Vol. 61 Issue 9

e x p l o r at i o n w i t h i n t e n t i o n

The Inquirer The official student newspaper of canadian university college

a n au ro r a c h ro n i c l e s pu b l i c at i o n

{“lo o k i n g bac k to g o fo rwa r d” by c h a n ta l l eotau d}

issue

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9

volume

61 • February 10, 2014

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In The Brain

Editor’s Note “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

- Maya Angelou

Pr ay e r.

Inside...

by K ry z i a a bac a n

3

In the brain

4

noteworthy notes

Prayer.

5 black history month “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened?”

It is a familiar response to a vague prayer request. We are closing our group meeting and as tradition should have it, prayer is a way to As you’ll see mentioned on page 5 of this issue, February can be a strange month. Our campus, being one of the top Canadian leaders in canoodling, is gearing up for the season of love.

Which is great and all, but how are we to juggle our amorous inclinations and the one month out of the year that the history of Blacks (which ranges in diversity) is celebrated and spoken about openly.

This issue is unique as I believe that it is trying to balance, or reflect, heartfelt feelings - ranging in all forms of love - to longing.

6

blast from the past

7

book and movie list 2014

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened?”

8

What is being longed for?

10

Well, identity.

12

Remembering one, or a group of people’s, past, shouldn’t necessarily be a painful thing. In looking back, even if it is in a longing manner, there are very valuable perspectives that we can adopt today for a better future. Where we come from can tell us about who we are identity-wise, and can also lead to a lot of discussion about what changes need to be made.

As we jouney through Februrary, remember: asking questions is the first step to understanding each other and positive change.

Time to Play Mas’

close. But before we close with prayer, we must ask if there are any prayer requests. There are those who are quick to reply with requests to pray for his mother who is sick with the flu or pray for her as she takes her test tomorrow. Those requests are more than simple to remember and move on from. Then after a few moments of silence, there are one or two prayer requests that trigger the curiosity deep within.

There are those prayer requests that make us linger and question, such as: “Please pray for a personal situation that I’m going through.”

Salt

What we’re listening to

If You Give a Kid a Million Bucks?

the honest traveller

There is a hesitation to reply, as their eyes shift around the room, contemplating on whether to share something so personal with a room full of people who may not be strangers, but they are most certainly not close friends. In those few moments, they must decide whether they trust these people enough with a very intimate detail about their life and it will not leave the confines of the room. The beads of sweat begin to appear on their forehead, as they stumble through “um” and “uh,” starting to regret mentioning the prayer request in the first place. Despite the hesitation and the uneasiness, we longingly wait for the reply, following it up with: “Don’t worry: we’re family here.”

14 submissions

It is human nature to wonder, to be curious, to want to know all of the details. But it is during these moments that we should fight that urge, that curiosity, that inquisitiveness. The focus should not be on what exactly is it that needs to be prayed for, but the focus should be on the fact that they need us to lift them up in prayer. Forget the details. Forget the story behind the request. Forget feeding our human desire to know everything, instead feed the desire to simply lift up those who are asking for prayer.

15

I was watching church online one Sabbath and the pastor at Mt. Rubidoux was preaching about loving our enemies. There was a statement he made that has stuck with me ever since I watched that particular sermon: “If you really want to pray with someone, you don’t even need to know what it’s about. You don’t need to know because you can’t fix it. The only One who can fix it already knows. I don’t need to know.”

the listener

Sapphire w.

There are moments when we diminish the power of prayer because of our human need to know all the details. We ignore the fact that someone needs prayer, regardless of the details or the reasons. There is someone standing in front of us asking us to lift them up to God, to pray on their behalf, because they need the prayer. We trump the power of prayer with our desire to know what God already knows.

“I can’t pray for something that I don’t know.”

To submit questions, response, art, or an article: - swoods@cauc.ca - sachronicles@gmailcom The content of this newspaper represents the views, opinions and interests of the students on the Aurora Chronicles (The Inquirer) Editorial Team. Readers should not assume that what they find in this newspaper is automatically endorsed or supported by the CUC Student Association, Canadian University College, its Administration or its employees. What you find here may very well be one student writer’s opinion. While we, the Editorial Team, do our best to ensure that the information provided is correct, mistakes do occur and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the material. If you do notice any mistakes or you disagree with the appropriateness of any of the content please contact the editorial team directly at sachronicles@gmail.com

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It’s not about what you know: It’s about Who you know. It’s about knowing that you may not know the intimate details, but you know Someone who already knows and will work it out according to His will.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

The Inquirer

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Noteworthy Notes st u d e n t d i s co u n t s

• Taco Time: 10% off of all menu items • (NOTE: There’s a FREE loyalty card waiting for you at the counter so you can collect points and receive FREE food; Vegetarian and Gluten-free options will be available soon as per our request.)

