WELCOME TO CANADA :-)
I have been here for one week and one day now. Feels longer.
MONDAY - Got into Vancouver International Airport in the afternoon - my flight was delayed by about an hour and a half. It's only about 2 hours from San Fran to Vancouver. Quick! I watched Whale Rider on the flight. I've really got to stop watching sad movies on planes... I always cry!
Got through immigration easily enough and got my work permit.
Collected my suitcase (it had an unfortunate shampoo explosion- at least it smells nice?) - it had been inspected in San Fran by the TSA.
Jumped on the Skytrain to Downtown Vancouver. I wish Melbourne had a train out to the airport!
Found my hostel easily enough - although I felt like a bit of a knob dragging my suitcase behind me. Missed my backpack! The hostel was alright. Not the best I've been to and kind of made me want to find a house straight away. It was full of Aussies. Couldn't believe it. Felt like I was back in Australia. Chatted to some people in the bar. They were nice, but I wasn't really inspired to see them again.
TUESDAY - Freezing day. Plan was to explore Downtown but I kept retreating into cafe's to escape the biting cold. I got a phone (Fido) and started looking seriously at places to live - emailed a few that looked alright and Mark got back to me pretty quickly so I went and inspected the room! I liked it! It's in Burnaby, takes about 20-30 minutes to get Downtown on the skytrain. The house is very close (2 streets away) from Holdom Station and is rather big - 2 kitchens, 6 or 7 bedrooms, 2 lounges - I think there are 9 housemates including me.
My room is huge. I need more furniture, it feels too empty! Anyway I like it. I know you're never meant to get the first house you look at, but this was exactly what I wanted so I took it. Only thing better would be if it was closer in, but being on the skytrain route makes it not a problem. It's pretty cheap - $550 a month with internet & utilities included. Sweet. If I lived in Yaletown or Gastown or Kitsilano or the West End, which would be way cooler, but twice as expensive.
Mark said I could move in straight away if I wanted, so I said I would move in the next day. Had already paid for the night at the hostel. Feeling rather happy and wondering if it could really be that easy (yes) I headed back to the hostel for my last night. Met my roommates Chris & Callum from Canberra. They invited me out for dinner with them and we had a really good night. Went down to Gastown for dinner and a few drinks at a place called Steamworks, then headed back Downtown to an Irish pub for a few more drinks. They met up with their mate Ross who is living here this year - he said he might be able to get me a job at his work. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be cool.
WEDNESDAY - I packed up(amazing how much mess I could make in two days) and moved to my new house! Easiest move ever. I just rocked up with my suitcase. Luckily the room is partly furnished - there is a double bed, cabinet and walk in robes already there. Signed the paperwork and settled in. Bought some new sheets, doona, pillows etc.
My housemates: everyone is in their mid-twenties or so.
- Mark - Canadian. Owns the house. Nice?
- Jen - Canadian. Mark's girlfriend. Kind of looks like him.
- Hannah - British. Student. Lovely. Very nice.
- Luke - British. Hannah's boyfriend.
- Dan - Canadian. In the room next to me.
- Tracy - Canadian. Moving soon. Good.
- Jess -
- Alex - Haven't met her or Jess yet, just heard their names!
There are two women, I'm guessing Jess and Alex, who I haven't met properly and who don't seem all that interested in meeting me! But the rest are really friendly. Hannah and Luke invited me to go out with them tomorrow night and to Whistler on Saturday :-)
THURSDAY - Got my bank account sorted. Vancity.
FRIDAY - Hung out with Callum. We went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was pretty cool, although at first my feet got soaked and freezing. Need new boots. The weather fined up in the afternoon though and we spent the afternoon wandering around Gastown and Yaletown before drinking at various pubs. Met up with Ross again. Good night. I think I need a break from alcohol. It's not affecting me anymore!
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