Cape Town, South Africa - Introduction 2011

Arriving to Cape Town, South Africa

Renata E Mares

Having all the required paper work completed for the South African visa application process, I was packed and ready to fly on May 10, 2011 at exactly 5:30pm from Pearson International Airport. All necessary travel information was completed prior to take–off: travel health insurance sorted and registered with FAITC as a Canadian abroad. The ROCA file was activated on my arrival to Cape Town. The flight to Cape Town was long but I was excited to start my journey in a new and exciting place.



Temporary accommodation was arranged pre-departure at the Green Elephant Backpackers (GEB). Both my supervisor and another UWC (University of Western Cape) staff member were offering suggestions for places to stay on my arrival to the city so this process was stress-free. My supervisor even offered her own cottage as a back-up accommodation. In the end, I chose to spend my first week at GEB as the owner is a dear friend of a UWC staff and assured me that it would be placed central which allows for easy access to all areas of Cape Town. And sure enough, being new in town, the GEB was a great location to start my journey. The owner at GEB replied promptly to my emails (while I was emailing him from Canada) and arranged for pick-up at the air port which made my arrival in the night time extremely relaxed. GEB became my temporary stay for the next 8 days which allowed me to get to know the city bowl (aka: Downtown Cape Town), gave me time to familiarize myself with transportation to and from the university, and most importantly get to know which neighbourhood I wanted to spend my next 6 months.


Even before my arrival, I got a sense that my contacts at the host organization (School of Public Health at the University of Western Cape) and the owner at the GEB were wonderful people. Everyone has been extremely helpful in making my arrival planning a simple process. First day of work at the School of Public Health (SOPH) was on May 16, 2011. At this time I had the pleasure to meet my supervisor and the UWC staff member I was emailing from Canada. Mondays begin with something called ‘the journal club’ which is time spent on discussing and reviewing current publications by SOPH research staff and students and as well gave me a chance to meet everyone at the faculty. Dave Sanders, head of SOPH, and everyone so far has given me a warm welcome.


The second week in Cape Town was hectic with starting my internship at UWC and also looking for a permanent place to live for the next 6 months. My supervisor was extremely helpful and understanding. She allowed me to spend as much time needed to find a place and move my belongings during the first week of orientation. By Tuesday this same week I found a place easily, and by Thursday, May 19th, 2011 I had the lease signed to a 2-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor at 46 Durban Road in Mowbray. It is a suburb south of the GEB. Close to the city, University of Cape Town, and shopping centers. The best part of this location is the 2 minute walk to the bus station which I require to take to UWC each morning. This same hectic week was also the introduction to the research group and the work my supervisor is completing. I was given piles and piles of background reading which after 2 weeks I am still trying to make my way through. My supervisor acknowledged that the literature review on the Global Health Initiatives (GHIs) can go on forever, and I should just take my time in reading the material and use them to supplement my existing knowledge throughout the internship.


Week 3 was the introduction to data analysis. I was given a set of transcribed interviews and asked by my supervisor to analyze it. Then, together we went over my interpretation and categories I have selected from this data. Over the weekend I spent analyzing a few more interviews. At the start of week four, my supervisor again assessed my analysis. We sat together for over 2 hours going through my work on categorizing the data. By the end of the day I was told by my supervisor that I am moving through the orientation faster than she has predicted. Since I have done qualitative analysis just prior to this internship I do feel comfortable with the GHI research projects.

Now that I can continue with the data analysis on my own time, I will spend week 4 developing my learning plan. We have discussed 4-5 areas of work where I can provide my input including, but not limited to: 1) performing some of the never-ending data analysis, 2) editing and developing research papers, 3) providing reports on my analysis, and 4) developing reports which will be later presented to the subjects within the participating districts. All this work will be developed over the next 6 months and presentations will take place from August till November. This is extremely exciting for me as I will take part in developing and possibly presenting some of the work in GHI research. At this point, I feel that the SOPH internship is a perfect fit for me and there is no shortage in resources to complete my internship goals.


Besides completing all the work I have explained above, I have also had the privilege to discover Cape Town and the beautiful areas surrounding the city. Living at GEB helped in meeting some wonderful people. There were people who were traveling through Cape Town and others who were completing an internship similar to the one I am currently working on. Free time at GEB was spent in various ways: movies and all-you-can-eat pizza nights, nightly festivities, group adventures, one where the owner took us on an introductory tour of Cape Town. He introduced Lion’s head, UCT, downtown, and few of the historical sites nearby.


My most memorable place he introduced us was District 6 which today stands abandoned, charged with history and unthinkable human suffering. It is a scar in South Africa’s history that is being addressed by the government each election. The short version of the story would be, Districts were numbered back in the day, and District 6 used to be occupied by the black community. When the white population overtook the Downtown area (known as the city bowl) they declared District 6 their own and shunned everyone from their homes to the outskirts of the city. Buildings were burned and people fled to now areas known as shanty-towns or low-income community housing out of the city.

District 6, Cape Town

UWC is built 30 minutes (roughly) outside of the Cape Town center. District 6 never became a reproductive land. Families from the white community never accepted the land as their own due to stigma attached to the district carried through history. Previous and want-to-be owners of the land are not given the right to build and owners do not have the possibilities to purchase their land back. The story of District 6 is a confusing one and not even those who lived to tell the tale, can explain exactly the current turmoil over this area. It is touching and very sad to learn about creative and intelligent human energy put to such wasteful and hurtful activities not so far back in history.


