My last day in my usual role at the cafe was yesterday.
I am now i recovery... planning to catch up on laundry and cleaning my room before setting up for UNGAMANA.
Yesterday presented itself with both challenges and joys...
Beginning of the day: Chris Turner and Justin (job coach). Chris gave me a hug goodbye.... sniff.... I said, won't I see you in church? To which he responded, "no, I am going to the fair..." So, I guess we will wait and see.
I also received an email later that day from Chris:
"Dear "Katelyn"
I miss you working at the FRWY. I miss you working. Have a good time at school. I miss you very much. Say Hi to me
Bye Bye
I miss you
Jamaal says Hi
From your friend Chris Turner.
I teared up reading it (I am grossly sentimental by the way)
The cash register apparently had a hard time giving me up too:
It read error a total of 5 times yesterday morning, embarrassing me in front of the customers as I tried to calm its sour spirits.
Lisa, my supervisor through Lawson, stopped by to say best wishes and dropped off a little something extra. Working for Lawson has some perks as for leaving, I got a coupon for a hot stone massage from Luba Mera Spa. YEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
Adrian stopped by with flowers just in time for Randy and Pernell to tease him in person for it.
Random man needed to use phone and if I didn't help him call Bell Canada, he may have had a hissey fit, ah..... The shinanagans of The Freeway.
I also was visited by Carolynn
Good day. It was a pleasure doing this job but don't worry, I am still volunteering every other Friday night with the dark one.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
WUSC and STAND present:
UNGAMANA
Swahili for "Be United"
Sponsored by The Freeway Café
www.frwy.ca
333 King St. East: Corner of King and Wellington, Hamilton
Saturday, September 30th, 2006
7:00-10:30pm
live music
drum circle
East-African art and craft silent auction
fair trade coffee and delicious food.
Performance by Waleed AbdulHamid at 7:30
$5 at the door
The funds raised go to WUSC's student refugee program; a program where
universities sponsor students from overseas, specifically students
residing in refugee camps who would like to expand their education.
Their tuition and major costs are covered but other hidden expenses
are not. We will be directed the funds raised to buy this year's
student some winter clothes and additional school supplies. The rest
of the funds raised will go to the organization STAND: Students Taking
Action Now Darfur
Adrian will be leading the drum circle so feel free to bring any
instrument you like to jam.
The music will begin at 7:30 so please be on time as Waleed has to
leave for Toronto by 8:30ish. Here is a description of his musical
stylings from www.http://www.souldrums.com/staff.html
Waleed Abdulhamid
Multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist and producer, Waleed
Abdulhamid, has been an active member of the Toronto music scene,
since his arrival in Canada in 1992. He demonstrates his versatility
on guitar, bass, drums, flute, harmonica, kirin, bass kirin,
darabhuka, marimba, balimbo, congas, bongos, djembe, dumbek and tama.
He is known for his striking vocals, his innovative bass technique and
his speed and precision on percussion.
Waleed has played, toured and recorded with the pop/rock band, The
Claymen, African band, AfroNubians, world jazz artist, Mosa Neshama
and reggae band, Solid Rock. He was a founding member of award-winning
African bands, Tikisa, Radio Nomad and Balimbo. He has recorded with
jazz bass player Paul Novotny, most recently on a Honda promotion, and
with jazz pianists David Johanns and Joe Sealy. As music director
Waleed has directed a series of shows at the Caliban Arts Theatre
(Freedom Live), Inner Stage, and various dance companies. He has also
worked extensively as a studio musician and arranger with many local
R&B bands.
Waleed is also renown for his teaching abilities. He teaches a "World
of Music" at Hart House - University of Toronto, Toronto District
School Board where he has taught music in various high schools, Full
Circle Productions and private tutorials. He has also facilitated many
workshops in different music schools.
Waleed has written, composed and produced music for several TV shows.
