A year later

It seems like inspiration runs very dry in Canada as the posts abruptly stopped. Part of the reason could be the whirl of activity that we were plugged into after our sabbatical: work, master's courses for both of us, social life picking up more intentionally and perhaps some blogging ennui.

  

A few quick updates: 

- We're settled into a cute little townhouse in Surrey. Nothing fancy but it's comfy and central to all our various locations that we travel to between subbing and working and going to classes. It's a bit far from downtown Vancouver for my liking considering I work there and most of our social life is there but we're making it work. After all, for a TCK (or a 7 if you're into the Enneagram) nothing is permanent! 

- I'm working at an ESL school downtown where I've got the nicest group of students! 

- I'm in my second semester at SFU getting a Masters in Education, TEAL stream. Scott's in his third semester of his Master's program through Queens. He's got one (maybe two) after this. Lucky duck. 

That's pretty much it. In 2016, I read another 50 books (again, finishing a mere day before New Years. However, I don't feel very much like going into all the details. I read a few too many fluff books which is a bit embarrassing but when I'm on the skytrain at 7 AM or when I'm wiped from reading heavy academic papers, the last thing I want to do is crack open anything heavy. 

My top five (really the only five to leave a lasting impression) were: 

1. The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag

2. Dear Enemy by Jean Webster

3. Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

4. News from the Clouds by Robert Llewellyn 

5. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

- Menna van Praag was my jewel find of 2016. Quirky, British, feminist: all wonderful things when wrapped up together and The House at the End of Hope Street was like feminism meets Harry Potter in Cambridge. Lovely. 

- Dear Enemy is the lesser know sequel to Daddy Long Legs, a childhood favorite of mine. What happens when Jerusha Abbot marries her mysterious benefactor, buys the orphanage she grew up with it and puts it in the hand of a rather flighty but well-meaning friend?  Definitely a must read if you like the first one. 

- News from the Clouds: third in the trilogy I started in 2015. Just as excellent and incisive as the first two (although the second remains my favorite...and not just because women rule the world!) 

- I hesitated to include We Should All Be Feminists because frankly, her Ted talk by the same name is even better (and almost word for word) because you get her emotion, intonation and passion much more clearly. But either are recommended as are her other great speeches! 

I think I've gotten into a good habit of reading again and although I'll continue the 50 books-a-year challenge on Goodreads, I'm going to only mention the books I like here and not bother with the ones I didn't as I don't think I'll be relying on this for accountability. I'm currently two books ahead of schedule and with some exciting travels coming up this summer, I should be good to stay abreast of my challenge. 

My favorite book so far is Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson ( a female cousin of the much more famous Robert Louis Stevenson (of Treasure Island fame).