Sunny Side Up

Last week was so brutal. I just couldn’t believe right after my trip to Cancun, Mexico I would be faced with the harsh reality that I have 2 months left and school’s over. That means I’ve got so much to do at so little time. Knowing myself I will get out of all of this alive, but the pressure is just too much! My parents are coming over for my graduation and with the subjects I currently have in class, I might NOT be able to graduate with honors. It’s sad because I have maintained a high GPA since first year. Oh well, I will still try hard to make it. Who knows? Miracles do happen.

I just want to get away from all these pressures. I need some clarity and peace of mind.

(Ok, that was a cheesy segue to this trip I am working on at NAITSA, but what the heck!)

Let’s ALL go to the NAITSA ZEN RETREAT!

Check out our Facebook page for more info.

You owe it to yourself to relax. We all need a break from this madness!

I was supposed to take my road test again, but with terrible road conditions I figured it might be suicide. Why am I in a hurry anyway? I do not have enough funds to buy my Ferrari! Yeah right…dream on. Afterall, dreaming is free. I just love dreaming BIG!

Look at the situation outside our house:

Welcome to Edmonton! -20deg Celcius but with wind chills of -29deg. Yahoo!

These coming weeks will be pretty busy. On February 1, we will be having another big event at the NAIT Arena and at The Nest:FREEZEOVER! Join us as we watch the NAIT OOKS Hockey Team smash the players of Mount Royal Cougars. After the game, you are in for a treat as Tupelo Honey and Social Code will be rockin’ the arena the whole night! For $10, invite your friends for some rockin’ good time!

This event will be interesting because we will be doing it at the NAIT Arena, a place we rarely host events in. It will be challenging and exciting at the same time! I was able to coordinate with Chef Gobin and Chef Szutarski from the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts who willingly obliged to create an ice bar and a few ice sculptures for us! I am so pumped for the ice bar. That will be so cool –LITERALLY! The ice bar will be lit and would have logos sculpted to it. A MUST SEE!I’m all bundled up and cozy inside my room, and I have no plans of going out. I do not want to freeze over. Haha!

NAITSA is observing Alcohol Awareness Week from December 3-7. This week is not about alcohol consumption and partying but a week to reflect on the dangerous effects of alcohol to students, families and life in general. Without a doubt, alcohol consumption is on the rise in Canada. I sometimes wonder why students nowadays just want to get “hammered” and “drunk”. What happened to socializing and engaging a person in conversation? Alcohol was meant to be consumed in moderation — to enjoy its taste and flavor, not to get intoxicated and irresponsible. I may sound like a nagging mother but nothing would really matter to us until a life is lost, a family is broken or a relationship is shattered by alcohol.

One of the activities we did was to do Mocktail sampling at the NAITBusiness Tower. A lot of people do not know that parties and gatherings can be fun without booze. Students from the Hospitality Management program showcased their knowledge in mixing drinks and beverage service.

Mocktails are drinks that are like cocktails but do not contain alcohol. We made three samples and the business students enjoyed them:

Hot Coco Bean

2/3 Hot Chocolate
1/3 Regular or decaf coffee
2 tbsp caramel
Serve with a sugar rim and whipped cream with coco sprinkles

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Pink Tutu

2 oz Orange Juice
2 oz Cranberry juice
1 oz lemon/lime Bar Mix
1 oz grenadine
4 oz ice
Blend until frothy and serve in a sugar rimmed martini glass with a cherry.

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Candy Apple
1/3 lemon juice
2/3 7-up
2 oz grenadine
1 slice of lime

The hot coco bean was a hit maybe because of the freezing temperatures outside. My class enjoyed the activity as well, serving drinks and mixing them in front of students. In our course, we are not only taught proper bar and beveragetechniques but responsible alcohol service as well. As future managers of bars and restaurants, we should practice duty ofcare to our patrons by monitoring alcohol service.The mocktail sampling was a clear example that socializing doesn’t have to involve alcohol all the time.

Join us on Friday, December 7for theDrunk Olympics at the North Lobby. Experience doing an obstacle course when your senses are impaired by alcohol (using beer goggles!). See you there.

As we celebrate the holiday season, everyone is out to have a good time. We at NAITSA hope that you think before you drink!

