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Archive for March, 2010
A Rio within Rio
Posted in: News & Updates by Susan Phung on March 8, 2010
Hamilton, ON—On hillsides overlooking the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the poor live in the shadow of the rich. Towering skyscrapers and lavish condominium complexes in one section of the city show Brazil’s promising future. In another section of the city however, it is difficult to support this claim. Clusters of houses are stacked upon one another as if to test the laws of gravity. Snake-like narrow roads show a lack of infrastructure. An absence of waste disposal programs is noticeable from the garbage on the streets and a residual nauseous smell. Read more…
The chalkboard is not enough
Posted in: News & Updates by Susan Phung on March 2, 2010
Hamilton, ON—The 9 am GO bus ride was both the most likely and unlikely place to find oneself discussing how to rebuild a nation. Struggling to find a seat as the bus made a sharp turn, I stumbled into the remaining available seat toward the end of the bus. The sterility of western society is best seen on public transport. Uneasiness to share a smile or start a conversation with fellow travelers contrasts sharply with the immediate hospitality strangers meet in other countries. So many stories remain trapped in the confines of western formality. Read more…
