Vancouver - ich komme

Eighth, ninth and tenth weeks

bergnarr — 2005-09-19T06:35:20Z

Hello buddies

I hope everybody is doing fine! Unfortunately I didn’t find any time to write a new contribution. Now I have to sacrifice my Sunday evening writing some news about my experiences; but I like to do it for you, guys.

On the eighth weekend we had really bad luck. After school it happened a bicycle accident to Urs. By passing a train track he wanted to lift up his wheel. It fell off and he dived into the road with his face. Fortunately he was wearing a helmet and didn’t break anything. With a three-hour delay we started our road trip to Harrison Lake. At first we bought some food and beer. After the shopping tour we couldn’t start our car. There was no sound at all when you turned the key. Because it was a long weekend (statutory vacation on Monday) every garage was already closed. We couldn’t fix the car by ourselves. We called Peter, my homestay father. After two minutes he figured out the problem and we were able to start our trip. The first night we spent on a campsite in Harrison. On Saturday we wanted to go to a hot spring. After two and a half hour driving on a logging we reached the little road which leads up to the hot springs. It was a really steep and narrow road. While we rode up the car’s motor got too hot. It needed a break too cool down. As we started the car we couldn’t put in a gear. Every gear was like the neutral one. Because of the steepness we lost altitude by every trial. Finally our car slipped backwards into a ditch. We were stuck somewhere in nowhere. After some minutes we had an idea how to solve this problem. We filled up the whole ditch with rocks and stones. We could have helped ourselves. Unfortunately the car wasn’t still running. Then somebody passed and told us that we were probably out of transmission fluid. We bought extra cooling fluid, steering oil, fuel in advance, but no bloody transmission fluid. The guy recommended to take cooling fluid instead of transmission fluid. They should be similar liquids. We tried and it worked more or less. We drove down to the lake and spent the night at a really nice spot. We grilled some really nice steaks and took a midnight bath in the lake. On Sunday we drove home on a direct way. It would have been too risky to try to go to the hot springs again. On Monday I woke up early. I joined Peter and some guys of his bicycle club for a ride. We climbed up the Mt. Seymour (about 1000m gain elevation). It was a good sportive exercise. After a tasty lunch Guenther and I went to Urs’s homestay. There we played a board game called dog. It was really fun.

My ninth weekend already started on Thursday noon and didn’t end until Tuesday. Urs and I did the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island. It’s a 75km long hike (one of the toughest in all Canada) within the untouched nature. You are walking sometimes in the rain forest and sometimes directly on the beach. You have to carry all your food and stuff by yourself because there is nothing between (except some Indian reserves). It was just gorgeous! The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Just the ultimate!!! They recommend you take 5 till 7 days. We did it in 3.5 days. On Monday we were walking from 8am to 9.30 pm. That was really tough. Imagine you are wearing all day long a backpack which is about 30 kg. That means my actual weight was about 100kg and there were a lot of climbs and ladders. Every morning we ate oatmeal with raisins (Me and raisins?!? but I ate them because that’s much energy). Every night we were cooking on our stove and for lunch we had meat, sausages and “Kneckebrot”. I have to tell you more about this trip when I’m back in Switzerland.

This weekend I needed to relax a bit. On Friday after school I was shopping. I bought two blue jeans. Yes blue jeans. I’ve never had blue jeans since 1999. It was pretty strange when I wore this the first time. On Friday evening I went with Guenther to the Blarney Stone. That’s a really nice and rough Irish pub with Irish live bands. On Saturday I slept in. In the late afternoon Guenther and I went to the home of a Friend of Urs’s homestay family. We had there a dog tournament (this board game with pegs). It was really fun. Guenther won as second placed 40 bucks. After the tournament we went to the Bourbon pub and Guenther invited us for some beers. On Sunday I slept in again and went jogging in the afternoon. For dinner I was invited by my homestay family. We celebrated my homestay brother’s birthday at a steakhouse. The food was really delicious.

