Blog Summary #3

Being in this class has actually taught me a lot about myself it did not only teach me how to appreciate leisure but to appreciate myself through leisure. Before this class i found myself staying home doing homework and spend most of my time on the Internet trying to make the time go by. My life was essentially boring because I did not take the time to see what was out there for me to do. however, this class is based solely on Leisure and how to be more leisure educated, staying at home and doing nothing was not going to cut it.

"Through leisure education, individuals can develop and enhance their knowledge, interest, skills, abilities, and behaviour to a level where leisure can make a significant contribution to the quality of their lives" (Dattilo, 2008)

This semester has taught me to engage in activities that I would not engage in on a regular bases. These activities included, attending a Hockey game and going camping. Before this semester when ask to even watch a hockey game I would without hesitation decline the request because I believe I knew I would not enjoy myself. Through this class I learned that I have to take chances to truly no what I enjoy doing. Essentially I learned how to appreciate different forms of leisure, "understand" the different benefits that come from different forms of leisure and the "flexibility" that comes from different forms of leisure. Such as camping is not all about hiking, getting to know nature but it can be use to build relationships and learn new things which can be beneficial for the future

Also through the semester I was able to be aware of myself through leisure. In my past blog I talked about my love of braiding hair. I had never looked at braiding hair a leisure experience it was just something I did when I had time. I had realize that I braided hair to release my creativity in the only way I knew how. Braiding hair has been past down from generation to generation in my family. Therefore when I braid hair I feel a connection to my roots, my culture, and my family. Although I use to HATE getting my hair braid in the past I can look back now an appreciate it and understand why I had to get my hair braided. I know when I have children I want to share these skills with them as well

The most important aspect I have taking form this class is interacting socially during leisure. I believe without interaction an leisure experience is not longer leisurely. Being able to use verbal and non-verbal communication when partaking in an activity is important everyone has different levels of communications skills and it is imperative to include everybody. Volunteering at the C.A.R.E centre as open my eyes to a lot of new things. At the C.A.R.E centre their are students there who have a variety of different disabilities including speech and mobility, before I got to know the students I had the mind set that I would not be able to understand when they talk. After taking the time to get to know everyone and understand their disabilities and abilities I was able understand how to communicate with everyone in different was. for example there is a lady names Gioto who use her eyes to spell words, or Nama who has a text-to-speech keyboard for communication. Understanding the capabilities of the people at the C.A.R.E centre has taught me how to socialize with everyone at the C.A.R.E centre and develop life long relationships. Although the people at the care centre have various constraint it is important that are able to participate is leisurely experiences as well.

"Although leisure education is important to everyone. it assumes an added significance in the lives of individuals who are experiencing constraints to their leisure participation"

My attitude towards leisure has changed tremendously before I did not even view anything I did as a leisure experience however being leisure educate I have learned that there is more out there than just television and doing the same old boring things I use to do. I have expanded myself to look at things differently. Before I would never want to go hiking or snowboarding or anything of that nature but now I know before I died there are much more things I want to experience, and I now have the drive and determination to experience things I have yet to experience. And to pass on my learnings to friends and family

The significance of leisure education is that it help me understand that leisure is a "state of mind" and to "not judge a book by its cover" in order to truly understand different forms of leisure I have to be open to knew things. I should not automatically assume I am not going to like an experience i should partake and them make my decison afterwards.

Camp Kinkora

Camp Kinkora is the first place I have ever camped and I truely can say it was a very good experience. At Camp Kinkora I was able to have fun while learning and when I can have fun while learning I appreciate it more and take in more. While at camp I was able to form new relationships because we wee basically stuck with the same people for 72 hours so their was nothing else for me to do. However we played a few games or activities that required me to put my trust in some else, be patient, and communicated effectively with others. There was one activity that we did whee everyone was blindfolded and we had to untangle a rope than place it on the grou like a rectangle. This was one of the most frustrating games that I have ever played in my life not being able to see and trying to communicate with others so we could untangle a very long rope almost seemed impossible. However, after team work and communication we were able to complete one of the hardest task I had ever had to do. I definiately would go camping again I really enjoyed myself.

my first hockey game

Procrastination is one think that I really excel at. through the semester I kept on saying to myself I have to do something I have never done before this weekend, and I basically said that for the duration of the semester. Previously I wanted to something like rock climbing, snowboarding, or just something extreme put unfortunately i could not find the time or someone to go with. So as time was winding I finally decided that doing something extreme was out the picture so i choose to watch the Concordia Stinger Girls Hockey team play a game. To tell you the truth I did not have any interest to watch the game it came to the point that I had to do something so I can get my 5% which i really need. I went to the game by myself but i seen Fu-Chen there so I sat beside so she could clarify the rules for me. At first I was confuse with all the substitutions it is crazy like every 2 minuets players are jumping over the side board to go on the ice. I more shock to realize the play an hour with two 15 minuets breaks in between so in total a game can end up being an hour and a half long, not including the warm up. I personal enjoyed my time at the Hockey game i can't say I will ever be back to game but I can check it off as my first leisure experience....Sign, Sealed, Delivered

