Amsterdam Good Christmas

So we just got back from our first European trip, 4 days in Amsterdam over Christmas. We figured since we don't have much in London we should try to get away for Christmas and avoid sitting alone in our apartment the whole day. To be fair, my coworker did invite us to his family's dinner, but I didn't want to impose.

We were open to anywhere, and Amsterdam happened to be the most affordable Christmas flight, most were marked up double or triple for that weekend. It wasn't the top of our list, but on there somewhere in the middle, and it actually turned out to be a great time. We booked into a hostel for budget and social reasons, and it was actually really great. Very clean and comfortable, and enough like minded people to stay busy and entertained. Spending every Christmas I can remember in Qualicum, I kind of assumed everywhere was dead quiet over the holidays and we would be on our own for entertainment wandering empty streets. I couldn't have been more wrong, there were countless tourists and locals alike out and about the whole time. Restaurants, museums, bars and even hookers were all open for business the entire time.

We didn't have any must see items aside from red lights and canals, so the whole weekend was open. There are museums and the like, and I'm sure they're lovely, but we didn't bother this time around. We opted for a more loosely planned vacation and just wandered and did whatever we came across. That included the Heineken brewery, the Anne Frank House, a canal cruise, and a whole lot of exploring the streets.

We made some friends in the hostel we partied with a couple nights, which was fun. It was cool to spend Christmas with people on a similar mission. I was a little jealous of the one's who were off to another new city for New Year's, but after a few days like that I also really appreciated why I decided to see Europe with a home base in London. It's nice to have somewhere to recharge. As long as we can suck enough money out of this bone dry economy to keep traveling the plan will have worked.

All of the Dutch people we met had one funny thing in common, they would all go on with stories of no relevance or importance, including a waitress going on about partying til 5am or sun rashes while you have your food in front of you. They were really friendly and obviously it was normal there, but as an outsider it was definitely weird.

Actually the whole trip was weird, it very rarely felt like Christmas, and it will definitely be one to remember. I didn't expect to see so many people stepping into red light windows on Christmas eve, or smoking weed all Christmas day and spending boxing day in a sex show. I guess it was a good place to forget we were so far away from family, friends and turkey dinner, because we didn't see any resemblance to a Christmas like that.

Despite the nightmare that is Luton airport, the trip was great, and hopefully the first of many. We'd also like to say Merry Christmas to everyone, and a big thanks to anyone who sent us a card or gift, it was really nice to get something in the mail.

Now Jaimie is getting here tomorrow for a week and we get to entertain our first guest, and hopefully find a good party for New Years!

-Justin

A Quick Hello Before Christmas

One Small Step For Genny, One Giant Leap For Genny`s Frame Of Mind

Well first off - WE FINALLY HAVE INTERNET!!! Yipyip! So if you have Skype add us and if you don't have Skype get an account so we can chat all high tech style and for free.
That was a painful month of waiting.

I've had the past 2 days off. Seems like I'm getting Tuesdays and Wednesdays off now. It's great to have time off during the week but it's a real bummer to have to work on Sundays when Justin is off. Something will have to give in the next while with that... not having a day off together just isn't what we came here for. It's not the same exploring when you don't have someone to share it with.

I've had a couple breakdowns since we've been here, but to be fair one was at Vodafone so I think that's understandable. I'm really loving seeing new things every day and meeting new people, but I miss having a girlfriend to go out with. Justin has a guy here that he's gone out with a few times alone which is awesome. The other day a girl at my work suggested we exchange information and I had to act really cool because if I had shown her how excited I was she would have never called me. But she texted me that night and said if her friends go out she'll get a hold of me to see if I want to join. So I guess I'm a pretty good actress.... ;)

Yesterday I went to another agency and signed with them for reception work. They have a crazy strict dress code policy. And they told me that even if I am making minimum wage that they wouldn't recommend I quit my job as they might only be able to get me work one day a week. So that was interesting. A lot to consider I guess.

Today I did something actually fun instead of looking for jobs in my time off and went to the Christmas Market near Southbank. It was really windy but a beautiful day. I love how you can drink freely outside while you stroll along looking at the booths. I had a mulled wine and a half pint of strawberry beer. There was a ton of food and so many pretty sparkly things. It was really hard not to buy anything. I hate being a window shopper.

