Dear National Student Loans Service Centre...

After years of repaying my loan, and still having many, many more to go, I felt I had to voice my concerns to the NSLSC back in Canada. Obviously, I know nothing will be done, but this shouldn't be the standard that the future generations accept if they want to better their educational futures. It just doesn't seem fair...

To whom it may concern,

The longer I live overseas and speak with people from outside of Canada who attended school with assistance from their government, the more enraged I become with the burden of repaying my student loan.

How does being a Canadian student loan borrower compare to other countries in the world? What's the standard? It seems Canada's at the bottom of the 'benefit' ladder with a 7.5% (or more) interest rate. If I were British, I could borrow from the government but if I move away from the UK after completion of my degree, I don’t have to make payments because I’m not benefitting from the UK system, I guess. If I were a German citizen, I could go to school in Germany for free, as my loan payback would be 0%! What benefits do I reap from having gotten a loan to continue my education in Canada as a Canadian?

Haven't I done my part by actually getting a degree and not being a burden on Canada's government by filing for unemployment insurance or social welfare in the case that I wouldn't have attended university? I see the benefits the Canadian government has here - one less UI or welfare claimant in the system because I attended an institution of higher education. You’re welcome, Canada. But that’s not good enough for me.

I'm a teacher, to be precise, I'm an international school teacher currently employed in Germany. Perhaps if I had been given some sort of incentive to stay at home and teach in my home province, I would have opted for that. But there's no incentive, is there? I'd have to start from the bottom of the barrel and compete for jobs only if they were available after passing through the rungs of seniority within the school district. Tell me how often that happens. I'd have to hope and pray that I get a call for subbing at 6:00am the day of and then make my way to some school that could be a 45 minute commute and likely not serviced by public transportation. That doesn't sound like incentive to me, when I can teach and live overseas, hold a permanent job and have the students I teach benefit from the great teacher I am. I love and value my role as a teacher too much to sacrifice developing a hatred for an education system that would make me begin to regret my educational choices. How many teachers are unemployed in Canada? How many teachers are regretting their choice to spend money on an education (and still paying for it) that has no room for them in their chosen profession of study? It doesn't matter how great you are at your job, how inspiring you are, how many lives you can shape and change - there are no jobs. It's pretty disheartening.

I'm too awesome a teacher, too qualified a teacher, to consider moving back to Canada to teach. I've already seen the impact I can have on the lives of my students that giving up this amazing profession is not an option. I may sound conceited and self-righteous, but I know my strengths and teaching is one of them. I'd be happy to pass along references from my employer(s) and parents. But that's not why I'm writing or what I'm trying to convince you of.

I was reading your "How to Manage Student Loan Debt" advice and laughing to myself. I can barely afford to make the payments I make now, so making a lump sum payment or increasing my monthly payments are not options for me. So what other options do I have? I can't get repayment assistance either, as I live overseas. I can't catch a break here, can I?

I'm a single, 30 year old female. I support myself 100% but that's not easy to do with $550+ a month being allotted to loan repayment. The amount of interest you're going to (and have) scam(med) from me (and other borrowers) is outrageous! Why 7.5% (or more)? Why ANY percentage of interest at all? You’re sure as hell to get the money out of us, so why not just make us pay the basic principal? You’re already benefitting from most of us not being a strain on your governmental system, so why punish us for continuing our education? Why is there always s a need profit from the do-gooders? Please help me understand at least this bit. It seems unfair that I'm being punished for making the choice to better myself and to better my job qualifications for attending university. Maybe I should have quit high school and just drew unemployment. I’d be able to do this because I’d find a way to prove that I did try to find a job but I couldn’t…and that wouldn’t be so difficult to prove in my small hometown. I could have popped out a few kids so I could get money from the government’s welfare system...but that wouldn’t be living my dreams and no one should be deprived of that opportunity, no matter how difficult you make it! But now that I’m 30, these are the years where I should start thinking about having kids, buying a home…but these things seem impossible as supporting myself and paying rent is struggle enough thanks to my student loan payments. Maybe you will succeed in crushing my dreams after all.

But no, that's not me. That'd be a waste of a quality teacher and a believer and promoter of education. You NEED me, Canada. The world needs me. I'm not looking to cheat any system because I'm a principled person. I'm teaching the future generation of global citizens – at what point do I tell them their education might haunt them for years to come down the road? Sadly, it seems I'll have to teach my students how lucky they are not to have been a student going to university in Canada and I'll advise highly against the idea of attending a Canadian university if a loan from NSLSC is necessary for them to continue aspiring to their educational goals. What do you say to that, NSLSC and CanLean? CanLean? What’s that? Yes, we can all learn…but can we all afford the debt we’ll dig for ourselves and the way it’ll taunt us for years to come? Of that, I’m not too sure; especially with the way today’s economy is! It just doesn’t seem fair. What are my options?

Deeply frustrated, and holes in pockets, I remain,
Melinda MacKenzie

A Day of Love ♥

This year was the first year I've celebrated Valentine's Day as a single lady in seven years. But, my ex was Korean and in Korea, February 14th is a day to shower the men in your lives with chocolate. He wasn't a big believer in this hyped up February day but because he was always well aware of my Canadian culture and ways, I usually didn't have an empty handed day when we actually got to spend it together. For all the ladies in Korea, March 14th is their big day of love when they receive candy (not chocolate) from their men. This day is called White Day and it's a day when Chupa Chups are a hot commodity!

So what if you're single in Korea? You don't get to celebrate Valentine's Day or White Day? Well, you still have a special day to celebrate your 'singleness'! Black Day is on April 14th and it marks a true 'Singles Awareness Day' as single men and women are meant to order Chinese black noodles, called jajangmyeon, to show others they are, in fact, alone and single! It's not really something I think I'd want to advertise unless there were some hot men sitting in the restaurant eating their own jajangmyeon! :P I guess I'll wait and see what happens this coming April 14th!

Jajangmyeon - black noodles in Korea

So, my first Valentine's Day single wasn't much different from other Valentine's Days for me, as BokYoun and I usually had quite some distance between us on this international day of love. I've been giving out Valentine cards nearly every year since I was in grade primary and this year was no different. I ordered some printable Transformers Valentines online, printed them and gave them to the students I taught yesterday. I also intended on filling out some cards for my friends and colleagues but after signing up for snack duty and committing to make 100 heart shaped cookies, I just ran out of time.

The final product - heart shaped cookies, chocolate, chips and classic Valentine cards for the MIS JS staff! :)

So why buy into all the hype of this Hallmark holiday? Well, because we need to spread the love! You don't necessarily have to buy anything either if you don't believe in supporting the big companies that profit from February 14th. It's an extra smile, hug or kiss you can throw out there. It's an additional greeting to brighten someone's day, aside from the ol "Hey!", "Good morning!" or sometimes mundane, "How are you?" followed by "Good/fine." in response. People claim that everyday is a day of love for them so Valentine's Day is a scam...but I disagree. Though I tell my friends and family I love them on a daily basis, it's a chance to spread smiles and warm the hearts of others - and have a valid excuse to do so! I went around distributing smiles and cookies once my junior school colleagues had their share and it felt good to get a smile (from most) in return. So, yes, I love Valentine's Day! Even though I'm single and I didn't get any 'lovin' of my own, I will always take the opportunity to spread positivity and good cheer when I can. So, a very, very special "HAPPY DAY AFTER VALENTINE'S DAY" to all of you love day critics and I hope everyone has a lovely day! :) xoxox