Counting the Days

Not much to report this week apart from the fact that we finally got a new fridge in the apartment... you can see how much I have adjusted to the simple life as such a small thing got me quite excited! If you saw my photos, you'd understand why. But I will only be able to enjoy the new fridge for another week or so. I can't wait to get out of here now, and time is ticking so slowly!

So why am I in such a rush? The usual whinges I guess. Like the fact that my toilet overflowed for the 3rd time. The fact that I can't board. The anticipation that the weather will be in the high -20 degrees celcius during the week. And even the people who were pretty cool to begin with are getting to me!

We went clubbing on Wednesday which was fun, but I the next day, the rentals shop was buzzing with gossip about a girl we worked with... a small drunken mistake on her part, but heartbreaking news to her husband of three months. Anyways, it really was no-one's business, a little gossip was expected, but I could not believe the way some of the girls were going on about it and the way they all decided to turn on a friend when she needed them the most. I don't think I have experienced such bitchiness since high school!! it's pretty funny, coz they don't want to hang out with this one girl now *rolls eyes* because they believe "the people you hang out with influence they way you are". I find it quite amusing in that they all share the same maturity level!! Anyways, it's not just the bitchiness that gets me, the management at work is pretty shit too... somedays I wake up dreading to go to work, but other times the day goes by pretty quickly when there is some to chat to and the music is good (I never realised it made so much of a difference!).

Not everyone is bad here, I'm constantly meeting new people and after getting to know a few people a little better I've realised first impressions are not always correct. Some people whom I thought I'd get along really well with at the beginning turn out to be people whom I am happy to leave behind. And the ones whom I thought I'd have nothing in common with (and I still don't) happen to be really good people and who will look out for you without you even asking!

Anyways, gotta run... my friend and I are going to hang out with this girl tonight... thought a few drinks and some steak should be good comfort food for her!

Living Life in a Sling

The last week hasn't been bad at all. Work has been slow, so there has been plenty of time to fool around. I've been put on the cash desk which is way cruisy compared to boots or the tech desk. It must be a pretty funny sight for the customers though, as the other person behind the cash desk is my friend Tim... who has broken his arm in 4 places and also has one arm in a sling. He has his left arm tied up and I have my right.. we make good partners in scarying customers into taking out insurance, and we have also mastered the hula dance.. but it looks more like two spastics attemting the mexican wave. It's amazing the no. of jokes that has been cracked!!

The other night we had our staff party, what they called a "Torchlight Dinner". The idea is that you catch the last lifts to Whitehorn Lodge near the top of one of the runs. You ski/board to the lodge, have a buffet dinner, drinks and live entertainment. Then you ski/board down the mountain in complete darkness except for a torchlight on your head and a few torches on either side of the freshly groomed run. Coz I couldn't board, I caught the lift on foot with Tim, and "attempted" to walk along the run to the lodge. Only thing was the run was extremely steep and my shoes didn't grip the ice much, and I found myself walking with uncontrollable speed down the hill as opposed to across it. It was both scary and funny, as I am screaming just like when I'm on a borad. And just like being on a board, I had to stack it to stop. In the end, Tim who was just as handicapped as me had to support me as I made the rest of the way across.

The dinner and entertainment was fantastic. It's amazing what a few drinks can bring out in people. Not that I was one of them! At the end of the night I got taken down on the ski-doo they use for mountain patrol. it was really cool, pity it didn't go as fast as I wanted it to. My friends were rather jealous that I got to ride down on one, but when I was at the bottom watching everyone else ski and ride down, I was quite dissappointed I wasn't part of the string of small beams zig zagging down the mountain. it sorta looked like the cartoon depiction of a shooting star, the group lead at the front with a larger, brighter torch, and a stream of tiny stars following the same path down. The whole night was such a unique experience.

Not being able to ride is a bit of a pain. But since I don't get to take advantage of 2 hour ride breaks, I get to work 8am-3pm straight and go home early which is good. On my days off, I go down to Banff and chill in a coffee shop, or use the internet. Last weekend I also went to the hot springs where you sit in an outdoor pool of 39 degree celcius of hot spring mineral water from the mountains. You get to enjoy the mountain air in the comfy warmth, and the only thing seperating you from the view of the white mountains is the steam arising from the water!

Yesterday I also went to see the ice sculpture competition held at the Chateau. There was a few really good pieces of artwork, pity the photos don't really capture it well. And to think they sit in the open until it melts, which is prob a few months from now.

Anyways, a Happy Chinese New Year to all. If you want my account details to transfer my red pocket in, drop me a line! =)

Shedding the Security Blanket

Believe it or not, I have lived through an entire week in Lake Louise with no major dramas. The only drama I've had is that my flatmates have finally realised how disgusting the place is and has decided cleaned it up so much it is virtually unrecognisable. I was so impressed, but I also know it won't last long.

It's definately a good thing, but it's sad how all the good things happen when you decide to leave. It always works out that way. Yesterday I submitted my resignation at LL, it was more of a decision than I thought as things are a lot better since I first arrived. But still, since I can't ride for 6 weeks coz of the shoulder incident, it's prob better to alter my plans and make my move earlier.

