TIFF14

It's been a long time since I've blogged...

But I've started a new blog that goes along with my new project.

Very quickly - 

I started a new foundation in support of raising awareness and funding for ALS (amytophic lateral sclerosis).

The foundation is called ALS Double Play.

We are on Facebook, Twitter, and are blogging too! (Website to come)

Okay - TIFF14

Lately there has been some "noise" that TIFF is no longer "the people's festival".

Some say it has become overly Hollywood-ized.

And while a lot of Torontonians enjoy wandering the streets of downtown Toronto with step ladders in tow, this girl, isn't into star gazing.

For me, it's all about seeing films I may never get to see otherwise.

• It's those crazy european films, full of gratuitous sex and violence...or in this year's case, a South African film full of gratuitous nudity and violent crime.
• It's the early morning documentary on a Saturday morning about what we teach children in school about history and politics in a country wrought with war and unrest (This is my land).
• It's about the heart warming story based on true events and histories of Sudanese refugees (The Good Lie).
• And it's the absolutely beautiful musical based on an off-Broadway play that got picked up and will be available next February (The Last Five Years).

Sure, meeting a celebrity would be so much fun!

I mean, seeing Anna Kendrick at the screening of The Last Five Years was even more fun due to the 12 year old girl sitting in front of us with her mom. She wanted to scream "I love you Anna!" and I did everything I could to help that little girl enjoy her moment with Hollywood in Toronto.

And I will never forget that year Martin Sheen came and sat down beside me at the Wintergarden Theatre. He showed up a few minutes early (for the after screening Q&A), leaned in to see where they were in the film and decided to watch the end of the film in the audience...next to me!!! Needless to say, I had a very hard time concentrating... But the film is gorgeous, it is called The Way, and they're actually screening it at movie night at my aunt's church in Stouffville next weekend!

It's day 9 of TIFF and tomorrow, on closing day I see two more.

Here's the run down so far:

1. The Last Five Years - musical with Anna Kendrick based on off-Broadway play. MUSIC is incredible

2. The Good Lie - moving Hollywood film on the experience of Sudanese refugees

3. This is my Land - Israeli doc on what Israeli and Palestinian children are taught about their history and politics 

4. Girlhood - plight of African immigrant girls in banlieux of Paris

5. Impunity - South African gratuitous nudity and extreme violence, then again, these things are still happening today in South Africa.

6. Aire Libre - acting was incredible...story was...difficult to sit through - Argentinian couple breaking up 

Come Walk With Us!

Dr Janice Robertson and her team of amazing scientists!

I cannot say enough about how wonderful Dr. Janice Robertson and her research colleagues are at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

If you’ve been reading my blog for recently you will have heard that my brother suffers from ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

You may also know that this incredibly horrible disease eats away at your body until you can no longer use any of your muscles. Most ALS patients lose their battle within three to five years of diagnosis. For my brother Christopher, it has been two and a half years.

We all live with ALS when someone close to us has it. Christopher is the unfortunate carrier of the disease, but those of us who love him also live with the every day realities.

Last night I was lucky enough to be included in a special reception for the donors of the Jim Hunter family foundation for ALS. Jim Hunter is the founder of of NexGen Financial and a former CEO of Mackenzie Financial Corporation. Jim was diagnosed in 2009. Today he and his family are raising money for a cure. They have a goal of $5million and are more than halfway there.

Dad was able to help the Hunter family with their first Cycle for a Cure last year by helping solidify a location for the start/finish of the cycle. Last year was the inaugural ride and the second happens this year again, starting/finishing at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham. To find out more, to donate, or participate click HERE.

Back to last night – we met and heard from Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Catherine Whiteside from the University of Toronto (as the research team is affiliated with the University), Associate Director of Faculty of Medicine Advancement, Brian Bachand and Dr. Janice Robertson (she’s world renowned!). Heather Hunter and Jim “spoke” as well. Jim uses a special computer that speaks for him, as he has lost the use of his voice.

