Tag Archives: Hart House

Who Needs Haunted Houses? We’ve Got U of T Grades

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When I was 15, I fought off a troll. It was charging at my legs, determined to drag me back into a dark cave where I would never see my family or friends again… So my legs and arms instinctively swung at its chest.

pirates trolls

Trolls are terrifying. Let’s be real. (via giphy.com)

Perhaps I should have mentioned that this was in a haunted house. And that the ‘troll’ was just a man with a terrifying mask. It was one of those haunted houses that you had to walk through; none of this “sit here in this cart that will bring you past all the scary things and safely to the exit”. So I had been terrified for the last 10 minutes leading up to the troll battling as I was pushed through the endless halls by friends.

(I basically react the way Amy does in a haunted house.)

While I’m not proud of having been young and foolish enough to not know the difference between a ‘troll’ and a mask, I am reassured to know that I have excellent reflexes. Some have the flight response; I decidedly have the fight response. Let this be a warning to any real trolls out there.

troll battling

via giphy.com

Being scared and scaring others seems to be an integral part of Halloween. And I like Halloween, I really do: the free candy, the excuse to dress up and the subway rides full of monsters, goblins and scantily-clad-professionals.

But I don’t get the appeal of haunted houses. Every day life can be scary enough (just wait until you get your midterm grades). Though, true, it can be hilarious to see people react to scary things.

colbert scared

via giphy.com

SNL scared

via giphy.com

scared

via giphy.com

(The Nightmares Fear Factory in Niagara Falls, ON has some priceless reactions to their haunted house.)

My distaste for haunted houses may be problematic as I have agreed to go with friends to the Hart House of Horrors Halloween Party on Oct. 31st. I’m going because I know there will be fun things like a DJ in the Great Hall, a costume contest and horror movies. But I am really, really hoping there are no trolls.

harry potter troll

I’m hoping my Halloween doesn’t turn out like this… (via giphy.com)

- Kay

The Jolly Season of Midterms

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Oh midterm season, that dreadful time of year when everyone hides in their rooms or at the library, with their heads buried in their textbooks, forgetting that they ever had a social life. As a second-year student, I know the drill now. But nonetheless, I’m still worried because each year, the work becomes harder. This time around I don’t have any exams, which I am glad about, but I have two papers and two presentations to complete. At U of T, no one escapes midterm season scot-free; there is always something to study for.

The thing is, I know that I won’t get anything done when I’m stressed out; I put things off until the eleventh hour. And even though I’m probably going to leave one of those assignments for the classic do-it-all-in-one-night style (hey, it’s a student tradition), I still want to be, and to feel, at the top of my game. So, at the start of the week, I made a list of goals to keep my head in check:

1. Go to the gym at least once alone and once with a friend (maybe this is how I can be social again).
2. Keep attending Pilates classes.
3. Between reading a chapter, or writing a paragraph, stop and stretch for relaxation.
4. Take time to do the much appreciated “treat yo’self.” Seriously.

Parks and Recreation had this right all along. –VIA SPIFFYPOP.TUMBLR.COM

When it came to actually completing my to-do list, I was running short on energy, but still managed to reach these goals.

1. Gym?
I was aiming to be one of those “I-wake-up-at-6:00AM-to-go-to-the-gym”-types of people, but this week was devoted to night time exercising. Also, it was easier to go with a friend at night since we both had an evening class together. Even though I wasn’t active during my planned time, I was still being active nonetheless. After all, the most important part was that after returning back to my room, I was calm enough to be able to sit down and focus on my readings.

2. + 3. Doing Pilates + Practicing my stretches
I attended my Pilates class, but it was a struggle. I fell behind on practicing my planking, which I’d made a pact to perfect since last week. The night before Pilates class, I stayed up until 4:00AM doing readings and editing a paper. I woke up early  all groggy and exhausted. In retrospect, staying up so late (or early, if you’re a grim thinker) wasn’t the best decision, but I didn’t want that mistake let me skip my Pilates class, and cause a chain reaction for the rest of the week. So I went!

And you know what? When I left the AC after class, I felt revived. I was still drained from the lack of sleep, but I was calmer, and had more patience to carry on with the rest of the day. Also, I did manage to slip in some time to practice the plank afterwards.

