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Lifestyle
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G’day: Backpacking in the Outback
18 Nov 2011 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
After living in Australia for five months I decided what better way to end my experience than to grab my new friends and back pack through the outback.
Important Facts:
- AUD = Australian Dollar (it’s water proof by the way)
- Vegemite = a staple spread for your bread, bitter and yeasty but delightful
- TimTam’s = Chocolatey cookies you can have with tea! Bite off both ends and use it as a straw in your hot drink! (a bit messy)
- Kangaroos are in excess in Australia so if you find yourself petting one at a zoo in the morning and eating it the same evening, don’t be too surprised. It is so delicious. Much more tender than beef and CHEAP (that’s always a bonus).
- DO NOT need to pay tip
- Tax is already included in the pricesLingo:
- ‘How you goin?” = How are you? My mom answered this question with, “by car!” No they are not asking you how you are going to your next destination, they are asking how you are
- Mate = friend
- Yankee = term used to refer to Americans
- G’day = Hey!Some essentials you’ll probably require:
- Something that can pick up internet/wifi (ie: ipad, laptop, smartphone, ipod touch, etc)
- A backpacking backpack that has comfortable back support because I warn you, that thing will be on your back for hours at a time sometimes. So, a little extra money put towards your backpack will go a long way.
- Like Vancouver, weather is a bit iffy throughout Australia, so depending on its season (theirs are opposite to Canadian seasons), keep water proof gear as well as water proof bags to place on top of your backpacking bag.
- More than one method of payment. Every week or two, HSBC ‘forgot’ I was in Australia and would block my credit card, so having debit or cash is definitely handy.
- Maps and lists of ‘must see’ destinations to see everywhere you go.
- Locks for your backpacks/suitcasesThe Hostels:
Let’s start with accommodation. Being a backpacker you’re more than likely to be living in a hostel, versus a hotel. I don’t doubt that if it is a busy season (ie: Christmas/New Year) and you haven’t booked a hostel you may even end up spending a night on a bench. I’ve seen it happen before! So, depending on what you’re looking for, you can approach which hostel you’ll be staying in in different ways.
Personally, I had two requirements: Fairly low costs and the most sociable environment as possible. Some people prefer cheap and private, or they don’t care about the cost but they’re more concerned about the cleanliness and the social environment. So first off, think about what matters most to you!
Use a ‘lonely planet’ or a cheaper method (FREE), the internet and keep your requirements and needs in mind. The best tool I found was www.hostelworld.com and the best part was I had a phone so I downloaded their Hostel World Application and searched according to my price range and requirements and there I had it, a list of hostels available, the costs, the number of vacancies, as well as people’s feedback and comments on their experiences at these hostels.
In Australia, finding a hostel is pretty quick and easy. The two main hostel chains are YHA and BASE backpackers. Most often they cost a little more, but in all honesty they had amazing packages, clean environments, no bed bugs (trust me that’ll be a problem in some hostels), and 100% chance to make new international friends (as long as you are willing and make somewhat of an effort). I stayed in a BASE backpackers for one night by myself while I waited for friends to join me, and I became so close with the couple I was rooming with that they invited me to stay in their home in Germany! All of this in LESS THAN 24 HOURS!
It is good to trust people, but don’t be naive, either. Be a smart traveller and either inquire about a safe at your hostel or have locks for your backpacks. Remember, a stolen passport = a big bump in the road for your trip.
Internet:
Let’s be real. We’re backpacking but most of us still want to know what’s happening in the real world and it is highly unlikely that a local Tasmanian Times will tell us what’s happening on Facebook, Twitter, or the Canadian news. I was lucky because every McDonalds and Starbucks had free wifi, and most hostels had free or cheap internet. Side note: hanging around the internet locations in your hostel you are likely to even make friends with the internationals around you who too are missing home, or trying to catch up on their news.
