First month in Canada
I don't like stress. Skype has much less lag than Whatsapp/Viber for long distance IP talks. That's about it for this post. And yes, Vancouver police cars are so cool!
I need to suck up to them, because they were nice to me and my buddy Captain Morgan. They gave us just a warning ticket (230$ fine otherwise) for carrying an open bottle of alcohol.
Again I'm thinking about writing a short one but I already see it's not going to happen. Today is the exactly one month from my landing in Calgary. Today was also a nice day, my first paycheck for first 3 days of work. Yesterday was also one special day, my first high school puking blacked out 14 year old Canadian night. I really missed that beautiful side of me.
Money wise all I can say is that I'm going to earn in one month same amount of money I saved for a year back home (including overtime hours which are here payed 50% more of regular hourly wage). Paydays here are bi-weekly. Everything is in "before tax" value from hourly wage to in store prices. On this job I'm paying roughly 26% taxes on my hourly rate. Provincial (BC) sales tax is 7%. Goods and services tax is 5%. I didn't get to much into details for now because everything is cheap here (or at least cheap to income / price of goods ratio).
About very few things in life I can say i'm 100% sure. I try to be as less enthusiastic as possible, especially when things are new and fresh. Considering that and from this 20 days experience in Vancouver I can say two things:
1. I want to stay and live here
2. Best thing I done in my life (moving to Canada)
2.1. Food is good (and cheap)
2.2. Weather forecast doesn't mean shit in Vancouver
Town of Vancouver itself has population of 600 k. Burnaby, Richmond, Surey, Langley... cities all merged together under a more familiar brother Vancouver. Whole Vancouver area has population of about 2,6 mil.
Some of the popular Vancouver names are Raincouver, Hongcouver, Vansterdam... Easy to figure out source and meaning for it. Last few days were nice with low to none rain. But first 10 days after my arrival, rain, rain, rain and little more of rain. Luckly I have good (mountain) clothes so I got used to it after 3 or 4 days. Now I completely ignore it. Funny how life makes you adapt fast. Back in Split when it rains everybody is running away almost in panic. Here, like nothing is happening because it so usual.
Even though this is Canada, snow is a rare thing here. Lowest average temperature is in January and it is 0 degrees celsius. Temperature is currently 15 degrees and it varies very little during a day. Even though I haven't got a chance yet to get outdoors in Vancouver area all you need is to climb up some higher building and immediately you realize in what kind of outdoor haven you're into.
Especially if I decide to resign or I get laid off, I'll take two weeks off and just wonder around countless mountains, rivers, lakes BC has to offer. I already met some of the local hikers and soon I'll be joining some local hiker and alpine clubs. One colleague from Czech is a alpinist and he has an assignment to make climbing plans as soon as this rain stops (in couple of months :D )
In the town, everything is green. Every part of VGA (Vancouver greater area) has it's own centre/downtown/skyrises. There are a lot of parks, small, big, lakes, people running, cycling. Most of the residents (by area) live in 2 story houses, with green porches and backyards. Everything is spacious. For me as an outdoorish person it is really really beautiful to see all the green colours (in the downtown especially).
People... I think I said enough on that subject. Most of them I meet so far are straight forward, polite, helpful, smiling, supportive. I would say in short happy and unburden.
Food. Vancouver is famous for its food scene. As a humble piglet and a man in love with eating (not equal to man who knows food!) I can say this is heaven. All kinds of restaurants everywhere you go. For an average Canadian hourly rate (26$ 1CAD=5,1HRK) you can pretty much eat in the most of the restaurants (meal, beer, desert). 5 minutes from my place there is Japanese place, Chinese place, Indonesian place, kebab place, pizza place, Malaysian place etc.. Everywhere I ate in the neighbourhood I didn't spent more than 17$.
Prices in food store (I buy in Safeway because is the closest one, but sure not the cheapest one) are I would say similar comparing to Croatian ones. But I didn't make any detailed observations, just a general one. Some things are more expensive, some much cheaper. 1 kg of Nutella is 10$, 1 kg of good peanut butter is 6$. That is all you need to know (and pretty much all that matters :D ).
Liquors you can buy only in specialized stores. Biggest ones are BC Liquor Store. Choice of hard liquors, vine and beers is huge. Prices I would say are 30%,40% more than back in Croatia. At the cash register you get a paper bag like a true hobo :D
Downside of everything mentioned is that most probably I'll have harder time getting PR than for example in Regina, Manitoba or similar "less popular" areas. But life is short, no need for aiming low. :)
I came to a land where everybody is a immigrant and nobody is a immigrant. I came with some expectations. I didn't come out of necessity, hunger, lack of money or some other unfortunate circumstances. I came with a idea of a far away land where things are how they are supposed to be (such a relative term). A place where you choose opportunities and not the other way around. A place where your southern big brother have an Trump/Hillary election tomorrow. Can't wait for new episode of South Park :D
In this 43.200 minutes I'm in Canada I had a 10 minutes crisis when arriving in Vancouver while walking to hostel (I hate moving around with a suitcase). I was wondering what the hell am I doing and do I really need this kind of adventure. In the meantime Morgane replied to my beer enquiry and she came to a nearby Irish pub. After first zip of a thick German wiessbier all the troubles went away. Rest of the 43.190 minutes I have a big smile around my not so small head.
