Been so busy the last few weeks

Since my last blog i have been so busy with working, having a few nights out and also going the the christmas market downtown.

We went to victory square for the rememberance day parade, it was so amazing like something that you cant imagine.  Everyone really does support the armed forces in Canada and the turn out of people on this day really shows that.

The Christmas Market is this German market that has the most amazing apple cider and muled wine ever.  There are lots of little stalls that has typical german food, candy, toys and christmas decorations.  It only cost $3 dollars to get in and your ticket last for the whole season which is such an amazing idea.

I found the British store in New Westminister and spent a small fortune but at least all my cravings were sorted.

So i got a job whoop whoop

Since my last blog i have been working like crazy.  I got a full time job at a bakers called cobs breads it is such a good job although it is long hours.  When i started they said you can eat what you what when you want and you can take home whatever you want at the end of the shift which means i save on groceries woooo. On the downside it probably means that i have to hit the gym twice as hard while the maple scroll campaign is going as they taste soooooo good.

I haven't being doing to much touristy things since my last blog just been shopping and sampling local beer and ales.  Going to be working hard for the next few weeks as i am going to Vegas in December cannot wait for that.

The last few weeks.....

So the last few weeks i have been looking for an apartment and a job.  I found an amazing apartment on Craigslist which was so cheap and it has a pool and sauna and since no one uses it, it is all mine.  I share with three girls who are really nice girls.  Finding a job is providing harder than getting a place to stay, i must have applied for over 100 jobs and only had three interviews out of all of them.

In between looking of a job i applied for my SIN which was so easy to do.  My nearest location was Sinclair Centre it only took around twenty minutes to do everything and they also gave me the details to apply for my BC card.  Next up was setting up a bank account, I decided to go with Scotia as they have a start right account which means you dont have to pay any fees unlike the rest of the banks.

I have went on a few trips around Stanley park, Grandville Island, False Creek and Grouse Mountain.

The Grouse Grind was so challenging it was hard from start to finish.  The steps were so huge and uneven just to make it that little bit harder for you.  When you complete it you get such a good sense of achievement as it is so hard but still managed to complete it in one hour and 30 minutes.

Some Photos of Vancouver and Whistler

Whistler

Headed to Whistler the day after I arrive in Canada still choked with the cold and jetlagged.  Met some really nice girls at the bus stop and we ended up staying in the same dorm. We stayed at the HI Whistler which was used as a hotel for the winter olympics last year so it was pretty amazing .We went into the village later that day to check it out and i realised that i dont want to work here as i might end up with cabin fever as it is small and quiet.  I'm a city girl so i think i will be staying in the city.  We decided to splash out and have dinner and a few drinks in this place called The Keg it was so nice.

There really isn't much to do here until the snow comes so we just kept walking around the village or sitting in the common room with a few drinks.  Dont get me wrong it is so beautiful and would be amazing when the snow comes but i just couldn't cope with being here all season - a weekend is enough.

So back to Vancouver i go

Sorry for lack of posts been so busy

I stayed at the airport holiday inn on the night before flying as I had an early morning flight and thought it would be easier if I stayed close to the hotel so I wouldn't have to travel up to the airport early in the morning on the weds. 

On the flight over I meet a lovely couple from Calgary who have invited me to stay with them if I am ever in Calgary which was very nice of them.  Already finding out how lovely the Canadians are. 

Once I arrived in Vancouver I had to collect my baggage and head to immigration.  There was only two people on the desk which meant it was a long wait in the queue.  Once I got seen all the wanted to see was my passport and my LOI, so all the paperwork that I stressed out about getting sorted was not needed at all.  I decided to take the Sky train from the airport to the hostel instead of the taxi which was a big mistake as I got lost TWICE. I decided to stay in the Samesun Backpackers which is a really nice hostel and all the staff were amazing. 

