The Confluence | October 18th, 2019 | The Emi Award Winning Issue

Confluence

October 18th 2019

YOUR OFFICIAL COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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The Interview

If I were you...

Emi Moldovan - Editorial

Hey there,

My name is Emi Moldovan, and I just got hired as Editor-in-Chief in the Student Union. YEEEY I am 18 years old and I am from Romania, I moved to Canada almost three years ago. I love sports like soccer, ping-pong (table tennis), martial arts, American football, and many others. I am passionate about technology and all the cool things you can do with it. I like creating videos, so I have plans to start doing a lot more videos for The Confluence and hope you guys are going to like them.

I am a positive and friendly person, so if you see me around feel free to come and say “Hello.� Also, I am looking forward to your submissions and cool topics that you guys are interested in. Until next time, have a

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great week and good luck with the things you are up to!

Morning!

Emi Moldovan Editor-in-Chief

Hey Dudes- Editorial

Hello friends!

It has been a week of changes. I would like to give the warmest welcome to our two new team members: Guntas Arsh Kanda (Services Coordinator); and Emi Moldovan Simion (Editor-in-Chief). Guntas brings three years of human resource experience and two years of customer service experience and to top to off, she brings an infectious smile; while Emi brings his knowledge of web design, interest in film, and a fresh vision for The Confluence. Both of them make the student union even more welcoming, and I encourage you guys to pop in introduce yourselves. Especially following thanksgiving, they are added to the list of things to be thankful for.

Though Mr. Robinson has moved on to bigger and better things, his impact on The Confluence will last in our hearts. His dedication to make the magazine consistent, fun, and aesthetically pleasing will not be overlooked or forgotten. On the bright side, he hasn’t completely left The Confluence in the dust (I mean how could he?‌We are way to awesome).

He shall be overseeing the things myself and Emi decide to do, and he will advise us as needed. Good luck in the new position as Communications Officer Damon!

October 23rd and November 6th are flu shot days at the college.

Bring your care card and get vaccinated! Also, keep an eye out for the Zombie Walk coming up on October 30th. Starting at 12pm we will be doing face makeup, and at 2pm the walk starts. If you participate, you are eligible for a donut, so get on board. For more information, visit the CNC Student Union Local 4 facebook page, and share the link so more students can get involved!

News Editor

Leila Depenau Executive Director

Amy Barry Organizer

Ian Petrie Trades Rep.

Rebecca Clark-Gray Office & Services Coordinator

Shaun Edwards Health and Science Rep.

Carman Hill Quesnel Office & Services Coordinator

Navjot Singh Brar Business & Technology Rep.

Damon Robinson Communications Officer

Brandan Jack Indigenous Rep.

Guntas Arsh Kanda Service Coordinator

Brittany Idiens Quesnel Rep.

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Raegan Cote

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Nacho Average Article What do you call cheese that’s not yours?

by Raegan Cote

Nacho cheese, that’s my cheese!

Ah, I make myself laugh. Now let’s get down to business. I, as well as much of the population

of the world, am a big fan of the nacho. You can’t go wrong ordering nachos, no matter the time, place, or mood. Nachos for breakfast gives me as much joy as nachos in the evening. The moment I see my server come around the corner with a piping hot plate of tortillas and cheese, it makes me feel some kinda way.

My mission today is to educate the average nacho consumer about the best nachos in Prince

George. It isn’t always as simple as melting your ordinary toppings on chips, the consumer should feel the love with every crunch. I don’t want anyone to suffer through any more burnt cheese, soggy chips, or tasteless salsa. You may consider me your own personal Nacho Yoda. Follow me as I gift with you the top five nachos in town.

*Disclaimer: I have not been endorsed by any of the following restaurants. These are based on

my opinion and I do not claim they are facts.*

5. Starting us off in fifth place, the West Wood Pub is undoubtedly a go-to nacho stop. You

can’t beat sitting round the table and sharing some good ol’ classic pub grub, and the West Wood Pub does it right. Never underestimate the power of the pub nacho.

4. Boston Pizza nachos had to make it on the list. Don’t shame me, we all know they do a fan-

tastic nacho. There is consistently the perfect ratio of chip to cheese to vegetable. My favourite part is that you’ll never run out of salsa or sour cream, as they have the largest sauce ramekins of all the restaurants I have dined in.

