toadlane - December 2012

WCRI

toadlane Imagine. Inspire. Create.

Fall 2012

268 PHILLIP

STREET,

WATERLOO ON

Dear WCRI Residents, I am very excited to be the toadlane editor for the Fall 2012 edition. Living at WCRI for the very first time, I was initially overwhelmed by taking on the role. However, as the term progressed and I got an opportunity to meet some wonderful people, including the CEGs, I realized that there is a strong support system in this community, and it is definitely possible to make things happen around here. I would like to thank all of you who contributed to this toadlane edition, and hope that in the future semesters more of you will be willing to use this medium to share your creative thoughts for the rest of us to enjoy.

Because exams, and life in general can sometimes be stressful, this edition of toadlane has a few helpful hints to overcome these demanding times , some food for thought, and lots of silliness to make you smile and refresh your minds. I hope that you enjoy this publication and will share your encouraging words and constructive criticism on how it could be catered more towards the WCRI residents to truly make it the voice and soul of this wonderful community. If you would like to get involved with toadlane or communicate your thoughts with us, we would love to hear from you at todlane@wcri.coop! I would like to leave you with a short, powerful quote by Mason Cooley with the hope that going forward with the end of this semester and year, you will take chances, and step out of your comfort zone to be inspired and create: “creativity makes a leap, then it looks to see where it is.�

Have a Merry Christmas to all those celebrating, a safe journey to all those travelling and a beautiful holiday to everyone!

Cheers, Tanisha Rajput

An outsider’s view of WCRI House Hunting Dilemma’s My friends and I were house hunting for Fall 2012 term and we looked into a couple of places, but we could never agree on one. There was always something wrong with the places: too small, too far from the UW campus, tiny closets, no private bathroom, unliveable conditions and the list goes on. We decided to go our separate ways and find places that fit our needs. It came down to three of them applying to WCRI and a couple of us settling for places away from campus with our own bathroom or big closet. When we sat down for dinner and spoke about our living decisions, we were surprised to find out that WCRI was even considered a choice. The girls justified themselves saying “well it is closer to campus, and more convenient”. The reason it came as a shock to me was because I heard that it was sort of like V1 or UWP and I was not a big fan of residence.

Signing House Contracts Most of my friends and I finally decided to live in fancy places far from campus and we hastily signed our contracts to secure our rooms. The three friends who had applied to WCRI finally got their reply and accepted it right away. It was official we were not living together, but we would always be friends. The only thing that worried me about my fancy house was that apart from my friends, there were a few unknown roommates. Had I signed with WCRI, I would definitely know people- instead, I chose a private washroom. This was a bittersweet decision.

Time to move-in The time had arrived and it was move-in day for all of us. We all moved-in bright and early so that we could visit each other’s places later on. As I moved into my apartment, the clean freak in me saw the mess, and figured that it was going to be a tough term dealing with the mostly random, untidy people. I regretted my decision but had no choice but to suck it up and deal with it. As the day progressed, we visited each other’s houses from Erb to Columbia and finally, WCRI.

An outsider’s view of WCRI Continued

First Impression of WCRI We walked into WCRI Hammar, and the first thing I was shocked to find out that there was no elevator and that my friends lived on the fourth floor! I thought to myself, “Unlike my poor friends who have to climb four flights of stairs every single day, I am so thankful to have an elevator.” We finally managed to make it upstairs to the top floor and we went into my friend’s room. My reaction was “hmm this isn’t too bad, personal space, maybe a little small compared to mine, but manageable”. We went into the kitchen/lounge area and I was very impressed with how clean it was. Next, I went into the bathroom and saw that although it had a residence style layout, my friends did not have to clean it as it was the staff’s responsibility. I was so jealous! As the day progressed and we were just hanging in the lounge other members of the WCRI community came in to put away their stuff and everybody was so friendly- this made me envious of my friends because they would never feel lonely. It was such a welcoming and homely environment. I told my friend how she would never be lonely or find the need to miss home because there would always be somebody here to give her company. Overall, I had enjoyed my first experience because the image in my mind completely changed.