On a much optimistic note, Cape Town and surrounding areas are filled with natural gems. Table Mountain is a breath taking site. It is close to the city and I wake up seeing the peaks regularly for the past 4 weeks but I cannot seem to get enough of the sight. It is a beautiful piece of nature’s art and I admire it daily. We joined forces one sunny weekend with a few people all staying at the GEB and decided to tackle Table Mountain. The climb took 2.5-3 hours with only a few pit stops along the way. At each stop I took the time to look around and absorb the view. Reaching the top is a true experience. As the clouds go by you see absolutely nothing. As if you were in the middle of nowhere. Then, just a few minutes pass and the entire city down below, the oceans, Devil’s peak and Robin Island are clearly revealed. It’s a view complicated to describe and these photos really do not do justice.


On another lazy weekend we decided it was time for a ROAD TRIP! A few of us (again, from the hostel) decided to hit the road and visit some of the famous vineyards nearby. Spier is one of the Stellenbosch winelands' most celebrated destinations. We decided to try it out for ourselves. Once the wine wore off we realized that we were hungry and hit the road again. This time we were rushing to make the last served dinner at a restaurant called La Petit Ferme in Franschhoek. It is a French influenced area and has stayed that way since early colonization. The food was last minute as we got there 30 minutes before the kitchen would close. The food was absolutely delicious and the view, well ...


There are so many things to do in and near Cape Town that I can just continue to write on the possible adventures. Then, however I would be considered a travel writer and not an HRI intern at the SOPH researching GHI impact on TB and HIV/AIDS services within the communities. I love everything about the city. I enjoy my experiences so far, both at UWC and throughout my travels. The people I meet both locals and foreigners from other African countries have been extremely friendly, accommodating and ready to help anytime I appear lost. People really do use humour to cope with everyday struggles. Just today we walked down the street and a lady carrying heavy bags, walking towards us, stopped near us and said screaming: “Chilly weather today !”, and sure enough I felt like the winds were strong enough to pick us up and away we go. As long as you mean well and speak from the heart, nothing you say will be held against you.

There are challenges though in my days. Walking is prohibited and strongly discouraged after sunset, mostly for ladies walking alone. I love nothing more than to be able to discover the city day and night on foot as it is my true passion. I find it extremely hard and even tempting to just go outside and discover. I have walked to GEB alone just at sun down but the experience made me realize why it is not suggested. Nothing serious has happened but the streets feel eerie. There are people on the streets but none are ladies. It will take some time to adjust. Plus, once winter is over the days will get longer and longer. Safety has not been an issue so far but it is always the first thing we think of when attending public spaces.



Sending our Greetings from 46 Durban Road in what seems for us to be an atypical winter-wonderland.


R :-)

Experiencing a World of Winters - Cape Town 2011

As most of you know, (if not before, then you will now) that I love summer. We can say that each season comes with some good things, but for me summer is the ONLY season I can truly love. I guess the 'warm' weather is key for me. So technically, it could be windy, rainy, sunny, cloudy and all else in between as long as it's warm. Fall is funny you see as the warm weather can linger around longer for an Indian-summer which I also enjoy. The leave changing colours is probably another reason I will put up with Fall but that's about it. I'd say Summer and Fall will have to be my favorite time(s) of the year.

For this same reason, I assumed what better place to visit then Australia. A place where it's always summer and their winter is considered Fall-like (in snowy nations). Before my trip I felt as if I have figured out the best possible math equation to have warm weather in my life all year around. RIGHT? Wrong !

"It's Australia, it has to be hot" (assumptions gets you in to trouble, or in my case, very surprised). I packed up my suitcase and turned my back on Ol'man Canadian-Winter only to arrive in the tropical Queensland heat which was wrapping up in the month of February. Friends who were living in Brisbane did warn me and suggested "you should being sweaters, but it's not very cold in the winter months." I did not know how to respond to this exactly as my thoughts were focused on the country's famous heat waves. I packed maybe 2 warm clothes and wished never to use them. I quickly learned that houses in the tropics are not insulated as winter only lasts for about 3 months (spring and fall are still cold but only in the night time, let's remember). Oh the joys of trying to fall asleep while the temperatures dip into the single digits for 3-4 straight months. The only way I was able to manage with Ol'man Australian-Winter was by purchasing, get this, winter clothes. Sweaters, pants, socks, house shoes, and everything else you would NOT think of buying in a tropical country. I had layers of blankets on me while sleeping in as many layers of clothing as it was possible. I got very skilled when sleeping with a scarf on and not strangling myself.

The winter months rolled by and soon it was graduation time. December 9th was the exact day and I were to fly out on December 11th to Canada. Hahah, I assume you can tell where this is going. Welcome Ol'man Canadian-Winter once again! I decided to visit San Francisco on my stop-over however, it was cold and rainy bringing me little comfort of what was waiting for me back in Guelph.

Once back in Canada, the snow was already on the ground and it honestly felt as if I have never left. A year went by but the snow makes things look as if nothing has changed. The only thing which was a great help and distraction for the winter months in Canada were the winter festivities. However, come January till April, I stayed in my room, protesting against the snow. I was ready for summer fun and it could not have come any sooner. Not knowing where life will take me in the new year I was ecstatic to hear that I have been selected for an internship in Cape Town.

Google will tell you that Cape Town, South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere. Guess what my first thought was: Cape Town winter here I come !!! But surely, it's the African continent, there is no way it will be comparable to Australia (snow doesn't exist there so I won't even compare it to Canada). Well as I am writing this blog, it is Aug 5, 2011 and it snowed on Table Mountain today !!!!

