Category: Sociology & Psychology
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Expats: From Neither Here Nor There
Ottawa is known as a government town. It is predominantly middle-class, not obviously flash or sexy. I don’t say these things as a criticism. We chose to live here for the past thirteen years and continue to make that choice for a variety of reasons. But unlike Montreal or Vancouver, with their more obvious charms,… Read more
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More Urban Than You
Last summer we attended a barbecue at a friend’s house in Westboro, Ottawa’s hip neighbourhood filled with yoga studios, coffee houses and Montessori daycares. It was a stunningly gorgeous blue sky day, the spread of food looked amazing, and our kids happily wandered off in search of other kids to play with. I’m generally happy… Read more
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How Did You Find Your Dream House?
ser·en·dip·i·ty/ˌserənˈdipitē/ Noun: The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way: “a fortunate stroke of serendipity”. – Merriam-Webster We never did look at another house. We were driving ever so slowly through the tiny rural village when we saw the real estate For Sale sign on the front lawn.… Read more
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SacredSpaces: Vedic Verses on the Mystical Rites of House Consecration
FROM THE VEDAS Reproduced with permission from Hinduism Today The building of a house, or even any transaction concerning it, is not just a matter of masonry or of business. It is in both instances a liturgical act, in which human lives as well as the powers above and below are involved. A house is… Read more
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Making Tangible Our Intangible Cultural Heritage
[pullquote]Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects. It also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts. UNESCO Culture Sector, 2003… Read more
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“Nothing in Front of Me But My Hands”
(I deem it time for some more Bentlily loveliness. All rights Samantha Reynolds.) It’s early and raining they are bundled my husband and son on an adventure they promise to bring home treasures sticks bright leaves unidentifiable pieces of plastic. The house is oddly still as though it isn’t us that runs around it but… Read more
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You Can Go Home Again (Hint: Try Knocking on the Front Door)
Note: this entry was written in mid-February but posted today. For the past two weeks I’ve been back in Vancouver for my annual journey “home.” But this year was different. I returned to find permanent lodging and care for my father, whose Alzheimers has taken a significant turn for the worse. I simultaneously advocated… Read more
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The Burning Smell of Childhood
How do you like your tea? Sweet? Or very, very black? On moving day, a little girl gives a tea party for her dollies in the garden of her new home. However, her parents are unaware of her unusual ability to channel the spirit of John Rambo. Moving Day, a film by Jason Wingrove. *****************… Read more
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Shelter from the Storm
Fear. Mental illness. Apocalyptic visions. It’s so hard to tell the difference between them these days. In Take Shelter, Curtis, a young husband and father from the midwest, obsesses about building out his underground storm shelter. Times are tough, jobs are in short supply, and families teeter on the edge of survival. Not a great… Read more