Future Considerations As the semester has progressed, I have slept over 2 or 3 times and I have visited almost every day. I never feel like an outsider when I am in that environment, and I feel that I am so productive when I work in the lounge there with people walking in and out, it is definitely amazing! I have definitely considered that next Winter I want to live here to give me an opportunity to have this environment 24/7 and meet my own WCRI family.

Are you interested in editing, media, design or writing?

You should consider the

toadlane Editor position for

Winter 2013 Email community.engagement@wcri.coop for more information

Imagine. Inspire. Create.

“Randomness stalks us every day of our lives”. – Paul Auster

CAUGHT IN THE ACT! Derek Wong and Yvonne Hong: Social Chairs. A shout-out to the Social Committee without them we wouldn't have any events this term! Fantastic teamwork you two!

CAUGHT IN THE ACT! CAUGHT IN THE ACT! Adriana, Guryjot and Annamaria: These wonderful people attended the toadlane meeting despite the stormy night of Hurricane Sandy!

Josephine Chan: President of Cooking Club deserves recognition because without her the only food we would probably have at every event this term at WCRI is pizza!

At the end of 2009, the United Nations declared 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives to “raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of co-operative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration” (http://social.un.org/coopsyear/). On October 31st 2011, the IYC launched at the United Nations. Here are 12 reasons why “Co-operative Enterprises Build a Better World” (http://www.canada2012.coop/en/orphans/coop-week/12-reasons): o o o o

o o o o o o

o

o

Co-operatives are DEMOCRATIC organizations owned and controlled by their members on the basis of one member, one vote.

Co-operatives are VALUES-DRIVEN enterprises that are guided by seven internationallyrecognized principles.

Co-operatives have SOCIAL as well as ECONOMIC objectives and put PEOPLE before profits.

Co-operatives are more DURABLE than other types of businesses; research has shown that new coops are more likely to remain in business than other new enterprises and are more resilient in economic downturns.

Co-operatives are part of a dynamic GLOBAL MOVEMENT with more than a billion individual members around the world.

Co-operatives are ROOTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES; the jobs and wealth they create remain in the communities in which they are located.

Co-operatives EMPOWER people to take control of their own economic lives and futures.

Co-operatives respect the ENVIRONMENT and are recognized as leaders in environmental sustainability.

Co-operatives are the businesses of choice for MILLIONS OF CANADIANS. Co-operatives can be found EVERYWHERE: in small villages and big cities; in every region of Canada and most of the world's countries. They exist in virtually every sector of the economy, from retail and financial services to agriculture, housing and health care.

Co-operatives CO-OPERATE with each other, working together at the local, provincial, national and international levels. Canadian co-operatives are actively involved in assisting co-operative partners in developing countries.

By proclaiming 2012 the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CO-OPERATIVES, the United Nations has recognized the important role co-ops play in the social and economic development of communities worldwide.

In the last year, the IYC was celebrated by over 1 billion members worldwide, and 9000 co-ops and 18 million members in Canada.

International Year of Co-operatives 2012 Continued

As a co-op, WCRI also celebrated the IYC! At the Winter General Meeting 2012, we agreed to make a donation to the CECO (Co-operative Enterprises of Central Ontario) Cluster to build an IYC float. To date, the IYC 2012 Co-operative Viking Ship Float has been to the Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Kitchener Waterloo Santa Claus Parade, and the Cambridge Night-time Santa Claus Parade. Pictures can be found on the CECO Cluster Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ceco.cluster On the International Co-operative Day, July 7th, 2012, COCHF (Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation) held an event at the Kitchener Market. At the event, there were speakers, various local co-op booths, cooking and pottery demonstrations, and performance by The Tra La Las, a local music group. WCRI also had a booth where participants learned about WCRI and cast their votes for the new logo.

Last but not least, if you went by Hammar or visited the office, you should have noticed the large banner facing University Ave and different IYC promotional items like pens and lanyards.

As the UN Closing Ceremony took place on November 19th, 2012 to November 20th, 2012, the IYC concluded with a success. The International Co-operative Alliance developed “an ambitious strategy to make cooperatives the fastest growing business model by the end of the decade� (www.2012.coop), and the plan can be found at http://2012.coop/en/blueprint.