So far, my introduction to Cape Town winter has been nothing close to what I have been told: cold, rainy, SUPER windy. It has been a cold start (single-digit nights), with the month of July being much warmer, 25 degrees most weekends. Not exactly sure what August has in store for us but snow was definitely not on the agenda. I guess now I am able to compare Canada and Australia to Cape Town since there is a bit of everything. I have been purchasing winter clothes yet again, but not as frequently as I did in Brisbane. I was much more prepared, knowing that I was coming to South Africa, I just had a slight feeling that I will be cold in the uninsulated houses yet again. I was right this time !

My internship will be wrapping up in November this year. I have job opportunities in both Canada and Australia. Deciding is extremely hard .....but where should I go come November ? Any thoughts :-)

The places I have seen during my stay in Cape Town, and surrounding areas I would not trade for any familiar summer. Since my stay stretches into the summer months I am very to have had this opportunity and I am looking forward to Sept-Nov. I am realizing more and more that no matter what my favourite seasons are, my favourite food, or anything for that matter, every experience brings it's own amazingness. And that, I would not trade for any old favourite :-)

Dream, live, explore!

xo

The Uganda Project 2011 - Good Luck Jenny and Mrs. Martin !!!

The final 4 days (before take-off) have arrived for Jenny and her dearest Mom.


They are en route to Uganda, filled with hopes and anticipation for the 30 children living at the Home Sweet Home Orphanage. Each of their bags is packed with their most essentials and one large bag filled with essentials for the children.

The journey awaiting Jenn and her Mom will be a challenging one. The hard work, support from friends and family, presentations to the donors and 30 little sweaters will be truly put to the test when the ladies arrive to the orphanage.

Finding the support for a cause and then carrying out a cause present with equally difficult yet very different challenges and satisfactions. Finding support takes hours and hours of preparation, organization, presenting to donor agencies, gathering supplies and essential things for the children but all within the comfort of Jenn's own home, community and society with what she is familiar with. Carrying out Jenny's cause, will be in a foreign country in a rural community, with little support and resources in a culture much different from Jenn's home. In addition, Jenny is very much concerned for her mother's enjoyment and safety, but in this case, I think this might be just the right amount of challenge for a mother and daughter.

Once Jenny and her Mom arrive to Uganda they will be relying on each other (and some of the local people working at the orphanage) for motivation and strength to wake up and face what might seem impossible, each day.

It’s a steep hill to climb when I think about meeting the needs of these children and I am extremely proud of both Jenny and her Mom for attempting to do so. Since my next journey will take me to South Africa, I too hope to visit Home Sweet Home and meet the lovely children who have stolen Jenny’s heart.

Keep in tuned to both of our journeys. We are gypsy girls on the road following our calling. I am very excited to see where Jenny and I will end up after these experiences, and I hope some of you will stick around to see us bloom and grow.

R :-)

XO

Cape Town, South Africa - 2011

Ladies and Gentleman,


Remi (will be) back on the road (early May) !!!!


I thought I would write this note to all those people who have requested an explanation to my next adventure !!!


Back in January I have spent a fair bit of time applying to internships through CIDA. Ever since I have completed my masters I was torn between going back to nursing in PH and gain financial independence again or apply for an internship and live the ultimate student/post-grad life (making money is over rated when traveling becomes an option).

As you have probably guessed it, I choose to go back on the road and live the gypsy lifestyle full on ! And what better place to live out my travel bug: Next stop, Cape Town, South Africa! I feel extremely lucky to have been selected and have the opportunity to live in South Africa. Rich and exotic culture spread over a beautiful landscape amongst the lively people of SA.

I have painted an amazing picture for all of you in hopes that it will encourage all of you to come and visit such wonderful place (or any place for that matter). Traveling fills your soul (at least for me) like no other experience I can compare to (well, maybe one other experience).

But with all the amazingness that Cape Town has to offer, I am going for a particular reason. The internship which I got selected for is at the School of Public Health, University of Western Cape. For the next 6 months I will be doing research work specifically in communicable and infectious diseases. I will not know the specifics of my work until I arrive (I believe) but for now, just know that I will be happily working in my are of expertise: microbiology and all that it has to offer.

I hope to keep in touch with most of you, thanks to the amazing technology handed to our generation :-)


If you have any further questions please fire off a message to me and I will sure to get back to you asap!


Thanks for all the well wishes !!


XO
R :-)

The Girl Effect

I learned about The Girl Effect when I was searching through TED, specifically under TED: Ads worth spreading. This amazingly brilliant ad grabbed my attention in just 5 seconds and by the end of 3 minutes I had goosebumps down my arms. I then posted the ad to over 70 of my friends on facebook (I would have posted more but it was 4 am at the time and sleep came over me). I watched the video the next day, if not 20 times, then I really don't know as I lost count.

When something so timely and so informative is paired with such soulful music (creating a physiological reaction in my body), it brings me to want to tell the whole world about it. I feel that The Girl Effect (expressing the need for gender equality) is something close to my heart and deserves my full support, including others who share these similar values. I consider myself a modern feminist and an advocate for the young and old, but mostly those who have no voice in the face of gender inequality (regardless of developed or developing nations).

Gender equality is key if we want societies to prosper. People come and go, some live longer than others, but we all are only but temporary visitor on earth. It is then logical and our individual responsibility to live happy and enjoy our short visit. But in doing so, through one's lifetime, as if you left your MasterCard at the check-in counter, and if we destroy anything in our temporary living space, it will be charged to your account. Right? Well, this is how I see the world we live in and it is a personal choice to live altruistic.