Apart from the dissapointment of not being able to make the most of my Rocky Mountain winter experience, I am also really looking forward to the relocation. It means plans, goals and purpose, and ofcourse the city convenience and lifestyle. It also means headaches such as house and job hunting, and the uncertainty and risk of it all. I guess LL has always been my security blanket in this whole Canadian trip where I knew there was def a job and a roof over my head waiting. Thats why I was so slack in job hunting in Vancouver. But I know I should be fine, I always am. Bill, another friend from Oz will be in Toronto, and the plab is that we find a place together and conspire to turn the city upside down. Well, when we find some local friends anyways. It's good to know someone in the same shoes as me, and it also eliminates the chance for me to end up with freak flatmates. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything!

Anyways, I will be leaving here on the 3rf Feb and will be in Toronto by the 6th as I am visiting Ben and Rach in Vancouver first. Mail won't be forwarded after I leave LL, so it;s prob best not to send anything until I find myself a new home.

Just to let you know I have ben splurging on internet usage and have uploaded more photos as well as multiple blog entries. It's the last 3 albulms that have new photos, including pics of my apartment and X'mas/NYE.

All is well, been really happy today despite my shoulder.... new plans to moving to Toronto has kept my mind busy these days... but just doing some surfng jobs now...

Anyways, enjoy the pics and keep smiling! =)

Let the Year Begin

2003 was definately a big year of my life. But this year appears to be promising also. Only 11 days into the new year and I have already injured myself. I'd like to say I dislocated my shoulder after a 180 degree trun on the half pipe, but the fact of the matter is that icy roads are damn slippery! I was totally rested up, ready to hit the slopes in the two days I had off... I even invested in some impact shorts (aka bum pads!) to protect my tailbone. I was so determined to master snow boarding coz I had imporved so much in the last week... I hate it when you can't do something you had set your mind to!! grr!

Anyways, I slipped as I was heading to the bus stop and the fall dislocated my shoulder and sent me into 10 minutes of dizzy spells where everything was black and grey! My arm remained that way for 3 whole hours since some guy decided to overshadow me by getting concusion on the back side of the mountains and the doctor and all the patrol guys were out at the site helping him with getting airlifted to the hospital. How inconsiderate! Nah, he was far more seriously injured than me, so I can't complain. It's okay now though, after hours of discomfort, the doctor snapped it into place again and I have to wear it in a sling for a while and can't lift my elbows above my shoulders which is a pain when putting on layers of clothes in this weather. It also kills me tech bench career.. now I have to be a checkout chick! Got an X'ray done and once the results are out, I'll know how long I won't be able to board for.. but now it seems to be around 6 weeks. Apparently there is 40% chance I might need an operation, but I'm pretty optimistic about that... my god, it's only a fall! I'm just really annoyed I won't be able to board coz I am thinking of moving back to the city soon.

I'm just thankful that I didn't hurt myself any other way.. what I can't see is all good! I could have broken something, had open wounds, had blood everywhere but no-one to do my laundry for me.. now that would have been tragic!!

Comings and Goings

This week has seen seen some coming and goings. Jackie, a friend of Trangs dropped by Lake Louise, and although I don't knw her that well.. it was really nice to catch up with her in a cosy cafe!

But talk about weird, the other day some customer came up to my tech bench and I though she looked very familar as I was adjusting her skiis. It was only until I swiped her credit card that I realised I had actually met her in Vancouver where we were in a bar with all the other UBC students and we got talking about Hot Chilli Peppers! And to top it off, a friend and I was at the hot springs in Banff on our day off and we bumped into her again! Such a small world!

I said there was comings and goings, as such, I was very sorry to see Ada leave after 3 weeks (almost as long as I have been here!). It was always nice to have a friend to call when I got into Banff, someone to hang out with and to whinge about things where you wouldn't whinge to your new found friends. I guess since I met so many people with so many different backgrounds that it is nice to see someone familiar and who can relate to you too. Anyways, we had a nice greek dinner to see her off. Thank god I have Teoh around, but whingeing to a guy is never as satisfying!!

Technical Difficulties

I never would have thought I'd say -10 degrees was warm and be relieved when it hit 0 degrees! Besides the turn in temperatures, it has also snowed a little, getting everyone excited with the new powder to play in.

Since it has become a little more quiet, I ahve been training on the tech benches as a "tech guy". Haha, imagine little old me who hates technical stuff and knows nothing about skiing or boarding, recommending, sizing and adjusting equipment. I even have to sign the box that reads "technician's signature" just to assure the customers safety! At first it was rather embarrassing as I didn't even have the strength to push down the realease lever on the skiis after adjusting the DIN. Times like this, there is nothing better that turning on your charm and acting the poor girl whose lost all energy after doing a million skiis! Since then I have gained a bit of muscles, but the other day I had to ask a fellow workmate to tech me how to reverse the direction of the simple electric drill! Geez, who said anything about wanting to be a technician, I'm only here to check out the cute snowboarders!!

