Thursday, September 11, 2008

Sunshine in the midst of darkness...



Reading and writing about what the worst atrocities a human being is capable of doing has started to have some impact on my moods, my spirit ... It took a simple one big sunflower to brighten my day in such a very special way. Looking at it, as many days as it will last, helps me bring some sunshine into the darkness of my dissertation subject ....

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Québec 400ème anniversaire/Québec city's 400th Anniversary

Le weekend dernier, Marcel et moi sommes allés à la ville de Québec afin de profiter des célébrations liées au 400ème anniversaire de la création de la ville. .

Last weekend Marcel and I went to Québec to take advantage of the 400th anniversary celebration.

Québec City, the only Canadian city declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrates the 400th anniversary of its founding, which also marks the founding of Canada.


Pour l'histoire vous pouvez consulter ce site/for more history you can consult this website
http://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca/fr/exploration/histoire.shtml

Désolé pour l'ordre des photos le blog ne marche pas bien/sorry for the order of the pictures the blog is acting out











Even Gandhi is represented in Québec

Friday, August 15, 2008

Another reminder ... to fully embrace and appreciate life on a daily manner ....

Through a former co-worker and friend I just found out that a former patient who we both cared for while working at the hospital died of a 2 year battle with cancer at the age of 37. She was diagnosed with colon cancer when she gave birth to her first child and was told then to have 6 months to live.


"As Cancer Lingered, She Lived a Bold Life":
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/health/05cancer.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss


Too often, I forget how fragile life can be and how suddenly everything can vanish ... Unfortunately, it takes stories like this to bring me back to the appreciation of life and realizing that I need to do a better job at cherishing what I have ...

Monday, August 11, 2008

New Hamphsire/Maine Coast
















Just returned from a few day trip on the New Hamphire and Maine coast. Marcel took me away from Montreal to celebrate my birthday as well as get some rest before starting his new position and my 3 months of intense studies. The weather was not as warm and sunny as expected for summer but we were able to have 3 days mostly dry which allowed us to enjoy the beauty of the coast and being outdoors. I had a wonderful birthday that was extended over 4 days; never experienced this before! ;) Besides having a wonderful time with Marcel, the highlights of the trip were eating a fresh lobster on the beach and getting my toes painted in red for the first time ever! (weird eh for a 38 year old woman ;) )

Monday, August 4, 2008

Ce qu'il reste de nous/What remains of us















Just watched a powerful documentary on Tibet "What remains of us". I highly recommended it; it's a very moving and informative documentary on the impact of the Chinese oppression on the Tibetans' spirituality, traditions and culture. We cannot and must not be insensitive and passive of this tragedy... at the same time I'm not sure where to start...

Forced to seek refuge in India and still viewed by China as a threat to national security, the Dalai Lama had never returned to Lhasa. For 50 years, he had been prevented from crossing the mountains separating him prom his homeland. For 50 years, he had not spoken directly to Tibetans inside the country.

Kalsang Dolma, a young Tibetan refugee in Quebec, crosses the Himalayas. Into the largest prison in the world, she carries a video message recorded by the spiritual and political leader of Tibetans. Families gather around the tiny screen, transfixed, and for one of the first times, the voices of this fragile people under the yoke of suffering reach us from across the distance.
This film was shot without the knowledge of the Chinese authorities, using small digital cameras, during nearly a dozen secret forays into Tibet between 1996 and 2004.

Je viens récemment de voir le documentaire "Ce qu'il reste de nous". Je le recommende vivement. C'est très poignant et informatif sur l'impact de l'oppression Chinoise sur la spiritualité, les traditions et la culture des Tibétins. On ne peut et ne doit pas rester insensible et passif face à cette tragédie ... malgré tout je ne sais par oú commencer...

Toujours considéré par la Chine comme une menace à la sécurité nationale, le dalaï-lama n'avait jamais remis les pieds à Lhassa. Il y avait donc 50 ans qu'il n'avait pu franchir librement les montagnes qui le séparent de son pays. Il y avait 50 ans qu'il ne s'était pas adressé aux Tibétains de l'intérieur. Un simple écran portatif a conjuré le sort.

