Second Victoria Trip and other things

Late Christmas gifts for Scott:

Dinner with friends:

My Dad's Birthday...Brittany, Paul and Mom preparing the coconut cream pie birthday cake:

Dad with his new instrument...a melodica...I'd never heard of it before either...

Scott's aunt Esther had her birthday as well and we all went for sushi to celebrate. Here's Scott and his Grandma:
Me with Scott and his family...his aunt Athene is taking the picture.
Scott and his family:
Aunt Athene, and Scott's parents Yvonne and Philip:
Scott and his parents:
Scott and his aunts:
Me and Esther:
Back in Vancouver I was browsing through a local used bookstore and came upon the owner's cat, nestled cozily among the books:
Scott and me about to head out for a delicious Greek food dinner:

Victoria Visit

Scott and I spent the past weekend in Victoria. On Friday we got together with some old friends and had dinner and drinks. It really made me appreciate and miss Victoria. It's such a nice city, although it really is incredibly small and quiet, even compared to Vancouver, but especially when compared with Beijing.

Here's Tomoka and Jamie, who will be having a wedding ceremony this June. We spent time with them in Japan in December 2007. Scott has known Jamie since elementary school, I believe.

Samantha and Dave. Scott has known Dave for years (I think since elementary school as well), and I have known him since high school.
Scott and me:
On Saturday my family had "Christmas" again for me. I had a few small gifts I had brought back from China, as well as some things I had picked up during my first few days back in Vancouver, so we had a dinner (steak dinner, not turkey haha) and christmas crackers, and then opened the gifts.

Mom also gave me some Christmas foodstuffs that I missed out on eating while I was in China, such as Christmas pudding. Mmmmmm. I'm hoping to make one more Christmas dinner for Scott and I before I head back to Beijing. Even though Scott isn't a big fan of the British-style Christmas pudding, I LOVE it. 

Here's nearly everyone wearing the Christmas cracker hats:
Sitting in the living room by the tree:





On Chinese New Year's Eve both Scott's and my families had dinner together at a local Chinese restaurant. It was interesting because the food included some more Northern or Shanghai dishes, so my parents and brother got to try some new things. In the past, when we have gone out for Chinese food in Victoria we have generally eaten more Cantonese-style food. Anyway, they all really enjoyed the food...and they were utterly stuffed. For some reason we mistakenly thought all the dishes had arrived and we were all very full but then the kitchen sent out three more dishes! 

Here we are after the meal:

Visit to Chilliwack

This past weekend Scott, me and my family went to Chilliwack to visit my Grandparents, my aunt Carol and my uncle Brent, as well as my cousin Jill and her two lovely kids, Willow and Evan. We all had a nice time...but I realized my sleeping schedule still isn't back to normal. I woke up at 3:30am and couldn't sleep again until 7am or so. Oh well...slowly but surely I'll get used to it.

I didn't take enough pictures, and I entirely forgot to pull out the camera when Carol and Brent were over, so there aren't any pictures of them, and only one of grandma. I also missed getting a good picture of Jill. Damn.

Mom opening a gift from Grandma, and Dad looking sleepy or soused.

Dad looking unchanged, Paul and Scott.
Grandpa opening what I'm sure was a rather thrilling gift of a table runner. Unfortunately I had a hard time finding masculine gifts in China.
Scott with the adorable and chilled out Evan:

Grandma helping Evan check out the microwave.
Me and Willow playing with her new BC Ferries toy.
Me and Evan as Jill and the kids were getting ready to leave.
I've been having a wonderful time on the trip home so far. The time is flying by though, so I have to make the most of it!

Webcams and snow

Can I just say how much I love having my own computer here? I can't believe what a huge difference it makes and it's so different from my last experience in China when I had to walk to internet cafes to use the internet, or I had dial-up internet only.

I've been feeling jealous of what will most likely be a gorgeous white christmas back home...and I definitely miss the cozy Christmas season. I've haven't experienced it recently due to being in Asia both this year and the last. Here's Dad and the lovely Christmas tree (and me in the tiny box in the corner with my miniature tree):

Paul and Brittany waving for the camera:
My everyday desk set-up...newspaper assignment in semi-progress:
Paul opening a couple of presents:
One sentence almost finished!
Mom and the Christmas tree:
Nearly the entire family....dad is holding the computer up for me to see the entire room.
I also of course often speak with Scott and he showed me some of the snowy weather back home. Here's the view out the apartment window. So lovely!
And Scott looking handsome and happy (although he was actually freezing from standing outside with the computer, showing me the snow):
I miss everyone and am looking forward to my visit home!!!!