I can't say that I love my job, it is afterall not very challenging and very manual (speaking from someone whose first job was payroll and who was paid 5 months to surf the internet and stay home before leaving Australia). There was one point in time where I had band-aids on 7 of my 10 fingers! When I showed Teoh, hoping to get some sympathy from him, he looked at it and said "put that away, thats ugly"! *humph*

Anyways, the best part of the job is chatting to the customers. Generally they are all pretty cool, but very curious. The most asked questions in rentals has nothing to do with the sport or the equipment, it:
customers: "is this whole resort just run by aussies??"

or I always get:
customers: *gasp* oh, this is *so* deceiving, an asian face with an aussie accent!!"
me: *rolls eyes"

or:
customers: "where does your cute accent come from? you don't sound aussie like everyone else?"
me: "oh, dun i?" (didn't mean to put on the accent, but it just comes through when I say this innocently!)
customers: "hmm.. maybe I'll take that back!"

Ofcourse there are obnoxious customers. Oe lady came in, demanded that I take her shoes off for her, and trotted out without even a thank you! But then there are those that brings a smile to me face, the excited kids and the over energetic grandparent figures.. young and old alike! Some customers that are around for a week or so treat you like a friend.. there was this one young english couple who I had help extensively coz of their troubled feet, they were so cool and the guy was so hot.. pity I liked the girl just as much though!! Anyways, thats not it, the moral is... if one little small and effortless gesture like a smile or happy chatter can light up someones day, go for it!!

Brrr...

The last week has been a bit of a blur. It has gone frm a crazy X'mas and NYs rush at work when I go from worked 9 days straight to having 3 days off, and where the temperature goes from a warm -10 degrees to an unbearable -40 degrees (thanks to those who sms and email me the weather forecast back home. The conversion for me is adding the "-" at the front!!!).

NYE this year was certainly different. instead of being a drunken mess with my friends back home, I had the Australian count down over the phone and in the warmth my bed at 6am in the morning. 18 hours later, we had the Banff countdown in the basement of a club with my work friends. It was good whilst it lasted, but lets just say NY day for most of us was a complete write off and we were not all too sympathetic to those who complained about rental boot sizes or who had been waiting in line too long because of our inefficiency. The aftermath of NYE in Banff can still be seen on the streets... I am particularly careful when walking down Banff Ave... nothing worse than slipping on a pile of frozen vomit!!


But I have had 3 days break after working way too long without a break. Unfortunately for me though, it hasn't snowed for the last two weeks and there has been an extremely cold front moving through. I don't think I have ever been in -ve degree temperature before so -40 degrees is a really painful experience. The other day I went snowshoeing with Ada. Snowshoes are thes wide flat panels with a pivot attachment that disperses your weight so that you can walk on snow without sinking down into it. Anyways, we did a trek to Lake Vista and actually snowshoed on the frozen lake which I normally would have been estatic about if it weren't for the weather. My fingers and feet felt like daggers were pushed into them and could snap off any second. I was in so much pain I couldn't even press the camera button to take a photo for Ada. Ada had small icicles hanging from her eye-lashes and the hair exposed under my beanie (oops.. sorry.. it's "touque" here!) was white. On the way back I was in so much pain from the frozen tips and from breathing the dry air that I had doubts as to whether I'd make it back to the car! same thing yesterdat when I went to meet Ada and Matt at the frozen Lake Louise. I had always wanted to ice-skate in a frozen lake, but I was willing to pass on it if it meant keeping my fingers and toes!

The lasck of snowfall meant that riding conditions are very bad. Undeterred, I attempted a lesson on my day off despite it being -35 degrees.. too cold for the chair lifts to run. So here I was, trekking up the bunny hill trying to board on goofey coz I was feeling weird on natural. I did so bad that I quit the lesson, ran inside and swore never to ride again! it took quite a bit of motivation for me to brave the cold and the sticky, packed snow and hop on my board again. But I did so much better after converting back to natural and practising a few times. I didn't even mnind not feeling my toes for a while. My tailbone is still playing up though, so I am trying to be really cautious.

The holday rush has stooppped now, so back to bludgey rentals where we sit around a chat, have competitions who can jump the furthest from the tech benches and serve the occassional customer here and there. We also get scheduled ride breaks as well which is good for me to practise out there. My workmates are still very cool people and I have started to get to know them a bit more although there is still a bit of culture barrier there. It's really nice to go up to the Sitzmark Lounge and bum around after work as we watch the light disappearing behind the mountains. I still am not a fan of beer though!! being out has it's good times and it's bad times... I am planning to leave by the end of Feb after I take advantage of the free boarding and skiing lessons. The weather is getting a bit too much and I think I am still a city girl at heart.

Anyways, was hoping to upload photos from X'mas and NYs as well as photos of my apartment. But since I couldn't get the comp with a card reader, it's going to have to wait. I've added an extra line to the photo links so you guys know when I last uploaded shots, keep checking coz I'm trying to make it regular.

Room 204

I have been in Lake Louise for 2 weeks now and I have started getting use to my accomodation - well sort of. My lounge is in a constant disarray with a combination of empty beer cans, milk cartons and dirty dishes. There is weed lying around in zip lock bags and a funny range of implements to smoke them with. I'm starting to sit in the living room sometimes now (usually before it gets smoked out), but only on the one chair we have.. parking my ass on the lounge is something I have not courage for just yet. My fridge has a rusty pool of water at the bottom and food for 7 people is literally shoved into it... my flatmates have no concept of stacking. The sink as expected is always full of dishes. I own one set of cutlery and one bowel and only dare to use 2 of the saucepans, the microwave and the toaster. There is two bathrooms and it so happens that the girla use one and the guys the other. Both pretty grotty, th guys one is 100x times worse... even the dodgiest hostels I stayed in Europe is no comparison. I have only been in it twice (one in each of the 2 crisis.. read on!). It hasn't been cleaned in years, walls are covered with graphic pictures from Playboy, and there is a clipping over the toilet that reads "Local Horny Chicks only 69c a minute!" followed by a toll free number.