Honestly I don't think I moved anywhere. I feel my mental state was in a place like this a long time ago. Moving the body was not that big of a deal. Should I stay here for life or continue somewhere after a year, it is (almost) irrelevant. Trying, sadness, succeeding, failing, adapting, smiling, crying, happiness, disappointment...
With one important notice: with a good preparation and a common sense mind you can avoid most of the stress from the beginning of the post (crying, failing, sadness...).
Ps. Thanks to Morgane, Kirk, Mario, Regimantas, Elaine etc. for making me feel like I never moved to a place where I knew nobody.
Pps. I was going to write some tips for beginners from the beginner but it is already to long of a post. Till next time I'll have some more of inside info.
I need to suck up to them, because they were nice to me and my buddy Captain Morgan. They gave us just a warning ticket (230$ fine otherwise) for carrying an open bottle of alcohol.
 |
| Officers play ARMA III inside while on duty! |
Money wise all I can say is that I'm going to earn in one month same amount of money I saved for a year back home (including overtime hours which are here payed 50% more of regular hourly wage). Paydays here are bi-weekly. Everything is in "before tax" value from hourly wage to in store prices. On this job I'm paying roughly 26% taxes on my hourly rate. Provincial (BC) sales tax is 7%. Goods and services tax is 5%. I didn't get to much into details for now because everything is cheap here (or at least cheap to income / price of goods ratio).
About very few things in life I can say i'm 100% sure. I try to be as less enthusiastic as possible, especially when things are new and fresh. Considering that and from this 20 days experience in Vancouver I can say two things:
1. I want to stay and live here
2. Best thing I done in my life (moving to Canada)
2.1. Food is good (and cheap)
2.2. Weather forecast doesn't mean shit in Vancouver
 |
| Downtown Vancouver Photo: Internet |
Some of the popular Vancouver names are Raincouver, Hongcouver, Vansterdam... Easy to figure out source and meaning for it. Last few days were nice with low to none rain. But first 10 days after my arrival, rain, rain, rain and little more of rain. Luckly I have good (mountain) clothes so I got used to it after 3 or 4 days. Now I completely ignore it. Funny how life makes you adapt fast. Back in Split when it rains everybody is running away almost in panic. Here, like nothing is happening because it so usual.
Even though this is Canada, snow is a rare thing here. Lowest average temperature is in January and it is 0 degrees celsius. Temperature is currently 15 degrees and it varies very little during a day. Even though I haven't got a chance yet to get outdoors in Vancouver area all you need is to climb up some higher building and immediately you realize in what kind of outdoor haven you're into.
On the West there is an ocean and huge Vancouver Island (more than half the size of Croatia), on the North mountains, on the East mountains, on the south more (USA) mountains. Public transit takes you to one small ski resort. 80 km North takes you to Whistler. 100 km East takes you to Mt. Baker ski resort. First things will be weekend hikes and after I start to know better surroundings and people I'll get into buying alpine and touring ski equipment.
 |
| Mt. Baker (active stratovolcano) |
In the town, everything is green. Every part of VGA (Vancouver greater area) has it's own centre/downtown/skyrises. There are a lot of parks, small, big, lakes, people running, cycling. Most of the residents (by area) live in 2 story houses, with green porches and backyards. Everything is spacious. For me as an outdoorish person it is really really beautiful to see all the green colours (in the downtown especially).
 |
| University of British Columbia |
Food. Vancouver is famous for its food scene. As a humble piglet and a man in love with eating (not equal to man who knows food!) I can say this is heaven. All kinds of restaurants everywhere you go. For an average Canadian hourly rate (26$ 1CAD=5,1HRK) you can pretty much eat in the most of the restaurants (meal, beer, desert). 5 minutes from my place there is Japanese place, Chinese place, Indonesian place, kebab place, pizza place, Malaysian place etc.. Everywhere I ate in the neighbourhood I didn't spent more than 17$.
 |
| Bacon wrapped meatballs |
Liquors you can buy only in specialized stores. Biggest ones are BC Liquor Store. Choice of hard liquors, vine and beers is huge. Prices I would say are 30%,40% more than back in Croatia. At the cash register you get a paper bag like a true hobo :D
Downside of everything mentioned is that most probably I'll have harder time getting PR than for example in Regina, Manitoba or similar "less popular" areas. But life is short, no need for aiming low. :)
 |
| Land of immigrants |
In this 43.200 minutes I'm in Canada I had a 10 minutes crisis when arriving in Vancouver while walking to hostel (I hate moving around with a suitcase). I was wondering what the hell am I doing and do I really need this kind of adventure. In the meantime Morgane replied to my beer enquiry and she came to a nearby Irish pub. After first zip of a thick German wiessbier all the troubles went away. Rest of the 43.190 minutes I have a big smile around my not so small head.
Honestly I don't think I moved anywhere. I feel my mental state was in a place like this a long time ago. Moving the body was not that big of a deal. Should I stay here for life or continue somewhere after a year, it is (almost) irrelevant. Trying, sadness, succeeding, failing, adapting, smiling, crying, happiness, disappointment...
With one important notice: with a good preparation and a common sense mind you can avoid most of the stress from the beginning of the post (crying, failing, sadness...).
Ps. Thanks to Morgane, Kirk, Mario, Regimantas, Elaine etc. for making me feel like I never moved to a place where I knew nobody.
Pps. I was going to write some tips for beginners from the beginner but it is already to long of a post. Till next time I'll have some more of inside info.
We have Star Wars movies coming out quicker that your posts...
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