Locations:
Melbourne:
Want to party or have a night out? St. Kilda is where the beach, amusement park, and chic coffee shops and bars are located, while Chapel Street is where you’ll find definite good eats and great clubs! Ruby Tuesdays was a favourite of mine with the cheap $10 pasta and glass of wine on Tuesdays. Lucky Coq was another favourite that we would hit up as poor University students ($5 AUD for a personal sized pizza = not bad!) Lucky Coq actually turned into a dance club at night on the weekends so a good cheap and fun location for sure!
In terms of shopping, you have some options. Chadstone Shopping Centre is the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere. At Queen Victoria Market you can buy fun and unique items, as well as cheap souvenirs. Be sure to bargain! Don’t look too desperate…
Getting around is pretty easy, too. There is a free tram that circles central Melbourne and you can hop on and off this to get a good view of tourist hot spots and see the only Costco in Australia as well.
If arts is your interest, check out the surrounding places around Flinders Train Station (it’s the central train station). There is a museum, a large outdoor talent location, as well as a theatre and art gallery with new shows on all the time.
For those Day/Weekend trips, Phillips Island with the A4 paper sized Penguins, and the Great Ocean Road where the 12 Apostles (beautiful rock formations in the water) are located. A great road trip for sure!
Tasmania:
Although a small and quaint location to visit, it opens the travellers eyes to the unique side of Australia. With its small town mentality and the quirkly Salamanca Market on the weekends you’ll have the opporunity to shop for cheap souvenirs and experience the street music and street food.Tasmania is also well recognized as a great location to volunteer in conservation projects if you feel like meeting new people and giving back. This was an amazing way to meet new people and make life-long friends as well. We lived in a volunteer home together, cooked and worked together, and spent every waking moment TOGETHER. It was definitely cheap and ideal! CVA (www.conservationvolunteers.com.au).
Sydney:Of course this is already a favourite for travellers from all around the world! The main locations to keep in mind when in the Sydney region are the Blue Mountains/Katoomba, the infamous Opera House, and of course Sydney Harbour Bridge.
You can book a day trip to the Blue Mountains but considering I spent my Christmas there I suggest giving it a couple nights. Katoomba, where the Blue Mountains are, is a train ride away to the outskirts of Sydney, but it’s a cute small town worth spending a day or two in. While you are there you can actually book a hop on hop off tourist bus ride through the blue mountains and the various majestic waterfalls and hiking routes in the surrounding areas. The rock formations called the three sisters are also a part of this and accompany a heart wrenching story of love and loss. Lastly, don’t forget to stop by the various antique stores…beware, you could end up spending a whole day in each store if you aren’t careful!
To take a tour of the Opera House is pricey, therefore I didn’t do it, but I also had no deep inclination to do it. If opera and theatre are your passion then go for it, otherwise the different views from outside and on the water are perfect picture opportunities.
The Harbour Bridge is infamous for its expensive $300 climb but something many fail to discover is the $9 half climb. You can walk up the pillars that hold the bridge together and get quite a beautiful view from the top for an extremely cheap price! Why not? PS-looking for an original way to propose to a loved one. The harbour bridge has already been used more than once! Romantic nonetheless!
Queensland (Where you will probably spend most of your money):
Although not a lot of time was spent here I can definitely say the essential is the Great Barrier Reef! I recommend not attempting to explore this on your own and rather booking a tour. It may cost a lot but if you’re near one of the wonders of the world, you should be willing to spend a little extra. If you manage to get a large group together it can be cheaper. Remember to keep in mind that there are tours that show you the reef, tours that allow you to scuba dive in it and snorkel, and then tours that only allow you to snorkel so figure out what you want to do while you’re there. Be sure to also check the weather for the days you are booking because a clear day means a better view of the reef.
If scuba diving is what you fancy be sure to not book this if you have sinus issues, a cold, or a heart problem without a doctor’s note allowing you to dive.
Do you prefer to snorkel? I just snorkelled through the reef and dove in once in awhile and it was beautiful enough for me!
Be sure to have a water proof camera for this portion of your trip because you are going to see some beautiful fish and coral that you’ll never be able find the right words to describe; only photos will do the beauty justice.
