First Day of School

Today, August 28th was the first full day of school for the 2013-2014 school year.  It was not really my first day as Middle School Principal.  It all went well, I think. There were a few glitches, but that's something we'll figure out and do better next year.  I'm VERY grateful for the experienced teachers in the Middle School!  We shall go onward and forward!  

Here I'm sitting in my office.  

Bulletin board.  Not much on it yet but I'll work on it.  

Come in and have a seat!

Hana and our walks. :)

This fellow was on my screen.  It's a cicada, which is the animal making that sound on the video in the last post.  

So, it's been a while since my last blog entry.  I'm pretty much into the routine again, although the learning curve is fairly high, I am establishing a routine. 
One routine that I have picked up from last school year is going over to the VanderHaak's to take Hana on a walk.  The first time I saw her after I got back to Japan, she was pretty excited.  I'm not sure if it's excitement to see me, or excitement for the walk that I probably represent.  

Here are a few pictures I took on some of the walks we've taken.  

Some days its really busy down by the river.

One day I saw this man taking a nap on a bench.

Hana loves to go into the water to cool down.  I'll walk in with her sometimes.  

Lots of other folks go into the water too.  

I noticed that the path along the river was quite overgrown in parts.

There were lots of garden plots being worked on.

Some parts of our walk are clear and easy walking.  

Look at how the garden grows!  

Walking Hana is great exercise and she's a great dog to take on a walk.  She's a great companion, even if she likes to stop and sniff.  :)  

Sounds at CAJ

I have been back in Japan for almost a week.  I have been able to pretty much adjust to the correct day and night times.  It took a bit to get used to the heat, which was the hottest in Japan, all summer this past weekend.
I have also been working in my new office, decorating (although not a whole lot to decorate with), re-arranging furniture, writing curriculum, preparing for new teacher orientation and teacher in-service, as well as the beginning of school.
Earlier this week I read a devotional from the Today, dated August 12, 2013 about all of creation praising the Lord!  Today I walked out of CAJ's building to go home when I stopped and listened for a bit.  I took a video so you can see and hear as well.  Sorry if the video goes a little quick, but at least listen.

All that has breath, Praise the Lord!

Vancouver, BC

August 1st, I spent the day in Vancouver, British Columbia.  It was a beautiful day!  My friend, Joyce came to pick me up here in Langley and we toodled off to the West Coast Express Ridge Meadows train station.  Bonus was, we had free parking because the debit/credit part of the ticket machines weren't working!  

West Coast Express

The West Coast Express is a pretty smooth ride into Vancouver to the Waterfront station.  I had never ridden that train and really did enjoy seeing that part of the Fraser Valley.  
Once we hopped off of the train, we stopped for some breakfast and then headed to Canada Place to go see the Fly Over Canada movies.  

Fly Over Canada

The Fly Over Canada movies were very nicely done, showcasing Canada and it's diversity in people and landscape.  It was quite short, only about 30 minutes which includes the two movies and moving from one theater to the other.  After watching the movies,  there was this an exhibit on the War of 1812 that was quite neat to watch.  

West side of Canada Place

We walked around Canada Place looking at the scenery.  Vancouver is in a beautiful setting.  

Part of Stanley Park and North Vancouver

Vancouver

Canada Place is also a port for cruise ships.  There was only one cruise ship docked while we were there.  It was the Silver Shadow.  They were busy cleaning up the ship.  We saw workers mopping floors and cleaning windows.  

Silver Shadow Cruise Ship

Canada Place from the north side.

We also walked on over to the Vancouver Convention Center.  It was built partially due to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  The cauldron that was used in the opening and closing ceremonies is located in the Jack Poole Plaza.  

Rain drop at the Convention Center

Olympic cauldron in Jack Poole Plaza

For Your Information

We also took the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay and had some fish and chips for lunch.  We headed back to the other side and went to Gastown to wander around and check out the shops.

Gassy Jack” Deighton

We walked back to Watertown station and caught the West Coast Express back to Ridge Meadows. 

Lots of trains and containers!

It was a fun, calm day just walking around a small part of Vancouver.  I felt blessed and refreshed by the end of the day.