The Inadequacies of Language

As a new member of the Quality Assurance Committee at my community Children’s Aid Society, I not only get a chance to learn more about the organization, meet new people and brush up on my skills, but it’s also a chance to hear stories that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

This time, we heard from one of my colleagues, who happens to be a nurse, describe a short documentary that she’d seen, ‘Just a Routine Operation,‘ narrated by a British man who had dropped his wife off at the hospital for a routine procedure and expected to pick her up later on in the day. However, the procedure did not go quite as planned and resulted in her loss of oxygen, brain damage and eventual death. The story itself is entirely heartbreaking. The irony of it was that this man has built a career on behalf of airlines to identify communication gaps, prevent human error and provide clarity where it may not be aparent in order to avoid tragedy in the air. 

Similarly, as reports out of Italy describe, human error is the cause for the capsizing of the cruise ship, ‘Costa Concordia’ and causing the death of too many. These two incidents really makes me think just how many lives could be saved by effective communication and cooperation.

In our culture, we’ve been lead to believe that experience should not be questioned and to do so is an insult and could lead to unemployment. By following this norm, though, those nurses did not question or intervene on the doctor with 30 years experience. No one did. Out of fear? Inexperience? I wonder what the co-captain of the Costa Concordia was thinking when it chartered off course; chancing fate or impressing the tourists?

Whatever the reasons for the team’s failure to intervene, both instances drive home the fact that they had the trust of their patients or passengers to lead them through to safety, be it the recovery room or the resorts. Such responsibility should be due cause for a questioning thought or an assertive action to ensure their destination and yet there was silence.  Language is one thing to master, understanding and overcoming culture, however, is more difficult.

In learning a bit more about culture and its influence on communication, I came across a corporate training organization, VitalSmarts, which seeks to help firms address the discrepencies that language sometimes highlight and particularly so in a multi-cultural environment. By making more of an effort to bring the same sort of clarity to organizations that the air industry currently employs can only lead to greater collaboration, understanding and responsibility and hopefully result in fewer human errors.

Itchy Feet + Light Wallet = Innovative Travel

After a few long weeks of getting back in to the swing of my schedule, the sun is still shining, the birds still chirping and my mind is still wandering – where to go next? I never could figure out how people in warm climates ever got any work done? In my half-daydream / half-web search, I’ve found tons of neat concepts that help the average Joe wander the world on a budget.

First stop : CouchSurfing.org At first, I was a little put off by inviting random tourists to stay on your couch, but after reading through the details, I’m a little less hesitant. Basically, the site allows you to find locals in the places where you’re staying. It gives you the option to meet up and have a local take you around, have a coffee to practice your language skills or stay on the locals’ couch to save on hotel/hostel bills. The rating and feedback function lets you know others’ opinions of your surfer and helps you decide how much time you’re going to spend with the tourist. I like it, but I would approach it cautiously.

Next: I found an article about How to Swap Cities. Again, novel idea but I have my hesitations. Basically swapping is just as it sounds; you transplant yourself in to someone Else’s home and lifestyle for a designated amount of time. It’s a great way to get to really know another city for longer than just the 10-15 days that a holiday would take up and allows you to experience life in another culture/continent. It takes a lot of planning to make it work though – getting work to transfer you temporarily to another office location or convincing them to let you telecommute takes time.

Both of these options require a very high degree of trust between you an your guest and many would shy away from it, knowing since childhood to be weary of strangers. At the same time though, there’s recent studies to suggest that, in general, people are good. The Toronto Star’s experiment with stolen wallets is proof, but being cautious while abroad never hurt either.

Lastly, back to the ol’ faithful money saving tricks: Buy food at the grocery store, go camping, share toiletries, use your feet instead of transit and always, always have enough change to call home, just in case!

Pushing the Limits

I stood at the base of it, looking up and contemplating the outcome of what I was about to do. I hadn’t expected it, but now that I was here, I couldn’t turn back or otherwise face scrutinizing looks and a long trek back. What stood before me wasn’t a mountain or glacier, but instead a ginormous sand dune that formed a sort of cliff overlooking the sea, and which inevitably separated me from my vehicle. I know now, the accomplishment wasn’t so spectacular, but at the time it certainly was! I approached it cautiously, opting to take the slow route on a diagonal instead of the otherwise perilous path upward. Ten feet up, I noticed that my shoes that were meant to be supportive, were actually causing more distress to my climb than expected. I took a moment to untie them, take off my socks and let the sand rush through my toes and oddly enough, it’s my toes that made the journey easier. I glanced over at the sea, taking in the atmosphere, tying my shoes together and throwing them through my purse strap, and turned back to face the task at hand. With a few breaths and subsequent pauses, I finally made it with my friends cheering me along the way! A large bottle of water later and shoes safely back on my feet, I was able to take in exactly what I had done and enjoy the scenery from the top, thankful that I did it, but also relieved it was over! It was certainly a challenge and I’m not one to back down from a challenge, but in hindsight I can see why people push themselves to the very limit, despite the pain and agony that they put their body through, the result is exhilarating – something to tell the grand kids. Although my sand dune wasn’t the Iron Man or the Patagonian Expedition,  it was mine and something to use as a starting point – perhaps my next trek will include ropes and harnesses? Who knows, but anything is possible. And if amputees are known to have crossed the country and climbed mountains, then there is surely no excuse.