Speaking of shopping, I feel so bad that we are not going to be able to buy anyone anything for Christmas either. It seems pretty selfish that we are doing this and can't even get something for you to show you how much we miss you and love and care about you. Sorry :(

Coming home from the Christmas market I got an email from a TV paid internship I applied for asking if I was available for an interview next week. I can't tell you how good it feels to be noticed by someone. I feel like I've been in a pool waving my arms for help and it's too noisy for anyone to notice me. I think I have sent at least 30 applications in for broadcasting related jobs and had almost as many automated response 'no thanks' emails, not to mention all of the contacts I have been given and emailed or met with. It feels like you aren't even being given a proper chance because your application wasn't even looked at. I have tried to remind myself that I'm not here to advance my career, but I love working and I love learning, and it's hard to not want something when there is so much going on here.

The job is for a 12 month paid internship with DRG (www.drg.tv) where I would learn about distribution and acquisition. I applied because I have always been interested in how stations aquire thier programming. Every September at Citytv we are shown snippets of all the new TV shows that we have picked up for the year. I have always been keen to know who these people are that are making these decisions. A few years back I remember thinking WTF about the shows we picked up for the year, and the past couple years I have been pretty impressed with the choices, even if 'The Event' was a huge flop. Anyways, I'm not going to get my hopes up about this opportunity (because if I do I will have a breakdown if I don't get it) but I am pretty excited to have the chance to meet with someone face to face. I'll take it for what it's worth, and feel good that I was able to break through the impersonal internet world of job searching. The interview is on Tuesday at 10am. Now to figure out what to wear...

I have so many other small things to tell you but I am going to try and sum them up quickly:

The other day I was in the loo at M&S and I realized my purse was stuck closed. After trying for about ten minutes, and starting to panic sweat, an old woman pulled a knife out of her purse and I was able to cut it open.

I made cookies the other day and forgot that not only are all of the baking supplies different (no Robin Hood flour or Toll House chocolate chips!) but that I didn't have any mixing bowls, measuring cups, or measuring spoons. After a trial first batch in the oven that turned out pretty sketchy I was able to adjust and they came out pretty damn good!

We don`t have a microwave so we have become pretty good at using the oven for everything.

There is an alphabet puzzle at my work in a box of toys for kids to play with, and almost every day I have to watch small children spend so much time and effort putting it together knowing that the `y`piece is missing. They are always upset at the end. I think there is a life lesson there.

I think Justin and I are going to the Bryan Adams concert tomorrow night. Cole is in town and is going to get us free tickets(?) We'll keep you posted about that.

Well that`s about all I have in me at the moment. I`m going to finish my beer (I think I have had a drink every day since being here) and make dinner. Speaking of dinner, Jamie Oliver is great, isn't he?

Love you all and miss you more than you know.
Gen

Highs & Lows

That seems to be the theme for me the last couple days, epitomized today by my excitement over getting two 18 packs of Stella tall cans for only 20 quid at Sainsbury's(!) to the absolute frustration of having one case rip open and spew cans of beer all throughout the bus. Please pause and imagine that situation. That was the first time I really truly missed my truck, getting stuff home on the bus sucks.

Earlier it was the relief of finding a job being followed by actually working that job. I'm happy to be working, but without getting too far into details, it's the kind of situation I would walk away from in a heartbeat back home. The company and the guy in charge are pretty vague, and whether or not anyone has any idea what they are doing is unclear. Also, the expectations of me are higher than I've ever had with the lowest wage I've ever made. Definitely a weird situation. I am learning a lot quickly, and there has been another electrician with me a couple of days who has been great to work with, so it's not a waste of time... yet. I was hoping I could avoid getting certified here, as it costs 500 pounds, but I will be doing that asap to get more money out of this job, as well as open myself up to moving on. At least I've got something to get me through til the new year.

I've been out skating a few times now, finally. Met a friend of Kieth and Helen's, Danny, last weekend and he took me around the financial district with a couple of his mates. It was great to get out and explore, and skate with other people. One of his buddies was a filmer too, might be hope for some rudy 4 London clips. Looking forward to going out with them again.

