Monday, July 5, 2010

Jun 07 2010 - ship's log 11: Looking for a new place

Queen Elizabeth Park

Monday. I wanted to come back to home direct from the school. I kept worried about find a new place to live and I have decided to search on Craiglist this day.

After choose some annouces I started to send e-mails asking for the price and how to go to the place. I sent two e-mails: one offering a room near the school, in Chinatown, Kaya have told me that was not a good region, not so secure place to walk alone, but it was cheap [CAD$350]. And the other e-mail to a girl who was offering a room in a students house. I decidded to visit the two places on the next day. After this I went to Queen Elizabeth Park to take pictures - at the first time there I had forgot my camera.

I walked by there, and realized that now I was having time to take pictures, and practice photography - nice!

http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth/qemap.htm
my pics @ Queen Elizabeth Park: http://picasaweb.google.ca/norritt.icarus/QueenElizabethParkJune7th?authkey=Gv1sRgCL_tpILS2vPBngE#

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Jun 06 2010 - ship's log 10: Steveston

Richmond - Steveston

On the day before, after Lynn Canyon Park, Thiago suggested us to go to Steveston, a historic fishing village in Richmond. We accepted it.

On that morning we took the skytrain to Richmond. Getting there I look at the map on the station and found a bus to get the way to Steveston. We took the bus, but in the wrong direction, after we realize it, we take the right bus, and after 30 minutes we got there. The day was cloudy, an open air market was happening there. We took some pictures from the wharf and went to ask information on the touristic desk.

The mistress there explained us all the touristic points in there. I took maps and suggested to follow a way to visit some places. We saw some buildngs from the pioneers fishermen - a lot of them were japanese immigrants. After that we came back to the open air market to try another way, but at that time, the guys were hungry. Thiago had brought his own lunch and I suggested them [Guillermo and Jim] to take a hot-dog on that market. They accepted and we took a smokie hot-dog with chips and a soda can [CAD$5]. We ate, but at that moment it started to rain. So we decided to come back.

At dinner Cindy was talking about study, and I commented that study alone is boring, then I suggested them to starting study together, Kaya didn't like it, because he didn't saw a prupouse on this. Guillermo accepted.

After dinner I went to training at Memorial with Jim and Kaya, there they played soccer with some saudi arabian guys, and I learned that their country has the name Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

http://www.steveston.bc.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond-Steveston
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia

my pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/norritt.icarus/StevestonRichomndJune6th?authkey=Gv1sRgCP3DtZ2ht73TYw#

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Jun 05 2010 - ship's log 09: Lynn Canyon Park

Lynn Canyon Park

Saturday morning I started to look for what to do, I talked to my father on msn and passed him my cel phone number, he tested calling here. I had a covnersation with my parents, it was good to test the cell phone and heard their voices.

After the breakfast I met Guillermo on the corridor. He asked me if I want to follow him to meet Thiago, a brazilian friend of him. I accepted.

We called Jim and went to Waterfront station where Thiago, Ceres and Liliane was waiting for us. There we took the seabus to go to North Vancouver, the seabus is a ferry service integrated to Vancouver's public transportation system, it´s nice because it cross the sea and you can take some pictures.

On Longsdale Quay [North Vancouver - Terminal], we met Ivian, and took a bus to Lynn Canyon Park. The Park offers a suspension bridge, trails among trees, a river and waterfalls, there is a lake, but we have not been there. Nice place, good pics, and free to entry.

Comming back, after dinner, I started to review some resolutions: find new place, study, get a job. The priority were find a new place to live, I was very worried about it, the time were short and I didn't have idea in how to solve it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaBus
http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=998&LineAbbr=998
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Vancouver
http://www.dnv.org/ecology/index.html
my pics: http://picasaweb.google.ca/norritt.icarus/LynnCanyonParkJune5th?authkey=Gv1sRgCOK9_eDF5PSRAg#

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Jun 04 2010 - ship's log 08: 1st week

breakfast - toasted bread with peanut butter and jam + cereals
 
First Friday here, I was very tired and came back straight to homestay from  school. I was worried about find another place to live. I have not found anyone to share a room and until the week after I had had to notice if I would stay one more month at homestay.

I send the e-mails about my doubts to ILAC staff and started to look for ads in Couchsurfing and Craiglist. Then I focused in study and write this journal.