It was another interesting afternoon for me at school. Aside from doing events for students, I get the chance to be part of these events, and Speed Dating was one of them! I joined in not really hoping I would end up with any one of them, but just to chat and enjoy the company of 16 men in an hour. At first I thought Speed Dating was a waste of time–how can you truly get to know a person in 3 minutes? Well, you’ll be surprised.

I was able to meet guys from different walks of life — the enterprising guy, the i-just-want-to-have-fun kind of guy, the nerd, the jock, the well-travelled, the high roller, the quiet and shy guy and the talkative ones.You get to learn a thing or two from them –their jobs, lifestyles and interests. I am all for meeting new people and speed dating is a good venue to meet men of different shapes and sizes. It was a pretty diverse mix.

For someone who really doesn’t have the luxury of time, speed dating is the way to go. Would I do it again? Hell yeah! Will I find a soul mate in that kind of setting? Who knows? I just participated not really thinking about these things. I just wanted to enjoy and meet people. Fun times…never really thought speed dating would be that fun!

Image from savagechickens.com

The NAIT Students’ Association recently celebratedRodeo Weekaroundcampus kickingit off with a free beef on a bun, promoting the famousAlberta Beef. Close to 450 buns were given to students during lunch. We had other fun activities like the line dancing classes and Rodeo Olympics at the gym, the search for the first Ms. Rodeo NAIT, the red neck truck contest and to end this exciting week, we had a Rodeo Ho-Down at The Nest, our campus bar and restaurant.

Performing that evening was Shane Yellowbird, a young country artist who is known for his hits like Pickup Truck and They’re All About You. I was able to meet him and see him perform that night. He even gave me an autographed hand-bill as a souvenir!

Imust admit I am not a country music fan, but I do appreciate all musical genres–depending on my mood. I got a bit of a culture shock when I first arrived Edmonton. Ididn’tgrow upto country music AT ALL!! The only country song I knew was Achy Breaky Heart! As months passed I slowly found interest in country music, with the numerous country bars in town plus the Big Valley Jamboree event I attended last summer. I immediately got a crash course in good ‘ol country tunes! As my friend Jen told me, country music has a story to tell and boy do those lyrics tell a story!

I will never really understand why people like country music. But I respect their musical preferences the same way I hope they understand why I like Hiphop and Jazz. It’s all about understanding each other’s cultures. I am glad Canada was open to cultural diversity. Afterall, at this day and age, it is truly the way to go.

Speaking of diversity, here is my classmate Marc in his country attire. Yeeha!

We sawour first snow fall for the season last weekend. I woke up toa lawn all white and icy, a sight I am still enjoying and I get all excited — until the novelty fades.

Coming from a country where we only have two seasons – dry and wet, snow is such a treat! I experienced my first winter last year, and I survived it! Winter can be very harsh in this side of the world, but for as long as you keep yourself busy and active, the season will just pass you by.Thisisland girl experienced snow for the VERY FIRST TIME last October 16, 2006! I woke up around 6:28 am and prepared to go to school. As I went out to the porch, little snowflakes started to fall on my head, my nose, my whole face and hands. I got so excited I was smiling and giggling to myself. If someone saw me, they would think I was a looney! It was a funny feeling. Snow is starting to get thick outside and I’ve got the sniffles coupled with dry cough.

THAT WAS A YEAR AGO.

Now, I dread the cold. The novelty is gone. Life goes on and walkingin subzero temperatures isn’t fun at all! If you can’t beat the weather, might as well enjoy it! I plan to go and learn how to ski/snowboard this winter. Maybe I could ice skate as well. Winter may be cold but there are so many things to get you preoccupiedto make youforget you live in a freezer. Kidding aside, winter in Edmonton is not that bad as long as you are bundled up. Surround yourself with the warm company of friends and you’ll be fine.

I miss the beaches in the Philippines though. *sigh*

That’s a pic from a beach resort back home called Planet Dive. I took scuba diving lessons there and now I am a certified scuba diver. No place in Alberta to dive though!

I’ve got something to look forward to this Reading Week though — to get away from the cold: CANCUN MEXICO!!!

Check out the link to book your trip:http://eflyer.breakawaytours.com/flyer08.aspx?bcode=NAIT5

Keep warm! Nothing a cup of hot coco couldn’t fix!