Category: Life

Instead of making a new blog, I altered mine for our group. I realized it’s not a good idea. Anyway, I want to thank you all for either writing or commenting for OUR blog and make it fun and useful.

I had no idea my sabbatical leave can get this busy, and I am way behind my original plan to keep this blog up-to-date. I will be back on track in April and will have loads of fun this summer, I promise I will share everything with you here. Linda, I am serious.

I ran into an astrology web page, and the part about me is so right! It says, “If you feel out of synch, remember it’s a good time for resource consolidation, for research & getting up to date. Going incognito leads to discoveries.”

I have been reading a course book on Japanese economic miracle for a whole day. Now I am thinking about the new year and all of you. For those who are staying in Vancouver, I will see you and phone you soon anyway. Let’s not forget about those all over the world. Jan, Henry and Mindy are now in China. Liu Shu down in Colorado, Heather in Montreal. I wish you a happy and successful new year. I am sure you will always treat Vancouver as your second hometown. We think of you from time to time, and especially now. Best Wishes!

I was thrilled to hear Heather’s voice over the weekend! Ian predicted wrong; Heather didn’t sound like homesick. She enjoys being a new member of the friendly team at McGill. She’s staying in an empty two-bedroom now, free! and will move into her own place next month. She said the pace is much faster now, working as a full-time professional, loads to learn and to think forward.

– You understand the phrase “Could you pass me a serviette, I just dropped my poutine, on the chesterfield.”

– You eat chocolate bars, not candy bars.

– You drink Pop, not Soda.

– You know that a Mickey and 24’s mean, “party at the camp, eh!!!”

– You know that a pike is a type of fish, not part of a highway.

– You drive on a highway, not a freeway.

– You have Canadian Tire money in your kitchen drawers.

– You know that Casey and Finnegan were not part of a Celtic musical group.

– You get excited whenever an American television show mentions Canada.

– You brag to Americans that; Shania Twain, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion & Mike Myers are Canadians.

– You know what a toque is.

– You design your Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

– You know that the last letter of the English alphabet is always pronounced “Zed”.

– Your local newspaper covers the national news on 2 pages, but requires 6 pages for hockey.

– You know that the four seasons mean: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road work.

– You know that when it’s 25 degrees outside, it’s a warm day.

– You know how to pronounce and spell “Saskatchewan”.

– You perk up when you hear the theme song from ‘Hockey Night in Canada’.

– “Eh?” is a very important part of your vocabulary, and is more polite than, “Huh?”

– You understand these jokes, and forward them to all of your Canadian friends, and then share them with others because you’re friendly like that!

上次聚会时谁敢想象短短的几个月后我们会有如此之大的变化？我们不仅丰富了工作经验和有更光明的前景，而且缩短了彼此间的距离。真的很开心！

在湖边露营三天， 湖水清澈见底

樱桃园边的一个小湖，如同仙境

Tomorrow is Tom’s birthday. Tom is a reference librarian at UW in Seattle. He helped me in many ways when I started my first student assistant job in the US. Tom made me believe that reference librarians have the most rewarding job in the world. He helped me to provide instruction sessions with confidence to native students.

I wasn’t the only student whom Tom helped. Tom delivers yummy snacks every day to student assistants at all service counters because they rush from classes to the library without time for lunch. Tom and his wife are leading very moderate, and mentally wealthy lives.

Above all, from the very beginning, Tom trusted I would grow to a decent librarian someday. I still remember his words: “One day, you will have students work for you, please treat them as you were treated here.”

Happy Birthday Tom!

Some friends and I took a tour to Lynn Canyon Park on Friday, May 12. Really a nice place, which reminds me of 九寨沟 in China. Enjoy some of the photos…
Creek near the entrance

Suspension bridge

Rainforest

Rainforest and trail

Lynn Creek

30 Foot Pool 1

30 Foot Pool 2

30 Foot Pool 3

30 Foot Pool 4

Wooden stairways

Somewhere in the park 🙂

Rice Lake 1

Rice Lake 2

Twin Falls

Cruise Liner at Waterfront

North Van and SeaBus

Jocelyn called reminding me this holiday. She has made reservation in my favourite resturant to celebrate together. My brother sent his blessings to Mom and me and said that his presents are on their way to us. Two girls are busy making their Mother’s Day gifts. I am spoiled by love and sending my love to other librarian mothers, including the two who helped me the most when I went to the library school: Raya, my advisor and Liz, my American host Mom.

A tennis court near Marine Drive. Click to view a full sized picture.