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3. If you’ve ever set foot in the Great Canadian Brewhouse, I guarantee you would have seen

an order of these monster size nachos come waltzing out of the kitchen, all the way to a table of burly men ready to feast. These nachos are easily the best bank for your buck out of this list, this town, and potentially even the world. They are stacked so high that not even the hungriest of humans could manage. The chips are topped with the classic toppings, and therefore give you the authentic nacho taste. All of these reasons have pushed the Brewhouse up to third on the list.

2. Just shy of the very best, are BX Pub nachos. I’ve always thought the BX makes the best pub food in town, so it is no surprise they made it on the list. These nachos are topped with everything a nacho lover could ever dream of. From pickled jalapeños, to banana peppers, to black olives, these guys know how to do it the right way. Whether you are eating a single order to yourself, or feasting with others around a jug of beer, I couldn’t hold these nachos to a higher degree. The BX nachos have my respect. They are simply stellar.

1. Ringing in first place, is the Browns Social House nachos. Elevated from the classic pub

nachos, Browns fries their corn tortillas in house. The chips are then tossed in a smoky Mexican seasoning, and layered horizontally a silver tray, versus vertically like the usual order. This way, the toppings disperse evenly among the chips, and layer in such a way with each bite the flavours marry creating a sensory experience on the tastebuds. With each bite, ones tongue is enveloped with the spicy chunks of crisp jalapeño, the coolness of the sour cream, and the bright flavours of pico de gallo. This plate should be devoured and shared among loved ones, and is best paired with a classic margarita.

Despite this list being my favourites, I am never going to discriminate against a nacho.

All nachos are beautiful. I am still willing to accept other opinions, as I am not totally set in my ways quite yet. I dare you to change my mind, recommend me a nacho, I guarantee I’ll give it a go. Perhaps this article will provoke a nacho discourse, what a time that would be. To all the nacho lovers out there, I hope this list hit home. At the very least, I hope I’ve triggered a craving for nachos.

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The Interview

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By Gabrielle Sandhu

“If you weren’t here right now, where would you be?”

The question, too entirely large to digest, puzzled him.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… if I didn’t exist, and if you were single, where would you be right now?”

He looked at me through the skeptical corners of his eyes. The question seemed dangerous. It was uncalled for. We sat in a red leather booth on a cold November afternoon. The frost barely kissed the crisp glass window framed between our faces.

“That seems like a loaded question,” He eventually said.

“It’s not loaded, I’m just tossing hypotheticals. I thought it could be fun”, I shrugged.

After a few moments, his eyes perked up.

“Anywhere?”

“Anywhere” I reassured.

A small smile sprouted between his cheeks. “I’d see the world”.

“And where would you go?”

“As many places as I could get to, I guess. I’ve always wanted to go to Vietnam, or Thailand. Perhaps after that I’d go back to South America, and follow it all the way down its tail. And I’d at least want to spend one year in Australia” “Is that it?” I laughed.

“To start at least. I’d work a bit, something under the table of course, until I made enough money to pay for my next plane ticket. I’d close my eyes, hold my finger over the ‘Departures” board, and then I’d be on my way!

Only bringing as much as I could carry on my back. I figure it would take five vyears. What about you? What would you do?”

“I’d join the law enforcement” “Seriously?” He was stunned.

“Yeah, seriously,” I confessed.

“What would change?”

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“Well, if you weren’t in the picture…” I trailed off.

“You wouldn’t be afraid of making me a widower?” He poked.

“No… It’s just that, I would be able to move away. I could be stationed anywhere else in the country, and not have to worry about being away from you. Your bed would feel the same at night. You wouldn’t know the difference, neither of us would”.

The waitress then leaned over the table of our booth, her waist enclosed in a checkered apron. She laid the deep-dish pizza in front of us. The cheese bubbled on the surface; the steam rose to the ceiling of the quiet restaurant, and drew a veil between our faces. He picked up a slice between his brutish hands, and slapped it onto his plate.

“If I were to die, what would you do?”

He looked at me again. Initially mortified, and then distrustful. Wondering where these questions were coming from. But I returned his stare, bushwhacking through the thicket of his frustration.

“Why would you ask that?” He retorted “Because one of us is going first, and I want to know what happens to you if it’s me”. And after another pause, “I’d get a tattoo. Of you. Maybe not of you, but for you” “Where would you get it?”

“On my chest. Over my heart. Maybe some elephants, because you like elephants.”

I did not like elephants.

A few more minutes passed, we sat in silence. Trying to keep my tongue preoccupied, I passed a bolus of cheese and dough between my cheeks. And took even longer to swallow each bite. But like a cracked dam, my lips burst open. I couldn’t resist.

“What if we broke up?”

“What about it?” He shot back.

“What would you do?”

