Home for the Holidays

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Four weeks in Canada have flown by. My trip from Thailand left me exhausted and over-tired, but on arriving (after flying Bangkok-Beijing-Dalian-Tokyo-Vancouver), I was perkier than I thought I would be, and immediately lunched with the ever-wonderful Jocelyn and Dee, lay on the beach in Kitsilano staring at the mountains, and then having a few drinks and watching the fireworks before crashing at 11pm. I spent my first few days back in my homeland sunning, drinking, and eating--quite the luxurious holiday!

From Vancouver I travelled to Northern Alberta where I visited the prettiest pregnant lady you ever did see, my splendid friend Melissa. She and I (and her husband before he had to leave for camp) shopped, cooked (well, they cooked for me--I barely lifted a finger due to their capable hospitality), and sat in the river to cool down from the blazing heat stroke. I developed a terrible headcold while I was there, and spent most afternoons napping and most evenings going to bed early because I was so stuffed up.

From Grande Prairie I went to Victoria to meet my freshly betrothed friend Anne and her fiance, Curtis. Newly minted almost-weds, they toured me around Victoria in a haze of "young" love (we're not really that young any more, people). It was a hilarious weekend of (more) good food and accidental wine-glass smashing.

From Victoria I headed north to Terrace, to stay with my parents, see my brother, sister-in-law, niece, aunt n' uncle, their grandchildren, and fabulous friends from long ago. In Terrace along with the same shopping, eating, and resting that occurred in every other city, I also spent time at our cabin on Lakelse Lake, enjoyed a Mock Birthday party (because I don't get to be near my family to celebrate any holidays or birthdays anymore), and got to know my child relatives a little better. Cute! It was actually a little hard to say goodbye to everyone.

After Terrace (I know, this is sounding a little repetitive. If you think this blog is repetitive, consider how I must have felt each time I boarded a plane!), I flew into Kelowna. We could see the forest fires burning from the plane. They were approximately 75% under control by the time I arrived. My uncle and aunt took my cousin, her husband, and I out for dinner at the pub, and the next day we went to the farmer's market, out for lunch, on a walk around the lake, and had a bbq'd roast for dinner. It was pretty relaxing and refreshing. I stayed in Kelowna only one and a half days before returning to Vancouver for the home stretch of these holidays. I've met new people, seen familiar faces, and had a hankering for faces past. It's been a good trip, but one I don't want to end yet because I'm not ready to go back to work. But, I have to leave, and I'll leave with bags a little heavier, and mind n' heart a little lighter. I feel pretty optimistic about getting back to China--I have the feeling this year is going to be better than the last.

Thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to see me or call to check in--you made everything worthwhile!

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Photos

Waiting for the swimmer
The swimmer who took on the Skeena River arrives at the junction of the Skeena and Kalum rivers, welcomed by drummers and Tsimshian people