Don’t pull an all-nighter. Your eyes will punish you for it. —VIA GIFGARAGE.COM

4. Time off + Motivation
Also I did manage to take time to achieve number four on my list, that “treat yo’self” task that I promised I would do. After completing my first presentation, I decided to take a hike to a cute café in Kensington Market. There I lounged around while sipping some blueberry honey tea. It didn’t hurt that the café made a great place for me to study at the same time.

And another thing that’s helping me to get through midterms that didn’t make my list? Making plans to join in on fun events. I realized that I needed some extra motivation to push through my never-ending pile of assignments. Most of all, I need the balance that being social brings. There’s an upcoming MoveU event coming up, Scary Skate, on October 31st. Also, it’s free, as in free to attend, with free refreshments, and free skate rentals—as a university student, I am shameless to say that free is my favourite word. Although I guess in this case, free comes with a cost, since I have a fear of skating. But I’m curious to try it out. And if I can survive midterms, then I’m confident that I’ll survive giving ice-skating another chance.

Even this goat can skate better than me. –VIA 4GIFS.COM

So now, it’s your turn to tell me dear readers. What have you been doing to keep active (and survive) this midterm season?

What Comes After Pain?

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Forgiveness Project 1

The F Word: The Forgiveness Project Exhibition in Hart House’s main hall.

In the peaceful main hallway at Hart House, there hangs a series of panels that depict murderers, mothers, former gang members and an archbishop. This seemingly eclectic collection of photos and stories seeks to “explore how ideas around forgiveness, reconciliation and conflict resolution can be used to impact positively on people’s lives.” As part of the Wounds into Wisdom series of tri-campus events this year, The F Word: The Forgiveness Project Exhibition highlights exceptional stories of what comes after pain.

There were many different, including some very surprising, reactions to the idea of what comes after pain and whether forgiveness, or otherwise, was an appropriate response. One perpetrator felt asking for forgiveness added “insult to injury” to the relatives and family member. Robi Damelin, whose son was killed while serving in the Israeli army, urged the army not to take revenge in the name of her son upon hearing the news of his death.

Mariane Pearl whose husband, the American journalist Daniel Pearl, was “murdered by a militant Islamic fundamentalist group” said that she had no reason to forgive her husband’s killer, that forgiveness was “too lame an answer for extreme situations”. She instead has chosen “to win some sort of victory over the people who have hurt [her]” by continuing to live and value life.

Conversely, Azim Khamisa found what was called for was forgiveness, and then some. Azim offered a job to his son’s murderer at the foundation Azim had set up in his son’s name after he realized that “there were victims at both ends of the gun.”

Walking through the exhibit, I found it to be more moving that I thought it would be. After all, these sorts of conflicts are things I have studied for the last four years as part of my Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies program. But many of these stories and reactions to the conflicts were deeply personal and certainly beyond what I had expected to find while wandering the halls on campus.

Stories like the ones in the exhibit reminded me of a great quote from journalist Nahlah Ayed in her book, A Thousand Farewells:

“People are not quotes or clips, used to illustrate stories about war and conflict. People are the story, always.”

Particularly when we’re immersed in theoretical academia, this sentiment can be an easy thing to forget.

Forgiveness, on a day-to-day basis, can also be easily forgotten. One of favourite stories of everyday forgiveness comes from a friend who saw her wallet being stolen out of her bag while she was giving a presentation in class. Instead of calling the thief out (as I likely would have done), Toronto-based poet and artist Paloma wrote a poem called “to the man who stole my wallet”, part of which is excerpted below.

i am not so angry

as you expect

me to be.

 

those sixty-one dollars,

i am happy to

give you.

 

please buy yourself something

that makes you happy

and something that makes

you full.

 

the quarter with the triangle of turquoise

I was keeping,

for my sister who collects coins.

 

maybe your sister

collects coins.

The ability to see the person within the perpetrator is what humbles me both in this poem and in The F Word exhibit. It is something for us all to keep in mind as we navigate what comes after pain.

-Kay

—–

The Forgiveness Project was founded by journalist Marina Cantacuzino, with photos taken by Brian Moody. The University of Toronto version is a joint collaboration between Hart House, the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office, Hillel of Toronto (U of T), Ask Big Questions and the Multi-Faith Centre. Exhibits can be seen from Sept. 20th – Oct. 16th at Hart House (main hall) with additional panels at Hillel of Toronto, the Multi-Faith Centre, First Nations House and in the lobby of 215 Huron St. Further information for the exhibit, along with info for the related movie screenings and conflict resolution workshops may be found here.

