New job, dating scene, going back home / what to do in Vancouver if you're not outdoorsy

Like many people out there I have beautiful and caring friends. Pretty much all they are interested in is "tell us how are girls like up there". Especially my dear friend Mario M. (+385 98 177 92XX) and yes, he is still single believe it or not! So today I'll start with that subject. Maybe I'll sound like a jerk, but I can always blame it on Mario M.!

I have a (big) dilemma(s) about ladies here. First one is where are ladies more beautiful, back in Croatia or in Vancouver. I think I'm becoming more and more biased, but more and more I think the situation here is better, not by the amount but by the quality. More blondes, less make up. We have to take into account that I haven't seen summer here yet. Fuck, I'm gonna entangle myself so I'll skip this part.

My new two buddies with striking resemblance of somebody I know (me)

Another dilemma is, is it good that in general, people here are more open, more prone to talking with random people. It is hard to distinguish when is lady being nice and when is she into you. When you are new to town, it is hard to get used to it, especially when the amount of people you know is very small. 

Third dilemma is dating apps. Here Tinder is a big thing. You know that when you come to stand up comedy and every Tuesday somebody is mentioning Tinder. Sometimes people spend hours messaging each other and then one side asks for a date and everything stops. I don't know it personally, but I've heard from a friend (khm, khm). What is the point of spending so much time messaging somebody and then just stop responding. At some point too much politeness hurts the brain. Things I will need to learn to embrace like it or not.

Fourth dilemma is not actually a dilemma. It is a conclusion that the free market works. People like good looking women, people like to go where there is good looking woman, bartenders are good looking, people go to bars with good looking bartenders. Simple as that. Everybody wins, except for suckers who buy extra beer just so they can get a smile from a bartender. It is kind of sick when you think about it, but it is voluntary and that is all there is to it.

BC hospitality, Elfin Lakes mountain hut

The last thing is also not a dilemma, but a personal statement. I've seen some of the most beautiful girls in my life here. I've never been too good with meeting new people in a bars / clubs. Actually, I've never been good with the usual ways of how meeting new people works, all the preying / hunting alpha male things. Luckily I've meet some guys here that think the same so it is easy not feel like a weirdo.

Mario B. making burek (Bosnian meat pie)

All these conclusions are part of hours and hours put into scientific research from couple of a jerks that I know. Forgot to mention, Kirk (Australian friend) is maybe not going back home to work. That means one extra guy for lamentations and spending money on beers. That being said, it is the same guy who is to blame that I'm feeling like I am missing a real and serious relationship (no, not the gay one). Because of our lamentations I'm feeling that for the first time in my life. That and probably lack of female friends from back home. First world problems I know. :D

Aniff Peak, Squamish, BC

Back to the important stuff. Last Monday I changed the company. Same industry, 25% better hourly rate, per diems when traveling outside town, more different type of jobs... What I can say from the first couple of days is that this company strikes me as a much more serious one in any way or form. Alas, they are in the industry for the last 10 years which means something. During the interview process I discussed with them my immigration process and they were willing to help me when it comes to that.

Of course I'm aware that it is a long way from there and the first thing I must fit into the company and I must be satisfied with them. It is always a give / give relationship. For now it sounds good and guys are very nice, but we will see over a course of a month or two. With previous company I parted my ways in a good manner. My Project Manager bought me 2 pounds of truffles for saying goodbye :D

Long exposure of the clear sky over Diamond Head, BC

A couple of days ago back at home situation changed a little bit, which made me rethink my plans for the future. By the end of the year I'll definitely go home for at least a month or two. By that time I'll figure out how to do it, either just leave after my first WH expires or resign my job or ask for couple of months unpaid off time or something similar. Either way I'll be going home unplanned. For returning back to Canada, second WH permit is always a pretty easy option. But, like most of the things it is a long road ahead.

