It's that time of year

Mistletoe and Wine

Christmas is only a few days away. I’ll be working right through as if it was any other week. Thousands of guests will arrive, after the relative calm of the past few weeks. Although with 58cm of beautiful snow overnight last week, I now know the potential for mania at work in the mornings. We had our staff Christmas party last night – one of four laid on at the Fairmont Chateau with some of the best tasting food I think I’ve ever had, photos with Santa and taxi vouchers for the end of the night. Safe to say it was a brilliant night out.

The tickets crew

All work and no play would make Laura a dull girl

Work is feeling less novelty and more like work nowadays. There is always something that needs done. Whether or not I can be bothered that day is another matter. Information, prices and policies are constantly changing too, which makes it hard to keep up. I have fallen on my feet in that my job is completely unique and it suits me. I work two days in tickets, three validation at the moment, or vice versa. Validating is the easier of the two and it is nice to have the chance to talk to everyone, but two or three days standing outside is about my tolerable limit. Tickets is more intellectually stimulating, but at the time same faffing with drawers of cash and sales reports can be very tedious in large amounts.

Surviving validating all day outside in temperatures of -17oC a couple of weeks back was a touch challenging. Toes were nearly lost and I’m not joking. We should have another cold snap to look forward to in January.

Me trying to keep warm at work. Showing no skin helps.

I’m trying to balance work with the fun stuff and don’t seem to be doing too badly. I can’t remember a time I didn’t get up at 6am now. Hangover or not, and whether I’ve been up until 2am or not. Days off are too precious to waste and going to the slopes late (N.B. 9am is late….oh how things have changed) is just not the done thing.

I usually manage to get out boarding three or four days a week and had some amazing days out. I rode (well, slid) my first black runs with Joey, who distracted me so I looked the other way as we were passing by the black diamond signs at the top of the run.

I took a full day lesson last Monday, in a blizzard. I’d been out the night before, up at 6am for Fresh Tracks with Ange and Kate, unlimited early breakfast at the Roundhouse Lodge, 1800m up Whistler mountain with first access to the slopes…only $15.

Kate, Ange and I: Prior to stuffing ourselves with pancakes, bacon, eggs, hash browns, pastries, fruit…..to the point of nearly vomiting and not being able to ski

Two super-cute Japanese girls, Maki and Aya, took our lesson and had us boarding down steep powdery slopes, through trees and over small jumps/drops. It was fantastic, but on 4 hours sleep and a hangover, my energy was fading by the afternoon and I spent most of my time flailing pathetically, stuck in waist-deep powder.

Open-air Hot Tubs

What more could you want really? Adrienne and Tracy scored one with their new place and love having friends round to share it.

Adrienne, Carlene and I. After half an hour my face was as pink as my wine and I had to get out and sit down for a while.

First Visitor!

My friend Paul from school visited for a few days as a stop on the tail end of his round the world trip and I hope I gave him a decent taste of Whistler life. He spent most of his time in pain after trying snowboarding for the first time: one day in a lesson and one day with me attempting to teach. I dragged him out of bed at 6am for fresh tracks breakfast after a hefty night out at the infamous Longhorn Saloon. He didn’t seem entirely impressed, but when in Whistler…!

Writing No More

My effort to write for the local paper ended before it started – the one article idea I sent the editor was entirely ignored. Back to the drawing board!

Disneyland

Whistler is amazing. Just in case I haven’t made that clear.

Work and Play the Whistler Way

FIRST DAY BOARDING!

Lyndsey and I about to get on the Whistler Gondola. 8.30am.

I am writing tired and slightly damaged but very happy after my first day on the slopes. I surprised myself by being much better than I was expecting, which I credit to the excellent runs and conditions. I was linking turns fairly easily and preferring blue runs by the end of the day. I know what I need to work on and it’s reassuring to know there will be plenty of days to do so. My new equipment is all fantastic: everything I’ve bought (and been given) is just right.

