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Canada 2009 - Meet-ups/When & Where are you going?
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No
Hey all!
I've finally found some time to get online. Just wanted to give my story of the first week in Vancouver...well B.C....
Left Dublin at 6.40am via Heathrow, check-in was fine - after massive panicking on my Dad's part about how my bags would be too heavy (and making me take heaps of stuff back out
) my bags ended up being wayyyy under the weight :mad: not that they even checked the weights at the airport :rolleyes:
Flight to London was the usual, although we were circling Heathrow for ages and my ears popped horribly leaving me pretty deaf for the rest of the looonnnng day. Moving between terminals was fine, like Juvenal said before, bags went straight through so just had present myself at check-in and head through security. Procured myself a few essentials (and a bottle of Jameson) at duty-free then headed for the plane.
The cabin-crew were fantastic! So so nice - well the ones we dealt with anyway. I lucked out on seating neighbours got 2 lovely girls around my age, one either side of me and we had great craic on the flight - LOADS of films to choose from on your personal screen. Everything from the classics to Marley & Me. Food was pretty good, and the staff kept bringing refreshments and water around which was great!!
Immigration: This is where is all started to take it's toll.... 3 hours of queuing.... luckily Sean Bean was on my flight and was in immigration too so I had him just in front of me in the line to gaze at for a while 
:D at least until one of the staff recognised him and fast-tracked him to the counter..lol
It was about 4:30PM Vancouver (00:30am Dublin time) by the time I got out of the airport.. completely exhausted. I kept awake until about 9pm then passed out until 8am the following morning.
Orientation: was pretty good, they give you folders with loads of info, you fill out your SIN applications, and a girl came in with deals for mobile phones, unfortunately I don't have a credit card so couldn't get that deal but I got a decent deal with Fido in the Pacific shopping mall. Sorted out a bank account easily too, with TD Canada Trust, I had the blue swap folder in my hand when I walked in and one of the staff recognised it and set me up an account there and then
I's advise everyone to go to your orientation and any SWAP nights out. I had the orientation and 2 meet-ups in the one day and met a good few people. I was then out of the city for a week and just back to the hostel today, and meeting up with most of the people tonight. the SWAP staff are lovely and will help you with any queries you might have too.
The weather is scorching out at the moment so I'm off for a wander around the shops now. Anyone else coming to Vancouver feel free to message me if you have any questions or want someone to talk to before/when you get here!:)
Caroline0 -
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Hey all!
I've finally found some time to get online. Just wanted to give my story of the first week in Vancouver...well B.C....
Left Dublin at 6.40am via Heathrow, check-in was fine - after massive panicking on my Dad's part about how my bags would be too heavy (and making me take heaps of stuff back out) my bags ended up being wayyyy under the weight :mad: not that they even checked the weights at the airport :rolleyes:
Flight to London was the usual, although we were circling Heathrow for ages and my ears popped horribly leaving me pretty deaf for the rest of the looonnnng day. Moving between terminals was fine, like Juvenal said before, bags went straight through so just had present myself at check-in and head through security. Procured myself a few essentials (and a bottle of Jameson) at duty-free then headed for the plane.
The cabin-crew were fantastic! So so nice - well the ones we dealt with anyway. I lucked out on seating neighbours got 2 lovely girls around my age, one either side of me and we had great craic on the flight - LOADS of films to choose from on your personal screen. Everything from the classics to Marley & Me. Food was pretty good, and the staff kept bringing refreshments and water around which was great!!
Immigration: This is where is all started to take it's toll.... 3 hours of queuing.... luckily Sean Bean was on my flight and was in immigration too so I had him just in front of me in the line to gaze at for a while :D at least until one of the staff recognised him and fast-tracked him to the counter..lol
It was about 4:30PM Vancouver (00:30am Dublin time) by the time I got out of the airport.. completely exhausted. I kept awake until about 9pm then passed out until 8am the following morning.