Panorama from Anif Peak, Squamish, BC

While I'm at jobs and job market once again I've been reassured of what I said couple of months ago. Last week I got two job offers from people just checking my profile/resume at indeed.ca. I'm feeling blessed that I'm in the position where I can choose jobs, but it is a general thing as I assumed. More dynamic economy, less regulation to employ / fire workers, more jobs, more opportunities to choose jobs and find a job that suits you most. In the long term that means more people will be happy with their jobs, their life as well as their companies will benefit from that. Of course, everything is not sunshine and smiles but you get the point.

Yesterday at some pub in Gastown some random guy approached our table overhearing us talking about some jobs / working in general. He sat at our table, we chatted for a while, asked about if anybody needs a job, gave a friend of mine a business card and told us, just call this number and you can start working tomorrow. That is it, random guy at a pub, 20$/h for a carpenter or something similar, all tools and safety equipment provided and all you need to do is wake up tomorrow and start working if you want. 

Climbing Gargoyles (Kirks firs backcountry experience), Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC

Last week I also went to ICBC to get my BC ID and to ask about getting a local driver's license. I was finished in 10 min and ID will come to my home in about 20 days. For the drivers license I just need to come at any time at any ICBC office and do the theoretical test. After that I need to book a driving test and pass it and that's it. They will recognize my Croatian driving experience but I still have to pass the driving test. If I have a driver's license from some other (read: western) countries I would be able just to switch licenses without doing any tests. 

After having bureaucracy traumas from back home (and truth to be told I haven't experienced 10% of it), I'm feeling relieved when not spending time collecting irrelevant papers and shit. Tax year is finished and next thing I need to do is to file my tax return. Because of working just 2 and something months last year I'll probably get all my income taxes back (2000+$) which will be a nice thing. It is my first time filing a tax return so I might as well pay 50$ (?) to some of the many tax business here to do it for me. I think it is pretty simple after I get my T4 from previous employers but still it is a big sum to possibly fuck up.

Downtown from English bay, Vancouver

Mario B. (Bandic, not Burek) is not as much of an outdoorsy guy, so I've been questioning myself what to in Vancouver if you are not doing climbing, backcountry skiing, mountaineering, caving, diving, etc. For me things mentioned are a big part of my life so pretty much if you do only that you have more than enough things to do till you get old. Same things came up while doing Skype sessions with some of the friends back home. 

The answer is I don't know really. There are some museums, live music in bars, cheap and good dining out, stand up comedy nights, concerts, 3 ski resorts within half an hour driving, walking on beaches, doing exercise in one of the many parks, zoos, concerts, botanical gardens,  playing football, going to the movies, various social clubs, free libraries, photography clubs etc.. Once again we are talking about winter. I've been told there are 3 x more things happening in the summer. But the problem is I don't know the answer to the same question if I ask myself what exactly did I do back  home. Move friends out of the equation and the answer will be little to nothing.

I'm still trying to put myself in other peoples shoes, but it is silly to ignore things mentioned above and on top of it the wast amount of outdoor activities and people doing them, polite and happy people all around, job and career opportunities, positive mentality, good paycheck, civilized country, working institutions...

I'm not talking about a different type of people not being able or not willing to adapt to the lifestyle and the city. I'm also not talking about people missing friends and family, missing persons they were before leaving home. I'm trying to put feelings aside and talk about things which we all can agree. I'm not reassuring my self like some evil tongues will say :P

Of course, my bias is also a thing to consider.

My way of tackling some problems (hint: not good)

Second ago I mentioned happy people and that reminded me that my friend and I have a completely different perspective of people here in Vancouver. Even though we are alike in many things, funny thing is he thinks people here are depressed and sad while I think completely the opposite. 

There are some objective measurements, but wherever you go or whatever you do eye of the beholder is the one that counts. There is only so much you can do or read to prepare yourself, but only once you try it is the time you can be certain.

(gastroscopy, prostate exam, urinary infection... excluded from these wise words, you know you don't want do try those)

Lagertha lives for the next (5.) season!