• Extreme Pita & Subway: 10% off • Joey’s Seafood: 10% off of regular-priced menu items • Panago: 10% off on orders of $20 purchase and above • Just Pizza (JP’s): FREE DRINK for every $3 slice • 15% off of every $20 purchase and above • FREE 8 WINGS for the purchase of TWO LARGE PIZZAS • A&W: *FREE TEEN BURGER with purchase of a TEEN BURGER COMBO (NOTE: Make sure to get your A&W loyalty card from Student Services on Monday, February 3 in order to access this deal.)

• Boston Pizza: 10% off of every purchase of $20 and above

We are currently negotiating more deals on your behalf with Shopper Drugs Mart (up to 10 or 15% off of all products); Letos; Sushi Maru; and Nappa Auto Parts (up to 25% off for oil change and tire change).

If you have any other places you would like us to try, email us at SA@cauc.ca.

find articles at : http://cucaurorachronicles.com/

Febuary 10, 2014

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Black History Month at CUC by s a pph i r e Wo o d s

n u r s i n g pro g r a m w/ r d c

I used to hate February for two reasons: valentine’s day and Black History month. Firstly, as being one out of the handful of Black kids in my SDA gradeschool classroom from since I can remember, BHM has been the cause of so much confusion and stress. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact I hadn’t been taught a history that wasn’t actually “mine,” but was expected to know everything about Black history and somehow wear my blackness under a different light. And then, before BHM could even get underway, BAM! hit with V-day which throws off much needed focus on much needed dialogue.

Red Deer, January 31, 2014 – Red Deer College and Canadian University College (CUC) have completed a unique agreement that will afford nursing students the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of both campuses.

The unprecedented four-year agreement, signed earlier today, will provide up to eight seats for CUC students to join RDC students in the University of Alberta Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Red Deer College. While students will continue to live at the university campus of CUC, they will take their courses at RDC where they will work to attain the degree.

The agreement targets students who would typically opt for a faithbased education, but are also interested in RDC’s renowned BScN program.

Mark Haynal, CUC President, is excited about the opportunity this collaboration with Red Deer College provides for CUC students. “Canadian University College students want to serve their communities with confidence, competence, and compassion. Many of our students and their families regard professions in the health care field as an important way to meet their communities’ needs.

The opportunity to earn a nursing degree at Red Deer College while living on the Canadian University College campus allows our students to realize their dreams of compassionate service.”

Students first apply to CUC, and, once accepted, are eligible to go through the competitive entry process for entry into the BScN program at RDC. They must meet the program requirements outlined by RDC.

With the current shortage of registered nurses in Alberta, post-secondary institutions like RDC are working to find innovative ways to increase seats in already over-subscribed programs in the province.

The agreement is inspired by Campus Alberta, a provincial government concept introduced in 2002. The concept encourages Alberta’s post-secondary institutions to work together to make Alberta’s post-secondary system a leader. RDC President Joel Ward says the agreement is at the core of Campus Alberta values.

“This agreement is an excellent example of the collaboration that’s possible between post-secondary institutions in the province,” he says. “We’re always striving to create the learning experience that fits each student’s needs, and CUC came to us with an excellent opportunity to do just that.”

Red Deer College has offered the BScN through an agreement with the University of Alberta since 1990. Though the degree is conferred by the University of Alberta, students are able to complete all of their coursework at RDC. Along with the eight seats opened through the agreement, RDC currently offers 96 seats in the program.

The agreement officially commences on March 1 of this year.

SAPresident Abacan write on the newspaper blog: “One of our new chaplains, Pastor Shantel Smith, made it her task to not resurrect the old methods that caused hurt, but establish a new tradition of worship and ministry with the help of the pastoral team at College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church. She believes that people are lost without history, emphasizing that “Black History Month isn’t about bashing or an annual guilt trip: it’s about remembering those that have gone ahead of us and what we can learn from their legacy.”

This thought explains the chosen theme for the month: “The Miseducation of Our History.”