The fun actually began when we were broken up into groups and given tours of the lab. I had had the opportunity to meet all the researchers last November, but it was so much more amazing to see them “show and tell” some of the things they are working on, as well as show off some amazing new equipment they have. Each researcher has their special area of expertise but they are all working on finding a cure for ALS. They are amazing and diverse and so full of energy and hope! I completely admire the work they do and very much appreciate what they are doing.

Back to the equipment…One of my personal favourites was a microscope that can show live cells! It’s an incredible piece of equipment because they can not only watch tiny little motor neurons, but they can also manipulate them! What we were looking at was as 8 micro units small. Can you even understand how small that is? It’s WAY smaller than a millimetre! It’s amazing.

My point is, in the last decade there have been considerable findings in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. Jim Hunter believes that in the coming decade we will find a cure or at least find a way to slow the progression of ALS. I believe this also. It’s going to be incredible but they only way we’re going to be able to do this is to support our researchers.

The annual Walk for ALS in Toronto is occurring on Saturday May 31^st. Please feel free to join my family, friends, Griffey and I! Please also consider sponsoring myself or one of the people walking on our team. You reach my donation page by clicking here.

Thanks so much! See you on the 31^st?!   

Long Weekend = Family

This long weekend equaled family.

Not just my parents, brother and Griffey...

But friends who are family too!

Arriving at church this morning, our family saved us seats and my little cousin squeezed my hand as she whispered, "I missed you so much! I'm so glad you're back!" Of course, she did not stop talking and giggling with me all through mass...couldn't stop the girl...didn't really want to either...And when she and her big brother leaned back, reached behind us and held my brother's hand during the Lord's prayer...absolute sweetness...

My cousins and I are silly crazy girls (and guys...although the girls may be sillier). We love getting together, talking crazy silly talk and making the little kids cry...It's a normal family thing. The oldest ones tease the littlest ones senselessly, trying to see how far we can get before they crack! (Yeah, we're "mean"!)

I tell you all this because, I totally wasn't trying to be mean when I made my friend's daughter cry last night! I was with my girlfriend, her hubby and their two sweet little girls. I should mention up front that they are Chinese (it's pertinent information to the story). So the adults are having sushi and, "E", the 3 year old is having chicken terriyaki, rice and some veggies. She was not eating her rice so I say, "What kind of Chinese little girl are you?" And with that, E turns to her mom and starts crying. Like massive sobs! Between cries, she says to her mom, "Auntie LuckyCdnGirl called me Chinese!"

Too funny! She had no clue. And we finally got out of her that she was Canadian... Amazing. 

So back to our famjam this aft. When emails went around two weeks ago about the location

Excitement at the start of the Hunt!

and what everyone was bringing, I decided we needed to have a good old fashioned egg hunt! It had been a long time since we'd put any effort into it. So my little Bean (our youngest cousin, who is 11 going on 21) and I packed the pastel coloured eggs with delicious chocolate eggs and had a photo shoot with Griffey at my house, before brining them to the fam jam. I asked my mom and one of the aunts to hide the eggs outside so that all the "kids" could participate. It was so fun! And although some people were surprisingly a little more competitive than expected but it was super fun! And in the end we all shared the copious amounts of chocolate!

And then off to my friend's house where she was hosting her family..."K" and I go WAY back, like WAY..."K" and I were in first grade together! Crazy right?! There are other connections, her big bro and I were lifeguards together...well, not really at the same time, more like my friends in "lifeguard school" had mega crushes on her bro. haha! Anyway, this aft we ate a delicious Easter dinner (oh just hours after my late lunch with the Filipino fam!) and there may have also been a "showing" of my videos of Africa... We laughed and sang... Okay, so I had made up this song with my girlfriend's son. It is sung to the tune of "Do you want to build a snowman?" from the movie Frozen. Except for fun, I sing, "Do you know any Jamaicans? Do you eat Jamaican food?" And it's funny because K and her fam are from Jamaica, and when I sang that song to her son, he said he didn't know any Jamaicans...

That's the second kid this weekend whose mind I blew! 

with my sweet Lola (grandma)

Anyway - all this to say - it has been a lovely, relaxed Easter weekend full of amazingly delicious food, family and friends who are family. Thanks guys! It's been so fun! (Ummm, it has been SO fun except for the Raptors and Jays losses...What's up guys?!)