Plus, the next generation(s) (or call them tenants, clients, visitors) would like to enjoy a clean and prosperous living space and not the dirty motel on some forgotten old dirt road or on the dumping grounds.

12 year old girls, boys, anyone for that matter, do not choose the situations they are born into. (So what am I trying to say? What is the bigger picture?)

Current ideas of gender equality, in my opinion, cannot be applied to societies in a way of mass deforestation to harvest natural resources (in the long term, it is not a sustainable harvesting technique, so why WOULD it work in changing social and cultural norms). To talk about gender equality is to discuss it in the presence of hard sciences as well as the soft sciences: sociology, anthropology, psychology, and even the individual 'lived experience'.

A sense of common sense.

After all, I really hope that our ability to carry out fine-motor skills thanks to having thumbs, is not the only thing separating us from other species.

I really hope, that our ability to think both logically and critically has been keeping pace with the ever so exponential growth of today's technology. Microbiology and binary fission seems like now natures primitive form of evolution in the eyes of Steve Jobs. However, that is no excuse for humans to rid of logic and critical thinking. It is deep and hard work, but just like The Girl Effect, we have a situation (the clock is ticking) and solutions are in reach. The only criteria: we have to choose to being active critics and live by example.

The next video introducing a group of boys who chose to listen and become active critics of today's society.

Step 1: they acknowledged their misconceptions

Step 2: they took interest to learn about present situation with the help of hard and soft evidence - statistics, qualitative research, and recognizing their own personal biases

Step 3: working as a small group, conducting further investigation and presenting their findings to individuals belonging to their own sub-groups (young men alike)

= Change to cultural and social norms


Gender Equality Action Project

I am not disregarding the advances made by the long list of pioneers who have advocated for gender equality throughout history. However, we are still discussing Gender Equality as being equal in all matters of life, which I believe is an archaic notion for the 21st century.

Women and men are significantly different (proven by all forms of scientific evidence). To have gender equality is to respect the differences while providing equal opportunity to all human beings regardless of the sex, gender, or personality characteristics of that individual.

Chivalry works both ways. Therefore, why eliminate it?

Gender equality does NOT automatically means that men stop opening doors for ladies. Let's not de-evolve, but keep kindness and respects part of our daily routine.

These boys have pin-pointed the type of characteristics males (young boys) possess (something occurring 'naturally', keeping in mind the uniqueness of individuals) which can promote Gender Equality. Their approach is extremely logical and evidence-based which is a good combination to have in support for change in our super-technologically-evolved society amongst hyper-educated human beings.

There is no excuse not to. We have the freedom to choose.

-Remi :-)

The Uganda Project - April 2011

My dear friend Jenny is preparing to re-visit Uganda, a year after her last time, when she lived and worked at an orphanage. Her arrival back to Canada was extremely exciting for me because I got to hear, first hand, of all her experiences (both inspiring and some were very sad). I was not shocked at all to hear that Jenny came home but began supporting the children at the orphanage. I however, was shocked to hear that she was now providing schooling for all 30 of the children. Once I too returned form my studies overseas, I was very happy to hear that Jenny kept close contact with the orphanage director and to hear that the children were doing well.

"A vision without a plan is a dream, and a plan without a vision is marching in place." - unknown

Jenny has the vision to 1) meet the immediate needs of these 30 loving children at Home Sweet Home orphanage and 2) continue to work towards collaborating with local organization(s) in hopes to prevent child abandonment and orphanhood. Amongst a million-and-one things to get done before take off, we are trying to see if our close friends and family are able to help out with anything from:

- well-wishes (always the best)

- kind and wise words of wisdom

- donations of all kinds:

* money (100% of your donations will go towards funding for the childrens'
medical, schooling, and breakfast program)
* warm fleece sweaters (for children between the ages 2-14 yrs)
* story books
* stationary supplies (for crafts and school)

Jenny and I are also looking for those individuals with a professional background in working with children (health care, social work, education). We are looking to gather simple but useful and effective activities which we can implement with the children at the orphanage while assisting their developmental needs.


Jenny will be the best to contact and let her know that you have read Renata's message on her blog and would like to help.

martin.grad.2008@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time and reading about Home Sweet Home.


Sincerely,
Jenny and Renata :-)

Home Sweet Home Newsletter 2010 - Uganda

This content comes from Jenny's Newsletter of Home Sweet Home Orphanage.

Please read through and if anyone is interested in sponsoring any of these children please email me at renata_em@yahoo.ca or post a message on this blog with your email and I will respond to your request.

On behalf of the children and Jennifer, THANK YOU for taking the time,

Renata :-)

Message from Jennifer Martin

It’s been a year since I launched a modest but determined initiative to support the thirty children residing at Home Sweet Home Orphanage in rural uganda. These children are thirty of the 2.3 million orphans in Uganda today. One million of whom have been orphaned due to AIDS.

Growing up in an institution is a poor substitute for a loving home. Often isolated from surviving family members and under the care of one “Auntie”, the children at Home Sweet Home Orphanage are greatly lacking in love and attention. The orphanage offers shelter and one daily meal but struggles to meet the children’s growing need for education, medical treatment and psychosocial care.

While the challenges these children face are tremendous, with access to education, proper care
and encouragement these children can thrive. With the services of Just Care in Uganda and your support we can ensure that they do. Because of your generosity all the school-aged children are now attending a local primary school where, in addition their classes, the students are receiving two daily meals. Furthermore, the children are now accessing medical care as needed thanks to your donations.

