Ah ok. I have an aunt who lives in Montreal anyway so could stay with her while sorting a job out.
Cheers for posting this OP, might have some new plans now
Ah ok. I have an aunt who lives in Montreal anyway so could stay with her while sorting a job out.
Cheers for posting this OP, might have some new plans now
Deleted member 70857
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OP
Thank for taking the time Owen to help out, I really appreciate it. I hope you don't mind me bombarding you with questions.
Did you apply to go with Bunac aswell?
How much money did you go with? (The requirements are you need to show you have $3000 Canadian to support yourself for the first 3 months. Is that really enough? Or is that overkill?)
How did the job hunt go? Did you have a job lined up before you went out there?
The last question I have and the most worrying for me is; How did you find somewhere to live? I understand Bunac give you a night in a hostel, and the ability to book a few more days there. But I am very worried about finding somewhere to live quickly.
Thanks again.
Did you apply to go with Bunac aswell?
How much money did you go with? (The requirements are you need to show you have $3000 Canadian to support yourself for the first 3 months. Is that really enough? Or is that overkill?)
How did the job hunt go? Did you have a job lined up before you went out there?
The last question I have and the most worrying for me is; How did you find somewhere to live? I understand Bunac give you a night in a hostel, and the ability to book a few more days there. But I am very worried about finding somewhere to live quickly.
Thanks again.
Deleted member 70857
Deleted member 70857
OP
Ah ok. I have an aunt who lives in Montreal anyway so could stay with her while sorting a job out.
Cheers for posting this OP, might have some new plans now
That would be great if you had somewhere to live already sorted out
Let me know if you plan on going.
That would be great if you had somewhere to live already sorted out
Let me know if you plan on going.
Just have the small issue of finding some money first.
But yeah I'm definitely interested.
Right where to start! (this is a great excuse for me not to revise so thank you)
Yes I did go through BUNAC, some people who had been before advised me not too but I thought it was worth paying that bit more to have someone sort your visa out for you (the hard bit apparently) and for going on the group flight so that you can meet people on the plane and start forming a little plan (I originally had all these wild plans about flying there and doing all these things by myself... I ended up staying with a group of 7 people and going to Whistler and staying there all summer)
I took about £1200 with me, they say they check but they never did so i presume it will be the same for you again. My advice is just to take as much as you possibly can... things always come up out there that you should have sorted before you got before you left the UK or thing you should have bought etc. Besides the extra money is always handy for buying the first round for your new found friends!
Before you even think about work and housing, decide where you want to go in Canada. There are only two main options, big cities (Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto etc) or resort towns (Whistler, Banff, Jasper etc) I personally stayed about a week in Vancouver (where I flew too) and then headed up to Whistler. I think its down to personal choice, as much as I loved Vancouver its too big just to walk around so would have had to fork out for the bus etc... I know it sounds silly but little things like this soon add up. I got the greyhound (bus) up to whistler (get a Hostelling International card, these are avaliable from the hostel opposite the one BUNAC put you in for the first few days, presuming you stay in the same sun.. this card gets you 30% off greyhound fares and is definately worth it!)
So me and about 8 people went to Whistler, found a house on craigs list that we could stay in for 10 days to get ourselves sorted and everything. We spend about a week job hunting, we all found jobs in either retail or food (I worked in cows ice cream, the best job I have ever had). The earlier you get out there in summer the better, obviously companies like to hire before the season gets into full swing. You need to be persistant with job hunting, hand in your resume go back in after a few days, talk to the manager and chase it up.
Housing wise again it depends where you want to go, WE all found a lush 11 bedroom house with a sauna and jacuzzi and think we were paying 400 dollars every two weeks which isnt all that bad.
First things first, decide where you want to go.. if its Whistler let me know and I have even more advice, same for Vancouver (from what I remember BUNAC only fly to Vancouver and Toronto, so this will play a big part in your decision). Once you have decided start looking into houses in that area and the price etc, craigs list is a god send just watch out for scams etc.
