it off some dude's fb. The video camera wouldn't turn on so I'm charging it now overnight. Also, should have brought a lamp, the light switch is at my door entrance, too far away from my bed. Did I mention I have a single room? Half of the Shads here have one. More girls than guys here also. I don't mind it at all.



Here is the account of Day 1 by a fellow UBC Shad.

So, I time travelled today...or rather tried, and managed to slow time enough so that I arrived in Vancouver only 20 minutes after I left. My allies in this feat: the good old hour and 22 minute flight and the time change...and of course that wonderful flying metal object that we call an airplane. In any case, I arrived in Vancouver pretty deaf in one ear because of the dreadful pressure changes, and that surprisingly enough lasted a whole 2 hours before I was actually back to normal. For those of you who didn’t have to fly, you are lucky. For all else, am I the only one who is driven crazy by the pressure?

The Shad staff rounded up groups of Shads and punctually shipped them to the campus where we made a few attempts to link faces with names – the degree of success, I am still uncertain. Then there was the scavenger hunt. Separated from fellow Shads, we were left in the wilderness of UBC to attempt to find various buildings to some success, but for the majority of the evening, my group was helplessly lost amid the sea of buildings and grass that is called the University of British Columbia.

Fast forward through supper, there was a “tour” (that isn’t very accurate as it was more as a walk in temperate weather while chattering with fellow Shads) around some of the buildings on Campus. Nice roses, good architecture, trampoline bushes (quite literally – the bushes could very well have enough spring force to be considered a trampoline), and a very slight breeze. Back in the conference room, strange interpretations of our Shad bio tiles by Shads whose names we still have failed to learn, then now. A blog. The first entry to a string of words that will summarize the days of Shad Valley in every Shad Valley campus. So, I suppose, through bad grammar, comma splices and sentence fragments which the computer continually tells me to correct, I suppose, here we go!

Derek Eng, Shad Valley University of British Columbia 2010
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta