Back to the Grind

Been a while since I've written an update or even got in contact with the fam jam. Sorry about it- but I've been super crazily busy with University shenanigans (educational shenanigans).

So I've been back at school for almost a month now! It's flown by, incredible how fast. I've got my line up of midterms starting this upcoming week, just in case I wasn't stressed out enough! It's been fun, exciting, nerve wracking, stressful, scary, overwhelming, and maybe a few other feelings I can't quite pin point. One of the major upsides, you ask? Well whenever I walk around, the view is always calming.

View

Walk to Campus

It's pretty spectacular!

So a few things to note about this university.

1. It's gorgeous
2. Bunnies...everywhere *
3. Stairs...EVERYWHERE **
4. Why are the classes so tiny

* They are adorable! Little bunnies just hopping around, being cute. It's like seeing squirrels in normal campuses, but just bunnies

**So when I say stairs, I mean helluva lot of stairs. Apparently everyone just knew that...except me. It's appalling. The good news, I won't have to go to the gym. I'm sorry all of you can't experience this wonderful horrifying feeling of climbing all these stairs every day, I did video tape the climb, however with my lack of video editing skills I'm not sure how to speed up the track, so stay tuned for an uploaded video at some point!

I'm happy with this place, it's nice to be back in school. A bit of a rocky start but I think I'm getting the hang of it. It's definitely 100% different from Western. Maybe a good thing? However ther are definite parts that make me miss Western. A pro is that the classes are super small, you can get a lot more one on one help if needed, and wanting to ask questions in class is a whole lot easier. Anyways, there are positives and negatives to every University or College. Occasionally I feel super out of place, being 3-4 years older than some of the students in my classes but that's nothing to worry about. Getting through it is what I'm focusing on haha. I'm in a program I have genuine interest in, I've got great luck with my roommates (one from Edmonton, one from Germany), and I'm getting to do it all in B.C. with the support from my family and friends.

Got a few more tidbits to add to in the next little while. Just wanted to write a quick update!

Thinking about all of you!
xoxoxox




p.s. here's Daisy, my lazy companion at home

Zeus could definitely take her

Visiting Victoria

Our last stop before my stressful life back at university was in Victoria to see some good old fam. Flo & Dan. First we take the ferry across to the island. Beautiful views the whole way.

 

She wouldn't leave mommy!

Gang's all here

It was quite wonderful, and of course my mother insisted we have sushi, AGAIN, for dinner. Why have anything else while you're on the west coast, right? So off we go to have dinner, chats, drinks, and cards with the people we love.
Can't wait to visit them again :)



stay tuned.

xx

The Sea to Sky Highway

Another exciting day, driving along the Sea to Sky Highway! Pretty much the highway you take from Vancouver to Whistler. It's breathtaking, driving along the coast and through mountains. I felt bad for my parents having to pay attention to the road instead of the views! However we did stop at lookout points for them to bask in the greatness of B.C.

If you do a quick Google search you'll find a million posts about what to see on the drive to Whistler. Everything is pretty much RIGHT off the highway, so you won't get lost or anything.

Out first stop landed us in Britannia Beach, B.C. To see the famous B.C. Mine Museum. It looked pretty amazing however I wasn't quite dressed appropriately for the excursion into the mines (shorts and a t shirt aren't ideal). So while we didn't venture through the cave, we did do some souvenir shopping and enjoy the views. It does seem like a neat excursion to do though, so if anyone does it let me know!

Mine Museum, pretty neat from the outside haaa

I'll just power through the rest, there isn't much to say about the drive except that it was spectacular, so here are some pics (and their locations) for your pleasure.

Shannon Falls

Alice Lake

Lookout Point - Along the Way

Boys will be boys - Lookout Point

Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls Trail Walk

JUST LOOK HOW PRETTY THE DRIVE IS - WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT

And finally we hit up Whistler. It's pretty neat just driving in and around Whistler. The village up until the north end. There are soo many housing there for the obvious tourist attraction, restaurants, golf courses, shops, and beautiful holiday homes. Let's just say if I was rolling in the dough I wouldn't mind having a hill side cabin for just the view alone. A dream! So the ONLY regret I have is not doing the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride, which I think would be a necessity. So the next time I'm there, you better believe that I'll be doing that. CAN'T WAIT.

Our lunch at Nicklaus North Golf Course - Table Nineteen

Whistler Village - Olympic Rings!

Whistler Village - Olympic Rings

c'est tout, ta-ta for now, organic chemistry is calling (post about uni soon, promise)

Bring Forth, The North

Did I say I was upset about the Game of Thrones exhibit? Well retract that because it didn't pop into my head at all after this day's adventures.

