**OK, so I re-read this and realized how it completely glossed over the entire first day and first impression of Vancouver. I suppose that tends to happen when you are paying $1/half hour for the internet. so now, expanded for your pleasure.**
The first thing I'm going to do when I get home and have some time (because you know I have to start working the minute I get home. Seriously, my boss has already lined me up to make an offer before the weekend is over). ANYWAY, I'm going to be watching some Arrested Development, holla!! Like from Season 1 I think.
The last time we met, I was leaving Seattle for our great border in the North. Everyone had these stories for me about how it was going to be like 2 hours waiting at the border to get in. Um, other way around people. I would imagine it takes way longer getting into the States than getting in Canada (apparently Canada doesn't care about international terrorism). It only took me about 20 minutes and I believe I look harmless enough. The lady asked what I did for a living. I told her education. She asked if I was planning on selling any goods in Canada. Only the 20 children I smuggled in the trunk, lady.
The first thing I had to do was change my odometer. Km. Apparently Canadians didn't switch over until the mid 70s so they're still adjusting 30 years later. I understand why people argue for the metric changeover but HA HA America is better than all of you! We will not conform to the rest of the world's standards. Nor will we learn another language!
You know what has been amazing to have on this trip? The GPS. Even though I yell at it sometimes because it's not recalculating fast enough and I miss my turn or if the satellites aren't lined up correctly (which happens not very often). I'd be f'ed if I didn't have that thing.
The road lead to a long stretch of highway before spitting me out into suburban Vancouver. What a nice city! First impressions? Clean. Quiet. One of the first things I saw was a bus. On the little sign above the windshield, it said, "SORRY, NOT IN SERVICE." What a polite bus! Muni would've just run you over with no apologies.
I drove through the streets of downtown Vancouver before arriving at my hostel with it's BRIGHT, BIG, NEON, LIGHTS! Oy! It was almost the only thing lit up like that on the street but that's not to say it wasn't busy. Just not, like NYC busy. Or even San Francisco busy for that matter. Not overwhelming!
After finally figuring out where to park (a challenge I didn't quite think about), I entered the hostel to see the Canucks/Avs game on. A pub in the hostel! Good sign. The people were friendly enough, some kids were lined up to go see a comedy tour. Ah, hostel living, how I'd come to forget it. I kind of felt conspicuous because I was that lady with the roll luggage that I never could quite figure out in Europe. I get it now.
Upon entering the dorms, I smelled lacquered wood reminiscent of log cabins and camping. I braced myself for some dirty living as the internet seemed to have implied that this place grungy. But friendly which is why I picked it. To be honest, they all sounded kind of dodgy on the internet. When I turned on the light, no cockroaches ran under the beds. The room was squishy but that's to be expected. Apparently I was the last to arrive so I got the top bed by the door, of course. I love the comforters they give you in these places, they're much nicer that you expect.
I had to pee really really really bad but I had no idea where the bathrooms were. Up? Down? You'd think in a hostel that big, SOMEONE would be around. I had to go creeping down the hall; nervous someone would open their door and I'd be like a deer caught in the headlights. I'm hella shady looking. Luckily they were at the end of the of hall and I didn't have any explaining to do.
I had signed up for a mixed dorm but it looks like they separate the dudes from the chicks anyway. Plus each gender has their own bathroom which is nice. My dorm mates were from Washington and Oregon; not exactly your international fair but granted I am still on the West Coast.
Finally got my act together and headed downstairs to the bar (yes, there was a bar in the hostel) to catch the rest of the Canucks game. Met an Irish guy here from Australia and some French guys. And a hella drunk ass British dude giving me shit during the game (of course I gave it right back). That is the best part of staying in a hostel is meeting new people every day. They're all kinda crazy but never in a creepy way. Actually, some of the creepiest dudes I ever met on my travels were from Vancouver. No joke. In Switzerland.
Every time I have met foreigners, there is one thing that will ALWAYS come up. Get your mind of the gutter, people. It's POLITICS. Guaranteed. People are very well informed about our government; mostly because so much of what we do affects what their own governments do. At this point, most travelers know that many Americans (particularly ones that travel) don't represent the faction that voted GW into office (let's not get into technicalities people). I have this wonderful fantasy that I can move to another country and their ideals will be different ("better"?) but I am starting to find out that it's all the same shit everywhere. You just figure out what you're willing to compromise.
The French guys moved from Paris to London (to learn English plus they like it better. London over Paris?! I don't know if I've ever heard that. But I do love London. Can't speak for Paris yet). The Irish guy moved from Cork to Perth, Australia. Wanderlust. I feel it tugging but the responsible / not wanting to be broke part keeps one foot on the ground. I'm going to change my name to "one foot on the ground." It's just so fitting for so many parts of my life.
The Canucks lost and more beer was offered but after getting up early, it was a night for me. I headed upstairs to the common room for some CPU time and spending some time with the real journal (don't be sad, blog). Observed some antics. The hostel was pretty rad; pool table, tv room, huge kitchen, and 5 computers plus wireless internet so everyone was on their laptops. I felt left out :( I love people watching in hostels. I also hate looking like that stupid foreigner, so I tend to do a lot of observing. Although reminiscent, the vibe was definitely different being that we were in an English speaking city. Sometimes I felt like people expected me to speak with an Asian accent. Sorry, American as they come, buddy.
I can't remember what I did for the rest of the night. Did I eat dinner? It's really quite unclear.
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