My convocation

Hi dears,

I know it's been foreverrrrr! Please accept my late post and happy new year greetings in April.

So let me take you back to October 22,2014. This was my convocation date. It  was a simple day nothing major than receiving that paper hahaa yes that paper. Even if it's just a piece of paper but my dear it makes a difference. I noticed the difference when I was applying for jobs and even just with yourself. You become more knowledgeable. You have gained something out of the years u spent in Uni be it 3 or 4 or more years it doesn't matter it really. All in all, you feel nice you have achieved that "added knowledge". Having that piece of a paper is a pathway to some many other roads.

Reflecting back to my first post - number 1 - I graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Labour Relations/Labor Studies(Major) and Management (Minor). I took a general degree which is just 3 years or less depending on your own discipline. I plan to continue with doing Law but first I'll go for a paralegal course before enrolling completely into Law.

Well, I never really thought I would be around during my convocation... so the thought of not attending convocation was okay for me. But because I was still around in Canada then I went for it. The speech was sooo inspiring. The opening ceremonies were also nice. We had a traditional song and we all sang the national anthem. Ofcourse I was a bit nervous when my name was called to receive my parachment. I thank God I wasn't wearing too high heels. I really didn't care that much with my dressing. I shopped for my dress from H&M and my shoes were from Aldo. After the main event we had a reception ceremony with food,snacks and drinks provided to us. This was the time to keep the hats but return the graduation gowns unless if you were going to buy them.

Unfortunately, my family didn't come for so many reasons. First, when they visited me last year-April 2013..I told them - "u don't have to come back next year for the convocation since you have seen the university and Winnipeg that's okay". Flying all the way from Tanzania to Winnipeg for just three hours or less to be at the convocation was too expensive. So on that note my parents understood and we agreed they won't come. Either way, we all thought I'll be with my husband in the states by October 2014 but God's plan override man's.

However, I'd like to say a big thank you and a big hug to my friends here in Winnipeg. They came to the convocation to witness me. They screamed sooo loudly while i walked down to collect my parachment and some even brought me flowers and all. I was very humbled. So I really didn't feel like lonely because I had people around.

The highlight of my convocation was a lady who came searching for me just because she heard my last name being called "KAMWENDO" and she knew it from her visit in Africa so she wanted to know more about me. I felt soo blessed and humbled for such a lady to look around just to find me out of all those graduates more than 200...so yeah luckily enough she found me at the reception ceremony and we talked a bit and introduced me to her grandson who was also graduating on that day with me :)

I was happy because my husband made it on time from work at 4pm to watch the live broadcast of the ceremony. He watched it all and saw his wife collecting what's hers on stage :))) October 22nd is also his birthday. We were both very happy on my convocation.

Earlier that day, I spoke to my parents on Skype and whatsupp (sent them pictures) and they congratulated me for the achievement and said I should keep moving forward & upwards. I'm humbled they supported me throughout my study journey.They provided me with financial, spiritual and just social advice in life. They were and still are my biggest motivation.

Thank you so much for being a good reader! I am imperfectly perfect and so are you,

 When I look back at my posts, a lot of memories come through and I cherish them all. 

Live. Love. Laugh.

May God bless you!

Zita x Mrs McKenzie x

Graduation month!

Happy new month dears!

October is one of my favorite months. I'll be graduating on the 22nd of October 2014 yaay!undergrad cleared :)))  Plus on the same day, a very important person in my life was born.

Im very grateful for everything. I dont have any study news to share anymore *bittersweet*. My next post will probably mark the end of my blogging. Maybe my little sister will want to blog about her study journey in the future or maybe if i furthern my education i will continue blogging. Until next time, i wish you a blessed October filled with lots of success!

Zita xx

My Last Exam

Hi dears,

Today, I wrote my last undergrad exam. im very grateful to the Almighty God above. Him alone i glorify and lift his name high. God is not good but He is amazing.  I thank God for blessing my parents-Ad & Tukae- they suppported me(financially and emotionally) untill the very end as they had promised. I love them so much. Their happiness is my happiness.

offtopic: I dont usually broadcast my *relationship status* here because my blog is mainly on educational issues but anyways, today ill reveal it to you. I got married early this year to this humble,loving, caring, ambitious..... Yes, so im a wifey to kevin *married* and soon ill be joining my husband to start our own nest.