After trying to teach Emma at the top of the hill (her first time) we ended up sending her back in the gondola to get a lesson which worked out really well for her. Lyndsey, Ange and I rode together all day as we were about the same ability.

There were loads of us out today, and although we kept losing people on the hill we were never far from a familiar face, as only Whistler mountain was open, and only from so far up the hill because of the limited snow in the valley (we had to download on the gondola at the end of the day).

We got our 50% staff discount at the restaurant at the top of the hill for lunch, and the day didn’t cost a penny otherwise.

UNEMPLOYMENT NO MORE

I started work on Saturday: early opening day for Whistler mountain (Blackcomb opens 23rd November). I’d like to say it was well planned and enjoyable, but in reality it was daunting and hectic. There were forty odd people waiting outside the ticket office as I arrived for work at 7am on Saturday. Guest services had queues (sorry – line ups…) with two hours wait at points.

It wouldn’t have been as bad if I was just expected to be a ticket host full stop. But in the back of my mind all the time, as I watched Keryn, who worked in the ticket office last year and has returned as a Senior Host this year, I felt ever so slightly overwhelmed at the thought of attempting to be senior with procedures I know very little about. Cashing up and running all the reports at the end of the day was mind boggling to say the least. My till was only 10c under, 5c of which I recovered the next day, which was a relief. Unfortunately if any of the hosts tills are over or short, it’s up to me to work out why. I haven’t worked any shifts as a Validator yet either (potentially this Friday), and I’ll be stepping in as a Senior Host in Validation too in no time. I realize, however, that I’m in the steepest part of the learning curve, and that it will get easier….

All the training we’d received about being friendly and chatty went fairly amiss as I realized nobody actually wants to be buying a ticket (and they almost always whinge about the price. Come on, 8,171 acres, 38 lifts and 200+ runs!!). Therefore nobody is keen to indulge in chit-chat. They see you as the thing holding up them getting on the hill.

And the early mornings. Oh my god. My alarm was set for 6am on Saturday and 5.45am on Sunday. Five days a week I’ll be getting up that time. I suppose it made it easier to get up at 7am to go boarding this morning though.

ULLR: MASTER OF SKIING AND GENERAL SUAVITY

The mountain held a party for Ullr, the Norse God of snow (obviously a natural on skis) last week. There was a giant bonfire, on which miniature skis were sacrificed in order to encourage Ullr to make snow. Ironically they had trouble lighting the bonfire as it was snowing and had been all afternoon. Vast amounts of fuel were used, and many ski jackets were singed as the fire roared.

As with many Whistler activities, it was impressive: burgers, hot chocolate and fruit cider for staff pass holders, and a miniature ski to throw on the fire upon donation to the local food bank. I met the local carpenter who carved all the skis. Three hundred of them. He said it was worth it if people enjoyed themselves.

I’M SORRY, I DIDN’T GET THAT…

In the UK when I needed to check the balance or top up my pay-as-you-go mobile it was simply a case of punching in a few numbers. For some reason, networks here supply a very friendly virtual assistant (called Melanie on the Rogers network) who is meant to understand what you ask her. Unfortunately Melanie isn’t too good with overseas accents. I often here people repeating insistently “account balance!” into their phone, to which Melanie replies “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that….”. And it goes on.

Time has told that the best way to deal with Melanie is to put on your best Canadian/American accent, particularly when dictating the 14 digit pin number on top up vouchers to her. It does actually work and I don’t even try my normal accent any more.

MONEY FOR MY RAMBLINGS??

My meeting with the editor of the local paper went well and we discussed two story ideas he’d be interested in. I learned that there is considerable financial reward for features published, which is incentive and a half. I just need to write them now, which is proving a lot harder now that work and snowboarding have been added to sleeping and skating.

POUTINE

Chips, cheese and gravy. Lovely.

THE INTRAWEST GUEST SERVICE ‘MANTRA’: READ IT AND WEEP

Recently helpfully provided laminated on a lanyard for us to wear and presumably consult in times of need.

