I know, I know, you're all thinking, Michelle who? There's a Michelle that works for TIG? Yeah, I know a progress report (or some kinda contact) is long overdue so I thought I'd let you all know what I've been up to for the past three months.

SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL!!!
I'm (almost) finished my first semester of my last year of uni!!! Very excited. This has overwhelmingly taken up most of my time (I'm in geography at York for those not in the know). I took 4 fourth year classes including Geography of the 3rd World and Asia-Pacific Geography. They've given me great perspective and knowledge I can definately apply in thinking about TIG. Because I'll want to pursue my masters at some point I wanted to get the highest marks possible...I have 2 more assignments to hand in but it looks like I'll get straight A's!!! Yeah! Very happy, worth the frustration. Next semester I'll be taking another 4 fourth year classes so that'll occupy me again, but like this semester I'll (try) to keep on the int'l emails.

TIG TIG TIG!!!
Well, as Reggie and Jen know, I've been communicating with half our interested country site supastars...now that school pressure is over I can increase this as there are a few peeps feeling neglected....developing these relationships will be my focus for December.

PATHFINDERS PATHFINDERS PATHFINDERS!!!!!
Some of you know I'm a Girl Guide leader...I run Pathfinders for girls aged 11-14. Usually our units only have about 6 girls but this year we have 21....wow! Puberty on a large scale! We meet once a week and it's been a lot of fun but definately challenging...a lot of them know about TIG already but I want to use it to make them more aware....

WORK WORK WORK!!!!!
To pay that evil corporation called York I've kept my job at the hair salon, working there about 15-20 hrs per week and at a restaurant called The Academy of Spherical Arts, working there 35-40 hrs per week....there's something to be learnt from every situation, I tell you....

Ca c'est pour moi a ce moment! Through the emails I've been able to see all the awesome stuff y'all are working on, and just want to say you are all a constant inspiration and motivation for me. I feel so lucky to be able to contribute to this revolutionary entity! Keep rockin da casbah!

~~~~m~~~~

The four weeks since my last update have passed so insanely quickly!! So much has happened and once again I feel my life shifting along a new path...

In terms of TIG, I feel I have been reactive instead of strategic, working on many individual projects and not really having time to revisit the International Strategy ideas.....
*Helped Rana in Pakistan plan TIG Youth Day on August 17. In the end, 9 countries participated with a range of events...looking forward to the reports and pictures coming in! This took up a lot of my time in August, working with coordinators to plan their events and so forth.
*Also helped out with the Preparing for the Changing Workplace conference - in the end, we had a great panel of 4 speakers.
*Have been involved in receiving and interviewing applicants for the 2 internship positions here in Toronto, an admin position and one with international development. How strange to be in the position to interview and hire!!
*Have been working with various individuals that have popped up, building relationships with them and directing them towards the country sites, which have gotten great response. Thinking of next steps - sustainable communication structures, more features and improvements...
* Have been reading over youth rep applications, but haven't had a chance to take action on this.

The rest of my life outside TIG has been busy...working a lot of hours between the tall ships and waitressing and the salon, went to a Girl Guide conference this past weekend and am taking my girls camping this upcoming weekend, am on the committee for the Run for the Cure of Breast Cancer....am still trying to plan out school and errrrk student debt nastyness.

The next few weeks will be me planning for the Youth Employment Summit, wrapping up on TIG Youth Day, finalizing internship applicants, and starting to meet/email people interested in working as part of an international development "support team" to push for greater relevance and action within our membership globally.

Bye summer.....never long enough.....

Summer summer yeah!!

Let's see...with TIG stuff, things have been going well. I contacted every person that I met at Citizen You and am starting to build relationships with people in various countries with regard to TIG initiatives. Am very excited about the YR and Int'l stuff that has been developed (Connect & Local .TIG.org) and that the YR's are all excited about TIG Youth Day. Right now, that's my main focus and I've started organizing the various initiatives. As well, super happy that Jessica and Ben are helping out with the zine. Yeah yeah!

Also have been working on my personal plan for the next year - have chosen classes, more research on thesis....working a lot at the salon and on the tall ships. Tonight we're hosting a rave that goes until 4am and then I start at the salon at 9am....e gads...

But mainly am super duper jazzed up about all the fresh energy being generated by TIG Youth Day from youth reps everywhere. Great idea Rana!!

Wow! What a great two weeks!
From June 30-July 6 I was at the Citizen You conference in Sunderland, England.
Before I left, I worked with Susheela on revamping how creative writing volunteers are understood. I also worked on ICubed a bit, on the summer project plan, approving articles, and contacting writers.
As well, worked on text for the Take Local Action site and revamping how the Youth Reps are understood.

Prepared for the Citizen You conference - it wasn't what I expected, but very inspiring and successful! Was expecting young people that were "in the know" and have done the conference thing before...instead, it was young people from the 54 Commonwealth countries, many of which are developing nations, and many of the youth delegates had never travelled outside their countries. I was working with and speaking on the globalization theme, and for many delegates it was their first chance to truly explore the idea and all that it contains. Some delegates didn't have email or use the internet and it was great to be able to teach people new skills. It was so inspiring connecting with people that are attempting to positively impact their communities!

I learned a lot from the experience - about speaking, responding to questions....about perceptions and expectations...my belief in the vision of TIG was renewed, and I am finding most valuable the idea of creating a meaningful network of people with common opinions, hopes and goals. Many of the friends I met from Africa told me how their countries are being torn apart by HIV/AIDS...yet these people were the most inspirational, optimistic and positive individuals I've ever met....how fortunate I am to be a Canadian citizen, and how necessary it is for me to use the opportunities handed to me to help others.

Well, I've dun it! Today I spoke as one of a group of three speakers for Citizen You today. I was first, which I liked so there's no time to be nervous! I discussed globalization and how it affects young people, then discussed a few trends of globalization and how TIG is taking ownership over the process to create positive impacts. It was really interesting, because I've noticed these past few days that the group overall didn't really have a clear understanding of all the elements within globalization. I used it as an opportunity to show that the process effects so many things - education, mobility, disease, human rights, technology, politics - and really emphasized the positive opportunities that globalization can afford us. The question and answer period afterwards was REALLY challenging as people from all over fired these questions (and sometimes just statements of frustration that I was expected to respond to) at me regarding who drives globalization, who benefits from it, what about small island nations, do you really think we can do anything...etc. etc. It was such a learning experience for me to be in that position, in just that few hours in that role has truly taught me. The feedback afterwards was so great and supportive, and also positively critical - I've made some connections for TIG in Mauritirus, Monserat, Ghana, Singapore....it meant so so much to me that people could approach me and say I spoke inspirationally! There is more and more to say, but I suppose I will stop...it's funny how close people can get just within days...we all feel powerful, and powerless all at the same time.