Kalsang Dolma, une Tibétaine réfugiée au Québec, franchira l'Himalaya. Par-delà les frontières de la plus vaste prison du monde, elle porte un message filmé du chef spirituel et politique des Tibétains. Les familles se rassemblent autour du petit écran et, pour l'une des premières fois, la parole de ce peuple sous l'emprise de la douleur traverse le silence et parvient jusqu'à nous.
Ce film-choc a été tourné à l'insu des autorités chinoises, à l'aide de petites caméras numériques, lors d'une dizaine d'incursions clandestines sur le territoire du Tibet entre 1996 et 2004.

http://www.onf.ca/webextension/cequilrestedenous/

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Cup Rogers semi-finals/Coupe Rogers demi-finales

Just came back from my first ever Tennis Masters Series held in Montreal thanks to a friend of Marcel who graciously gave us 2 tickets! We watched a double (Rus-Ita/Aust-Tch) and half of a single (France/Slov). We left before a major storm started! I had an amazing experience! I more than ever motivated so learn how to play! ;) Here are some exclusive pics!







Friday, June 13, 2008

De Niro's game


If you are looking for a great book to read this summer, here is one: De Niro's game!! I am very honored to know his author who is the person I am subletting from: Rawi Hage. The book has been translated in many languages including French (Parfum de poussière).


Canadian novelist's first book wins world's richest literary prize De Niro's Game by Canadian Rawi Hage has won the 13th annual International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the world's richest literary prize -- €100,000 (or about $160,000 Canadian) for a single work of fiction published in English. The win was announced today in Dublin, and marks the first time a debut book has won the prize. Hage is only the second Canadian to win the award, after Alistair MacLeod in 2001 for his novel No Great Mischief.

The IMPAC award caps a whirlwind ascent to literary stardom for an author whose book was pulled from publisher House of Anansi's slushpile, and was written in the Montreal resident's third language, English (he also speaks Arabic and French). Nominated for prestigious literary prizes in Canada and abroad -- including the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction, and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book -- De Niro's Game has so far been sold in fifteen territories, and can be read in a dozen languages. The French edition of De Niro's Game recently won the Prix des libraries du Quebec in time for its release in France, where Hage will appear at Festival America in Vincennes in September.

In 1992, Hage emigrated to Montreal after having lived through nine years of the Lebanese Civil War. Only two years ago, Rawi Hage was working as a visual artist making ends meet driving a cab. All that changed with the publication of De Niro's Game. With its haunting first words, "Ten thousand bombs had landed," Hage's novel crafts a beautiful and explosive portrait of young men who have been shaped by lifelong experience of war.

The IMPAC award is not only lucrative for the author, it is especially meaningful for readers because the books selected are nominated by public libraries from around the world. De Niro's Game was chosen by the Winnipeg Public Library and triumphed in the competition over 137 nominated titles by 162 public libraries from 45 countries.


De Niro's Game
Rawi Hage

"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide."

In Rawi Hage's astonishing and unforgettable novel, this famous quote by Camus becomes a touchstone for two young men caught in Lebanon's civil war. Bassam and George are childhood best friends who have grown to adulthood in wartorn Beirut. Now they must choose their futures: to stay in the city and consolidate power through crime; or to go into exile abroad, alienated from the only existence they have known. Bassam chooses one path: Obsessed with leaving Beirut, he embarks on a series of petty crimes to finance his departure. Meanwhile, George builds his power in the underworld of the city and embraces a life of military service, crime for profit, killing, and drugs.

Told in the voice of Bassam, De Niro's Game is a beautiful, explosive portrait of a contemporary young man shaped by a lifelong experience of war.

Rawi Hage brilliantly fuses vivid, jump-cut cinematic imagery with the measured strength and beauty of Arabic poetry. His style mimics a world gone mad: so smooth and apparently sane that its razor-sharp edges surprise and cut deeply. A powerful meditation on life and death in a war zone, and what comes after.

Major catch up # 2!!

I must say that the month of May was the month of the year so far!! It was also the beginning of a new romance with a wonderful Franco-Québecois! I did not know that men like this existed!! As it often happens, things happen when you least expect it. So far so good and we'll see where this new adventure goes. Last weekend, we had our first camping trip to Mont Washington, NH, US. The weekend was delightful and the scenery was georgous! I honestly don't recall when I last felt so relaxed and good despite the hell of a hike we did to get to the summit!




Major catch up!!

I don't know how many of you read this blog but for the few who do I apologize for taking so long since the last update. So much has happened between classes, site seeing and romance!!

The month of May was extremely busy with an intensive summer program at McGill University where I took several courses on transcultural psychiatry. It was an amazing experience
at an intellectual and human level! People from all over the world attended the courses coming from Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Spain, Israel, even the US ! I met some wonderful people! The courses content was overall rewarding and met most of my expectations. I actually came to Montreal for this specific program and its research focus.

