Hi everyone, wherever in the World you may be.

(I will write this entry and all future in English so that all of you can understand it). I have now been in Canada for 11 days and I really, really like it here. I spent roughly the first week together with my parents. They picked me up at Vancouver Airport and we headed straight for the ferry to Vancouver Island. Went to bed after having been awake for 22 hours… Spent two nights in the capital of the region of British Columbia called Victoria. It has a very nice harbour where seaplanes land on the water every now and then. From Victoria we headed north and then west to the area of the Pacific Rim National Park between the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet. We stayed in a small cabin, which was very nice. Spent two days exploring the national park and going on a whale watching tour where we got to see humpback whales, sea lions and seals.

The weather changes a lot around Vancouver Island and in Vancouver as clouds with showers continually reach this region from the Pacific Ocean. However, we did have a few nice days on the island before heading back to Vancouver a few days before my move-in-date at University of British Columbia (UBC). Before coming to UBC we stayed at a hotel just south of Downtown and we went to see Grouse Mountain, which has a stunning view of the greater Vancouver area once the clouds disappear (which they, luckily for us, did). We also got to see the famous Stanley Park (including its totem poles and the Vancouver Aquarium).

On the 26th of August I moved into my room in a house at a residence called Fairview Crescent on the UBC campus. Initially, it was just me and a Canadian guy (Peter) staying here. He is doing his Ph.d. and has not been around much. Later a Turkish exchange student (Mert) moved in, and today another Canadian moved in (Colin). The house was not exactly clean to begin with, so I have spent a lot of time trying to make up for it. Now it has become bearable, and I am looking forward to sharing the tasks with the other 3(!).

Introduction to UBC started on the 28th and ended today. It has been a very nice opportunity to meet people from all over the World (I lost count of how many different nationalities I have spoken to), but also a bit stressful with some long days. The stress derives from all the practical stuff we have to do at the same time. Laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping before the stores close, getting a student ID, getting a transport card for unlimited travel in great Vancouver (which is pretty neat - was included in a fee we paid), getting a Canadian phone number, setting up a bank account, getting a bike etc. Now, I will finally have a few days off before classes start on Tuesday the 2nd of September after Labour Day.

Sorry about this very long blog entry. I will finish off by giving you my Canadian address (in case any of you feel like sending me a letter):

Michael Olesen

Fairview Crescent 2790-4

V6T 2B9

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Feel free to leave me a message and comment on the blog. Take care.

Michael