Better To Be Sore Than Sorry

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Here’s a little secret: I hate the gym. It’s full of sweat, humidity and dirty towels. Though what I loathe the most about the gym most is exercising in public.

I’m just too awkward in public – VIA GUH-GIFGARDEN.TUMBLR.COM

Of course, I’ve found some loopholes to help conquer my so-called hatred of the gym—all I need to do is to go with someone. But this year, after reconsidering my goals and starting this blog, I decided to make a pact to be more independent, especially when it comes to getting active.

Last week, I went to the Athletic Centre to drop in on a spinning class that a friend was teaching. I decided to go not only to support her new job, but also because having her by my side supported me getting into the groove of getting active.

This week, I planned to go to the Hart House gym. Alone. There would be no one by my side, or motivating me to show up. Of course, there were a few moments last week when I considered putting off my plans to go to the gym. After finishing my last class on Tuesday, I went to my room to collapse; I was so tired! As I was lying in bed, I realized that going to the gym could at least re-energize me. I reminded myself that you never regret going to the gym, you only regret not going. So I grabbed my backpack, my towel, and my water bottle, and headed to Hart House.

Since I have used the facilities of the Hart House gym only a couple of times, I decided to become reacquainted with it. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to conquer every corner of the gym on my first trip, so I came in with a plan:

-Focus on strength, and go to the weight room
-Check out the exercise machines for cardio
-Own that sweat!

I think of Hart House as Hogwarts; there are stairs everywhere. It’s a maze of a building with a thousand stairs—I wouldn’t be surprised if I got most of my exercise going up and down the countless flights of stairs trying to find my way to the weight room. But luckily I found it, full of beautifully-toned people lifting weights flawlessly. And then there was me, struggling to lift a five-pound dumbbell. Though there was a kind stranger who helped me with my deadlifts and gave me advice on correcting my technique. What can I say? I tend to slouch a lot. But the stranger’s insight did help!.

The stairs, they never end – VIA GRACE-SUMMERSON.TUMBLR.COM

After doing my reps, I decided to head to the track area, where I went straight to the exercise machines. Even though I like to think that I’m adventurous, I still avoid one machine that everyone else appears to love: the treadmill. It’s like a non-stop conveyor belt for your feet and that scares me.

Biggest gym fear: falling off of a treadmill – VIA MASHABLE.COM

It was the elliptical for me, and I ended up getting my heart rate up on it for more than 40 minutes. Back at home, my family had an elliptical in the basement. During high school, every time I was stressed I would just go downstairs and hop on the machine for a run. And I think the stamina I had back then has stuck with me, which makes me feel really hopeful! I was able to run non-stop, pick up my pace, and get off the machine out of breath, and more relaxed than ever.

Overall, my gym experience wasn’t so frightening. I’m not sure what surprised me more: that my insecurity over exercising in public has lessened since I’ve set these new goals, or that I actually followed through with my plans. I’m serious; I actually got out of my bed to go to the gym, alone, with only my motivation to keep up with my goals. Of course, my body was sore afterwards, but I didn’t regret it. And I know cliché sayings are eye-roll worthy, but someone told me this the other day, and I think it’s kind of relevant: better to be sore than sorry.

-Amanda

Shall We Go Out to the Theatre?

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Last week I went to Hart House Theatre to see the play Bone Cage. Written by Catherine Banks, it’s a picture of Canadian youth, chilling, sad, funny, and poetic. It’s one thing to be a Canadian youth, another to see my fears and anxieties played out on a stage. But that is neither here nor there, and we shant be saying another word on it, shant we! The important thing is that I went out to a U of T event (#tryitUofT What events have you gone out to recently?)!

Hart House Theatre doodle

Does everyone know about Hart House Theatre? It’s a little bit like the Isla de Muerta, in that it cannot be found except by those who already know where it is. Well, not exactly. It’s just below the main entrance. Right there!