Back to school, I havent decided yet on what to do exactly but most likely a M.A in industrial relations is def. a number 1 choice at the moment. But i need money oooh so i have to look for a job first and thats my priority at the moment.

Be blessed.
Zita

Week Update

Hi dears,

Despite my classes, i still have time to watch some web series. So recently a close friend of mine has been nagging me to watch "an african city" - by ghanian actors. I enjoy watching such series. Very educative at the same time entertaining. Have you see Mtv Shuga-Kenya and Naija? what about Love games-Zambia??? what of Gidi-Up?

Jamani my Tanzanians actors please come up with something of the same...a different concept ofcourse but relatable.

Zita xx

International Students Protest

Hi dears,

Yes its been a very long time writing. Things pile up then you just keep on procrastinating like "okay, i will post something later on today" then later on today becomes tomorrow morning then the evening comes and you are like on the weekend, then on the weekend and so on...Regardless, here i am! I said no to Procrastination lol.

So today, after my HRIR3450 class, (Yes, I still have two more classes to clear...so right now, im doing my final courses....i'm taking this course mentioned at the start of the paragraph and HRIR2440). So, as i was walking to the university center to grab something to eat, i saw a group of students standing in between the engineering faculty and University center. I was unaware of what was going on but their t-shirts and some were holding posts that read "SAY NO TO DISCRIMINATION". Okay, i was a bit puzzled like whats going on? I was able to ask one of the girl amongst the group who explained to me that "they were against the admission policies for international students who want to enter engineering  faculty. Reason being, The admission procedures were unfair in the sense that, canadian citizens and permanent residents have a way lower GPA entrance as compared to international students." It was mostly a concern of the GPA but at the same time, there are other minor concerns like for instance high tuition fees which is totally understandable in the sense that all international students across Canada and elsewhere pay way too much sometimes triple or double. UofM charges less than other unis but still its expensive. Anyways, so todays protest was mainly about the entrance policies not being fair.

I went further to investigate the claim by having a look at the UofM website which had the admission policies. This is totally true to what they were fighting for. Have a look at the link: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/engineering/undergraduate_studies/1773.html

This is just a brief preview from the link on what it says. 

2014-2015
PROGRAM	CAPACITY	OFFERS**	AGPA (Domestic)	AGPA (International)
Biosystems	36	45	2.75	3.81
Civil	70	70	2.94	4.13
Computer	120***	33	2.81	3.88
Electrical	120***	90	2.94	3.94
Mechanical	120	120	3.06	4.13

** International students make up 13.69% of total offers for this year.

2013-2014 (no distinction between domestic and international students)

PROGRAM	CAPACITY	AGPA
Biosystems	36	2.81
Civil	60	3.44
Electrical & Computer	120***	2.88
Mechanical	120	3.25

Oh dear! I totally understand what engineering students are feeling in the sense that, these students are in the same class together, doing the same course, same professor, same exam setting etc then why not have the same outcome??? Its really painful and it hurts to see such! Why is there a difference from last year???? Why is there a distinction this year? Yet alone only 13.69%???? atleast they would have made it 20% Eh!

Well, I understand engineering faculty is sooooo hard to get in and very competitive but Mh! this I don't understand!!! Okay, lets say its based on the number of applicants(capacity) and overall performance so there is a curve and the curve changes right?. Okay, so as for this is year, it is done!It is what it is! As for the future, I really hope international students wont have to go through such policies, honestly speaking, im not saying that i want international students not to reach their high expectation and not to perform very well, but the gap in between is just too huge. I hope they will find a way to reduce it or atleast equalise it.

