Filipinos in Braunschweig?!

Marshall McLuhan once said, "Canada is the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity." Only within the last 1.5 years of living abroad have I come to thoroughly understand this. As a foreigner here, I'm constantly asked "Where are you from?" I always proudly respond, Canada!" If I receive a bewildered facial expression, I further explain, "My parents are from the Philippines." Ohhh.

Back when I was living in Toronto, whenever someone asked me "Where are you from?" I'd respond, "I'm Filipino." Strange, eh? Such is the common case for being born and raised in an immigrant country. Nowadays, I identify myself as a Canadian who was raised in/amongst the Filipino culture. And I gotta admit, I miss it. I miss mom's pancit palabok, pandisal from Baker's Best... even all the loud famjams. So imagine my state of shock after finding out that Filipinos exist here in Braun-town. Hallo Deutsch-Philippinischer Kulturkreis, guess who wants to become your newest member?

Ich spreche noch nicht fließend Deutsch.

There are a million reasons why one chooses to learn a new language. I myself have chosen to learn German because I live in Germany. In order to fully integrate into society, I find it imperative that I learn the language of the people here. Not to mention, in wanting to be able to meet new people and make new friends, communication is key.

I've chosen to go freestyle with it, opting out of taking a course and rather, learning on my own and at my own pace. So far, despite all the ups and downs, I don't speak fluent German yet... but progression has definitely been made. My goal? To be able to speak basic conversational German within a year. And because I love the challenge of learning a new language so much, here's some insight for ya'll......



5 Tips: How to Learn a New Language

1. Get over your self-consciousness, and get over it quickly.
2. Get the #@&% out there! Talk to people! Make mistakes! Accept feedback! Speak freely!
3. Join language groups/organizations where you can practise speaking in an informal atmosphere.
4. Immerse yourself completely. Watch films (with subtitles). Be observant. And read, damnit, read!
5. There will be plateau stages, but don't worry. The learning process can only go in one direction: uP.

5 Awesome Things about Learning a New Language

1. You exercise a different part of the brain. Who wouldn't want that?!
2. It opens doors and increases opportunities, whether for traveling, working or studying purposes.
3. Anybody can do it! You just gotta be a go-getter. Be passionate. Be persistent.
4. The revelation moments when things start to make sense will make you feel high on life all day.
5. I promise, it'll be unlike anything you've ever done before. And the outcome? Highly rewarding.

Traveling Abroad vs. Living Abroad

Traveling a country as a tourist is completely different from living in a country as an expatriate. Don't get me wrong, I love being a gawker of sights too. But completely immersing oneself in a country's culture by choosing to live there is an experience unparalleled with anything else in the world! I can't even begin to explain how rewarding it is to be able to contribute to a society rather than just pass by it. People always complain about not having enough vacation time from their 9-5s. Here's a nutty idea: instead of traveling (insert your country of choice here) for 2 weeks, stay for a year instead.

I understand that the choice to live abroad isn't realistic for everyone. Just know that YOU are free to live the life that YOU want to live! Life in Germany has challenged me in extraordinary ways thus far. The thick-skulled ones still think I'm here on holidays. In actuality, I've been busting my butt trying to find career-oriented work while simultaneously teaching myself German. But I'm not complaining, not one bit. I've learned life skills that I'd never had learned if I'd stayed in Toronto. Despite the frustrations married to this lifestyle, I feel alive and that's all that matters.

ANTI QUARTERLIFE CRISIS

Yes, I'm 25. How does it feel? %$#&in' awesome, hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I've had it up to HERE with fellow 20-something-year-olds. Why is it that people in their 20s tend to groan whenever their birthdays come along? You are not old, get over it. %$#& the people who expect you to be married by now, or to have kids by now, or to have bought a house by now. %$#& the norm and what society tells you to do. It's your life and you can live it however way you want.

On that note, I am unperturbed by what other 25-year-olds are doing. I won't settle and work at a job that disgusts me. I'm (*gasp!) ditching the notion of stability at the moment. I'm living each day with no regrets. I'm taking advantage of my 20s to explore, to try new things and to take on new challenges. I'm taking risks while I have the freedom to do so... to put it simply, I'm celebrating life!!! Because there's no time like the present, folks!!! Quit thinking about it, make movements already, and eventually (without a doubt), you'll find yourself getting closer to your dreams.

