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Blog Abroad, Paris: Thoughts on Some of the Everythings
I’ve been in Paris for a few weeks now… a month, almost. A month!
Is life here grand?
The city is grand. Living here for the year is certainly not like an extended vacation, though: your mindset is completely different when you know that you’ll be here for a year as a student, and the experience is exciting in a completely different way. However, no matter your purpose in the city, Saturdays are Saturdays (most of the time), and Paris is Paris. I am in love with this city. I’m in love with its pastries, its unrefrigerated milk, its monuments, its sunsets, its students, its vibrancy, its streets, its hidden spots, its markets, its evenings, its everythings.
In short, yep, life here is grand!
I was telling my friend earlier that there is something magical about this city at night. You don’t always see it – sometimes you’re having a conversation, or lost, or studying, or whatever. But once in a while, you look up and something very strange happens.
It happened once when picnicking with a few classmates under lamplight on Paris’ Catholic Association’s building’s steps. It happened once while I was waiting for 3 friends one night at the City Hall… the moon formed part of a perfect backdrop for the beautifully illuminated Hotel de Ville square as I watched people wandering, looking, living. I suddenly felt like a part of something very beautiful.
I also feel like the first few weeks in any new place are hilarious. Everything is new and foreign and head-tilt-worthy. Here are a few of those everythings and other thoughts that made me laugh (or just head-tilt): Continue reading “Blog Abroad, Paris: Thoughts on Some of the Everythings”
Architecture Rant: The Pharmacy Building
U of T’s architectural gems tend to stay away from the periphery of our downtown campus (ie. Spadina to the west, Bloor to the north, Bay-ish to the east, and College to the south). Con Hall, UC, Old Vic, Robarts, and even the dreadful MedSci are more or less invisible to the public whizzing by on the streetcar. However, this does not hold true for one of the newest additions to the U of T Architecture Hall of Fame: the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Building, gracefully plopped on the northwest corner of University Avenue and College Street. Completed in ’07, it shows how wild and gregarious spending was before the global financial meltdown and ensuing hellscape of ’08.
She has all the forward thinking-ness of the Terrence Donnelley Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research (the glass tower attached to MedSci) but without the near childish use of colour. Where Donnelley slaps you in the face with a curved red wall and random blocks of colour throughout its glass facade, Pharmacy gently implies monochrome maturity and refinement. Save for the suburban style front lawn, the Pharmacy Building proclaims to the public that it is U of T territory. We should be glad that our southeastern sentinel is so beautiful.
Heart & Stroke U of T: General Meeting
Everyone is welcome to attend the Heart & Stroke Foundation – U of T Chapter’s first General Meeting of the year. Whether you’re looking to get involved with an amazing organization or just want something to do, we encourage you to come on out, learn more about us, and meet some new friends.
Adventures in Productive Procrastination: The Angela Grauerholz Exhibit at UTAC
It was a dreadfully rainy afternoon and I was out for coffee with a good friend of mine who happens to be an Art History major. Our moods were dampened by the wet weather as we exchanged laments about long lectures and relentless readings. The second-week-of-school-slump was upon us, and was only made more dreary by the grey skies.
For a few days before this meeting, my friend had been asking me to go with her to a photography exhibit on campus. I had said yes noncommittally, like you say yes to a parent’s pleas to walk the dog or mow the lawn. As our coffee date was wrapping up, she implored me to attend the exhibit with her, and my strong desire to procrastinate at that particular moment in time prompted me to comply. Continue reading “Adventures in Productive Procrastination: The Angela Grauerholz Exhibit at UTAC”
It’s That Time of Year Again!: Junior Editor Applications
The Editors of blogUT are looking for a Junior Editor to help us make sure that blogUT continues to run smoothly and showcase amazing content.
During your time as Junior Editor, we will train you on everything blogUT. You’ll learn how to write and edit posts, communicate with other campus clubs, manage basic finances, and lead an amazing team of people. This is a great opportunity for those of you who’d like to get more involved in student life. And an added bonus? It’ll be a great addition to your resume.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Is in first, second, or third year
- Can write/respond to emails quickly and professionally
- Has an understanding of how a good blog should look in terms of format
- Pays attention to detail
- Has a basic knowledge of how to use WordPress or other web publishing platforms
- Has excellent spelling and grammar
- Can devote 2-3 hours per week to blogUT activities
Your responsibilities will include:
- Editing blogs and comments on a regular basis
- Updating our Twitter feed and Facebook profile
- Responding to emails from various organizations about events that are going on
- Finding out about events that would be of interest to blogUT readers
- Contacting event organizers for press passes
- Helping to make decisions about finances
- Helping to organize meetings
- Doing paperwork for the UTSU (ex. applying for funding)
- Miscellaneous administrative tasks, such as creating new user accounts and helping contributors with problems using WordPress
- Coming up with ideas on how to help the blog run better
To apply, with the subject ‘Junior Editor’ answering the following questions by OCTOBER 28, 2011:
- Who are you? What are you studying? Tell us about yourself.
- Why are you interested in this position?
- Why do you think that you are qualified for this position?
- What is something new, fresh, and innovative that you will bring to blogUT?
- Do you have any constructive criticism on how we are currently operating?
If you have any writing samples, please send them along with your application.
We look forward to hearing from you!