UBC

Well, we have a little bit of all. Clubs of any kind (over 300 student-run), inside-outside pool, events of all kind, like "Storm The Wall" and the "Underware Run"... but one of the things that I really like about UBC-Vancouver, is that everything is possible when you are here.

You don't belive me? Then watch the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpp3quce1Vo
and see what your school could be like if it smelled like UBC-Vancouver ;)

Art Gallery

Missing You

It is only now, at those moments of peace,

That I can recall that missing part of me.

You were always by my side

As the most incredible friend

Going by my side no matter what.

You seduced me one time

With that red, tender skin of yours

That glowed as a firefly.

Yet, our time came two years before now

And I can’t help but to think of you

Every time that I go out,

To that freezing world.

So, now, I have to move on,

I have to forget about you and live on

I have to go, there, alone

To that tough world

Looking for another scarf

That is not you.

Time

And as the gusty wind

Time flies fast

Letting us see

Some large road behind

As the blink of an eye

Time goes by

Taking and giving feelings

That we must have

Sadness and joy an example are

Of those feeling

That we experimented have

And even if we don’t want

Time is there to remind

How important changes are

But let me freeze this moment

And even for one more second

Let me hold your hand

For that is what I most want

And as the gusty wind

And as the blink of an eye

Time keeps running fast

Leaving only memories behind

The strangest story

This story is dedicated to Pablo.

You made the words,I just wrote them down. 

And to Juan Antonio Cruz.

Thank you for your friendship

and everything you have given to me.



-Hey Mr. Juan, it was a great idea to come to this place! – I said to him while looking around. The one he chose to be the place for our new city.

  -I told you Mr. Ricky. This place is the same as perfection.

Things were going smoothly. Twenty years ago Mr. Juan and I had met in Mexico City. There we realized that our goals were really similar and therefore we became partners. We started working in whatever we could to have money. It was certainly tough, but we finally made it. That day, right in front of us we had the place which was meant to be our new city.

            Now we are about forty-two years old. We still didn’t have wife or children, but that for that reason we looked for this place, a place where we could be able to raise a family. That day we found a place to start building a new country. Or so we thought

  -Mr. Ricky, do you happen to know the story of the Armstrong family?

  -You mean the family Alex Armstrong?

  -That’s right.

  -I’ve heard of him, but not from his family.

  -Well then, while we wait for the helicopters to come I’ll tell you about it. Diego was the one who told me the story one or two years ago, right before disappearing.

**

When I was five years old my family and I went to live to a town far in up North. I cannot tell you the name of the place, because it’s so difficult, that even I can’t remember it. The one thing I can tell you is that that town was so cold that it was almost impossible for humans to live there. I still don’t get how I could have survived!

            Well, that place was under the control of the Armstrong family. The one in charge by that time, and who still should be there now, was Amaya Rita Armstrong. She is the big sister of Alex L Armstrong, who is currently in charge of the naval army of your country Juan. He actually is under the direct command of Amaya as a bridge between both countries.  

            Right when we arrived at that place we heard about the one supreme rule that Amaya said to every person who dared to go and live there: “Here only the strong can survive, the rest are trash” My parents wondered the reason for that. After four months we learned the reason. The cold. Most of the time the temperature was of -20°C, but the minimum could be of -65°C.

            That country is well known by its strong army. An army said to be capable of invading any country in the world.

            One day, on my fifteenth birthday, Amaya Armstrong called for me. I didn’t know how to feel. One the one hand it was exciting to meet such person, but at the same time it was scary. But I went to see. When I entered the “Tundra Tower” to see her two guards escorted me, they opened the door and asked me to enter. After the doors closed behind my back, that person turned to look at me. Those were the most fearsome eyes I had ever seen in my whole life. I’m sure I’ll never forget them. She stood up, turned and looked at her window.

  -Congratulations boy. I’ve been told that you came here being only five and that today it’s been teen years since then. Is that right?

  -Yes ma’am.

  -What’s your name brat?