Source: http://filmschoolconsortium.com/school/university-of-toronto-%E2%80%93-the-hart-house-film-board/

Source: http://filmschoolconsortium.com/school/university-of-toronto-%E2%80%93-the-hart-house-film-board/

Constructed in 1919, the Hart House Theatre is truly a gem of the university. As a nationally recognized theatre it showcases the work of new and established playwrights, while maintaining a strong devotion to Shakespeare. In high school I saw Macbeth at Hart House, featuring at the end (spoiler alert) Macbeth’s severed head. Fifteen-year-old me was very impressed!

Source: http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/nick.gif

Source: http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/nick.gif

Hart House Theatre also offers a lot of involvement opportunities for students, whether it’s casting calls, paid job positions, or on-going volunteer openings in the theatre. In February, Hart House Theatre will host the U of T Drama Festival, a week of original theatre written, produced, and performed by U of T students. Apparently Donald Sutherland got his start right here on the Hart House stage. Look there he is!

Source: http://harthouse.ca/about-us/history/

Source: http://harthouse.ca/about-us/history/. But I like to think it is. Either way, he did get his start at U of T, so if theatre is your bag then you’re certainly in the right place!

Well, maybe it’s not him, but I like to think it is. Either way, he did get his start right here at U of T. So if theatre is your bag then you’re certainly in the right place!

Hart House is just one of many outlets for theatre enthusiasts at U of T. There are also the college drama societies and groups:

Trinity College Dramatic Society will be performing Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile in November, an imagined encounter between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein in which they chat about genius!

VCDS is currently holding auditions for Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit. I read this play in first year philosophy and it rattled me, yep, like a snake!

New College’s New Faces is at it again with IMPROV sessions every Tuesday! And I’m sure they’ll be bringing something to the 2014 Drama Fest.

And the UC Follies are concocting another year of . . . well, everything from sketch comedy to live radio plays!

All of these societies, groups, and companies are hoping that YOU will audition, volunteer, or at least (if you’re an old geezer like me) come out a show and enjoy the magic of U of T’s theatre life!

 

‘Til next time, youths and younglings, stay diamond!

-Stephen

Take A Walk

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With this new blog came commitment, and with commitment came a well-organized action plan to tackle my new lifestyle change. And it was an easy task—I just had to:

• Get acquainted with the Hart House gym and the Athletic Centre
• Take a look at my options for what exercise classes best suit me (such as spinning classes at the AC, since I miss being on the bike, but am too scared to take on the streets of Toronto. Or my usual go-to for exercise, drop-in Zumba at Hart House)
• Make a schedule to fit in time for these activities
• Most of all, start with baby steps.

But that didn’t happen because my plans fell through this week. Instead, I practiced the art of tossing and turning in my bed, because as life happens unpredictably, colds do too.

That was me for the past week and a half. — VIA MYGIFDUMP.TUMBLR.COM

That’s right, I joined the hundreds of other students on campus who were plagued by the common cold this week. I also missed some classes, had to delay a few of my extra-curriculars, and fell off the face of the Earth. But when I did go to class, I joined in the zombie line of students trekking from Queens Park and Hart House crossing. If you also have been affected by a cold recently, then we probably have walked by each other, both with jumbo-sized tissue boxes in hand. I also feel sorry for you, because this cold’s a strong one.

Aside from my staying in bed or slugging around from class to class, I noticed that I was falling behind in my school work. Although my strong, and unfortunate, ability to procrastinate already contributed to this, I felt like I was losing energy whenever I tried to pick up a book and read. Maybe it was me feeling under the weather, or maybe it was me just being exhausted over my exhaustion, either way, my inability to focus made me realize that I needed to take a walk. You know, the walk that you take when you feel like you need to take some time to recollect the current events in your life. Or in the case of having a cold that prevents you from going outside, a walk to recollect the lack of any events that happened whatsoever. And I didn’t want to walk in Queens Park, or in and around the university bubble. I wanted to go somewhere far from campus (and most definitely far from Con Hall). Either I had to wander away, or else my mind would.

Hey, procrastination seemed fun at first —VIA REACTIONGIFS.COM

So I chose the former for the sake of needing to get back on track with my school work and social life. The walk was more like a break from doing nothing—and what a wonderful procrastination from procrastinating it was. I started my trek at Victoria College and headed on to Harbourfront to ponder on the coast of Lake Ontario. Since it was daytime, this was not a moonlit walk by the shore, which was unfortunate for the romantic in me (sort of).

