FOB; Fresh off the Boat/Boeing?!

The phrases Fresh off the boat (FOB), Off the boat (OTB), 'Paki' Freshy, or just simply Boat; are terminologies used to describe immigrants that have arrived from a foreign nation and have not yet assimilated into the host nation's culture, language, and behaviour.^[1] "Fresh off the Boeing" (in reference to the Boeing 747 jet) is sometimes used as a variation, especially amongst south and south-east Asian immigrants. Wikipedia

So I have been in Canada for just over a week now, that makes me pretty fresh ;). Now a days FOB is mostly used as a joke, or at least that’s what I have experienced because Asians still don’t like it very much, usually, wonder where that came from.

I’m not a typical FOB, for starters because I’m not Asian, only came from Europe where in essence everybody here came from,  and I do speak the language, duh. But jokingly I am a FOB, Boeing in my case, or was it airbus, can’t remember.

I have had a lot of compliments on my English, people are really surprised when I tell them I’m not a native speaker and only have been in Canada for a week, they say I have a very thin accent which is starting to wear off.

So you can say I’m blending in here pretty well, I have had an awesome first week, and it is hard to imagine it has only been a week since my arrival, I feel I have been here for ages already, I feel right at home honestly.

I have made some great new friends (trough work, roommate etc), I’m so thank full for the people over here, who instantly started to invite me. Yesterday I went on a photo tour , an Instameet (from instagram), with some of my new friends, and I have made some nice pictures. I will post some here the others you can find under the tab pictures or at Facebook.

Work has been good so far, I have learned a lot of new stuff. My first week consisted of safety courses and Canadian bureaucracy, and off course fighting off the jetlag, I’m over it now. During my chemical safety course, which was during the afternoon, I actually fell asleep, oops. But next week I can start in the lab! So exciting.

Next weekend I will go to Whistler, time to ski! It’s been way too long already. And I have a Seattle trip planned for June 8-9 for Sandi’s birthday.

With al this going on I’m probably not a FOB anymore ;)

Arrived in Vancouver

Yesterday night I arrived in Vancouver after a long day of traveling, there were some delays but nothing big.

Thursday afternoon I left my house in Leiden, which at the moment is the home to a very nice family of three! They even brought souvenirs for me.

After a short night, do to some excitement, and a nice morning chilling in the sun, it was time to go to Schiphol airport. Off course all my bags were overweighed, I brought 4 ‘bags’ 2 suitcases, 1 bike bag and 1 ski bag. After some or a lot packing, repacking and weighing the bags 3 bags were under 23 kilograms and the ski bag was 30 kilograms, somehow I didn’t had to pay extra for the overweighed bag.  After that it was time to say goodbye and start my journey. After a short flight I had a stop at London Heathrow before the long flight to Vancouver. At 6.45pm local time I arrived in Vancouver after flying about 8000km and winning 9 hours of extra time, it was a beautiful and warm night.

After arriving in the apartment I settled in a bit and went to bed around 10pm and because of my jetlag I was wide awake at 1.15am, I expected a jetlag but thought that I would sleep a bit longer, although I wake up very early in the Netherlands as well. So I stayed in bed tried to sleep but mostly spent my time whatsapping with friends  and family who off course were awake. At 5.30 I gave up and got out of bed to see the sun rise behind the white mountain peaks, the view here is amazing!

After a shower and a small breakfast, that I had bought the night before in the starbucks, which is how convenient right in my building… J, I started unpacking. I have a small but cute room without windows… but since the living room is very light and nice that’s no problem at all.

 there are some very nice bikeroutes around, like circling the seawall at Stanley parc

I got some groceries after which I went to Granville to get a Canadian cell card a towel and some bedding, just the essentials to start. It was a very nice day, lots of sun and warm temperatures. And I love to see the white peaks everywhere.

After I returned home I was just chilling and enjoyed the sun at the balcony, when my first roommate came home. She is very nice and we are going to have some wine and watch a movie in a bit, to help me stay awake for a while longer J.

Tomorrow will be another nice day with warm weather, I might go to the beach, but the Vancouver marathon is tomorrow as well. Real work starts Monday. I feel settled and at home already!