BUNAC

It's days like this which show I really didn't look around properly. Damn my laziness!

Somethin real interesting came up in conversation while talking about the GY with my mum. She said Si had looked at a service called BUNAC which gives a great relief to not only Gap Year students but all those wanting to travel to North America (between the ages of 18 and 30) for a year.

One thing they help out with is my VISA which will take a whole heap load of stress off my shoulders (especially as I'm still waiting for a reply for the Rose & Crown). They also help with flights as they have a special relationship with Air Canada. This means that I will be on the flight with other Bunac members who I could hopefully travel with for the first month. Also insurance is included. As its an insurance policy for GY students, its most likely going to be the best I can find.

Here's the PDF booklet!

Obviously it costs. Joining BUNAC is £5, registration fee to 'Work Canada' is £160, insurance =£....., etc...

Tomorrow I'm going to re-read this and most likely sign up. This is going to be the first batch of the flood of money seeping out of my life savings *sigh*.

~

Also, I read about this a few months back but forgot to post:
Ski-pass for Banff (as of the picture):
C$689 + C$41.34 (Goods & Services Tax) = C$730
Current exchange rates: C$1 = £0.44
Current Season Ski pass price = £320.98
and thats only if I get away with being a student. If not, its £399.95!

... balls.

Finally...

I've sent the letter. Phew...

No other news.

Canadians leave the Traddock (episode 2)

Another sad time for the Traddock as we lost two more Canadians. They drop like flies they really do.
We had to say goodbye to Meg & Matt today with a nice meal and a few drinks at the local pub. Food was real nice. As was the evening. I like Carling...

Anyways, a photo or two up later.

AND I still aint sent that letter.

Small update

After being told the other day that I had joined the club of 'people who never update their blogs', I thought that I should go against the grain and actually update this thing.

I still havnt sent off that letter. It has been slightly rewritten since I last showed it to you (the single reader of this blog) but I just need to get off my arse and walk the 3 meters next door to the post office and get air mail sorted out.

I was also told about www.gumtree.com where you can look for jobs not only in the UK but in quite a few other countries too. I looked in Canada and what do ya know, there isn't even a link to Banff. Shame...

Anyways, I have TV to watch and snowboarding dreams to dream. Superbowl XXXXI is on tonight till 3 so I'll probs watch it after a good double bill of 24.