Now I have two more weeks left in school and then I’m really looking forward to seeing my girlfriend and traveling around BC with her. Next weekend we probably will go to Tofino (Vancouver Island) to surf there!

Talk to you later!
Maenae

Seventh week(end)

bergnarr — 2005-08-29T06:08:12Z

Good morning my friends!

What’s going on? This week(end) I was quite diligent (performance on Friday quiz, second contribution within a week, sportive exercises)!
On Tuesday I was jogging for about two hours. I didn’t know that one lap around the Burnaby lake is so large. Nevertheless it was a good exercise (except my sore knees the next day).
On Wednesday I went out with Marco and Guenther. It was fun! On Thursday it was our last afternoon class (every fourth week the classes change). We spent the last lesson in a nice pub drinking beer. In the evening I went with my morning class to an Indian restaurant. I chose the all you can eat special! Unfortunately I ate too much. Indian food is very tasty and delicious.
On Friday I wrote my best quiz ever (despite missing a morning class)! In the afternoon we drove to a nice lake, relaxed and took a bath. In the evening we had a BBQ at my homestay. After eating I fixed my racing bike (I can borrow it from one of Peter’s friend) for the big tour to Mt. Baker in America. Around 11.30 pm I met Marco and Guenther. It was Marco’s last evening. I went to bed around 2.30 am and had to get up at 6pm. A really little sleep! After a breakfast with “Zopf” and Ovomaltine (I drink every morning a Ovo) my homestay father Peter, Urs and I rode by car one hour to the US border. Then six other members of the Vancouver Vets (Peter’s bicycle club) and we passed the border with our bicycles. Now I’m registered (photo, fingerprint) for at least ninety days. I don’t know if they delete my ID after the visa is expired. Anyhow it was beautiful but also muscle-burning tour. Imagine 150 km, about 1400m gain elevation, 27 km/h average of speed. I’ve never done before such a ride! Back in Canada we took a refreshing bath in a lake and joined a BBQ.
On Sunday I slept in till 10am. In the afternoon I went with Guenther to the Vancouver Fair. It was similar to a “Jahrmarkt” in Switzerland. In addition to the usual exhibitions there was a monster truck show. A truck was 5000kg heavy and had 1500 horse power. Just amazing! Later we treated ourselves to a beer at a beer garden.

I’m always looking forward to hearing something from you!

Bye and an nice week!
Maenae

Fifth and sixth weekend

bergnarr — 2005-08-23T06:07:58Z

Hi folk!

How are you doing? I’m still fine!
Last weekend I did pretty a lot of different things. On Friday afternoon we celebrated the last day of Marc, Fabienne and Carlos. We went to the Jericho beach and were relaxing there. After dinner we met each other at the Malone’s for some beers. Marco, Guenther and me hadn’t enough and we moved to tonic, where we were shaking a bit.
By the way I forget to tell you about the Thursday. After school we wanted to go for a beer. I don’t know why, but we stayed a bit longer than it was planned. After 7 pitchers I took the sky train and rollerbladed home. Fortunately I have a good sense of balance! At home Helen, my home stay mother prepared my dinner. In the meantime I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until 5am wearing all my clothes. I was definitely too tired!
On Saturday morning I woke up quite early at 9am (usually I’m used to sleeping till 1am). I was supposed to meet Guenther, Urs and Rodriguez at 11 o’clock. Then we rode for an half an hour (Guenther and me with the rollerblades; Urs and Rodriguez with the bicycle) to Deep Cove. It’s a very nice place with sea-access. After a walk to a viewpoint we took a bath in the sea. It was the first time for me that I bathed in the pacific. In the evening we had a big BBQ. My home stay brother Marcus invited some friends. After dinner we were playing taboo. It was a funny evening.
On Sunday I got up early again. We went to Brandywine with Guenther’s Southtirol friend Norbert, who is working and living in Vancouver, Claudia (Norbert’s girlfriend) and Norbert’s Uncle Mike. It was just fantastic! We climbed up to a glacier. In the afternoon we took a bath in the creek. Such a nice scenery!!! On the way back home we were resting at a very nice restaurant. There I ate my best tortillias ever.