With the arrival of papa the night before, we planned a fun day to see the wilderness area north of Vancouver.

Our first stop, Grouse Mountain - The Peak of Vancouver.

The Skyride Gondola took about 15 minutes to climb around 3000 feet. Was an incredible view (hard to capture through dirty windows and crowded bodies) but if you're ever in the area you have to do it- just wonderful.

All smiles waiting for the Gondola

Someone didn't have the best ride up....

Shady view during the ride up!

Up on the mountain there is loads and loads to do! Some tours, more chair lift rides, wine and dine, and some pretty neat shows. There is a bear sanctuary on one of the trails, we were lucky enough to see 2 bears pretty close up and even trying to knock down something from a tree (sorry for potato pictures).

winnie the pooh

I've got to say, lumberjacks are pretty amazing. Watched a very entertaining lumberjack show. They definitely know how to pick 'em

Bullseye every time

Continue the walk around the mountain and you can see an incredible view of not only Vancouver, but the whole 360° around it. Sorry so cloudy, but trust me it's breathtaking.

had to force them to take a picture together!

They've got incredible wood carvings all around the top of the mountain, in a variety of animal sorts and humans as well. It's unbelievable the talent people possess. AND look at how LARGE that tree is- goodness gracious.

I'm strong

preoccupied

 Little sneaky Olympic excitement!

still a dream

After a lovely dinner overlooking the mountain, to which my parents drank enough for me forgetting my license (not bitter, I swear) it was off to the salmon hatchery.

 

Our last and final stop was Lynn Canyon. Nice little canyon with a small suspension bridge, Ecology Centre, and some beautiful (albeit tiring) hikes. Now word of advice, as much as I loved the canyon and the suspension bridge, I would highly suggest you do the Capilano Suspension Bridge and/or the Lookout. Apparently it is much more exciting and I can only imagine the views are spectacular!

Another brief update for y'all. I'm off to bed now. At least 2 more posts to follow so I can catch up (but homework first, don't worry Mom&Dad).

sleep well

Canucks Territory

Hi Ya'll,

I'd like to say I'm yet again on another adventure, but I don't want this "educational adventure" to be thought of as the same as my New Zealand Adventure. That's right, you heard it here folks. I'm back on the education track, yeehaw!

Spoiler Alert, this may be my graduation picture:

Alanna Vivani, 2017

"All the way in B.C.!?!?"- you ask? As much as I fell in love with Western and London, ON, and how much I adore my family (disregard the bickering I cause), moving to the coast is ideal for what I'd like to study! The little fishies in the water, that is (not discriminating though, I love the land animals too).

As hard as it is to leave everyone and everything in Ontario (family, friends, and work), I'm so looking forward to see this beautiful part of Canada and expand my knowledge. I'm only a little flight away, so not to worry I'll come home during holidays and get on everyone's nerves as per usual!

So here I go, on a new journey with new experiences and definitely new lessons! My arrival in Vancouver for some touristy fun has begun. After an early morning flight after what was a messy last night in Toronto watching the good old Blue Jay boys WINNING.....stepping out into Vancouver was overwhelming in the most fantastic way. I think this is when it first hit me that I'm starting a new chapter and this province is my new home for a while. I've never been to B.C. before (the Vancouver airport does not count) so I wanted to see what all the fuss is about! Let's just say, these people have it RIGHT.

THIS IS AWESOME! (click for a giggle)

Standard Airport Shot - YVR

Been on Google the past week searching for fun things to do in Vancouver. I think the only disappointment is that I wouldn't have time to do all of them. But boy did I try to do as much as possible (sorry Mom&Dad for being so tourist crazy, haaaaaah).

Drove around Vancouver, stopping off at look points, beaches, anything just to soak up as much beauty as I could.

Can you tell I love it?

Giova

Park

Of course we took advantage of enjoying some sweet-a$$ sushi, why not? We're in the perfect location for it.

View is not optional.

Now one thing I was highly looking forward to was a Game of Thrones Exhibit, held in the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition), which I guess is the CNE equivalent in B.C.! Anyone who knows me knows that I love GoT so much, so needless to say I was super excited.

Awesome, RIGHT? RIGHT?

WRONG.

You said it, Barney.

It was pretty disappointing. Ah well, gave it a shot!

Shortly after we took a little drive to Chinatown to wander about. Wanted to see the Zen Gardens but unfortunately the schedule wasn't all that accommodating so instead we strolled around a questionable park and met a new best friend in a very neat shop (Peking Lounge - if you're interested).

Chase, little cutie

That's it for the arrival. I've got a couple more posts to come, stay tuuuned.


- Alanna