Photos!

As noted in my last post, Laura and I met after work at a cafe called Death by Chocolate, and decided to walk for a while before eating. We walked from here down W est Broadway, past Laura's office, and just looking for something to pique our interest. Not too cold, and not too breezy, with a clear sky to catch glimpses down each street of the lights downtow

Image by Proggie via Flickr

n and the mountains beyond. We found this tranquil oasis behind Boston Pizza, and kept walking until we need a pitstop. That made us go into The Mongolie Grill, at Cambie. Tasty, and just what we wanted, but definitely overpriced. Unlike Mongolian Grill in Hespeler, ON, this place charged by weight, so my bowl came to $12.00, and then I went back for a second. I've since read a review that says there are better options for grill in town, for next time. Being full, we decided to walk more, all the way back to Laura's apartment! Lots of walking!! Speaking of Laura's condo, here's some pictures.

Image by roland via Flickr

Yesterday (Wednesday) was my "wait for callbacks" day. I waited, and I didn't get any. So, I unpacked clothes, washed laundry, made supper, did dishes, unpacked clothes, took out the trash, went grocery shopping, unpacked some more. A wasted day, of frantic busyness. I hate waiting.

Laura explored a shopping mall on her way home, which has a cheap grocery store (Food Basics-ish), and a drugstore and banks. She also discovered that to get insurance for her car, she has to show them her full insurance history, and it has to come from the insurance company direct. That's right - ten years of tracking through whatever insurance companies, calling them, and asking for a record to be sent. And she has 30 days, and needs a BC license. What a hassle! It looks like the car might be parked for a while. Good thing she has secure underground parking and door to door bus service!

Last night, Laura and I took a walk again (this time shorter, as it was cold), and went west, as opposed to east. We discovered a cute little cafe, that's attached to a pub and off-sales liquor store. That's right, Ontarians, a restaurant where you can buy take out alcohol. Anyways, the cafe makes everything in house (breads, pastries, yummy cream cheese cinnamon buns), and has free wi-fi. We also found another 425 (approximately) Asian restaurants in the next four blocks. Perhaps tonight we'll head south, or north?

Today, I had an interview with an optometrist, looking for an office manager. Interesting - she has a mobile practice, so no patients come to the office. The hours are part time and flexible - just put 20 hours in during working hours each week. I find out if I get the job next week, and it's not starting until April 20th, so the hunt continues.

I'm blogging from a cafe called Death by Chocolate, at the corner of W Broadway & Fir, with a great view of the mountains and the North Shore...what a great city.

Fun in Vancouver

A funny thing happened yesterday. After several rapidfire first interviews (don't call us, we'll call you), I decided to head to Gastown and find the Irish pub where an old Guelph friend now works. It was a balmy 15 Celsius Vancouver afternoon, and I strolled through downtown somewhat haphazardly, smiling and nodding at the increasing number of winos and druggies as I head towards Hastings Street.

Arriving in Gastown, I discovered the address I had for the pub was wrong, and the coins in my pocket (bus fare) were drawing some undue attention on my stroll through Blood Alley Way. It started to rain for the first time of the day, and I discoverd I had left my umbrella at the last interview. That being the last straw, I gave up, and headed for home. Then again, I wasn't really sure where home was, so I just caught a bus, rode to a Skytrain station, and rode the Skytrain to another station that felt close to home.

To my surprise, upon exiting the train station, there was a queue for free pizzas! That's right, Toscana was giving away frozen pizzas off the back of a truck as a promotion. With pizza under arm, I strolled down Nanaimo Street in search of a way home. I got there five minutes before Laura did, just in time to grab garbage bags at the dollar store.

After our free pizza dinner, Laura and I decided to take a stroll. Coffee in hand, we set out at 8:00 to discover the neighbourhood in our sweatshirts and running shoes. We found a great little grocery store (1/2 bulk barn, 1/2 corner grocer, all organic) with prices comparable to Ontario - $1.79/lb. for lean ground beef! We walked up to the Nanaimo train station, so that I could time how long it actually took.

On our way back, we found a little green space under the train tracks, and Laura stopped to admire a pretty bush. I pointed out a sign to her, the green space was called "Filipino Plaza" !?! There wasn't very much about it that was Filipino or a plaza... Almost home, walking through a quiet unlit neighbourhood, we were arguing the finer points of various run down older houses, when a drug dealer with a knife jumped out from behind a tree, scaring both of us.

Actually, it was someone's garbage out for pickup that fell over, and we made it home safely just after 9:00 for a cup of tea.

Vancouver restaurant hiring - a guide

I feel like I've been here before...print resumes at the coffee shop, canvass all the restaurants on the street start with the best and work down, meeting managers, smiling off rejections, filling out repetitive application forms with inane questions. Oh yeah, this is the same circle as Toronto '97, Guelph '99, Huntsville '00 and Guelph '06. After 12 years waiting tables, I should have seen it all...

