First Blog Post - Introduction

Hi, my name is Yunke Xu. I’m currently in the second year of Nutrition and Food Major, and I hope to go into Nutrition Major this year. And after that, I hope to be a dietician because I’m really interested in maintaining people’s health level by having a balanced diet.

Author Unknown. (2008). Story food pyramid [JPG]. Retrieved January 20, 2012, from: 

     http://www.dit.ie/media/newsimages/2008/july-dec/story-food-pyramid.jpg

As an International student, I need to face the challenges from the courses while try to adapt to the life in Canada, and I found communication to be very helpful. Communication with fellow students helps to learn more effectively, because we are actively involved when we express our thoughts. And in the daily life, each individual might have a different culture and life style, and people need to communicate to know each other’s hobbies and interests, and get involved in the community.

The importance of communication also applies to the field of dietetic practice, in which I’m interested. Dieticians may work with people of great cultural diversity, and they need communication to know each individual’s different eating habits, emotional state, exercise level, etc. I believe that the proper dietetic plan is not the only thing that dieticians provide; they give people respect, care, and support, and they help people to achieve a higher health level. This is also my lifelong dream, and communication is essential in achieving this goal.

Besides, I’m currently in the Community Service Learning component of ALES 204 course, which I found to be a good way to integrate the communication theory with practice. My placement is Alberta Caregivers Association, and I’m really looking forward to working with them. My task will be conducting an interview with a professional in the field of care giving, and I guess we will post it online to promote the awareness of supporting the caregivers. And that’s where I find the Internet is useful because it can spread the information all around the world at any time. Communicating through the Internet makes the ideas available for the whole world, and hopefully, when we finish our work, more people will know that caregivers need support terribly and there are plenty of ways we can support them.

Author Unknown. (2011). ACGA Logo small [JPG]. Retrieved January 20, 2012, 
     from: http://www.adforum.ca/graphics/ACGA%20Logo%20small.jpg

By the way, my friend Winnie is already in the Nutrition Major. Check her blog to find out more about Nutrition!