Furthermore, again like previously, in my post about the strike that almost happened, proper communication would have reduced this. There should be a clear explanation on why there is a distinction and how they determine it. Such openness is what would avoid future protests cause then students are aware of the policies thus no need of protests cause they either take it or leave it! Let there be an  improved communication.

Aside school affairs, news trending in our society today, Nigerian school girls are still missing, so is the Malaysian Airline, Just today, another Malaysian airline was shot down in Ukraine apparently by a missile. Yet alone,  What is happening in Gaza. God please take control. Life is unfair, yes, the world is a cold place, yes,  but this is just getting too much. The world is a brutal and mysterious place to live in. 

Aside theses major events, I am almost done with my bachelors.

 I wish my muslim friends "Ramadhan Kareem" 

Keep reading,
Zita xx

Graduation Date

Hi Dears,

Deal is sealed. I declared my graduation month this morning. There's no turning back.

I also registered for my summer courses. God is awesome. May his mercy continue to flow.

Much Love..keep reading! xx

Unpaid Internship

Hey Dears,

As I mentioned briefly on my previous posts that i was doing a work placement at Canada Post. 

So I will talk about this placement today. 

Basically, I was fortunate to be part of the placement program. Usually, the Labour studies Department under the Faculty of Arts, offers an opportunity to participate in this program once in every two years. So this is what happens, the co-coordinators place you at a workplace and you have to learn from that workplace while reporting daily to your professor. I find this course a learning experiencing with real life applications. You also have to write a research paper on the project you choose to work on. The course is called LABR4510 and LABR4520. The course also includes a seminar class where you discuss all your coursework and guide you in your writing skills. You do not get paid however you do get credit hours for it.

So, I was placed in a crown corporation-Canada Post. For my fall semester, I worked with Occupational Health and Safety Department where I job shadowed the supervisors. I conducted workplace inspections, daily management meetings, observing how employees do their tasks and whether they apply safety measures and so many other duties that you could think of a safety officer would perform. I was lucky to have seen how safety officers work both outside the plant and inside the plant. At the end of the term placement,  i worked on a safety campaign project on how to deal with stress at the workplace. My project was titled "wellness from stress". In addition, I also had to come up on a safety action plan.

As for the winter semester, I am working with the Labour Relations Officers (LRO) . I worked with Anitha who introduced me to the grievance system, John Sharpe who introduced me into LRO duties, John Dawson and I went deeper into analyzing grievances and I having a review on them then Hannah and I worked mainly on the arbitration process,from the start to the end. Well, it was good and bad that an arbitration hearing was cancelled because we resolved all the files. 

Last week, I just presented my project on "Duty to accommodate on the basis of family status". I'm hoping to attend an arbitration hearing on March 14th if the hearing goes through. 

Overall, I think this work placement is what makes my program unique and special. The fact that Labour studies has this kind of program is a plus plus for a university student like me who is just at the university to get an education and enter the job market and "maybe" go further to specialize. Otherwise, I would recommend this program to anyone so long as they know what they will do with it. You can branch into Law school after or go on with the Human resource side. With me? I don't know what is laying ahead but all i know for now is that i'll be done this year and enter the world of work.

Jobs

Hey Dears,

Today's post will feature some Labour Related jobs.
I am sure most people do not know what you could do with a Labour Studies degree.Well, at the end of the day, with a LS/LR degree, your knowledge will be around these issues: (judging from the courses you take)

-The Canadian Labour movement

-Working for a Living

-Political economy of Labour

-Employees, Employers and the State

-Labour Law

-Employment Law

-Workplace Health and Safety

-Pensions & Benefits

-Worker's self management

-Globalization and Labour

-Negotiations and Bargaining

-Working class and Labour history

-The skills and knowledge from the field placement.

Here are some jobs you could utilise: Be it in a Gov't position, NGO, private businesses, Union...