It is so close now

I honestly can't believe how quick it has came around.  The last few weeks have been such a blur. Since finishing up at work it has been so crazy with packing, meeting up friends and flat when i arrive in Vancouver. There has honestly been so much to do and so little time but i have got there in the end. I have been applying for jobs and for flats for when i arrive.  When i arrive i have three job interviews plus five flat viewings which means i am going to be one very busy bee when i get there.  

My leaving night was very emotional saying goodbye to everyone.  I also had to clear out my room.  It is so hard deciding on what to take abroad for a year.  I had threw out around ten bags of clothes which just shows you that working in a clothes shop where you get 50% off clothes is not good for someone that is a shopaholic like me.  

Whistler Job Offer

I forgot to include in my last blog that i had received a job offer in the Whistler Blackcomb.  I am going to be a Rental Technician and Retail Sales for the 2013/2014 season.

I was wanting to something within the tourism industry but at least i'm going to be living and working in Whistler.  I'm not due to start until 18th November so i will be able to have a few trips around Canada before i start.

Last week i received an email from a company that had seen my resume on the indeed website asking me to come for an interview on the 27th August as they were very impressed with my resume and that i'm they type of person they would love to have working for them but sadly i had to turn it down as i don't leave for Vancouver until 25th September.  I'm quite gutted about this as it seems a really good job opportunity and they pay was really good as well.

It is all getting so real now

The last few weeks have been so crazy as i have been working 60 hour weeks plus i have had countless birthdays, anniversaries and leaving nights.  I had also had a pretty crazy holiday in Zante for 10 days.I

In between all of this i have found time to book my flights, insurance and my hostel.  I leave the 25th of September which is currently 52 days time(not that i'm counting or anything) flying straight from Glasgow to Vancouver.  I have did a lot of looking around for the best prices for a flight and AirTransat were the cheapest at £340.

The best sites i found were

• Skyscanner
• Edreams
• Travelsupermarket
• Canadianaffair

I have decided that i am going to stay in the Samesun for the first two weeks as the location is perfect and is close to everything.  They also have daily activities and night events which is perfect for meeting loads of new friends.

I cant honestly believe just how quickly this coming round, just seems like yesterday i was only thinking about applying for the IEC programme and now it is almost here.

My Canada Bucket list

Ok so i haven't posted anything for a while as i have been concentrating on my holiday to Zante but now im home and only a few months away from the big move i can concentrate on everything Canada.

This is a list of everything i want to do/see while im in Canada however the list is most likely to grow and grow.

• Make loads of awesome new friends
• Granville Island
• See Vancouver Canucks play
• See something at the Vancouver Film Festival
• Grouse Mountain
• Do lots of hiking
• Cycle in Stanley Park
• Visit Vancouver Island
• Doing as much snowboarding and skiing as possible
• Visit Lake Louise it looks so amazing
• Visit Capilan Suspension Bridge Park.
• Go to Niagara Falls
• Visit Harrison Hot springs

As you can tell I've got the adventure bug! No doubt this list will get huge as Canada gets closer. The more research I do, the more I find! I'll try and keep on top of the list and keep you up to date with additions. Also, if anyone has any recommendations of other things to include, get in touch!

It is official i'm going to Canada

So, i woke up early yesterday morning and checked my emails as usual and sitting there waiting for me was my LOI (Letter of Introduction), i was that excited when i got it that i forgot to put the lid on the blender before pressing the on button (chocolate milkshake on the celling is not good haha).

It has taken just under four weeks for me to get approved which is good considering other people have taken well longer than that.  Now with me receiving my LOI it all now seems real., im actually doing this aaarrggghhh

Playing the waiting game

It has been three long weeks and im still waiting to hear from CIC, i know some people have been waiting longer but is so frustrating when you are as impatient as me.

To try and keep my mind off the waiting i have been doing lots of research on mobile companies, banks and accommodation.  Scotiabank seems to be the best bank to go with as they have the Start Right Program which is ideal for people coming to Canada on the IEC or newcomers.  Still unsure on mobile companies though as i have an Iphone although im thinking about getting a new phone to take over with me or just get my phone unlocked.

