Whenever there are cutbacks to classroom time, courses or extracurricular school activities for: the arts, theatre, music, creative writing, I’m concerned. Arts, Humanities Touches Daily Life: Highest and Mundane Details Those snickers about people who major in philosophy, history, literature –university / college programs which don’t provide a clear-cut path to an immediate job, I wonder: …
Category: Culture
Warming Up to Bison Art and Branding
A sign of an entrenched native prairie animal icon, is a hulking, ugly bison stamped into Alberta handmade soap. Not that I’ve seen a salmon icon on Pacific coast local soap –yet. Pacific coastal soapmakers might find dolphins and whales more romantic iconography for beauty soap products. Not Exactly Cuddly While the bison isn’t cuddly nor evokes…
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Tracing German Medieval, Reformation Restraint and Northern Renaissance
We’re not purists when we travel overseas to see “perfectly”, preserved towns. Others may scoff for being too touristy. To me, it’s all part of the same culture –the well-kept heritage, the tourist-kitschy and ordinary messiness. Rothenburg ob der Tauber was a charming, historic town of 11,000 that ostensibly relied on its tourist economy. No problem. …
Reject Not at First Glance : Stained Glass Church Art
Two decades ago, I tossed out my 30-lb. stained glass artwork into the garbage a few years after I finished two stained glass art courses. I dubbed the art piece, “Spring Thaw”. “Spring Thaw” was hoisted out into the garbage room, because I thought it was unworthy of transporting 4,000 km. in moving to Vancouver from Toronto. Yes, it was…
Small and Suave: Dijon Lures with Charm and Wonder
If North American urbanites could have cosy, yet sophisticated and relaxed cities like Dijon, France, we would all be happier and healthier. Timeless, Relaxed Elegance Dijon is like a timeless elegant lady, yet sitting relaxed in a polished, antique chair. She wears a silk blouse with a pair of worn jeans and stylish deep red…
Teenager Helps Father Sponsor Relatives to Immigrate to Canada
That Ontario teenager was myself. I don’t have a photo like what you see in some recent newspapers: Smiling Canadians posing in photos with Syrian refugees as they arrive at our major city airports. My experience is not about helping refugees. Humdrum Insider View: Helping Others Immigrate Let me give you our family’s insider view. …
Easy-Peasy or Daunting: Getting to Local Art and Attractions by Bike, Foot, Transit
A long while ago, I was volunteer blogger for Tourism Vancouver’s blog, Inside Vancouver. My special self-chosen niche, was flogging outdoor Vancouver attractions, reachable by bike, foot or transit. So I zoomed into fabulous outdoor art, parks and scenic vistas. Metro Vancouver is abundant with an array of jaw-dropping scenery, galleries and historic sites clustered…
This Traveller Loves to Come Home Too
That’s me –after several weeks abroad and enjoying every day, immersed in a foreign country and language environment, I love to come home too. To my own bed, quiet at home and diverse choice of food. Not Get Too Lost I’m not exactly your tourist, clutching tightly onto my pillow from home or I’m peering…
Living Best as City Mouse
Even though Cycle Write blog is peppered with wilderness photos and near poetic odes about Nature, at heart, I live best as a City Mouse. An urban life person. Sure I’d love to claim that I revel in cabin or at least home living in the unlit forest. There is an implicit suggestion, that liking…
Cycling Love in India: Profile of Mother, Physician Blogger
A few months ago, I stumbled across Preethi’s blog, IfeeIthinkIsay. I was delighted to discover she also is a cyclist..in southern India. In addition to bicycling for health and fun, she is also busy as a full-time physician (psychiatrist) there for last 9 years for children with disabilities and emotional problems, as well mother of 2 young children. She graciously…
Canadian Contrasts or Ignorance: 3 Cities, 3 Solitudes
It’s harder than it appears: distillating facts and personal musings on the major cities where I’ve lived, worked and cycled so far. Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary are big and jostle for world stage, as Canada’s world-class city. Several sword points to note: Vancouver in my infographic, refers to City of Vancouver. Not 20 other suburban cities around which…
Canadian Canoe Museum : Plying Waters of Culture, History and Geographic Exploration
I’ve only canoed once in my life. My day of canoeing was semi-mandatory at a day school camp for physical education and science class when I was 10 years old. I haven’t gone into the waters since then, because I don’t know how to swim. Canoe and Kayak- Icons in Canadian Cultural History So why…
Christmas Lights, Colours- In Nature and by Human Touch
I’m certain we all have cringed at the outright crassness of shopping mall Christmas frippery, trinkets and lights festooning the shops and out along shopping districts. Sure, it taints the real spirit of Christmas –the birth of Christ, the reciprocal giving of good wishes both personal and collective as well as small gifts of caring…
Judge Not the Poor: Eating Healthy
There have been enough popular news media and academic articles about the unhealthy triangle of poverty, limited food choices, and higher risk of poor health. Such assumptions can sometimes be wrong: I am a living example or shall I say, my family has been a living example that poverty doesn’t always mean living in the black shadow of…
Crafting My Personal Blogger Infographic
After stumbling across Piktochart and free template, I cobbled my first personal blogger infographic. Clearly I am behind: I didn’t know resumes could be dolled up as an infographic. Here’s more information than you’ll ever need. I spent too much time having fun. You might have to increase your Screen View to 125 – 150% to read this…
Flying 50 Years for Canada- Celebrating the National Flag
I was just 6 years old when Canada welcomed its first national flag in Feb. 1965. Although Canada became an independent country on July 1, 1867, our previous flag was still a carryover as a former British colony, with the Union Jack. Yes, Canada’s flag is only 50 years old this year. Flag Enthusiasm Fused with Canada’s 100th…
Prairie’s Declaration of Horse Love in Art
Alberta loves to trot out its love for horses in visual art, equestrian arts and competition, as well as rodeo events. It wasn’t until I moved to Calgary in the prairies, where I’ve met more ordinary folks in this Canadian region, than Toronto or Vancouver, who have family members that own and ride at least…
Salmon Art Leaps Into Pacific West Coast Imagination
Salmon is king in Vancouver –in local cuisine and in art. After a few days wandering in the city or anywhere along the coast of British Columbia, you are bound to stumble across salmon swishing through water or jumping up in sculpture, murals or mosaics. Salmon iconography is in Salish coastal Indian art, outdoor contemporary…
Hanging Onto My Broken Mother Tongue
It may be weird, but I don’t even know Chinese words for “please” or “good-bye” . Yet I dutifully check off Chinese, as my mother tongue on Canada’s census form. Am I delusional about my own Chinese fluency? Does that mean I come from a rude, brusque family? Meh. Maybe. Each family has their own…
Comfort Food Requires No Recipe
Comfort food should not require a recipe. Especially if you make it for yourself. If comfort food is to nourish your soul and body, then it needs to be easy-peasy to make or buy when you want it, crave for it. Comfort food is what you instinctively turn to when you’re down, tired, alone or…
More than Just Dragons- Art on Chinese-Canadian Experience
Don’t get me wrong: I love dragons. A dragon pops up often enough: whenever there is a celebration or poster flogging a Canadian Chinatown event or something involving Chinese-Canadian history or culture. I love the dragon for its aesthetic drawing power –in parades, dance, paintings, textiles, rugs, sculpture and jewellery. Dragons in Canada- Convenient Icon? However, I…
