So the first few weeks after my isolation has ended have been super busy trying to sort bits out while starting work.

I have started working at Cypress Mountain (Ski resort), and while doing so, I still had to sort out my SIN (Social Insurance Number), set up a bank account, get familiar with travelling around Vancouver, starting my climbing sessions, sorting out my ski pass and finally going skiing. It feels like every day I have been so busy there is so little time to chill. I think we all go through moments like this where we sense work is all we do, so it’s crucial to try and find some time for yourself, either relaxing in front of a TV or find an exciting activity you’ll enjoy like reading, gaming or making nice dinner. Besides doing loads of different activities, I found some time to watch movies and even started to watch a new German TV series on Netflix called Dark and finished last season on Vikings.

I quite enjoy doing so much during my day that at night I just collapse in my bed ready for 6h-7h sleep before doing it all over again. In the end, I have chosen to lead this life leaving my family, my partner and my friends in the UK to chase an adventure in Canada. What does keeps me going in the more quiet moments/lonely moments of the day is knowing they are all waiting for me on the other side of the globe.

Vancouver has some pretty attractive sites, and it is reasonably easy to navigate. The public transport consisting of buses, trains, SeaBus to the North shore, taxis, rental bikes and even rental vehicles called Evo which are scattered all over the cite, and which you can access via an app and drive for as long as you might need it. I must say the PT has been very punctual, and with a Compass Card daily commute is super easy. 

Since I’m very much into my climbing, the first thing I did when arriving in Vancouver is look up all local climbing and bouldering gyms. I found 2 that are fairly local, only about 20min walk away which is lucky. I’ve signed up to the bouldering gym The Hive to get back into it but due to Covid I would only be allowed to book one session of 1 hour 30 min per day which is not that great, especially if you want to warm up, train and cool down. I need at least 2 and a half hours as I like me pre and post climbing workout and stretching routines.

Another option is rope climbing at Cliffhanger, but for that, I needed a partner. I have approached Facebook Vancouver Climbing Group seeking a climbing buddy, and it wasn’t long until I booked a session with someone very experienced and already had 2 very good sessions with. To my shock, you have to be belay and lead checked before you can just come in and climb. I have no idea if it is the same across all rope climbing venues, but hopefully, you can just do one belay and one lead check and be able to use that at any indoor venue.

The natural world, especially around Stanley Park and the seawall where I went for some walking and running, has been pretty rewarding. I’ve seen many animals we don’t have in the UK including black squirrels, raccoons and many different species of birds.