Even though I wasn’t running, like the many joggers that passed me while I leisurely walked downtown, I felt energized. I was able to sort out my thoughts enough to realize that I missed doing things. I especially missed my extra-curriculars and studying. As a university student, among many, who gets stressed by school work, missing the latter part sounds like a joke, but honestly, it was true. I felt proud of myself for going outside and taking a walk, and for at least doing something. And I think that this exercise was what I needed the most to get that peace of mind I so needed. Most of all, after that walk, I actually did sit down, and was able to focus on my readings.

 

-Amanda

What To Do, What To Do . . . Events at U of T

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I had to return to Cambridge this weekend to help my dad bring in and stack firewood. It’s a yearly chore and it’s fine, because I love woodstove fires in the winter when I visit home. So I left on Thursday, which means I missed a few events at U of T that I would have otherwise gladly attended. (#eventsUofT what events are you planning to attend?)

UofTevents

The thing about events at U of T, and events in my life more broadly, is that they have the habit of falling on the same day. I cannot count the number of times that for weeks I have no real plans, and then all at once I am invited to four different events, all of which are happening on Saturday!

But I can’t really get upset. It’s just one of those little oddities of life! Instead, I have to make a choice. I have to decide what is most important.

One of the events that conspired against me this week was Field to Fork, a festival for locally farmed food prepared by campus Chefs and accompanied by live musicians!

Source:http://ueat.utoronto.ca/event/field-fork-2013/

Source:http://ueat.utoronto.ca/event/field-fork-2013/

From what I heard, they were serving a variety of entrees and desserts, and each plate was $3—for 10 bucks you were more than full! The food enthusiasts at Ueat are responsible for this awesome festival. I wish I had been there. I bet it was delicious, and nutritious!

The second event was the opening of Victoria College’s annual Book Sale, also on Thursday. Luckily, the book sale continues until Tuesday Sept. 24, but the first day is always the most fun and exciting!

Source: http://holygrailofgifs.tumblr.com

Source: http://holygrailofgifs.tumblr.com

I was fortunate enough to get a preview of the Book Sale this year, and the team of volunteers have done a great job organizing and arranging hundreds, if not thousands, of donated books. It’s really quite a feat when you think of it, and I tip my hat to them.

Source: http://library.vicu.utoronto.ca/friends/blog/

Source: http://library.vicu.utoronto.ca/friends/blog/

The event offers two floors of books in the Old Vic building, with a special room for older, rarer, collector’s books and antiques. Also, for the first time they are offering a selection of vinyl records!

On the first day, there was a $3 admission fee, except for TCard holders, who got in free. For the rest of the weekend the event is open to everyone! The books are priced separately, ranging from $1 to over $300 for the really old ones.

Source: http://propaganda-for-life.tumblr.com/post/14742424350/lol

Source: http://propaganda-for-life.tumblr.com/post/14742424350/lol

All the proceeds go to Victoria College Library and help pay for bursaries. I’ll be back this weekend sometime, so maybe I’ll see you there!

First, I have to stack firewood. I decided that helping my dad was the most important event on my map this week.

In second year, The Toronto Spec-Fic Colloquium was hosted at Hart House on the same Saturday as a friend’s Halloween party. I decided it was more important to go to the colloquium than to have “early drinks” with my friends, and now I work for a publishing house because of the connections that I made at the event.

There is a lot to do at U of T, and a lot you may miss. But don’t beat yourself up. Most things happen every year. Do what feels right, and do what feels important to you.

 

Stay diamond, U of T

-Stephen

 

Oh, here are some upcoming events!

Trinity College Book Sale

University College Book Sale

Word on the Street Toronto

A Part Time Job: Pros and Cons

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Last Saturday I went to Hart House to work on a cover letter. A haven for the studious and the sleepy. When I discovered Hart House library in the second week of first year, I knew I was home. (#startUofT Have you ever slept in Hart House?)

Anyway, come September I will no longer be a groundsman at Victoria College. Yep, all things come to an end. But then new things come along, too. At least when I look in the mirror I won’t see this guy anymore:

Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/mrs.%20norris?language=tr_TR

Now, once again, I must enter the proverbial job hunt!

