Entries tagged with “west coast canada comming home gina hana ian and deb” from LINDY-LOO'S LIFE
There is an old saying that goes: "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."
This saying doesn't apply here. And as it turns out, I had forgotten just how amazing my home really is.
Quite the opposite feeling to this old adage has consistently smacked me in the face since returning home. Canada is so much better than I remember it.
From the verklempt decent into Vancouver over the snow capped coastal mountains, I was and have been reminded over and over how gorgeous and amazing Canada is; and how lucky I am to be Canadian. During my first week home I felt even more fortunate to be able to show Gina (one of the only reasons why I stayed sane over the last month in Suzhou) the Western Coast of my wonderful country.
Even after spending the last 2 weeks in Yunnan, the natural beauty and pristine conditions of the environment in the Great White North has (on many occasions in my life but in particular since returning recently) caused me to stop in my tracks, and just take in a deep breath.
I become mesmerized by the sounds of birds, the clarity of the sky, and the freshness of the air in my lungs.
And then I snap a picture.
Every place has it's perks.
Every person has their peeves.
Perfection is impossible.
But my province is pretty close.
My mum and sister met us at the Vancouver airport (aka Hong Kouver), and without delay, we went for a saunter through the largest China town in Canada. After a quick whirlwind visit with old friends and some family, we took an early ferry the next day to the city that I would consider is really my home - Victoria.
It turns out before I could even begin to re-culturate and adjust, I would be a little tour guide for a long weekend.
I first took my mum and Gina on a quick hike through an old growth rain forest. The views from the top of Mt Finlayson are some of my favorites.
First, look East to Mt. Baker.
And then, look South to the Olympic Mountains; of whom I have seen a thousand times, and yet every single time I see them, I just have to smile.
It turns out there are other great things about Canada as well.
Besides the tall, strong non-smoking men and everyone's small town accents, hamburgers, avocados, Caesar's, local fruit, my mum's cooking, lemons, Okanagan wine, Pacific Ocean seafood are only a smattering of the plethora of foods here that I forgot I loved.
In Victoria, I have a wonderful 'second mother' named Debbie (on the left), and she is the world's best cook. She (and her partner in crime, Ian) made me feel so happy to be home again. There is nothing I love more than a group of people to love, the most beautiful weather, and some great wine and food to enjoy it all with.
Gina also got down and dirty and enjoyed some West Coast food and drink. This crab will sadly be the last animal she eats for a long time.
Day 2 in Victoria was another beautiful, clean, crisp summer adventure waiting to happen. We (Hana, Gina, my mum and I) drove to the furthest Western point we could possibly get to by car, and explored tidal pools and lava formations while the tide was low at Britannica Beach.
My mum in her infinite wisdom brought a bucket for shells and rocks.
This saying doesn't apply here. And as it turns out, I had forgotten just how amazing my home really is.
Quite the opposite feeling to this old adage has consistently smacked me in the face since returning home. Canada is so much better than I remember it.
From the verklempt decent into Vancouver over the snow capped coastal mountains, I was and have been reminded over and over how gorgeous and amazing Canada is; and how lucky I am to be Canadian. During my first week home I felt even more fortunate to be able to show Gina (one of the only reasons why I stayed sane over the last month in Suzhou) the Western Coast of my wonderful country.
Even after spending the last 2 weeks in Yunnan, the natural beauty and pristine conditions of the environment in the Great White North has (on many occasions in my life but in particular since returning recently) caused me to stop in my tracks, and just take in a deep breath.
I become mesmerized by the sounds of birds, the clarity of the sky, and the freshness of the air in my lungs.
And then I snap a picture.
Every place has it's perks.
Every person has their peeves.
Perfection is impossible.
But my province is pretty close.
My mum and sister met us at the Vancouver airport (aka Hong Kouver), and without delay, we went for a saunter through the largest China town in Canada. After a quick whirlwind visit with old friends and some family, we took an early ferry the next day to the city that I would consider is really my home - Victoria.
