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Samstag, 30. Juli 2011
The first days in Vancouver
canadiantour, 09:45h
So this time I will include into my entry some hints for following backpackers...
as I've said on the flight Toronto something more exciting happened as I had a little talk with the customs xD =D and here my first hint: never take a pepper spray with you, at least not one that is against humans. Due to my honesty I admitted to have one with me...so opened my luggage and it turned out be that it is for animale-use only. So it is no problem to import that. Altogehter I can say that the Canadians, even the customs officer, are always kind, polite and gentle.
If you are standing on the street, map in hand, within a few secondes someone will ask you whether you need help. it is really amazing and something I love here in Canada.
The city itself I like as well a lot. It is overwhelming to see the sea and bejond the mountains; Vancouver is despite some skyscapers a quite green city.
So on July 28 I've visited togehter with two other stepin-members from Germany the introductory seminar in the SWAP office. It contained some good information, e.g. where to go the best for a bank account and mobile phones.
And that was the main thing the three of us occupied ourselves with this day. I've got now a Canadian mobile phone with a canadian sim-card and for 25 dollars per months i can call as long as I like and i dont have to pay if someone calls me. Actually you namely have to pay for incoming phone calls...
Hint: You can check already in Germay, if your German mobile phone will work in Canada.
And I've realised that you seem to get along with mastercard better than with Visa. It also seems that even if youve got DKB cash (that actually means that you can withdraw money from a cash point for free), the machine takes 1-2 dollars....
In total its quite expensive here. Something really annoying is that almost everywhere there are no taxes included in the price... so the article/food costs always more than it is labelled.
In the evening I was really somehow desperate and worried because of everything what was going on. I still cannot imagine that I wanna stay here for 10 months...
July 29:
During the night I was quite tense... I was so nervous because I wondered whether I am be able to repack by rucksack and whether I manage it to get everything (and myself ^^) to the new hostel.... and whether the new hostel will be fine. So many thoughts in my head, actually everything unnecessary. I think, gradually I get along with everything much better. The time Ive got a job, it only can get better ;)
Well everything went fine after breakfast. The best thing was, that someone of the same hostel also wanted in the direction as I wanted. He is from New Zealand and we had a lovely chat =D He told my about "Faresavers", which are the most cheapest tickets you can get. And he said something about Tourguys (free sightseeing tour or sth.; Ill have to check that on the internet myself).
Well, on Metrotown-Station we seperated and there I was picked up by the hostel owner for free... it took a while because I didnt understand where exactly I have to wait x)
And then I just settled in the new hostel. There are nice people from Netherlands (Sophie and her boyfriend) who gave me as well a lot of tips.
With them I went to Vancouver Downtown later on. I met Tanja at the Samesun to go with her again to SWAP for the Resume. The woman there corrected mine and I printed it now about 30 times... so hopefully among the 30 shops etc. Ill give my resume to Ill be taken.
I want to try it next week in Metropolis shopping centre to find a job. Would be great, for it is only a short walk away from my new hostel.
Well, at 04.30 pm I actually wanted to meet a canadian woman in front of my old hostel, but it turned out later that we both were at different places - again it was my mistake ^^ perhaps well meet somewhen else.
Instead I visited with Tanja Chinatown and we walked along Pacific Boulevard. Was really, really beautiful there.
At the moment is gay parade, by the way. We got a short glance at that. But I really had to go home to do some other stuff, like taking a shower and things...
The most embarassing thing what happened in the end, was that I almost forgot which room i have in the hostel xD =D i am still confused with this new style of life.
as I've said on the flight Toronto something more exciting happened as I had a little talk with the customs xD =D and here my first hint: never take a pepper spray with you, at least not one that is against humans. Due to my honesty I admitted to have one with me...so opened my luggage and it turned out be that it is for animale-use only. So it is no problem to import that. Altogehter I can say that the Canadians, even the customs officer, are always kind, polite and gentle.
If you are standing on the street, map in hand, within a few secondes someone will ask you whether you need help. it is really amazing and something I love here in Canada.
The city itself I like as well a lot. It is overwhelming to see the sea and bejond the mountains; Vancouver is despite some skyscapers a quite green city.
So on July 28 I've visited togehter with two other stepin-members from Germany the introductory seminar in the SWAP office. It contained some good information, e.g. where to go the best for a bank account and mobile phones.
And that was the main thing the three of us occupied ourselves with this day. I've got now a Canadian mobile phone with a canadian sim-card and for 25 dollars per months i can call as long as I like and i dont have to pay if someone calls me. Actually you namely have to pay for incoming phone calls...
Hint: You can check already in Germay, if your German mobile phone will work in Canada.
And I've realised that you seem to get along with mastercard better than with Visa. It also seems that even if youve got DKB cash (that actually means that you can withdraw money from a cash point for free), the machine takes 1-2 dollars....
In total its quite expensive here. Something really annoying is that almost everywhere there are no taxes included in the price... so the article/food costs always more than it is labelled.
In the evening I was really somehow desperate and worried because of everything what was going on. I still cannot imagine that I wanna stay here for 10 months...
July 29:
During the night I was quite tense... I was so nervous because I wondered whether I am be able to repack by rucksack and whether I manage it to get everything (and myself ^^) to the new hostel.... and whether the new hostel will be fine. So many thoughts in my head, actually everything unnecessary. I think, gradually I get along with everything much better. The time Ive got a job, it only can get better ;)
Well everything went fine after breakfast. The best thing was, that someone of the same hostel also wanted in the direction as I wanted. He is from New Zealand and we had a lovely chat =D He told my about "Faresavers", which are the most cheapest tickets you can get. And he said something about Tourguys (free sightseeing tour or sth.; Ill have to check that on the internet myself).
Well, on Metrotown-Station we seperated and there I was picked up by the hostel owner for free... it took a while because I didnt understand where exactly I have to wait x)
And then I just settled in the new hostel. There are nice people from Netherlands (Sophie and her boyfriend) who gave me as well a lot of tips.
With them I went to Vancouver Downtown later on. I met Tanja at the Samesun to go with her again to SWAP for the Resume. The woman there corrected mine and I printed it now about 30 times... so hopefully among the 30 shops etc. Ill give my resume to Ill be taken.
I want to try it next week in Metropolis shopping centre to find a job. Would be great, for it is only a short walk away from my new hostel.
Well, at 04.30 pm I actually wanted to meet a canadian woman in front of my old hostel, but it turned out later that we both were at different places - again it was my mistake ^^ perhaps well meet somewhen else.
Instead I visited with Tanja Chinatown and we walked along Pacific Boulevard. Was really, really beautiful there.
At the moment is gay parade, by the way. We got a short glance at that. But I really had to go home to do some other stuff, like taking a shower and things...
The most embarassing thing what happened in the end, was that I almost forgot which room i have in the hostel xD =D i am still confused with this new style of life.
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