I have seen quite a few apartments that look nice but again im unsure as to where to live as i may be working in Whistler for the winter season. If i do go to Vancouver im looking at staying Downtown as that seems the perfect location as everything is there.

My savings have been coming along good right as i have been selling loads of clothes and shoes on ebay - trust me i have so much stuff i blame working in a clothes shop for the amount of stuff i have.

The joys of job hunting and resume writing

I may be jumping the gun a bit here, looking for a job while I'm still waiting to hear if i have been accepted or not but I'm just so god damn impatient.

I started writing my resume which is hard as they don't really understand our qualifications.  You get a great template from moving2canada which helps a great deal.  There is so much that you have to cut out as they don't really care about your interests.

I have been in touch with a few prospective managers explaining that i would be coming over in September on the IEC program and will be looking for work.  A few have said to visit them when i arrive and others have just not gotten back to me a bit like the UK.

I have one job offer that seems to be very promising as i have been giving a date which i will be expected to start work.  The job is in rental shop in Whistler which seems to have a lot of perks.

There are so many great sites that help for looking for jobs.  Have a look at go2hr, ifgpr.ca, simply hired, workopolis and cool jobs Canada.

Another great site that is really useful is working holiday Canada.  It gives you all sorts of info on jobs, your sin, accommodation, banking and loads more.

Any questions just drop me a line on paulagerrard87@gmail.com

THE CIC PART OF APPLICATION

So now the CIC.  Your actual visa application is done through Citizenship and Immigration Canada.  You can do it through Sign In Partner or GCKey.  I would suggest using the GCKey as the sign in partner is so hard.

After you log in, you have to do a questionnaire that will tell you if you are eligible for any type of visa or not.  Mines suggested the IEC, just as well.  It gives you a checklist of documents that you will need to upload for your application.  You need your cv/resume, police certificate, passport (include all pages of stamps), a passport photo and your CAL.

You do not need to print your documents and sign them.  You sign them electronically after you press the submit button.

I will keep you all up to date on my application process.

Remember you can email if you have any questions.  paulagerrard87@gmail.com

The IEC process

So for the people who dont know me and haven't been bored to tears with me talking about this for so long, i am planning on going to Canada but first i have to apply for the IEC programme.  I though the IEC (or International Experience Canada) would be a simple process, how wrong was i.

Applications were supposed to open December/January but they didnt and there was no information on the website when they were going to be open (very helpful).  They surprised everyone by opening on 14th February with no warning whatsoever so i missed the first round.  This set me into panic mode as they only have 5350 places available for a visa to the UK.  They had decided that this year they were going to do it all online in three separate dates, 1000 applications on 14th February, 2000 on 25th February and 2350 on 7th March.  Since i missed the first one i went online filled everything out ready for the second round so all i had to do was press submit, or so i thought.

Come the 25th I made sure i had the day off and i sat at the computer ready to press the submit button.  The had not put what time they were opening all they had put was opens in the afternoon.  So i sit and wait for it to open getting really impatient, they come 3pm it opens.  I checked through all my sections one last and go to press submit and the site crashes.  Everytime i try to press submit the site crashes and send me to the home screen.  When the round closes i panicked even more.

Gutted i have to work on the day the 3rd and final round opens i accept that i may miss out on this opportunity.  On way to work i log onto my Kompass account and realise it is open so i quickly press submit and i got the sought after WTN (World Tracking Number).  I DID IT!!! ON MY IPHONE OF ALL THINGS WOOP WOOP!  After work i go onto my Kompass account to see if i had received my confirmation, i realised that where all my lovely green ticks that were once there had now been replaced by a big red cross next to the visa section.  I totally freak out thinking WHAT THE HELL!!.  Thank god for British Expats on the IEC forum.  

There still is the CIC process to go through but i will cover that in another post.  This has been so stressful so far, i hope the CIC process is not as stressful.