It turns out before I could even begin to re-culturate and adjust, I would be a little tour guide for a long weekend.
I first took my mum and Gina on a quick hike through an old growth rain forest. The views from the top of Mt Finlayson are some of my favorites.
First, look East to Mt. Baker.
And then, look South to the Olympic Mountains; of whom I have seen a thousand times, and yet every single time I see them, I just have to smile.It turns out there are other great things about Canada as well.
Besides the tall, strong non-smoking men and everyone's small town accents, hamburgers, avocados, Caesar's, local fruit, my mum's cooking, lemons, Okanagan wine, Pacific Ocean seafood are only a smattering of the plethora of foods here that I forgot I loved.
In Victoria, I have a wonderful 'second mother' named Debbie (on the left), and she is the world's best cook. She (and her partner in crime, Ian) made me feel so happy to be home again. There is nothing I love more than a group of people to love, the most beautiful weather, and some great wine and food to enjoy it all with.
Gina also got down and dirty and enjoyed some West Coast food and drink. This crab will sadly be the last animal she eats for a long time.
Day 2 in Victoria was another beautiful, clean, crisp summer adventure waiting to happen. We (Hana, Gina, my mum and I) drove to the furthest Western point we could possibly get to by car, and explored tidal pools and lava formations while the tide was low at Britannica Beach.
My mum in her infinite wisdom brought a bucket for shells and rocks.And Gina and I, in our infinite wisdom, got caught out in a tidal pool as the tide was coming in.
It wouldn't be the first conundrum of the month for us...
Furthermore, Hana and I were just blinding everyone with overexposure to awesomeness, as usual.
Our third day in Victoria mainly involved exploring the city. We went to coffee (twice) at my favorite coffee shop.
And walked to the parliament buildings, through some farmer's markets, over to the break water and then back through past the museum.... Oh yeah, and we went, of course, to feed the harbor seals at Fisherman's wharf.
Last but not least, we traveled through Vancouver again in order to drop Gina off for the continuation of her trip home and to get the the interior of BC where my trip home ends.
On route, we took a little detour and hiked the Grouse Grind.
With more spectacular views and nature.
Although it's nice to be home, it feels strange as well. In some weird way I don't feel myself here. I am always anxious about stuff and looking for the next thing to keep myself from thinking too much. I am sure there are as many steps to re-culturate as there are in acculturation. And I certainly remember that wasn't easy less than a year ago in Suzhou. But part of me knows regardless of how long it takes for me to feel at ease here, I won't be home for long. There's far too much out there to see and do and learn. And too many people whom I can try to help - or at least plan to for now. So for now, as per usual, it's all about trying to live in the moment.
After all, "Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."
It wouldn't be the first conundrum of the month for us...
Furthermore, Hana and I were just blinding everyone with overexposure to awesomeness, as usual.Our third day in Victoria mainly involved exploring the city. We went to coffee (twice) at my favorite coffee shop.
And walked to the parliament buildings, through some farmer's markets, over to the break water and then back through past the museum.... Oh yeah, and we went, of course, to feed the harbor seals at Fisherman's wharf.Last but not least, we traveled through Vancouver again in order to drop Gina off for the continuation of her trip home and to get the the interior of BC where my trip home ends.On route, we took a little detour and hiked the Grouse Grind.
With more spectacular views and nature.
Although it's nice to be home, it feels strange as well. In some weird way I don't feel myself here. I am always anxious about stuff and looking for the next thing to keep myself from thinking too much. I am sure there are as many steps to re-culturate as there are in acculturation. And I certainly remember that wasn't easy less than a year ago in Suzhou. But part of me knows regardless of how long it takes for me to feel at ease here, I won't be home for long. There's far too much out there to see and do and learn. And too many people whom I can try to help - or at least plan to for now. So for now, as per usual, it's all about trying to live in the moment.
After all, "Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."
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