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THE FULBRIGHT YEAR Disclaimer* This blog is not an official Fulbright Program blog. The views disclosed are my own and do not reflect those of the Fulbright Program,the U.S. Department of State, or any of its partner organizations

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2010 REFLECTIONS

I never could have predicted all the twists and turns that 2010 brought into my life. These are just a few.

January held a trip to Chicago with friend Pam to help Tony during his recuperation following the first of 3 surgeries he eventually would have over the course of the year.
Upon my return home I received word that my Fulbright application had made it through the American committee and was on its way to the Canadian.





















February and March were spent on pins and needles waiting to know whether I was going to Canada or if I was going to have to go out into the real world and get a job.While I waited, Pam and I watched alot of movies and made the preparations for her son Josh's high-school graduation.

In mid-April I was notified that I had received the Fulbright Fellowship.Lots of jumping up and down and screaming ensued before the OMGosh, now what do I do, set in.

May was a flurry of activities, between what seemed like dozens of doctor appts for my medical clearance, my birthday/Mother's Day, Josh's party, Alexis's luau, Nate's kindergarten graduation,and RV shopping.







Celebrating Josh's graduation



Uncle Tony came to Alexis's 2nd grade Hawaiian luau



Way to go Nate!



Our home away from home




Packing and preparation for our move took up most of the summer, but we still managed to enjoy a few trial runs in the RV..visit to Jim's dad at the lake, float trip with church friends and camping at Lake Paradise.

At the end of July Jim was ordained to the office of Teacher.


Eden Heights RLDS Congregation

We took to the road first week of August




Wonderful friends and family helped us on our journey.









In September I....

signed in at Simon Fraser University




and brought Mom and Alexis to see the campus (Pam's taking the pix)

said goodbye to Mom and Pam at the airport in Seattle


that just left Jim, Alexis, and me


Tearfully parted with Alexis after we found our custody papers were not adequate

A definite low point

Fulbright orientation in Ottawa






Thanksgiving with Dr.Liz Elliott and her family



October and November went by in a blur of papers and projects. I would like to say I enjoyed my classes but I was so wiped out most of the time that I felt like it was more a matter of survival than enjoyment.I lost over 10 pounds from all the stress and wondered at times if I would make it.

My tutorials for Restorative Justice 315 held the most fun. I was suprised to find that I really liked teaching. I can't say the same for grading 45 papers, but oh well,it comes with the territory.


SFU Surrey Campus where I held my tutorials

Spent a terrific Sunday afternoon with Ken and Jeanne Christopher in November



Jim flew to Missouri after his dad passed away on November 16. With 2 weeks before the end of the semester I was unable to go. While Jim was gone we had a cold spell that brought snow, frozen water pipes, a clogged toilet, and power outages (meaning no heat).





December

found me catching up on sleep and gaining back all the weight I lost.

held an amazing trip to Harrison Hot Springs for Christmas










The last day of 2010 brought a superb dinner at Siam, our favorite Thai restaurant in White Rock, and a vicious game of train


We are such party animals!

This has been a year like no other thanks to Fulbright Canada. I'm excited to see what 2011 holds.




















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About Me

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Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
In politically correct language I am called a non-traditional student or,as my mother would say, a late-bloomer. For twenty years I was a stay-at-home/home-schooling mom but surprise.. kids grow up. When my son asked me what I was going to do after he left home I told him I was sure it would involve crates of Kleenex, junk food, and a lot of self pity. He suggested college instead and I took him up on it. I graduated in Dec. 09 with a BA in Criminal Justice/Corrections from Park University in Parkville, Mo. Through internships that brought me into contact with both the victims and offenders of violent crime, I have acquired a passion to assist each in addressing issues of accountability and healing through the restorative process of victim-offender mediation. As a 2010-2011 Canada-U.S. Student Fulbright recipient I will travel this fall with my husband and granddaughter, to British Columbia where I will be attending Simon Fraser University's Graduate School of Criminology. With a superb symmetry, Mother, arbitrator of children’s squabbles has progressed to victim-offender mediator.