A Canadian Christmas

This holiday season, I got to return to Vancouver to connect with family and friends. I haven’t been home for a few years – so this occasion was particularly joyous. I had been looking forward to this week for some time – and it certainly did not disappoint. A major reason for going back home was to spend time with family. And, in part due to the weather, I managed to accomplish this!

I arrived on Saturday and was welcomed with some real cold temperatures (for Vancouver). The airplane announced that it was minus 12 upon landing. I was not ready for this – as I was hoping for a slightly warmer winter (as compared to Seoul). There was already snow on the ground as well – something else I wasn’t prepared for. In fact, this was something I was going to have to get used to fast in the next few days.

That evening we decorated the tree – which was nice to be part of again. This year’s tree was outstanding too. The following day was an open house at our house. My parents had invited family and friends to stop in during the afternoon for food and a chat. Because of the snow, several people couldn’t make it out – but that didn’t stop most of my Dad’s side of the family. I was able to catch up with aunts, uncles and cousins. It felt good to be part of those circles again.

That same day, I was able to see some of my favourite people. I drove into Surrey to meet with Ryan, Sam and John. Although our encounter was brief, (again due to the snowy roads) it was totally reassuring. I can’t wait to come home for good and see these people all the time.



I woke up the next morning (this is Monday now) to go watch soccer with my Dad at a neighbour’s house. We were actually able to watch live Premier League (Chelsea vs. Someone). The match ended in a draw but it didn’t really seem to matter. Monday evening was real fun as I went to a concert with my sister Joy downtown. Previous to my arrival, she had done some research and went ahead and bought tickets for “Jingle Bell Rock.” This tour was made up of Canadian bands – all supporting a children’s charity.

The headliner was Metric, followed by Tokyo Police Club, The Dears and Sebastian Granger. We got to witness this fantastic lineup in an equally fantastic venue. This was my first time at the Vogue on Granville – and it served to make the experience even more memorable. It’s an old theater – with cushioned seats and an upper balcony. Totally comfortable and atmospheric. The only downside was a lack of any heating. Coats, toques and gloves were all necessary.

All the artists performed well but it was Metric who really stole the show in the end. They seem to be natural performers – able to get the crowd excited. I was just as thrilled because Metric played a huge number of new songs – all from their upcoming album. I was a bit disappointed that the disc wasn’t on sale afterwards – but that didn’t stop me from picking up Tokyo Police Club’s EP and LP. Actually, before the show, I was anticipated Tokyo’s set the most. As I mentioned, they put in a strong presentation, but it lacked a massive amount of spontaneity or originality.

I think I’m gonna have to leave it here for now. I’ve written a lot already! I was not anticipating this! So this is just the first few days covered here…but I’ll be back with the next few. You can check out the pictures if you want a sneak peek of what happens next..

-Paul