About this first week:
>> new home, new food, new friends - all the changes needs a time to adapt.     The house is good: 3 meals evey day, single room, wireless, laundry machines. The owner, my host mother, is Fillipina, she usually cooks rice, some vegetable and pork meat - with vegetables, or beefs; roasted chicken, or roasted sausage. The most different are the sausages: sweet. But I put pepper, and it becomes ok. The breakfast, is total american, and lunch, sometimes the food that we ate at dinner, others a sandwich. The friends I think is the same that occurs in Brazil, they have cultural diferences, but you will be closer with whom have close ideas with you about freedom.

>> new streets, new city, new languages - Vancouver has a great urban planing. People walks on the streets, specially on sunny days. They are implantig bikeways, the public transportation works very well. The number of foreigners living in Vancouver is quickly perceived - my opinion: 70% foreigners, 30% canadians. It becomes hard to practice english, but that is the way, learn  many Englsih styles, each nacionality is a new English accent - koreans, japaneses, chineses, brazilians, mexicans, saudi arabians, fllipinos, eurepeans, etc.
 
>> realizing a dream???
Nope. I'm trying one more city in this planet, it is a way to get knowledge. I'm using everything that I've learned in my whole life, but now, I have to use it in English. You know, my big idea is a little farm.

http://www.couchsurfing.org/
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Jun 03 2010 - ship's log 07: English Bay

English Bay

June 3rd - A meeting with the brazilian ILAC conseulor was scheduled to 2pm. There Jussara - the brazilian ILAC's conselour, was waiting for us. After Grammar class Ana and me met Raíssa on the way to the meeting, we entered in the room together, we were the last. All of us were about in 10 students. Jussara told us, about ILAC, and gave some tips about Vancouver: like to be careful if you buy a bike, because she bought one and locked on the street, and when she came back, only the frame was there - the wheels, pedals, etc were stole; and about her stole bag in a fine restaurant. I had some doubts and asked her, she didn't have all the answers, so she advised me to look for the responsibles for each area - visa, get a job, etc.

After the meeting we started to knew each other - Andreia, Raíssa, Lucas, Matheus, Renato, Larissa, Raíssa. They decided to eat something - Mc Donalds. After that Andréia met Masfer who guided us to English Bay.

It was the first real one sunny day, the days before were sunny only at night [after 6pm]. It was the first contact with the Pacific Ocean, smells like colder and harder than Atlantic. There I took some good pictures, and finally started to use my cam.

Caming back, in the bus a canadian old man, started to talk with us, guessing where we were from and after that about lady gaga - interesting city, I tought.

I got the skytrain and came back to homestay. After dinner I went training with Jim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Bay_%28Vancouver%29
my pics: http://picasaweb.google.ca/norritt.icarus/EnglishBayJune3rd?authkey=Gv1sRgCKjP9d7VmJTV7QE#

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Jun 02 2010 - ship's log 06: On Wednesday night.

Wednesday - on the day before I made a list of things to get down: cel phone, medical insurance number, bycicle prices, compare the prices living in a homestay and sharing a place. I arranged with Kaya a time to meet him and find a SIM card to my cell phone.

After classes we met in front of ILAC and I had to explain to Kaya that I forgot my money. Then we came back home and went to Oakridge Mall - where Kaya bought his cell phone. There are a lot of phone stores, I guess more than in Brazil. The cell phones are expensive, like all the things here. Kaya guide me to Fido's stand - he told me that he made the research on the mall to buy his cell phone. I trust him and asked to the attendant about my cell phone. I had verified that mine could works here, she tested inserting a SIM card, and told me that the cell phone was unlocked. I bought the SIM card, and she tested again, and like happened in Buenos Aires, it doesn´t work, though. She suggested me to find the Roger's store, another provider company. There I asked to the attendant about my phone, after a few tests he explained me that my cell phone was unlocked, however not prepared to the frequency used in Vancouver. So we had to come back to Fido's stand to buy a new cell phone, I took the cheaper one [CAD$50], another nokia - Nokia 1661. Coming back I could test the IPad at the Apple Store, really nice gadget, but I can wait.

After dinner Karen called everybody to go to a party. Usually the ESL Club - ILAC's partner, provide free tickets to students: pubs, nightclubs, etc. The free ticket on that night was to Tonic Nightclub, and there she wanted to take us for her farewell party. Kaya refused the invite, and they forgot to call Jim, so we were: Karen, Cindy, Guillermo, Jun and me.