  -It’s Diego ma’am

  -Diego, do you know why were you called today here?

  -No ma’am.

  -Each year I choose some people from this place to be part of something big. You are one of the few foreign youngsters who have been able to survive for almost teen years without getting crazy. That shows you are someone strong.

  -Thank you ma’am

  -I would like to tell you about one organization from this country, which I want you to join. But first I have to tell you a story.

The story she told me was about a man named Julius Hille. A school director, who tried to conquer the world with an army of hypnotized students.

**

Hille was a man with a big fat dream… And a stupid one if you ask me. He wanted to conquer the world with an army of students. How can someone in their five senses try to accomplish that? If you want to accomplish something that big you should use a proper army, not a bunch of good-for-nothing-students with mediocre marks. Well, back to the story. Hille knew about a tribe of people that live in the Tibet, the “Bon culture”, a tribe said to be so powerful that, with their help even a good-for-nothing-army could stand a chance against anyone in this world, including our personal army.

            It was really difficult to reach this so called “Bon culture”, so Hille came with the idea of using his own students to reach them and having that in mind, they could also be his army. But he needed some kind of substance to make the students completely submitted to his will

            He got so much money from his students that buying that kind of substance shouldn’t be a problem. So he sent a lot of representatives to look for the substance and finally, after some moths; one or two, who cares; Hille found that a group of people by the name of ZANL, I think the name is Zapatista Army of National Liberation or something as absurd as that. That group of people had the substance Hille needed to take complete control of the students and he got it for a few millions, or so I’ve been told.

            One day during one of the annual festivities of that school, the mad director was giving free sodas and beers to the students. I mean come on! How can you give beer in a school? Anyway, the effect of the drug wasn’t what Hille had predicted. Instead of hearing orders, the students went crazy! They started doing stupid things like throwing books, destroying notes, graving painting and drawing in the other’s faces! Like little stupid brats!

            Afterwards Hille wanted to go to his office, I think he wanted to cry, he deserves that and more, don’t you agree? Anyhow, while walking he realized something, there was a helicopter at the back of the school, but with all the noise of the festivity he hadn’t heard it. The helicopter was already going away, but Hille noticed that there were people dressed completely in black from head to toe, and on a big net all the boxes with the substance of the ZANL.

            Defeated, Hille went crazy. He hasn’t tried ever again to conquer the world with mere brats and a strange substance from a strange group of people. However I do know that after that none of the children remembered anything from that day, their director cancelled every annual event from that day on and that prices for the school also increased afterwards.

**

As Amaya was ending her story, she told me that it was the organization she previously mentioned the one that infiltrated Hille’s school to change the substance into a strange kind of powder made out of liquor. That was the reason for those students to behave so strange. They were drunk! Now that I think about it, she didn’t tell me who or how they discovered Hille’s plan though.

            After she finished her story, Amaya turned and looked at me for the first time since she began telling it. Did I mention how strong her blink is? If it hadn’t been for that I would’ve never believed a damn thing about that story. She told me that she wanted me to be part of that organization, for the third time that day, and she entrusted me with a mission. I can’t really tell the details of my mission; nevertheless, I can tell you that my mission has leaded me to Honolulu. For that reason I’ll have to go from this country, most likely to never come back again. It’s been ages since I last went to see Amaya. I just hope she won’t kill me for taking so long. I’ve been sending her some cards just to let her know that I’m still alive. I’ve stopped receiving responses after the card 274 though. Well, then, now I’ve to go. See you!

**

  -Mr. Juan. I just have one question. What the hell is wrong with you and your story?!

  -Oh, come on Mr. Ricky! That story is the best I’ve ever heard! Wouldn’t you agree?

  -I prefer to keep my comments for myself. I rather know where the materials are! It’s been nearly six hours that we have been waiting for them, where are they?

  -Don’t worry Mr. Ricky, I’ll call the men right know… Capitan? Hey where are you? You sure have taken your time to come here. Why are you eating? Ok, ok, I see. Alright then hope to see you tomorrow then.