This isn’t about a certain history; this is about our history. It is about looking back together and taking the positive with us as we move forward together.”

As Black History Month is in its thick, take time not only to get educated about Black history, but also take the time to ask much needed questions. “[...]Join us for a month of programs put on by our students, in hopes of moving past the old methods and creating something new.”

Send in your comments, essays, questions, or statements to the newspaper to open up the conversation on Black History Month. How is this month’s focus affecting you?

find article at : http://cucaurorachronicles.com/2014/01/31/campusministries-black-history-month/

The Inquirer

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14-02-05 12:48 AM

blast from the past t i m e to pl ay m a s’ by c h a n ta l j a n l eotau d

While North America gears up for Black History month, Trinidad wines dong (winds down) for Carnival -the greatest show on earth, a masquerade. Revelers come out to play mas’ on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. This tradition of Mas’ started in the late 18th century when French plantation owners organized masquerades right before fasting for Lent. You’re probably wondering why the French were there huh? Well, the French Revolution had happened and estates/land were offered to the French who wanted to move and hopefully colonize.

During the annual masquerade, which locals shortened to mas’, the enslaved would go buck wild-- even venturing to mock their enslavers through rhythmic chants that were coined “Calypso.” Calypso was music of choice during the bacchanal of the extra long weekend. Although the French had Mas’, the enslaved celebrated their own calling it Canboulay (French patois for burned cane). Yes, Trinbagonians speak a little French patois as well. In fact, Trinidad became a British Crown colony in 1797; and a French speaking one at that. We got Spanish as our second language, after English, because of Columbus’ visit and all that came with it -- go figure.

Out of Canboulay came a few characters that were integrated into the bacchanal. The Jab Molaisse (Molasses Devil) is one of a variety of the local devil manifestations. The Jab Molaisse pants were usually cut off and the human body covered in tar-like substance while the Jab Molaisse stayed chained by the necks and arms. The participators would gyrate, or “wine” as the locals now call it, to the rhythm of pots and tins, while pulling on the jerking chains in a wild dance.

What a sweet relief for them, I imagine. Dame Lorraine is my favourite of characters during the weekend. It was when the women dressed up as French Aristocrats and joined in the reveling.

Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago has been the festival that everyone looks forward to. It’s the biggest revenue maker in the local Tourism sector and the time when everyone both old and young can wine down, no sorry, wind down, and begin fasting (if you are Roman Catholic, of course).

Jab Molaisse http://history-is-made-at-night.blogspot.ca/2007/02/trinidad-carnival.html

Dame Lorraine h t t p : / / c a r i b b e a n - b e a t. c o m / i s s u e - 1 1 3 / h a p p e n i n g s -j a n u a r y f e b r u a r y 2012#axzz2sQU8SBuo

Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.

Malcolm X

Revelers h t t p : / / c a r i b b e a n - b e a t. c o m / i s s u e - 1 1 3 / h a p p e n i n g s -j a n u a r y f e b r u a r y 2012#axzz2sQU8SBuo

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The Inquirer

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[Envy] Milady

Salt

Oh that I may be as you are, mi lady, Fair, within and out, A treasure, as rarely ever was, For whom a fellow, His life readily surrenders.

“We are the salt of the earth,” “take it with a grain of salt,” and “add a pinch of salt for flavor.” Read The Inquirer for your twice monthly dose of “Salt” with Marthe Paul. Cheers!

Pink, poms, pouf, plush toys, and petites bouchées de chocolat!

Ah, yes! Valentine’s Day draws near and the world has gone mad with “love”. Capitalists have also gone mad with visions of la vie en rose. They have a plan for everyone, don’t’cha know? “You’ve got someone special? We’ve got roses on special!” “You’ve got no one special? Join our speed dating social, fifty percent off early tickets!”

“Want to meet someone special? Ladies get free entry all night Valentine’s night at the local club, fellows get to pay twice the regular price”.

Now please don’t misunderstand. Far be it from me to drag a black cloud over anybody’s parade; I too do appreciate a wrapped box of Ferrero Rocher during love mania. I simply believe that, if we are going to set a day aside to celebrate it, then something as multifacetted as love ought to be examined from various angles and not just how Harlequin portrays it.

With that said, when memorable love and love issues happen we immortalize them in poetry, songs, or letters. So, I am sharing some with you. The poems and letters that follow are an illustration of love in three of its many forms: Amity (friendship, envy (no explanation there), and treachery (AKA adultery). Until next time, much love!