A slow line was waiting for us, and I could see many ILAC students. After 45min we entered. There Karen and Guillermo paid the first round beer. I supposed to not drink, but they had paid, and I had to accept. The second round was paid by Cindy and Jun. At this time I saw Nana - college's friend, and we greeted each other, she took some pics, and invited me to a tequila shot - tequila cruda, that I refused. I went to her table and knew other brazilian girls and a japanese one. After that I came back to homestay siblings.

Brazilian, mexican, and all pop songs was played there. Cindy and Jun came back earlier [11pm] we stayed until midnight, and I payed the last beer round [$9]. After that they wanted to keep drinking, we entered in a pub, there Guillermo ask for a beer pitcher, some minutes after, Karen ask for 3 tequilas cruda. During this time, the bartender made 4 cocktails, wich 2 were virgins. Karen wanted to try, and I had not payed yet, so I agree to pay a cocktail. The bartender prepared it, but she didn't require the payment, Karen's idea was skip the payment. When we was going out, the bartender ask for the payment, and I had to pay [$8,5]. Coming back they wanted to buy something to eat, so they got a pizza slice each one. We took the skytrain and came back.


http://oakridge.shopping.ca/cambridge/jsp2/index_flash.jsp?mallid=oar
http://www.fido.ca/
http://www.rogers.com/web/Rogers.portal
http://www.nokia.ca/find-products/phones/nokia-1661
http://www.thetonicclub.com/

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Jun 01 2010 - ship's log 05: Backing to school

First class day, be at school 8 o'clock to know your level and buy the books. Entering in school's building I met Ana. At 8:00am, like the day before, the doors were open.

I've got Pre-Advanced level with the book World Pass, Ana got the same level, but another book. Our both main classes were in London building, another building where ILAC have rooms. We went there.

Arriving in the class I met the teacher, Jassamine, and my new classmates - Daisuke, Nozo and Yuko from Japan; Rafael and Aline from Brazil, Andy -bear-, Lance and Seo from Korea; Eddie from China; and Igor from Russia.

The guys are very crazy, and the class was funny. My first topic - If clauses. I had studied this at Wise Up, but incomplete, because I've learned more about it. The break time was at 10:00am - only 10min. An the lunch is at 11:30 o'clock. To have the lunch I went to the Main building, to find Ana or Raíssa, I had my lunch - a sandwich, in the lounge , with Ana, because we got the same elective class - Grammar, and crossed by Raíssa. After that we went upstairs to our class. The elective class doesn't be part of your final grade, we don't have tests and absent mark. In this class we met new classmates: Yuna, a korean girl and Chloe a chinese girl. Yuna recognized my brazilian accent. The class was very easy, about reflexive pronouns.

First impressions of class: cute teacher, crazy classmates, many things to learn - of course that a 18 months course [wise up] is not enough. The Grammar class are easier than main classes, it's a kind of change the subject, to use English in another contexts.

At night, I arrived at home, and knew better the new guy - Jim, another korean boy. He never studied English before, only for 3 months by himself. After dinner Guillermo and me went to running on Memorial Park.

http://www.ilac.com/

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

May 31 2010 - ship's log 04: Hi, what's your name?

Wihtout a alarm clock I downloaded one for my notebook. I put the Beatles' song Paperback Writer to wake me up at 6:00am. The ILAC's folder instruct me to be there at 8:00am. Just in case I prepared my cell phone to wake me up too.

I woke up, dressed and prepared my breakfast - toasted bread overed by peanut buttter and red fuits jam, and a glass of milk. At 7:16am I left home and went walking to skytrain station. At the station entry I took a Metro for the paperboy.

Arriving earlier than 8:00, I had had to wait for the school's opening time. I met Ana and Raíssa waiting too, we talked about our homestay and how we do to go to ILAC from our homestay.

After confirm our accpetance we follow a guy to another building to do the tests: speaking and grammar. During the speaking test you have time to know other students, they gave us a list of questions to do this: 'what's your name?', 'how are you?', 'where do you go?', etc. After concluding our tests, Manuela [ILAC's Activities Dirrector] explained how ILAC works: student ID, levels, who are the staff, etc. After that we went out from building to take a walk around the square. They show us some buildings: stores, bank, place to meet other students to do the activities, skytrain station, etc. Coming back to ILAC main building, they served us pizza to lunch. After the lunch, the girls: Ana and Raíssa, started to access the internet, because they don't have at their homestay.

First impressions of school: they have a good structure - they could help the students very well and make a lot of money.

