Staying Healthy While You Travel
http://www.healthline.com/sw/gsa-staying-healthy-while-you-travel

Preventing illness or injury is a big part of making your trip relaxing and enjoyable. Because some destinations have environments that may be very different from the area you live in, and, particularly, travel to developing countries pose certain risks, it is important to take certain precautions.

Healthy preparations before you travel:
If you are planning to travel outside the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you:

• prepare a complete travel itinerary, listing each destination, length of stay, and types of activities planned.

• contact your travel agent to obtain local health information, including food and beverage precautions, information regarding insects and other pests, and the availability of emergency medical care.

• check with your insurance company to determine what coverage your policy provides for travel abroad.

• contact your physician for an up-to-date immunization record and make an appointment to receive necessary vaccinations at least six weeks before you plan to leave.

• obtain specific information on preventive health recommendations based on your itinerary by contacting the CDC's Travel Information Web site.

Be sure to also get prescription medications refilled to last the entire duration of the trip. Take extra prescriptions for medications, as well as necessary eyewear, in case it is necessary to have medications filled while abroad. Wear a medical information bracelet, if necessary, and take along a first-aid kit for minor emergencies that may arise.

Healthy reminders for while you are traveling:
Eat carefully if traveling to a country with an increased risk of traveler's diarrhea.

• Eat foods that are steaming hot and well-cooked, as these are usually the safest.

• Avoid eating foods from street vendors, no matter how appetizing they look.

• Avoid unpasteurized dairy products, and raw or uncooked seafood.

• Peel fruits yourself.

• Drink commercially bottled water or carbonated beverages.

• Avoid ice.

• Use bottled water when brushing your teeth.

If you are traveling to a country with an increased risk of malaria, obtain a prescription for preventive medicine for this disease from your physician. The medication needs to be taken before you go on your trip, during your travels, and for four weeks after you return.

Avoid swimming and any water activities in freshwater lakes and streams as you may be exposed to certain diseases. If you are traveling to a country with an increased risk of disease transmitted by mosquitoes, be sure to protect yourself with insect repellents, special clothing, and bednets while traveling in these areas.

"Walk this Way" for a safe back to school, says Safe Kids Canada

TORONTO, Aug. 27 /CNW/ - With kids across the country heading back to class, Safe Kids Canada is reminding everyone to ensure children can walk safely to and from school on our neighbourhood streets. Child pedestrian incidents are a leading cause of death for Canadian children under the age of 14. Every year more than 30 children are killed and 2,400 are seriously injured. Most incidents happen between 3 - 6 p.m., when drivers are coming home from work, and children may be walking home from school.

"We can all help to keep kids safe while they walk in their communities," says Pamela Fuselli, executive director of Safe Kids Canada. "When drivers slow down, and when parents take every opportunity to teach their children about pedestrian safety, these injuries can be prevented." Safe Kids Canada is generously funded by FedEx Express Canada to provide the Walk this Way pedestrian safety program year-round, providing education, resources and support for parents and community groups to increase the safety of their streets.

Walk this Way recommends:

For drivers: Slow your speed. A child hit by a car traveling at 50 km/h has an 80 percent chance of being killed. Yet a child hit by a car traveling at 30 km/h has a 95 percent chance of
surviving.

For parents: Walk with your children and teach them the pedestrian safety rules every single time.

Teach them to look left, look straight into the intersection, look right and repeat before crossing the street. Encourage your child to cross at the intersection. Teach your child that parked cars can block a driver's view.

For more information on child pedestrian safety, including brochures and fact sheets visit www.safekidscanada.ca or call the safe tips line at 1-888-SAFE-TIPS (723-3847).

Survey says: Back-to-school need not be back-to-stress

Desjardins Financial Security's National Health is Cool Survey shows parents are stressed by overloaded academic and family calendars

TORONTO, Aug. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - With only one weekend left in the summer holidays, parents are likely sharing their kids' anxiety leading up to the new school year. Desjardins Financial Security's 2008 Health is Cool survey results show that parents experience added stress due to the social pressures of providing as much hands-on parenting as possible. The majority of survey respondents with children said that they were generally enjoying good mental and physical health, financial security and an overall reduction in stress compared to the previous year. Despite this good news, many agreed that they do feel social pressure to raise exceptional kids (93.3 per cent). For some, this means doing as much possible so their children are the best among other children of the same age (84.8 per cent), to the extent that most suggested that parents do "too much" (81 per cent).

