Planning is underway

It's an incredible feeling when you're sitting in the Skytrain and leaving behind the American-looking streets with all the power lines and colorful houses, rushing towards the densely packed skyscrapers of downtown. And all of this against the backdrop of the green hills of the nearby national parks. And for a moment, it takes your breath away when you think about the fact that you're not here as a tourist waiting for the end of your vacation, but that you're living here now and part of this incredible city. And slowly, you start to feel that way too.

Yesterday, we watched the sunset together at English Bay (photo) and jumped into the freezing cold Pacific. Today, I rented a bicycle and rode around Stanley Park in the north of Vancouver. The skyline there constantly switches between high-rises, mountains, forests, and the ocean. Once again, it becomes clear how diverse this city is. It felt good to spend a few hours alone and escape to the green oasis of this metropolis. But reality catches up too quickly. In the past few days, I've contacted many ranchers who offer volunteer stays and have already received some inquiries, rejections, and confirmations. Now it's about sorting out, weighing options, making decisions, and bridging the gap.

You still feel like you're on a field trip here. After living with 11 others in a small house for three days, we have now moved into an apartment with 7 people, but we'll only stay here until Wednesday. Maybe by the end of the week, I can go directly to a ranch, but I would prefer to travel around Vancouver Island for another week or two. However, most ranchers are looking for someone who can come and help make the farm winterproof immediately. So maybe I'll go to a ranch first before I have the opportunity to go on a road trip. We'll see. On the ranch, I'll have the opportunity to calmly look for a job in the ski resort. The plans are definitely starting to take shape =)