I started to look around a place to buy gel to my hair and a plug adpter to my cell phone and electric shaver. In our walk to know around there, we saw a sign: Future Shop, that we supposed to be a electronic store. We decided to be there because Ana wanted to buy a notebook, and I could see for my adapter.

We went to Future shop, and started to look inside the store. Ana went to notebooks area, I was following Raíssa to camera's area. She found one that she wanted to buy, but she had bought another one in another store - both are very good. She regret about her buy, I know this feeling, it's very bad, after a time you have to move it on - it happens when you are in a new city [it's not only because you are in another country]. Suddenly a attendant starts to speak with us in portuguese, I asked him in English about netbooks, and he asked for what model I was looking for, I said that I wanted a Toshiba's one. Ana asked him about the notebooks, after that I asked about my adapter. I spend absurds $11,19 for the plug adapter - inevitable.

Getting out from electronic store, Ana wanted to pass in a Starbucks, she took her Frappuccino and we take a time for rest. Comming back, I wanted to buy my hair gel - I spent $6,72 for the gel and a bottle of water. Conclusion no.1: it is a such expensive city.

Arriving at home 4:30pm, I talked with some friend at messengers [msn, gtalk] and my family. It was a sunny night, after a rainy day - so I suggested to take a walk. They accepted the idea and suggested the Queen Elizabeth Park - a big one, comparing to the others [Memorial and Columbia]. We walked to the top, there a good view from Vancouver, unfortunately I was not prepared with my cam.

We couldn't wait for the sunset, because the lights on the streets are not so good and it would to happen only at 10:00pm and was 8:40pm. Comming back, I prepared my alarm clock again and slept.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwap79uy1G8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paperback_Writer
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/home.aspx
http://www.starbucks.com/
http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth/qemap.htm

Monday, June 7, 2010

May 30 2010 - ship's log 03: First Walk

I woke up at 9h00 a.m. and started to think what I could do on this morning. Mirriam said me to be at home 4h30 p.m. - time that she arrives form work. This is because she have to show me the way to ILAC. So, I decided to get up and wait for somebody on the upstairs.

I started to read something and Karen appears and turned on the TV. Some minutes later Guillermo showed up and we started our breakfast. After the breakfast I came back to my room and started to look at the map - google maps, inserting the words: pharmacy, market, cell phone. I finished my search choosing a route to pass for a park, and stores. I change my clothes, take the streets' names and went out.

The first store that I saw was the gas station at the corner - 41st ave x Main St. going ahead I saw a cemetery, I decided to turn right to check better, I read a sign: 'Mountain View Cemetery - Where Vancouver Remembers'. Kepting the way I crossed by two women speaking in Hindi [I guess], arriving on Fraser St I turned left, and crossed by 2 other men speaking Spanish. Before arrive to the park - I had crossed by chinese and korean people speaking in thier own languages.

Memorial Park it´s a good one place to pratice sports or have a picnic - if its not rainning. I saw baseball areas, soccer, and a road to practice running. So I kept on my way and went to Fraser Street where I might find any kind of stores and markets. I saw many restaurants, hair salons, 1$ store, all owned by foreigners, like thai-restaurants, chinese-resturants, indian-restaurants, etc. I found a public library too - South Hill Branch.

Coming back I passed in front of temples - chinese, Protestant. A car passed by me playing indian music out going from it. And then I got back. It was a good first walk.

At 12h30pm I went to upstairs and met Kaya, I told him about my first walk, and he had interested to know Memorial Park, we planned to go there after lunch. We went there, talking about our countries, I knew more about Kazakhstan. Comming back, Kaya wanted to stop in a store, he bought a Canadian flag we arrived at home 4:30pm.

Mirriam called me to go to ILAC at 5:00pm, we took the 41 bus on 41st Ave E, and got off in front of the skytrain station. We took the skytrain and got off on Waterfront station. After showing me the building, she guided me to a 7-eleven store, there I bought a Fare Card for CAD$81,00 [valid for entire June month to travel by bus, skytrain or seabus]. Comming back, Mirriam said me to not open my wallet in public, and carry it only on my front pockets. We arrived at home, and Mirriam called everyone to dinner.

At the dinner I planned with Kaya to go to another park, to practice running. We went to the Columbia Park - a small one, nearest to the house than Memorial. Kaya gave up at the 5th minute, and I at 8th - yes I need to practice much more.

