One day to go. New York awaits, Venice calls. I’m heading out to study with the Fine Arts Department field school from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. We’ve had an intense three weeks of studying contemporary art, getting ready. Unearthing a few of the secrets of how artists have changed the face of New York over the past decades, inhabiting Soho, then the East Village, moving on to Williamsburg and now clustering in Chelsea. Each time artists move into a cheap, rundown area that allows them to create without having a major cash flow problem the juggernaut of gentrification railroads in. The real estate becomes pricey, the bars, the cafes, the trendy boutiques open their doors. Everyone wants to enjoy the cachet of milling about with the movers of the art world. Then, what happens? The artists m...
T minus 6 days until I depart to a part of the world that I have only dreamed of experiencing. On Saturday, May 23rd I will be flying from Vancouver to Toronto and then off to South America. Am I ready? Mentally, one hundred percent; physically, high eighties. My world pre-departure has been a whirlwind.
The Colombian Amazon has been a place of wonder to me from my very early childhood. I read books, marveled at photographs and even studied aspects of its geography in university. As soon as I heard about the Amazon field school, I knew it was something I had to do. I told myself that somehow I would find the time, funds and support to do this and with that determination, this experience of a lifetime has come to fruition. My family and friends have given unwavering support and I...
Travel opens minds, and builds a platform upon which the fertile intellect of a young person can structure, and prosper.
Travel embeds culture and the manner of man's development into the soul of the traveler. We witnesses new things, sights, and pleasures. We expose our hearts to the vision and sounds of new beliefs, life styles, and eons of history.
Travels welcomes the traveler, to places and things, never seen before, foods, and dress, customs, and societal layers that illustrate the purpose of man's endeavor.
We travel to learn, and in some small way, be part of the greater fabric of humankind, irrespective of color or creed.
Our journeys impart in us the need to belong, and protect our world from harm, ensuring that the future generations after us, may enjoy what...
Continued from It’s all about adjusting - Part 1...
On top of the language barrier, I’ve also been learning to adapt to certain lifestyle changes that are characteristic to France. Rather than focusing on administrative efficiency like in North America, the French have advanced their healthcare and public transportation systems. So, while the metro lines, buses, and trains are fantastic, and will take you almost anywhere you want to go, the university registration process was more difficult than I expected. And while, as a Type One Diabetic I’m jealous that residents of France with chronic medical conditions have all of their prescriptions paid for by the government, I’ve noticed a very different and laid back sort of approach to customer service and administrative tasks. For exam...