The only word that can truly describe the Whitsundays is PARADISE. The water is clear blue and the sand is luminescent white. Be prepared with a good camera because every photo will turn out to look like a postcard. I was with a group of 50 for this so we got onto two motor boats and raced through the water to our very own private beach! It was well worth the money because it was all to ourselves for however long we wanted.Cairns:
Let’s just say this is the adventure Location of all of Australia! Although slightly bias, look up Gilligans Hostel, and stay there! If you are looking for a great group of people, party times, nice clean rooms and person bathrooms, and a very central location, this place promises to please!Now, since Cairns is known for its adventure don’t deny yourself of the fun! AJ Hackett has the Bungy jump location where you can do night time jumps into the water. Mind you, there’s a bar located at the bottom of the jump for some ‘liquid courage’. Furthermore, if you feel like continuing that adrenaline rush, you can attempt to sky dive here too as it is a beautiful location but Cairns is known for its rainy weather so be prepared to have your dive cancelled on more than one occasion…mine was.
That’s all for Australia folks…mind you I didn’t travel to every location and I spent more time in some locations than others. So, don’t take this as your end all and be all for Australia but take it as a little guide to a lot of adventure!
Up next: Campervanning Mayham in New Zealand…few shower opportunities…many adventurous moments.
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LOOK OF THE WEEK: Combating the Cold
03 Nov 2011 by Heather Lam / No Comments
Hey guys!
The air is getting frigid and cold. The skies are darkening and the temperature is dropping. This Look of the Week is meant to help keep you warm! Think warmth. Gloves, scarves, toques and beanies!
You can grab these beanies from local boutique Queens, located in Gastown (12 East Cordova).
Visit www.crownthequeens.com to view their season look book. They have recently launched their new winter collection, so drop by and keep yourself warm by grabbing one of these beanies and more!
Photo credit: Queens
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Sexualization of Halloween
29 Oct 2011 by Eric Yip / No Comments
October is quickly coming to an end and we all know what that means, Halloween!
It’s that time of year again when everyone frantically figures out what or who they are going to be on this annual holiday. Some go to a costume shop and buy ready-to-wear outfits while others enjoy making their own. All in all, it doesn’t really matter how or where they got their costumes, all that matters is they dressed up.
Choosing a costume can be hard to figure out, especially for guys, but for girls, it seems easy. “I don’t know. I just have to wear something sexy,” said one of my friends. As I spoke to more girls about their costume ideas, something dawned on me. Every article of clothing that these girls said they were going to wear are culturally perceived as ‘skimpy’. I never really thought about it until then but I realized that most girl costumes are highly sexualized. What happened to the days when Halloween was about goblins, ghosts, zombies and vampires? Was it ever really like that to begin with? Nonetheless, it seems to have become a social norm for girls to wear provocative outfits this time of year.
“I don’t think girls are any sluttier now than before. I think girls just want to have a better costume than everyone else and being sexy just comes with the territory,” said Susanna, one girl I spoke with. On a daily basis, most girls watch what they wear because they are scared of what others think. If they are going shopping, for instance, and are wearing something that shows a lot of skin, they could be subject to moral criticism. But on Halloween, it gives them a chance to show off all the skin they want without worrying what others think due to the nature of costumes.
“It’s the one day of the year where I can wear whatever I want without people judging me for it” responded Ashley. Perhaps not all girls wear provocative costumes to gain the attention, most do it because it’s something fun to do and it makes themselves feel good.
Conversely, some males think girls are judged more for wearing more clothes than wearing less on Halloween.
“You can’t expect a girl to go out in a fully-robed costume like the Grim Reaper anymore. If they did people would be like “what the hell”,” said Tom.
Halloween has always been about scaring others and getting free candy, but maybe I’m just being naive in thinking Halloween is still about that. As a child, Halloween is mainly about trick-or-treating and candy, but as we get older, the meaning of Halloween changes. The sexual appeal of Halloween becomes a more prominent feature.
Personally, I do not object to the sexual nature of girls’ costumes.
Photo from www.elephantjournal.com
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LOOK OF THE WEEK: Comfort
24 Oct 2011 by Heather Lam / No Comments
This Look of the Week is dedicated to midterm week.