Useful links: www.2012.coop www.canada2012.coop Submitted by Lana Wong

Memories Are And Always Will Be- A Fraction of What Went on in WCRI Fall 2012

ICC Meeting: November 19th 2012

Mid-Autmn Festival 2012

What’s Cooking Good-Looking? ;)

Yoga Club Woo! Did yoga for the first time, and it was a lot of fun. The instructor Carrie is excellent, and her program is engaging but still very manageable for even an overly tight individual like myself. I was pleasantly surprised by the benefits/demands of Yoga. More specifically a lot of thoracic rotation & extension, sensory goldmine for your feet and hands, learning to set the shoulder, releasing muscle tension through diaphragmatic breath, getting to know your body's range of motion and what it can do through that range, and just generally an excellent hour of active relaxation from studying.

(When the body moves, the mind grooves!)

It is also free! so come join us next week!

Kenneth Lo

True Satisfaction: More than the Fleeting Pleasures of our Generation As you prepare for final exams and ground yourself in the midst of the constant stress and anxiety and restlessness that seem to naturally come with studying, do you ever pause and wonder whether or not your investment of time and energy is worth the effort at all? Have you wondered to yourself, “What am I hoping to achieve by succeeding in school?” Maybe you want to make a difference in the world and help people in doing so. Maybe your hope is in the idea that if you do really well in school and surround yourself with the right people at the right time, you just might elevate yourself to a position that makes you more marketable, likeable, and attractive in terms of gaining social and career related favour. Maybe the achievement of your high expectations will one day pay off and you, in fact, land that high-paying job that you’ve always wanted.

Furthermore, maybe this job will then put you in a position where you can support a marriage, raise a healthy family, afford a comfortable house, car, cottage, long vacations, and secure a stable retirement plan – maybe.

Assuming everything goes according to plan, do you think you can honestly say to yourself, “I am completely fulfilled; I am 100% satisfied”? If not, would you not, then, strive for complete satisfaction? On the other hand, if you answered, “Yes, I think I would be completely satisfied if I achieved all these pleasures,” could it be possible that you are currently being satisfied by pleasures that are not of greatest worth and excellency and value? In The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis writes: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” So what is this ‘infinite joy’ that, according to Lewis, is of greater worth than the pleasures of which we are currently satisfied?

I don’t think this ‘infinite joy’ or ‘holiday at the sea’ can be fully realized until we become dissatisfied with our current idealistic pleasures and begin to seek the possibility of more satisfying pleasures that extend beyond those of which we are conventionally familiar with. For me, if such an infinite and lasting joy truly exists, then I want this joy. I want this joy because I have never experienced joy of this world that lasts – any source of joy of this world is temporary, fades, and does not offer lasting satisfaction.

Now you may be asking yourself, “If I’m living a finite life and I’m here on this earth for 60, 70, or even 80 years if I’m lucky, what is the point of seeking infinite joy – since in the end, my dead body will just be rotting 6 feet underground anyways?” But will it? What if your life doesn’t simply stop once you die on earth after 80 years but instead continues into eternity? Compared to eternity, 80 years is nothing! If eternity exists, then so can a joy that is infinitely lasting. So where will you spend eternity?

The Bible says that the wages of sin is eternal death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

So how many times have you sinned? How many times have you lied, lusted, stolen, hated, used God’s Name in vain? Because every time you have, you’ve sinned against God, separating yourself from Him. From reading the Bible and asking many questions about Christianity, I became aware that I’m a sinner and that, in fact, we’re all sinners before the eyes of God, having fallen short of His perfect standard and that the cost of sin is death forever in hell – this is bad news!

Thankfully, there’s good news as well – the best news in history, the most important news we’ll ever hear because it’s about our rescue from this desperate situation. Jesus Christ paid for our sins completely. He took our sin and shame and God’s wrath against us, upon Himself. He shed His blood and died on the Cross in our place, and then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death so that we would not have to suffer the consequences of sin which we fully deserve. To be reconciled to God, we must turn away from our sins and trust that Jesus died in our place. Our sins will be forgiven, God will grant us eternal life, and we will enjoy forever with Him in heaven. The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This is the Good News, the Gospel.

It is my hope that you have been challenged to seek the deepest desires of your heart, the pleasures that will last into eternity – the complete satisfaction that is found only in knowing and treasuring God in Jesus Christ. So I encourage you to confess your sins to God, turn away from your sinfulness, and put your hope and trust in Christ for your rescue, the forgiveness of your sins. Pursue the pleasures of God for they are the only pleasures that satisfy.