We are excited to be here. Our enthusiasm for the mountains is reflected in our passion for exceptional service. Our guests are impressed. They feel welcomed by our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Our team shares ideas and communicates effectively. We celebrate our successes together.

SURPRISE NEWS FROM HOME

My uncle got married in secret. Well I never.

Winter Wonderland

BRIO IN THE SNOW

I woke up yesterday morning, looked out the window and actually gasped. Walking home from the pub at 1.30am, it had been lightly snowing. At 9.30am there was a good 20cm outside. Unfortunately it hasn't lasted too well and we're back to just general wetness. That didn't stop us having our first epic snowball fight on the way out last night. I fared well for once.

SLOWLY BECOMING INTRAWESTED

After six days of training I now have a gap before my last two days. Training has been very varied. Learning about all the different tickets, season passes and discounts was definitely very interesting and I promptly phoned Andrew and Jen to advise them on the early bird offers still available. As the answer to a lot of the questions in training was "ask your senior host" or "look to your senior host for support" I tried to pay as much attention as possible. Senior host training is two days this week, so I'll be interested to see what tools they supply us with in order that we can answer with some sort of authority...

The first day of tickets/validation training was an epic day packed with team games (including sketches to demonstrate going 'above and beyond': luckily one group lightened the mood with a bear providing excellent customer service on the slopes by returning a half-eaten child, and the Whistler Blackcomb "child replacement scheme"). You couldn't make up some of the stuff we had to do - chanting the customer service mantra in our most enthusiastic voices for one. I am certainly in Canada.

I found out definitively that I will be working in both tickets and validation, which means I'll be at the bottom of the slope scanning tickets and organising queues as well as in the ticket windows. With a $75 incentive for every fraudulent or inappropriate pass found, and nice Whistler Blackcomb pants and jacket as uniform, I'm quite pleased about that.

KEEPING OUT OF TROUBLE...?

Lyndsey, Emma, me and Tara: What's the Name of the game!!??

Otherwise I've been skating, partying and sleeping. We've got a good group building here at Brio. The dynamic is still changing, as people who didn't succeed in getting work for the mountain move out and those from the waiting list move in. We're still waiting for our fourth flatmate, apparently also called Laura and paying rent but not in town yet.

I have a meeting set up with the editor at one of the local papers here with a view to doing some sort of writing or work experience which I'm enormously excited about.

I haven't missed a Canucks game yet, particularly as we now have our very own TV (purchased for a mere $30 from the 'Re-Use It Centre'. Sadly they took a complete whooping from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

MISSING YOU

Now that I'm settling a bit, I'm starting to miss you all back home. I printed a load of photos and stuck them up on my wall to remind me of all the good times.

Whistler: Waiting for Snow

SETTLING IN

It’s been great so far. Meeting everyone in house (80% Aussies, though I did meet a couple from Buckie the other night), going out, getting to know Whistler, sharing bear stories…but quite unpleasant as we all played the waiting game to find out if we’d been successful in getting jobs for the mountain and can stay on in staff accommodation (finding your own accommodation is near impossible in Whistler). I ended up cutting the waiting a day short by phoning earlier than my allotted call back. My flatmates had both phoned and I couldn’t bear it any more! We were all lucky (/successful), and I’ve exceeded my own expectations. They’ve given me a supervisory position as a Senior Host in Tickets/Validation. I could hardly believe it. The sad part is that a lot of the mates we’ve made in house didn’t get jobs and are slowly being evicted. It’s cruel. I’ll be working at Creekside, about a 5 minute bus trip from where I live. I was a little disappointed that I’m not working in the main resort, but it’ll be quieter at Creekside which will make my life a lot easier!

Brio, where I’m living, was a good choice (for ‘older people’, they say). It’s down from the village, about 10 minutes walk through the ‘valley trail’ – always a joy to see if there might be a bear lurking on the path. I dislike walking it alone now I’ve heard so many bear stories. Not that they are a problem as everyone that has seen one has been completely ignored: they’re not interested in us. We saw one rummaging in the garbage the other night, from inside, which was a very satisfactory bear experience. We also saw a raccoon in the same spot. Turns out having a good view of the garbage dumpsters is a positive thing.