Amity] My Dear Chantal A love letter to one who is not my lover Who better to honour Than my dear Chantal?

May I mourn you For you are no more?

To a friendship true, To my dear Chantal.

Might I be wroth with you For being where you were For now your journey is through?

Why, my dear Chantal?

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Ought I dry my tears, Sigh and carry on?

Say, “thanks for the years”, My dear Chantal?

Might I reminisce Of times gone by, Days of simple bliss, My dear Chantal?

I wicked and foul, You, kind and pure have left behind The fruit of your womb, Oh dear Chantal.

Might I that day erase When disaster succeeded In stilling the face Of my dear Chantal?

Why was it not I? Why am I yet spared?

I plead and I yet cry For you, my dead Chantal.

I lift my head to the sky Close my eyes for a while I see you passing by, Near to me, my dear Chantal.

Oh that I may be as you, mi lady, One who all rise and call blessed One whose speech wins the heart to heaven, And whose deportment to be coveted.

Oh that I might resemble you, And enthrall as you do, Capture many a mind As you do, Wield so great a wisdom, As you do, Retain so valued an affection, As you do Be lauded in my absence, As you are, Revered of my brethren, As you are, Sung by my children, As you shall, Be loved of my husband, As you will.

Oh that I should be like you, mi lady, And yet still be me.

- Marthe Paul: Written about a kind woman who belonged to a man whom I struggled not to fall in love with.

[Treachery] Courtesan

I said to my children, “Talk things over with your mother. Talk to her. She isn’t acting like a wife to me anymore. She no longer treats me as her husband. Tell her to stop looking and acting like a prostitute. Tell her not to let her lovers lie on her breasts anymore.

If she doesn’t stop it, I will strip her naked. I’ll make her as bare as she was on the day she was born. I’ll make her like a desert. She will become like dry land. And I’ll let her die of thirst.”

She said, “I will chase after my lovers.

So I will block her path with bushes that have thorns. I’ll build a wall around her. Then she can’t go to her lovers.

She will still chase after her lovers. But she won’t catch them. She’ll look for them. But she won’t find them. Then she’ll say, “I’ll go back to my husband. That’s where I was at first. I was better off then than I am now.”

She wouldn’t admit that I was the one who gave her everything she had.

So now I’ll uncover her body. All of her lovers will see it. No one can stop me from punishing her. I will put a stop to the special times she celebrates. I’ll bring an end to the feasts she celebrates each year. I will punish her for all of the times she did that. She decorated herself with rings and jewelry. Then she went after her lovers. But she forgot all about me…

“So now I am going to draw her back to me. I will lead her into the desert. There I will speak tenderly to her.

Then she will love me, as she did when she was young.

She will belong to me forever. I will do to her what is right and fair.

I will love her tenderly.

I will be faithful to her.

I will show my love to the one I called Not My Loved One. - The One and Only God: for you and me, when we are too taken up with essays, part-time jobs, and socializing to Acknowledge Him. He does not punish us but chooses to restore and love us with a love that all the accessories of Valentine’s Day could not capture.

(Adapted from Hosea 2: 1-23, NIRV)

Of what purpose is this, alas?

You remain stilled While fury I amass Because of you, my dear Chantal.

But herein is my hope found That again I shall find you On the day of the trumpet sound My dear, dear, Chantal.

- Marthe Paul: For my childhood best friend who passed away during the Haiti 2010 Earthquake.

The Inquirer

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m ov i e s

What we’re listening to

books • The Help - Kathryn Stockett

• The Butler (2013)

I f yo u g i v e a k i d a m i l l i o n b u c k s?

• -To Sir, With Love (1967)

• Possessing the Secret of Joy - Alice Walker • Black Like Me - John Howard Griffin

• -Amistad (1997)

by R i c h a r d M ac D o u g a l l

• Push - Sapphire

• -12 Years a Slave (2013) • Roots (1977)

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou • Letter My Daughter - Maya Angelou

• The Colour Purple (1985) • -A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

By now I’m sure you’ve read about Justin Bieber’s arrest, but just in case you haven’t, I’ll get you caught up. A couple weeks ago “The Biebs” was arrested for a DUI and for street racing.

