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Hello! It's been a very long time since I last blogged, and about 7 weeks since I arrived in Canada, so please accept this heartfelt apology for my laziness/neglect of this dear blog. I apologise. It will probably happen again.
So where do I start?! Trying to think back is a bit difficult but I will try to sort through my jumbled mind/memories (i've just got back from work, so bear with).
I arrived feeling pretty good (which was a shock as I'm usually incredibly grouchy after long haul flights. I think the fact that the inflight entertainment was just brilliant helped a lot, I was once again the annoying person laughing out loud with headphones on - Forgetting Sarah Marshall will do that to you). But then things got a bit worse as the queue to sort my VISA out was a bit of a mission. It was only small but this family from some Middle Eastern country brought $20,000 in cash over with them (wtf???) and were in a spot of bother. But anyway I digress..
I made my way to the hostel on the airporter bus (pain in the arse, 2 massive bags and a small bus, ugh ugh) and got into my room and I think I just slept for ages.. met a few nice people and planned to walk around town the next day, as I had my orientation with SWAP (BUNAC equivalent over here) the day after. I'd met a few nice people in the hostel but it was a bit irritating as most people were backpacking, or heading up to Whistler. Luckily at the orientation I met a girl called Bel, who is doing the same sort of thing as me! So I have a friend, WAYHEY! She's awesome and I'm lucky to have met her!
The orientation was BORING and if any old idiot had done any sort of research they would have been aware of practically everything that was said. Their job hunting tips etc really didnt help, they were practically no help at all, so much so that 3 weeks later, I finally got a job! A bit different to the impression BUNAC gave of them..
But it did leave 2/3 weeks to do some sightseeing. Vancouver is a great great city, I really like it. It follows the simple grid system so everything is easy to find (seriously, how did yee old englanders never think of the grid system back in the day!!) and I can actually get my head around the bus system, unlike back home. If they came on time though, that would help...
TOURISTY THINGS I DID WHEN I WAS UNEMPLOYED:
Granville Island: It was the most beautiful day (it could've been summer, not mid-October) and we got a little boat over (which they let me steer! captain kat once again!) to the island and first of all chilled out for a bit on the dock, which was beeeautiful. We then went on a wander, Granville Island has an amazing market which sells lots of gorgeous food, good meats and cheese etc - whilst I'm on the subject of cheese - I havent eaten any in SO LONG because it is horrifically priced (yes that did deserve bold, itallic and underline) a block of cheddar is about $12. £6 for a block of cheese? ARE YOU HAVING A GIRAFFE! Pah. ANYWAY, the market was luuush and I should go back there now I have a little bit of money, as we decided to spend our dollars elsewhere. And where else than the Granville Island Brewery! This place actually offers tours and the like but we just had a selection of all the beers they made (small glasses sadly) and for someone who isnt a great fan of beer, these were delicious! We then had a wander around the other small shops and headed back.. to do what I can't remember. Probably go out. The hostel provides free nights at Yuk Yuks (a comedy club downtown) so we've been going to that most Tuesdays.. seen some cracking comics, and some bloody awful ones too..anyway, onto more touristy stuff:
Bike ride round Stanley Park: Bel and I hired the coolest bikes ever and went on the bike path arond Stanley Park, in all about 9k. Even with photo breaks etc it took no time at all so we decided to carry on and cycle around the bay, and over the bridge toward Kitsilano (coincidentally I had a flat to check out in Kits). We probably did about 25k in the end, it was tiring but awesome! I love cycling on awesome bikes!
Thats about all the majorally touristy stuff I've done! Being here is literally like I've uprooted my life from England and planted it in Canada. So much so that I've even joined a netball team! We train in North Vancouver so getting there is a PAIN - so I don't go if I'm knackered - but matches are easier to get to on the skytrain in Burnaby so that's ok. Oh I think I should mention that since I joined, we've won every game ;) haha. We're called PHOENIX! Woo! The girls are all really cool, and next weekend I'm heading up to Whistler with a few of them so hopefully that will be good times.
So, working.. after a couple of days temping (creating a filing system, oh the joy!), a failed interview (they actually interviewed for 3 weeks work, stuffy b******s) and copious amounts of job applications I finally started work at the end of October at a finance company called Raymond James as an 'Administrative Associate'. I basically verify signatures, file, send lots of faxes, create ISA style accounts..it's not the most exciting job but it pays! The only bummer is having to be there for 7AM! I wake up at 5.40am everyday. And manage it! Leaving at 3pm though is great, it gives me time to go to the gym when it's not packed, come home, and still have the whole evening free.
My first work of week was pretty cool because that friday was HALLOWEEN! Oh my god they put so much effort in over here! The whole office was decked out and there was a CRAZY amount of candy. We had to dress as 'evil' hockey players, so I borrowed a Canucks jersey (the vancouver team, who apparently are rubbish) and put some bloody scars on my face, good to go. The evening however was far better, not as much candy just replace the candy with booze! I dressed up as Tinkerbell! I'd just moved into my flat so went to a house party with housemates and Bel. It was good fun but poor Bel was poorly (puked in a pumpkin haha)! The flat is cool by the way, a basement suite in Kits. Housemates are decent enough but we live beneath a family who are possibly the nosiest b******s I've ever come across! WHO THE EFF HOOVERS AT 11PM?!?!?!?!? Grrrrrrrr! So I'm on the lookout for another place but ehhh it's such an effort!
I think I'm going to have to come back and update this soon as I'm getting tired of looking at computers seeing as I'm sat at one all day at work! Peaaaaace x x
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