Interview with a foreigner

Hamar Boussafi

For this cultural blog post, I decided to interview the father of one of my friends.  Hamar Boussafi is a man form Kabylia, Algeria. He left his country alone when he was approximately 18 years old but he doesn’t know his real age. He left principally for his scholarship and also to escape poverty, economical and political problems.

He first left to France where he went to school and continued to learn French, he had already started to take courses back in Algeria but his first language is Kabyl, a language derived from Arabic. It is in France that he met the love of his life. She was from Rimouski so he decided to move there and marry her. They had four children together, one boy and three girls.

When I asked him if his immigration was difficult, he answered yes. First of all, he had to leave some family (mother and sisters) without knowing if he would see them again. The difference of temperature was also a big change for him and it still is. When he arrived in Rimouski for the first time, during the winter, his girlfriend had warned him that it would be chilly. He was so stubborn that he arrived wearing a t-shirt! What he thought difficult too was the difference in attitudes. The way of thinking is really different in Algeria compared to Quebec. The religion was not a part of the changes because he didn’t follow any in his country and he kept it that way here.

I asked him what he misses the most and it is mostly his culture. He is also nostalgic from the place where he comes from. What he misses the least is certain of the attitudes of the Algerians; like he said the way of thinking is really different. Sometimes it is a good thing to be away from this but it is also difficult to adapt to new ones.

Finally, Hamar doesn’t have any regrets but anywhere he’ll be, he’ll want to be elsewhere. This is just who he is.

The student strike

I was wrong, my last post was actually not my very last...

We have been asked how we experienced the student strike. As Jennifer said, it was my first real world experience in democracy.

To be honest, I did not support the strike. I disagree with the rising of tuition fees but I just accept it. The cost of life is increasing and like every other thing in society, the cost to go to school is also rising. Personally, I can afford it so I don't know why I should compromise my studies by being for the strike. I understand that there are people who can't afford this new price and it changes a lot of things for them, some won't be able to go to university. But this is what they say... I think there is always a way to make things right and some young adults just don't know how to budget...

From the very beginning (the fist general meeting), I did not support the strike, the reason is: I don't think this is the right way to change things. It has created a party for the strike and one against the strike between students which is not very good.

I choose a side and I am proud of it but I don't go outside and scream it to everyone... I understand the people who protest and want the government to change their idea but they went to far. Here, the strike is over and everything is back to normal. Except maybe the fact that it has completely changed the school calendar. But it still continues in a lot of school and now, students are attacking civilians not even concerned because they don't know what else to do anymore. I really don't think this is the good way to change things. The government decided something, it won't go back on it. Students just have to accept it, this is my final word.

Finally, I did not really like my first experience in democracy because even if I took a side, democracy's not my thing...

(I don't want to upset some people with my words, this is just my opinion.)

The End

This is finally THE END!

This is my FINAL blog post, and for this final, I decided to not necessarily just talk about fashion. It is Christmas very soon and all I want to talk about is Christmas! The session is almost over, for me, there is just one oral presentation left and it will be done! So, the stress is gone. Now, it's time to look for a nice Christmas gift for my boyfriend and just enjoy my vacations. What do you think about watching Christmas movies, preparing holiday cards to give to my family, bake some Christmas pastries, walking in the snow, or decorate my apartment with Christmas decorations? It might seems a little bit childish to you but this is the kind of things I like to do before Christmas...

And a little bit of fashion for the last time:

Christmas is not the only part of Holidays, there is also NEW YEAR! As 2012 is approaching really fast, the new color of the year has been declared. The color forecasting firm Pantone has declared Tangerine Tango as the color of the year 2012! Since more than ten years, this company has selected its color of the year in multiple industries including fashion and beauty. This color is a reddish orange shade described as vivacious and enticing. Pantone's executive director Leatrice Eiseman said:«Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it». This color will play a key role in fashion and beauty trends for next year, be prepared! ;)

Unfortunately, I don't have any picture of this color to show you, so consider it as a surprise! Instead I have the pleasure to post you a beautiful Christmas video that will probably enjoy your day and put you in a Christmas mood! (actually, the video is so-so but the song is fantastic!!!)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE !!!!
See you in January,

Kristina xXx

Fashion and... Holidays !!

The semester is already almost over! I think it is sad because I liked to post articles on my fashion blog! This week, it took me a little bit of time to figure out what I wanted to talk. Earlier in the week, we watched The social network, an amazing movie by the way! I could talk about it but since it is one of my last article, I want to talk about FASHION! :)

Do you know what's coming soon? Holidays !! and do you know what I like the most? Fashion, of course, but do you know what I like the most besides fashion? Holidays!!
Some of us have a boyfriend/girlfriend and what is a little bit stressful during this time of year is spending Christmas with our in-laws. Imagine how really stressful it is when your mother in-law is the Queen! So, Kate Middleton is expected to have multiple wardrobe changes during that day, actually rumors says that she will need an outfit for each events during the festivities:

-A casual outfit for breakfast

-A smart outfit with matching hats for church service

-A dress for lunch

-A nice outfit for afternoon tea

-A cocktail dress for evening drinks

-A formal look for dinner

Yes, that brings the outfit total up to 6! Lets just hope the royal family doesn't celebrate the twelves days of Christmas...

