I managed to escape to Starbucks and they close in an hour, so quick update...It has been a full week since our arrival so lots and lots to write about. Our things are not arriving until Friday (THREE full weeks after it left us!!) but we cleared customs this morning so things are falling into place! Phew! I'm too short on time to upload pics, so we'll be posting them on Monday on Picasa, after our internet gets installed...
Day 1 - June 23
Arrived into YVR with 7 check-in items, 3 carry-on bags a toddler and newborn. Toddler was overtired and threw a 20 minute tantrum with dad on plane (mom slept through it) and newborn was an angel and slept the whole time...A beautiful airport welcomed us, there was no line at our "special" immigrations area and we were blessed with a lovely customs officer. The other ones were super scary sounding when I heard them interviewing other "immigrants". Anyway, we got our visas stapled into our passports, collected our things (breast milk made it!) and we were on our way....We got to the apartment, blew up our Aerobeds, unpacked our Balikbayan boxes and walked around our 'hood. We crashed the Sheraton Wall Centre business center to email and print up some items regarding our car (which is still in NY) and checked out the Yaletown Montessori, which happened to have 2 mornings available for Julian, so he'll be starting next week! The weather was amazing, we walked everywhere. We ended our day staring out our window's stunning view and watched the sun set at 10:00pm.
Day 2 - June 24
I woke up as sore as can be! I'm not used to all the walking. We continued to explore today and rode the metro and bus for the first time. This is when we discovered the metro has an honor system and no one checks your ticket but you need a ticket for the bus...huh? Anyway, we sought out a babies r us because I lost / forgot a couple things for Amélie. The neighborhoods of Vancouver are pretty cool, each one having it's own personality and having its own "downtown". I can see why people enjoy living in all parts of Vancouver, even if it's further from the downtown core. Melvin did some work at the Starbucks and I sought out the local park. The walk to the park is amazing, right along the seawall passing a marina and right on the waterfront. We ended the day staring out our window again.
Day 3 - June 25
Today we attempted to use the printer at the Four Seasons. No such luck there. Off we went to an internet cafe, where we printed up more things to become "legal" and to get Julian enrolled into preschool. We applied for our SIN #s (similar to SS #s) - it was painless. The guy that helped us lived in the next building and was getting laid off on Monday, whoops. He didn't seem bothered by the idea. That night, Joe, Judy & Nikhil arrived - yay! We had a fun dinner at an Italian place at Roundhouse (across the street from us), so the kids could run around outside. Amélie slept through the whole thing. This was Joe & Melvin's date night, while Judy babysat Nik at the hotel and I with my kids at home...they each paid $16 to get into a club and partied it up until 3:30am. Seriously? Seriously. I think they took their date night a little too seriously.
Day 4 - June 26
We met the Philips at their hotel in Coal Harbour; took us forever to get there as we got off the wrong metro stop and then our bus never came, so we walked. I am still sore...We proceeded to have a noisy breakfast (with Nik & Julian being the noisy ones, of course) at Whitespot. This is a popular and yummy diner in Vancouver - finally, the American breakfast I was looking for. I had a frittata. Anyway, we proceeded to load up the GMC that Joe rented (literally took us a half hour) - this entailed installing 3 car seats, Judy climbing into the middle of Julian & Nik and Coleen climbing through the back trunk to sit next to Amélie and jamming two strollers (one being a double) into the back. It took awhile but we did it! Off we went to Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, 15 minutes away (took longer to load the truck). It was amazing. Pictures to follow. Back to the hotel for nap. After naps, the boys (dads included) played soccer on a lawn in Coal Harbour and we walked to a local cafe that served Filipino Chicken Adobo. Seriously? Yes! I ate that right up. Tonight was Joe & Judy's date night. Melvin and I struggled to put Nik to bed, but they had a nice dinner. Happy Anniversary Joe & Judy!
Day 5 - June 27
This morning, we went to Granville Island with the Philips. We loaded up the car in record time. It was a little drizzly, but we stayed in the covered area of the market and also checked out the Children's Market, where Julian & Nik went crazy with the $1 rides and games. It was a good time (always all about the kids, right?). We returned for naptime, which is when Judy & I ran to Starbucks for an internet fix. When we returned, Joe left for Seattle, which is where he was working the past 2 weeks and off we went to the park. We had a casual dinner for the kids and it was me and Melvin's date night. We had a fabulous seafood feast at Coast - awesome. Seafood is AWESOME here, melts in your mouth, love it.
Day 6 - June 28
Melvin went into his office for the first time today so it was Judy & I with the kids. Oh boy. I had a 9:15am appointment with Julian's preschool, so we loaded them up and off we went. We decided to take a different route. Well, guess what? It started raining...and we got lost. Julian proceeded to kick his storm cover off, Amélie was crying and we were in a desperate search for cover. Judy took out her map and we finally made it, in the rain. I swear, the director of the school thought we were nuts. It was a calm oasis in there, while Nik decided to try to go potty, both he and Julian attacked the toys and Amélie was crying for milk....oh, and we were SOAKED, by the way. Anyway, we decided to head back home to regroup, looked at our watches and discovered it was only 10:30am!! What? We decided to go to this small train museum with the boys and ordered food for lunch. The boys proceeded to plaster the food all over the floor, walls and ceiling (not really, but kinda!) and then it was naptime. Judy and I were exhausted. When they woke, we decided to go to the beach (we are crazy). We waited at a bus stop and the bus never came, so we waited at another one and finally we were on our way. We had a wonderful time at English Bay. Finally, it was me and Judy's turn for a date night and we ate it up at Sanafir - yummy. We didn't party it up til the wee morning hours, but we had a great meal, great conversation and got a couple freebies. Miss ya already Judy!
Day 7 - June 29
Judy & Nik left for Seattle this morning (tear). I decided to go to a Mom & Tot playtime at the community centre across the street while Melvin worked at Starbucks. Met a crazy mom there, from LA, whose husband is filming a commercial here for 2 weeks. I kept trying to move away from her and she followed me. Julian had an accident (pee) and I had no extra pants - wonderful - so Melvin ran over to help. Exhausting. Great news though, our household goods are at the warehouse in Vancouver (car is still in NY though!).
Day 8 - June 30
Today, we had to "clear" our goods through customs today. Our moving company told us to avoid Mrs. Chow. Apparently, she asks a billion questions, requires extra paperwork and always declines people's goods. Okay, this should be interesting. It must've been her day off, because we got a young man that cleared us in 5 minutes - yay! Melvin left for work and I spent the day with the kids, got a library card, went to a singing event at the library and went to our building's tot lot. Now, I'm here writing a book as fast as I can about our first week. Sorry if I'm rambling!
So our things arrive on Friday (tomorrow is Canada Day, which is like 4th of July) and internet/cable/phone get installed on Monday! I'm just so excited to feel somewhat settled. We're tired of wearing the same outfits, eating out of tin pans and sleeping/eating/nursing on the floor. I will write again when I can!
