Social Experiment
I know that I have once again neglected my blog but I have been Lazy..umm I mean busy. Part of the busyness is that I have been conducting my own social experiment on the pseudo-anonymous interactions in social situations between genders. I have found a willing test subject to see how the female and male species communicate when trying to ascertain their compatibility. Field observations compiled so far indicate that the the success rate of these interactions is low. It is notable that the female test subject has not changed how she walks, talks, dresses, or says in each social situation.
Anonymous names have been used to protect the identity of the subjects
corporate lawyer: regrets law school, was a former backgammon champion, and is a guitar snob. Level of compatibility very very low
Haunted House Guy: enjoys scaring people, no career aspirations beyond that, has holey shoes
Level of compatibility somewhat low
Salsa Man: enjoys research, enjoys talking about existensalism, is a believer in the 10th dimension. Level of compatibility: not bad no chemistry
Bucharest boy: loves traveling, has mentally prepared for his parent's death, asked very intense questions about passion, strengths, and past relationships.
Level of compatibility: somewhat low
As more data becomes available more results from the study will be published.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Humanizing Homelessness
I must admit that I used to be one of those people that would cringe at the thought of some panhandler approaching me asking for change. I had the preconceived notion that they were drug or alcohol addicted and they would use the money to feed their habit. I lumped them into all into a group of lazy people who chose to live that lifestyle. I now know that I was very very judgemental and very very wrong.
My graduate studies really enlightened my thinking about homelessness and poverty. I now realize the complexity, difficulties, and prejudices about street involved people. It is not about choice or laziness, there are many factors that place people in that situation. I won't get into it here about the social inequity but I now have a different view about it.
Life lesson from Micah....
My niece Micah is another reason why I think about panhandlers differently. She is a bright three year old who makes me smile with her boundless energy and completely unjaded view of life. My sister told me a story about when Micah saw some homeless people while they were driving and asked why those people looked like that. At three she could see that they were different but she wanted to know why. My sister explained that they didn't have a home. She wanted to know why they couldn't just buy one. She was told that they didn't have the money to buy one, which immediately prompted to her to offer her piggy bank so they won't be homeless. Of course, she didn't understand the scale of money or poverty, but she did understand the principle of compassion. Ever since I heard that story, I try to keep her in mind whenever I see a homeless person. She inspires me to buy someone a coffee, give them food, or just smile at them and acknowledge them as a person and not a social pariah.
Another life lesson....
Almost every morning on my walk to work, at the corner of Burrard and Davie, there is an Aboriginal Man who sits on the corner playing a very lovely tune on the recorder. A few feet away there is a baby carriage filled with his possessions. Without fail, every morning he smiles, waves at me,wishes me a good morning, and as I walk past he tells me to have a good day. He never asks me for money but he always smiles at me. I don't know his name, he doesn't know my name, and we have only had the briefest of conversations. All I know is that he sleeps in a park. Yet, no matter what he always smiles at me and greets me enthusiastically. On my way across the Burrard street bridge, I see these well dressed individuals on their way to work and I often smile at them yet few of them smile at me back at me or wish me a good day.
I look forward to seeing him in the morning because no matter what he aknowledges me as someone worthy of his time and attention. He reminds me that I am human and that at least one person out there that will take the time to wish me a good morning. A smile does truly brighten the day.
I must admit that I used to be one of those people that would cringe at the thought of some panhandler approaching me asking for change. I had the preconceived notion that they were drug or alcohol addicted and they would use the money to feed their habit. I lumped them into all into a group of lazy people who chose to live that lifestyle. I now know that I was very very judgemental and very very wrong.
My graduate studies really enlightened my thinking about homelessness and poverty. I now realize the complexity, difficulties, and prejudices about street involved people. It is not about choice or laziness, there are many factors that place people in that situation. I won't get into it here about the social inequity but I now have a different view about it.
Life lesson from Micah....
My niece Micah is another reason why I think about panhandlers differently. She is a bright three year old who makes me smile with her boundless energy and completely unjaded view of life. My sister told me a story about when Micah saw some homeless people while they were driving and asked why those people looked like that. At three she could see that they were different but she wanted to know why. My sister explained that they didn't have a home. She wanted to know why they couldn't just buy one. She was told that they didn't have the money to buy one, which immediately prompted to her to offer her piggy bank so they won't be homeless. Of course, she didn't understand the scale of money or poverty, but she did understand the principle of compassion. Ever since I heard that story, I try to keep her in mind whenever I see a homeless person. She inspires me to buy someone a coffee, give them food, or just smile at them and acknowledge them as a person and not a social pariah.