Girls, leave the heels at home and come to school in comfort. With the all-nighters pulled, there’s no need to come to school decked out. Focus on the studying and less on the style. (It’s ok, everyone is in on this!)
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An Inexperienced Backpackers Guide to Travelling
18 Oct 2011 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
PART ONE: THE Preliminary Planning Stages…The Thought Process
Caught the travel bug? Not too sure how to cure it? Well, from personal experience I would say, SEIZE IT AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT! Now, obviously it is easier said than done. But, if you want it, I can personally say it is possible to make it happen!
By no means am I a professional ‘backpacker’ or ‘travel expert’ but let me put it this way. I wanted the adventure, I saved the money, I found the group, I found the locations and I made it happen…
Disclaimer: I caution you that if you intend to travel on a budget versus a fancy luxurious style, then you have come to the right place. But the stories and the experiences include minimal opportunities for bathing, urinating in proper toilet facilities, and maximum opportunities for creating life long memories, and enduring life altering experiences and adventures.
Step 1: You’ve got the travel bug, now what do you do?
Well, first and foremost ASSESS the situation! Think it through as much as you can before you go any further. I know most people will say, ‘don’t think, just do’ when it comes to adventures and backpacking. You can definitely approach it this way, OR you can think things through so you don’t run out of money ¼ of the way through your journey and have to beg mommy and daddy to fly you home or wire you some money. I don’t mean plan out every second of the trip, because what fun is that? But, if you’re going to go on this journey, you may as well put the thought into it before going any further. Perhaps you’re in your last year of university, or your brother is getting married next month…think about all the surrounding situations before you jump right into it!
For example: My buddy took me out for dinner, told me about her backpacking adventure coming up to India and Thailand after our graduation and and then invited me! I didn’t think TOO hard about it, but I thought to myself, “Hey, I’m graduating, I’ve saved the money, I have the time, I want a cultural experience and nothing crucial is happening in life, so GO FOR IT!” I didn’t sit for a month and think about it, or it never would have happened, but I did give it the well deserved once over!
Let’s think…
A. Is it an ideal time in your life?
B. Do you have the money, because let me warn you it will cost an arm and a leg (depending on the number of locations, the parts of the world and the classiness of your journey…but that is a whole different ball game that we will walk into later)
C. Are you prepared to be in your OWN company for an extended period of time or is there a group you can see yourself travelling with?After you’ve spent your three minutes thinking about the above, and hypothetically have chosen to PURSUE your dream, then go on to the next step. There aren’t many steps but following through with them is crucial in the way that I see it if you want to maximize your opportunity and experiences!
Step 2: Making it happen
There is a lot to do to make the adventure happen. But, by no means is it boring! Rather, it is the lead up to an extremely memorable experience. A third of the fun is the before, the other 1/3 is the during and the last 1/3 is of course the after when you are reminiscing, browsing through photos, and laughing while running through your experiences again on your own and with family and friends!
Hiking at a Hill Station in Kerala, India with the best group of travelling buddies!
A. Are you going alone or with friends?
If you are choosing to travel alone, great! That means you already love yourself enough that you can be in your own company for extended periods of time and love it! That is truly commendable! It also means you a) prefer travelling on your own or b) are a social butterfly and prefer potentially finding some travel buddies along the way. If you choose to travel with another person or group, think really hard…how flexible are these people? Is it a bestfriend(s)? Do you clash a lot, or can you handle travelling together? This is probably the most important part of your trip! Who you are with, how you feel and your mood can really make or break your trip! I would not have survived my nights in the campervan with rain pouring down, nothing to eat but a cold can of beans and a bottle of flat coke, unless I had good company, which I sure did!B. Communication is key
If travelling in a group, do you have the same goals in mind? Talk it through! You don’t need to write down every single place you want to go and what you want to do, but if you have certain goals, make them known!For example: A friend I travelled with thought we were going to stay in luxury hotels every once in awhile, in between hostelling and grunging it up, I had no idea! I had intended to grunge it the whole time…so TALK IT THROUGH or you could hit some major road blocks when you are far away from the comfort of your own home, your own language and somewhere ideal to settle an issue.
