Whistler is a hotspot for skiers and snowboarders from all over the world, if you are thinking about heading over to the resort that is renowned for it's powder, have a read.
1. Money
Whistler is catered to its guests, and most of them will have a substantially bigger amount than you do. Wages are low and most seasonairre's live off their tip money, or employee perks. If you are doing a season here, you will most likely be living pay check to pay check. Serving jobs in more upmarket restaurants are the best jobs. Jobs with the mountain give you a free ski pass and other benefits, but usually you don't make any tips. However everyone has no money, and being a close-knit community, the more people you know the less money you will have to spend. For example if you get to know a tuning shop boy, you can get your snowboard waxed for a couple of beers. At my work we get vouchers to spend at work, so I can swap these for discounts in shops, free t-shirts, free drinks, even a taxi home if I'm lucky.
2. Community
As mentioned it is a close-knit community. I have met only two people who were born and raised in whistler over the last 6 months, and because most people have come from another country or town, they all understand what it is like moving here. When I first arrived shop assistants, bar tenders, waitress' were all giving me tips on what I should do to find a house/job. The Facebook groups - Whistler Buy and Sell, Whistler Winter 2013, etc. Are all really helpful. Whether you have lost your phone, need a free sofa or just want to ask a question, people are genuinely happy to help and give you advice. They want to share their thoughts and opinions. It also helps if someone breaks into your house in the middle of the night and steals your laptop - this happened to a chap on a season here and by the next day he had handed the culprit over to the police all thanks to Whistlerites on Facebook.
3. Activities
Depending what time you come depends on what activities you are. In the winter thousands flock for the snowboarding and skiing, in the summer it is for the biking. Aside from these there are other things to do but as a seasoniarre you're time will more than likely be spent drinking and working. If you have a bit of money then you can do all sorts of things; bungee jumping, zip lining, tubing. If you are here in the summer then days are spent down by the lake basking in the sunshine.
4. Housing
Housing in the winter is like a gold rush. There are so many people trying to find somewhere to live for the winter that housing is quite difficult. Dont get me wrong you can find somewhere, but that somewhere might be sharing a room with 3 others or sleeping in an unused sauna! Prices are expensive for what they are. I paid $500 for a shared room a 20 minute walk out of the village. It is hard to find a room you don't have to share or a room in the village for a decent amount of money. In the summer prices go down and there are more options. Check out Facebook groups and craigslist for rooms.
5. Nightlife
Whistler is abundant with drinking holes. You can easily go out any day of the week, as long as you have enough money to! Get a locals sticker for as many places as you can, it will save you money throughout the season. Garfs, Tommy's, Longhorns, Maxx Fish and Bills all do stickers. Moe Joe's also do a membership card. Monday's is 80's night at Tommy's, however Maxx Fish has taken over with there Monday night. They also run a night on Tuesday. Wednesday is Bill's night, Thursday is Garfs. Avoid Saturday and Sunday unless you want to queue for ages and spend the night with city folk. And Sunday is Longhorns and Moe Joes.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Thursday, 2 May 2013
My Week In.Stagram
Rocked my new CA hoody. Cringed at my camp application video. Lost the peg game while food shopping. Stressed about end of month. Deliberated cutting my hair. Jumped on the bandwagon and bought some Nike Blazers. Tried to stay awake on Monday. Shared (well thought about it) a diet coke with Dan. Complained about being tired (again). Received my visa for America. Sat in the sunshine at the pub. Got certified in first aid. Caught tonsillitis. Celebrated getting a Canadian visa. Enjoyed feeling like summer had arrived.
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
American Visa.
Today I received my visa! Woohoo! I will officially be allowed to work for the summer in America. I also got a rather snazzy tee and a sim card for USA and Canada - convenient!
I thought I would let you know just what has been going on and give you an idea of the process for getting an American visa for the summer (J1, through Camp America).
So first CA sent me several visa forms, that needed checking and signing, alongside a link to apply online to the Embassy. Once all of these were filled out, I was given a visa appointment to go along to the Embassy. When I turned up I was actually quite nervous! Praying that I wouldn't say anything stupid, (i.e. some sort of a bomb joke - which would also be incredibly inappropriate) I got to Bond Street an hour early! I am usually always early for important things, but my friends will tell you I am always late - which is true, to them!
CA reps were there to double check that I had all my documents and that they were in the correct order and once they had kindly gone through and taken my bag for safe keeping, I headed over to the first woman. She checked out my passport and visa appointment letter and I was through to security.
If you are a belt person, I would recommend leaving it at home for your visa appointment. The two lads in front of me were asked to take off their belts for the security check (normal) and then asked to keep them off once into the main building, until their number had been called (bit weird). Once into the building you head to reception to get your passport envelope for postage, and then head into the ticket room. Here you wait until your number is called.
