I will be staying in Vancouver/Burnaby area for the next sixteen month, doing an internship with one of locally popular companies. I think it will be beneficial for all if I were to share my experience with British Columbia, from the point of view of a college intern. The objective is to have 365 entries on this blog by the time I leave to make it into a year-long guide to Vancouver. To start, my writing might be plain and crappy, but I hope to improve as I go on.
I arrived to the BC last night to find the place just like I was told –grey and rainy. There was not a single spot of blue sky on the horizon, all cloudy and gloomy. I suppose it was not too bad, just somewhat depressing at first. The blue feel was however quickly fixed with a beautiful view from my hotel window: mountains in a sea of green. (okay, maybe not all that impressive, but you’ll soon know what i mean).
Let me interrupt that thought for a second, and switch to a scene I am witnessing right now. I am sitting a Starbuks in the Metropolis mall, watching time go by as I am waiting to go see my apartment, or more of a small room with a bed – simple and cheap, all a student needs. Anyways, so I am looking right now at two asian kids dressed up like rock stars – I probably have less in my bank account than these guys are wearing. One of them is clearly checking out some girl sitting not so far from me, while being reassured by his buddy “man, you look sooooo goood”. I find it hilarious how these kids don’t realize that it’s what’s inside that counts. But on the big picture, walking around last night I found a very similar picture all over – young kids driving expensive cards, very well dressed, nose up, and behave like they own the place. It is kind of disturbing, but perhaps it’s the first impression.
Back to Vancouver though. I would like to spend a minute here and say something about moving. Let’s just say my move was cross-country, and although the company has provided me with plenty of relocation money, it turns out not to be all so much. My original plan was to buy a cheap ($300) ticket to Seattle, rent a car and then drive to Burnaby, with a total cost of about $500. However, as I was religiously checking Craig’s list looking for place to stay, it soon became apparent that everything wasn’t going to be so easy.
Finding rent here is not too difficult, if you’re willing to pay $1800/month and pick a place blindingly. If, however, you’re looking for something under a 1000/month, things get tough. You might get lucky, as somebody I know once did, but generally you will have to be very quick in your choices as places go fast! As I was still in exams and my time was limited, after looking for about 2 hours a day for 3 days in a row, I had a set of about 40 web-links. Separating them into temporary/full-time place, close to work vs. downtown Vancouver, and certain other criteria, I ended up with about 10 to contact. To my disappointment, only 3 were available. Actually, it wasn’t so bad if I were to take it right away as I said, but instead I waited for a whole other week hoping for something better to turn up. While I was waiting, all the flights to Seattle rose up to 600 making it pointless for me to stick to the original plant. Instead, I had to take a direct flight to Van city for about $1100. A bit expensive, eh?
As you might know, going on international flight you can only take two suitcases, each under 50lb, and yet my room is a bit bigger than that. The company recommended that I bring as much as possible to make me comfortable. So I did. I UPS-mailed about $400 worth of stuff: bike, guitar, ice skates, snowboard, and a load of boxes full of stuff. It was a good idea to mail that stuff as it was actually pretty cheap for the amount I mailed, what was stupid was to send it all to a UPS store in Burnaby. Now I need to bring it all home somehow, and I don’t have a car. Well, I guess that’s what Zip Cars are for, right?!
O, I must mentioned – taxi ride from the airport was $40 – I couldn’t figure out if the meter was counting miles or counting seconds, it was clicking that fast.
Anyways, I am almost ready to go find a place that I am staying in. I will do my best to update this every day with daily going-ons. If you have any questions and suggestions, please let me know as I’d like to make it as good as possible. Let’s make this blog and experience for all of us.
O, and I took some pictures today, but unfortunately the cable that connects my camera to my laptop is still in the box on its way here.