C. Budget
Think about the place that you are going and the cost of everything!
When I went to New Zealand, I knew I would be spending a lot more than I would have been in India. Don’t go travelling blindly…make sure you are aware of the basic costs of living, eating, and luxury wherever you intend to go. For example, I could easily survive on $15 CAD a day in India, but oh dear, that was not enough to even have a roof over my head per day in New Zealand! Be practical…or you’ll pay the price during your trip…Example: My friend ran out of money (luckily towards the end of the trip), so he ended up rationing out how much of a piece of bread and how much of a banana he could each everyday…trust me you DO NOT want to get to this point…it’s slightly sad.
Look for deals on your tickets. I found GOOGLE to be my best friend, I just continuously searched for cheap flights until I found the right one. Now, in Thailand we knew some of the dates that we wanted to get to certain parts that required flights, so we found local thai airlines and looked for deals on those flights. Booking ahead of time is key to a cheaper flight.
Think about the places you are travelling to and what form of transportation you will require. In New Zealand for example, we rented and drove a camper van that we lived in for a month. However, in Thailand and India we used local buses, local airlines, and local boats. Shop around for prices, don’t just settle for what you find right there and then!
Step 3: Know Where You are Going
When I say this, I don’t necessarily mean you have to know every city, village, town and attraction you will be going to ahead of time. But, for example, if you are travelling to India, have a map, know the key places and how much time you will need in them. Leave time to explore too though! BUT, what I really mean when I say “know where you are going” is, know the way of the land. For example, bearing in mind India is a more conservative like and ‘old-school mentality’ location, you probably wouldn’t ‘blend in’ if you walked around in booty shorts and strappy tops right? Also keep in mind that most people in India, or Portugal, or anywhere that doesn’t have English as their first language may or may not speak and understand English so have a phrase book or learn the basic key words that will get you through. It’s a sticky situation, when you aren’t even able to order a bottle of water let me tell you!
Also, knowing where you are going means being aware of and abiding by the laws and customs of the region you are entering. Singapore for example has a million and one common sense laws that maybe your common sense hasn’t abided by back home, so look into it. The last thing you want is a fine or being arrested in a foreign region, or at all for that matter!
There is so much to know about back packing and travelling through a world you’ve never encountered, but you won’t know it until you try it. The first time I went, I had no idea what I was doing, the second time I went, I knew a little more, but it was a new location, new scene, new everything, so I just winged it all over again! That’s the fun of it though isn’t it? Regardless though, please don’t be ignorant, make sure you have a grasp of the basics described above, along with anything else you or someone you trust can think of!
This is just the prep guide, so up next…the specifics of backpacking/campervanning through New Zealand and Australia, followed by a third world adventure through the local buses and boats in India and Thailand! Two entirely different adventures, but two wicked and memorable ones nonetheless!
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Look of the Week: FAB Nails
10 Oct 2011 by Heather Lam / No Comments
FAB nails. Extra out of the ordinary. Get your nails done like this, or other awesome designs from Queens in Gastown, Vancouver.
Twitter: @crowntheQUEENS
Model: Andrea Ross
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Cooking with Cassie: Chicken Caesar Salad
26 Sep 2011 by Cassie Dixon / No Comments
This is a relatively straight forward recipe that is not only easy to make, doesn’t require tons of ingredients – but is great for creating some extra study time.
What you’ll need:
- Aluminum foil
- Oven safe pan
- Romaine lettuce
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Chicken Breast (thawed)
- Olive Oil
- Lemon juice (or freshly squeezed lemon)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder/One Garlic Clove
- Parmesan Cheese
- Bacon Bits (optional)
- Croutons (optional)
For this recipe, begin by pre-heating your oven to 375*. We will be baking the chicken to provide a healthier alternative to frying chicken, while maintaining a tender, delicious chicken breast. Place the chicken in aluminum foil before coating it with a thin layer of olive oil. Continue by covering the chicken with a small amount of lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic. Ensure the chicken is completely wrapped in foil before placing it in the pan and in the oven for 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breast. Make sure to flip the chicken after approximately 20 minutes. Continue by making Caesar salad, combining the clean romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese, plus bacon bits and croutons if desired. Mix! Once the chicken is completely cooked (entirely white inside, with no pink spots), remove from the foil, cut into smaller pieces and add to the salad.