This includes a series of documentaries for the Discovery Channel, a
documentary about "Hajj" for CBC, the "11th hour" on CFTO and a series
of documentaries for the History channel including "Lumamba".
Waleed leads his award-winning African jazz band, Radio Nomad (Toronto
African Music Awards, Band of the Year Award, 2000). He composed,
arranged and produced all the material on Radio Nomad's first album,
"Kalam Jamil", released in February 2000. He performs with Radio Nomad
and as a freelance musician at venues and festivals across Canada. He
has appeared at Canadian festivals such as Festival International de
Jazz de Montreal, The Downtown Jazz Festivals of Toronto, Halifax and
Vancouver, The Toronto Street Festival, Afrofest (Queenspark), the
CJRT Colour of Jazz Festival (Ontario Place), Rhythms of the World
Festival and WOMAD (Harbourfront) of Toronto, the Vancouver Downtown
Festival, the Atlantic Festival and the Hillside Festival.
Waleed was born in Sudan in 1968. He began performing at the age of 6,
when he appeared on a popular weekly children's television show and on
a radio show in Sudan. Before leaving Sudan in 1989, he toured across
his country, as well as Egypt, Syria, Kuwait and Emirate. Waleed was
known for bringing traditional rhythms into popular music in Sudan.
Many percussionists across the country emulated his unique percussion
style. He played with top bands and singers in the region, such as Egd
Ejelad, Abdulkarim Kably, Khalil Ismail and Mohamed Alamin. Egd Ejelad
was responsible for bringing traditional music from ethnic groups all
over Sudan and a strong message on social issues to the city centres.
When he left Sudan at age 18, he performed, recorded and toured
extensively, appearing at major music festivals in Stockholm,
Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Oslo, as well as in Finland and Iceland
UNGAMANA
Swahili for "Be United"
Sponsored by The Freeway Café
www.frwy.ca
333 King St. East: Corner of King and Wellington, Hamilton
Saturday, September 30th, 2006
7:00-10:30pm
live music
drum circle
East-African art and craft silent auction
fair trade coffee and delicious food.
Performance by Waleed AbdulHamid at 7:30
$5 at the door
The funds raised go to WUSC's student refugee program; a program where
universities sponsor students from overseas, specifically students
residing in refugee camps who would like to expand their education.
Their tuition and major costs are covered but other hidden expenses
are not. We will be directed the funds raised to buy this year's
student some winter clothes and additional school supplies. The rest
of the funds raised will go to the organization STAND: Students Taking
Action Now Darfur
Adrian will be leading the drum circle so feel free to bring any
instrument you like to jam.
The music will begin at 7:30 so please be on time as Waleed has to
leave for Toronto by 8:30ish. Here is a description of his musical
stylings from www.http://www.souldrums.com/staff.html
Waleed Abdulhamid
Multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist and producer, Waleed
Abdulhamid, has been an active member of the Toronto music scene,
since his arrival in Canada in 1992. He demonstrates his versatility
on guitar, bass, drums, flute, harmonica, kirin, bass kirin,
darabhuka, marimba, balimbo, congas, bongos, djembe, dumbek and tama.
He is known for his striking vocals, his innovative bass technique and
his speed and precision on percussion.
Waleed has played, toured and recorded with the pop/rock band, The
Claymen, African band, AfroNubians, world jazz artist, Mosa Neshama
and reggae band, Solid Rock. He was a founding member of award-winning
African bands, Tikisa, Radio Nomad and Balimbo. He has recorded with
jazz bass player Paul Novotny, most recently on a Honda promotion, and
with jazz pianists David Johanns and Joe Sealy. As music director
Waleed has directed a series of shows at the Caliban Arts Theatre
(Freedom Live), Inner Stage, and various dance companies. He has also
worked extensively as a studio musician and arranger with many local
R&B bands.
Waleed is also renown for his teaching abilities. He teaches a "World
of Music" at Hart House - University of Toronto, Toronto District
School Board where he has taught music in various high schools, Full
Circle Productions and private tutorials. He has also facilitated many
workshops in different music schools.
