Hopedale November 2016

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Page 2 Local Town Pages www.hopedaletownnews.com November 2016 Enjoying a Guilt-Free Holiday Dinner Adhering to a diet on special occasions has always proved challenging for Roy DeGrandpre. He was enthused when he joined New England Fat Loss (NEFL) on October 1, 2015. However, Thanksgiving Day loomed in the near future. When the big day arrived, the 54 yearold had already lost 43 pounds and gratefully approached the event with a totally new outlook. “In the past, every time I’ve dieted, I’ve dreaded the holidays,” DeGrandpre said. “The holidays are about great family, great food and letting go, but this year was completely different. When I woke up on Thanksgiving, I told myself I was not going to go overboard, but if I saw something I wanted, I was going to try it and enjoy every bite.” Armed with a successful diet plan and a personal nutritional menu from NEFL, DeGrandpre allowed himself to enjoy a truly satisfying Thanksgiving knowing he had a clear direction for the day after. “The difference this time was that I had full and complete confidence that starting the next day, I could just follow the program again and very shortly, I would be right back to my Thanksgiving morning weight,” DeGrandpre said. “There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would accomplish that. It took me only two days.” At press time, DeGrandpre had lost an impressive 54 pounds just six weeks into the program. In addition to the weight loss he was also experiencing other physical benefits. For example, now carrying a lot less weight, he only requires 20 percent of his original insulin dosage to manage his diabetes. He also is experiencing quite an increase in stamina. “I have more energy than I feel I have had in years, as far back as I can remember,” De- Grandpre said. “A lot of that is because even when I was thinner and younger, I still wasn’t eating healthy. Anyone who is diabetic should be calling right away because your energy and health will benefit greatly.” DeGrandpre did all the work, but also credits the support and guidance from the NEFL staff. The hour’s commute to the Newton office from his Amherst, NH home required additional commitment, but the effort was well worth the result. His personal interaction with the staff who he described as available, encouraging, friendly and knowledgeable, and with Dr. Johns who he would text with daily, made him feel like his weight loss was a successful team effort! Create your weight loss team today, and 2016 will be a lighter and healthier year! New England Fat Loss has three nearby locations: 22 South Street, Suite 204, Hopkinton, 276 Turnpike Road, Suite 200, Westborough and 188 Needham Street, Suite 255, Newton. To learn more, visit their website at www.newenglandfatloss.com, or call 1-844- 437-8446. Dean College Presents: Into the Woods, November 16-20 The School of the Arts at Dean College will perform Into the Woods, beginning Wednesday, November 16, 2016 through Sunday, November 20, 2016. One of Sondheim’s most popular works, Into the Woods is a musically sophisticated show. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece…and a rare modern classic. The Tony Awardwinning book and score are both enchanting and touching. You won’t want to miss our talented students perform in this show! The Dean College production of Into the Woods will take place in the Main Stage in the Campus Center at Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday and 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range from $5-$22 and can be purchased online. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit www. dean.edu/boxoffice. WHY DEAN COLLEGE? FRANKLIN, MA ACADEMIC QUALITY A private, nonprofit institution fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges CONVENIENT FORMATS Daytime, evening, online, blended, Saturday FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES 15-week semesters, seven-week quarters, two-week intensives FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, ANYTIME! SUPPORT A dedicated team will work with you throughout your time at Dean, offering the support and encouragement you need for your academic success CERTIFICATE AND DEGREE PROGRAMS To contact an Enrollment Coach for more information call 508-541-1624 or visit dean.edu/scs VALUE $335* per credit, one of the lowest cost programs in the area GENEROUS TRANSFER OPTIONS dean.edu/scs * $335 per credit is for the 2016 academic year Dean College admits students of any race, sexual orientation, color, age, gender, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, national and ethnic origin.
