Interested in studying or teaching in Asia?

The East Conference is held once a year to introduce students to the great possibilities in studying and teaching abroad. Guest speakers include fellow students who have studied and taught abroad in Japan, Korea and China. Join the East Asian Student Union’s event and listen to their first-hand experience on their overseas journey. Explore the possible challenges, benefits, application process, and how to finance the trip and more!

When: Wednesday November 4, 2009 @ 1PM – 4PM
Where: International Student Centre (ISC) Room 102

The Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada (a U of T student group) has an upcoming workshop series called “Finance Is Sexy.” It is designed for activists, organizers, student leaders and ethical entrepreneurs who need to learn about sound financial management to make their projects more effective but don’t know how to get started. It will touch on managing budgets, projecting revenues, and making strategic financial decisions. The series is led by John Baker, a professor at Schulich School of Business, and CEO of Aperio non-profit consultants.

When: Monday, October 26 from 6pm-9pm
Where: Bahen Center (40 st George st), Room 3000
Cost: $25
Website: Eventbrite

Image from Wikipedia

So I went caving, aka “spelunking,” this weekend. I came away with so many bruises but it was all worth it considering how much fun I had. Now for those of you who don’t know what caving is, go here.

I swear that having escaped all of those — what I consider to be — “near death” experiences really changed my perspective on things like how strong our instinctual survival abilities are. I had to climb, crawl, lean against walls and whatever else, whilst holding a tiny flash light in my hand, as I was sure I was close to plunging to my death. Alright I might be exaggerating a bit, considering how much of a wimp I am. I kept having to ask my fellow cavers (yes I made up that word) to help me out, like by telling me how the heck they were able to climb up or down and in or out in the first place.

If you’d like to give caving a try, why not join our very own U of T Outing club (UTOC)? There are several opportunities to go caving with them at their cabin near the Niagara Escarpment. The club also offers other amazing outdoor events and activities.

In my honest opinion, Saints Alive! is one of the best student productions I have ever seen! I laughed almost the entire time and the music was stuck in my head even after the performance. The performers were so talented and, in, addition to acting, sung marvelously as well. Each actor had his or her own unique quirkiness and charm. The piano accompaniment was solid and lively and the musical numbers were choreographed well; not a single note was off tune (to me, anyway, the tone-deaf girl).

The actors were so well versed in their dialogue, as any actor should be, I kept thinking to myself, How could they possibly remember all those lines and lyrics? They pulled off such a grandiose play with ease.

I was impressed by (more…)

When: From Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 8:00pm to Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 8:00pm (3 shows, all at 8pm)

Where: The George Ignatieff Theater, just North of Hoskin Avenue

How to Get Tickets: Outside Strachan during lunch, or at the door on the night. You can also reserve tickets by emailing trinity.dramatic.society@gmail.com

If you’re looking for something unique to watch, then Saints Alive is definitely it. Brought to you by your very own U of T students (including seasoned director Victoria Wang), this 1940s Trinity Classic, a play written by Keith MacMillan and Ron Bryden, is sure to impress. Along with great music, this play is expected to bring a barrel of laughs as it spoofs life at St.Hilda’s, Trinity College’s previously all-female residence. This wonderful piece has been showcased numerous times in places such as the Trinity College Centenary.

Having witnessed the rehearsal process myself, I have to say I was truly impressed with the amazing talent as well as the amount of detail they have invested into this production (i.e. costumes). With such a great ensemble cast, production team and original, one-of-a-kind musical to present, Saints Alive is a definite must-see.

Image from the Trinity College Dramatic Society

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…I was an awkward first-year, fresh-faced and  right out of high school. I was also an entire continent away from my beloved hometown of Vancouver (which, in my extremely objective opinion, is the best city in the world). Not really knowing anyone, feeling rather lost in the inexorable bustle that is the University of Toronto, I wandered lonely as a cloud…until I met a bunch of rather loquacious individuals with a penchant for placards and extremely polite insults–in other words, the joy that is Model United Nations.

Image courtesy of www.namun.org

OK, I jest; that was an extreme (and rather melodramatic) exaggeration on my part. But like many lies, it does have more than a smidgen of truth within. Model UN, for the uninitiated, is a simulation of the actual United Nations, a conference in which people — often students — dress up in their finest “business formal” (a term that always inspires ferocious debate) outfits, and role-play a country’s diplomats trying to come up with solutions to the world’s many tangled problems that matches their foreign policy. Upon first perusal, Model UN does sound like an exceedingly geeky endeavour, but there’s something undeniably amusing about in engaging in polite but scathing verbal sparring matches. It’s also a great way to meet new people — it’s difficult not to be friends with people you’ve spent several days arguing and partying with — and it’s a fun way to hone one’s public speaking skills. Of course, the wild post-debate parties are always a plus, as is Model UN’s resume-boosting potential.

Before I bore you all to death by extolling Model UN’s many virtues, I’m going to assume that you’ve been swayed by my flawless rhetoric and are chomping at the bit to participate in Model UN-esque activities. (more…)

If you missed out on the Hart House Wide Open House, then you might as well move to Antarctica and have Morgan Freeman narrate your life (bad movie pun). The Open House was beautifully organized chaos. At the heart of its complexity and diverse nature there was a radiating source of beauty and vibrancy.

There was live music, food, free prizes, beautiful people and a BUTTON MAKING CLASS! What else can the human soul long for? Oh and did I mention they had an awesome mini club fair?

For those of you who missed the event, I shall try my hardest to embody its pulsating atmosphere in this article.

MOVE OVER Martha,  Hart House is the new party hostess. With great free stuff,  food, entertainment and activities the Hart House Wide Open House was a success!

Sit back and relax as I take you through the Open House:

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