Orientation: was pretty good, they give you folders with loads of info, you fill out your SIN applications, and a girl came in with deals for mobile phones, unfortunately I don't have a credit card so couldn't get that deal but I got a decent deal with Fido in the Pacific shopping mall. Sorted out a bank account easily too, with TD Canada Trust, I had the blue swap folder in my hand when I walked in and one of the staff recognised it and set me up an account there and then
I's advise everyone to go to your orientation and any SWAP nights out. I had the orientation and 2 meet-ups in the one day and met a good few people. I was then out of the city for a week and just back to the hostel today, and meeting up with most of the people tonight. the SWAP staff are lovely and will help you with any queries you might have too.
The weather is scorching out at the moment so I'm off for a wander around the shops now. Anyone else coming to Vancouver feel free to message me if you have any questions or want someone to talk to before/when you get here!:)
Caroline
Cazlou I think youre great! Been a member of boards for years, more a voyeur than a poster, but your posts have been really helpful and informative. Got the visa for canada recently, still trying to decide between vancouver (whistler is a serious attracrion) and toronto. Goin on me onio but really excited about meetin new people, keep up the the good work!:)0 -
I've gotten a place on the 1-year student visa programme, planning to go to Vancouver, probably in late August/early September. Was on holidays there a few years ago and I've always said I would return someday
Is there anybody who has already moved over to Vancouver? I'd love to get some tips about finding a job and a place to live, and just any advice about settling in a new city. Cheers!0 -
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GrahamThomas wrote: »Just in case there is anyone here who is still hoping to get a visa, USIT have re-opened the student programme and they are re-opening the Under-35 programme on Tuesday, 12th May.
More info here:
http://canada.usit.ie/
Cheers for that. A mate of mine said he'd go but left it too late as well. He probably still won't go but no harm in letting him know. At this stage I was fine with the idea of travelling over on my own anyway especially after hearing about all the other people going solo. All I've got left to do is book my flights to Toronto and I'm all set. 0 -
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NoGrahamThomas wrote: »I've gotten a place on the 1-year student visa programme, planning to go to Vancouver, probably in late August/early September. Was on holidays there a few years ago and I've always said I would return someday
Is there anybody who has already moved over to Vancouver? I'd love to get some tips about finding a job and a place to live, and just any advice about settling in a new city. Cheers!
Hey, I don't know about tips as such, but just a quick note,
everyone says to use craigslist for jobs and accommodation - personally I haven't found it all that great for jobs, probably depends if you're looking for something specific or not, but they're not great for responding.
I've had best responses from places that advertised on there but posted a phone number or address, and by calling into them in person I've been asked there and then to come for interview.
I also signed up with temping agencies and I've had some work with them already which is looking like it might lead to a long-term contract somewhere so I'm very happy with that.
Just thought I'd share some of my experience anyway!Cheers for that. A mate of mine said he'd go but left it too late as well. He probably still won't go but no harm in letting him know. At this stage I was fine with the idea of travelling over on my own anyway especially after hearing about all the other people going solo. All I've got left to do is book my flights to Toronto and I'm all set.
Going by your usernames I'm guessing you're lads, so you'll have no problems travelling on your own. Us lone-girls get some funny looks if we sit in a bar alone, luckily my hostel is pretty ok for that though, but lads can just pull up a stool at a bar no problem and get chatting to random peopleCaptain Morgan wrote: »This post has been deleted.0 -
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Captain Morgan wrote: »This post has been deleted.
This might not make a difference to your mate but good news is always nice! I put my name on the waiting list on May 26th and was no. 172. I just got a place about a hour ago by email... I'm goin to Vancouver:)!!
I'd say it's well worth anyone's while to give it a go.
Has anyone any advice? I just wanna chill out and enjoy it for a few weeks but will need to work soon too unfortunately I'm heading over on me own in Sept... I'll probably get a shared house (I like the look of West End & Downtown) but where's good to meet people?
Thanks guys! 0 -
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