We are not princesses, but I think we like to look good too on that special night of the year. Personally, in my family each year everybody dress formally. Since the most of us don't have a royal bank account I wanted to show you some cheap ideas of outfit from the boutique Dynamite for Christmas. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to post the pictures, so I invite you to go by yourself on http://www.dynamite.ca/.

 

Tomorrow’s the first, that means I’ll start my Christmas and New Year countdown calendar!!!

                 have a nice end of semester!

A little bit of E C O N O M Y

Good morning,

You know that usually my posts are about FASHION. But today, thanks to Jennifer, I am being a little less materialistic…

This post is actually about something important going on in the world these days. The Occupy wall Street. Since I am not really touched by this movement, I am being honest saying that I never really took the time to read about it, think about it and take a position. First, I had to do some research: Occupy Wall Street is actually a people-powered movement that started on September 17, 2011 in Manhattan Financial District. It fights against “the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process”.

Like I said, since I am not affected by this, I am the type of people that will not have an opinion on the subject, but today I read about people who are being part of the so called “99%”. I have to say that I was simply shocked! I am aware that some people don’t live as well as some are living in the province of Québec like I do, but I certainly did not know that it was the majority of the North Americans. I can’t believe some people have to work all their life for minimum salary and can afford almost nothing or are just unemployed.  I don’t think this is fair. This is why I am finally taking a side! I am proud to say that I definitely agree with Occupy Wall Street.

I don’t know why but I am feeling that tonight, I will go to sleep smarter than I was when I woke up this morning…

Fashion Vs. University

Hi everyone!

This week everything seems to be about university, even the Maclean's issue is the 2011 university rankings. For those who are going next year I guess you are pretty stressed out. On the contrary, I am really excited. As you probably know, I am planning to go to the University of Ottawa next year to pursue my studies in languages. Consequently, all this talking about university, faithful to my habits, makes me want to talk about FASHION.

It is certain that at my first day as a university student, I want to look as good as possible. The best I could dream of is to look like Blair Waldorf at her fist day to N.Y.U:

Obviously, that's never gonna happen because we are talking about Gossip Girl and New-York City! We can always dream...

Still, what I can offer you is Four ways to wear one item. Girls, we always like to keep something that belongs to our boyfriends and since it is cold out there, the Boyfriend Sweater is the perfect item to wear in your university classes. It is not too big, just oversized enough to be cozy. Loose or belted, layered or on it's own, this piece of clothing definitely deserves a place in your closet.

1. Layering a bright shirt under a cozy sweater will keep you warm in cold weather, wear it with skinny jeans. Those enter perfectly into some rain boots that keep you warm as well.
2. it is really cute to add a blazer or cardigan on top of a dress when it is cold, but have you ever tried adding a sweater? It completely transform the look! Don't forget to belt the sweater it will give your waist more definition.
3. A loose sweater is actually perfect with casual outfits like jeans. You can mix with more polished accessories to contrast the relaxed look.
4. At last, who said you couldn't look chic wearing your boyfriend sweater? Pair it with a bandage skirt, tights and a pair of heels and your the perfect image of comfortable and dressy at the same time!
   
       

        What do you think about these tips ? 

  Are you excited about university too ?

                       Have a nice day!

How to be IN for a good cause ?

Halloween just passed, which marks the end of October. I hope you had a great time...

Now, it is time to think about what's HOT for the month approaching. MOVEMBER

This is the month formerly known as November. It is actually during this month that men and women from all around the world join together to raise funds for men's health issues especially prostate cancer. The goal, for men, is to grow a Mo (moustache) for 30 days. Men who do it are called Mo Bros and they start Movember 1^st clean shaven and grow their Mo for the rest of the month raising money along the way. You are probably asking yourself: how can women help ? Let me answer your question. Women who support Movember are then called Mo Sistas. They champion the Mo by supporting their Mo Bros, organizing events, leading a team and most importantly, spreading the message of men's health.

It is also important to know that beards and goatees are not accepted, moustache only. If you already have a moustache and want to participate, you could shave it off on Movember 1^st and re-grow it throughout the month or you can do a “reverse Movember” by having people donate to you to shave it off at the end of the month.

Movember has charitable status in Canada and the funds raised through the Movember campaign go to Movember Canada, a national not for profit organization. The net funds are then committed to programs supporting prostate cancer initiatives run by Movember and through their men's health partner Prostate Cancer Canada.

Boys and girls, women and men, it is now time for you to participate. Here is a link to register where you will find all the information you need on Movember. http://ca.movember.com/

Check out Mo styles:

You want to follow fashion ?

Become a Mo Bro or a Mo sista.

WILL YOU ?

Happy Movember !

And by the way, thanks for the support :)