Overloaded family calendars are key stress triggers

This is particularly true of the majority of full-time working parents who agreed that their family calendars were overloaded. They also noted that meeting their children's needs was a key stress trigger, second only to money concerns. Other stressors included family and work issues, and taking care of one's health.

"It's natural for parents to make sacrifices to ensure that their kids get the very best," said Michele Nowski, director of disability income claims and disability management at Desjardins Financial Security. "But it becomes a problem when these sacrifices are detrimental to one's health. What tends to happen is that parents will put themselves last. This increases their stress and the likelihood that they will eventually become sick."

"The majority of all respondents, 83 per cent, said that they have gone to work sick or exhausted," Michele Nowski explained. "In this case, parents did so to avoid having their work pile up and ensure that they would have enough time for their kids. But this sometimes leads to serious illness and longer periods of time away from family and work."

Stop trying so hard-your kids are fine!

Dr. Steven Stein from the Psychology Foundation of Canada agreed that these results are not surprising. "Parents want to provide their kids with an enriched childhood full of opportunities and experiences. But let's remember that school/life balance is just as important as work/life balance. Sometimes, the basic lessons of life taught at home are just as enriching, if not more so." So this year, mom and dad, take it easy. Think about your needs for a change and remember-your kids will be successful so long as you are happy and healthy, too!

Life is a misery for “Married Bachelors” in UAE
http://www.goanet.org/post.php?name=News&list=goanet&info=2008
Sat Aug 16 07:47 2008

Life is a misery for “Married Bachelors” in UAE Leaving their families and children in their home countries, a large number of expatriates are forced to live a bachelor’s life in the UAE. They are unable to bring their families here because of high rents and the spiralling cost of living.They miss their children as much as their children miss them back home. The suffering is part of their deal for a better future as they try their best to cope with the situation, which is not always possible. T Ramavarman speaks to a number of expatriates to know their views. When 33-year-old Jose Landicho, who works as a surveyor in a private firm in Dubai, receives a call from his two-year-old son back home in Manila, the Philippines, his heart aches.

However, he quickly recovers and consoles his son with the usual ploy, 'I will come home tonight, and bring a gift for you.' Discreetly he tells his wife over the phone to buy a gift and give it to the son the next morning. The following day, he makes the child believe that he had come home late at night and had left a couple of hours later.

The case of 40-year-old Hussein, a store-keeper-cum-accountant in a foodstuff firm in Abu Dhabi, is no different. His six-year-old daughter yells over the phone from his home in Goa, India: 'Papa, be with us. All my classmates are accompanied by their dads when they come to school. Why are you not here to drop us at school?' 'There is no life when the family is not with you. I can't bear this any longer. I'm planning to go back for good when my current contract comes to end by November,' says an exasperated Hussein. Helmi Mohammed Saleh, 32, who hails from Yemen, leaves his family at Ajman to work in the Human Resources Division of the Gulf Contracting Company in Abu Dhabi.

'I'm very upset over being away from my family. But it is very expensive to get a flat in Abu Dhabi. So I stay here as a single and go to Ajman over the weekends to join my family. My mother is there with my wife and three children,' he says. 'I feel sad as well as happy to be staying here alone,' says Saud Afroze Khan, who works as an accountant with the firm, Olenter, in Dubai.

Saud left his wife in Karachi, Pakistan, soon after his marriage. 'Happy because I can lead a casual life without much personal responsibilities. I can devote more time to work and entertainment. But I feel sad because I miss a partner in life, especially on holidays,' he says. Mohammed Baroodi, who hails from Hartoon in Sudan, says he has been here for the last 21 years working in the purchase section of a private firm.