The girls bathroom is a lot less interesting, a lot more liveable, but I would never be comfortable in it. It has also staged a lot of dramas in the last week too...

Drama No. 1

I get home from the staff X'mas partee (the one where food ran out and I nearly died in the cold)... my bathroom door is locked, water is running, and snoring sounds seep through. Ends up that Vicki who does not live with us but is a frequent "guest" of one of my flatmates has passed out drunk in there whilst a bunch of drunken boys are pissing themselves in the living room. Naturally I am worried thjat someone has passed out and water is running, and tried banging on the door with no repsonse. In the end I went to bed reassured that she was ok by the loud snoring that floated into my room effortlessly.

I wake up in the morning, releived that the bathroom door is unlocked and that I didn't have to use the boys bathroom. The relief sorta died when I realised there was vomit and some suspicious brown substance all over my bathroom. I swore if I came home from work and it was still there I would wring someone's neck. Maybe it was a good thing that no one was home when I got there coz there would have been a fatality. They crap was still there and some idiot decided that cleaning was not good and put some incence in the toilet instead.. the red kind that us chinese people use for people who have passed away. Nice.

That was why I was so upset on X'mas eve!! But after a 2 hour nap it was a good, Vicki was back to clean up and I was happy again!

Drama No. 2

I'm rushing to leave for work and the stupid toilet won't flush. Thank god that after three goes, it was fine and I was not late for my bus. I come home, Gino my flatmate tells me me soemthing terrible has happened - he leads me to the bathroom and points to the toilet which someone obviously tried in vain to empty their bowels in, only to find that the crap (literally) rose to the rim instead of disappearing down the hole. My bright flatmate was waiting for someone to come home rather than call housing. So I called housing, and they said that they could send someone tomorrow which was not my preferred answer, but doable since it was not over flowing.

So I had to use the boys bathroom for the second and very last time. I left a bunch of drunken boys in the living room while I went to dinner at a friends (my mistake)... I came home to find my carpeted hallway soaked in shit and water (literally).... the friends downstairs had brown water dripping through their ceiling. My flatmate the smart cookie, and his friends wanted to fix it which was quite sweet, but the plan backfired. And ofcourse someone has the dead people worshipping incence burning again to relieve the stench *sigh*

So this is my apartment. I share with 6 other people.. all smokers! There is Sumi, a really sweet girl from Japan - nurse turned cook. I like her the best. And then there is Barbara, a a waitress.. nice girl, cleans the house all the time.. as well as always having one issue or another and stresses out all the time over every bloody thing. I think there is one guy called Blake whom I ahve only met a few times as he is a cab driver who works 4pm - 4am. Then there is Benoit and Gino... both french guys from Quebec, both chefs, slobs, pot-heads.. but besides that, nice enough when they have a clear head. Gino's girlfriend is Vicki - the lovely girl who vomitted all over my bathroom. Gino also shares a bedroom with Jamie, my last flatmate which I really like. He's Canadian, also a slob, but forgivable since I really admire the fact that he can work 3 jobs and only averages 2 hours sleep a night. I also feel sorry for him that when he does get his 2 hours sleep, he has to put up with sharing a room with Gino and his girlfriend when she is not in her own apartment or locked up in my bathroom. I can vouch that she is a terrible snorer too.

So there has it, Room 204.. otherwise known as the worse and dirtiest apartment in Chucktown (formerly known as Charlestown).

A White Christmas

My X'mas started on the 23rd December. Work was putting on an X'mas dinner - "Turkey with all the trimmings". So naturally, a bunch of underpaid, underfed backpackers was excited at the prospect of a good feed. Rule No. 1 - excitement never pays off. Only 1 out of 3 buses came to pick up the staff at night, and the rest was in the freezing cold for an hour... -10 degrees in minimal clothing (go the partee clothes!) is no joke! I was skeptical as to whether my toes were still there in the end! When they finally realised most the staff was not there, they sent a shuttle out for us. Rule No. 2 - premature reloef doesn't pay off either. We got there starving, and all the "trimmings" were gone, and we were just left with cold turkey and stuffing. By the time we finished that, all the desserts were gone too. Trust me, never rely on free food, and Canadian beer really sux!

X'mas eve was not too great to begin with either. I had a 1.5 hour lunch / ride break at work, so I scoffed down my lunch and went up a slope that usually takes me 1/2 hour to get down coz I'm so crap. o what happens, I stack it on nmy tail bone, which most of you know is my specialty. The beaty of it was that I stacked it at the top and had to board back down to work in a lot of pain. Climbing up and down with rental boots didn't help either and by the time I got home the last thing I needed was vomit all over my bathroom! (see next entry). I couldn't handle it anymore, and just went to bed at 6pm.

Anyways, it goes to show that when life sux, sleep it off. When I woke up I was greeted with a card and a package from Rachel and Ben in Vancouver. They were so sweet.. sent me lots of lovely things to cheer me!! I think they were worried coz the last time I called, my room blacked out and I was sitting in the dark. Hmm..