In first year I was fortunate enough not to need a job. Oh, those were the days! But come second year I was in a much different boat. It was an uncertain decision whether to work while in school. What if a job affects my grades? What if I like the job, get promoted and start making real money, then what’s the point of university?

So I weighed the pros and cons. I made a list. Like this:

Pro: Pocket Money

I am always hungry. If I have gained one thing, definitively, since coming to university it is an insatiable hunger. I’ll eat anything!

Source: http://www.reactiongifs.com/tag/hungry/

Having a few extra dollars in my wallet can be a blessing. When I’m studying on campus and my stomach starts to whine and complain, I can quickly pop out for a slice of pizza. When I’m writing an essay and too busy to cook dinner, I can order Chinese food. A few extra dollars often means a few extra minutes, a convenience that money literarily can buy.

Con: Time Commitment

Unfortunately, the equation works both ways. To get that pocket money you have to exchange your free time. This point should not be overlooked. In first year I was unemployed because fitting a job into my schedule was impossible.

Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/busy-gif

For some of you the idea of even fitting in social time seems impossible. It’s a matter of priorities. I got a job because I had to pay rent. What do you have to do?

Pro: Time Management

I worked as a waiter in second year, mostly evenings and weekends. And I found having a job actually improved my time management. If I had a paper due on Thursday, but I worked Wednesday night, then I was forced to write the paper on Tuesday. There were a few assignments left to the last minute, to be sure. But most of the time I completed things early. I had to.

Con: Terrible Bosses

Not really. But I have come across a lot of job postings from people who seem more than willing to take advantage of eager, hard-working (starving) students. It’s a matter of discretion. It took me a while, but I now know what my time’s worth, and I won’t commit to a job that’s wasting it.

Pro: 

Source: http://www.1to1media.com/weblog/experience%20leaders.jpg

The #1 asset that employers want is experience. I doubt we even need names anymore, just a list of our previous jobs and internships. Who remembers names anyway? Employers remember only that this applicant has two years of related experience, while this other person has five. The cover letter that I wrote at Hart House was just a jazzed up list of my experience. But I realize now that all my part-time jobs have been investments, even if they were unrelated to my career. All work is experience:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNXwKGZHmDc

Also, if cover letters and resumes make you anxious or confused, I’d recommend INI300H1 Strategic Writing, it really it helped! Also, there is the U of T Career Centre!

‘Til next time U of T. Stay Diamond!

 

-Stephen

Summertime Wonders at U of T

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July is my favourite month of the year. By far. It’s the warmest, brightest, loveliest month in Canada, 30 days of summer bliss (and maybe a few torrential downpours to make life more interesting…). All said and done, it’s my most carefree month before Fall comes around and I, well, have to ‘get serious’.

The irony of having this post published right around August 1st does not escape me. However, August is still summer, and we’ve still got time to revel in this sunshine and the slush/snow-free pavement for a few more weeks.

So here it is! A ‘yay, you should try this too!’ mini-list of things that I have loved exploring on campus at U of T. Maybe you’ll like to explore them too.

We have a few weeks left U of T- let’s work it!

Harvest Noon

Yes, Harvest Noon has popped up a few times in our U of T blog, probably because it really is pretty awesome. Last week, they were offering a Salsa canning workshop. This Fall, they will be harvesting honey from U of T’s very own apiaries, in collaboration with U of T B.E.E.S. Keep your eye out! If you attend the harvest, glass jar in hand, you’ll go home with a batch of local honey of your very own.

Harvest Noon's Events - more to come in August!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Innis Cafe
I am a big fan of Innis Cafe. Last week, I decided that I desperately needed a cookie. You know, those days when you just *need* a chocolate fix? I love chocolate almost as much as Minions love Bananas.

Once at Innis, I realized that there weren’t any chocolate chip cookies left. At which point my heart broke with disappointment. Innis Cafe to the rescue: the gentleman behind the counter said: “If you wait 10 or 15 minutes, I can make you some!”.

Isn’t that amazing? That’s pretty amazing.

Innis :) )))))))))))

I am also a big fan of their salads and their food in general: it’s inexpensive, healthy, and vegan/vegetarian friendly.