Voila! You have a tasty, healthy, easy dinner.
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Cooking with Cassie: A Beginner’s Guide to Cooking
13 Sep 2011 by Cassie Dixon / 2 Comments
For most people, back to school means absurd costs for textbooks, a return to early morning classes and late nights finishing assignments. But for some fortunate – or unfortunate – people back to school can mean moving (back) out on their own or a complicated schedule that leaves us to fend for ourselves when it comes to meals. As a University student with limited cooking experience, and five months of feeding myself under my belt, this is my personal guide to surviving not only efficiently, but also on a budget.
Invest in a Cookbook – This is an important step aimed at those of you who are branching out on your own. A good quality cookbook will not only serve as a step by step guide for those of us who don’t really know what we’re doing in the kitchen – but also as a great source of inspiration for days when you just don’t know what to make. Take your time at the bookstore to choose a cookbook that suites your needs. By reading through the cookbook before buying it you will ensure that it will provide you with options that not only suit your dietary needs, but meals that you will actually WANT to make. Nothing is worse than being disappointed with your cookbook and being left on your own to sort out dinner.
Plan your Meals in Advance – With the guide of your carefully chosen cookbook, try and plan out at least one of your meals per day for 3-4 days. By planning meals out in advance, you will decrease the chances of making easy, but not so healthy options when it gets to mealtime. This will also help with grocery shopping, making sure that you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make a healthy and delicious meal.
Grocery Shopping – This is where weighing your options between budget and convenience becomes a priority. Take your time and do your research as to which grocery stores have the best prices. In my experience Price Smart and Superstore are two of the more budget friendly options. However don’t be fooled by the cheap prices for some items. Be sure to spend the money on good quality fruits and vegetables. Sometimes this will result in trips to multiple grocery stores however it could end up saving you money as good quality fruits and vegetables are likely to last longer when stored properly.
Make Enough for Leftovers – When you go through the effort to make a more complicated meal like homemade spaghetti, be sure to make enough for leftovers. These are great for days when you have late class, or just don’t feel like cooking. Throwing leftovers in the freezer will keep them for longer and make for quick, easy, delicious meals that can keep you going for days.
Keep it Simple – The best piece of advice I can give anyone who’s just starting out with the self feeding is keep it simple. Trying to come up with extravagant, exotic meals generally just creates more stress than is necessary, while sending the cost of your groceries skyrocketing. By sticking to simple, healthy meals you can enjoy not only cooking and eating on your own, but paying your grocery bill.
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Back-to-School: It’s All About Practicality
07 Sep 2011 by Heather Lam / No Comments
It’s that time of year again, where everything in the world seems to slow down; the leaves are falling, the nights are darker and colder, and your body seems to be aching of an unspoken pain. Yes, school is back. Your nights will now be filled with countless hours of studying into the night, and early mornings where 6 shots of expresso can’t even do the trick. What can we do in this situation? Prepare. So stop dwelling on the fact you can’t party until the sun comes up the next day and prepare for future… or at least till the next major holiday break. This article is here to prepare you for a successful start to the new school year.
This is my top 3 list of practical items that are a must have into preparing for a new school year!
1. Technology
Photo from blackberry.com
Your cellphone is the central device for you to stay connected with the world and your friends. If you already haven’t joined the BBM and Apps wagon, then hop on and get with the crowd. Smartphones are the “it” type of phone to have. Not only do they act as a phone for your mom to call you on, but also it offers easy browser access and timeline management. There is no excuse on being late to class as well, because time is always by your side… literally. A Smartphone can offer a great way to store notes, so you wouldn’t have to miss the important items from chapter 3 that would be on the test next week. So throw away your Zack Morris cellphone and grab a smartphone where access to literally everything is possible.