You know, what a filthy rich 19-year-old kid would probably be doing. Probably what Bruce Wayne did at that age. Unless he wasn’t rich back then. I don’t know, I don’t read Batman. I just like Christopher Nolan. The bottom line is that Bieber’s behaviour, while reckless and irresponsible, really isn’t all that shocking. I knew some dumb kids, and I myself am still a dumb kid and if I had as much money as Justin Bieber I’d probably be dead. What’s disturbing me right now is his fan base, largely made up of young, impressionable teenage girls who see their hero, a 19-year-old boy who calls himself “The Biebs,” as an infallible and important member of society. As I’m sure you know, Twitter is the haunt for these types. Apparently 3% of Twitter’s servers are dedicated to Bieber and specifically Bieber-oriented accounts (outshadowed only by spam accounts at 5%), which is an incredible number in the grand scheme of things. The numbers get enormous when you consider every account that uses the words “belieber,” “bieber,” or “justin” in its name. Let’s take a look at some highlights: “@YthenLovesJB justin saved millions of lives while he was still broken himself he is a real hero #WeWillAlwaysSupportYouJustin” “@ohgoditsbiebas I made a promise 6 years ago. That I will never leave him. I’m keeping that promise. #WeWillAlwaysSupportYouJustin”

I could elaborate on why this is indeed so scary, but I feel like it’s pretty self-explanatory.

And now for something completely different: Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux, and Serengeti have announced a full-length LP under the name Sysiphus (for those of you familiar with the trio’s previous EP under the name s/s/s, note that “Sisyphus” also uses three S’s). The eclectic combination of minds behind 2012’s s/s/s created an EP of electronica/R&B. The first time you hear Sufjan Stevens’ autotuned voice supporting Serengeti’s rapping it comes across as completely alien, but in light of The Age of Adz it’s a manageable switch. So far the opening track, “Calm it Down,” has been released on YouTube in the form of a lyric video, and Sufjan posted a demo version of “Take Me” on his Tumblr and Soundcloud, which has a more ambient electronica feel somewhat reminiscent of Moonface.

Check it out. Catch the vibes. Until next time, I leave you with this post taken from Sufjan Stevens’ Tumblr. Take from it what you will.

“Shout out to over-sexed teenagers. Shout out to sex abbreviations that sound like the word ‘puberty.’ Shout out to animal euthanasia as sexual innuendo. Shout out to the new genre: nymphomaniac pop. Shout out to my Biebs. Go get some, bro.

I’ll be reading the psalms, eating Scotch oatmeal cookies, etc.

The world is abundant.”

• To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) • I Am Slave (2010) • Men of Honor (2000) • Ali (2001) • Akeelah and the Bee (2006) • Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

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• Brown Girl in the Ring - Nalo Hopkinson • For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf - Ntozake Shange • Assata: An Autobiography - Assata Shakur • Raven in a Dove House - Andrea Davis Pinkney • The

Interesting

Narrative

and

Other

Stories

- Olaudah Equiano

• Django Unchained (2012)

• Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

• Malcolm X (1992)

• Black Skin White Masks - Frantz Fanon

• Glory (1989)

• Decoded - Jay-Z

• Shawshank Redemption (1994)

• Beloved - Toni Morrison

• The Green Mile (1999)

• Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

• Stand By Me (1986)

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X - as told to Alex Haley

• Beloved (1998)

• Waiting to Exhale - Terry McMillan • Zami: A New Spelling of My Name - Audrey Lorde • Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe

“@bieberftgarcia “Justin, you saved millions of lives, not destroy yours.” @justinbieber #WeWillAlwaysSupportYouJustin” Febuary 10, 2014

• Bloodchild and Other Stories - Octavia E. Butler

The Inquirer

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The honest traveller a r i s k-f r e e i n v e st m e n t

by C h a n d l e r J o r da n a with Sererna

As young, free, university students in Canada, we all have a great opportunity presented before us. Each summer, there are countless travel opportunities, all of which are so easy to become a part of. We as students have a great obligation to make use of the resources around for travel. That’s correct, it’s an obligation. If we look at things from a financial, cultural, and spiritual lens, our lives at this stage are ripe with reasons to travel now.