November 2016 Local Town Pages www.hopedaletownnews.com Page 3 A Teenage Girl from Hopedale Living in Phitsanulok, Thailand By Cassidy Rodrigues Chiang Mai The past weekend was definitely one of my favorites here in Thailand. This weekend, I traveled to Chiang Mai, which is a bit farther north than my city, Phitsanulok. When you think of Thailand, the only city most people really know is Bangkok. Chiang Mai is a bit underrated in my opinion. You can find all varieties of restaurants, stores, and clubs, and people come from all around the world to visit! I had never seen so many foreigners at once. In Phitsanulok, there are hardly any people that come from other countries, and even less that come from a Western society, like myself. The other thing about Chiang Mai is that it is gorgeous. On the outskirts you’ll find beautiful foliage and ancient temples, and in the middle of the city, the lights never go out. It’s almost like the New York of Thailand. I would go back a thousand times. I visited huge temples and gave offerings to the monks. Embracing not just another culture, but another religion, can be difficult, however it opens your mind to the world around you. Even though the heat is scorching and I feel completely lost in someplace so big, it was an adventure, and adventure is really what life is all about. I traveled with one of my best friends here, Mélaine, who comes from France. The best part about being an exchange student are the unbreakable bonds you’ll make with other exchange students. Even though we have only known each other for two months, we share a connection that almost all exchange students do. Being an exchange student is very difficult at times, but I feel confident in saying that all of my friends have each others’ backs, and are here to help through the hardships. Besides that – we get to spend all the thrilling and extraordinary experiences with one another! It’s a truly life-changing experience to travel alone, but even I will admit that it’s very difficult. Having someone I feel close to traveling with me is something I’m very grateful for, and I’m certain I’ll remember this little trip for as long as life goes on. The Color of My Skin In America, to me, the color of someone’s skin hardly means anything. But in Thailand, the color of someone’s skin completely dictates who you are. Most people in Thailand have skin that is quite dark, no matter who they are. But there is a class divide I’ve noticed, and the one way you can tell is through someone’s skin. The upper class have enough money to be able to stay out of the sun all day, and travel by cars. Poor people, on the other hand, have to work in the sweltering sun all day to make a living, and other times walk or ride in small, open buses. Because of this, the upper class generally has lighter skin, while the lower class has darker skin. As it is in most societies, no one wants to look ‘poor’, per se, whether they admit it or not. Because of this, Thai people consider white skin to be beautiful, and a sign of wealth. This is the exact opposite of American standards of beauty. Most Americans want to be tan. This is because almost everybody in America works inside, regardless of wealth, and so having the time to enjoy the outdoors and be in the sun is a sign of wealth, whether you’ve realised that or not. Because of this, Thai people often gawk at my skin or shout ‘suay!’ at me (this is the Thai word for ‘beautiful’). I’m considered out of the realm of ordinary, just because of my lack of melanin. As an American, it’s difficult to understand this, and difficult to Our Roofs will weather the storm! handle it properly as well. I’ve seen exchange students deal with this in different ways. Some get used to it and hardly react to the compliments. Others view it as racist and get offended. Me? I don’t know how I feel about it. To me, it’s still so strange, because all my life, my appearance has just been normal. So – do I agree with this aspect of Thai culture? No, not really. I don’t think skin color matters, and I never have, so coming to a place where it is very important is unusual. However, I do respect this area of Thai culture, because I understand that this is the idea they have grown up with and it’s simply a general belief that white skin is pretty. In a way, it’s not so different from how Americans view full lips and long legs as attractive features as well. To most of you reading this, you probably think this topic is horribly racist, but I wanted to put it in a way that (hopefully) makes it more understanding for people that aren’t living in Thailand. So, when a person comes up to me and tells me my skin is beautiful, I thank them and tell them that their skin is beautiful, too. It doesn’t mean I fully agree with it, but it’s the way I’ve found to be respectful and grateful in a way I don’t feel bad about. Bring on the Buddha This past week, I went to visit a factory where they actually make Buddha sculptures! For those that don’t know, the main religion in Blackstone Valley’s 1st Choice! Deal directly with the owner Rob Chaille, No outside salesman! Roofing • Vinyl Siding • Windows Residental & CommeRCial Free Non-prorated Extended Warranties Covering Labor & Material from 30 to 50 Years with TAMKO or CERTAINTEED Shingles! Chimney Repair & Rebuilt • Seamless Gutters Over 26 years experience CS#69907 HIC#160483 ~ NO OUTSIDE SALESMAN ~ 508-NOR-EAST / 508-667-3278 Fully Insured www.NoreasterRoofing.com Uxbridge, MA Thailand is Buddhism, and most Thais tend to decorate their homes with Buddhist art and religious objects. One of the most common things used to decorate the homes of Thai Buddhists are Buddha statues or sculptures, and I learned how they were made! First, people make a mold of what they want the Buddha to look like. That is made by sculpting a Buddha and covering it in some type of cement. When the cement dries, you essentially have a mold to put the Buddha in. The cool part is that you can fill this mold with virtually whatever you want, so long as it dries well and will stay together. However, most sculptors choose a hard, rocklike material (I’m not exactly sure what it is because the tour guide didn’t speak much English, but I’d imagine it to be some type of hard clay). When it dries, you can take it out of the mold to reveal a little Buddha statue. Most of the statues are painted in luxurious gold paint, and they end up looking so shiny and magnificent, you’d have thought they were meant for a kingdom, not someone’s home. The smaller ones are bought to bring back home, while the bigger ones are usually used in temples. Being able to visit the Buddha factory was an amazing experience because it shows a lot about the culture of another religion. In America, we see a lot of religious objects for Catholicism and Judaism, such as paintings, stained glass, and menorahs, but rarely do you ever see religious objects for any other religion. Buddhism is a huge religion, especially in Southeast Asia, and it’s something I think Americans would find fascinating if they opened their minds to it. People are usually partial to the religion they’ve grown up with, but when you experience other religions, you can choose the one you really feel you identify with most and believe in. Diversity in religion is good for society, and I think it’d be great if I brought back some Buddha statues with me and taught Americans about Buddhism. Custom Picture Framing & Art Gallery Every Style of frame from Value Line to 22K Gold Original Artwork • Giclée, Etchings and Prints Handmade Gift Items • High Quality Photo & Giclée Printing Photo Restoration Framing of Needlework, Mirrors, Objects & More 11 East Central St, Franklin, MA 508-528-3256 JanesFrames.com Tues, Wed & Fri: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Thurs 9:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Closed Sun & Mon
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