I've met many international students over the years, mostly due to the nature of my job, however, I would kind of hope that they would have loftier goals than to become a Miss Universe. Not to take the wind out of Ms Mori's sails because she won this contest fair & square but I have never been one that would support these kind of "beauty contests". You can protest all you want but to have beautiful women parading around in outfits that make them look even skinnier and not being judged on their contribution to society is simply a beauty contest.

It turns out, when I was actually able to read the paper today, that the young Japanese woman who was crowned Miss Universe this year actually studied in a high school in my fair city before moving on to graduate in Ontario and eventually on to win the title whenever it happened this week. I can't say that I ever brushed elbows with her and I am sure that she's a really sweet girl but the thing that popped into my mind when I first saw her photo was how she looked as far from a typical Japanese girl. In fact, while reading the story and looking at the photos, I thought that it was interesting how "generic" these women looked. Sure, they are all beautiful but they also all look like Barbie. There was nothing that really made them special from each other and besides them not all having Barbie-sized breasts, they just look so... so... generic. That's the only word that I can come up with.

Okay, so maybe in the position of Miss Universe, they can go out and do some humanitarian work but it seems to me that Ms. Mori would have been more impressive to me if she'd stuck to dancing. This title will not create the next Mother Teresa, for sure and it seems to me that it'd be better to strive to be someone who self-sacrifices to help the poor of the world than for that $250,000 US tiara that Miss Universe wins. Someone who strives to save the environment from ruin or to stop the abuse by the rich of the world.

So, while the schools and cities and other people that are all sharing their stories about how an international student, who is apparently is a marvellous dancer and came in contact with many here and in Ontario, there are two things that I am thinking of. One is that this girl became Miss Universe on her own and without anyone's help reached this goal of hers. So, why is it that there are so many who can't wait to get their names in the paper on the coattails of someone else's achievement (if you can call this one)

The other - and I can't stop thinking of the many that I've been lucky enough to meet - is that of the there are many international students who come to this country. They work hard to reach their academic goals to do something that is not as glamourous as becoming a world beauty queen yet they get little recognition for the difficulties they've endured. Leaving your home behind for the betterment of you and your family is not easy and definitely not glamourous. Yet it is an amazing achievement! Don't they all deserve some recognition for this as well? Why does winning a contest warrant this kind of publicity.

I admire so many of these students. Some come here not even able to say "hello" and work their way through an education system far different from that of their own country. Some go on to fulfill dreams and reach goals of becoming doctors who want to help sick children in the world. Others open businesses in their countries and in ours and are innovators of things that help the world. Some become teachers to assist the next generation in reaching their full potential. These are the true heroes... the every day people who don't worry about tiaras and evening gowns. They have worries that they are more able to deal with because of their time in their own countries.

Once, one of these students shared a story about her mother with me. This student's mother is a nurse that, at the time spoke little or no English, but was inspired to meet Mother Teresa. She so admired this woman and her work that she decided something like language and comfort wouldn't hold her back. So, she went on a holiday and spent some time working with the woman. This kind of thing blows me away.

I'd like to take this time to give some recognition to many of these people that have come and survived against all odds and go on to live a life that is full and worthwhile. I just tried to list them all but there are so many, so, I think that you all know who you are. If you have any doubts, email me, otherwise, I believe that you all very much deserve recognition of your achievements! Congratulations to you all!