Being X'mas eve, I called the locals and called home.. I hate missing those family gathering with way too much food!!! Canned soup for dinner offered little consolation too!

It was only until I opened my presents that I felt the spirit of X'mas. Asa bought me a much need pamper pack, and also brought over a box which I thought was the one present from my beloved friends back home (you know who you guys are!!)!! Anyways, thanks to you guys, I didn't go to bed till late as I went through all the items in the box. Each item felt like a new present, and so many presents made me feel loved. I was really touched by a leather journal - all the messages made me homesick. I was in the room by myself, laughing at all the quirky characters I called friends back home. Photos brought back so many memories of past trips and events, although some I really doidn't want to remember!!

All in all, what started as a shitty X'mas (beats the Melb roadtrip where we were stuck in the bushfires) ended up being a pretty good one. Despite working all day, we made it heaps of fun and a bunch of us headed to the local Inn for a buffet X'mas Feast. In the tradition of poor backpackers, we stuiffed ourselves silly after spending 10 hours of wages in a dinner! Actually, now that I think of it, X'mas ended up with me very sick and overfed!!

And your shoe size is...

If my last entry alarmed, you rest assured, I am now quite used to the fact that I have bongs lying around the house, people knocking asking for pot and the load music at all times of the night and early morning is getting to be a normal too.

I went out on the slops at leat 4 times last week and I'm slowly improving. I still don't look cool though, but I'm working on it. The other day we went to the top of the mountain (I nearlly killed my friend when he left me there)... but yeah, it was 2 runs combined into one and the bottom one was 8kms, so I am thinking I did at least 12 kms down.. it took me about 40 mins and a hell of a lot of leg work!!!

Rentals is getting crazy though. I have to say, fitting people with boots and putting away smelly, steamy ones at the end of the day sure is different to bumming on the beach or bludging at client site. Apparently it will be worse in the next two weeks, so I am looking forward to 7:50am starts and no lunch breaks!!

Work people have been cool, although there is still a bit of a culture shock. A group of us went on a small trek to the famous Lake Louise which was nice... a walk through powdered snow was def different to our treks back home.

And Ada, a friend from Australia just arrive, so we took a tour up to Johnson's Canyon, which has all these frozen waterfalls which was all very cool (sorry about the pun!).

Anyways, I have uploaded some more photos (link on the right). Check out the first picture. One morning it was even nicer than that, but I didn't ahve my camera on me. The sky was pink as, and when I was in training, I saw the sun rise over the mountains.. it's not often I am awake to see the sunrise. But the best was when we got off work after sundown, and the sky was a bright blue with strips of pink clouds strewn threw it. That was when I thought that maybe it was a good thing I made it all the way out here. Just seeing the surroundings makes it all worth it.

An Orientation to Lake Louise

Let's just say that Lake Louise is damn far from Vancouver when catching a bus. After about 14 hours on a bus, I finally got here.. yah! Had problems finding my place and realised how shocking the HR here was.. when finally I did, the Housing people at my employee accomodation greeted my with
"Andrea... we have a room for you. You're not going to like it though."
"Why not"
"Ahh.. we have complaints about it. It's the messiest room in the building, in the worse apartment.. and everyone smokes pot"
"Hmm... excellent... can I change."
"Sure, but we have a huge waiting list, so good luck."

So here I am distressed.. and everyone is staring at me already coz I have at least 60kgs worth of luggage with me.. I had to break out the expansion panel on my suitace which means I was nearly in tears dragging the damn thing up the stairs to my room." It's not like I have anything against people smoking all sorts of substances, I've grown up with a lot of friends that have... but to open the front door to my new living room for the next 5 months and greet 8 extremely stoned people in a totally smoked out zone (I could barely look through it to examine the kitchen) and then have to drag all this lugguge (which nearly had me in tears 5 mins ago) through floorspace that didn't exist due to the bodies and the beer cans lying around... it didn't really make my day.

My room was a mess, I don't think it has been vacuumed in the last 10 years with cigarette butts everywhere... my window will always slightly ajar as it doesn't sit in the frame properly. But at least I have my own room, a bed and clean linen. I will do my best to clean the floor and make room for my guests that promised to come!!

The next morning was a beauty. They are so disorganised here I didn't have my schedule, and I was extremely lucky to have found brownish-green pants in my bloody lugguge which was a required item but no-one bothered to tell me in advance. Anyways, I wanted to rock up to work at 8am, having to catch a shuttle up to the slopes and woke up in order to catch the 7:50am shuttle. Thats all an well until you realise that Lake Louise is one hour ahead of Vancouver, and I had about 4 mins to sprint down the village (which I have no idea what it looks like in broad daylight) on order to catch a bus to work that will get me there an hour late as opposed to 2 hours .. and seriously, I was ready to cry right then and there since I was having such a shit time!

But it's all cool now, I found my bus, got to work on time as we ended up starting at 9am, and the people are really cool in rentals.. a lot more alert than my flatmates. I think we have the coolest job and the coolest team on the slopes which is good. We're all there to have fun and we bludge quite a bit. We also have 2 hour ski breaks and can take out as much gear as we want for free which is pretty cool. Last night, everyone went out to the local bar and got totally smashed. Welcome to the world of ski resort work. I was pretty tired and quite sick, so went to check out the scene and met some people before heading home to crash.