I was quite nervous about the fingerprint situation. Not because I'm a criminal or anything, but on the way over I managed to cut my finger and apparently this could ruin your fingerprints. Now I was imagining the old school ink pads and thinking that, one, I would get ink into the cut (ow) and, two, I would have an odd fingerprint where the cut was. However, it is the 21st Century and they no longer use ink pads, but some clever electrical thing (obviously) Luckily my cut was not that bad and I was put through to the next stage.
Cue a queue and a very nice American chap, telling you what to do. You then make it to a window (like a bank cashier) and get asked a few questions. I can't really remember all of the questions but here are the ones I do:
What are you doing in America?
Working at a summer Camp.
Where?
In California, Portola Valley.
What are you teaching there?
Arts & Crafts and Photography.
What will you do when you get back?
Ermm, get a job?
Now the last answer was probably not the best response, but seeing as I am not a student anymore and wasn't sure if my job would have me back (which they have now said they will! yipee!), that was my answer. Which is true.
And it was fine. He replied with 'Your visa has been approved' and I was allowed to leave. I handed in my courier delivery sheet on the way out and I was done. The whole process lasted around 20 minutes - I thought I would be there for hours, but nope, it was incredibly quick.
So one visa down. I'm pretty excited to have something in my passport, seeing as for the last 25 years it hasn't even had a stamp. Not that I haven't gone anywhere, I have, just nowhere that warrants putting an interesting memento in my passport, apparently.
So that is one less thing to do now. I still have to sort out a medical form for my camp (separate to the CA one I have already done) a first aid course, sort out my phone and get some money together.
And with Canada (after camp) I am still waiting to hear about my visa - which is taking forever and is incredibly difficult! I also need to sort out insurance and form some sort of a plan too, I guess!
But it is all coming together!
I thought I would let you know just what has been going on and give you an idea of the process for getting an American visa for the summer (J1, through Camp America).
So first CA sent me several visa forms, that needed checking and signing, alongside a link to apply online to the Embassy. Once all of these were filled out, I was given a visa appointment to go along to the Embassy. When I turned up I was actually quite nervous! Praying that I wouldn't say anything stupid, (i.e. some sort of a bomb joke - which would also be incredibly inappropriate) I got to Bond Street an hour early! I am usually always early for important things, but my friends will tell you I am always late - which is true, to them!
CA reps were there to double check that I had all my documents and that they were in the correct order and once they had kindly gone through and taken my bag for safe keeping, I headed over to the first woman. She checked out my passport and visa appointment letter and I was through to security.
If you are a belt person, I would recommend leaving it at home for your visa appointment. The two lads in front of me were asked to take off their belts for the security check (normal) and then asked to keep them off once into the main building, until their number had been called (bit weird). Once into the building you head to reception to get your passport envelope for postage, and then head into the ticket room. Here you wait until your number is called.
I was quite nervous about the fingerprint situation. Not because I'm a criminal or anything, but on the way over I managed to cut my finger and apparently this could ruin your fingerprints. Now I was imagining the old school ink pads and thinking that, one, I would get ink into the cut (ow) and, two, I would have an odd fingerprint where the cut was. However, it is the 21st Century and they no longer use ink pads, but some clever electrical thing (obviously) Luckily my cut was not that bad and I was put through to the next stage.
Cue a queue and a very nice American chap, telling you what to do. You then make it to a window (like a bank cashier) and get asked a few questions. I can't really remember all of the questions but here are the ones I do:
What are you doing in America?
Working at a summer Camp.
Where?
In California, Portola Valley.
What are you teaching there?
Arts & Crafts and Photography.
What will you do when you get back?
Ermm, get a job?
Now the last answer was probably not the best response, but seeing as I am not a student anymore and wasn't sure if my job would have me back (which they have now said they will! yipee!), that was my answer. Which is true.
And it was fine. He replied with 'Your visa has been approved' and I was allowed to leave. I handed in my courier delivery sheet on the way out and I was done. The whole process lasted around 20 minutes - I thought I would be there for hours, but nope, it was incredibly quick.
So one visa down. I'm pretty excited to have something in my passport, seeing as for the last 25 years it hasn't even had a stamp. Not that I haven't gone anywhere, I have, just nowhere that warrants putting an interesting memento in my passport, apparently.
So that is one less thing to do now. I still have to sort out a medical form for my camp (separate to the CA one I have already done) a first aid course, sort out my phone and get some money together.
And with Canada (after camp) I am still waiting to hear about my visa - which is taking forever and is incredibly difficult! I also need to sort out insurance and form some sort of a plan too, I guess!
But it is all coming together!
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
My Week In.stagram
Partied with friends. Pouted with Heather. Said goodbye to Becky. Ate a 'healthy' burger. Taught my 2 year old brother the art of selfies. Shocked (by the looks of things) my 4 month old sister. Bought some jewellery. Painted my nails blue in an attempt to cheer up my Monday. Rocked a new hat. Fed my shoe addiction. Reminisced about Uni. Took my running shoes for a run - in the cold.
Nail varnish - nails inc
Hat - Urban Outfitters
Nike Running Shoes - Sports Direct
Blue trainers - Vans
Jewellery - Topshop
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