Soroptimist Convention, Vancouver

This post is not about quilting.

I just returned from 5 days at the Soroptimist International of the Americas convention in Vancouver.  It was a great time of learning and visiting with Soroptimists from US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.  Even though we're only 1/4 of the federations that make up Soroptimist International, I always feel like I'm attending an international convention because of the language differences

This was in the lobby of the hotel connected to the convention center.

Soroptimist is an organization whose mission is: improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.  We had some very moving moments.  It's very obvious that situations for women and girls need to be improved world wide.  One speaker brought out the idea that to improve the world situation we need to educate girls.  Her film about 9 girls from around the world was impressive, "Girl Rising".

 

 

Saturday evening after the convention I walked a path that followed the

shore line.  The views were beautiful.  From the hotel to Stanley Park and

back was about 5 miles.  After all the sitting it felt good and added a

lot of steps to my Fitbit!

While the convention was educational and fun, the excitement was my trip going and returning.  I were held up on the first leg of the flight because President Obama was in San Francisco and we couldn't get in to land.  Once I arrived in Vancouver I took public transportation to the hotel.  Sounds great, but when I come up above ground I had no idea were I was.  So pulling my two suitcases piggy-backed together, I walked the streets stopping often to enter a store/business and say "how do I get to ___".  I eventually arrived.  It was much easier to take public transportation to return to the airport because I knew where to go.  however, the last leg of my flight was CANCELLED.  Not late, just not even going.  So once in SF I wildly went to United and begged them to get me anywhere close.  For those of you who know me personally, I got to Bakersfield.  And family to the rescue . . . they picked me up and I met other family half way to complete the trip.  We were a tag team.  My family is wonderful!!  If one of us needs help, we all help out.  One sister, actually on her way to Las Vegas, was also involved as a middle person to keep us all connected.

 

Oh yes.  My luggage had no idea where I ended up!  It arrived in Bakersfield this morning.  They're sending it to my original airport, so hopefully I'll get it tomorrow.

It was a great 5 days!!!

Thanks for checking in.