The M.Ed is Finished!!

After two and a half years of study, endless reading and over twenty papers written, the requirements for my M.Ed have been fulfilled. I learned so much and have grown so much as an educator and as a person. It's been a long haul and I am so glad to be done. The work involved became such a big part of my life that it feels weird not having to read an article or complete an assignment. I will definitely enjoy this summer.
A big thank you goes to my wife Jacqueline, who supported me the entire way. She not only pulled double-duty when I needed to write a paper but she also edited everything I wrote. I have to dedicate my M.Ed to her and the girls. You can check out the program I enrolled in at the University of Alberta.

Mid-Life Repairs

This is the year for some repairs to the body. First, twenty years after orthodontic braces, some of my teeth shifted enough to impact my bite. The result was constant headaches and a sore neck. Thus, the braces have been back on since January and I expect them on for another twelve months. On a positive note, the teeth are responding nicely and the headaches have already disappeared.
Secondly, my left hip has been bothering me for the past few months and physiotherapy hasn't helped. After a trip to the doctor and some x-rays, I was referred to a orthopedic specialist in Hong Kong. After an exam, I was told I need arthroscopic surgery to repair an impingement. Details can be found here. Surgery is scheduled for May 14, less than one month from my appointment with the surgeon. I feel fortunate as my surgeon is highly thought of, and he has worked on a number of high level athletes. Check out his profile here. I'll be on crutches for two weeks after surgery, followed by three months of rehab. No golf this summer!

School Photos

It's that time of year again. Here is how the girls looked this year.

Pearl River Cruise

Our second last day in Guangzhou was spent shopping at the Grandview Shopping Mall as it was raining most of the morning. In the evening we took a dinner cruise up and down the Pearl River. The views were beautiful as there are twenty bridges spanning the Pearl River and they are all lit up at night.

The cruise was a great way to spend our last evening in Guangzhou.

Yuexiu Park and Shamian Island

Day three in Guangzhou had us visiting two spots: Yuexiu Park and Shamian Island. Yuexiu Park is a huge, urban park, ninty-three hectares in size. It is full of ponds, gardens, trees and a amusement park.
Shamian Island is a unique area full of colonial buildings dating back to the 1850's. This section of Guangzhou was granted to the English and the French after they defeated the Chinese in the two Opium wars. It a peaceful and relaxing place compared to the hustle and bustle found in other parts of Guangzhou. A highlight for everyone was a visit to the Traditional Chinese Medical Center where I got a back massage, Jackie got a foot massage and Emily & Danielle had a pedicure.

Guangzhou Safari Park

We took the metro to the Chimelong Safari Park this day to check out the wildlife there. The park is huge and offers a safari on foot and also a safari on wheels. Sections of the park were dedicated to different continents and we were able to see many different animals up close. Emily and Danielle wanted to feed the giraffes with branches they had purchased (for $2.00) and the giraffe's happily obliged, picking their little branch clean in about three seconds. Another highlight were the meerkats because they were so cute; Danielle was even able to feed the little guys.

Spring Break in Guangzhou

The Varga family traveled to Guangzhou, China for spring break. Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) is a two-hour bus ride from Macau. We arrive around noon, checked-in and headed off to do some shopping in the afternoon. We visited Beijing Lu, a famous pedestrian street full of shops. There was something for everyone but Emily and Danielle found the most this day - especially shirts for the summer.