Suggestion: Blackberry 9900
2. The Everything Sweater
Photo from imprintableclothes.com
Your mind is probably still stuck on the glorious weather that summer has brought, but fall is approaching and the days are chillier. As you read this sentence, you are probably still in shorts and a tank top because you refuse to give into the fast approaching fall season. Your number one fix in is the good for everything sweater. Whether you are trekking to class or studying in the library, it’s always great to have a sweater on hand to throw on. So the next time you are stuck in class with the AC on full blast, you’d be lucky you have your handy dandy sweater with you. Nothing is worse than having to concentrate on your body temperature rather then what the teacher is teaching you.
Suggestion: Cool Calm Collected Hoodies
3. Practical Shoes
Photo from nike.com
Sorry ladies, high heels and flats aren’t going to cut it in Vancouver’s unpredictable weather. Don’t be stuck with cold wet feet and invest in good comfortable runners. Not your style? Don’t worry, runners these days are made with flashy colors and casual designs for you to fit with any type of wardrobe. This way, with runners on, getting from class to class has become 10 times easier, and being late is not an option. Your not sacrificing style, you are only increasing your productivity, but still look good while at it.
Suggestion: Nike Free Run +2
These three items are Segway into having a quick start to the new school year. Being prepared allows you to put concentration on what’s in front of you, and less on the problems that could have been avoided. Good luck into the new school year and be sure to grab these top three items to assure you wouldn’t be disappointed.
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The Changing Narrative of Independence
31 Aug 2011 by Justin Choi / No Comments
If there’s anything Hollywood coming-of-age movies, all inexplicably starring Micheal Cera, have taught us, it’s that there are certain milestones we must pass in life at a certain age: fall in love adorably at 15, lose your virginity at 16, win an epic battle of the bands at 17, and move out and become independent at 18. The last one especially has a great significance in North American culture: you’ve graduated, you can vote, you’ve moved out, you’re your own man/woman now! But just how true does this stereotype hold up in this day and age, and in this city?
To put it bluntly, not so well. Let’s hear from some local youth:
I live in a basement suite with a friend,” says Ms. Jen Houghton (name changed for anonymity), a Vancouver youth of 19. “We pay $1,000 for rent every month including utilities, but we got a good deal because my roommate’s aunt lives upstairs.
“How do you pay for the rent?” asks the handsome interviewer.
My dad helps me out,” confesses Ms. Houghton. “I work during the school term, but not enough to pay for the rent. I’ve been working full-time this summer, but I didn’t make enough to cover for the year. I do feel guilty about taking money from my dad,” she hastily adds. “But I feel as if I work any more during the school year, my grades will suffer.
“That’ll be all. Thanks for the interview, Ms. Houghton,” says the dashing interviewer.
Thanks for being so good-looking,” replies Ms. Houghton, as if she was waiting for the opportunity to say that all night.
“No problem,” says the reporter, “no problem at all.”
As far as I know, most of my friends live a life of semi-dependence, if not full dependence on their parents. Many work part-time, but the wages are such that it is often barely enough to pay their living costs; students are often forced to choose between paying for tuition, housing, or food.
Of course, it certainly does not help that Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities to find housing in North America. According to a recent report, Vancouver is the third most expensive place in North America to buy a house, and the CMHC forecasts that housing prices will rise by 14% more by the end of 2011. It costs at least $500 a month to rent a room, and with utilities and other housing-related costs, the annual housing bill for a student can easily exceed $8,000, a substantial cost for a student. University dormitories are no cheaper; UBC charges students $5,000 for the academic year (September-May), and one has to find housing for the summer on their own.
This is why more and more Vancouver youth are choosing an option that would have been unthinkable even ten years ago: staying home until they’re well into their 20s, or even later. What was once a mark of shame is now, forced by the immovable hand of market realities, a common living arrangement. Without having to worry about paying for rent and food, students can focus on their studies or buy more booze.
The lifestyle of many students today fall somewhere on the spectrum between complete independence and dependence, and more and more are moving closer to dependence, whether they would like to or not.
Photo from www.diylol.com
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