Memoires de la Belle Province

There are no words to describe the wonders that a good holiday can do to the psyche! I’ve just come back from a few days away and could not be more refreshed! Sunshine and salt water air did a world of good and I’m ready for anything the world throws  at me – well, maybe. I didn’t go far, I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, but was surrounded by good friends, good laughs and good food! I went to Montreal (so many memories!), then on to Quebec City, and then further on to the Saguenay region along the St. Lawrence river.

I can’t believe I’d never experienced this region before – absolutely breathtaking! Just outside of Quebec City, the roads turn hilly – maybe more than hilly, more  like moutain-esque – and our tank of a rental car made for interesting driving! Nature was beautiful, nothing but the green of the trees and the glare of the water to keep our attention on the way. Then as the highway nears the river, little towns dot the sea banks, tourists emerge from the hiking trails and stalls with fresh produce taunt the hungry driver.

The lure of the area is for the sea, the boats, the fresh fruits de mer and …. les baleines! This part of the river is unique for its buffet of underwater treats, attracting underwater creatures of all types, including whales! So beautiful and amazing to see from the coast and even more breathtaking to kayak with the whales! Our first attempt was delayed because of wind and cold, but the following morning at 5am (it takes something special to get me out of bed at that time!) off we went to suit up and get in the water and within 10 minutes, a beluga came our way and swam in between us and  under us and gave us a  little wink Unbelievable and so relaxing to sit in the boat, watch the sunrise on the water with whales  swimming below.

Our trip focused on the outdoors and all it has to offer. What an Adventure! Not for the weak at heart or bad shoe-ed as hiking, bike riding, rock jumping, sand/stair climbing and kayaking were major staples of the trip, and then was proceeded by scrapes, bruises, cuts, heavy breathing and a trip to the doctor :s  Despite the setbacks, it was worth it and my muscles are thankful in the long-run. The wildlife we saw – the belugas, the birds, the beaver – and the views from just about everywhere are unforgettable.

For the most part, traveling was easy. Driver’s and speed limits weren’t nearly as dangerous as in Montreal or Ontario, and finding a place to stay took just a few phone calls – during the summer, many houses turn in to Gites (B&B’s) where traveler’s get a good taste of local culture and cozy atmospheres that only Grandma’s know how to provide. French is widely spoken and my skills were sharpened to the Quebecois accent, though like most foreign places, hand signals and smatterings of English will always helpful.

On our way back, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad that our trip was coming to a close. I’m very nostalgic for the province which always has something new to offer and has captivated my heart for years and saying good bye to out-of-town friends is never easy. Every place I go that I’d like to return to, I always leave something behind that I haven’t done or seen for the next time, promising to return some day. Although I’ve been to Montreal and Quebec as a province more times than I can count, it never seems that I can get to the end of the list of new things to do and see. Can’t wait to starting planning the next one!

5 Steps to Serenity

A typical Spring day – overcast and rain – and rightly expected to be followed by sprouting bulbs and flowering willows.  Others, though, dread the thought knowing that along with the beauty of Spring comes the hay fever, pollen and other nasty sidekicks that accompany my favourite season. Except for me, it’s relaxing and therefore puts my allergies to rest for I have an allergy to …. stress! Of all things! I knew my life was stressful, but I had no idea that my body was reacting so badly to it! I found out a few months ago and was admittedly relieved to know that my swollen eyes had nothing to do with a birth defect or malignant error in my DNA. Nope – just stress. My first instinct – can I take the day off work for stress? Pretty poor excuse isn’t it? Instead, the result is a tiny Reactine pill that I take during high stress times and hope that it will fend off whatever my body throws at me. I don’t like having to be dependent on anything, but if this will keep me going during my regularly hectic schedule then so be it! I’ve also looked into taking Vitamin B pills which will help in this process. The pharmacist warned that I won’t feel magically different, but it will help. So now, I have unknowingly run out of room on my bedside table and worry that I’ve gone overboard? Maybe. Maybe not. But in the meantime, I’ve taken it upon myself to actively seek relaxation and avoid stress – something I think not enough of us try to incorporate in to our daily lives or budgets. I’m not planning on blowing my paycheck at the spa, but a little something here or there would be nice. So I’ve compiled a little list of things that may help – feel free to add or make comments to these as you like!