A deep sigh was drawn from the depths of his fully belly. He wiped his lips clean, and his fingers fiddled nervously with the tomato stained serviette.

“Well it depends… who broke up with who?” He asked.

“If I broke up with you, what would you do?”

“Same thing, hun. I would travel and never turn back. What would you do?”

My eyes fixed on the frost creeping up the window. Wondering if the arms of the frost ever managed to migrate from the corners of cold pane, or if the sun melted them before they ever got to touch. Only to wake up the next morning, and inevitably try again.

My fingers resting on the tabletop, coated in confetti of crumbs.

But this was no celebration.

“I’d move to Vancouver” “Really?” He criticized. He was caught of guard.

“You’d just pack and move to Van? And what would you do there?”

“I’d deal cocaine”, I whispered.

“Coke?”, He laughed, “But you don’t even smoke weed! And you’re telling me you’d deal coke? What happened to representing the law?”

I turned my head, colliding with the bullets of his disbelief.

“There would be nothing left after you. Not even to salvage. And nothing to risk because I would have nothing to risk”.

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Muted, again.

The waitress brought us the bill. We split.

“Would you wait for me?”

“If you broke up with me? No… I don’t think I would” “What if you broke up with me, and realized that it was a mistake? Would you wait for me then?” I inquired.

“No” He muttered. His gaze buried somewhere in his lap.

“Well, why not?”

“Because, it would be done. And it couldn’t be undone…even if I wanted it to.”

“You wouldn’t even try?”

“It wouldn’t be worth the trouble”, He decided.

Bitterly, I smiled. My eyelashes grew wet. I leaned over the table and pecked him on the lips. Picking up the last of the crumbs from the skin.

“Well, it’s a good thing that you’re still here” I said sweetly.

We both chuckled. His hand reached out from across the table, and swallowed mine whole. He kissed me again.

Softly. Longingly.

Regretfully.

Digital Art Work

by Sushant Bhawra

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Confluence The

I f I We r e You . . .

Poem by Fidela Abarca ...If I were you

I would give me flowers, because those are lovely, That’s how you described me the first time you saw me.

But the petals are gone, the leaves dried out, Like your feelings for me, now GONE, now OUT. ...If I were you I would dance with me singing my favorite song, I’d let me step on my feet, sway with the beat.

I’d hug me tight, and hold me all night, I would never be alone, I would never let me go. ...If I were you I would let me wear my favorite jeans, I have a lot of curves, I know, I can’t hide them, Like I can’t hide the pain the last time you said…

“You don’t look good, out of fashion trend!” ...If I were you

...If I were you

I would share with me the breakfast I prepared, “You want it in the dining? You want it in bed?”

But hey, my voice seemed never heard.

I kept calling your name and begged you to stay, But you kept distance and just walked away.

You were not this way, the night you said, “I will give you the sun, the moon, and the stars.”

I didn’t want your Universe, I just want U, You are my sun, the center, and my life revolves around you, But you left me in the dark, I couldn’t see anything but blue.

I was afraid that one day this moment would come, When all the pieces of our memories were gone.

What about the vows we said on that altar, Did you mean them? You were excited and now you falter?

If keeping my mouth shut means to keep us, Then I will not say a word, no topic to discuss.

I just had one wish, that is, I speak to me

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While I held my hand, I would assure me nothing is really hard.

But you left me in that coffee shop when your friends came by, Were you ashamed of me? You left with no goodbye. ...If I were you

I would watch a romantic movie with me, I would share my popcorn with me and let me sip with my coffee.

I was fighting with myself with the remote control, Because your never home, you are REMOTE, but in CONTROL.

Stay in The Loop: What’s on the next issue?

Halloween is around the corner, so our next issue we will be doing the annual “Spooky Issue.” Submit all things eery, weird, and Halloween themed. Whether it is poetry, ghost stories, haunting art or wed design—- we want it all. Submit within the next week and potentially be published. Just as a reminder: you get $20 upon your work being published in the magazine.

With Emanuel Moldovan as our new Editor-in-Chief, he has a passion for video creation.

Though we have a couple ideas on the go, we are looking to you guys for answers. What would you want to see from us? It would likely be posted on our Confluence facebook page, and potentially YouTube as well. We want to provide you guys the content you are looking for.

Calendar schedule for future issues: October 28th, 2019: Spooky Issue. Primarily Halloween-themed submissions.

November 8th, 2019: Diwali and International Issue. Primarily submissions from International students.

November 29th, 2019: Normal Issue. Submit as regular.

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Stay in The Loop:

Confluence The

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