I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read this. If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a message at ryanlee09@gmail.com. I’m just your fellow U of Waterloo undergrad – don’t be intimidated! I’d be glad to hear from you and look forward to growth in wisdom and knowledge regarding these deeper matters.

Happy studying… Make it count!

-Ryan

“Life is not about finding yourself. Its about creating yourself.� Art samples by Alcina Wong

The CEGs’ Corner!

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone is having an awesome term so far. My name is Anjan Patel, and I am the South CEG for Fall 2012. I am in my fourth year of Biochemistry at University of Waterloo. My work as a CEG involves providing resources to the South division, and maintaining the overall quality of life for all the members. I am very approachable, so feel free to send me an email, or knock on my door if you have any questions or concerns. It has been a wonderful term so far. I am very glad to be a small part of the WCRI community. I wish you all Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Cheers, Anjan Patel

Hi all, this is Josephine. I hope you all Kershaw-ers are enjoying your new carpet. Thank you all of you or participating in events and meetings, it has been a wonderful term working with you. I look forward to seeing you guys next term. :)

Hello WCRI, My name is Robin and I am the CEG for Clayfield for Fall. This is my 7th term living at WCRI and I’ve lived in the same room every term! I’m in my 3A term studying Science Psychology at UW. I enjoy playing volleyball, cleaning my room, hanging out with friends and I am involved with an on campus fellowship, Chinese Christian Fellowship (CCF), and a church in Cambridge called the Harvest Bible Chapel (if any of you want to come with me feel free to contact me!) It was an exciting term working with the CEG team and the Social Committee to enhance our co-operative experience here at WCRI. It was definitely a great opportunity to build new friendships. I am really thankful for all those who have encouraged me through their words of appreciation, or even just a quick reply to my emails. The term is coming to an end, but I hope you all had a great term and I wish you all the best to finish off the term strong! Robin

As Carver's CEG one of the highlights of this term was holding TGIFs in Weavers' Arms. Not only did it serve as a hang out spot on Friday nights but it gave everyone who attended a chance to get to know each other better.

Over the past few Fridays I've spent there I have had the enjoyment of watching movies from the new projector system with the help of Movie Club, getting to know other CEGs better, bonding with others over nail polish courtesy of Beauty Club, tasting Cooking Club's creations and seeing the beginning to Music Club! This term was a great run and I hope to see you all again next term! Nancy

It's my first time of being a CEG. We called it division manager for the last time I lived in WCRI. As a upper year student, I am super busy from the beginning of the term. I realized that I could not stay in dorm all the time and talk to people. I realized that email is a more efficient way to contact individuals, share opinions and keep people updated of what is going on in WCRI. Most of the Hammer issue this term includes Vacuum, EOT party and clogged problems were all in the emails. Hope to see y’all next semester! Kevin

Community happens here‌

through your hard work

The following members have been recognized this term for their contributions to building community at WCRI

Pine Cone Awards: Robin Leung Ikdip Brar Derek Wong

Anjan Patel Lana Wong Mukto Akash

Silver Pine Cone: Josephine Chan

WCRI Scholarship: Arthur Smith

THANK YOU

Top 13 Tips for a BETTER LIFE IN UNIVERSITY! – Gurjyot Nanda “Breath. The universe will take care of everything else.”

1. Take a 10 to 30 minute walk everyday and while you walk and SMILE - it's known to be a good antidepressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes every day.

3. When you wake up in the morning, pray to ask God's guidance for your purpose, today, or simply be thankful for being alive and healthy and having another shot at a new day 4. Eat more food that grows on trees and plants and eat less processed foods 5. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day 6. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy drunk vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

7. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a student at UW/WLU with a maxed out credit card, WatCard or OneCard 8. Life is too short to waste your time hating on anyone. Forgive them for everything!

9. Don't take yourself seriously. No one else does.

10. However good or bad the situation is, it will change. Time heels everything.

11. Your awesome grades and stellar co-op job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

12. Decisions are not born correct, they are made correct. Work hard and play harder.

13. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed and if you are now, how is it going to matter after you're done with this term or with university?