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

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

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

Week Update

This week,

One of my Favorites graduated with a Bcomm Degree in Finance & International Business Administration.

I'm heading thereeeee Sibz, Me coming up NEXT :)

I'm proud of you dear roomie, friend, and now even close sisters. I love you much much and wishing you even more SUCCESS "darling". Keep on keeping on. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU SIBZ! 

As my mama would put in Swahili, 

"Elimu ni Ufunguo wa maisha " = "Education is the key to Life"

P.S : Her GPA is just on point...me is following.... 

Number 1

Together we can make the world a better place. "KARIBU"

Thank you for your time, I would love to take this opportunity to thank you again for visiting zithoinetta.blogspot.ca

To begin with,

Zithoinetta is derived from ZITA and ANTOINETTA.

Zita aka Zitty is the one typing, who made MONLABORWORLD possible. Lets see if Antoinetta will be interested to continue with blogging. But for now, I am the only one writing.

Why are you here?

Okay, this spot right here will act like a "warm bath" after a loooong tideous day.

Basically, I want to share with you my passion for studying towards a Labour degree.

Oh well! EDUCATION! EDUCATION! EDUCATION! Noooo, come down, its not just EDUCATION! EDUCATION! EDUCATION! MONLABORWORLD will consist of everything not just studies although studies will take up most space in the blog. 

The reason "Mon" is there and not just "Labor World" means there's a roller-coaster of events. In life we all have our own interests and desires. The best thing is to have that "done" feeling after accomplishing a desire that you have long craved for. As for me, interacting with people as much as possible, brings in that "done" feeling to have said "I increased my network of connections". Therefore, blogging will enhance my people skill and i hope you enjoy the daily sessions of Monlaborworld. "ASANTE"