 

Last Post about Africa...for now...Johannesburg!

View of Johannesburg from the Apartheid Museum

On our way home we had an eight hour layover in Johannesburg. I could not fathom sitting around the airport for that long…there’s only so much shopping (gasp) and eating (double gasp) I could do!

I did some research (of course) and decided a MUST SEE for me would be the Apartheid Museum…but I had to act fast!

Soccer City - one of the locations for the 2010 World Cup

Our flight was to land at 2pm. The museum was only open until 5pm. Between getting through immigration and finding the train to take me into town, there was no time to lose!

Of course things never turn up as they are planned. Before I knew it, it was 3:30pm. I found the (Gau)train and the next one didn’t leave for Sandton for another half an hour! Not acceptable.

 

So long story short – I found myself getting into a car with a guy named Thabiso. He seemed like a nice enough guy…right? I see my “actuary” friends shaking their heads at me. Come on now, I was careful. I am always careful of the strangers I meet!

So Thabiso is driving me to the museum. We start chatting. I get him to tell me a little about himself. He is a South African through and through, born and bred in Soweto…The same Soweto that Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu called home?! Well that did it – Thabiso was now taking me to the museum, waiting for me then taking me on a visit to Soweto!

The Apartheid Museum was heavy. I’m not sure why I thought I could go to the museum then hang out in Mandela Square, shop and eat…The museum provided a lot of written and visual information – mini videos and lots of photos. It was a lot to absorb, but I’m glad I took the time. I would definitely recommend the museum to anyone who happens to find themself in Johannesburg.

After a whirlwind lesson in Apartheid – I jumped back into the car with Thabiso and we were off to Soweto. I’m not sure I had in my mind what it looked like, but the first thing I noticed was “family.” There were children all over the street, not because they were wandering around aimlessly, poor without shoes or whatever you see on tv. No. The kids were playing happily with their friends with no worry of strangers scooping them up – there was a strong sense of community, everyone looking out for each other.

Thabiso took me to see the Hector Pieterson museum…He was the first young child to be killed by police who exchanged gunfire with students during the student uprisings in Soweto It was June 16, 1976. Hector was only 13 years old. Today June 16 is National Youth Day in South Africa; a day to honour young people.

We then went down Vilakazi street til we reached the cross street Orlando. At 8115 Orland St West stands Nelson Mandela’s home. It is now a museum. Since I was after 5pm and it was closed, I didn’t get to go in, but I did get to see what the street and neighbourhood were like. There were lots of touristy little shops set up and down Vilakazi St but there were lots of locals out and about. In fact Thabiso’s Dad is one of the local shopkeepers!

Just down the street from the Mandela House, at the corner of Bacela St is Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s House. The family moved in in 1975. He does not currently live here but it is inhabited by members of his family. This makes Vilakazi street the only one in the world that was inhabited by two Nobel Laureates!

On our way back to the airport, Thabiso drove me through a bit of Jo’burg so I could see what it was like. Maybe it was the combination of the growing darkness and the unfamiliar and desolate areas, but it did seem a little scary. Actually, Thabiso rolled up my window because he said it wasn’t as safe in Jo’burg as it was in Soweto.

So there it is – short and sweet, four hours in Johannesburg. There’s still so much more to see and do – just another reason to return to South Africa!

Saying Good bye

Life music at Bull and Bush
(if you watched the No. 1 Ladies' Detective tv show, it was was the location for
the Go Go Handsome Gentleman's Club)

I’m writing from the comfort of my kitchen table.

The tv is on for background noise;

Griffey is sleeping at my feet;

And the heat is on in the house;

How quickly things change and yet Botswana me seems so long ago.

It’s been 48 hours since I’ve been home.

Enough time for it to sink in that I’m no longer in Africa.

I’ve had the pleasure of arriving to a home decorated with a welcome home sign and banner, to a treat bowl filled with fruit and goodies for me (and Griffey), and potted spring flowers all over the house! (Thank you Stokes family!)

I’ve run into neighbours, received “welcome home” text messages and phone calls from friends, enjoyed dim sum with the family and enjoyed Dad’s home cooking.