'I had to send my wife and three children back about seven years ago because of the rising costs here. I miss my family. Initially it was extremely difficult, but now I've learnt to adjust with the predicament,' he adds. These are only miniscule representation of the plight of the phenomenally rising population of 'married bachelors' working in UAE.

With the sky-rocketing rents and cost of living they cannot afford to bring their families here. Unfortunately, the rising cost of living has not yet reflected in the wage levels of the expatriates in the region. And with the growing travel expenditure, frequent travels to home have been curtailed.

According to recent reports, a survey by Arabian Business indicated that nearly 60 per cent of the expatriate population in the Gulf region are contemplating moving away from the region in the wake of the rising cost of living here.

The worst hit are those in the lower-middle class. For the low-income workers, labour camp accommodation and minimum level of food provide some solace. But those who earn between Dh2,000 and Dh7,000 struggle to find accommodation and lead a decent life. 'Until two or three years ago, it was possible to lead a comfortable life and make some saving, even in a salary of Dh2,000 a month. But now you can't get a single room accommodation in less than Dh3,500. In areas like Abu Dhabi there is also an acute shortage of rooms,' says Muralidharan from Kerala, India. Muralidharan, who works as a designer with Emirates Steel Wool in Abu Dhabi, said he was now sharing a room with four 'married bachelors' at Electra.

'If the landlord asks me to vacate, I will have no option but to go back home. At the new rental levels I will not be able to take up a fresh place, unless my salary is doubled,' he said. Some of the expatriates complain that the rent hikes are arbitrarily imposed on them by the landlords. 'Take it or leave it' is often their attitude. 'My landlord almost doubled the rent three years ago from Dh26,000 to Dh48,000. I was compelled to pay that rent. I could not have relocated to a new place with my family,' says Piroz Khan from Kerala, who works as accountant with a private firm in Abu Dhabi. Piroz says he has now sent his family back to Kerala as his son wanted to study there, after completing the higher secondary here. The cost of education is certainly one factor that forces the expatriates to send their families. This often forces even working couples to send their children to their relatives back home for continuing education. Both the children and parents then endure the psychological trauma of separation. Some of the Pakistani expatriates said they send their families back when their children, especially daughters, are of marriageable age, to find good alliances from their own clan.

Interestingly, may expatriates are reluctant to discuss their problems apparently fearing that it may not be liked by their higher-ups. Fear of disdain from the peers also seems to be pulling them back from such discussions on financial constraints. Telephone is the main link between the expatriates and their families back home.

'My telephone bill comes to about Dh600 per month. My family back home also spends a substantial amount on telephone calls. Both of us have 3G phones,' says Jose. Some expatriates use Internet chatting facilities with webcam to keep in touch with families. Still luckier are those who can afford to travel home two or three times. Some bring their families on vacation here. The disintegration of the joint families in countries like India has aggravated the plight of the expatriates and their families there. In the fast-emerging nuclear families there are no support systems and children particularly feel the gap severely when one of their parents are away. This adds to the worries of expatriates. The expatriates are also concerned about the security of their spouses in their home countries. 'Here a woman can be on the road safely even late at night. This is not the case in many countries,' recalls Hussein. How do the 'married bachelors' spend their holidays and after-office hours here? 'There are several avenues of entertainment available for the rich here. There is hardly anything for the low-income groups. Our office is closed from Thursday afternoon to Saturday and that is the most agonising time for me. I miss my family. I engage in social activities like Malayalee Samajam,' says Piroz. 'I play tennis and pursue some hobbies' during my holidays,' says Jose.

'After completing washing and cleaning of room, I spend my time on some spiritual pursuits like bhajan (hymns),' says Parameswaran from Kerala who works as an accountant in a private firm in Dubai. 'I spend time with my friends in the evenings,' says Helmi. Watching movies shopping and spending time with friends are the holiday agenda for Saud.

Happy to be working here A number of ‘married women’ also are among the expatriate ‘singles’ working in the UAE.