You said your main concern was finding some where to live, it really isn't that hard dont worry, if it comes down to it just have a few more nights in a hostel. Everyone I know who I flew out with found a house within 2 weeks so you will be fine, just make sure you have enough money to pay a deposit. ooo yeah before I forget, make sure you get the forms from SWAP (these are the people bunac pass you on to in Canada, they get you started up and everything) that allow you to not be charged tax, I am trying to claim mine back now and its a right pain!
Yes I did go through BUNAC, some people who had been before advised me not too but I thought it was worth paying that bit more to have someone sort your visa out for you (the hard bit apparently) and for going on the group flight so that you can meet people on the plane and start forming a little plan (I originally had all these wild plans about flying there and doing all these things by myself... I ended up staying with a group of 7 people and going to Whistler and staying there all summer)
I took about £1200 with me, they say they check but they never did so i presume it will be the same for you again. My advice is just to take as much as you possibly can... things always come up out there that you should have sorted before you got before you left the UK or thing you should have bought etc. Besides the extra money is always handy for buying the first round for your new found friends!
Before you even think about work and housing, decide where you want to go in Canada. There are only two main options, big cities (Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto etc) or resort towns (Whistler, Banff, Jasper etc) I personally stayed about a week in Vancouver (where I flew too) and then headed up to Whistler. I think its down to personal choice, as much as I loved Vancouver its too big just to walk around so would have had to fork out for the bus etc... I know it sounds silly but little things like this soon add up. I got the greyhound (bus) up to whistler (get a Hostelling International card, these are avaliable from the hostel opposite the one BUNAC put you in for the first few days, presuming you stay in the same sun.. this card gets you 30% off greyhound fares and is definately worth it!)
So me and about 8 people went to Whistler, found a house on craigs list that we could stay in for 10 days to get ourselves sorted and everything. We spend about a week job hunting, we all found jobs in either retail or food (I worked in cows ice cream, the best job I have ever had). The earlier you get out there in summer the better, obviously companies like to hire before the season gets into full swing. You need to be persistant with job hunting, hand in your resume go back in after a few days, talk to the manager and chase it up.
Housing wise again it depends where you want to go, WE all found a lush 11 bedroom house with a sauna and jacuzzi and think we were paying 400 dollars every two weeks which isnt all that bad.
First things first, decide where you want to go.. if its Whistler let me know and I have even more advice, same for Vancouver (from what I remember BUNAC only fly to Vancouver and Toronto, so this will play a big part in your decision). Once you have decided start looking into houses in that area and the price etc, craigs list is a god send just watch out for scams etc.
You said your main concern was finding some where to live, it really isn't that hard dont worry, if it comes down to it just have a few more nights in a hostel. Everyone I know who I flew out with found a house within 2 weeks so you will be fine, just make sure you have enough money to pay a deposit. ooo yeah before I forget, make sure you get the forms from SWAP (these are the people bunac pass you on to in Canada, they get you started up and everything) that allow you to not be charged tax, I am trying to claim mine back now and its a right pain!
Have a look at this thread, I and others answered most of the questions there and it was only a few weeks ago:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18224608&highlight=bunac
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18224608&highlight=bunac
Deleted member 70857
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OP
Thanks Nexus, I will have a read over that now
Deleted member 70857
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OP
Thank you Owen for the reply. I really do appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
As I have never been to Canada I am a bit lost on where I want to go. Yes you can look up all these places, but as I am sure you can vouch for, it's not the same as actually being there.
I am thinking about going to Toronto as I love the city life of London. I have also been lucky enough to go to New York a few times and I love the atmosphere there. So as Toronto is the capital I am taking a wild guess that it will be the closest thing to the London/NY experience.
What did you think of Vancouver?
I see that you stayed in Whistler. A few other people I have spoken to also rave about how much they loved Whistler. The 11 bedroom house you stayed in sounds amazing!
Any more advice you can give on Vancouver and Whistler would be greatly appreciated. Also any advice on Toronto. I know you didn't stay there. But if you knew anyone that did?