This is our first newsletter and it is an opportunity to share in detail our accomplishments of our first year as well as share our ambitions for the upcoming year. On behalf of the children and myself thank you for your support.


BACK TO SCHOOL
Currently we have seventeen children enrolled at Tower Primary School. In addition to their tuition the children receive a uniform, school supplies and two daily meals. With seven new children at
the orphanage and the little ones reaching school age we will be sending twenty-five children to school in the new year!



WATER
The orphanage director is constructing a well on site to bring potable water to the orphanage.
Clean water will greatly improve the children’s health and mean a lot less time spent fetching water!



HAPPY FEET
Two of our supporters funded the repairs needed in the children’s dormitory. Some of the bedding
was replaced and a concrete floor poured. With the dust gone the children are experiencing fewer parasitic foot infections are taking much more pride in keeping the dormitory clean!



WELLSPRING CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTRE
To date 73 visits have been made to the medical clinic where the children have received treatment for malaria, waterborne illnesses and communicable infections. In the new year the children will begin receiving medical care at Wellspring Children’s Medical Centre. The clinic provides excellent medical care and has an ambulance service with a well reputed hospital. The clinic shares the same site as the children’s school, which means the children and staff can access medical care just two kilometers from the orphanage!



AMBITIONS
In the spring I will be returning to Uganda. The return trip will allow me to implement new programs to better care for the children’s physical and developmental needs. My goal is to improve the children’s nutritional and health status, to better meet their psychosocial needs and to develop a care plan for the HIV+ children. My hope is to help the children of Home Sweet Home Orphanage access the following: a nutritious breakfast; the care of a social worker; and monitoring and treatment for those who are HIV+.


Breakfast Program
Outside of the meals provided at school, the children receive one
daily meal at the orphanage. In the spring we will introduce a
breakfast program of Corn Soy Blend; a nutrient rich porridge.
The added nutrition will allow the children to recover from
malnutrition and will minimize visits to the clinic.



Grief Counseling
These children have faced tremendous obstacles in their lives. Many watched their parents
succumb to AIDS and later were abandoned by extended family. Hiring a social worker to provide
programming and counseling will help the children work through issues of grief and loss and to
build healthy coping strategies.



HIV Positive
The HIV+ children living at the orphanage require extra care to
minimize infections, to access proper treatment and to meet their
unique dietary needs. With the guidance of specialists in the field of
pediatric HIV/AIDS we are developing a treatment regimen to
ensure these children remain healthy and enjoy quality of life.



To Donate:
This initiative is solely funded by donations. All donations go directly to the children and are greatly appreciated. All administrative costs and travel expenses are self-funded. Cheques can be made payable to Jennifer Martin in trust. Note: As we do not have charitable status we unfortunately cannot issue tax receipts.



Contact:
Jennifer Martin

e-mail: martin.grad.2008@gmail.com

Nagyi's version

Agnes Eva Szilagyi, to you might look little and frail but boy! this woman is the definition of courage, strength and a mother to my uncle George and my mom, Eva Julianna Mares (Szilagyi). She is my granny (Nagyi), she is my second mother, she is my role model and a lady with infinite wisdom. So, you might be wondering how this grandmother of 4 and mother of 2, and wife of one extremely abusive man (my grandfather) is any different from all other grandmothers? To you, she's probably not. However, to me she means the world!

Since I was born, Romania was in turmoil as the country was under a communist dictatorship. Basic needs such as electricity, food and water were not available however, women were encouraged to reproduce with zero family planning methods being available (including basic needs for feeding these children). This is a typical communist government scenario however, it is also an era when I was born. No longer kindergartens and schools were a positive place for children to attend so my parents decide to have Nagyi look after me while everyone else were off at work. Here I picked up my mother tongue as being Hungarian. Romanian was not my granny's strong point so this is where I went stray from my native land. Born Romanian, with a mother tongue in Hungarian from birth. Everyone around me spoke Romanian, however I grew to understand it but unable to reply as well.


Because of the scarce resources, a devoted young couple (these being my parents who at this time had 2 very young children) decided to hit the road when things were not getting any better in the country. Refugees in Hungary, mom and dad left everything behind in search for a better world. However, not knowing at this time how long our leader will be ruling. Exactly a year after we left Romania, Ceausescu was shot and voila the Romanian boarders reopened and refugees were allowed to come home again without the possibilities of getting arrested and thrown in jail (which would have been our fate at the time of escape).

The boys continued the search for a better place even farther, in the USA. While they were playing 'Columbus', mom and I were holding down the fort in Hungary. The only time we ever went back to Romania was to meet and greet our relatives, and Nagyi. She stayed behind as a dedicated retired senior in her native land. Later she also became my second mother and my second home. Not sure if I was a difficult child to raise by a single parent but mommzy decided to let me stay in Romania each summer while growing up. Since I know myself, as a Hungarian speaking child, I enjoyed brushing up on my broken Romanian each summer for 2-3 months. Once it was back to school, and back to forgetting the language. Nagyi wasn't the best teacher for both languages but she was definitely the best in everything else.