They mostly work as housemaids or bar attendants. They represent many nationalities such as Indian, Sri Lankan, Indonesian, African, and even East European, but a majority of them come from the Philippines. Married women workers opt to take up jobs here in order to tide over financial problems back home. Like their male counterparts, most of them also face similar problems of home-sickness and loneliness. But there are exceptions too. Archana is one of them. A 38-year-old married woman, Archana, who hails from Allappuzha in Kerala, is different from others. She proudly says she is happy to be working here, even though her husband and daughter are in Kerala. While her husband works with the Kerala Water Authority, her daughter, a student of engineering, was married off recently. Archana is satisfied with her life and the way things have shaped for her in the UAE. She runs two trading companies — Phoenix Smart Systems and Golden Phoenix International Foodstuff Trading — in Abu Dhabi. “I have no problems here. I go home whenever I want, and bring my family here frequently. My family is happy that I am able to lead an independent life and provide employment to several people. I am able to concentrate more on work since my family is not here,” Archana says. Isolation, anxiety cause depression The isolation and anxiety associated with the status of ‘married bachelors’ often leads to psychiatric problems.

Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common problems among such patients, according to psychiatrist Dr K. K. Muraleedharan, who works in Abu Dhabi’s Ahalya Hospital. “Some turn to substance abuse and alcohol. There are some who might develop psycho-sexual dysfunctions. Forgetfulness, lack of concentration in work and low self-esteem are among the most prevalent symptoms among such patients,” says Dr Muraleedharan. “But all these changes are reversible with proper counselling and medicare.” “Basically, in the absence of a family, such people lack the social support system. It may not always be possible to make friendship with such close bondage. The stress at the workplace and issues like the rising cost of living, add fuel to the fire,” he points out. “The benefits of social organisations, like elite clubs, reach only to the few because they are very expensive. However, the low-cost community organisations are able to accommodate only a few people. When people are able to talk about their problems, their worries lessen. That is why going to a psychiatric counsellor becomes important,” Dr Muraleedharan adds. “The possibility of ‘married bachelors’ developing psychiatric problems depends on several factors like their genetic constitution, personality, background and cultural settings.

People, who are not social and who do not integrate with the mainstream, are more prone to problems of anxiety and depression,” says psychiatrist Nagesh Dhar of Prime Medical Centre, Jumeirah in Dubai. Another related issue is that when the spouses unite after long periods of separation they face several adjustment problems, Dr Dhar points out. “Both the husband and wife would have developed independent routines and lifestyles during the long periods of separation. They sometimes find it difficult to reshape their life when they reunite. Keeping in touch with regularly and frequent visits from both sides are some of the ways to avoid such situations. Otherwise you lose touch altogether,” he adds. khaleejtimes.com

Number of Employees Working Off-site Expected to Increase, Executives Say
"High fuel prices are causing people to look for alternatives to lengthy commutes….”

TORONTO, Aug. 14 /CNW/ - A growing number of Canadian workers will be dialling, rather than driving, into work, according to a recent survey. More than two-thirds (70 per cent) of executives polled said it is common for their companies' employees to work off-site. Moreover, 74 per cent of managers said they expect the number of employees who work remotely to increase in the next five years.

The study was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based on telephone interviews with 100 senior executives among the largest companies in Canada. Executives were asked, "How common is it for employees at your company to work off-site or from remote locations?" Their responses:

Executives also were asked, "Do you expect the number of employees who work off-site or from remote locations to increase or decrease in the next five years?" Their responses:

"High fuel prices are causing people to look for alternatives to lengthy commutes, and working from home or at locations closer to home are attractive options," said Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Technology has also made it easier for employees to work remotely when traveling for business."

In cases where employees request telecommuting or work-from-home arrangements, Willmer cautions that not every position is a fit. "For professionals whose jobs require a great deal of face time with colleagues or customers, working remotely might not be practical." OfficeTeam suggests those who want to work off-site ask themselves the following questions before making the request:

• Does my company already have a remote work policy? Review your employee manual or contact your human resources department to find out. If no policy exists, research how other companies like yours have established successful remote work arrangements for their staff.

• What's in it for them? Managers will respond more favourably to your request if they know the arrangement will benefit the company and not just you personally. Will the arrangement save your firm money or increase productivity?

