Recently in Personal Category

Of the many great experiences I had in Syria, some of my favourites were at family gatherings and parties. Of course, the sort of reunions that happen in the "Old Country" are far more lively than the usual Christmas get-togethers that North Americans participate in. For one thing, because I was the only one from my household in Utah to visit family in Syria, I was constantly taken from relative to relative, meeting people aged from less than a month to 80+ years. Family in Syria means not just one's aunts and uncles, but also their children's relatives. It means that I not only met people distantly related to me by 2^nd or 3^rd generational gaps, but also be met every friend, distant relative, and acquaintance of everyone else's friends, relatives, and acquaintances. I probably met 100+ different people from a wide array of backgrounds and professions: from business to dentistry. The family dynamic in Syria is broad, to say the least.

Ok, well, it's been some time since I've posted, which gives some indication as to how busy I've been, so let's use this post to update everyone on what I've been up to.
Firstly, SFU (Simon Fraser University):

This school has been amazing. Between the Cognitive Science Program and the excellent residents in its dorm community I've had a more rewarding experience in the last two months than my entire time at the university of Utah. Professors listen to students, there are numerous opportunities to expand and learn, and being on the hill is an island in a sea of urban Canada.
Another excellent thing to note about SFU's location is that I'm less than two minutes (walking) from Burnaby Mountain Park, A magical place with an excellent view of both the city and the Pacific Ocean.

Check out the view:

It's even better at night.
Now that I've posted a mini-update, I'll feel better about making updates later.
Cheers.