This weekend I bought a lot of new stuff, we bought a car and we were on a very nice hiking trip! On Friday we went to the Mountain Equipment Co-op. That’s a big chain which offers more or less all things that you need for outdoor activities. I was there the second time and spent again quite a lot of money.
On Saturday morning Urs and me visited a friend of peter. He had an old van which he wanted to sell. The car was a bit too huge and it wasn’t practical for logging roads (roads in a rough estate, usually gravel roads). Around eleven o’clock we had a look to another car. It was a 19 years old Ford Bronco II (4 wheel drive, CD-player, 2.9l, V6). We fell in love with that car! We decided to buy it. After paying the insurance we (Guenther, Urs and me) could start our two day trip to Elfin Lake. We arrived at the campsite when it was already dark.
On Sunday we hiked up to an extinct volcano. It’s called Opal cone. It was very impressive how different the rocks and stones are. After this marvelous hike we rode to a very nice brewing pub. I was drinking there my strangest beer ever! It was very bitter and tasted a bit like a grapefruit.

The pictures are coming soon…

Have a nice week!

Cheers!
Maenae

Third and Fourth Week(end)

bergnarr — 2005-08-09T07:14:50Z

Hello Switzerland

My last contribution is already two weeks ago. I hope you read my news. Otherwise it's a waste of time.

I'm still enjoying my stay in Vancouver

My third Weekend I spent in Vancouver itself. On Friday we relaxed on the Kits Beach. I really like to play Frisbee there. After chilling out on the beach we joined the boat cruise party organized by our school. It was one of my best parties. You have to imagine, 300 language students were rocking. I think more or less everybody got hammerd. It was just great.
On Saturday I went with my homestay-parents to the first August celebration of the Swiss Club from Vancouver. I can promise, the Swiss abroad are even more patriotic as the usual Swiss citizen. The Swiss Club posssesses a beautyful montain-cottage on a huge property. The Swiss deputy Consul had the official 1st August speech. It was the worst thing I've ever heard.Nevertheless it was a funny evening. My homestay-father and me were dancing the Rasputin. Realy hard for the legs.
On Sunday we watched the Vancouver Pride Parade. I've never seen such a lot of gay people during an afternoon.
In the evening we went to the Buffalo Club. A Corona Beer cost only two and a half bucks. That was a really fair price. We rocked the party again.
On Monday it was the BC (British Columbia day). That meant no classes. I slept in and relaxed the rest of the day.
Last Wednesday we joined the HSBC Celebration of Lights. That's a really gigantic fireworks. We bought some beers for drinking on the beach. You have to know, in Canada it's illegal to drink alcohol in the public. The bad news: the police saw us drinking beer and took our beer away. The good news: we hadn't to pay a fee (around 150 bucks) and at the after we could have picked it up at the police station. We played the innocent comprehensible Swiss Guy.

This Friday we were celebrating David's last day. After relaxing on the beach we went to a easy-going pub for drinking some beers.
On Saturday I slept in till 1.00 pm and did some sportive exercises in the afternoon. On the evening we watched the finals of the firework. It was amazing! There is no comparison to the Swiss fireworks.
On Sunday I woke up early. We went on a hike up to the two Lions. We were hiking for about seven hours. The last part you had to cliomb a bit. It was a good adrenalin rush and an fabelous view from the top.

Now I'm exhausted and I'm gonna hit the sack!

