Labour (notice the locally correct spelling) Day in BC

As most know Alexis had to return to Missouri this weekend. Jim returned at 1:00 this morning after 30 hours of round trip travel. Frankly I've been too upset to even blog but I think I'm beginning to gain some perspective and can hopefully not rant or whine when I address the circumstances regarding her return home.

Jim and I obtained the paperwork, per instructions given by the local elementary school, needed to make custodial decisions on Alexis's behalf, including enrollment in school. What they,and until this week, we were unaware of, is that these documents were not legal internationally. Upon enrolling her in school her documents were sent to an "international education committee"(I'm sure there is an official organizational title, but I'm not sure exactly what it is) informed us that our custodial status over her is not recognized in Canada and that we had two choices in the matter, 1. Go to the BC government and begin the process of legally adopting her....umm, not an option, thank you or 2. pay $12,000 for 9 months of education. Neither options were acceptable and while we could have possibly fought this had we the time or money(of which we have neither) I personally did not want to find myself at odds with the Canadian government that, along with the U.S. State Department is responsible for bringing me to BC.

So, in less than three days we bought a round trip ticket for Jim and a one-way ticket for Alexis, packed four huge bags filled with as many of her belongings as we could stuff in them, and with many tears,had Jim escort her to KC. Words really can't express how sad I am to see her go but with the situation we were faced with I'm not sure what other options we had.





PICTURES FROM THE PAST WEEK





One of the last really warm days that we had



Alexis and Lauren

Criminology Dept. at SFU

Alexis spent the entire day with me while I attended the new graduate student orientation. Even though she was bored she was a real trooper. Numerous individuals commented on her wonderful behavior and teased her about being the youngest graduate student they'd ever met!

Scenes from around campus

A rainy BC day traveling to and from the Burnaby campus

The signs points out a 12.5% grade. Fun, fun, in the snow!

Slippery when wet

Two days later the sun is back

Summer is over, my first class, Criminological Theories, starts tomorow.

ALEXIS

DOGWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Alexis is now enrolled in the third grade at Dogwood. Her first day of school is next Tuesday.She would start today if she could...she's very anxious to be with other kids.

I also signed her up for before and after school care. Trudy, the director is super sweet and made Alexis feel very welcome.

Alexis still has the moves. She kept this handstand up for a full minute.

" What if I should fall right through the center of the Earth...oh, and come out the other side where people walk upside down" Alice in Wonderland




Hanging off the monkey bars at the Dogwood Park playground

After my wimpy attempt at pushing her on the merry-go-round Alexis decided she could go faster if she did it herself

Just swingin

Alexis prefers an upside down view of the world

A striking pose from the top of the jungle jim

Sunday

View from the Vancouver Community of Christ church. Our friends will be happy to know that we finally made it to church. Not only did we drive straight to it without any mishaps, but we were an hour early.

After two weeks of mostly warm weather, the past few days have been chilly enough to warrant sweaters and long sleeves. Alexis is just not willing to give up on summer quite yet.

We have enjoyed getting to talk with more and more of our loved ones on Skype. Currently Candy, Tony, Pam, and the Heides have it downloaded to their computers. (No, I'm not a paid spokesperson for Skype nor do I have stock in it,I'm just all about free goodies) If you happen to get on Skype you can find us under apianist61

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-computer/windows/

AND THEN THERE WAS THREE

Seattle skyline

We left at 6:30 this morning to take Mom and Pam to the airport in Seattle

Port of Seattle

Saying goodbye at SEATAC airport

It has been a wonderful three weeks spent with my Mom and dear friend Pam. We have so appreciated the help that they have been to us as we have had so much to do to get settled. There were a few tears as the time to leave drew near but they were tempered by a sense of great thankfulness that we have had this time together.

It was a beautiful drive through Washington as we headed back to BC

Heading North on I-5 close to Bellingham

Jim and Alexis at the seaport in Blaine, WA



Alexis and me, Blaine, Washington...a stones throw from the border




The excrutiatingly long wait at the border crossing

Our home away from home Surrey, BC

The view from about two blocks down the street

Surrey, BC









Nine hours later we're almost home

It's a little bit scary that we're all alone now. It's been so much fun to have so many of our loved ones with us. While I am really excited to get school under way I'm going to miss the daily conversations with Mom as I drove home from classes each day.

A faintly visible Space needle in Seattle

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Mom, Alexis, and me at SFU Burnaby Campus

Alexis taking in the sights from the top of SFU's patio balcony

Jim left bright and early this morning for his first day on the job. He said he made it to work in about thirty minutes but it took forty-five coming home through HWY 1 construction. His day went well with the work being much like his job at home. It was the accents of many of his co-workers and customers that threw him for a loop. He said he had to listen really carefully to understand what people were saying especially if he was on the phone with them.

Mom, Pam,Alexis, and I spent much of the day at SFU trying to wrap up the loose ends that I couldn't get accomplished last week. While the girls shopped in the bookstore I went to the registrar's office and got my school ID. I got a bit turned around trying to take them to the Criminology dept and poor Pam ended up having to walk what seemed like miles. After talking to three different people, each getting us closer to our destination, we finally made it. Everyone was able to sit and rest up for the walk back to the car while I took care of some business at the CRIM office. I now have the keycard that gets me into the MA office as well as my own little key to my own special drawer in the office.

The only thing that is still undecided is the parking arrangements which come at a premium. To park in the blisters on top of blisters on top of blisters parking lot is $270.00 per semester. To park in the "it only hurts when I walk" lot is about$379.00. I may be eligible for a discount as a TA so I need to have my dept. email parking services a copy of my teaching contract to get a price break of sorts. Thursday 9/2 is the graduate student orientation so I should be able to get it dealt with then.

I guess fall comes earlier here as trees are starting to turn. The mornings are becoming noticeably cooler although it still warms up lovely in the afternoon. Alexis wants to go swimming every day no matter chilly the day has been so Mimi took her to the pool tonight thinking that once she "freezes her buns" a bit so she will realize that it really isn't as warm as the week we arrived and will quit asking to go. Somehow I don't think the cool air is going to dissuade her. As long as the pool is open (September 30) ..(I told you that folks here are hardy) she'll want to be in it.

SATURDAY

It took four hours of sitting and pacing, going across the street to Subway for refreshments, pacing some more, and reaffirming to the pleasant young man that we would not come back to his store for a fourth day if they had not provided us cell phones before we left. I'm so thankful that we had Pam as a witness because no one would believe the rigamarole you have to go through. Jim,very nicely told them that if this was what Americans had to go through to get a phone in the states, there would be rioting in the streets...I don't think they believed him.

Success! We each have a cell phone...under totally different plans (don't ask, the reason is so crazy you would think I'm lying)but at least we have phones. Sorry, it's just for local numbers we aren't rich enough to buy a plan that has international calling!

We do have Skype up and running. I am apianist61. It is super easy to download, so far Tony and Pam have it on their computers.

If I haven't mentioned it already, BC is beautiful, I think at this point, that it is this fact that is making all the wildness of trying to get settled worth it.

We are going to try once more to make it to church tomorrow. Pam has emailed the pastor of the congregation that we couldn't find last week and if we don't hear anything from him we will attempt to find the Vancouver branch instead.

I am thinking about setting up a separate blog acct or something where I can chronicle my experiences of living in an RV park rather than use my Fulbright blog. A professor at Park University, when he found out my living arrangements in BC, told me that there was a book to be written about life in an RV park and he expected me to write it. I just laughed at the time and thought...who would want to read about that?....I'm beginning to think he may have a point..I don't know if I can really keep up with all the writing and school and Alexis's schedule,but I may try.