Maple Leaf Schooling: A Chinese Student Makes History
In-Flight Opening Feature: About Mackenzie YEG-GA And Z.[A.]D.
Mackenzie YEG-GA began its travels with Z.[A.]D., an International Student from Wuhan, China with a deep-seated interest in the Global Environment, comparative World Cultures and advanced study in Sociology. Z.[A.]D. explained to the School of One Carver that she had acquired an enormous amount of information about Canada before travelling to Alberta when she studied at Wuhan Maple Leaf International School, including how she learned that the frosty North American nation maintained a warm commitment to multi-culturalism. Meanwhile, the Rocky Mountains proved to be the first major landmark encountered during Canadiana studies at the Chinese international school. When further pressed about the choice to travel to Edmonton for post-secondary education, Z.[A.]D. stated emphatically that it was because of the international reputation of Canadians as being "nice people", a characterization which was reinforced by the accounts provided by friends who had already studied in institutions found throughout Canada. While Z.[A.]D.'s main interest of study is Sociology, that trajectory of university education was anticipated by courses in History and Native Studies, and, in one class in particular, a highly worthwhile research project charting developments within the Mackenzie River Basin. Z.[A.]D. also recalled how, as a child, she placed a small paper boat in the Yangzte River to anticipate future travels and adventures, a comparative cognitive journey that Z.[A.]D. discovered was remarkably consistent with the Canadian classic, "Paddle to Sea."
The rock for Mackenzie YEG-GA was quarried by the School of One carver from the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, a locale that Z.[A.]D. explored in great detail during the Fall, 2015. Z. (A.) D. was part of a group of students enrolled in a History class in which a "Learning Environment" group exercise was undertaken to help them appreciate and document the impact of different types of human activities upon the environment over time. For the exercise, students crafted "carving vignettes" that charted their River-Valley observations into continuity and change and then measured their original findings against competing theories of "Creative Destruction". As Z.[A.]D. recalled in way that the historical geographer Carl Sauer would have appreciated, it was crucial to walk the River-Valley trails winding from the University of Alberta to the Dawson Bridge several kilometres away "to get it right", a commitment to the assignment and fellow students in her project group which is definitely consistent to Z.[A.]D.'s vigorous approach to her post-secondary "Maple Leaf schooling". Z.[A.]D.'s remarkable dedication to expanding her understanding of Canada is also seen in her travels elswhere in the nation, including a trip to Yellowknife in November, 2016, for "Fall Break".
Links:
For some further information about Wuhan Maple Leaf International School, please see, WMLIS
A promotional video for Wuhan detailing some of its major sites may be foudn at: Chinese City : A Bird's Eye View Of Wuhan 鸟瞰武汉
For the Canadian National Film Board Classic by Bill Mason, please see YouTube, Paddle to the Sea
Chapter One: Z.(A.)D. and Mackenzie YEG-GA in Canada, West and North
This first chapter documents the thoughts and memories of Z.(A.)D. during the second term of study as an International Student at the University of Alberta. The presentation of the three vignettes that comprise this chapter actually follow dates "in reverse" and reflect an alternative approach to memory. While the insights regarding student housing and shopping in Calgary will undoubtedly strike a chord with many Intenational Students, the celebration of the Spring Festival with new friends and marked by Mackenzie YEG-GA suggests that China is never far away when ancestral traditions are revered and revisited.
Lister Centre, 2016
Sunday Feb 21, 2016 -2°C
Now it’s February, 2016, and I have lived in the Lister Centre for half a year. I can still remember the first day I came to this place. It was "Move-in Day" and the students were listed in the alphabetical order to receive their dormitory assignments. The first letter of my family name was found on the first page of the list and I was supposed to go to the Centre at 10:30AM. However, because I arrived to the hotel where I first stayed in Edmonton at midnight, I woke up at 9:45am! If a student was late for their appointment, they were supposed to wait until the end of the registation to receive their rooms so I called a cab and rushed to the dormitory. Upon arrival, I dragged my two pieces of heavy luggage and ran to the gate where I saw a grey building with unknown yellow flowers were blooming under its outside wall. What a lovely place! Suddenly, a volunteer in green greeted me, and she helped me carry my bags. Soon after, I got my name card, by that time, I realized that I had actually arrived at the dorm on time!
