Strong, poor and preaching

http://gymnasticscoaching.com/new/2010/12/phone-call-for-jovtchev/

Yordan Yovchev (or Jordan Jovtchev if you prefer your Bulgarian names translated) proving that there is a man who can multitask.

He is a four time world champion, four time Olympic medallist, will make history when he competes in the London Olympics in 2012 as the only gymnast to compete in six Games (at 38 years old!), he is a dad and president of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation.

All gymnasts are extremely strong but Yordan is crazy, crazy strong as demonstrated in the flares and pike press to support from 0:21-0:47 (the tumbling is exquisite, too). He also had a shoulder injury at the time...

I have a meeting with a potential employer tomorrow. Thanks so much to my buddy who teed me up with this much needed opportunity (you know who you are, angelic friend =) ). Please have your fingers and toes crossed for me, I need all the luck I can get!

I'm starting to panic a little about my state of unemployment because I have started looking over the things I need to purchase for uni classes to start in two weeks. As it turns out, paramedics is an expensive course to study.

To be more specific:

• Books (essential list only, first semester, new): $526.85
• Placement uniform: $545
• Lab equipment: $44.95
• Medical equipment: $402.80
• Immunisations: dependent on the results of immunity blood test

So if anyone finds a spare $1519.90 lying around, please consider donating it to the "Eliza is a poor student" not-for-profit fund. 

I read two fantastic articles today that I thought I ought to share. 

As an arts student studying a sociology major, I was introduced to the concept of white masculine hegemonic dominance. Quite a mouthful, really. What this means in a nutshell is that by being of Caucasian decent, biologically male, heterosexual and behaving in a stereotypical "alpha male" way, the world was build to work in your favour. The further away you get from this mould, the less favourable society treats you and the harder it is for you to be healthy, happy and successful. 

The first article demonstrates how different the world might treat you if you happen to be female and non-Caucasian. It is a harrowing read, very inspiring and not the least bit cliche.  http://www.theage.com.au/sport/olympics-2012/queen-of-the-ring-fights-the-unspeakable-in-pursuit-of-london-olympics-glory-20120215-1t4zq.html

The second demonstrates how different the world receives you if you are not or a perceived not to be heterosexual. This is also quite an upsetting read. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-20120202

Each of us is capable of overcoming our circumstances. However, these articles highlighted to me how even in the supposedly "civilised" western world; gender, race and sexual orientation still prove to be significant barriers to individuals achieving their full potential. None of these things should be a barrier to be fought in spite of, they are because  society's laws, views and practices define them that way. What is really sad is that this is only the case because people chose to let it be, we as a society could just as easily come to a very different consensus. 

When you hear someone make a derogatory comment, respectfully challenge them. When you think a derogatory thought, ask yourself to do better. If you find yourself thinking that, "Feminism isn't relevant in countries like Australia anymore," Think if pregnancy would be such a huge interruption to people's careers if men were the ones baring children. Would the support for parents be better? More and higher paid maternity/paternity leave? How many men would make it to the boardroom tables if they were the ones expected to be the primary careers of children?

If you ever find yourself thinking, "I'm not a ___ist, but..." Then whatever "-ist" word you said you weren't, you are. It is sometimes too easy to band together with people who share your "peeves", lets call them. This creates a false sense of community, anonymity and entitlement which encourages people's xenophobia. The nameless, faceless crowd effect. 

It might be your views on international students, boat people, Asian people, Middle Eastern people, Muslims, gay people, women, whatever, whoever. Discrimination starts on this level. Challenge your gut reaction.  Stand alone and on your own two feet and be better, if that's what it takes.