C.A.R.E

So yesterday my roommate and I had to do a program at the C.A.R.E centre so we decided to do Music Trivia so we just basically downloaded some songs from Limewire and made up some trivia questions. We put a lot of time and preparation in to the game because we really wanted the CARE participants to relly lke the game. If I can say so my self the game was a success everyone was participating. At the C.A.R.E their are some people who are not able to talk so at first i thought they would not enjoy hte game because they would not be able to participate. So for everyone to feel included we put them in to two teams and each team had a C.A.R.E staff member and before each team was able to give there final answer they had to get the opinions of all group members, this way no one felt excluded. I really enjoy my stage at the C.A.R.E centre it made me open my eyes to a lot of things, and because I have learned so much and made new friends I know that was my stage is over I will be going back to help out.

The Internet is taking Over

Because I do not have a cable I don't get to watch a lot of my favourite shows like The Hills so as an alternative I go to a view websites such as MTV.CA and BET.com to see if they have any webisodes which to me is much better because you get to watch all your favorite shows with no commercials and because there are no commercials I am have more times to other things :-) her is a link to the websites I usually go to

http://www.mtv.ca/

http://www.bet.com/OnTV

I also spend a lot of time looking for a job. I feel that it is VERY ANNOYING that almost every company wants you to apply on line now a days. I personally like to sell myself when handing my resume to the manager I don't have that opportunity to that when I send it through Cyber Space it is very frustrating. Because after i push the send button a million thoughts go through my head such as, did it go through, did I send it to the right place, did cyber space eat my resume. I just wish thing would go back to the way it use to be.

http://jobsearch.monster.ca/Search.aspx?q=&cnme=montreal&sid=76&rad=32&rad_units=km&zip=&radzip=32&rad_units=km&cy=CA&vw=b

Going HOME

I always look forward to going home getting to spen time with my family and friends and just being able to relax. However when I went home 2 weeks ago I was not able to enjoy it because I had takin home so much homework with me it was overwhelming. This time I went home it was very special to me my brohter and is wife had there first child which was my first niece and I really want to see her. Eventhough I did not have as much time as I usually do to run around with my family and friends getting to see Asyia (my niece) for the first time made it the best trip home. I would put up picture but my brother does not want me to... Maybe next time

Blog Summary #2

Over the past few weeks I truly believe that I have become more leisure educated, I have learned new ways to experience leisure and I also learned how to distinguish leisure from recreation. A lot of Cultural values play a big part in what I consider to be leisure, we all come from different place so what is leisure to me might not be leisure to someone else. Leisure as defined in class is a state of mind, freely chosen that results in intrinsic feelings of happiness, satisfaction, pleasure, and/or enjoyment. To me it is very important to experience an intrinsic feeling of satisfaction when doing an activity, chore, or just relaxing. I have learned the leisure comes in many different shapes, forms and intensity levels.

Culture plays a major part on why I consider certain activities to be leisure such as braiding hair. I think of the talents others have like singing, dancing, drawing, being athletic do they portray these talents because they were born with them or because they were force to become the best at this activity. My talent is braiding hair, it is definitely a talent that just goes from generation to generation. It is rare to see a young African American/Canadian child without there hair in braids, it almost like a world wide rule that young African American/Canadian girls get there hair braided. Braids are a sense of purity in the young culture. In away it restricted me from my independence, but it provide me with a talent that I cherish. Through my blog pictures indicate I have fun creating different designs in other people hair. The design also express the mood I am in, it could be anywhere from annoyed to feeling very up beat. When I’m up beat I will be up to doing a creative design, if I am annoyed I am only willing to give a basic design.

I have learn to appreciate different types of leisure with various people. My volunteer work with C.A.R.E has taught me a lot about myself and others it is here where I feel I learn the value of leisure. Working with people who have disabilities has should be that know matter the situation, skill level or disadvantage someone faces there is away to get through it. Having a positive attitude to everyone and everything can make life so much easier. Also looking at people abilities rather their disabilities I have learn can make it a better experience for everyone.

Communication played a major part in all my blogs it was through verbal communication was able to get instruction and voice my opinions. While bowling we had to assist the students with the ramp, so we would have to ask were they wanted us to move it. Some of the lady’s and gentlemen at the C.A.R.E are not able to communicate verbally, therefore nonverbal communication was used to tell us were they wanted the ramp. Through communication I was able to tell that everyone including myself was having a good time; so people had smiles, some were laugh, giving high fives, and other just said”this fun.” I have learned that it is important to “interact socially during leisure Datillo 2008” so we can make new friends as I do when I braid hair. Sometimes people who I do not know ask me to braid their hair. If I were to just braid there hair and not socialize with them we would not be able to build a relationship and “develop a friendship Datillo 2008.”