After registration was done and I finished cleaning up my room, I laid down on my bed. I was completely tired but I knew that I had completed the first step of my university journey. I was kind of excited! During that night, I had my first floor meeting in my life. I met some people on my floor, and after we introduced each other we played some name games. I will never regret living in Lister Centre, especially because of the friends I was able to meet on my floor. That was such a beautiful night! Months later in February, I pass through the corridor of the dormitory and remember how the Move-in day and my first "floor meeting" have now become part of my personal History. I shall never forget about "the old days" in Lister Centre. They are such a valuable memory for me.
On the Road to Calgary
Wednesay, February 17, 2016. 4°C
I first went to Calgary last November for a visit. This time, I came to the Albertan city to apply for a U.S. Visa. Although I only have been to this city twice, I have to admit that I prefer it Edmonton. I actually love Edmonton but Calgary is a more fashionable place, hence explaing why Calgary is such an appealing place for young girls like me. In addition to the clothing stores I found many distinctive, attractive buildings in Calgary. When my bus from Edmonton arrived to the downtown, I saw a Japanese-style archway along one of the streets. It looked like something built during the Edo period: high pillars with red oil paints plastered on them. After that, our bus encountered Calgary's "Chinese town" complete with its red lanterns, colorful neon lights framing advertisement signs, and "couplets" stuck on doors to mark further the celebration of the Spring Festival. The bus continued to another block where there are many red brick apartments built early in the Twentieth Century. The walls of the buildings feature old murals and some of the building have outside stairs that appear as "bookends". The first floor of many of these building include clothing shops with mannequins dressed up up in the most the elegant and fashionable clothing in the showcase windows. It seemed like they were walking on stage during a fashion show. I love those old Canadian-style buildings. They greeted me like old, elegant ladies.
Quality fashion may be found elsewhere in Calgary and the city includes famous shopping mall called the Chinook Center. a place I also went to during my first visit. Honestly, it was fantastic! Compared other shopping malls I have visited in Canada, it has more specialty shops and all of the businesses are decorated in different styles: "splendid", "simple", "classic", "punk", to name a few. Meanwwhile the clothing available to shoppers is equally: "modest", "vivacious", "light and dark . . . The most important thing I found was a great perfume shop! I purchased several bottles of perfume with various smells that made me feel even more delightful.
Spring Festival Dinner with Friends
Friday, February 5, 2016. 3°C
Although February 8th will actually be the Chinese New Year, many friends and I will be really busy studying for our "mid-term" tests. Thus, we decided to have a dinner together on this Friday night before the big day. Maybe we are not in China, but we cannot ignore our feelings that Spring Festival is coming soon.
Without question, Spring Festival is a special link which connects everyone together like a joint on a limb. No matter how busy you are or how lonely you feel, it still draws you together and towards a larger body of people who share the same feelings and simlar memories. This potrait of my YEG-GA records how we had some traditional Chinese dishes, including duck gourd soup, "weever", fried tofu, brine beef, and fried vegetables. Most of the plates were Cantonese style dishes, which is hardly surprising since we were in a Cantonese restaurant. We ate and talked a lot. Everyone shared their personal stories from the old year and their wishes for the coming new one. That made this moment just as lively and warm as the New Year that we remembered from the past celebrations spent with our families in China.
I can still remember the last New Year celebration in my hometown. My grandma cooked so many dishes to celebrate the new year. She is such a good cook! My hometown is in Hubei Province, and, therefore, she prepared some special local dishes, such as fish cake, chicken soup, and steamed fish and vegetables. I love these foods, especially the fish cake. It is fresh, soft and tasty, and it is prepared by mixing fish meat, eggs and flour (I am sorry that I don’t have the picture, so I can’t show it now but only draw from my memory). During that night, everyone sat at the table where we exchanted the best wishes to the coming year between each member of the entire family. Then, we started to enjoy the amazing meal. This memory remind me how I oftern miss the food from my hometown more than my parents (I used to tell this to my mom, and she was very disappointed but, to be honest, food is more appealing!). The New Year's Eve celebration was brought to its successful conclusion when everyone sat around the fire and watched the Spring Festival Gala Evening on television. While we watched the programme, we also ate some snacks, including sunflower seeds, candies and sweet buns, while we sipped Chinese green tea. With all of the laughter and lingering food smells, you could not feel any cold but only the warmth of family happiness.