A friend of mine had the chance to meet Nagyi personally and stay with us. My friend's experience living there for a few weeks was: "I feel like I'm living in an attic of a restaurant. This lady is the best cook, ever!" And she is very correct. A one bedroom apartment with a kitchen separated from the living room only by a curtain may as well be defined as an attic (but cleaner and tidier of course). Her cooking is fanominal, and my mom definitely has those same genes which I unfortunately did not receive. (but you might think, so what, I think my mother is the best cook, and again you are probably correct as we all appreciate home cooking over others). Keep reading :-)

Nagyi was a wonderful cook but she was a wonderful human being who has everything to do with my accomplishments till this day. A little bit about Nagyi: youngest child of 4, married at the latest possible time (in those days) at the age of 25 to a man who has become her worst night mare (which happened most times if not in those days). My grandfather wasn't a good man, not even a decent man. I'm sure he suffered his own childhood traumas, but he for sure tried to tame a woman such as Nagyi. The only issue, this woman was untameable and would soon find out that she would do everything for her 2 children. After 15 years of abuse, my grandmother left the man who she stayed loyal to (even till this day).

This is where it all began. Stories. Nagyi had a bag full of crafts and activities to keep me entertained for 3 months at a time, which is why I wanted to stay with her each summer. Hanging out with my friends would also be on the top of the list for activities to do, but hanging out with granny was the best. Shopping, cooking, sewing, just about anything else you can think of would keep me entertained for hours. We would be sitting in her living room, Nagyi in her chair and me on the couch. TV turned on, and we would both be doing something crafty. These craft sessions also became story sessions. (Such a routine, that even when I went back 2004, 2006, 2009, I would be sprawled out on her living room couch, asking her to tell me stories, with or without crafts in hand).

So there we are, a woman with experience, and a little girl learning to sew. She told me about stories when she was my age, at each of my own milestone. I only realized this now, that I have a complete picture of granny's life. And still there is so much more to hear.

I'm hoping that by dedicating this page to Nagyi, I can go on and explore, reveal those stories which have brought me so much joy. Nagyi told me those stories in order to protect me by not making those same mistakes she did at her age. I'm sure that there are other amazing parents and grandparents out there who do the same: sharing their wisdom. Nagyi learned hers via watching her parents, sisters, but also her own experience and her strength to live and tell her tale. She was alone when my parents moved countries 2-3 times yet she still stayed strong. Not many women can be alone and be as wise, as knowledgeable, as balanced as Nagyi. She's from a very different generation then myself, yet even today not many woman can live life happily under the circumstances she has been dealt.

Nagyi has made the most of every situation she was in. She knows more then any other pharmacist or medical professional because she absorbs information, does her research, and never stops learning. She is a woman I admire and that is why I think she is the best there is.

Thank you for being an inspiration and hope to amaze you one day :-)

xo

The Uganda Project 2011

Just the other day I had the opportunity to catch up via phone with a nursing friend from undergrad. Near or far we have managed to keep in contact and stay good friends because of one very special vision which we share: to help those less fortunate.

During our chat she explained that the 25 children she has been supporting since 2009 are still under her care and she is planning to visit them early April. "Would you like to come?" she asks. I don't even think she had the opportunity to ask because I jumped in and told her that I want to be part of her grass-roots organization in any way possible.

Jenny's story:

Just as I was working away in public health, my friend Jenny was packing her bag and going to Rwanda and Uganda to work in orphanages. She planned to go for 6 months but her trip ended just after 5 months of being there. I think the hardship and what she has seen (as she told me) has finally took effect on her and she thought it was time to come home. But when we met post-travels she was eager to tell me what she has done.

25 children in an orphanage now was under her funding and care. "Jenny, how is this possible?" I asked confused. She tells me that the man who was watching over the children lived in a lavish home with TV and cabel and food for an entire community. However, the children who were supposed to be getting all that funding were eating maybe once a day, if that! So Jenny thought it would make more sense for her to come home ....work....and send the money for the kids to attend school, eat, and receive any of the health checks they need.

My skeptical self right away doubted that Jenny's good deed is arriving to these children however, now a year has gone and she was telling me that it is time to visit her children and get registered as one of the grass roots organizations. Her funding has been managed by trusted locals there and she now is ready to get the ball rolling.

So just on the phone I said: "Jenny, I want to come with you!"

And there you have it. My masters has prepared me for developing, implementing and evaluating grass-roots organizations just like the one my kind Jenny is trying to develop. We are going to get as much paper work done before April as possible and if everything work out for us we should be in Uganda by April 2011.

I am going to leave this as the introduction to the Uganda project and with time I hope to have a more detailed description for you available .... with 25 hopeful little stories !

Much love to all those who have support me in my blog so far!

xo
Renata :-)

R.I.P SunnyOctober - December 13st, 2010

In Loving Memory of
Tara Lise Kennedy
October 21, 1983 - December 31, 2010



Though her smile is gone forever
And her hand we cannot touch,
Still we have to many memories,
Of the Tara we loved so much.

Her memory is our keepsake,
With which we'll never part;
God has her in His keeping,
We have her in our heart.

-from the visitation pamphlet


God Bless the World

Mighty God, Father of all,
Compassionate God, Mother of all,
less every person I have met,
Every face I have seen,
Every voice I have heard,
Especially those most dear;

Bless every city, town, and street that I have known,
Bless every sight I have seen,
Every object I have touched.

In some mysterious way these have all fashioned my life.
All that I am, I have received.

Great God, bless the world.

-John J. Morris SJ






The Story of Tara and I

Thanks to the Guelph Recreation and Parks, both Tara and I were happy little lifeguards working for the city as teenagers. I met Tara through some of my friends and we hit it off just fine. We attended many fun gatherings, parties, and festivities. Tara was literally the sunshine everywhere we went.

It still makes me smile to think back to all the funny things we got up to both at the pool and on our spare time. I remember Tara being the planner and always places to be and peoples to see. I was quite sad to see her move away from Guelph when she started university. I thought I would never see her again.

