Money, Visa, Homestay hosts, Gifts and my lawn.

So, less than a week to go.  Acck, less than a week to go!  OH MY GOD, LESS THAN A WEEK TO GO!!!!!

I have 45 minutes to my next social event. I have way over extended myself this month and I have to at least pack. I am not packing, I am writing my blog.

I am sitting in my living room, drinking coffee, watching my lawn grow.  It has been more than three weeks since I mowed it because I have been out of town for three weekends in a row. Three weeks of beautiful, sunny weather.  Now, it is raining.  Not that I have time to mow my lawn anyway but the rain just adds insult to injury.  Why am I focusing on my lawn when I have so many other things to worry about?  Maybe it is my brain's defense mechanism to avoid blowing up from having to think about everything that needs to be done.  Or maybe that is really the only thing that needs to be done.  We'll find out in 5 days.

Here is my lovely, lush, long grass.

I have managed to do a few things in between work and social life.  I ordered  some Chinese Wuan.  Yikes.  I just had to google how to spell Yuan and found out that isn't even the real name of Chinese money.  Thanks Wikipedia!  The renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China. The yuan (Chinese: 元; pinyin: yuán) is the basic unit of the renminbi, but is also used to refer to the Chinese currency generally, especially in international contexts where "Chinese yuan" is widely used to refer to the renminbi. 

Anyway, I bought my foreign currency, whatever it is called, from a money exchange place instead of the bank for the first time.  RBC was not forthright with their exchange info and I had heard that the exchange places give better rates.

So, I used FX Connectors on Wharf St.  I had to go before work because I wasn't going to be able to go at any other time. They are in a hole in a very old, historical building that I have never even glanced at before (always taking my beautiful old city for granted). Once I finally figured out how to get to their office, it wasn't the drop in counter situation I was expecting.  I was ushered into an office for a sit down transaction. They were very nice and I have yuan now so that task is done.

This photo was taken from street level.

FX Connectors 1208 Wharf St. 
Follow the little white signs to that door on the bottom left
 (if you can figure out how to get to the staircase)

I finally got my Chinese Visa yesterday.  Single entry 30 days.  I know that one of the other people going got a five year, multi-entry visa so I am pretty sure China is dubious about my visit but one entry is all I need to convince them of my awesomeness (except for not knowing what their money is).

I emailed my host (female) to introduce myself.  She wrote back.  Here name is Lily and she has a husband and a 7 year old daughter.  She sent a photo of the family and they are beautiful.  It is the kind of family photo where they look so lovely and happy, it makes you happy to see them.  I will post it once I get up the nerve to ask for permission.

Lily says we will be visiting her husband's family for dinner once or twice as well as eating at their place.  Which brings me to gifts.  I think I mentioned that Geoff suggested smoked salmon and ice wine were favourite host gifts (not maple syrup which is what I thought would be good).  I cornered Niya once I knew that I also had a child to meet.  Niya, who is from China and will be accompanying us for one week of the field school, suggested an English picture dictionary.  Great idea.  I found one with a Canada theme.  Niya also reminded me that I should plan for an extra gift or two.

Final gift haul:  smoked salmon in a fancy box, ice wine in a not fancy box, C is for Canada book, a BC photo book and a box of empress squares from Rogers Chocolate (courtesy of my friends Chris and Cathy) in a semi-fancy box.  (I am making some wild assumptions about fancy box desirability).

Next day - since I left off about about four paragraphs ago (Saturday 9:30am-ish), I have been to a movie, lunch, bought my new camera and been to a wedding receptions (Amy and Fletcher = Flamey!).  As I said, I have overextended myself.  But now it is Sunday 9am and I don't have to be at my conference until noon so I am eyeing up the weather.  I think I can get the front yard done.  Neighbours who want to sleep in on a Sunday be damned!

Twelve hours later - I got the lawn done.  It was a wet messy hatchet job but I don't care.  Then the rest of the day at conference with lots of new people to meet and food to eat.  A good day, but I'm still not packed. 

A few quick notes on other things on my mind as I try to get myself organized: 

The cat is sick.  Why do they always get sick right before I go away.  Two trips to the vet, third and hopefully last one tomorrow.

here she is looking tiny and frail.  Recuperation nap.

My new camera.  I guess I will figure out how to use it on the plane. 

Who is going to take me to the airport and pick me up: Alisma and Valerie respectively (I have good friends).

I took the Myers-Briggs personality test last week.  We get the results on Tuesday.  I already know what my result will be.  Personality:  TBRQ - too busy to read the questions.  It said it would take 20-25 minutes.  I think I did it in 5-7 minutes. 

I'm going to bed so I guess it's time to hit 'post' on this thing.