Another life lesson....
Almost every morning on my walk to work, at the corner of Burrard and Davie, there is an Aboriginal Man who sits on the corner playing a very lovely tune on the recorder. A few feet away there is a baby carriage filled with his possessions. Without fail, every morning he smiles, waves at me,wishes me a good morning, and as I walk past he tells me to have a good day. He never asks me for money but he always smiles at me. I don't know his name, he doesn't know my name, and we have only had the briefest of conversations. All I know is that he sleeps in a park. Yet, no matter what he always smiles at me and greets me enthusiastically. On my way across the Burrard street bridge, I see these well dressed individuals on their way to work and I often smile at them yet few of them smile at me back at me or wish me a good day.
I look forward to seeing him in the morning because no matter what he aknowledges me as someone worthy of his time and attention. He reminds me that I am human and that at least one person out there that will take the time to wish me a good morning. A smile does truly brighten the day.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Life post-student
So yet again the blog has been woefully neglected. In the aftermath of post-defense and job searching the blog was very very low on the interest and priority list. I spent three months of work search and was beginning to feel like that I was going to have to move in with the parents because I couldn't find a job. Thank goodness that I reached out to some contacts and was fortunate enough to get a job in these economic times (this seems like a common theme). I started a job with the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDs. I am completely outside of my comfort zone, not only because I have no background in HIV/AIDS but I don't have a clue about the clinical management of HIV. I have spent the better part of the last month learning as much as I can about Antiretroviral drugs, the mechanisms of how they work, the etiology of HIV and the clinical management of it. I keep thinking back to 2nd year undergraduate physiology to understand the microbiology and mechanisms of the immune response. Often at the end of the day, my brain is full and I am ready to head home and decompress. With any job there is always that initial learning curve, it feels extra steep right now but I am determined to conquer it. With that said, I am also eager to get moving and making this job my own.
So yet again the blog has been woefully neglected. In the aftermath of post-defense and job searching the blog was very very low on the interest and priority list. I spent three months of work search and was beginning to feel like that I was going to have to move in with the parents because I couldn't find a job. Thank goodness that I reached out to some contacts and was fortunate enough to get a job in these economic times (this seems like a common theme). I started a job with the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDs. I am completely outside of my comfort zone, not only because I have no background in HIV/AIDS but I don't have a clue about the clinical management of HIV. I have spent the better part of the last month learning as much as I can about Antiretroviral drugs, the mechanisms of how they work, the etiology of HIV and the clinical management of it. I keep thinking back to 2nd year undergraduate physiology to understand the microbiology and mechanisms of the immune response. Often at the end of the day, my brain is full and I am ready to head home and decompress. With any job there is always that initial learning curve, it feels extra steep right now but I am determined to conquer it. With that said, I am also eager to get moving and making this job my own.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Happy Chinese New Year or Gung Hay Fat Choi
Growing up as a kid, Chinese New Years meant eating a big special meal, receiving lucky red envelopes with money, and driving into Vancouver for dim sum and lion dances. I can still remember going to Chinatown and hanging onto my grandmother's coat so I wouldn't get lost while watching the lions eat the lettuce. I was in awe of the lion dancers and how they could balance on each other to reach the lettuce. They were a far cry from my sisters and I holding a purple blanket pretending we were lion dancers jumping over the firecrackers.
With the hustle and bustle of our lives now, Chinese New Years has become one night where we all sit down together and have a large meal. Gone are the days of trips to Chinatown to see the Lion Dances and spending our lucky money together. But in this one night, it is a reminder of the importance of family and of culture and its traditions.
Happy year of the Ox.
Growing up as a kid, Chinese New Years meant eating a big special meal, receiving lucky red envelopes with money, and driving into Vancouver for dim sum and lion dances. I can still remember going to Chinatown and hanging onto my grandmother's coat so I wouldn't get lost while watching the lions eat the lettuce. I was in awe of the lion dancers and how they could balance on each other to reach the lettuce. They were a far cry from my sisters and I holding a purple blanket pretending we were lion dancers jumping over the firecrackers.
With the hustle and bustle of our lives now, Chinese New Years has become one night where we all sit down together and have a large meal. Gone are the days of trips to Chinatown to see the Lion Dances and spending our lucky money together. But in this one night, it is a reminder of the importance of family and of culture and its traditions.
Happy year of the Ox.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)