As for my flatmates, they're ok now.. I've met all of them now I think, even though I still don't know names... there's 3 girls and 4 guys... but I get confused as we always have visitors. but anyways, they are pretty nice when they're not totally out of it and I chat to them here and there. Still can't see myself being best buddies with them which is a shame since all my other colleagues have really cool people that they get along with and hang out with. One of the girls couldn't stand the mess and cleaned up, I'm still a bit hesitant about parking my ass on the lounge, but at least I can see the floor now. The kicthen is a shocker, but I have a feeling I will be losing a lot of weight here. Grocery costs an arm and a leg and all they have is packaged junk. I miss Trang and our gourmet meals back in Vancouver! =(

Anyways, I no longer entertain the thought of quitting (since I do not want to move my luggage anymore)... I have some cool workmates, I tested the snow yesterday and was very happy with it, and I have a friend visiting over X'mas! Yeah!!! I also have another Aussie friend working in Banhff which is only an hour away, so that will be cool!!

Anyways, internet also costs a lot, so sorry if I don't reply emails promptly (I still exoect them though!!). I'll update you guys on Lake Louise and the surrounding when I've done a few more hours at work and can afford internet again! =P

Another Phase

It happens everytime, you have nothing to do for weeks, then just as you give up and decide to move on, everything comes tumbling in! I spent most of my week working for once, and let's just say that Temping is no fun! I will make sure that when I get to Toronto, I will work my ass off to find proper work, none of this data-entry, filling crap no more!!

The last few weeks has been good. Now that I'm leaving Vancouver, I have started getting used to the place and even the weather doesn't bother me anymore. Last week I celebrated my birthday... the birthday which I thought I'd be by myself for... but I had friends! *beam*

Trang cooked me a huge gormet lunch, we got haircuts, and met up with Ben, Rachel and three other Aussie friends for drinks at a really nice cocktail bar. We then went to a Mexican Party... it was a bit dissapointing at first, since we rocked up to this huge hall with grandmas, grandpas and kids dancing away in a huge empty hall. But the as the night went on, the crowd grew (bigger and younger) and we made it all a bit fun by wrestling kids for lollies, trying out very bad salsa moves and bopping to retro (once in a long while is quite fun!). So yes, my birthday was surprisingly a very good one!!

This week I have been out an about with work and last minute admin stuff in Vancouver, but I also stayed with Ben and Rachel for a few days in their very swish apartment which was really fun. Had a night out with plenty of drinks, good old pool and even a little bit of a tiff with some local Canadians who called us "stupid crazy australians"! Who, us???

Anyways, heading out for my farewell dinner now with all my new found friends before I head off to Lake Louise tomorrow morning bright an early.

I will try to make future entries a bit more interesting and lively when I am less tired!!

An Unwanted Sunny Day

The idea with Tofino (coastal town on the west cost of Vancouver Island, 6 hours bus ride from Victoria) was to go storm watching - apparently magnificent storms coming in from the Pacific Ocean is meant to be a tourist attraction there. I have never heard of such a thing so wanted to check it out. Lucky me (grr), the weather god must have heard my distress over the shitty weather in Vancouver, and gave me a perfectly sunny day in Tofino!

I was really dissapointed at first, Tofino may be a happening place in summer, but in winter... there isn't much to do except hike.. which you needed a car to get to the trails... or storm watch... which you need storms to watch!!!

I managed to kill some time sitting on the beach. The water emits a strong glare here, and it took me a while to realise that it is because it is the first time I have sat on a coast facing the west. This also meant that I saw a beautiful sun set on the horizon... something that I have always wanted to do! It was very, very pretty... maybe even equal the Tuscan sunset I saw earlier this year.

But the one thing that really made the trip worthwhile for me was the hostel. Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, is a HI Hostel and having lived in many hostels, I have rated this one the absolute best. Imagine waking up in the morning, with the view of Pacific Ocean at the end of your bed! The place is equipped with free pool tables, sauna, and plenty of lounges and fireplaces.. all with the amazing view of the Ocean. I came across all sorts of people here. I guess I'm pretty arrogant in thatI don't tend to care much for meeting people who you know just come in and out of my life, like travellers, per say. But my stay at this hostel really changed things.

A couple that only knew me for 20 mins invited me over to their house for Christmas and a place to stay whenever I'm in Calagry. Seeing as I was a total stranger to them I was really touched by their generosity... they must have thought anyone who can curl up and fal asleep on the couch is harmless. They were so sweet... Trang is right, it is surprising how far a little effort can sometimes go when it comes to meeting people.

I met some other interesting characters too as some of us hung around the fireplace with a guitar. Thats another thing, everyone acts as though they are travelling together, which is really nice.

Anyways, I met this english guy who use to be a project manager in London.. he quit job because he implemented a system which would in effect cost 120 of his colleagues their job in the next year.