Then a year went by and I too was moving away from Guelph and started university at Western. As the school was a privately owned property, the city snow plows would not even step 2 inches near the campus walking paths. This created awful walking conditions for over 50 000 student bodies. Try walking in 5 meters of snow each and every day. DREADFUL! Until one day I hear: RENATA! I look out from my parka, just for a peak and sure enough it was SunnyOctober herself standing in front of me, smiles ear to ear!

From that day on, I was happy to be walking through campus because I knew somewhere in the crowds Tara was waiting for me as I was scrambling to my next class and ready to pounce on just for a HELLO! We always made sure to catch up as we walk by each other, and in London too we made it our mission to repeat some of our fun festivities similar to our Guelph-outings.

Once our paths separated yet again I truly didn't think I would see Tara, but I had this feeling that somewhere, anywhere on this earth, she would jump out and give me one big hug like before. Well, I was right about meeting her but very saddened to meet her in these circumstances. Her mothers standing tall and strong in the visitation hall, and saying thank yous and goodbyes from all of those who Tara has touched so deep. I too was standing in that line. And I don't know if I should feel bad about not looking sad that day....but I smiled in the line the whole way through. Myself and 2 friends were talking about all the fun things we used to do together with Tara and while waiting in that line we also took a long trip down memory lane.

Until we left the hall. My friend Jess invited us over for tea. We kept talking about the good old times and then she said this to me: "So when do you think this will become true? When we will it become real? That's she's gone?"

...and that's when it hit me. I drove home, and cried. Gosh Tara, you always surprised me but I never imagined this would come next.

I think I'm ready now to say goodbye. Thank you for being the sunshine amongst my memories. Even at such difficult times, thinking of you still puts a smile on my face. It's been a pleasure to have met you and thank you for being part of my memories. I will never forget you.


My dear SunnyOctober,

You rest in peace up above and bless the heavens with your presence the same way you have made the earth oh so beautiful while you were with us.

We will never forget you.




















































Love,

Jessica, Melissa, Tiffany, Karissa, Sarah, Renata :-)

Surprise of the year 2010 - Guelph

As I'm getting ready for graduation, I am scrambling to figure out where my next destination should be. I could stay in Australia and work ... just to buy some time till I can get my nursing registration transferred. I also would LOVE to live and play in Thailand, but who will I pay for my way. Christmas is just around the corner and what a way to celebrate especially when I surprise my parents.

As my funds were nearly all used up, and missing my parents warm and cozy home, I decided to come home before hoping to get my next adventures planned out. I promised my parents that I will always come home no matter the distance and this was the right time.

Ticket in hand (many good-bye's and see you later's), I made a detour on my way home to San Francisco, a place I have always dreamed of back in my high school hippy days, and ended up at my precious friend's door steps. She housed me for a few days (make it almost a week) until it was time for me to move on over to my brother's place. Everyone was extremely amazing at keeping a secret from my parents. Marcus had it the worst as mom would be complaining to him about how "Renata has it so though, and she might be alone for X-mas!"

Well, only 24h of my arrival to Guelph, we had a dinner planned so mom and dad would come over to my Bro's and they would find me there :-)

Sure enough, it's dinner time, I have finished with everything I planned on making for the surprise dinner party. Mom and Dad barge into the house since they are not used to the door bell, and I hide our quick as no one expected the abrupt visit entrance.

As Marcus is making small talk, he's explaining to dad that he found someone to help with the wine corking. We sometimes make our own wine and they sometimes turn out pretty good ! So back to the story, Dad replies to Marcus: "forget it, I don't need help!" Huh ? Now what?

My entrance signal was supposed to be the friend Marcus found to help with the bottling process however, now it's unneeded. Marcus says to dad: Too bad ! I still have a friend here, ....

And when I appear, it is silent. For one very short second. Then both mom and dad jump into my arms and hug me ....and we are loudly greeting each other. Mom is telling Marcus that he was sneaky and shame on him, then right away she's feeling sorry for him for having to listen to her crying about me. Typical Mares greetings. Everyone is happy, the food is ready and we head into the dinner to discuss how I managed to be so sneaky.

We consumed my 46 Hawken Dr roommie's fave dish: red curry and hand rolled rice paper rolls (Thanks Thao! Everyone loved it!)

R :-)


Special THANKS to everyone who has helped with my secret arrival !
xo

San Francisco, California - December 2010

Global Deejays - The sound of San Francisco

If you're going to San Fran-cisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your Hair

If your goin' to San Fran-cisco
You're ganna meet some gentle people there

A more gentle version :-)

This song seemed to be stuck in my head for all 5 days while in San Francisco and Bay area. Life goal #...when I graduated nursing, it was #1 on my list of places to live. The order in which I ended up here has changed gradually as I realized that surf and sand are my true calling (location: Tropical). In my earlier thoughts, I wanted to visit this place for the artistic culture, radical and revolutionary history, and my love for vintage clothing; who wouldn't want to live in San Fran and re-live the 1970s? Clearly, I am (and always will be) a flower child born in the wrong generation. Over time, I have learned to maintained a close connection with the mainstream life-style (I take my career seriously and keep my personal lifestyle separate) however, backpacking has given me the escape I need to experience life with my hair down.


Between completing my masters and moving back to Canada (secretly hoping that fate will just offer me a job in my field of interest on a silver platter) I decided to take the longer way home (still keeping to the same direction) and stop over in my long-desired city of San Francisco. By this time I have walked and discovered many other wonderful places down under and felt a bit less motivated then usual for this backpacking adventure. However, it wasn't the miles and distances covered on foot which have tired me out but the constant meeting of wonderful people and having to say good-bye each and every time. I think for someone who enjoys traveling this much should finally learn not to get so attached to friendships. The heart can take only so much emotional trauma till it will speak up and demand attention and rest.


