Annika in Vancouver: Being a Vancouverite

After living in this great city for 20 weeks I’m completely over the touristy stuff (ok that has been a while), I have done most things and seen most of it. I don’t feel guilty for bunch watching a series with my roommate on a rainy weekend. When it’s not raining I still go outside a lot since the options are endless.

I’m not new in this city anymore, but being a Vancouverite. Lately there has been an article and a video on how to be a Vancouverite and I have to admit according to those I’m doing well ;) and they are quite accurate.

Kale-munching, yoga pant-wearing, seawall-running, Canuck-worshipping: Vancouver

Start saying “awesome” Check, awesome!

Fact: any conversation you have with a Vancouverite will include at least three “awesomes” and two “perfects.” If you want to really blend in, toss in the occasional “good times” and a “right on”.

Always be doing something healthy Check

Is the city motto: “Don’t walk if you can bike. Don’t bike if you can run. Don’t run if you can kayak”? I keep overhearing conversations like “So did you do that 150k bike ride? You did? Awesome!” So you’re all slender and gorgeous and healthy. You know that’s weird, right?

Wear Lululemon Check

I went to get kitted out at their Robson Street store. Never have I felt more like a Mean Brit. It was like a magnet for sunshine and happy people; basically, my nightmare. I got a cute top which turns into a minidress and some yoga pants. I challenged myself to walk through the West End wearing them — an act that would be greeted with suspicion and calls to the gendarmes in Paris where you don’t even put out your garbage without full makeup and a nifty suit. The last time I felt so exposed was walking to Brighton Pride dressed in a corset and frilly knickers. But I guess I looked the part as I got asked for directions.

Complain. A lot. Still not as bad as in the Netherlands

Whether you’re trash-talking the weather, moaning about Vancouver being an unfriendly city (while chatting warmly with me, a stranger!) or just grizzling about how no-fun the city is (always when you’re on your way to an exciting-sounding event) you lot love to whine. Is it because you live in paradise?

There’s life and there’s death and then there’s hockey Have to get in to that in my last 7 weeks

I’m told that to be a true Vancouverite is to be disappointed by the Canucks; I met the cute one at a bar opening and asked him for a photo for my friend’s kid. He said no. He was “busy” eating chips. Does that count? It was disappointing.

Embrace Yoga Check, and am flexible enough

Last week I went to my very first yoga class at Robson Street Yoga. I picked a class for “stiff people.” Turns out “stiff” in Vancouver means “not quite able to tuck your foot behind your ear.” In England it means “can barely touch toes.” I spent most of the class in red-mist rage at how un-stiff everyone was. Cheats! I liked the bit where you lie on the floor though. Is there a class for that?

Become kale-obsessed Check

Seriously, what is it with you lot and kale? OK, so it’s good for you. You can do a bunch of cool stuff with it from smoothies to sautéing it. It’s tasty and a pretty decent swap for chips and ... yeah, OK, I get it. Kale is er, awesome.

Stick to the rules Not quite there, call it the Dutch roots…

You love to hate your endless rules like no beer on the beach and the unfathomable madness of your liquor laws, but whenever I discuss this with Vancouverites they always end up in favour of the law. Know what? I think you kind of like being told what to do, you kinky lot.

Be a foodie Check

If it’s not seasonal, organic, free-range and local in this town it may as well be freaky lab-grown burger meat. Hanging out at Farmers’ Markets while planning to go to a Food Truck festival so you can discuss dinner plans is probably the No. 1

Vancouverite weekend occupation.

Go from Zen-like calm to fizzing, swivel-eyed rage in less than three seconds when asked about bike lanes Love the bike lanes, but I don’t drive and again Dutch thing.

I never knew Vancouverites could lose their cool over anything other than hockey until I discovered your “unreasonable argument” trigger. Sure, you all love cycling, just not if you have to lose car lanes to do it. I like to toss this one into conversation when things are getting too “awesome.”

So I’m blending in. Vancouver also has some nicknames which are funny to mention in this context; Hongcouver, yep half of the population is Asian. Raincouver and the Wet-coast, the weather during the summer has been exceptional good and dry but according to data it rains here 3 times as much as in Amsterdam, ohoh. No-funcouver this one only applies on the nightlife because for outdoor lovers there is plenty of fun, but nightlife pretty much sucks here, liquor is way too expensive, a patio closes at 11pm and most bars at 2am, on the other hand you can sleep enough to be active the next day.

My original return date was September 1, as you see I didn’t make that day, it was just too quick couldn’t deal with that. I have been asked what made me come to Vancouver, and it was something that I always wanted to do. But as it turns out the timing was exceptional good when I did. I needed that change. And that is the reason for a lot of people that moved to Vancouver. Moving abroad is something that you need to be ready for, it is scary it is exciting it is chance to (re)discover yourself, I haven’t been homesick one single day here, but I was so ready. I wasn’t happy with my life the last couple of months before I came out here, heartbroken after an important relationship generally not myself. So the answer I give when people ask me what made me make this leap is, ‘I needed a change’ and as it turns out it is a very true and acceptable answer since it goes for most 20 something people that move out here, and there we have another not as well-known nickname the city of broken hearts.

Off course 20 weeks have passed since, I’m healed and happy and enjoying everything here.

Check out this post of my friend Selma of Vancouver sunsets and see how amazing they are out here, I feel so lucky every day to live here, but since I’m over the touristy thing I was too lazy to make these pics myself ;) http://selmavh.blogspot.ca/2013/09/vancouver-sunsets.html

Because I stayed longer than originally planned I had to move out of my original room. I moved from UBC to yaletown, downtown. I’m really happy with this move, get to live with a new bunch of nice roommates. Get to experience living downtown, except for the fire station next door, but that is what earplugs are for, it has been awesome living downtown.

Some pics of my new room and neighborhood, oh and by the way I have my own en suite bathroom, love that!

Last weekend I went to homecoming with Selma at UBC, that was an experience. Just like the movies cheerleaders and a full stadion with over 3000 people, checkout the video I made for more pictures see the album September.