During the month of May I also did some sigh seeing with some people I met at the program. I went to Mont Tremblant, a mountain which is located couple of hours from Montreal, with Ino and Mouna. We got along amazingly well and we had a blast!!











Friday, May 9, 2008

Québec City

Last weekend, I had the great opportunity to participate at a conference in Québec on the subject of asylum seekers. My friend, Grace, and I arrived on Sunday to enjoy and discover the old part of town. Unfortunately, it rained that day but it was still beautiful! Here are some pics! I hope next time I will visit Québec with one of you guys but this time under the sun!















Sunday, March 23, 2008

Zeitgeist


For those who haven't seen yet the movie "Zeitgeist", I wanted to let you know about it and strongly encourage you to watch it. It can only make us question and positively challenged our constructed beliefs as well as what we consider being reality and "the truth"...

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace".
Sri Chinmay Ghose

http://zeitgeistmovie.com/index.html


Pour ceux qui n'ont pas encore vu le film "Zeitgeist", je voulais vous mettre au courant et vous inviter à le regarder. Ce film ne peut que nous interpeller et avoir le potentiel de remettre en question de façon positive et constructive nos croyances toutes faites et ce que nous prenons pour réalité et "être la vérité"...

"Lorsque que le pouvoir de l'amour triomphera de l'amour du pouvoir, le monde connaîtra la paix".
Sri Chinmay Ghose

http://zeitgeistmovie.com/index.html

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Visit to Seattle

My few days in Seattle were very fullfilling! Every minute of my time was scheduled, which made me feel like a business woman but I enjoyed every minute of it! John was very sweet to
throw a party at his house and it was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with people I had not seen since I left last August. It was wonderful to be back to a familiar place and realizing how many wonderful people I know there. I guess leaving helps one to better realize and appreciate what you had ...




Carole and some of her favorite tall dudes! (Clay, John and Derek) :) John had a party theme, which involved taking pictures with every male friend that was present. I'm not quite sure yet what the message was behind it but the party was lots of fun!!







Carole trying out Derek's shoes, size 18! Big sexy huge boats worn with Courtney's dress.











Diane and Courtney preparing some yummy food for the joy of everybody!










Courtney, thanks to whom I was able to look more dressy for the party. The air line company had lost my luggage on the way in and back ;(





Emily who made an amazing Paëlla dish! I'm so looking forward to attending the wedding this summer! I'm crossing my fingers to be able to return to Seattle for this very special occasion!!






Thank you to all of you guys for coming to the party and making the evening such a wonderful and memorable time! I should be back another time to Seattle in the next few months so I could catch up with those that I did not get the chance to see then or spend much time with. Next time, I'm planning to stay at least for 2 weeks in order to be more relaxed, less rushed and enjoy Seattle a bit more.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Back to the top floor and Seattle!

I'm finally moved out of my basement and all moved in into my top floor apartment! It reminds me of my old apartment in Seattle where I lived for almost 10 years! I can finally see again the sun, the moon, the snow falling ... ! It's a new world of light and life again! It will definitely improve my overall moral and hopefully motivates me to study harder! So, the invitation is out, I have a comfortable place to host those of you who are interested to visit!

Few weeks ago, I was so home sick that I booked a flight to Seattle and I'm going back next week for a short visit. I'm so looking forward to the familiar and be with people I feel comfortable with and with whom I can be myself, especially goofy as much as I want to be! :) Unfortunately, since I'm only staying a long weekend I won't be able to see everybody but I should be back in July so I can catch up with the ones I haven't see then then.

Friday, February 15, 2008

The paradox of our time

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

A shared experience and more

First of all, thank you so much for those who provided their support and understanding! I was very touched! It definitely makes a world of a difference and all of a sudden the solitude is more bearable when your experience is shared and understood by others.

This episode made me realized how homesick I was and I jumped on buying one of the airfare deals that Air Canada had. I miss tremendously the familiar and my friends. Even if it is for few days, I 'm very excited to go back home for a short while....

It is amazing how many emotions, challenges, questions and discomfort acculturation can bring up! Even after the 3rd acculturation process, I am still struggling to peacefully dive into the unknown ... Imagine how much those who are not white, bilingual, well educated, may struggle! It is definitely a reminder of how much hardship refugees are faced with when they find refuge to our countries. It helps to put into perspective my own reality...

Monday, February 4, 2008

Back to darkness...

How long will this loneliness last? It feels so painful at times….
I know it is a matter of time and adjustment but it is so hard at times to be patient.