By no means I was ready to take a rest in San Francisco, but I may have left my heart there after all. Or is this just a line I stole form Tony Bennett. I remember anticipating my home coming before, during and after arriving in Canada as it was a secret for mom and dad. My sister-in-law, my brother, and a few friends helped me out in keeping my arrival on the DL. I think the planning and organizing maybe have distracted me from completely embracing myself in SF however, here are some of the major attractions which I had the pleasure of experiencing.

1) Golden Gate Bridge
Fun Facts which I was told on the bus ride:
- fog is expected 360 days; guess this was one of them
- suggested travel season: Late summer/fall (Sept/Oct)
- most photographed monument in the world (really? my interest isn't individual... lol)















































2) Sausalito
Some of the most fascinating architectural beauty, all created on a mountain side. Who wouldn't want to have a sweet condo here and/or planning a retirement. However, the bus driver was just as envious as most of us tourist and told us: "Keep dreaming!" There is a greater chance for one to discover the ultimate happiness in your daily routine than physically be able to save up for a possible offer in this neighborhood. Make sense. But by this time I was only focusing on the opportunity for this challenge. Note to self: condo #39 on the top of the hill with private out-door escalator, will be mine !















































Anticipating my new hobby once I take up camp in Sausalito: Sailing! or photography, it's a toss up for now :-)















3) Fisherman's Warf
Only 2 words: Clam Chowdeeeeeeeeeeeeer ! Probably the best 5$ I have spent on a bread bowl with 1.5 cup of soup (if that). I was cold from the bus ride and therefore all I wanted was something hot and comforting. Two clam chowders in two consecutive days, that's how awesome it was. Then I was thinking to myself, could Tim Horton's start making this fabulousness for those who would want to enjoy this on a regular basis. At this time, my nursing instincts jumped out from a box up in the attic and suggested that I should stick to healthier choices lol. Minus the chill this day, walking around the Piers was a wonderful and enjoyable activity (oh yeah, no sea lions in sight...they were uninterested in the fog I'm assuming).














































































4) Pier 33 - Alcatraz

World famous monument, referred to in every-day conversation when describing an ultimate punishment or how I do: "my facebook safety features resembles Alcatraz". (Hehehe, I think this one is for my won entertainment). However, escaping and breaking out of Alcatraz might be easier then finding me on FB now-a-days thanks to Mark's awesome safety features :-) Thanks Mary Mark !!!!

Ok, back to Alcatraz. Learning that this massive waste of government funding - started out with 3000 available spaces and only a few hundred people ever actually occupying the cells - comforts me in knowing that just like most (in my opinion) man-made-wonder is a decoration rather than something functional which can be utilized by the larger portion of the population. Fine, I admit, the guys who had the opportunity to take up residence in this place, did not live in a palace, or did they ? I mean, isolated location, becoming best friends with the security guards (as most of the guards lived with their families on the island), and knowing that life sentence never meant death sentence (unless your inmate-buddies did not find you very popular) since the electric chair did not exist on this horrible establishment - or so it was made for us to believe.

Any punishment facility without a possibility to carry out a death sentence doesn't sound that horrible to me. However, I would still not be the first in line to give it a trial. Hence why I consider myself an honest and law-obeying citizen. I did have the chance, while taking the tour, to step into the cells but opted not to. Standing in front of the open doors gave me an eerie feeling. Being surrounded by other tourists did not give me the confidence nor curiosity to experience (as I imagined) claustrophobic-feeling of being surrounded by 3 close walls and a gated door. Maybe I empathize too well and just scared myself with my own thoughts: but standing there I had a feeling and vision which was an experience felt real and enough for my appetite.





















































































5) Steepest hill in the San Francisco Bay area (Lombard @ Hyde St)

We were told this isn't the true story however, most tourist get this explanation. I however, tuned out to hear which street is the steepest. I'm sure wiki can fill in my story on this one.









































6) Union Square Park

I took shelter near the USP in a hostel called International Hostel. There I met my roommate who was in town for a conference. She was a PhD candidate in marine biology. Do to her long hours though we did not get to chat much while I was there. Our final day we had a nice long chat and she admired my finds at the local GoodWill. Further to come on this story when I introduce Haight Street.
























































7) Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ferrari (O'Farrell/Stickton)




































8) Government office
UN plaza; Supreme Court; Asian Art Museum



































9) Golden Gate Park
Japanese Garden; National AIDS Memorial Grove; California Academy of Science
















































































10) Haight St

1855 Haight St - Amoeba Music - As if I took a step into Empire Records movie set. Largest record, CD, DVD, cassette or any other form of music store I have ever been to. I made one purchase only and it was in the spirit of the holidays: Charlie Brown Christmas classics. Happy Holidays while on the road (and boy was it wonderful on my flight home).



1700 Haight St - GoodWill (Cole St/Haight St)
Here I had the chance to purchase a few wardrobe essentials: 4 sweaters, 4 pairs of shoes/boots for me and a few others suited for the winter season. Getting back to the hostel, I finally had the chance to chat to my roommate for the first time. I had to brag about my new purchases (well, new-for-me) and she was super stunned. She decided on the spot to skip her conference the next day and head out on a shopping spree.


11) Painted Ladies (Hayes/Steiner)

Here are the left-over architectural dessert for you, through my eyes.