-Worker Advocate

-Employment Standard Officer

-Health and Safety Officer

-Human Rights Investigator

-Human Resource Manager

-Labour Relations Board Officer

-Workers Compensation Board caseworker

-Worker Advisor

-Legislative Assistant

-Policy Researcher

-Union Representative

-Union organizer

-Labour Lawyer

PS: My University,-UofM- helps students to attend Mel Myers Labour conference each year. This is a way of networking. You never who you meet and what the person can do for you. Well, I attended last year's Mel Myers Labour conference which had over 350 people. I'm also fortunate to be attending this years conference on March 20 and 21st at Victoria Inn. I am looking forward to interact with like minded people!

International Womens Day 2014

Hey dears,

So I celebrated my "Wanawake Day" at the bud,spud and steak event that was put on by the women's committee from Manitoba Federation of Labour, with proceeds going to women's memorial fund. I was not alone but with my friend Lidet. We enjoyed the night and we had some many proud moments of being a woman. We ended the night at Double D's cheesecake!

So, this years International Womens Day slogan is "Inspiring change". May we live by it. 

Pick for yourself :)

Some nice prizes though we didnt win ;)

                                                         The food was tres deliciuex

                                                            My ticket :)

Moi :)

                                                                               Lidet :)

The end xx

Happy 2014 dears!

Hi dears,

I wish you a prosperous 2014. For me, this year has alot of unlimited possibilities but of all, I intend to make it my last undergrad year. By God's grace it will be true.
Im also looking forward to going home after almost three years of not being home.

As for school, my winter semester courses are more like my fall sem... I took span courses,in other words, six credit hours classes. i need to have completed five of the six credit hours courses to fulfill my B.A. less alone six credit hours for humanities, six credit hours for social sciences and six credit hours for sciences. In sciences, i had to take a maths course so i took statistics 1000 in my first year which got cleared im happy no more maths classes for me. none the less, i needed electives of my own desire and my major courses.

So, for this semester i continue with my French class by Andrew Osborne, Religion by David,my field placement courses and a new course called "Becoming an Advocate" taught by Karen Naylor.

Well, i will have a new post about my field placement. In brief, i got an opportunity to work with Canada Post in their management team. Last semester i worked in Occupational Health and Safety. I job shadowed the safety officers in the depot and processing plant. This semester, i will be doing labour relations specifically dealing with arbitration.

Then i will take two courses in the summer semester to finish of my minor in management.

I pray all goes well and i get to clear this journey and continue with the next. God Bless x

Tata Madiba R.I.E.P

Hey Dears,

At 95, Baba Nelson Mandela has peacefully passed away today, Thursday December 05 2013 after suffering from a lung infection. For me, He was a "champion of forgiveness"

He is an inspiration to many. Like many others, I am inspired with his humor, mostly with his quote about Education being the most powerful weapon that a person could use to change the world. May his legacy continue to dwell as his soul rests peacefully. We will forever love you Tata Madiba!

Below is a picture of the two great African heroes taken from ANC archives.

World AIDS Day

Hey Dears,

Today is World AIDS day. Do you know your status?

Whats your contribution on this matter?

Did you know there are many social programs like AIDS series made in different African countries to create more awareness to the youths and society in general?

Well, if you did not see any AIDS series, be sure to search for LOVE GAMES from Zambia, MTV SHUGA Kenya for season 1 and 2 (I love the theme song-LOVE, SEX and MONEY). Then the most recent one, that just got displayed is MTV SHUGA Naija-Home coming :). Below is the first episode. Keep up with them on youtube :) Btw, there is also Siri ya Mtungi from Tanzania although it is mainly in Kiswahili but there is english subtitles one could keep up with while watching :)

Stay protected xx

Getting to zero at work

Hey Dears,

If you did not know, ILO with the UN family launched a campaign last year called "Getting to Zero at work". Simply, this campaign is trying to eliminate Aids in terms of zero discrimination, through treatment, education and many other ways. How does it relate to work? well, the "likelihood of getting treatment equals to higher chances of getting employed" :)

Enjoy the video of the week as we are getting ready to celebrate World Aids Day.