Beginning with the financial point of view, most of us just push the thought from one ear and out the next, thinking, “I definitely can’t afford it”. As much as I hate being in debt, I’m thankful that the only debts I have at the moment are for university. As we all know, with student loans, there’s no interest until 6 months after graduating (and still then, a small amount of interest), and almost no one who needs the money is rejected in applying for it. Furthermore, the government often gives out grants (free money!) to many students in need, often without a separate application. When I went to the university in Collonges, France for 2 summer months, I received student loans and a grant from the government for “summer school”. The neat thing about CUC is that when you apply for a loan for summer school, you can use the money for summer school at CUC, or at any Aventist Colleges Abroad schools (there are 8 countries currently offering summer programs; Austria, Brazil, China, France, Isreal, Italy, Spain, and Ukraine. See www. aca-noborders.com). If you’re still unsettled about taking out more student loans when you’re already swimming in CUC loans, remember that your education is an investment that will almost guarantee you a better job, especially if it entails a new language. Using student loans Febuary 10, 2014

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to study abroad stretches your education in ways that a classroom in Alberta could never do – and that is an asset you will never regret investing in.

When we look at the cultural aspect of travel, many people don’t realize this until they have returned. This area is especially relevant when traveling to cultures that are less fortunate than Canada. As a Canadian student, it’s difficult to imagine life without everything at our fingertips. When you immerse yourself in another culture, you can begin to mature in a way you couldn’t have at home. Your understanding of what happiness is changes, your realization of how lucky we are to live freely here in Canada becomes real, and your perspective on what is really important comes to surface. This is a bit abstract, as it affects each person differently, but one thing I guarantee is, that traveling will change you for the better.

The other aspect of culture that is really apparent while traveling is that people all over the world love Canadians! This area is more apparent when traveling to countries similar to ours. For example, in Europe, everywhere I went I was welcomed warmly as a Canadian if I got the chance to mention it; however some of my American friends weren’t so lucky. I even had some Americans pretend to be Canadian while traveling with us. Another interesting difference was the social interaction between young people. I noticed this in France; I met a fifteen-year-old girl and her friends while walking home one night, and I would have never guessed her age if she hadn’t told me. I didn’t see her phone while she spoke to me, she looked me in the eyes, and she asked intelligent questions that she seemed sincerely interested in hearing answers to. Do you ever get the feel that young teens

in North America are the opposite? It was so refreshing!

It made me view younger people in a different light, even if it’s less common to see youngsters like that in Canada.

Seeing how obvious this difference was made me appreciate social etiquette in interaction much more.

Finally, I want you to look at the spiritual aspect of traveling abroad. If you’re traveling with ACA, the programs are great for spiritual growth because you get to spend time with Christian’s who worship in a new way.

There are so many ways to praise God in fellowship with other believers, and you will get to see it while you’re abroad. It can be very interesting to see the culture mixed into the way they worship, and hearing familiar songs with a new language singing it. In church one night in Collonges, I looked around at the people singing beside me and felt like that’s what Heaven will be like – so many different people from all over the world, singing together for One God. This kind of feeling is unmatched. Another spiritually related aspect is that the faith you put in God while you’re traveling can really prove its power too.

There were countless times where the stress was high because something horrible had the potential to unravel (don’t want to scare anyone with the details). Things did go wrong sometimes, it wasn’t perfect, but in the end, God brought everyone home safe and full of new experiences, good and bad. Why don’t you see what God can show you abroad too?

Now, don’t get me wrong. As I have made clear in earlier articles, there were many things abroad that I was disappointed about, struggled with, and stressed about – but not one of those things would make me take back the trip. I learned the hard way about budgeting, bank fees, directional skills, time management, and organization. But isn’t learning the hard way, sometimes the best way? Each one of those areas that were tested became stronger after each trial. These are the reasons every student should go abroad; you will return to Canada with some useful upgrades (like maybe having better language skills), you will appreciate new things you may have been overlooking, and you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your relationship with God – all with the reassurance that you have successfully invested, risk-free, into your future.

E x t r a t r av e l a dv i c e 1 • Over and over again students who have been in the ACA program advise other students who are coming to forget that they came from North America and how good things were there, and to try to understand and adapt themselves to the new campus and country culture. Avoiding references to how good it is back home and how things are done in Canada or the United States will go a long way in helping to develop positive friendships abroad.

• Students who force themselves and those around them to speak only in the host language, and not English, succeed rapidly. Of course, if one is outgoing, that is easier, but even students who are more timid must push themselves to seek host country friends, to speak the host country language, and to insist that others do likewise. Whenever possible, in social types of occasions--when eating in the cafeteria, going to worship, playing athletic games, or attending other kinds of social occasions--ACA students need to seek out host country persons for fellowship. Nothing sounds better to host country people than their ‘mother’ tongue, and they are delighted to help students learn it by speaking to them.