And then there's this other guy who had stayed at the hostel for over 2 weeks. Doing nothing, had no purpose, didn't know when he was going to leave. Left his job as a software developer, is thinking of studying, but not really. Quite happy to hide away from all the realities in this nice guest house in the middle of nowhere. My guess is that he is in his late 20s. In a way, we're similar in that we realise we hate what we do and we are taking the risk to make a change. But I think I still have a goal in life, it may be a bit blurred at the moment (coz I want to do everything), but it's there somewhere. I really hope that I will never get to the stage where I am as lost as this guy... I also hope he would make a move from the guesthouse one of these days... and not because he's out of money.

All this makes me think about the careers most of us are in, and how sterile it all is. Having said that, I think I am still very career minded, ambitious and materialistic, thats the sad part!

Okaes, so I didn't get to go storm watching, but after only one night, leaving that hostel felt a bit like leaving home. On the other hand, it also felt good to be going "home" - which is Vancouver now. Anyhow, I never got contacts for the people I met there, I guess thats why people come in and out of my life!

A Break from a Break

First I wanted to get away from Sydney... and now after 3 weeks in Vancouver, I need another break. I felt miserable the other day during the heaviest rainfall since I've been here. What is worse than rain itself is getting lost when it is raining!

So Trang and I went on a weekend trip to Vancouver Island, about 1.5 hours ferry ride from Vancouver itself. After doing crazy hours on transport through Europe, I didn't think the few hours of bus and ferry would get to me. I guess in Europe, we didn't have a whiney asian teeny bopper couple sitting behind us talking whilst we were trying to sleep. Their conversation consisted of too many *whiney voice* "thats sooo cool..", "thats sooo awesome...". And talk about lover's quarrels... this is the chick during some stupid game they were playing... "I'm the win-some-est girl ever. I win at everything. I win at being a loser, I'm the losiest of the losers. I have to be first at everything.".... and the classic "Am I the cutest!?? I'm cuter than you, I'm cute!" *rolls eyes*

It was amusing at first, but in the end it took a great deal of self control not to turn around and yell "Look woman, you're the cutest, ok??... Now shut the f*** up!"

Anyways, that was the beginning of the trip. The rest of the trip was quite pleasant on relation. Victoria is known to be like Britain (Trang just informs me we are in Bristish Columbia for a reason.. *ding*). So it has pretty buildings, European style and sits on a harbour which meant really pretty pcitures at night. But apart from picture taking, the capital of BC is really small.. so after Trang left (I decided to stay the night myself), I went and saw a musical - "The Fiddler on the Roof". Although it was good, it was nowehere near as good as "Hello Dolly" which I saw in Vancouver - very witty, and extremely clever staging.

The Challenges of Work

My first temp position confirmed 2 things for me:
1. The most tiring thing about working, is when you have no work to do. After so many months "on the beach" back home, you would think I'd be used to...
2. My hopes of finding a consulting career here is non existent.

I'm posted out at SAP Canada one day - on the front desk, mind you. I got taught how to reject those poor people who call in wanting to submit their resumes (aka, me) and was shown where the resumes are filed - in the wastepaper basket. Now there was the motivation I needed!

And besides that, in four hours of sitting on reception at SAP Canada, my achievements were: answering 4 phone calls and sticking labels on boxes to be shipped.

When my Temp Agent said he's start "me out easy", I guess he wasn't kidding.

The Most Amazing Thing about Vancouver...

... is the fact that the beautiful surrounds of water, backdropped by snow peaked mountains is visible from from the city!

After a dreary weekend, I got really excited yesterday waking up to a blue sky. I made the most of it an visited Lighthouse Park where I did a short trek to the lighthouse overlooking the city on the other shore. On the way back, I took a different route and found myself amongst thse huge moss covered trees and dark ferns. It was nice and peaceful, but peaceful enough to be somewhat eery... I was lost between amazement and panic - about being in the forest by myself.

Talk about keen, I went up Grouse Mountain (scenic lookout and snow fields close to the city) the same day. I was admiring the Vancouver city skyline and orange sunset reflections of the water as I was going up the skyride to the peak when I turned to looked up-mountain and saw everything covered in white!

So one hour I was tramping through leaves in a forest and the next hour I was falling over the most amazing powder snow. At the peak, I saw a small frozen
pond equipped with ice-skaters, two black bears, and an amazing site of Vancouver city at dusk.

Last week I rollerbladed for 1.5 hours in the rain on the Seawall Promenade of Stanley Park. I was unimpressed with the weather change and came out of the park frozen. Nice park though, and contrary to my expectations, it was very different to Centennial Park back home! Think cedar forest, surrounding
shoreline, views, pools, beaches...

I also watched a hockey game - it was totally cool, 3rd row seats from the front, inbetween the two goals! Alwin, Matt and Jules - I was thinking of u guys!

I've enjoyed exploring on my own lately, something rare in Sydney, but probably something I need to get used to this year. I'm trying to keep my social skills from rusting though, and Trang has been great in getting me involved with all her UBC friends - most are Europena, Asian and Mexican. I have met 3 Canadians though! =P I've been out with them a few times, and we even threw a huge dinner party at out place one time though too which was a lot a fun. I also have Aussie friends - Ben (ex-IBMer) and his gf Rachel! We meet at the library some days for coffee while we bitch about job hunting and recruitment execs. Don't laugh - the library is cool (unlike the uni ones which are only good for sleeping)... I get free internet, central heating (brr..) and it is the only asthetically pleasing building in the whole of downtown... it's modeled like the Roman Colleseum.