HOME SWEET HOME

My flat is basic – very reminiscent of my flat in Manchester in first year. I was expecting that, so it’s fine. Luckily my roommate Ange (23, Australia) is a complete star. She is the happiest little person, almost too nice for her own good (balances me out, I like to think), but she also has a wicked sense of humour. There is another two-person room in the flat, but only one person in it thus far. The other should be arriving imminently now all the jobs have been dished out. Emma (29, Cornwall) is a good girl too. If you think Essex girls uncovered, that’s Emma. Peroxide hair, startling blue contact lenses, man-devourer. Though she’s yet to impress us on that front. I’ve landed on my feet in that both girls love to party, but are brilliant around the house. Ange and I have had frank discussions about space, and respect each others’, so it’s going to be fine sharing a room. I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather share with.

HALLOWEEN, CANADIAN STYLE

With my love of fancy dress, it’s been a good week. Trailer trash night last Thursday, and of course Halloween just past. We spent much of the night queuing as everywhere was rammed, but it was funny and the costumes were fantastic. I was some sort of Fame/80s cheerleader. Making my pom-poms took an hour and a half but it was worth it!

GETTING 'INTRAWESTED'

I started training yesterday, and have another tomorrow then 4 days of it next week. Yesterday was some sort of coaching course, which was fairly tedious – lots of role play. Most people there already work for Whistler Blackcomb, in supervisory roles, so I felt a bit weird. I just played along and am still hoping that they don’t decide they’ve made a mistake and demote me.

RAIN. RAIN. RAIN.

It has turned cold here now, after nearly a solid week of rain. There have been the odd flurries of snow, but nothing lying yet. We’re all waiting for the dumping to begin, because that’s when we’ll start work (money is an issue for everyone just now).

Amusing ourselves has gotten easier as we become more familiar with the area. I gathered a group and went ice-skating on Monday at the local sports centre. I’m determined to become pseudo-Canadian, and skate well. I also can’t wait to skate on a lake (Alta Lake here freezes over in the winter – SO exciting). I decided to buy my own hockey skates, after trying both figure and hockey skates at the rink. I just had them fitted and sharpened just now and will be going skating as much as I can until I start work.

There’s a lovely pool at the centre as well, with a rope swing, which was all well and good until I gave myself cramp in my leg trying to climb up it. I had to hang there until it subsided. Idiot.

WELCOMED AS A NEW WHISTLERITE

On Monday Whistler Chamber of Commerce organised a $2 pancake brunch for new residents, with member of the Rotary club doing the cooking and serving. For some reason it was held in the fire station. A surreal, but fabulous, experience: particularly when the firemen were called out to deal with something. That night they organised for Westbeach to screen a snowboarding movie and a pro boarder gave us a talk about ‘common sense’ (of which he clearly has none). Then they threw out a load of freebies which had people scrabbling. I got a decent belt.

ENOUGH LEISURE TIME TO SHAKE A STICK AT

In the meantime, plenty of TV and Kraft Dinner. Going for beers to watch the hockey is my new love – there are certainly plenty of games on. The Vancouver Canucks play 82 games apparently. And half hoping, half not hoping to see a bear out and about.

I’d been thinking of taking a trip down the Vancouver for a few days, but with lots of activities on for us new people (pool party Friday night, $2 dinner at the conference centre on Saturday night) and with my random training and uniform pick-up sessions I’ll be best sticking around here.

I hope this find you all well and happy.

Calgary in photos...

My new toy! Isn't she beautiful!?

Family portrait. Mum should be proud...

Sampling the local brew

WHL: Calgary Hitmen vs Moosejaw Warriors

Jen and I at Lake Louise. Half way up a surprisingly tall hill.