The week before I left Botswana I looked forward to being home-

Everything about home – my family, my dog, my house, my car, my space, Toronto food, etc. etc.

In this excitement I forgot about having to say goodbye to my life and the people who had become part of my life in Africa. Here are a few good bye’s…

With Winnie, our housekeeper

A few days before leaving I told Belé (our office man) that I was going home on Saturday.

He just stood there not understanding.

He thought I was just going home for a visit.

No, I had to explain, I was going home for good…

In the days following that, Belé was seen sticking his head in our office, as if to make sure, I was still there…like I didn’t leave early or anything.

We shared a moment one afternoon where he took my picture with his cell phone camera.

Then he told me how he was going to show my picture to his mom, and tell her all about me and share the chocolate that I gave him with her.

Funny thing is…due to circumstance and timing, we never got to say goodbye.

On Saturday morning I woke up in a sweat.

I was terrified knowing that my housemates would be out and that I was the only one that was going to be in the house and that I needed to let Winnie, our housekeeper in…

It was only 7:30am.

Phew. I had time.

Winnie had a lot of work to do that Saturday morning because both Junior and I were leaving and two new people were moving into our rooms that evening!

When Winnie later knocked on my door to say good morning, I invited her in telling her I had something for her.

I opened my closet door to reveal a stack of clothing and a couple pairs of shoes for her and her family (Winnie has three children and travels 1 hour each way to get to our Casa Maria three times a week).

She literally fell into my arms giving me a gigantic hug.

Winnie asked about my family and if I had siblings.

with Curtis, our garden/pool boy

She said she would pray for my family and send us blessings.

She also asked for my information and that she would borrow her sister’s telephone to “What’sApp” me…

Later, before leaving the house, I asked the boys to take a photo of Winnie and I by the pool.

She put one arm around me and placed the other on my chest.

I’m not entirely certain what this meant, but I’m thinking it’s something from her tribe…a respect thing.

Whatever it was, it was sweet and I will remember her kindness.

Saying good bye to one of my client counterparts was surprisingly sweet.

Matlapeng led our group from the local side, along with Kaelo and Boa.

Matlapeng and Kaelo were both educators in their past lives and Boa is a young Batswana who was educated abroad. The three of them were a fabulous team to work with, fresh ideas and lots of healthy discussion, both amongst themselves and with our team as well.

In saying good bye, Matlapeng held my hands in his, looked me in the eyes and said, “I am grateful to have met you.”

I am still thinking about these words today.

I am grateful to have met you.

What did I do? What did I say?

Have others impacted my life in the same way?

Who am I grateful to have met?

I should tell them…

Life is short.

I am grateful to have spent almost ten weeks in Africa.

But my life is here at home, waiting for me to jump in and get going…

I’m still in a bit of a fog…but slowly acclimatizing.

I’ve got one more blog in mind about my time in Johannesburg (we had an eight hour layover).

I’ll share that with you next time.

A Message to my pre-Botswana self

Ever read those “What I’d tell my 18 year old self” posts?

They are supposed to impart some wisdom on your younger self having had now had experience and time on your side.

Well this is a take on it – except it’s what I would have told myself – before leaving for Botswana.

Ain't no thang...just horses in the street...

20. Pack whatever you want – don’t listen to people telling you that you don’t need “fancy” clothes or purses, shoes or other accessories. Bring em if you want them!

19. Know that whatever you bring will get over worn – darks will somehow become light and shoes will get crazy ruined by the roads, but you’ll be happy you brought them! Also remember you can donate whatever pieces you don’t want to take home to a local deserving Motswana.

An elusive (yet absolutely delicious) macchiato

18. Buy a yoga mat as soon as you get there – you’ll need it to zen out…every day – living in a developing country will present many challenges for which you’ll need a few down-dogs and deep yogic cleansing breaths to keep you calm.

17. Spend as much time outside as possible. The sunshine is lovely and at home, people are trudging through snow. Don’t forget to use 30 or more SPF all the time, every day…even when it is cloudy, those sun’s rays are getting to you and you need to prevent those wrinkles!

