Everyone told me "Oh it's much colder in Calgary", and I thought, oh yeah, they say that about Toronto - and I spent a week there! I can cop it! (Yeah right).
My friend, Laurel, who lives in Calgary said "It's been snowing and it's SO beautiful!". Yeah, it is beautiful to watch, but it's also a godamn hazard! I got off the plane, got into a taxi to take me to my hostel and it was still snowing. As you may or may not have seen on my facebook page, it reminded me of the simpsons episode "Mr Plow" and the planet Hoth from the Star Wars movie "The Empire Strikes Back". Everything was covered in snow; the roads (and main highways out of the airport) were barely clean of snow enough to fit 2 lanes on the highway. We passed a slight dingle, and then what the taxi driver guessed was a car that had spun-out due to the road conditions. Welcome to Calgary!
When I got out of the taxi, I was so very glad I bought what I call boots, to be able to walk through the snow. Oh and it was cold. Very cold. Did I mention it was cold?! A few degrees below zero in fact.
When Laurel kindly picked me up to take me for lunch, I remarked how bloody cold it was and how the person I just saw walking her dog, managed to cope. Her response then was "Oh this is nothing" later followed by "Once your legs go numb, you don't notice it" after my continual surprise at how life goes on in such conditions, remembering that everyone back home would be in shorts and watching the cricket. Oh I miss the cricket. And the heat. And my friends & family.
It was great to catch up with her, after we farewelled each other in Lagos, Portugal, in November 2010. She is the 4th Canadian friend I have seen since arriving. Pretty awesome really. She suggested a Beer House (she knows me well) for lunch and noted that her brother suggested I try an exotic, imported beer - Fosters! As we chatted over lunch, Laurel remarked about some rude people she encountered in Europe last year. My retort was predictable in my mind - Canadians are just friendly, nice people. It really is a Canadian thing to be kind to strangers. I think Australians at home are generally pretty good, but Canadians take the cake.
We later met up with her sister and her sister's boyfriend who are incredibly friendly, and kindly offered to take me grocery shopping the following evening. They were all keen to enhance my experience in Calgary - such warmth is exactly what I need/needed after being homesick and having issues with the job agency.
That was sunday, and I haven't got a whole lot done since then. I flew to Calgary about possible job opporunities in an office environment. Those specific opportunities have since fallen through (and the fucking job agency didn't follow up why until I chased them up. Arseholes.) I've subsequently found out I've been referred to a number of front desk/office positions. I was even referred to the position of Front Desk Supervisor (!) at the Fairmont Hotel. Of course the job agency didn't tell me this until I was told I would be emailed about an interview. Professional lot, aren't they?! Anyway, I had an online interview - a bloody huge questionnaire with what I saw as predictable responses they would appreciate. Fingers crossed. Laurel had suggested I simply walk in to a few bars and ask about employment; I haven't done that. I'm confident enough to do it, but have been procrastinating. I'll be doing that tomorrow - I'm booked into a cheap hotel for 6 nights as of tomorrow because I just can't handle hostels anymore - drunk dickheads are really pissing me off, to the point where I'm worried it will get physical. Best to get out of that environment full stop.
On the tourist front, I spent 5 hours at the Calgary's Glenbow Museum. It is quite simply, the best museum I've ever been to, and I've been to a few. It had a great (and lengthy) display on the history of Alberta, and how the west was opened up by the creation of the Canadian railway right across to the West Coast (linking up the western cities such as Alberta to the east). It also had both political and social history of the area and how Alberta had an 8 year run in with socialism, and the inevitable economic collapse that followed.
Otherwise I've been wandering around, trying to keep out of the cold, and applying for jobs. Due to the fact that I moved to a single room and out of a dorm at the Hostel, I haven't met anyone. I'm not sure I'd be great company anyway - I'm sticking with this adventure but a lack of certainty is something I've never dealt well with. Much, much worse is the thought of what on earth I'll do for christmas. I'd like to be here, but what if I don't get a job? Fly to London? There will be bugger all seats, and they'll be expensive. I'm left with few options - everything hinges on getting a job and a place to live.
There were a few admin jobs with the City of Calgary which I have applied for - they're right up my alley, but of course I'm not limiting myself to that. Hell, I'm just about ready to be dishwasher; I just need a bloody job. I want some stability and normality - and to give my Australian bank account a break!
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