A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

We are finally nearing the end of our course.



Today, each student will give a 8 to 10 minute oral presentation. They've been researching a Vancouver business where they have personally spent money. Then, the course summary and final examinations will take place tomorrow!

Labels: BCIT, students

As I pasted in yesterday's entry, I couldn't help noticing the old address. How we ended up there is a bit of a story that needs telling.

In July of 1996, an airplane landed at YVR from Dubai. We carried only the name of a hotel and a few suitcases. While overseas, we had looked and called to reserve a cheap hotel in Vancouver. We'd had a Vacouver tourist book for at least a year. Yet, we certainly didn't know much about the area.

A taxi driver dutifully brought us from the airport to the Patricia Hotel on Hasting Street. The facilities seemed adequate as we'd booked for a week. Not having a clue as to where we would eventually move, we figured that 'budget' was the way to go. We didn't know that we had picked a part of Vancouver which is often referred to as Canada's worst postal code. We could view the waterfront but, from our third story window, we could also see hookers and drug dealers. It was quite an eye-opening welcome to Canada!

Then, we scanned the newspapers and found an "agency" that would provide lists of rental apartments. We paid a small fee and walked away with a listing that would contain the apartment which we'd eventually first rent.



The next step involved searching around for those places. We did this by transit and had come to know the SkyTrain. We marked off places which were near the Expo Line. One such place was in New Westminster. We settled on an Agnes Street address as the price was $550 per month and it was just 25 minutes from downtown. A week later, I rented a car so we could lug suitcases to the new dwelling which was, of course, without furniture.

Over the next two years we came to love our adopted, small city and purchased an apartment that is within sight of this initial living space.

Labels: New Westminster, transit

It was time to search for a bit of personal, historical data to include on the blog. The following text was faxed exactly nine years ago today. It doesn't seem possible that we've already been in Canada that long. This letter turned into work. I contracted with this educational organization to develop an ESL course for visiting International students. Marie Tompkin was CEO of Pitman Business College at the time. I greatly admired her managerial and educational prowess. Subsequently, she sold the business and now its form, location, and goals differ. Still, I can fondly look back at a year there. I moved right from Pitman to teaching at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in the autumn of 1997.

The web link and email address contained below are no longer valid.

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#903 838 Agnes Street
New Westminster, BC V3M 6R3
Telephone: (604) 524-6197
Internet Email: dhurd@intergate.bc.ca

August 11, 1996

Director, Human Resources
Pitman Business College
Fax: 685-9879

Dear sir/madam,

I have recently arrived in the Vancouver area. For the previous fifteen years, I have been involved in extensive ESL teaching in the Persian Gulf. My most recent five years have been spent with the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates. This is a trend-setting, post educational institution and it was very professionally rewarding to work there.

Now, I would like to be considered for employment with Pitman. I feel that my experiences will integrate well with your objectives. I am an excellent teacher in a classroom environment. My prior involvement with computer instruction, as well as, experience in creating and implementing teaching materials will be an asset for institution.

Please feel free to take a look at the web version of my résumé. It utilises browser frames and is available at http://intergate.bc.ca/personal/dhurd/. Additionally, I would like to forward letters of reference or other materials that will give you a better idea of my qualifications. I look forward to setting up an appointment so we may discuss how I can best contribute to the goals of Pitman Business College.

Respectfully,

Dennis S. Hurd

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Labels: file archives

Visiting the fruit and vegetable shops are a pleasure this time of year. While during the winters we rely on imports, August is the optimum time for local fruit. There are still cherries in abundance. What some people in other places may not know is British Columbia also produces a large variety of Okanagan fruit.


Even wild blackberries despite their rogue reputation can be delicious.

Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, road trip

Mr. Ken Greenbaum, went to Sunapee, NH with a freshly minted teaching degree. At a mere 22 years old, he ended up teaching 5th grade. I was a student in his 5th grade class in 1969/70. Now the 11 years between our ages are't nearly as much . . . at least as a percentage. (If that's not mathematically correct, then blame him for my weak skills.)



I met Ken and his wife in Vancouver yesterday. They had come to town a few nights early. At 5:00 pm they departed on a Princess cruise ship bound for Alaska. Although they had seen much of the city because of a whirlwind tour on Sunday, we walked to Gastown. I'd like to thank the Greenbaums for picking up the cheque for lunch at 'The Spaghetti Factory'. The next time they're in town, it'll be my treat.

Labels: Alaska, New Hampshire, Sunapee

Not long ago, I put this picture in 'My Daily Picture Parade' on Flickr. For the love of hamsters! The hamster clan quickly made it the most viewed. Okay, I will admit he is slightly more interesting to look at than the photo of a planter.

In fact, the picture proved to be so popular, I had scout around for an older photo that featured such a creature.

Labels: Daily Picture Parade, Flickr, pets

There are two main reasons why the following picture is included today:

1) I create most entries during the evening before posting. After a seven-hour teaching day, I don't have much imagination. It's easy to simply find a picture to scan.

2) My sister would never read my blog unless I email her a reason. Because of this photo taken in the fall of 1978, she'll want to look here.