ncolsmith - Nicole Smith

I graduated in May of 2006 with a BA in Human Rights from St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada. At that point in my life I wanted to get some field work experience in human rights. I was also interested in understanding human rights from the ground level, from the people living and experiencing the abuse. To work in the field of human rights having only experienced comfortable Canada seemed fradulant to me. So I applied to go to the Philippines as a social justice intern through the United Church of Canada to learn about human rights in Southeast Asia. I am now in the country, living and working with the people. These entries are my thoughts and feelings about my experience.

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Joined on: February 2nd 2008
Last Login: March 19th 2009

Blog Entries: 75
Photos: 184

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Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by ncolsmith, order by Date newest first.

By ncolsmith
January 28th 2009

Final Thoughts from a Couch in New Brunswick North America » Canada » New Brunswick

Filipino Christmas Decorations
An intense tree and cretch combo in a McDonald's in Baguio City. The lights speed across the cretch roof, up the tree, down again and back across. May I repeat how intense it was.

This is going to be the my last entry. I am "finishing" this blog - not because I don't think I will have anything else to write, because I am sure that my work with the Filipino activist community is going to continue. Or, because I don't think I will have any more emotional episodes to share; I have brought all of my unresolved feelings home with me from the Philippines, and wouldn't dare pretend that they are not going to be an issue in the next few weeks or months. But, because I don't necessarily want to share all of [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
December 5th 2008

The Man Who Would be King, or Prime Minister, as the Case May Be Asia » Philippines » Cordillera

I hesitated over whether or not I would write a blog entry about Canada's current political situation. I have a lot of opinions about what has gone on on Parliament Hill this year, and of course since the election in October. But I have decided, at least for now, not to write them out, mostly, because I don't want to get myself all rilled up again by writing all of my anger and frustration down. There is just one thing that I will say. Canadians don't like leaders who are nice guys. That, above all other things, I think has been [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
December 1st 2008

Seperation Anxiety or Re-entry Anxiety: The Exciting World of Competing Psychoses Asia » Philippines » Baguio

The craziest thing is that, as I get ready to go home, the time you would think would be the most exciting and least stressful, I seem to have stress coming out the wazoo. At the beginning of November, as the countdown really started, I felt great. The knowledge that I would be back in Canada in a ridiculously short amount of time was making me feel almost euphoric. All of the lonliness and all of the struggles with culture shock seemed to disappear and I felt 100% content and happy. None of the things that bug me about Filipino culture, [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
November 25th 2008

Take Action on the International Day of Action to Surface James Moy Balao, November 28, 2008 Asia » Philippines » Cordillera

Dear Friends, As we further the search for our missing colleague, Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) founding member and indigenous leader James Moy Balao, the CPA, along with the Balao family and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), again appeal for your support by joining us in an International Day of Action to Surface James Moy Balao on November 28, 2008. This day marks the 72nd day of James’ disappearance while November 29 is the International Day of Human Rights Defenders. As advocates and defenders of human rights, let us take action on the said dates by paying tribu [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
November 25th 2008

Reassured by Norwegen Hospitality Asia » Philippines » Baguio

Yesterday, because no one else was available, I was asked to present the Cordillera human rights situationer to a couple of Norwegen interns. The presentation for the Norwegens went really well. Turns out I know what I am talking about. But since I have never really hosted the interns before I wasn't sure what else to do with them. Since we were finished the presentation by mid-afternoon, I decided to take the girls for a walk around Burnham lake, one of my favorit spots because of it's campy swan paddle baots, and then for iced tea in Vocas, a hippie restaurant [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
November 20th 2008

Nicole's Adventures in Estrongene Experiments Asia » Philippines » Baguio

Those of you who are uncomfortable with stories about mentration, stop reading this blog right now! However, for the sake of writing down some of the funny things that happen to me to balance all of the really emotional entries, I am going to write this anyway. For multiply reasons I decided before I came not to have my period at all while I was in the Philippines. Now this has been a very interesting 11 month experiement. In the initial months it lead to me having low grade pms every 3 weeks. Combine that with the emotional rollercoaster that I [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
November 18th 2008

Launching a CD, Lifting our Spirits Asia » Philippines » Baguio

Salidummay CD Launching

Salidummay, a band attached to the cultural group launched their new CD tonight. The launching was a wonderfu success, with a big crowd and plentiful cheering. I had a great time, as I always do at these kinds of events, mingling and chating with friends and coworkers I don't see that often, and playing around with my friends from the cultural group. It has hit me recently just how important these gatherings are to activists working in such a stressful atmosphere. I used to love the get togethers, solidarity nights and celebrations because I am a social butterful with a nose [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
November 17th 2008

A Father's Right: 61st Day Since James's Disappearance Asia » Philippines » Baguio

61st Day since James's disappearance

Today, November 17, marks the second month since James' abduction. We held a whole day of activities for the occaison. In the morning we traveled by caravan to different public places in La Trinidad, the capital city of the Procvince of Benguet, to hold programs. Our intention was to inform more people about James's work as an indigenous rights activist and his continued disappearance. In the afternoon we held a long program in the centre of Baguio City for the same reasons. The pubic market in La Trinidad was the last stop for our program in the capital city. It was [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
November 6th 2008

How do we just walk away? Asia » Philippines » Baguio

James had not been missing for seven and a half weeks. I am not sure if the campaign has slowed down or if I am just becoming more acostumed to the pace, but things seem physically easier now. Emotionally this is still hard. Although it is also now easier to think about other things. I think about coming home, about where I am going to do my Masters, if I will be able to pull off a road trip this coming summer... and only from time to time now does reality break into these thoughts. That is the beauty of human [View Full Entry]

By ncolsmith
November 5th 2008

President Obama Asia » Philippines » Baguio

As a true political junky I was given the best possible gift today. My coworkers allowed me to stay home all morning and watch the CNN converage of the US election results. Being 12 hours ahead of the coverage I crawled out of bed early, cooked myself a big breakfast and watched the last hours of November 4th unfold in the United States in my pajamas. And I admit, I was stunned as I watched more and more states come in blue. After watching the NDP loose time and time again at home, I didn't really believe that Barak Obama could [View Full Entry]

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