Canada, a country where being polite is normal

Eagle has landed, I repeat, Eagle has landed... 

I landed in a Calgary International Airport on a late night of October 7th. It was a pretty long trip. First bus from Split to Zagreb and then flight Zagreb - Munich -  Halifax - Calgary. All in all trip lasted for about 32 hours with layovers. Of course you can arrive for a lot less (for example, Split-London-Calgary) time but it costs more. This way I saved a few bucks that I can now recklessly spend in the Banff National Park on eating out, renting a car and driving around. 

Back at home there was a lot of saying goodbyes, some tears and in general people where more nervous than me. I had a feeling like I'm packing for a usual week in a mountains. Some family/friends announced that they'll be coming as soon as I settle down, especially if I end up in Vancouver. Some of them are waiting for me to pave the road so they can also try they luck in Canada. I promised to my parents to buy them tickets for flying over after a couple of months but mom refused. She is very afraid of flying (for that matter driving through tunnels also). Only option remaining then is buying some boat so she can row to Canada.

First sight of Canadian soil

It is only my sixth day in Canada and yet a lot of things have happened already. In a Munich airport I meet an older couple from Halifax, NS. Slavko immigrated to Canada from Pag Island, Croatia. We had a long chat about everything and while we were saying goodbye in Halifax he offered me to come with them for a cup of coffee while my 4 hour layover. He also gave me a contact and said if I get in trouble money wise I can come to Nova Scotia and work for his brothers company as an electrician (don't need to mention I have very limited hands on experience).

In Calgary I meet some couple while waiting for a Ctrain. Of course, they randomly asked me where am I going, where I'm from etc. and while saying goodbye they gave me a contact number if I need any help around town or just wanna grab a beer. Courtney (a couchsurfing lady) said she is not able to host me immediately, but she and her husband have a Thanksgiving dinner with some friends and offered to join in. Helping in the streets if somebody sees that you're lost, kindness of every clerk I met so far, sales people sending you to competition's store because they can meet my requirements 100%...it is just a fragment of the atmosphere you feel in this country of immigrants. I understand that some politeness is just for the sake of being polite but changes nothing. This urge to help somebody with just a word or two is something that is still fascinating to me. I know that should be normal, people helping people in some way or form, but I suppose too much time in a different environment. I just hope they're not on some kind of a happy drug, because I don't like drugs :D

Wicked Hostel, Calgary

For my first two nights I booked a bed in a Wicked Hostel. The interesting thing is that there are only 4 hostels in Calgary, a town of a million and two hundred thousand people. It is a really nice hostel with a beautiful people working there. Breakfast with amongst others unlimited nutella, peanut butter and pancakes is something that makes your day nicer. Staff also made a Thanksgiving dinner with a ton of a delicious food. Backpackers were amazed and I can only imagine what would happen if they try well prepared peka. I hope nobody would get a heart attack. Hostels are a great place to start something like this. You have a bunch of people with similar stories and you don't feel alone for a one second. During my 5 nights in a Wicked I met a lot of good people from all around the world. Russian guy if you're reading this, thumbs up.

On a first day in Calgary I informed companies I had arrangements for interviews  that I landed and gave me them my Canadian number. After 10 minutes a response came from an a owner of one small company from Vancouver. Dan (the owner) told me to call him whenever I want (it was Saturday mid afternoon) and if he doesn't answer immediately that he is with his child on a hockey trainings. At first it came as a shock to me, for someone to answer on a weekend afternoon let alone willing to do a phone interview. I didn't call him right away because it was my first interview and I wasn't prepared enough. I call him on a Sunday evening. He didn't respond. In a meantime I went with hostel buddies in an Irish pub for a chicken wings (special price 1,50 $ for 10 pieces) and a craft beer (liter for 8-9 $). In the middle of a buffalo spicy wing my phone rang. I went outside and call him back. That interview was a more of an informal conversation. He asked me when I'm coming to Vancouver and said they have more jobs than they have the manpower and I start as soon as I arrive in Vancouver. Job will be rope access. Pay will be minimum of an 18 $/h and rest we will negotiate face two face. Dan if you're reading this, I'll be a great worker :D

Calgary Downtown

I had some option to work in Calgary as a tile setter for a good money and also one more interview to do in Calgary and two more in Vancouver. I took a day to think about it properly and decide should I stay in Calgary or depart for Vancouver. Dice rolled on a Vancouver. To be honest, I think that dice rolled a long time ago. The only thing I needed to do is to think about how to come to Vancouver. Bus is cheapest, airplane is quickest, but all of that takes the fun out of it. Like an every responsible emigrant during a dinner I choose to rent a car with a random french guy from the hostel I met 10 minutes ago and go to the mountains for 6 days to spend money. Ok, and to see some beautiful nature.

Yesterday we picked up our Toyota, packed our stuff and that was it. Luckily he drove across the States so he knows the rules and is used to automatic. We didn't have any plans (still don't have), just go around and if possible do some hikes every day. Same day there was a job fair in Banff so we gave a ride for two girls from the hostel. Even though full season in Banff is in summer time there is a lot of people right now searching for some kind of job so they can spend a winter vacation in Banff. We reunited with a two Swiss from the hostel and made them to come with us for a 3 hour hike on the Sulphur mountain. It was a really beautiful day with staggering views, especially in a last hours of sun. 

Banff, AB

Today I think we are going for one long hike close to Banff, a round tour around Mount Edith. It is 9 AM a nobody is awake yet and I'm writing this s*** from 5 AM because I couldn't sleep. My body is still adjusting to the time difference. Tonight we're going to decide where next, either Jasper, Lake Louise, Golden or wherever. Oliver the french guy is going back to Calgary on Tuesday. I'll just continue to Vancouver from wherever I'm going to be on Sunday/Monday either by a bus or with a Swiss guy and his van. It is an approx. 800 km drive through the  mountains and I think it is going to be hell of a sight.

Vancouver is a much different city than Calgary. Much warmer, no snow, a lot of rain and a much bigger city. It is also more expensive, but right now while the oil is down it has half of the unemployment rate than Calgary. It is always on a top of the list for a place to live. I'm going to do two remaining interviews and decide where to start. My experience in this short stay is that finding some job is pretty easy if you have at least some experience and you are a normal person. After first couple of weeks after I settle down a bit I'm going to start to wrap my head around extending working permits, contacting the regulatory body of electrical engineers of BC to check how much exams I must pass for to be able to become an Engineer In Training and things like that. Of course, time will tell if it was a right decision to pick Vancouver instead of some less desirable state where it would be easier to extend my working permit and eventually apply for Permanent Residence.

The Finger, AB

Ps. Special thanks to Zoki a guy from Split who is living in Calgary. He also gained something from this, now he has a place to sleep in Vancouver :D

Pps. Mard made mi do it!