East to West Part I

Well, it’s damn cold. It snowed on my second day in Toronto, which took us all a bit by surprise – even the Canadians. I packed ample clothing (so much one handle on my bag broke during the London-Toronto flight, and the second just broke yesterday on the way to Calgary) but thoroughly inadequate footwear. This has now been remedied by my new Cougar boots. Given they may look suspiciously like those granny boots you can buy from promotional pages in newspaper magazines, but after sploshing around in freezing slush at Niagra falls in suede slouch boots, the Cougars’ 100% waterproof claim and fur lining sold them to me. I’m still reeling from having to ask for a Canadian size 9 though – actually the second pair of shoes I’ve bought from here so far. The shopping here is ridiculously tempting. Unfortunately my bag is full to bursting (obviously) so that limits what I can buy.

MEN IN TIGHTS

My Toronto hostel was great, not least because of the free pancake breakfast each morning, and the fabulous people I found to hang out with. I made my first friends almost as soon as I arrived. Shalailah (“Australia”) was checking in just behind me, and staying almost exactly as long as I was. We went most of the few days in Toronto together, along with Jon (“Ireland”) and Michelle – also from Australia, sharing my dorm, and turns out she went to school with Luke. What a small place the world can be. I knew it was all going to be OK when only a few hours after meeting we were watching Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (Kevin Costner) in the hostel’s cinema (fairly cool – old aeroplane seats, a full-wall screen and a fairly generous selection of videos and DVDs), cracking up over Kevin’s mullet and Christian’s half-arsed English accent.

STEAMWHISTLER

Shalailah, Jon and I went to the Steam Whistle roundhouse brewery on Wednesday (my first Canadian beer!) and were plied with enormous amounts of free pilsner – very nice it was too – which was a firm foundation to our friendship. It’s made with only four ingredients, so the hangover is minimal (apparently).

GO RAPTORS GO!

Along with Michelle and Alex, we went to an NBA game that night: a friendly match between the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics. We only paid $12 per ticket (£6) and had a perfect view, although we did have to walk for about fifteen minutes to get up to our seats. I’ve always wanted to go to the NBA, so I was excited as a child at Christmas. Shalailah and I kept forgetting the clear bias of the crowd and commentators and enthusiastically cheering for the Celtics (as well as the Raptors). The Raptors won (Go Raptors Go!), by a hair’s breadth, and scored over 100 points - which meant free pizza the next day from the sponsor “Pizza Pizza”. I think the crowd’s excitement was as much for the pizza as the victory. Ours certainly was, though we didn’t actually make it to Pizza Pizza the next day. Rubbish.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME

Thursday Jon and I went to our BUNAC (SWAP) orientation session with the super-perky and enthusiastic Kat, which lasted a tedious three hours but was very informative. According to Kat, everything is going to be “su-weeet!” and “awesome!” for us foreigners and we are advised to play up our accents as much as possible. The anti-Aberdonian in me refuses.

I now have my very own Canadian bank account and have been switching happily in shops. Probably a bit too happily. I was fairly dismayed to find you have to pay for the privilege of just having a bank account in this silly country (paying more if you don’t want a limit on how many transactions you can do per month – which I most certainly do not). Apparently you also need to pay for incoming calls to mobile phones. Outrage.

The bank we’re with looked like something from the set of ‘Three Men and a Baby’ – all baggy 80s suits, grey/beige décor and giant plastic telephones. A lot of Toronto seemed to be like that – it slightly creeped me out. Fashion is fairly non-existent too: woolly jumpers and voluminous hair for the most part. Luckily my traveller’s wardrobe isn’t exactly a fashion haven either, so I fit right in.

EATING FOR SCOTLAND

As for the eating in this country, it’s unbelievable. Today we had iced Cinnamon buns at a coffee house, which come the size of a small melon and with the slogan “Indulge, it’s okay!” on the box. I’m sure that ought to come with some sort of government health disclaimer about heart disease, obsesity or diabetes. I found a hefty chocolate bar in a shop today (Safeway in fact, bizarrely) called “Eat More”. I’m a Tim Hortons lover already – a coffee shop as common as Starbucks but a fraction of the price. Raspberry timbits being my new favourite – teeny little donuts, with a large proportion of jam, only 15c each. However I am starting to feel my arse wobbling far more than it used to and I am in desperate need of some exercise. When the snow arrives, that ought to sort me out.