A few days after submitting my application i get a payment request which is a great sign.  I send the payment the next day.  A day later i get a payment verified.  After 9 long days i finally get my CAL (Conditional Acceptance Letter).  

Now for the CIC part of the application

If you want to know anything then dont hesitate to drop me an email on paulagerrard87@gmail.com

This is the year i have been waiting for

As the title says - this is the year i have been waiting for.  I wanted to go to Canada last year on my working visa but sadly i had missed the applications.  Since i have the funds now i had decided on my travel plans and very itchy feet. I decided that i have got to do it now before i turn 30 or i cant do a whv.  The world is big to sit around and not get out there and enjoy my life.

My plan so far is

First stop is Canada .  Im heading to Vancouver in September with a few weeks accommodation booked up then im heading to Whistler for the winter season until April.  Im thinking about heading to Vegas or New York for a few days at Xmas or New Year.

I dont have any long term plans as of yet.  You can get two IEC (international Experience Canada) visas, so if i love it i may get a second year.  In june 2014 i plan on heading to Brazil for the world cup as i have always wanted to go somewhere for the world cup.  I plan on travelling more of the states, New Zealand, Australia and Asia.  I really want to travel around Europe on the way home.

Elvis land

In november 2012 i took my mum to Graceland for her 50th birthday.  We arrived just after midnight so it was straight to bed for us.  We were staying at the Days Inn Graceland which was of course Elvis themed with a guitar shaped pool.

We went shopping in the morning and went my fave american shop - Rue 21.  Also took my mum to Walmart to show just how amazing it actually is.  We had a look around to see what was around our hotel aside from Graceland and discovered that all the attractions that are part of the tour are around us.  

At night we went to Beale Street for dinner at the Hard Rock and some pubs.  Beale street is the place to go to as they offer a mix of delta blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B and gospel.  

The next night we went to Marlowes for dinner.  We had the best food i have ever tasted in my life.  They offer a pink limo to pick you up from your hotel and take you to the restaurant and also drops you back off which is so amazing.

On out final day the day of my mums birthday we did the vip tour of Graceland.  It is so amazing to be at the King's house and seeing just how much land he actually had.  The decor is not to my taste but it was very big back in the day.  As it was coming up to christmas they had it all decked out with the christmas decorations and it was so amazing.  There is a room that is designed like a jungle that he used as a recording studio in 1976.  We got to see all his cars, old costumes, his planes and his gold records. I never realised just how many gold records he actually had.  

We went to the Rock n Roll cafe for a meal and a guy called Tim Rowland was performing as an Elvis impersonator, he is by far the best i have seen wish we had can to this place before our last night as the atmosphere was so good as was the service.

Vegas baby - strippers being very pleased to see you

Me and my friends went to Vegas in feb 2012 to celebrate my 25th in style.  We staying at the Excalibur again as we all loved the fact that it is a castle.  On checking in they were saying that there was only one room booked and after looking properly the found the other booking, way to give us a heart attack.  Despite being completely shattered from our long flight and the fact that we hadn't slept the night before, we got changed and ditched our stuff and headed out on the strip to explore.

We went in all the hotels to see all the lobbies to see if anything had changed since the last time i was here. Nothing had really changed and even though i had seen them all before they are still so amazing to look at. The other girls were so amazed with the size of the strip and the hotels.

When people think of Vegas they automatically think of casinos and the nightlife but there is so much more to it than that.   Each hotel has different attractions that attract tourists in the thousands.  Of course the most famous is the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Bellagio Fountains at the Bellagio.

If in Vegas the limo tour of the strip is a must.  It is the only way to see Vegas as the strip is 4.5 miles long.  You also have to see the Freemont Street Experience.  There is a Madame Tussauds in the Venetian Hotel which is another typical tourist must.


We did the helicopter ride over Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon, it was so amazing.  The views were simply breathtaking.  On the way home we flew over the strip and got some great pics.