  -Tomorrow? What the, what happened?

  -Somehow they ended up in the desert again.

  -Say what? Come on Mr. Juan! That is the fifth time this week and is still Tuesday!

Afterwards we spend most of our little fortune to bring back the materials. So in the end we only had enough money left to build only one thing. A Tower, which is supposed to be the center of the city.

My aunt, my mother

Well, it's finally here. This is the first story I wrote for CRWR. I liked it and hope you can enjoy reading it.

"He was my cousin. He was just seven years old when he moved to live with us. I can still remember how he was always alone sitting right before the window for hours…  Without moving, waiting. He wanted to suffer alone, that’s what I think now. Every single time I wanted to talk to him, he just stayed where he was and if it was a really good day he would turn, see me for a single moment and return his head to the window, hopping for his parents to come and pick him.

                What happened to his parents, you might be wondering. I actually am not sure myself. I was only six years old when the accident happened. The only thing that I’m sure of is that my aunt was in the hospital, sleeping, peacefully, without moving. My uncle disappeared, that’s for sure, though I really don’t know if he died, caused the accident or simply left. The only thing that I’m sure of is that they never came to pick him… To pick James.

                 After the first week I asked my mom what happened, James used to be very cheerful! We would go out and play after the rain, get into the mud. He wasn’t him anymore. Mom would only see me and tell me that my aunt Margaret was sleeping and that she might stay asleep for a very long time. Then I replied that she should awake when she gets hungry. That always happened to me when I was still a little child. After that she embraced with her arms me very tight and said almost crying ‘Not always my dear, not always’. At that time I didn’t really understand for I was six years old.

                I remember that one day I was drawing something, I don’t remember exactly though, but after finishing I gave it to James… I thought that the drawing would help him somehow, but instead he got furious! He destroyed the drawing and throwed it at me. I simply wanted to say that to mom, but before leaving the room I turned my head and saw James on his knees… He was crying on silence all by himself picking up the remaining parts of that paper. I remained silent.

                Five years later, on James’ birthday we took him to a restaurant that he choosed. He seemed more alive at that time. He had some friends in the neighbourhood. I can tell, because he usually dressed up on Fridays and went out   for hours. He didn’t have any friends at school, so he surely had some near home. He had some troubles in school, but my parents wouldn’t scroll him. I thought that was strange, coz they are really strict with me. Anyhow, the day of his 12^th birthday he didn’t invite anyone to the restaurant. It was only me, my parents and he. It wasn’t a fancy restaurant, but the food was great!

                Maybe I should have thanked my aunt and uncle more than I did for all those years. After the restaurant they took me to see a film, but I didn’t really want to go… Cinemas always reminded me of my mother, for we would go at least once per week to see a movie together. The next day I did what I used to do on Fridays after school. I wear my jeans, a black shirt, boots and a jacket to go out. I passed walking at the very same place of the accident… Was it really an accident? I always thought that my father did it on purpose, for they had an argue the previews day. I think he intentionally crashed the car and ran away. For that very same reason I always went back… I wanted to see him, I wanted revenge on him, he should just die for what he did to my mother… For taking her away from me… On that very same day I swore to kill him if he ever appeared… Now it’s to late for taking back those words.

                Two weeks after James’ birthday was my turn for the big party… Or so was supposed to be. That sunny day of March was my 11^th birthday… We didn’t celebrate it. James’ mother died that very same day at 4:12 am. Why couldn’t she have picked up other day to die? And also, why was that so sad? I mean… She had been sleeping in the hospital almost for five years! Nothing was going to change… After that very same day I never liked her anymore. Mom was sad; Margaret was, after all, her sister. I can’t really say how James was at that moment. His face didn’t show any emotions. Anyway, instead of my big birthday party with all my friends in a fancy place I went with my family to the hospital and then to the cemetery. I don’t like cemeteries. They are not scary or anything like that, but silent and if I hate something the most, is silence. I even have to hear music while sleeping. I couldn’t understand James… And probably never will. How can anyone be there showing no emotions? I simply can’t understand that!