R & RRRRRR

Victoria College, UC Quad, Knox College, the Oasis at Med Sci building… summer months are slower at U of T, which means that green spaces are even quieter and perfect for enjoying a moment or two of peace. Have you ever lounged in the UC Quad, delighted at how distant it feels from the rest of campus? I feel as though i’m not even in the city. I’m in the middle of some forest glade somewhere in the world, with giant trees and chirping birds. A perfect escape.

UC quad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faculty of Architecture at U of T

Okay, so this kind of applies to months after July, but the Faculty of Architecture offers some fantastic talks by visiting scholars. Check out this upcoming lecture in November: “Walking Your Talk – Integrating Walkability in Urban Design” by Jennifer Keesmaat. Very cool, especially in light of the fact that we do a lot of moving around at U of T.

Hart House

Again, a U of T staple that gets tons of shout outs – if you haven’t been yet, you’ll see why! Art, music, theatre, food, not to mention Hart House’s dashing Hogwarts look – you can’t go wrong with an hour or two spent here.

 

 

 

 

 

So there you have it, a few places on campus that have changed the way I see U of T. Perhaps you’ll find them equally as delightful ;) .
-Aziza

On Zen Frogs and Creating Happiness

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It’s 10 minutes to five o’clock on a sunny, beautiful afternoon in May. Just a couple of moments ago, I was sitting in the chapel at Hart House, immersed in a mindful meditation workshop hosted by Cheryl Champagne from Health and Wellness at U of T. I feel calm, happy and, well, a bit surprised.  Who knew that 20 minutes of breathing could transform me from frazzled to zen? I guess I forgot how amazing meditation really is.

In the spirit of wellness and renewal (part two!), today’s post will be all about workshops, events, and resources on campus that can help you keep positive in this journey called Life.

 

 

Dare to Self-Care?

It took me years to figure out that in order to be at my best, I had to care for myself as much as I cared for other people. So I was pretty delighted to discover that U of T’s very own Health and Wellness Centre offers a workshop called Dare to Self-Care. Hosted by Jill Cressy, the workshop explores a variety of self-care practices, including stress management strategies, mind-body techniques, and 10 keys to happier living. Jill usually asks the following questions in her session:

What do you care about?

What are your values related to health and wellness?

How can you best support Happiness in your daily life?

Try your hand at them! I sat down and attempted to, but as usual, when I try to answer questions, I come up with a bunch of them instead: What does it mean to be mindful?  How can we go about creating Happiness?

My quest led me to Sutha Sathananthan, a Masters candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at U of T. Sutha took a Cognitive and Psychological Foundations of Effective Leadership class last fall, and became hooked on the concept of ‘happiness’. The outcome? Sutha founded Engineering Happiness, U of T’s first on-campus Happiness Initiative.

Sutha, founder of Engineering Happiness at U of T

“I started researching a lot about happiness, and I learned that there is a lot of negativity out there” says Sutha. According to her, people don’t start by thinking ‘well, what really makes me happy?’ Instead, they try to find ‘happiness’ when they are faced with depression, anxiety, and other mental health or emotional challenges. Engineering Happiness is all about providing the space and the tools for others to create awareness about the things that bring them balance, contentment, and joy.

Engineering Happiness draws its ethos from the field of Positive Psychology, which seeks to make normal life more fulfilling. Think fostering joy, creativity, and authentic happiness as ultimate goals.

U of T’s Health and Wellness also offers some amazing workshops that explore similar themes. In fact, there is just so much to be explored in the realm of wellness right on campus. Did you know that U of T actually has a Happiness Webinar Series? It’s true!

Not only that, the Multi-Faith Centre is currently offering a class on Mindful Meditation every Wednesday afternoon. Later this summer, you can even participate in a Happiness Challenge, brought to you by Engineering Happiness. You’ll be able to go out in the world an document whatever makes you happy using any medium, then submit your creation for a prize.

My foray into meditation, happiness and self-care kicked off Mental Health Awareness week. Did I get the answers to my questions? Nah…but I did learn a few meditation techniques, and learn a bit more about Happiness. Am I happy? Yes, I can safely say so.

Check out Jill Cressy’s Dare to Self-Care workshop on May 10 from 10-11 am at Charles St. Residence. Engineering Happiness is also hosting a free Laughter Yoga session on Wednesday, May 8th from 7-8 pm at Hart House, 2nd floor Debate Room.

Come out and flourish!

-Aziza