just a little corner

Becoming a Canadian resident!

It's at this moment that all the sermons i've heard about "resident aliens" come into my head (mostly conjuring up images of Ben Carswell!) but actually I feel really at home! It's fab, particularly compared to visiting Europe cos you get to discover the funny way everything is done in a strange country but no language problems!

The story so far....


London was great, and i was really enjoying myself (just one night pre flight) then, as I was walking across Green Park, suddenly grinned to myself realising this was just a precursor to the excitement of a new city with so much to see.

Meeting the others at the airport was incredibly encouraging. The whole group was so different, including "Emma" who told the rep she positively did not want to join in with the rest of the group. Even though I don't really feel that I'm very like anyone in the group, they are so great, and we really seemed to click. Most of them have just left to go to Whistler so maybe i'm just missing them- aah- these people who are the only people who know me in this country. Same boat mentality perhaps but I love them all to bits! (man - soppy!)

New experiences all the time. Things we dont like: bank transaction charges, adding tax to prices, dinosaur mobile phone industry. Things we love: starbucks on every corner, friendly people, the mountains, the hostel, the beach being near, pizza slices only a dollar.

Talking of hostels, msot of Germany seems to have descended on our hostel this weekend, but there are some real oldies as well who have our deepest respect - im talking over 60s. Many many people checking in and out but it's a pretty good hostel - with a membership card i think its just over a tenner a night, with free breakfast - porridge, bread, muffins, bagels, coffee, fruit.

The organisation that we have come with are really helpful - advice on phones, accom, tax, jobs, dodgy areas - ask them any question and they will help you. plus they have sought out loval businesses to do deals for participants so travelling will be cheaper than i thought hopefully!

Other random things off the top of my head:

first night out -ending up in a gay bar
trouble understanding a Geordie boy as well as fast speaking Canadians (missing you already Adam!)
being offered jobs in the first coffee shop we went to
being gobsmacked that Canadians pay for incoming calls to a mobile
drinking local beer "Kokanee"..and quite liking it
paddling in the Pacific
figuring out how to cross the street - the red hand and the white man
thinking grid cities are a well good idea
thinking it's amazing to lie in til 7am (argh body clock all over the place)
trying to remember to phone England before it's midnight there! it just seems weird to think about phoning first thing in the morning!


more soon

posted by Claire @ 10:42 pm