• There may be some criticism of Americans and Canadians by host country students. They are the hosts. It is their country, and they are proud of it and the way they do things. If someone is less flexible and adaptable and does not seem to wish to be a part of their culture, it will bring separation and perhaps strong criticism. There have been students from the United States and Canada who have not been positive in their behavior, and often current ACA students will need to undo the negative impressions that have been left by insensitive students from the past.

1 find article “Preparing to travel:ugly north americans” http:// www.aca-noborders.com/info/summer/Preparing/48

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the listener

submissions the drive

by Jacqui McCarty

“C arnival T abanca ” - B unji G arlin I am not one who is easily excited by Trinidad’s Carnival as

I drove to Stettler

at 10pm tonight I always wondered where that one road went but never took the time to find out oddly enough I was born there

maybe going back to the beginning

would make sense of the end I didn’t want to go home for ambiguously obvious reasons there’s no place to be alone with your own thoughts I thought about that one trip like a late night drive we played eye spy and grandpa was the

one to point out that there’s not much to “spy” in Saskatchewan I thought about his funeral and how there wasn’t a dry eye in the place and the whole time I was singing I was wishing he was there to hear it I thought about how bright the moon is

tonight and how useless I am without you

and how this road smells like a rancid pot

of taco soup and how upset I am at the thought I thought about the physics of car crashes of taco soup and the different places my car could land if it felt like exploring the ditch my anxiety is almost gone and how my loud as sin car it’s been two weeks probably just woke up the whole neighbourhood

it would be so easy for a fast food worker to poison me that would make for a great tombstone “poisoned by an iced cappuccino, the thing that kept her awake finally let her sleep” “Where are you?”

“I’m not sure.”

I wanted to see what pulling the e-brake at 110 would do but decided against it I want to get married and travel a little “Haunted Lake Golf Course” more and dress up as a hobo and see Why would I want to golf by a haunted lake? how it feels to be looked at differently Why would I want to golf at all?

A SHOOTING STAR! THERE’S MY SIGN!

Damn. That’s an airplane tower. the snow is a rolling sea of ice illuminated by a distant eye of light

I wonder what light I’m reflecting By driving away

In the middle of the night.

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many of my peers in Trinbago. This song, however, gave me tabanca; even without a previous love for Carnival. It is one to

w h at ’s o n

make you hold your head, and wave it like a flag. Let me know what you think

“T he F og ” - M achel M ontano (M ajor L azer & G randtheft R emix ) Seeing that Trinidad and Tobago is preparing for “The Greatest Show on Earth: Carnival” in these coming weeks, I found

“T ake M e ” - S ufjan S tevens “S creens ” - A nimal C ollective “S lumberjack ” - A lta M ira “W elcome

to the

F amily ” - M y L uminar -

ies

my playlist getting a bit more upbeat. This song reminds me of showering underneath the blast of a waterfall – rejuvenating.

- C.J.L

“H oney and Q ueen ” - A merican R oyalty Sometimes I feel really hardcore. For instance, getting ready for school can be an attempt not for the faint of heart. On those particularly difficult, icy mornings, I have to blast something

“I ntrospection ” - F aine J ade

sick. As you know by now, I’m a bass junkie and this song is dripping with intoxicating drums, but a mellow steady beat

“C amp O ut ” - A n H orse

that gets my heart rate up to human levels. At random intervals, the slight and unexpected key change gets me a little excited--the kind of exciting that keeps the pep in my step all day long. If you like this song, their EP “Prismatic” is up for hardcore listening. http://americanroyalty.bandcamp.com

“ the to in

• suite no 2, allegret C major ” - C harly and M argaux

lone ranger

Charly and Margaux are not sisters. In fact, the story of how they met is a bit extraordinary, but all that matters now is that they play a wicked mix of classical and contemporary violin and viola. They’ve tagged their sound as “experiemental, afro-cuban, baroque, chamber rock, metro-classical, original.”

If you’re not already intrigued by their description of the music they create with each other, they extraordinary style will grab you for sure! Check out their Gallerina Suites here: http://charlyandmargaux.bandcamp.com - S.W.

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brotherhood Martin Luther King nonviolence segregation peace assassination change civil rights Nobel Peace Prize freedom black Americans equal rights Febuary 10, 2014

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