Any ILxers from Vancouver or London?

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So next summer I'm taking my bad self to another country for working and to avoid being in shitty Dublin for another summer of my life. College people seem to be going to Vancouver, which sounds fun even though I know nothing about it. However my bruvva lives in London and has offered to let me stay with him and help find me a job and things.

But basically, if you were a 19 year old student going somewhere for the summer with a few friends, looking to meet people, have fun, get a job, where would you go? How difficult would it be for me to get a crappy job in London? And how difficult in Vancouver if any of you know?

Thanks in advance.

― Ronan, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Start spreading the new (s) answers.

― Ronan, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Go to Vancouver and Brian Macdonald can teach you the ways of Seattle. Though not of drinking, since in America you're UNDERAGE. Dunno about Canada's drinking age, though. Indeed, the more I think about it, you might want to verify what it is before deciding!

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm sure it'd be quite easy to get a crappy job in London! As for Vancouver...you could probably get an okay job if you go through one of those student working holiday things...I can't remember the name of the organisation that deals with that sorta thing!...oh its the BUNAC website that may help:

BUNAC

― james, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Canada is 19 for drinking. So it's all good. That's why we're not going to America, although apparently a bit of paper signed by your mummy that says IRISH DRIVERS LICENCE on it passes for ID in the States. Well.....not quite that, but I've heard first hand stories of shit fake ids.

― Ronan, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I just moved away from Vancouver, but until 4 months ago I had lived in the region my entire life. Most of my time spent in Vancouver proper was while I was going to university there so I'm probably out of touch with what it's like getting a job etc. in real life.

There are a lot of international students at UBC (university of british columbia) on exchange from Europe and Australia/New Zealand and they seem to like it and manage fine. Exchange students have special VISAs and are only allowed to work on campus, but that isn't too limiting given that there are 30000 students at UBC.

Another popular mode of survival among pseudo-hippie-frat-boy- slackers-who-heard-there's-great-weed-here is working at the Whistler/Blackcomb ski resort which is 2 - 3 hours from Vancouver. Cue current bad ski instructor movie.

I'm not sure what the working regulations are for regular visitors. If you are a very good bike mechanic I can suggest a few places. Your best bet would be to look into an exchange program of some sort.

You will be dissapointed if you come to Vancouver for a massive nightlife (compared to London at least). Vancouver sometimes has a wanna-be-big city complex. But if you come expecting stunning geography, great sushi, and ready to spend a lot of time outside often getting wet then you'll love it. The music scene is at times frustrating (only 1/4 of the bands that hit seattle come across to border for Vancouver) but there are always a handful of good local- bands-of-the-moment that are fun to see and that get hyped by the local cool-kids to no end. was the new pornographers, currently == ? there is usually a steady trickle of other NW (olympia etc.). there are at least two very good record stores, and loads of average ones. lots of belle and sebastian fans.

the evaporators are from vancouver and they are the greatest band of all time.

i can't wait to return for christmas.

― Paul Barclay, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think the scene in vancouver is fun. its low key and casula and has cheap bookstores and great food . the rent is steep but its the most wonderful place in the world and i will be there for a week this summer so come !

― anthonyeaston, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Aaaah, Vancouver. Yes, very L.A./Hollywood in minor ways, but the panoramic backdrop of snow dusted mountains, great variety of good eatin' inc. sushi, lots of record stores, sexual toy outlets, make it stylin' above and beyond. Because of the 19+ drinking age, the average age of barhoppers in Vancouver is around, oh, 20 or so. Plenty of either sex to go around...

Choose Van, ronan.... only because then can we harness the union of our pimp powers...

(That said, Victoria is lovely too)

― Brian MacDonald, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Piece of piss to get a crappy job in London. You just need a bit of nous and a few ocntacts (i.e. 1/2 of ILx) and you're sorted.

― Mark C, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Starting to look like Vancouver is out the window anyway cos my brother has now set a date for his wedding, 10th of August, I finish college at the end of May so it seems a waste of money to have to come back after 8 weeks. Depends on money really at this point.

― Ronan, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

How about if you've already got a crappy job and want a better one, hmph.

― Sarah, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fuck, if you have to choose between the two go for Vancouver. You'll still get a crappy job, but you won't be working with exclusively petty, sadistic twats who live for making it even crappier. Plus it's aesthetically pleasing and most of the cool stuff is in a small area, parks, beaches, weed, you name it. London is for people who did something REALLY SHITTY in a previous life.

― dave q, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Like on the drugs thread the other day, I think it's obvious by now that Dave Q really does know the wrong people.

― DG, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

five years pass...

I flippantly filled out a quiz to see how easy it would be to get a work permit for canada and it turns out it would be very easy. now i'm getting hassle from the same company encouraging me to "take the next step towards your emmigration to Canada". not for now, but maybe in a years time i'd consider it, with vancouver the likely destination, but job-wise is it doable?

― Upt0eleven, Thursday, 27 September 2007 11:27 (eighteen years ago)

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