                

                                       

We went to the Stratosphere but only me and Heather did the rides the X stream was by far the scariest as it shoots you straight up and leaves you hanging off the edge.  Near the Stratosphere there is the the worlds largest gift shop, we all spent so much money.

We went out to the Coyote Ugly bar in the New York New York hotel and the place is so crazy and the drinks are lethal.  We took out our mascot out and attracted so much attention.  I got up to dance on the bar since it was my birthday and got so much free drink loving it.  Also got to add my bra to their huge collection.

Back at our hotel me and Heather manages to convince the barman to strip on the bar for us and we got free drink for being a good laugh.


We went to the premium outlets on our last day to get some bargains and ended up spending so much more money and i had to end up getting another case just to put my stuff in it.  We all got tattoos done to remind us of our time in Vegas.

My birthday night out was to see the amazingly hot Thunder from Downunder all i can say is yum yum yum.  Me and Heather got our pics with them on sat on their knees to get our pics and lets just say they seemed quite pleased to see us haha.

Rodeo, vegas, ball game and near death experiences

Day 30

Woke up still drunk, still wearing last nights clothes and somehow Tommy's tutu.  We went to macy d's for breakie and saw Tommy's group aswell.  We were on the way to Bryce Canyon today.  We did a small 3 mile hike was well good and it sobered me up.  Abby told us we were going to a rodeo tonight which i cant wait for it is going to be so much fun.  We had dinner then went to the rodeo which was amazing.  We went to Tommy's group for a camp fire and some smores.

                                     

                                     

Day 31

Got up early as we were going to Zion today.  The drive wasn't that bad and was quite a short one.  When we got to Zion we were told we were'nt able to do the Angel's landing hike today as it had been raining and they were expecting more.  So we just did the Upper Emerald pool after we dropped of the trailer.  Had a few drinks while doing some laundry.  We watched the hangover but the car battery and laptop died so we went to bed as a few of us were going to do the angel's Landing at 5.45am tomorrow then it is VEGAS BABY!!!

 Day 32

A few of us got up early to do the Angel's Landing.  We went with Tommy's group which was good, so glad i got up early to do it.  The views were so worth it.  We went back to the camp and had pancakes and bacon for breakfast yum yum.

We were all so excited on the drive to Vegas we had been looking forward to this for so long.  We were staying at the Excalibur hotel which was like a huge castle and the views were amazing.  We had a limo tour of the strip and we saw the Bellagio fountains and the Fremont Street Experience which was so amazing.

                                      

Had a look around the strip today and had a look in the lobbies of all the hotels.

Day 34

Got up early to find our trailer had been stolen.  So we had to try and pack all our stuff into Tommy's trailer. We were going to San Diego today and going to watch a baseball game tonight.  The game was so amazing.

Day 35

We had a free day today so some went to the zoo while others went to the beach.  We went out for dinner in a local restaurant and chilled out at camp as some were leaving tomorrow when we got to LA.

Day 36

We got up early to leave for La and to finish the tour. We were all so sad as we this would be the last time we would be together.  

We did a tour around La trying to spot celebs but sadly we didn't.  We went along the walk of fame which is so long and then chilled out at Santa Monica beach loved it.  We had a last meal and drink together with the people that were still here.

Day 37

Left early this morning to head to Yosemite National Park.  On the way there we visited the famous bubble gum alley downtown San Luis Obispo, California.

The campsite is so amazing a bit like the first campsite i stayed in.  Had an early night as tomorrow gotta get up early for the Half Dome hike.

Day 38

Up at 4.30am this morning to get a early start on the Half Dome as it is a big hike.  It took 12.5 hours to get to the top it was so hard.  When i got to the cables it was the hardest and most dangerous part as the the rock surface was slippery.  I ended up losing my grip and fell backwards never been so scared in my life.  Once back at camp i had a few beers think i deserved them.

Day 40

Trip to San Francisco before i go home. Sadly i couldn't go to the Alcatraz gutted about it as i really wanted to go.

Well America it has been an experience