As I have never been to Canada I am a bit lost on where I want to go. Yes you can look up all these places, but as I am sure you can vouch for, it's not the same as actually being there.
I am thinking about going to Toronto as I love the city life of London. I have also been lucky enough to go to New York a few times and I love the atmosphere there. So as Toronto is the capital I am taking a wild guess that it will be the closest thing to the London/NY experience.
What did you think of Vancouver?
I see that you stayed in Whistler. A few other people I have spoken to also rave about how much they loved Whistler. The 11 bedroom house you stayed in sounds amazing!
Any more advice you can give on Vancouver and Whistler would be greatly appreciated. Also any advice on Toronto. I know you didn't stay there. But if you knew anyone that did?
Any time 
Well I loved Vancouver, it is right on the coast and there is a beach and everything there so is a pretty nice place. The actual city part is awesome and is really diverse like any city, and will meet lots of interesting characters. I had a few friends staying down there whilst I was in Whistler, they struggled to find work for a long time and get the impression money was pretty tight for them. Wages are also less in Vancouver compared to Whistler (but its relative, I found renting a house in Vancouver to be more expensive from what people have said compared to whistler, but groceries and cost of living is cheaper in vancouver)
Whistler is very much a resort town, when I was there its pretty much a mix of foreign workers (lots of people from auzzie and new zealand, then the rest from the UK), quite a few american tourists come up to Whistler as its the closest resort town to the american border. You also get the whistler locals, very chilled out and friendly people who are normally managers in the shops around the town. If your into your sport, or just any outdoor activities whistler is the place for you, if your more of a city kinda guy I would say Vancouver. It's about two hours on a bus from Whistler to Vancouver so if you ever feel the need for a city or outdoor break it really isn't too far to travel. I popped down to about once a month for about 3/4 days at a time and stayed with friends there, it is a lovely place but I can see why people don't enjoy it at the same time.
I can comment about Toronto I'm afraid, I didnt know of anyone going to Toronto but then again my group flight was to Vancouver and considering how long it takes to get from one side of Canada to the other its understandable. British Columbia is known for having a greaty style and one of the best life styles, but of course it comes at a price tax rates are the highest there than they are any where else in Canada but for me it was worth it. I wanted some where that offered world class mountain biking and lots of chilled out lakes but also with a good night life and lots of out door areas and that's why I ended up in Whistler. Anytime I wanted to do some serious shopping or anything just hop on a bus (or hitch hike) down to Vancouver and your sorted!
Well I loved Vancouver, it is right on the coast and there is a beach and everything there so is a pretty nice place. The actual city part is awesome and is really diverse like any city, and will meet lots of interesting characters. I had a few friends staying down there whilst I was in Whistler, they struggled to find work for a long time and get the impression money was pretty tight for them. Wages are also less in Vancouver compared to Whistler (but its relative, I found renting a house in Vancouver to be more expensive from what people have said compared to whistler, but groceries and cost of living is cheaper in vancouver)Whistler is very much a resort town, when I was there its pretty much a mix of foreign workers (lots of people from auzzie and new zealand, then the rest from the UK), quite a few american tourists come up to Whistler as its the closest resort town to the american border. You also get the whistler locals, very chilled out and friendly people who are normally managers in the shops around the town. If your into your sport, or just any outdoor activities whistler is the place for you, if your more of a city kinda guy I would say Vancouver. It's about two hours on a bus from Whistler to Vancouver so if you ever feel the need for a city or outdoor break it really isn't too far to travel. I popped down to about once a month for about 3/4 days at a time and stayed with friends there, it is a lovely place but I can see why people don't enjoy it at the same time.
I can comment about Toronto I'm afraid, I didnt know of anyone going to Toronto but then again my group flight was to Vancouver and considering how long it takes to get from one side of Canada to the other its understandable. British Columbia is known for having a greaty style and one of the best life styles, but of course it comes at a price tax rates are the highest there than they are any where else in Canada but for me it was worth it. I wanted some where that offered world class mountain biking and lots of chilled out lakes but also with a good night life and lots of out door areas and that's why I ended up in Whistler. Anytime I wanted to do some serious shopping or anything just hop on a bus (or hitch hike) down to Vancouver and your sorted!
