For many of us, leaving behind our hometowns to seek a new start in another country is one of the hardest things to do. When we begin our new journey, curious, yet ready for adventure and perhaps a bit scared at the same time, we don´t realize just how well we would adapt to and like the new place.
When I came to Canada my first choice was Toronto. This second time around I chose Vancouver and I can truly say: I love it. After several months of having a routine and feeling stuck trying to break it, something changed, something made me fall in love with Vancouver.
- The nature and the air
While travelling on the skytrain on my way to school, staring out at the stunning mountains that surround the beautiful Vancouver is something I can´t help doing. It´s well known that Canada in general has such beautiful nature, forests and rivers but, especially in British Columbia, you can delight yourself with beautiful views from different places around the city. At least 5 minutes every day I fill my lungs with this fresh, pine smell and pure air. It is great feeling!!
- Outdoors activities
While Vancouver maybe famous for outdoors activities that are seasonal, generally speaking there are many activities you can do whether it´s summer or winter time. Due to the fact that Vancouver is in a rain forest we don’t really get much snow. Hiking, cycling, climbing are activities you can do all year long and best of all, they are free. My favorite spot in all the city is Stanley Park where you can walk for hours and cherish the nature surrounding you.
- Food diversity
As mentioned in my previous post, Vancouver is a multicultural city, meaning that there is a great variety of cuisine to choose from. When you are in Vancouver, do take the time to look for the hidden gems. Vancity is rich in Asian culture and it offers a great selection of delicious sushi and others Asian cuisines such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean and Indian. Apart from that, the night markets are such a wonderful combination of great gastronomic variety and culture.
- Art
Since I arrived, I have noticed that one of the things that caught my eyes were the popular arts that you can admire around the city. The sculptures originally from BC can be appreciated in different places. One of my favorites is situated in one of Vancouver´s most popular beaches, English Bay.
- The weather
If you ask any international student the reason why they picked Vancouver over Toronto, they will always start mentioning the weather. The four seasons in Vancouver are just absolutely amazing. Not too cold, not too hot, Vancouver just has “the right temperature” all year long. We all enjoy snow as a matter of fact but not in a huge quantity. In Vancouver if you want to go snowboarding or skiing you can travel to the mountains nearby and do that. For instance, Whistler is one of the top places to visit in BC and no matter which season you arrive, you will always have something to do. Be prepared though, one of the things I have learned during my stay in Vancity is to always be prepared with an umbrella!
- The healthy lifestyle of Vancouverites
It´s not a fad, the healthy lifestyle is really quite popular here. Rainy, sunny, foggy, it doesn’t really matter, if you walk around a park you will always see someone jogging or running, working out or at least practicing a sport. People try to stay as healthy as possible and its really admirable how committed they are to this lifestyle. Impressed by it, I decided to join them (or at least try to). I joined the gym, began to work out, I tried to eat healthier… I am still struggling with it!!
- Canadians are very polite
My Canadian friends (and even strangers) have been really helpful. Every single time I stared at the map in a subway station or needed some directions on the street, people would take 5 minutes of their time to explain the route or offer up a solution to my problem. When someone accidentally bumps into you, the phrase that you hear right after is “sorry” and that is one of my favorite things about this little paradise.