1) Enjoy the weather. Being cooped up in offices sometimes makes me forget how nice it is to take a walk and bask in the sunlight or take a minute to listen to the pitter patter of rain on the windows. It also puts things in perspective – was it really worth it to stay in and play x-box for 3 hrs on a sunny day?

2) Read a good book or take a relaxing bath or better yet, both of them together!

3) Listen to music – and no Green Day or Lady Gaga are not in this category.

2)  Stop letting the little stuff get to you. So what if the laundry stays in the washer longer than it needs to?  So what if the traffic is horrid and you’re 20min late? So what if dinner was burned or you spilt soup on your favourite blouse? Nothing you can do about it now – it’s in the past, so why worry, stress or banter that it happened?  Let it go.

3) STOP worrying! This one’s tough – as a woman, it’s part of our nature to worry. Instead I’m trying to convert the energy used in worrying into a reassurance that knowing myself and my capabilities will lead to good things. Easier said than done. Distraction or alcohol helps.

4) Chocolate – this is the fail safe when all else goes down the toilet. Lindt, Hershey, Cadbury – ice cream, cookies or truffles – it really doesn’t matter. All have the same remarkable affect!

There it is 5 steps to a tranquil Julie Wish me luck!

Healthy Confusion

Somewhere, mixed up in the mumbo jumbo of the good, bad and ugly of healthy eating, we’ve gotten our priorities mixed up. How else could you explain the mound of literature dedicated to both revealing the sickening trends in the food industry and de-coding the ingredients that dot nearly every package in the supermarket. Michael Pollan’s books In Defense of Food and Food Rules are prime examples, as are documentaries (Food Inc. was top of the list of Oscar nominees and Super Size Me was a box office hit!) and tv sitcoms (Law & Order: SVU just released an episode featuring the gruesomeness of the meat packaging industry).

All this makes me think that we’re not healthy – we just think we are! As consumer’s, I think most of us are blinded by marketing gimmicks, like KFC’s “Bucket for the Cure” campaign which has gone pink for the month in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. The irony and shock as I read about this is astounding – do they actually think that buying fried chicken will put an end to breast cancer?

Traditional views of nutrition – the four food groups, portion control and weight loss myths – are also tough to beat and gets even more complicated when you throw in pesticides, fertilizers, GMO’s and substitutes. I’m convinced that buying local is the way to go – I’m over the moon that the weather is getting close enough to spring that the farmer’s markets will soon be opening up and I can peruse the aisles of fresh produce under the sun! My support of organic is also growing slowly – I really hate to admit it knowing that buying organic will put a dent in my wallet, but I think we just might be better off for it. Making wise decisions about our health is so important at all ages to ensure our quality of life well in to our retirement years that jeopardizing it now seems reckless.

Baby Steps on the Road to the G8

The G8 is coming, the G8 is coming! Roll down the windows and roll out the policy debate! As early as January when the PM made an appearance at Davos, he un-characteristically unveiled a novel idea that suggested looking to the future and the challenges that lay before the G8 and not simply dwell on the issues of meetings past. And so he set the course to rally behind maternal and children’s health issues – and what a cause to support! One would have thought the PM was taking his leadership role seriously and setting in place an initiative that would reverberate throughout the most influential countries in the world. Little did we know of the plans that the PM was laying in store for the government’s policy, to be fretted over and debated until its unveiling closer to the G8 meetings, avoiding what may have been a backlash from Canadian constituents. And then along came Haiti, and then Chile and all the efforts that Canada laid out to help those in need and a policy in its infant stages rushed to its maturity only to be unveiled by a disorganized and disgruntled government that clearly had no idea of what the other was intending. Or so is what I’m reading this morning - it would appear that the Conservatives are finding it a little difficult to step outside of the box, try on a new policy and run with it. Instead, the ‘maternal and children’s health issues’ that Canada was hoping to address on a wider scale didn’t actually address one of the major issues of the 21st century – contraception – at least not until the PM was hounded by aid agencies, NGOs, journalists and even a UN official citing the importance of contraception for maternal health. The Foreign Minister and the Minister of Int’l Cooperation both were ignorant of the PM’s plans and instead issued statements stating the contrary. So now, the PM is supporting contraception, leaving his Minister’s in the dark, but also condemned strongly abortion.Meh, good enough for now I suppose.