                I have to admit… It was awful. I couldn’t show any emotions, not because I didn’t feel them, but rather because there were many at the same time. I was sad, because of my mother’s death, annoyed, since my little cousin couldn’t enjoy her birthday, pissed… Why do all this people care?! I mean, obviously aunt Tina would… They were siblings, but those so called “friends” of my mother?   They were never by her side for these five years and all of a sudden they appear by the time she died… Bu the thing I wanted the most was to find that bastard and make him pay for everything.

                A week later, James was gone… He just left without saying anything to anyone… He just wrote a letter… But I never read it… Why did he go? Could he have heard me saying that I hated his mother?  I just felt very bad that day… So miserable… I wanted to know where he was… I found out sooner than I imagined.

              I left my adopting family. I just took some clothes and left everything else behind including a card. That was for Sally, an apology for everything, her birthday party, for keeping secrets from her and… For tearing that drawing so many years ago.

                I went to my old house to see it one last time before going to search for that man, but there was something wrong there. The front door wasn’t closed, one light was on and I also could hear some noise coming from the inside… It could only be one person… It had to be him… It had to be, there’s no one else!

                I entered silently to that place with all the conviction and resolve I could have. The noise came from upstairs, so I climbed through the stairs. In front of me there was one single door, that door leaded to my mother’s bedroom and the noise, that stopped just one moment ago, was coming from there. It has to be him… I still was telling me that and for one single moment, before entering I felt a really strange sensation and hesitated… But I had to go in! I had to make him pay for everything! I had to face him… Why could I hesitate in a moment like that? I finally opened the last door.

                I couldn’t believe it… I was just going to shout at him, when I felt a knife cutting through my torso… Tears started appearing from my eyeballs, I touched the stabbed place, saw my hand covered with that hot red liquid known as blood… My face turned to the one who did it… It wasn’t him. It was another person dressed from feet to head with black cloths, but I remember his big brown, intimidating eyes… Those weren’t his eyes… That person only said to me ‘Sorry kid, nothing personal’ and disappeared through the window.

                Afterwards I turned my whole body, smiling, silently laughing like a crazy man… I could feel how the blood made a path sliding through my torso, waist and leg. I walked and felt from the stairs…   My right leg was broken and my left wrist probably dislocated… Somehow I dragged myself to the living room and I saw it… It was still there… My last picture with mommy… I was happy. Now thanks to that person I could finally join her… I could finally see her again.

                Yes. I don’t know why he went back to that old house, nor what happened there, but that sunny day on April, James, my cousin, was murdered."

As long as

Well, this is a really tiny monologue that I wrote in July. One reason for writing it was, because I was going to present it at the "Jump Start", although I couldn't because I didn't arrive on time. Nevertheless... I think the other reason for writing it, was coz as an international student  I may have some days were I'll be missing my family and friends, and reading this will remind me that they are always with me, no matter what... This is for you all, thanks.

"-Hi! Hello there! How are you? … I’m also fine thanks. I just wanted you to know that I’ve finally arrived. Yes… Yes… Well it has been a long trip, but there where many great things to see.

Hey… Are you sure you are all right?  Please don’t cry… Of course I miss you how couldn’t I… Yes, it would be great to have you with me… What do you mean? I am at home! Well you should know by now what my opinion is regarding what ‘Home’ is for me. You said it yourself didn’t you? Home is that place you are more comfortable in. It is that place you share with your loved ones. And… You know what? You all are here with me now, because you are in my heart! And as long as you are there… As long as I can feel you, remember you… hear you… you are going to be with me. Therefore no matter the distance or the time we are apart and no matter the place where we are, we will always be at home. And for that reason… I wanted to thank you, coz you are here with me right now… Because you are listening to me, thinking about me, caring about me… You are here with me in my mind and in my heart.

Remember that I love you, good night."