LAURA MEETS THE LOCAL WILDLIFE

I had an unfortunate experience on Thursday while dining extravagantly on sushi at lunchtime with Jon (again, I was as excited as a child at Christmas). Half way through, a cockroach casually walked into the middle of the table from under my bento box, causing Jon to pause mid-mouthful of udon. I called over the waitress who said “euwww!! That’s so disgusting! I’ll just go get someone” - leaving me, Jon and the cockroach to it. I had to tap on the table with my chopsticks to keep the roach walking in circles while she got the manager, who looked like she was going to cry when she saw it. The roach obligingly walked onto the drinks menu, which I picked up and suggested she took away. Apparently the floor above was being fumigated for pests and as the manager looked so mortified, I made minimal complaint. I finished my sushi and was given a voucher for my next visit, which I thought would be entirely useless, but paid for a take-away dinner the next night. Strong stomach – as you may remember from the curry story in Leicestershire early this year!

NIAGRA FALLS. POSSIBLY THE TACKIEST PLACE ON THE PLANET.

Shalailah and I did the Niagra thang on Friday, with JoJo and her A-team style van, where all eight of us had to introduce ourselves and talk about our Canadian aspirations. Niagra itself is a tourist trap exceeding anything I’ve been to before. There was snow lying at that point, and with aforementioned freezing, soaked feet teamed with the ride on the “Maid of the Mist” – a cold shower in an artic wind under an inadequate plastic sheet, it was a fairly unpleasant if highly amusing day out. Shalailah and I spent much of the time searching for Wellington boots in the souvenir shops. However, Tim Horton obligingly supplied hot drinks and calorific food to make up for it, and the falls themselves were very beautiful. I also enjoyed hearing about the surprising number of lunatics who’ve launched themselves over the top in years past for financial gain – with or without kayaks/barrels, often without success. We stopped in past a winery afterwards, and tasted enough to send us all off to sleep in the van home. I tried “Ice Wine” – made by picking grapes only when it’s -10oC and using them frozen. Unsurprisingly it’s very expensive, as it’s tricky to find people willing to do the picking…

CLOSE QUARTERS

My longest stay in a hostel was a good experience, thanks to the cleanliness (no evidence of bedbugs – hurrah!) and the few gems of mates I met, but my intolerance for annoying people got in the way. Sadly, it seems you can’t escape some of them, without just being unpleasant. If I’d been staying any longer, an outbreak would have been on the cards. My particular favourites were a girl from London who has an Australian accent after one year there and who loudly blurted out during the pub quiz that people in Vatican City couldn’t be Christians “because they’re Catholic!” and a girl who phoned her husband in Florida during a casual Scrabble game late one night to confirm particular words were in the Scrabble Dictionary (I didn’t even know there was one).

REST AND RELAXATION

I flew into Calgary yesterday to stay with my brother Andrew and his girlfriend Jen. They’ve got a beautiful house a bit out of town, where I am currently reclining, being looked after well. We went to the Rockies Wine and Food Festival last night, which was a massive porkfest and left me quite uncomfortable, then snowboard shopping today. With my brother’s wisdom and a 20 minute chat with the stoner assistant, I’m now well informed and have a choice of three for which I’ll be riding this season. Now to do my homework before purchasing…

I have a week here before I head to Whistler. I was supposed to be taking the greyhound bus: a 15 hour trip to Vancouver, but I’ve decided an hour and a half on a plane is a far superior experience (as fed up of flying as I am), for really not much more money.

I’m loving the Canadian way of life, with their fabulous coffee houses, gorgeous fluttery flags and customer service the way it should be. However I’m going to need to watch my eating more than I have been to avoid becoming unnecessarily lardy and I’ll need some serious winter gear for the plummeting temperatures in the coming months. I also may need a larger hold-all to cope with all the things I’m picking up along the way!

I’m thinking of you all often, and sending lots of love.