I can understand the difficulties in stepping outside of the box and erring on the side of liberalism (and the better they are for it!) but what I don’t understand is how a policy’s direction could so clearly have been misunderstood by the Minister’s most affected by the policy itself. Is the PM just playing with fire, baby steps here, see what happens, baby steps back? No one likes a PM with no backbone, especially is Cabinet. Recognizing the challenges of a minority government and holding on to the fragile balance of power, political uncertainly is bound to follow, yet the PM’s been at this for quite a while. At this point in his tenure, it would be worthwhile to grow a backbone, show the G8 that it’s PM knows what it wants to achieve and how it’s going to get there. If it doesn’t work out, then it was never going to anyway and if it does that at least you have something to show history you’ve achieved.

It’s all Personality to Me

My last post mentioned my passion for the environment and how much I enjoy traveling and marveling at the beauty that the earth has to offer, beyond the city-scapes and artificial-ness. So I was really excited a few months ago when BRAVO came out with a reality-show, PhotoExplorers, documenting a photographer’s journey into the wild to find the almighty ‘perfect shot!’ I was excited and knowing my own challenges in trying to do the same while travelling (the things I went through to get a photo!) made me incredibly intrigued and I promptly scheduled my recording device so I wouldn’t miss it! …. Talk about one of life’s disappointments :S It wasn’t that the cites were dull, the landscapes boring or the colours lustre – it was that the photographers were lifeless!! There were certainly interesting stories to be told, but done in such a monotone and uninteresting way a la retired librarian that made me want to hit the mute button! There was absolutely NO personality in any of these photographers! This was also a shock, thinking that their personalities would match the quality of their proofs, but no – mistakenly wrong. Come to think of it, cooking shows often do the same – loads of great info and tantalizing masterpieces, but none of the pizazz that brings a smile to your face or motivates you to watch the next episode.

Thinking of these two shows definitely shed a bit of light on the importance of PERSONALITY!!! It’s certainly not something that they teach you in school or that can even be learned, but it’s what draws you to them for conversation, for business, for interest and they inevitably become magnets to those around them – a likely asset to any firm or company! And it’s these personalities, whether on tv or in the real world, which bring a certain penache to life and keeps things interesting. Humour helps, actually it helps a lot and being able to not take yourself too seriously.  People are people no matter where you go, no one likes to scowl all day or brim with stress throughout their work breaks and, when used strategically, a  good laugh will get you a long way!

I’m always eager to meet new people, for the sheer curiosity of which personality I’ll uncover, hopefully one that doesn’t leave me snoozing and might even help to make my own more intriguing

Entertaining Views

I can’t tell how much time I spend watching TV or reading up on entertainment news. I know it’s a waste of time. I know that watching the Grammy’s or reality shows will not enhance my well-being in any way or even relax me – who hasn’t watched “The Bachelor” and not felt anxiety?! But I do it anyway and I don’t know why?! It’s everywhere! It’s there when I wake up to my favorite morning show, it’s there when I sign into my email and it’s there in the newspaper! I can’t be rid of it and I don’t know how I ever escaped in the first place?

It could have been I spent most of my energy on my school work or out with friends. I had a TV and VCR, but no cable. And when abroad, would catch up with shows via internet when time permitted. Now that I’m back though, out of academia and back in North America, I find a lot of my conversations focus around entertainment in two different ways.

The first revolves around films and TV. My main criticism is just that I (and probably most people around me) spend way too much time parked in front of the tube. It’s a compelling force coming out of this little box, moving people to tears, screaming out of fear and stirring anxious minds for an hour or two out of the day. The second revolves around the people on TV and in movies; What couple is headed for divorce? Who will star in the next reality show? or What the actor said about…? When push comes to shove, who cares?

Perhaps it’s just a by-product of under-employment and boredom, but I find  it shocking how the media is able to suck you in and suddenly, before you know it, daily news isn’t news without some sort of talk about TV characters or inquiries into the latest love child or cover-up. Or is it the same traits that make us slow down at a car wreck to see? A little moment to escape from reality?

Admittedly, I, just like everyone else out there, sometimes need to just sit, unwind and not do anything. TV and movies have certainly filled that void. But I think we (especially in Canada and the US) have been doing it too much, otherwise  we wouldn’t be talking about shows so much, we wouldn’t be striving to look like the girls on TV (*not healthy*) and we wouldn’t be influenced to buy products that are promoted by TV and movie stars.

So, I’ve set myself a reasonable limit – no more than 1 hour a day in front of the TV or more than 1 film a week. I think it’s reasonable and it makes me chose wisely what I’m watching – infomercials and Big Brother, be GONE! It also means that the films I watch are going to be well worth the $15 I pay for them at the theater or $5.99 from Blockbuster.

I might spend more time blogging – is the computer a replacement for TV? or learning a new sport? or language? or hanging out with friends? cooking? Who knows? I just know that my psyche, body and peace of mind may well benefit.