Waleed has written, composed and produced music for several TV shows.
This includes a series of documentaries for the Discovery Channel, a
documentary about "Hajj" for CBC, the "11th hour" on CFTO and a series
of documentaries for the History channel including "Lumamba".
Waleed leads his award-winning African jazz band, Radio Nomad (Toronto
African Music Awards, Band of the Year Award, 2000). He composed,
arranged and produced all the material on Radio Nomad's first album,
"Kalam Jamil", released in February 2000. He performs with Radio Nomad
and as a freelance musician at venues and festivals across Canada. He
has appeared at Canadian festivals such as Festival International de
Jazz de Montreal, The Downtown Jazz Festivals of Toronto, Halifax and
Vancouver, The Toronto Street Festival, Afrofest (Queenspark), the
CJRT Colour of Jazz Festival (Ontario Place), Rhythms of the World
Festival and WOMAD (Harbourfront) of Toronto, the Vancouver Downtown
Festival, the Atlantic Festival and the Hillside Festival.
Waleed was born in Sudan in 1968. He began performing at the age of 6,
when he appeared on a popular weekly children's television show and on
a radio show in Sudan. Before leaving Sudan in 1989, he toured across
his country, as well as Egypt, Syria, Kuwait and Emirate. Waleed was
known for bringing traditional rhythms into popular music in Sudan.
Many percussionists across the country emulated his unique percussion
style. He played with top bands and singers in the region, such as Egd
Ejelad, Abdulkarim Kably, Khalil Ismail and Mohamed Alamin. Egd Ejelad
was responsible for bringing traditional music from ethnic groups all
over Sudan and a strong message on social issues to the city centres.
When he left Sudan at age 18, he performed, recorded and toured
extensively, appearing at major music festivals in Stockholm,
Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Oslo, as well as in Finland and Iceland
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
So much change at once
What have I been up to, well, if you are reading this so you must care.
I had some lovely days off last week; 3 days next to a weekend so I went home and spent some quality time with the fam. We went to Sandbanks provincial park one day and it was my first and probably last beach day of the summer but it was a fantastic one. Here are some pics:
For some reason they appear sideways, grrrrrrrrr.
Then, I went to Yorkdale mall the following Wednesday to meet Becci and Kelda, 2 friends of mine who are involved with me in helping welcome a student from Sudan via Kenya to Canada! We then proceeded to the airport to pick him up and there was lots of excitment in the air. There were also other representatives from other schools also picking up students. Becci had spent the summer travelling in East-Africa and had met many of the people coming when she was in Kenya. She knew the student who was going to be studying at Waterloo University however the students picking him up were no where to be found. Kelda, Becci, Michael and I waited with him and Becci and I were a little panicked, slightly worried. Imagine being this guy, jet-lagged, arriving in a new country and the people responsible for taking care of him were not there, eeeeekkkkk!!!!!!! Becci and I went on an adventure to see if they were in terminal 3. We managed to find the monorail which was an adventure in and of itself. The next train was in 7 minutes. We decide not to wait... if they were at the wrong terminal, surely they would have figured it out by now... it had been 2 hours!!!! We descend the escalator... the train arrives. Becci runs up the escalator... I try.... I am not moving.... imagine me running up an escalator and not moving, it was funny. So we wait some more and decide to take him to Hamilton because eating is better than waiting. We made many calls to WUSC headquarters in Ottawa and finally get a call back while in traffic on the 401. Nice intro to Canada.... lanes of concrete and a sea of cars.....
It was fun though.... more pics:
As it turns out, they were at the wrong terminal.....
I was pooped after we got our new friend settled and suprisingly did not sleep well because me being the worrier that I am worried about everything he needed but of course, he wasn't worried, so goes to show that I need not worry.
And now, school is starting, I have been seeing my friends again and the days are getting shorter. Yes, lots and lots of change.
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