Video credits: ILOTV

Working women

Hey Dears,
Today i want us to look at how the status of women in the society has changed. Do you think theres still a long way to go for equality to happen?
Apparently, nowadays women are more educated, working less at home and they have fewer children. They say that there are even more women university-graduates than men.
Well, no one will be shocked when you say you are going for a six month maternity leave but say you are on maternity leave for SIX YEARS untill the child can attend school.mh!
Life keeps on changing. I hope women will stay be able to keep their traditional ways even if adapting to the modern world is crucial. As much as i believe on women equality but i would not want to hear a mother is spending longer working hours than socializing her family first. Family first.
Nice day xx
Zita

Happy weekend

My dear reader,
I wish you a happy weekend.
Stay blessed and keep reading my labour topics.
Be on the lookout as you never know when ill post :)

Happy weekend xx
Zita

Strike at my uni

Hey dears,

For the first i came close into witnessing a "real" strike like i mean an actual strike take place not like just hearing news about it from the media.

Thank goodness, there was no strike at U of M-University of Manitoba in October 22 2013. I still remember how much i wanted Monday midnight(Oct 21) to come quick, so that i know whether the two sides got into an agreement or not. At around 11pm, an email came in stating "There will be no strike.Classes continue".

I'll simply summarise the details of the strike. Our professors, members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association(UMFA) wanted the University of Manitoba-admistration to provide their needs on certain issues in the renewal of the collective agreement. Those issues are as stated below:

-academic freedom
-perfomance management
-publications
-rights to comment on the University

The main issue was not money here. I think, thats why it was even harder to come up with an agreement to prevent a work stoppage. If it was money, then negotiations between the two sides would have resolved the whole issue without bringing in a third party. Thats my thinking....So, this bargaining had started in June 21 without reaching any agreement until Oct 21.
At first, the conciliation process did not succeed between the parties so a mediator had to be brought to continue the negotiation. Then, most issues were resolved and the rest were going to remain arbitrated so thats how a strike did not take place.

So my opinion about the whole strike issue....I was quite impressed with how the U of M admin. tried to avoid any interruptions to our learning by bringing in conciliation. Again, they had no choice but to try all means to stop a strike from happening. The only way was to come into an agreement by meeting the demands of UMFA. In addition, students were kept up to date about the process from day 1 which is also the best thing to do during a situation like this. Communication is key.

I was soo keen about the whole strike incident. I thought to myself "Yay! im gonna have a free mid-sem week off! Yes!" then at the same time i was like "I dont want any disruption to my academic year since im trying to make this my last undergrad year so please, let there be no strike". Imagine going through such confusing thoughts. Anyways so that was me a few weeks back.

November is here! school got even tougher, filled in with assignments, tests and quizes! not forgetting to attend lectures on a daily basis.

I wish you a lovely November,
Zita

Number 1 by Diamond Platnumz

Hey Dears,

Its been a while since i posted a week update. Well, today's update is about music.

I love music. It doesn't matter what type of music so long as there is a beat and lyrics then im just fine. 

Oh wait! maybe hard rock music is just not me but I wouldn't mind listening to soft rock. So, recently I have been listening to Diamond Platinumz songs from Tanzania. And his "Number 1" song linked back to my "Number 1 post title". My very first post in blogging. So i decided to bring it up for you my dears to watch. Number 1 video is soo catchy especially the "ngololo" dance.See it for yourself. 

Artiste:Diamond Platnumz

Song:Number 1

Audio:Wasafi Classics

Video:Ogopa Deejays

(Whispers) Wasafi Records

Kwanza mapenzi safari….Ujana ni

Maji ya Moto….Walinenaga zamani….

Pili tumetoka mbali kwa matatizo

Changamoto tuvisa visa fulani……

Oooh tatu kidonda chako kwangu

maradhii

Moyoni usononekapo kwangu

simanziii x2

Kwa mahaba Ulionipa nimenogewa

Vurugu patashika ahh punguza

kidogoo!!

Na mengine kadhalikaa mtoto

si unanielewaa!!

Apo apo uliposhika ukiongeza

kidogooo!!mmmh mwenzako ntaumiaa!!