Pump & Tap Tavern

They don't advertise with an email addy so I'm sending them a snail-mail letter. This is the majority of it:
~~~~~~~~~~

I am writing to apply for consideration of a work placement for the 07-08 ski season. I would be most happy behind the bar, but would be very happy to do any other
job.

For previous experience, I have been a kitchen staff member for the last 4.5 years in a hotel in my village. Once I turn 18 this month I am to be trained to work behind the bar. I believe that between now and next winter, I will have ample experience to take on a full-time barman job.

I am currently an A-level student from Yorkshire and I have had my heart set on having a gap-year in Canada for my whole life. Over the last two years I have learn to Snowboard which has ultimately made Banff my number one option as a base in my gap-year.

I have chosen the Pump & Tap Tavern as, from the website on www.taximike.com, it sounds like you would accept a fellow Brit with open arms, and as it sounds to have the correct atmosphere that I would love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right, lets await some replyness.

Happy New Year

I really need to start contacting these other places. The only thing that could be putting them off is my age. Bah...

Right, my 18th birthday is coming up and as we've said, the tickets will be the main present. Soooooooooooo lets get our game on, right? I do wanna go you know.

Merry Christmas 2006!!!

Finally it's Christmas.
My final Christmas here...

A present to myself is this picture which I've just made so I can host it here. A banner for this here blog!

Rejection 1 ~ Rose & Crown

Apparently they have zero turnover and use staff to their full use.
No room for me, will contact elsewhere.

Christmas shopping

One week into Christmas holidays already! Where does the time go?
Anyways, we went shopping today for stuff for my gap year. We bought my rucksack (£45), sleeping bag (£139), platypus (£17), and some tops (£extra).
See, this seems really expensive and I personally have trouble spending such amounts, but let me explain. Items that are bought this year for my gap year are either paid half by myself, or are this Christmas and next, and this birthday and nexts presents. That's four different sets of presents rolled into one.
Anyways, we still have to book the flights and and buy a couple of extra things, such as a new camera and new MP3 player. Those will be bought as close to the holiday as possible to get the lowest prices possible.

Dammit, lets talk about my rucksack instead of the huge money loss. This thing is a 70+18L rucksack, with detachable day sack.
The platypus is a 3L instead of a normal 2 with a bite-valve.
The 'dreamcatcher 500' sleeping bag is a damn comfortable elastic bag that has a huge comfort temperature zone.
The towel? Well that's just a thin dry-fast towel. I don't know how good it works yet.

Onto other matters, I'm going to be looking back at the list of places to work at Banff later and emailing some of them to apply for a job. If I get a reply, I can apply for a VISA. THEN, we have to book the flights. *sigh*.

I was sooooo excited today when I realised how close I was to the gap-year. But just realising how much planning there is left to do just puts a downer on the whole thing. Meh, it'll get better.

EDIT: Applied to Rose & Crown via email. Awaiting responce...

Purchases while in Canada

The pound is strong at the moment, and the Canadian dollar is weak compared. That means that whatever purchases I should buy, the majority should be bought while over in Canada.
This includes an Apple Laptop I have decided to buy for my university years. I'm not copying my friends who own one, I just like to be different (contradiction?). Most of all I'm anti-Microsoft. That's why I use Firefox *hint*hint*!
Anyways, this purchase list includes my board and boarding gear. Shame I cant look into the future and check out exchange rates!

No progress with Will at the mo. I was told a rumour he was dead the other day and then told 5 mins later he wasn't! Horrible stuff!

Canadians leave the Traddock (episode 1)

I'm really sad to say but half the Canadian population of the Traddock (my good old work place) is leaving on Tuesday. The two of them have both done their last shifts and we celebrated this by having a good drink at the local.

The Canadians I speak of are Andrew and Patricia. On the top picture, Andrew is on the left, I'm on the right.

What the hell does this have to do with my blog? Well I hope to visit them, or if not them then their provinces, while I'm over in their good country.

Episode 2 will be around soon, lol, when the other two Canadians (Meg and Matt) leave soon after New Year.

And while I'm writing this I have to note that my friend Will Macferson is currently in hospital due to a car crash he was in two days ago. I heard some horrible rumours yesterday about his condition and all my thoughts go to him.

Hmmm... my bad.

Gap Year stuff is on the back burner until the Christmas holidays. School deadlines see!... Another *counts* 10 months and I'll be boarding with no deadlines at all. No eBooks, no drama productions, no mathematical equations that could make Einstein sweat.

Also, the reason why I just chose Banff doesn't actually exist in my head. I need to cover Lake Louise too. And Whistler. For God Sake why didn't I look at Whistler?

Some good news however, Si has expressed interest in going to Canada with some mates for a few months while I'm over there and stopping off at Whistler. If I don't chose to go to Whistler then I'll definitely go and visit him.

Oooh, and for all those who have been boarding and skiing, you'll know that its pretty obvious I'm gonna get injured. So I'm adding a counter (within the links bar) that will track my health progress.

Edit: Ahhh Wikipedia. Always there to prove me wrong and to make this post rather worthless. Whistler is in BC. Dammit. And Lake Louise? A tiny resort.

Banff Jobs

*sigh* My brother is pretty much pushing me to get a job at Fairmont Springs; a massive hotel in Banff. See that's not for me. While he's on his final year doing a course in all that sort of thing, its just... not me.
Its kind of saying to a chav "I think you should a job as an accountant", while all they want to do is work in McDonalds. They may be capable of being an accountant (though I HIGHLY doubt any chav having an IQ over 4), but they are more suited to McDonalds. Its the same with me, I'm more suited to a bar than a posh hotel as my career isn't linked to hotels at all.
Ok, rant over.

So, here's the list of some of the posh places that I could work at:

• Giorgio's Trattoria
• Fairmont Banff Springs
  

And some of the bars which grabbed my attention:

• Magpie & Stump
• Melissa's Restaurant & Bar
• Bruno's
• Muk a Muk
• Rose & Crown
• The Pump & Tap Tavern (v. British)
• Tommy's Neighbourhood Pub

Phew... some good research done there, helped by TaxiMike! There are others available bars, pubs, and restaurants available and I wont just leave them out, but at the moment the list above seems cool. Especially The Pump and Tap! Check out their page most deffinatly!

Right, next step is to make a choice, contact them, and then apply for a Canadian Visa!

Links bar

Hope you notice the links bar to the right of the page. I'm going to be continually updating it.

It's in three sections: My Canada Links, Gap Year Links, My Links.

My Canada Links:
This is mostly going to help me while I'm in Canada. It will act as a bookmarks list which will stay with me on every computer I use. Already I have Lonely Planet's Canada book link, and a link to Wikitravel's Canada page.

Gap Year links:
This is for any readers out there (anyone..?) who want help researching for a gap year. Important links which will help you.

My Links:
Stuff about me, my band, blah blah blah. Feel free to probe into my life. That's what this blog is about anyways!

I want to explain about Lonely Planet. These books are a traveller's Bible! No Gap Year participator should leave or even plan without one. They include maps, notes about every single city, town and village, guides to hostels and hotels. Basically everything about everywhere! I'm not going to be buying my Canada book until near next Summer so I can get the latest version with all the up to date maps, prices, and details. I suggest every buyer do the same.

Wikitravel was pointed out to me by a Canadian chef I work with who told me that he planned his whole trip out here using it. Andy's cool. He comes from Nova Scotia which is Latin for 'New Scotland'. Apparently the who province is a wannabe Scotland. I'm not too sure about how long I'll be able to stand it there after that description, haha.

Banff!

BANFF!!!
Banff, Alberta is obviously in the Alberta side of the Rockys. Very close to Calgary, which is only 8 hours flightish form England! Woop!
Now some of you (if there ARE any of you) may be thinkin... Calgary... which awesome film have I heard that name from? Its 'Cool Runnings'! One of the best films ever made in my opinion. The Bobsleigh event happened in Calgary in the 1988 winter Olympics in Canada. I may just have to visit there if I fly to Calgary which I most likely will do sometime within the year.

Anyways, next steps are to look up Visa information and then contact a bar in Banff!
By the way, I'm havng trouble pronouncing Banff... its just not right! lol.