Am I doomed to always feel this way? Feeling overwhelmed with adjustment, then adjusting to finally being bored, wanting something new, getting it and moving on, and the cycle starts again. I guess the only other time it happened before was when I left France in 1998 for love and stayed in Seattle even after my marriage collapsed. I tried for several years to make it work on a personal and professional level. After a while, after many attempts of feeling not fulfilled I decided to take a leap of faith and shifted my life journey for a new start. I left a place where I was settled and tried the adventure of a PhD program in a new country. Was it a crazy idea? Will I be able to succeed? Gosh! I feels like it will be too much to overcome on my own… I guess it’s only now that I understand why so many people said how courageous I was…

Is it because it’s winter? Is it a mix of my living and seasonal conditions along with the acculturation process that make me feel this way? I miss seeing people on a daily basis. I miss being a social worker, a therapist, having an active life. I miss organizing parties at my old apartments and act goofy with my friends ...

There are so many new things to figure out when you are a foreigner before life feels finally stable again. I know I cannot figure out everything at once. I know I can’t get to know a new city, be comfortable as a PhD student, build a new social network, make a descent living and deal with the in between cultures and languages in 5 months. I know I can’t but I so would love too!

I know how privileged I am and that I should not complain. I am white, well educated, bilingual, I have more chances than most to make it work despite the immigration process. I feel ashamed to even feel this way but the feeling are real and overwhelming …

I guess, I’m simply feeling depressed and it will finally go away soon…. Hopefully, in a few months I will be laughing at what I just wrote and will no longer want to run back to Seattle …

Saturday, January 19, 2008

From darknesss to light


So 2008 started with the plan to moving to a new place! I was not looking to move until spring or summer but I had this great opportunity that presented itself and I could not turn it down! It's allowing me to leave my basement and move to a top floor apartment! Great location, a very good deal, and especially I can finally see the light!! I can't wait to move in because my moods have not been great since I came back from France... ;( I'm still waiting for the credit check to clear before I get the green light to move in, so I hope it all works out! I'm also very excited to move into this new place because I will have much more space to host more comfortably. So guys get in line!!

Besides the moving news, which will happen towards the end of February, school started again with social policy and research methodology classes. I'm also awaiting impatiently to see my thesis advisor in order to move forward with my thesis and employment situation but she has not been available so far. Things will be much more stable once I talk to her and clarify our collaboration, which will determine how well the rest of the year will unfold. This situation is definitely impacting my moral and my ability to continue adjusting to my new life in Montreal.

I also think that my moral has been impacted by a change of pace. I went from spending over 2 weeks in France being very busy every day, seeing friends and family, to returning to my basement with a much slower pace, a limited social network and an unclear situation with my thesis advisor.

Furthermore, my experience with guys here in Montreal has not been the most positive so I'm going to hold off for a while and stay away from them until my life with my doctorat program is more stable and that I am more adjusted with this new life!

So many learning experiences in the last 5 months! I forgot what it meant to move to a new country! Amazing learning experiences but it always go with some major soul searching and questioning about one's self! I think it's finally time for me to stay in one place! However, it's a bit soon to tell if Montreal is the place...

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Carole's latest and to a new fantastic year!

Here is finally some updates on my blog! I need to preface that the quality of my English has worsen since I am slowly re-appropriating my French language. Apparently, I can't be fluent with both languages at the same time ;(

The last month of 2007:
December has been pretty hectic between finals, wondering if I should change university and spending the holidays in France. My Christmas break did not start well since I missed my flight to Paris due to a snow storm. I was finally being able to make it to Paris one day later at no cost, thank you Air Canada! However, I still had to wait 9 hours at the airport ;)


The holidays in France went well. The trip was rich in so many ways, spending quality time with friends and family. I caught up with many friends, some I had not seen in 15 and 8 years, Fred and Karine!


























I also went to Marseille (south of France) where I visited relatives that I had not seen for quite some time. The weather there was beautiful which felt wonderful to my skin and soul!





































Paris was also the meeting place with some dear American friends that I had not seen for quite a while and are living across the globe: Andy (South Africa), Stephanie (London) and Denise (Miami).

























School:
In terms of school, I submitted my application to McGill and will find out soon if I am accepted or not. However, after consulting with several people it seems that having a good research adviser is more important than being in a prestigious university so after all the drama and saga I may stay at UdM and take my courses at McGill.

Love:
Well, not much luck so far and it is actually better this way since I need to stay focus with my school work ;)


New year:

It will be a fantastic year! My warmest wishes to you all for this new year filled with health, love, joy and laughters !