Thats the exciting stuff. There are uneventful and dreary days from the weather where I find solace sleeping in, shopping, cooking and eating. Oh dear! I have
signed up for a Temp agency, not sure if I will hear from them (Rachel and I think they are a bit of a joke), but with only 3 weeks to go before my move up to Lake Louise, I'm not fussed.

Anyways, about time you bludgers get back to work. Another essay next time!

An Achievement

... after many near successful attempts, I have finally succeeded in missing a plane. I blame the Miami traffic... couldn't be my fault! It was sheer luck that they could put me on a later flight - I had to wait 6 hours at the airport though!

LA and Miami was great, I spent about a week and a half there, ate heaps, shopped (hmm.. only a little), caught up with family and hung out with friends. My time in Miami and Orlando very much reminded my of my Tampa days and my last visit to the sun-drenched city.

Since Monday, I have traded the stifling humidity for the brisk chill of Vancouver. I must say, I was really glad to have detoured to the States before hitting Canada. Mainly to see my cousins and attend the wedding, secondly to make the start of my year away easier. I really expected that after the fun and games, I would be all alone in a strange city, having to look for my own home, work and friends. Some say, keep your expectations low and you will be pleasantly surprised. I really believe that.

My uni friend Trang, bused it all the way to the airport to pick me up.. she is such a sweety... she knew that I would really appreciate a familiar face to greet me and I did. She then took me out to dinner at a place called Wildfire, very much like the one in Sydney only cosier (I also live above a Shark Bar, just as dodgey as the Sydney counterpart, I hear) and we kicked off with a
really nice meal and cocktails. Food and alcohol is so cheap here, and plenty of variety. I can see trouble. So much for spending the next 50 weeks losing the weight gained from the last 2 weeks!

Anyways, I had very little time to be emotional or grateful, Trang had me settled straight away in the YWCA which is downtown in a fab location and great
facilities. The day after I arrived, I trekked around the coastline of UBC (Uni of British Columbia), and met some people at a birthday. Today we went to Burnaby Mountain Park to get a birdseye view of Vancouver and also visited SFU (Simon Fraser Uni). Weather for the last 3 days has been fantastic (surprisingly!). Amongst all this, I have also explored the city on my own, trying to orientate myself and just enjoying the fact that I have finally made it here after all the talk!

There is one thing I don't like here though - the seagulls. Think ugly Sydney ones... Vancouver ones are 2x as big and 5x as ugly. Hmm.. other than that, I know I will enjoy my time here.

Like all great plans, I don't know what I will be doing in the next month. Might give Temp Agencies a call, might fly to San Fran ("The City"), or might do some volunteer work.

I do know what I will be doing tonight though - going to see a Hypnotist! Still a little dubious, but we'll see...

Be good!=)

My First Honeymoon

I've lost track of time here... although I haven't done much, there has been so many people and lots of running around, it hasn't hit me that I won't be
home for a while.. which means it is still all a bit of a holiday.

LA was bad (except catching up with Cuz, that was good!)... I have a 10-things-I-hate-about-LA list, but Miami has been pretty good. Reminds me of the good
old Tampa days.. lots of water, palm trees etc etc. The wedding was sooo pretty, thinking about career change to event organising again.. Helen - I have ideas for your wedding already! =P

Also went clubbing at OPIUM - apparently the best club on Miami's South Beach (where all the Barbies and Kens hang out in skimpy clothes and funky cars). It was the best club I have ever seen, and will def be hard to beat. Most of it was outdoors... Chinese Garden feel, with large chinese lanterns hanging high, soft drapes and unlimited lounge areas that seperate all the different dance floors and bar areas. Maybe I would also pursue the bar owner career that I was thinking of in Turkey...

At the moment I am at my cousins house in Miami, most guests have left now (abt 95% of guests had flown in) and there is only the newlyweds, two guys from HK and me left.. we will prob hang out in Orlando for the honeymoon... and then I head off to the land of "good-looking Canadian borders"! Milli - I will keep you updated *wink*

I haven't started missing home yet, I have a feeling that will hit when the fun and games is over and I leave to look for a home and a job. I'll fill you in on the sob story then!=)

Thanks Lil for the Australian Idol update.. I had bets on Cosima too! =(

The rest of you - keep the updates coming... just so I feel loved!

And the Adventure Begins...

For those who haven't heard, I will be off to Canada for a year of work and play.

I am due to fly out this Tuesday and will be stopping over in the US before arriving in Vancouver where I will start my Canadian adventure. The plan is to travel, snow board, work and pick up.. the good old Canadian accent
ofcourse!

So why Canada?
- There's nothing more effective than unemployment or low wages for guaranteed weight loss
- I've mastered the technical face-plant-in-the-snow manouver, but I hear more spectacular falls are possible on the steep Canadian slopes.
- The visa application was easy (besides ticking the wrong boxes - they weren't impressed that I didn't fill the form out in person, and didn't understand or accept the terms & conditions.)
- Canadians are great people - they forgive stupidity. My visa was approved second time round!

Gone will be the IBM email and Orange phone, new details are below. Please keep in contact as I will be craving to know what everyone is up to!

email: andrea@student.unsw.edu.au
mobile: +61 414 686 583 (until the 28th Oct)
icq uin: 11501653