At night I logged in Facebook, and Nana sent me a message inviting me to go to Whistler on next Saturday. I took a look at the ILAC activities schedule, and at the travel agency folder [Club ESL - ILAC partner]. CAD$48,00 to go there, activities not included. So I had to think about it.

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102237165312964302369.000487d4f49e4f05897a2&z=15
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/nonmarketoperations/mountainview/index.htm
http://www.cdli.ca/monuments/bc/vansouth.htm
http://www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/branches/details/south_hill_branch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan
http://www.7-eleven.com/
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:pt-BR:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=vancouver+columbia+park&fb=1&hq=columbia+park&hnear=Vanc%C3%B4ver,+BC,+Canad%C3%A1&cid=3310061848154354610
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistler,_British_Columbia

Saturday, June 5, 2010

May 29 2010 - ship's log 02: Arriving in Vancouver

Arriving on Toronto's Airport, I knew Ana, Juliana and Raíssa, who came to Vancouver too, Juliana and Raíssa will study at the same school that I will - ILAC. After the first check on passport, we were sended to immigration line, where the agents check what your intentions on visiting Canada. Then we have to get our baggage to do the connection to Vancouver. The 3 girls called to their families in Brazil. Raíssa and me took the same flight, more 4 hours sat. I slept 1 hour in this flight and watched (500)Days of Summer. I liked it because I could understand 70% of the dialogues.

The captain's airplane nice landed - without bumps ou jerks. I picked up my luggage and went to take the skytrain. At the same time I tested, my credit card, to buy the ticket, and the skytrain. To take the skytrain you don't have to pass by a turnstile, you just buy the ticket - I really didn't discovered yet how to validate the ticket. The skytrain is smaller than São Paulo's Metrô, they have only 2 waggons, without division, and don't have a driver.

Arriving at the Oakridge – 41st Avenue Station I started to look for a taxi, I was carring more than 50kg in baggage - 30kg in a bag, 13kg in another, 7 in my back, and my notebook on my shoulder, but I couldn't see one taxi at the street. So, I started to walk. Some streets have the East side and the West side, I supposed to wlak on the East side, like google maps indicated to me. So I walked to the number 120 and I didn't find it, I guess that I was lost, so I went to the corner to see the street's name and it marked 41th Ave W. I tought, that I was in the wrong way, in that time I saw a plumber leaving a house and going to his van, I stopped him and asked where I could get a bus, my arms was really exhausted. I show him the address, and he offered me a ride, I accpeted at the same time. The van was really messed with the equipments and tools, but the ride was what I really needed.

The plumber leaved me on front of the house. I rang the bell and Sasha immediatly show me my room, she asked me if I was hungry, I told her that I would have lunch later. So I started to unpack my baggage. A hour later I went to the upstaris to have lunch. At the kitchen Sasha show me where a took the flatware and the food. I started to hotting my dish, and the guys who living there showed up - Kyle, a 24 years old korean, Guillermo a 22 years old mexican.

We started to talk about where I am from, what my purpouses in Vancouver, all this first contact conversation. The food is not bad, the ingredients are not strange to me, rice - prepared in a rice cooker, salmon and kimchi. Mirrian and Sasha are korean, so that's why of this kind of food.

I came back to my room, Kyle show me his room, that he was leaving, he adviced me to took his room, because it is bigger than that I took, and gave me the wi-fi password. I talked with some friends at messengers, read my e-mail box, and got a break to rest on the bed. I started to read, but I was tired then I took a nap.

At 3:30pm Kyle knocked on my door to say good bye.
At 5:30pm Mirriam comes to me to call for the dinner. At the kitchen he explained me where I could find food, and introduced me the other guys: Karen, 20, from Mexico, Kaya 22 from Kazaquistan, and Cindy, korean girl.
We all ate together. After the dinner Mirriam asked me about the payment, but I answered that I've already paid to ILAC. She explained some more things about Vancouver: advicing me to not accept rides, because she accepted once a time, when she was just arrived in Vancouver; and to not walk at night, she showed me the free newspapers wich we can get every day: Metro and 24H; I started to read the newspaper 24H - here I guess it's better than Metro, and she told me that another guy was comming to the next day, so she suggested me to move to Kyle's room, and I accepted. She cleaned the room, and then I moved.

http://www.yvr.ca/en/Default.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_%28Vancouver%29
http://www.translink.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakridge_%E2%80%93_41st_Avenue_Station