This year, because of university demands, I cannot spend time with my family during the Spring Festival, the most important festival for the Chinese people. However, here in Canada. I still have my friends, who help me remember the people who love me and support me while I am in Canada. That makes me feel at home. To most of Chinese people, “home” means your family members and relatives so, for me, even though I am so far away, I can still feel "at home" because I always remember my family. There is a Chinese traditional poem entitled, “但愿人长久，千里共婵娟”. While it is difficult to translate its actual meaning, it basically offers hope that all people can live longer, and that we shall watch the moon at the same time even though we are far away from each other. The poem is generally used to describe the collective feelings for Mid-Autumn Day (the Fall Festival). Nevertheless, today I feel the same sentiments as the Spring Festival approaches. My family members are still my "main family" in China, but, in the meantime, my friends in Edmonton are my "other family" in Canada. We appreciate each other, we care of each other, and that is the feeling of home! Today, I wish everyone a very happy and excellent Chinese Monkey Year!
Northern Canadian History, Close to the Great Slave Lake
Thursday, November 10, 2016. 2°C
I am traveling alone again for Fall Break and I arrived to Yellowknife few days ago. I decided to go to see Old Town and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. After viewing some of these man-made sites in the Historic district, I decided to visit some wonders of Nature, including, of course, the Great Slave Lake. Sadly, because I do not have a driver's license I could not rent a vehicle so I could not go to some of the parks located far away from Yellowknife which surround the lake. I finally decided that Old Town was the best option to see frozen Northern waters since it borders some of the bays attached to the Great Slave Lake.
The taxi driver dropped me near the Old Town so I walked for a while and eventuall found a frozen lake. The water was totally frozen without any holes on the surface with only some cracks on the ice. I took a deep breath then stepped on the ice even though I thought it might collapse. It didn’t break! Since the ice seemed firm, I tried to walk and it was amazing! And my frozen water adventure on the lake lasted three minutes! The experience reminded me of words from my father. He finished his university studies in Harbin, and he once told me that during the winter the river in Harbin was be frozen and people could walk and skate on the water. Since I was born and lived most of my life in Wuhan, a southern city in China, I never saw Yangtze River freeze. But now I’ve seen my first frozen lake in Canada! Given the risk and possibility of drowning, after the three minutes had passed I went back to the shore.
I continued my walk in Old Town. Because it is a historical site, only few people live in here and I saw bunch of houses near the water. It was quiet and peaceful and the frozen water was covered by white snow and frost, with some forest providing a dark border to the skyline. It was a cloudy day but the light was reflected from the town to the sky which made the experience so mysterious. It reminded me of an old Chinese poem with the lines: “千山鸟飞绝，万径人踪灭” that record how there were no birds in the mountains and how the author could not find the tracks of people on the associate alpine paths. The poem eloquently and succussfully portrays a scene of a lake in Winter, and I think it perfectly captures the surroundings and my feelings in Old Town. I walked about one hour to get to see a group of buildings (together, a "village") and eventually turned back. I really enjoyed this peaceful scene, but, after my mom in China looked over the pictures I took here, she remarked about how she thought it was too boring because there seemed to be no evidence of human activiity. Personally, and in contrast, I think this journey was extremely worthwhile. It reminded me how every place has its own features; some include evidence of human action upon the environment while some others continue to be unspoiled places of Nature. Yellowknife might not be as warm for visitors as places like Vancouver, and the northern settlement is certainly cold, with heavy snow, frost, fog and frozen lakes during the Winter. But it is still Yellowknife, a place with unique features and a landscape worth exploring, much like other places in the World. As a committed tourist, I alway wish to travel to many different places and to explore the beauty of the Earth. For me, it does not matter how "rough" the conditions might be during my journeys. If people only want to be comfortable, they should just stay in their hotel rooms, or, better yet, stay at home where they might be warm and comfortable but would lose the chance to see how amazing and splendid the World is in different settings.
After this visit I can definitely say that the Great Slave Lake and Yellowknife are, together, an attractive place to visit. The people of Yellowknife are friendly, including my host at the bed and breakfast, the waiters and waitresses in the restaurants, and the taxi drivers. They were very kind and nice to me. Oh, one more thing: If you decide to come to Yellowknife, try the whitefish here -- they are so delicious. And the fries! Generally, I dislike fries but those found in the local restaurants are crispy and very tasty! Be sure to try them during one of the cold and mysterious days here in Winter!