Farmers Market in Perth CBD?

Subi Farmers Market | http://subifarmersmarket.com.au | 28 May 2011

Dear Perth,

Why don't you have a farmer's market in the CBD??! Subi Farmers Market is kool and all, but it's all the way in Subi and the next closest farmer's market is in East Perth! It just doesn't make sense to me. Most major cities in the world have centrally-located markets chock-full of fruits and veg and all that other good stuff, WHY THE HELL DON'T YOU?

―Sick of shopping for groceries at Woolies & Coles in Perth CBD

shoutout to the fact that I'm the youngest foodchick doin' it

To all the Entrepreneurs, Artists, Hustlers, Game Changers, Innovators, Creators & Big Thinkers out there, you inspire me. Thank you. Gotta bigup Drizzy Drake for providing big lyrics. Trust, I been doin' me. You doin' you? Keep chasin' the dream, people! [This is just 1 pg scanned out of my sketchbook.]

Foodhaterism

Foodhaterism. Ya'll know what it is. Quite literally, foodhating encompasses anything and everything having to do with the act of hating in relation to food. Chefs who get irate when guests bust out their cameras in restaurants to take pictures of their food? FOOD H8RS! People who aren't open-minded enough to try cultural cuisines they've never tried before? FOOD H8RS! Pretentious folk (i.e. the snobby old man host at Babbo Ristorante in NYC) who have the audacity to give a guest attitude after she had inquired about the wait time for a table? FOOD H8RS! In all my exasperation, I've designed a FOOD H8RS SUCK logo. Are there any examples of Foodhaterism that make YOUR blood boil??!

Shelley Pascual — OCAD Thesis 2009

[logo]

Relish is a concept. I designed this logo to brand the concept of Relish. One day, Relish will exist.

[full book layout; mock-up]

After one semester at OCAD of nothing but research, throughout my second Thesis semester, I came to the conclusion that one's multicultural experience of visiting Relish could be best communicated in the form of a hand-made book.

[front flaps of book; mock-up]

At Relish, one can learn to cook foods from any country in the world. Each country in Relish is represented by a little kitchen, as well as an expert cook waiting to teach eager students the cultural dishes of their respective countries. Essentially, Relish is a large, open-air place where people can come together to experience food. Whether its strolling the aisles watching other cooks in action, hangin' out at one of the lounges, purchasing a hot meal to-go, or learning how to cook an authentic cultural dish, Relish is THE cooking school of the future.  

[back flaps of book; mockup]

On the back of the flaps, there's all kinds of fun tidbits of helpful food-y info.

[final book]  

On either side of the pop-up flaps in the center of the book, I've written (and laid-out typographically) a fictional story of one person's multi-sensory experience of entering Relish for the very first time. This person sees, smells, hears, tastes and touches everything that is Relish.

[logo printed on book's spine]

Printed onto the spine of my home-made book is the Relish logo. If there really existed a place even remotely similar to Relish today, would you believe it? 'Cause I sure as heck wouldn't! How awesome would it be to learn how to cook dishes from any cuisine anywhere in the world, and to do this all in one place?! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout... CONCEPTS!

[ideas] A Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Shop in T.O.?

Lulu and Mooky's — NYC

I love Toronto... but why are we so SLOW to catch onto trends? I know, I know. The liquid nitrogen fad is sooo 2002... but STILL. I want to be able to walk into an ice cream shop, pick from a selection of flavours in colourful test tubes and get 2 phatass scoops of liquid nitrogen ice cream to-go, damnit! Is this too much to ask for?! And no, I am NOT interested in spending $11 for the liquid nitrogen dessert served at Colborne Lane.... I want a REAL ice cream shop experience. The kind of experience that involves sticky lips and chatting on patios and hawt summer nights and you know what I mean, maaaaaaan. Woe is exasperated me. You? NYC & CHI-TOWN, I'M JEALOUS.



iCream — Chicago