Greetings to all!
Maenae

Second Week(end)

bergnarr — 2005-07-27T06:58:58Z

Hy guys

Letzte Woche habe ich das erste Mal ausser Haus uebernachtet. Guenther, der Suedtiroler, David, der Zuercher, Derrick, der Vancouverianer und ich gingen zusammen aus. Da der letzte Zug bereits um 01.10 Uhr faehrt konnten wir freundlicherweise bei Derrick uebernachten und haben uns so das Taxi ersparen koennen.

Am Freitag Mittag direkt nach der Schule begann unser Trip nach Vancouver Island. Zuerst gings eine gute halbe Stunde mit dem Bus zum Horsshoebay, dann eineinhalb Stunden mit der Faere nach Nanaiomo und dort gut drei Stunden mit einem gemieteten SUV (like a Jeep) zum Mussel Beach (halbe Stunde von Tofino - beruehmter Surferort - entfernt). Unsere Lehrerin empfahl uns dort ans Soundwavefestival (www.groovey.com/soundwave) zu gehen. Ein einmaliges Festival direkt am Pazifik. Als wir dort ankamen, erfuhren wir dass es ein electronical music festival war. Nichtsdestotrotz entschieden wir uns fuers Festival. Im Vergleich zum Openair St. Gallen ist es viel kleiner (ca. 2000 people), es hatte viel schraegere Voegel und es wurden bedeutend mehr Drogen konsumiert. Zusammengefasst war es ein riesen Erlebnis als wahrscheinlich einzige Europaeer dabei gewesen zu sein. Am Sonntag brachen wir muede unser Zelt ab und begaben uns auf den langen Heimweg.

Ich wuensche allen eine gute Woche!

Gruss Maenae

ps. Fotos folgen spaeter

First Weekend

bergnarr — 2005-07-18T04:38:05Z

Ich gebe Euch einen kleinen Wochenendrueckblick:
Am Freitag war die Schule bereits aum ein Uhr fertig, d.h. ich hatte meinen ersten freien Nachmittag. Nachdem wir zu viert in der Oldspaghettifactory den Lunch eingenommen haben, sind wi fuer ein Bierr in ein sehr gemuetliches Sportgrillrestaurant (Mahouny's) gegangen. Bevor es dann in ein Pub (Lamplightener)) ging, habe ich mit meiner Hostfamily das Nachtessen eingenommen. Nach dem Pub waren wir fuer eine naechste Station bereit: shaking at Shine. Anschliessend nochmals ein Pubbesuch (Cambie - very cheap beer). Es war ein ausgesprochen sueffiger und funny Abend.
Am Samstag war Ausschlafen angesagt. Am Nachmittag gings zum English-Bay, anschliessend eine kleine Shoppingtour. Zum Znacht gingen wir zum Tsunami Sushi. Am Abend waren wir am Jericho-Beach an einem Folk Music Festival.
Am Sonntag Stand ich frueh auf (0700) um auf den Grouse Montain rauf zu wandern. In 3 km 800m Hoehendiffernz. Am spaeteren Nachmittag sind wir noch an den Kitsiliano-Beach gegangen.
Jetzt bin ich ziemlich muede und freue mich aufs Bett!

Gruss Maenae

First News from Vancouver

bergnarr — 2005-07-13T06:16:32Z

Hallo zusammen, ich bin gut gereist und habe mich schon bestens an die neue Umgebung gewoehnt. Meine Host-Famaliy ist einfach genial. Heute ging ich mit den Skates das Gebiet erkunden. Ich fand ca. 20 min entfernt einen easy Skaterpark (alles aus feinem Beton) mit einer gewaltigen Bowl. Leider habe ich mich dann auf dem Rueckweg verfahren, so dass ich auf ein Pick-up Service seitens meiner Host-Familz angewiesen war. An der Schule wimmelt es nur so vor Schweizern.
Gruss an alle und bis bald wieder einmal mit neuen Infos.
Maenae

Mein erster Beitrag

bergnarr — 2005-07-07T19:15:59Z

Spaghettifestival und gemütliches Abschlussbiertrinken