I have, however, learned of a few things that are different in Vancouver:

1. All restaurant managers have a 3:00 Monday meeting. Do NOT disturb. Who cares who they're meeting?
2. All of the chains have their applications available online. Fill it out, no matter how inane the questions, and carry it with you. that's what separates you from the masses.
3. Most restaurants have open interviews between 9 and 11 am, even when they're not hiring. Like that's a good use of time.
4. Eating out in Vancouver is more upscale, across the board - even at Tim Horton's. But the tips aren't any better.
5. It's easier to get a job in a restaurant if you speak Chinese, Japanese or Korean, even for an Italian restaurant.
6.Even if you get a job, you need to spend $1000 on your wardrobe before you can start (unless everything you own is short, tight, black and from Mexx, Guess, Costa Blanca, Urban Behaviour, etc)
7. British Columbians are not afraid to make fun of Ontario, and brag about the mountains, even when interviewing you. Just smile and nod.
8. You can go broke on free wireless at Van cafes, buying $5.00 lattes while you wait for the next interview.
9.The transit system actually gets you where you want to go! And, if you make a mistake, you have two hours to backtrack on a transfer.
10. Knowing the GMs name before you walk in, and wearing a tie and jacket still gets you an interview, no matter how much you fail on all of the above. Thank you Google!

The hunt - Day 2

So, today is job hunt day. I am at a little cafe near Laura's office (20 minutes bus, including one transfer from home), and the resume update (email me if you need my new number), and job bank searching begins. I have a few possibilities to lock down as well, we'll see how it goes!

Vancouver High Life

Yesterday was one of the most full I've ever had, and fulfilling! In the morning, we departed Guelph for the airport on time (ish). Thanks to my parents for their support, including the shuttle run. Apologies to Laura's brother who couldn't fit in the trip to the airport, and missed out.

Checkin revealed Laura's bag was 7 pounds overweight, and mine was (sad to say) 13 pounds over. I have no excuses for having the bigger bag, excpet that my second bag was smalller!! So, some quick adjustments brought the bags under, our carryons WAY over without being weighed, the loss of my tent, and I wore/carried three coats on the plane.

The flight was uneventful, except for a bit of turbulence that set poor Mr. Jingles off. He rolled around in his carrier and pushed against the walls, looking at us with pathetic, doleful eyes. Interestingly, there was another cat across the aisle, that had flown from Halifax, and the exact seat Laura was in had been occupied by a person with a dog on the Halifax-Toronto leg. The flight crew, which still had another leg to Kamloops, must have wondered what they had signed on for!

All our abgs came through not too badly damaged, and we took a taxi to Laura's new condo, which we had not yet seen excpet for photos on the internet! The landlords met us at the dooor, and handed over keys and signed papers. In less than an hour, Laura was the new tenant in her new home. The condo was exactly as the photos described, except a bit smaller, and the view was so much better!! It was clear yesterday, and the peaks just went on for ever against the horizon!! The condo is 7 months old, and absolutely beautiful. The building is very secure (you can't get up the elevator without your key, and it only works for your floor) and still smells new. There is a small workout room, and the main floor is commercial units, with a public library, bank and grocery store already in place.

Before finishing with the landlords, the moving truck had arrived, and unloaded all of our things, mostly in exactly the same condition as shipped. So, less than 5 hours after landing, the dining table, my futon and Laura's bed were set up, and it looked more like a home. We decided to take a walk, find out what was around, get some Tylenol for Laura's headache, and maybe something to eat.

Not two doors down from the building, I stoipped Laura to point out a Chinese restaurant. This place, The ROC Restaurant, serves the best dimsum in Vancouver, really well priced. I had been introduced this summer by friends Joel and Mary (from Nanaimo), but didn't remember the name or location. Here it was the nearest restaurant to Laura's apartment! As I was explaining and staring, a lady popped her head out the door and asked if we were coming in to eat! We explained that we were taking a walk, we'd be back, and Laura asked where to find a drugstore, to buy Tylenol.

Connie,for that was the lovely lady's name, said. "Come inside, I have for you. Come, sit, I bring for you." Yes, Laura was in Vancouver less than 6 hours and already secured her own drug dealer... So, for $25, we got spicy deep-fried tofu, baby bok choy in oyster sauce, a huge bowl of chicken and mushroom congee (half of which I ate for breakfast), a large plate of Singapore noodles (most of which Laura took for lunch), all the green tea we could drink, two complimentary bowls of tapioca, and a brown paper packet of pills. And they say Vancouver living is expensive.

One last thing - the view from the 11th floor is even better by night, with the city lights twinking, and the blackness of the mountains on the horizon, and then, floating in midair, the ski runs lit for night skiing, a hovering mirage in the darkness. This is the high (rise) life!

Westward bound

In ten hours Laura and I board a plane for a new life on the West Coast, without family, absent of friends, and with no security on accommodation either. Our goods have been shipped by an untested moving agent, along with Laura's car, and may be available when we arrive at the other end. No landlords have been meant, although cheques have been sent. If all goes well, by this time tomorrow, we will have secured shelter, food, our personal possessions, and a job interview for me!

BTW, we are now opening the bidding on floor space for the Olympics at $0.99/sq. ft.

The next big move!

So, for those not yet aware, I am moving to Vancouver on Sunday, March 22. There are several reasons for this, as follows:
1. I can not afford to stay a full time student, and need to switch to distance education.
2. Distance ed. is offered at Royal Roads University in Victoria for my program.
3. My girlfriend, Laura Manuel, is taking a job transfer to Vancouver.
4. The Vancouver job market is wide open, because of the Olympics next year.

I think that's all the reasons.

So, email me for my new address and cell number, coming soon, and come see me in Vancouver!

I do not have a job yet, so I will continue to blog about my adventures in job-hunting, and any new updates for friends and family...