The Strike is Over!

Follow-up to "I Miss Trash Day!" on October 3, 2007.

Despite last week's speculation that the Vancouver civic strike would last into 2008, the two sides actually came to terms yesterday. Trash pick-up will be reinstated! Yippee! Check out article for details.

Home

This past weekend, I went back to Los Angeles. As the plane descended into LAX, I started getting teary-eyed and sniffly. I think I worried the Australian guy sitting next to me. Then the conversation went something like this:

• Aussie: Are you okay?
• Me (in between sniffles): I just love LA.
• Aussie: But it's so smoggy and polluted.
• Me: Yah, but it's home. (sniffle, sniffle)

It was a wonderful trip back home. I didn't tell most people that I was heading back home because I knew that my time was limited and I had to reserve most of it for family, errands and studying. However, I did get to spend some quality time with Ricky, Tammy, Jimmy, Grace, Danette, Grandma Martha, Karen, and Debbie. It was great! And I enjoyed many people telling me that I looked thinner... feeds the female ego.

I was also able to attend Delta Fellowship on Friday night (photo safari in Alhambra) and CEFC on Sunday morning. As much as I like the church I'm currently attending in Vancouver, CEFC will always be my home church, especially because I was attending before I was even born. It was so nice walking into church, understanding the architectural layout and knowing most of the people there.


For those who I did not get to see and/or who did not even know I was in town, I'm very sorry. I hope to see more people when I return to LA in December.

I arrived back in Vancouver very late last night (nearly midnight). And I woke up this morning at 7:00AM with a fever and nausea. I'm feeling a little better now, but I'm worried about being sick. Please pray for me.

For a good laugh, check out the video below of two Deltans dancing in Alhambra. (Should I post it on YouTube?)

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving! This weekend was the first time I ever celebrated this holiday. On both Saturday and Sunday, I was privileged to share Thanksgiving dinners with some of my extended family. Although I am not Canadian, I still found the weekend to be very meaningful. Here are a few things for which I'm thankful today:

• The opportunity to learn more about God at Regent College.
• Extended family... especially my cousins (and their significant others) here in Vancouver who have made my move easier, and my aunt and uncle from Victoria who have made me feel so welcomed here.
• Friends and family from California (and other parts) who have kept me in their prayers and thoughts during this new stage in life.
• New friends whom I have met during my brief time here so far.
• Health. Even though my health is not as I wish it to be, I have been feeling better here than I was while working in California.
• God's love and faithfulness. During moments of loneliness, anxiety and frustration, He has shown me, in little and big ways, that He has not forgotten about me. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged., for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

So, altogether now... let's sing... "O Canada..." Too bad I (as well as many Canadians) don't know the lyrics. But I promise to learn them before I move back to LA.

What are you thankful for today?

I Miss Trash Day!

In LA, trash day was a weekly welcomed inconvenience. It required dragging out full garbage cans every Wednesday night and dragging empty ones back on Thursday afternoon/evening. It was never a fun task, but there was always a bit a pleasure in getting rid of the trash. Trash Day was always a reliable weekly event. Even when there were holidays, we knew that our trash would eventually be picked up each week.

But this is not so in Vancouver. Since July, the city's civic workers have been on strike. This means that there is no one to come pick up trash... at all!!! Residents in Vancouver have taken to several options:

• Line up for hours at the city dump site,
• Sneakily throw trash into public or business receptacles,
• Bring trash to nearby cities like Burnaby or Richmond,
• Hire a private sanitation company,
• Or give trash to friends who live in condominiums or apartments with privatized trash collection.

As for me, I have taken to various options. First of all, I freeze my perishable trash to avoid a stink. When I'm ready to dump, I bag up my trash into small unassuming grocery bags. Then, I take them to the nearby park or even to school. And when my good friends from out of town were here, we took my trash to nearby cities and even across the border into Washington. (Special thanks to Richard, Danette and Isaac!)

I can't wait for this city strike to be over! Apparently, Vancouver is notorious for strikes. Can't we all just get along? I merely want to dump my trash like a civilized person. Sigh... another reason to miss LA.

Photos from Danette & Richard's Visit

Photos courtesy of Richard and Danette.
(Click on entry title to see additional photos.)

Post-Retreat Reflections

This past weekend (September 21-23) was Regent College's annual retreat in Stanwood, WA at the Warm Beach Conference Center, which is neither warm nor a beach. Before attending, I had mixed feelings. I was worried about all the studying I still needed to do, but wouldn't be able to do during the retreat. I was worried that I would feel lonely in the midst of people whom I didn't know. But I also wanted to go to get to know people and experience the retreat. And it was definitely a plus to be back on American soil.

All in all, I had a pretty good time. With the theme of "Surprised by God: from Fear to Longing," Phil and Polly Long talked about Moses' life as well as their own lives. I met a ton of people, most of whom I cannot remember names nor faces. Bek and I shared a long walk and conversation early Saturday morning. I enjoyed a long trail run in solitude during the afternoon. I was "wowed" by the talents of individuals at Saturday night's Talent Show... especially tickled into fits of laughter by John Stackhouse and his band. And let's not forget about cheering on the kids while they played "newspaper hockey" -- Go Team 2! We're twice as good as Team 1!!

However, my favorite part of this weekend was actually the ride down and back up with Samuel, Rebecca and Dave. It was so much fun talking with them about everything from Canadian and American politics to childhood experiences.

I am very glad to be back home in Vancouver, but also feel blessed to have attended the retreat. Now... I guess it's time to get back to studying again!

I was too lazy to take photos, so I only have one to show... the sunset on Saturday evening. I got to enjoy it thanks to Bek who pointed it out to me.

Two Great Friends. One New Desk.

Yesterday, Danette and Richard came to hang out with me for the weekend. On the way up, they stopped at the Ikea in Seattle to buy me a desk. If I had purchased the same desk up here in Vancouver, it would have been $100 more. Despite the difficulties of lugging furniture, they graciously volunteered to do it for me. They even helped me assemble it (taking us over 2 hours!). I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends.

I was anticipating Danette and Richard's visit and was so excited to see them at the front door. Last night, we enjoyed a delicious Greek dinner, assembled my desk and had dessert with my landlords. (Speaking of my landlords, they are sooooooo cool!)

Anyway, Danette and Richard will be at my front door at any minute now. They'll be here until Monday.