Deleted member 70857
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That's given me a lot to think about. Thank you
I'll let you know if there is anything else I would like to know.
Thanks owen
I'll let you know if there is anything else I would like to know.
Thanks owen
I'm so tempted by this aswell. The problem is, I'm in Uni at the moment, so I might take up a year abroad exchange (Boise, Montana, Utica or Washington...) or just do KAMP America.
Canada is where my heart is set on though!
Canada is where my heart is set on though!
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I'm thinking of doing this after Uni, so following the thread keenly.
@Owen256: I <3 Cows in Whistler! And yeah I swear at least half the staff up there are either Aussies/Kiwis or Brits!
I'm thinking of doing this after Uni, so following the thread keenly
.@Owen256: I <3 Cows in Whistler! And yeah I swear at least half the staff up there are either Aussies/Kiwis or Brits!
Deleted member 70857
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I have a couple more questions for you Owen if you don't mind.
Firstly what did you bring with you to Canada? It must be much different then packing for a holiday.
Secondly the job you had, was it good hours? Did you get much of a social life?
How was the pay? After paying bills and food etc, did you have much money to buy other things you wanted?
Firstly what did you bring with you to Canada? It must be much different then packing for a holiday.
Secondly the job you had, was it good hours? Did you get much of a social life?
How was the pay? After paying bills and food etc, did you have much money to buy other things you wanted?
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Bump... My visa is in process
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I'm not Owen but I went on a BUNAC trip a few years ago now. The packing wasn't all that different than for a holiday apart from making sure I had some shirts/trousers/shoes etc suitable for going to work in. Beyond that I travelled with things that I was happy to wear or throw away when my time was done. I figured that if I'm going to be there for quite a while then I might as well take just what was vital and buy the rest out there so I ended up with a laptop being purchased out there (still going strong 5 or so years on), a scrappy mountain bike for getting to and from work etc.
I just did an office job while I was out there working for a homestay company i.e. the company found families to stay with for students who are learning English as a foreign language. It actually worked out brilliantly for me, they found me a place to stay, gave me about double what was minimum wage in Canada at the time and took me along with them to a couple of parties. However that's almost certainly not typical - what I did find though was if you asked for help most Canadians were willing to try if they could, I got a couple of job offers before I started work just chatting to random people in bars. Hope it all goes well for you, I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Great country and great people, I have lots of family over there and we nearly emigrated there in the early 70's when I was 5. Spent several months there and love it. If you get the chance to get over there you should, I can see me ending up over there at some point.
I went through Bunac in 2004, I highly recommend it.
Interesting, you can go through BUNAC twice now. Use to be once in a lifetime.
Just some things I would like to point out.
1. I bought my own flight, and didn't book a return ticket, this wasn't checked or important.
2. You don't HAVE to attend a bunac meet when you land, and tbh it isn't that worthwhile but is useful.
3. Finding a place to live is the easiest part. I used easyroommate.com and it took me 2 days, there is HEAPS of places available.
4. For work there are lots of temping agencies that help get your foot in the door, took me about a week to find work and there was a few offers. Bunac should have some idea where to go.
5. Don't forget to set up a bank account, in Toronto Bunac will suggest a local bank where they have exp with internation people. Believe it or not getting a bank account can be tricky! - Personally I had no problems and set one up through my family in Calgary.
6. Family doesn't help get a visa though bunac, only if your after permanent residency, its just nice to have family out there.
I travelled around Canada but fwiw it was mostly general admin roles, a lot of people have more social or seasonal jobs though.. it varies tbh in what you want to do.
If you want seasonal jobs working up mountains on skii lifts etc then you apply for them, if you stay in downtown toronto its going to be along the lines of clerical admin.