16. You are going to meet some amazing people who will probably be in your life for a long time to come.

15. Buy a local phone. Do not hesitate. They are cheap and you’ll be happy you have it, especially when you start traveling.

a Marula tree with its fruit

14. Ensure all your devices are always charged – you never know when an eight hour power outage may occur and you just may need to catch up on Downton Abbey or play Candy Crush.

13. Your need to shop will dissipate as soon as you find out there’s really nothing to buy…try as hard as possible not to resort to on-line shopping.

12. Batswana are nice…get to know them, speak to them in their language, use the colloquial phases…but remember, once they get behind the wheel of a car, they are dangerous – always look both ways, then look again before you cross the road!

11. Go on as many safaris as you can. They will cost you, but you will love every minute. Remember to stop and live in the moment. Listen to that herd of elephants silently walk past you instead of taking pictures. Then again, your distaste for home videos may change. Take a few videos so you can show people how warthogs move.

10. You think you want to see a “kill” on safari, but as soon as you watch a lion chomp on a zebra lung, you want to hurl…re-think the kill thing.

9. Try the local game meat – ostrich, impala, eland etc. It’s delicious. The biltong on the other hand…well, I guess you should try it also.

Main Mall Gaborone

8. The food is great. The beef and lamb are particularly fresh, free range and organic. SO good. Enjoy it, but know you won’t get good seafood til South Africa. And bring coffee. Good coffee is hard to come by in Gaborone. Bring coffee!!!

7. You will fulfill your shopping needs by buying souvenirs…too many perhaps.

6. The work you will be doing is not difficult. It is not earth shattering. But it will do good for the country and for your team. And remember, you’re in Africa. (That in itself is amazing!)

5. Use your excess brain power to read and learn as much as you can about anything you want. Write lots and read even more. You never know where it will lead you.

4. Remember to call home – as often as the internet provides…and get used to crappy internet…it’s the norm.

3. Being in Africa will allow for time to reflect and think about what you want to do next. Don’t be afraid of it.

2.  You know that everyone is different. Remember to have patience with this.

1. You will leave part of your soul in Cape Town.

Rich vs. Poor...

This morning on the way to the office, we chatted about the rich-poor divide.

Jenny had learned that the rich felt that any time you show any sort of kindness to the poorer, they will ask you for something.

I have to say, I have experienced this in Botswana.

I have written before about our “office boy”, he’s helped me out with some errands while I’ve been here:

-          helping me purchase a local cell phone

-          re-soleing and heeling my shoes

-          getting pants hemmed

-          washing our house car

-          and every day, carrying my bags from the car to the office…

So given the opportunity, I sometimes give him little gifts (in addition to providing a tip each time he goes out on an errand for me). For example, upon my return from Cape Town, I brought him two huge chocolate bars (his request) and a t-shirt.

Now do you remember the “tea lady” I spoke of in an earlier post?

She brings us a tray of hot water, instant coffee and tea every day then cleans up in the afternoon.

She is pleasant enough but lately has been asking for gifts.

For example, she asked me if I forgot to bring her present when she saw Belé’s.

A little forward I thought, especially after subsequent requests.

And Jenny had a story from one of the “Real Housewives of Phakalane” too.

The “housewife” told of a caddy at the golf course who had befriended her.

The caddy was a skilled mechanic and finally found a full-time job at a reputable business.

While confirming his first day of work on Monday, his new employer confirmed that he had his own tools. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, he said yes.

Not having the money to purchase these tools, he turned to the “housewife” who he had been caddying for for some time.

She agreed to buy them for him, a full set of tools cost the equivalent of about $500 CDN.

And so I’ve been thinking.

Is this too forward?

Is there a limit to the generosity of others?

What’s the difference between the caddy and the tea lady?

The divide between rich and poor in this country is so great that if these new tools were the difference between a life of poverty or self sufficiency for this man (and his family), I would probably buy the tools for him also…even though I truly should be spending that money on my mortgage or paying a student loan. So why is the repeated request from the tea lady for a present so annoying?

Would you give her a present?

Just something I’ve been contemplating in my last few days here in Gaborone.

 ******

Aside – as I wrote this, the tea lady in question stopped by and proclaimed, “I am waiting for a present…for a baby boy.” I could do nothing but smile.