• Have I thought through the details? Your supervisor will want to know key information, like why you are a good tele-work candidate, technology tools and upgrades you will need, and security measures you have in place at home or at your proposed remote work location to protect company information.

• How self-motivated am I? If you are easily distracted or lack self- discipline, working off-site could be challenging.

• How will I stay in touch? Think about how you intend to interact with colleagues to ensure projects stay on track. Also, offer to provide regular status updates so your manager knows your progress on assignments.

• How will I stay visible? To avoid being overlooked for plum projects or promotions, maintain plenty of face time with your managers and colleagues. Schedule important meetings for your on-site work days.

• How can I show the arrangement will work? Ask your supervisor if you can try telecommuting on a trial period, working remotely one or two days a week. Propose several meetings with your boss throughout the test period so you both can evaluate how the arrangement is working.

Critical Thinking Skills
http://distance.uvic.ca/courses/critical/high.htm

The goal of critical thinking is to evaluate in a reasoned and unbiased way what you read, hear, or observe in order to judge its validity or worth.

Reasoning Processes | Reasoned Judgements | Critical Reading | Critical Writing

What are Critical Thinking Skills?
Critical thinking skills and habits are life skills. Learning to use them on a consistent basis can help you become more actively involved and more effective in your studies. It may even make what you're learning more stimulating and enjoyable. These skills are also transferable, that is, they can help you deal more thoughtfully and rationally with issues you encounter in your personal or professional life and even as a member of your community. Indeed, many people consider critical thinking to be the basis of a healthy democratic society.

In your role of student, you will be concerned most particularly with critical reading and critical writing. Critical reading is, first, reading for understanding and, second, analyzing or evaluating what you have read. It's difficult to gain a thorough understanding of what you've read unless you take the time to analyze it in a structured way. Critical writing involves applying reasoning skills as you work to research, organize, and create an essay or assignment that is logical, accurate, and concise. At the heart of critical reading and critical writing is critical thinking.

The goal of critical thinking is to evaluate in a reasoned and unbiased way what you read, hear, or observe in order to judge its validity or worth. Your reasoning should be guided by standards or habits of mind that include seeking clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness in everything you encounter. In a world constantly bombarded by new discoveries and ever-increasing amounts of knowledge, the ability to think critically about new information -- and to reflect on what you have learned from it -- takes on a new urgency. Knowing what's true and what's not or what to accept or reject has become a basic survival skill.

The knowledge explosion is due, in large part, to the World Wide Web. And, although it presents many exciting learning opportunities, it also makes the ability to think critically that much more important. View any information you find on the Web with skepticism. Ask yourself, Is it accurate, unbiased, up-to-date? Who wrote it? Who published it? Is it linked to other legitimate sites? (See Frayer and Kurland under References for links with other websites that deal with standards of information on the Web.) The Web provides a seemingly unending opportunity to apply critical thinking to all aspects of your life.

In general, then, critical thinking includes --

• taking the initiative to question what you read, hear, and observe

• challenging the underlying assumptions of what you are questioning

• analyzing what you question in a reasoned and unbiased way

• remaining open to new ideas and perspectives

• changing your position on an issue when convinced by the logic of another position

• reflecting constantly on your learning in order to find patterns, linkages, or related elements that could be applied to other problems or issues.

Your instructors are going to look for evidence of critical thinking in your assignments and in the online activities in your courses. The goal of this Critical Thinking Tutorial is to help you develop your critical thinking skills as you read textbooks and academic journals or write essays or assignments.

There are four sections to the Critical Thinking Tutorial:

Applying Reasoning Processes
These are the skills you use when you problem solve, make decisions, and evaluate. To find out more, click here.

Making Reasoned Judgments
These are the skills you use when you read textbooks and academic journals or write essays and assignments. To find out more, click here.

Using Critical Thinking Skills to Read textbooks and academic journals.
These skills help you evaluate and reflect upon what you are reading. To find out more, click here.

Using Critical Thinking Skills to Write essays and assignments.
The skills you develop writing essays are skills that you'll use throughout your life. To find out more, click here.