You are my Number 1

My sweety sweety Number 1

My baby oooh you are my number 1

My Darling ,my Number 1

oooh Roho yangu mama,my Number 1 x2

Na nina wivu sikatai maana uchungu wa mapenzi naujuaaa!!

so usije kunilaghai ukaacha kuzama ukanizingua

Na nina wivu sikatai maana uchungu wa mapenzi naujua!!!

so usije kunilaghai mwenizio

naogopaaaa!!

Now show me how they do gololoooo aah golloolo aah gololosa

Oooh baby show me how you do gololo……………………

My sweety sweety my number1 my baby ooh you are my number 1,ooh darling you are my number 1,ooooh roho yangu mamaaa!! x2

Ahhh oooooh…….ooooh baby

you are,oooh baby your are

Now show me how they do ngololo ahh ngololoo ach ngololosa Aghhhha aikoloo

..Na…….Watuache tulale………..

By Harryzon Jayugah
Twitter @HarryHarey1

Lyrics copied from

http://kenyancelebs411.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/number-1-lyrics-by-diamond-platnumz/

Happy week! xox

What would you do?

Hey dears,

So picture yourself in this scenario as the employee....You ask for permission to leave to attend your grandmothers funeral then the next day you return at work and you get greeted by this;

Employer: "Do you believe in life after death?"
Employee: "Yes sir/madam."
Employer: "Well then, that makes everything just fine....after you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral, she stopped in to see you." 
Employee:_________________________

Hahahaa! Caught red handed!right there on spot!
Uwiiiiii so, if you were the employee,what would you have done?

International Day of the girl

Hey dears,
Happy International Day of the girl. October 11th is marked by the UN as the international day of the girl. It is a honour to have a day set to create more awareness on girl issues. Even if the day on its own does not play a huge impact as the function of the day. I take this time to share my views on this day as a contributor in social networks/bloggers.
As sexism is huge in our society and at most times, it is girls who get oppressed in so many ways. For instance at work, there is always that managerial stage where a woman stops at. You hardly find top directors leading positions held by women. Again, in schools you are more likely to find primary or nursery teachers as women than men. Thank goodness that all these differences and many other that exist in our society are now changing as time goes by. Women are now more recognised  than in the past. Certain top positions are being held by women. For instance, the Malawian president-Joyce Banda :). This is soo inspiring!
I was listening to my president's- (Mh. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete) speech for the end of October and he mentioned about gender equality in secondary schools. He said that the most part to achieve gender equality has been achieved that more girls now go to primary and secondary schools. However, what is get to be achieved is girls in upper level education which is attending university. There are only 68% of girls in higher level. He also mentioned that, in the Tanzanian parliament, the 50/50 partcipation of women is yet to be achieved. And he said that, "its a challenge to achieve this goal by 2015." Despite that, i was so impressed to listen to him talk about how girls are being more appreciated in the society nowadays by trying to ensure gender equality is being implemented in the society by all means. Well, I must say,  Im humbled to be a girl and to be able to encourage more other girls to stand up for their rights.
Dear reader, I hope you are able to join the cause in celebrating and ensuring girls get the same rights as boys, on this International Day of the girl.

Its been a Year!

My dear readers,
I hope y'all are keeping up well. Can you imagine its been a year already? Zita has been blogging for a year now :) Yay!  There might be spaces in between the posts but definetly i try to stay up to date and write as often as i can.
Oh well, cheers to many more years of October 11 which marks a plus one for my blogging years. Thank you for time my dear reader. My audience is actually international! Sometimes i would wonder "there is a reader from this country?"... wow quite impressive :) thanks again.
I also hope you are gaining one or two out of my ramblings. I do this because i like sharing what i think about my course and why i chose it. As they say, "knowledge is the fuel of actions". Again, so many things are happening around at the same with school so i get to share that too. Nevertheless, the bigger picture here is EDUCATION! my mom always said, education will give you unlimited opportunities. Education is the best gift which i believe so too. Thus, alongside education, there comes work and society.
Thank you for sticking around for the year long and for all the reading support.  Keep reading xx