Yesterday I went on a mission by myself to an area called Canary Wharf, which is the newest part of London, where they are building basically a new city in the East Docklands. The high was cruising the empty Sunday streets of this area of London so different it may as well be another city, skyscrapers, smooth streets and tons of plazas and courtyards. Skated one spot that was more fun than anything I skated in Barcelona even. The low was getting kicked out of that spot, of course. The cop was nice enough, but did make mention of criminal vandalism to the ledges, just to sound serious. I got 20 minutes in, but after mentioning the spot to Danny he said that was lucky. It wasn't the only spot around though, and it was too good not to go back. Definitely nice to see a side of the city that was more modern.

Now that we're settled it's hard not to compare the bad things to what was better at home, such as our jobs/income, and less importantly, that there are tons of skate parks in BC... and of course our friends and family. On the other hand however, we are still able to do something new every single day, and that has been pretty exciting. We recently went to Foster the People at an amazing venue in Shepherd's Bush, and the following night went to a little comedy club in Putney to enjoy some British humour, and some moderate ridicule for being Canadian. Meeting new people and exploring new parts of the city isn't going to get old any time soon.

-Justin

Foxes In My Neighbourhood, Orcas In My Dreams.

Justin and I had our first fox sighting on the weekend. We were walking home from seeing The Adventures of TinTin in the 'cinema', as they call it here, and had a fleeting glimpse of a large fox with a huge tail about a block from our house. The next morning when I was leaving for work there was another one in the driveway across the street from me. It saw me and immediately bolted. It wasn't as big as the first one we saw but I got a better look at it; It was so awesome. They look more like coyotes here than the cute foxes in Grizzly man. Foxes are WAY batter neighbourhood pests than raccoons. (PS I stole this fox picture, but it is a fox in the back yard of a home in London.)


Everything is pretty good here right now with the exception of the job front. Don't get me wrong, we both have jobs now, and I think Justin is going to stay at his for the time being, but we are just getting paid so poorly. I have put together a CV highlighting my office, administration, and reception skills (wink) as it pays at least 2pounds more than I'm getting currently and have been contacted by a few agencies. I went and met with one of them today and had to do all sorts of testing. I found out I type 48 words per minute and that I suck at power point among other things. I guess we'll see what comes of that. I enjoy my job at the cafe and the owners have been really good to me, but I just need to make more money bottom line. I'm spending every day off at an internet cafe online looking and applying for jobs, TV, reception, and otherwise.

On the TV front I have received an insider tip that ITV is going to be undergoing some serious changes in the next month and to keep my eye on jobs there. So I am. I have applied to quite a few TV jobs recently. Just about an hour ago I received a call from an agent who deals with film mostly (I was given her information from Rhys who works at Technicolor here) and she was very helpful and lovely. She gave me some advice on my CV so I just bumped it up, and she said she was going to contact Sony and Disney to see if they had anything available that would suit me. Again, I guess we'll see what comes of that. At any rate it's nice to have people (including all of you who have given me contacts) who are trying to help you out.

London is obsessed with Christmas and it seems that since we have been here there isn't much talk of anything else. There are even Christmas movies already playing every day on TV. We are looking forward to going to all the outdoor Christmas sites we keep hearing about.
Justin and I decided that we didn't want to wake up alone in our empty home on Christmas morning (even though a co worker of Justin's invited us to Christmas lunch at his house which is too cute) so we booked a trip. Turns out the cheapest place (by quite a bit) to fly to in Europe over Christmas is Amsterdam. So I guess it's going to be a very green Christmas for us haha. We've booked a hostel - The Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark - but haven't really looked into what exactly we are going to do there. I'm looking forward to seeing the canals. It's certainly not a place that was at the top of either of our lists to visit - but poor ass immigrants can't be choosers.

Our internet should be up and running in a week to 3 weeks. When that happens I'll upload another video here. In the mean time if you want to give me a call please drop me an email asking for my number.

I hope you are all well. I saw there was snow in Vancouver the other day!! How crazy. Send me a note telling me any new and exciting events happening in your life. I'd love to hear from you.

Getting more comfortable here but still missing you all,

Gen

Differences...

Just a few differences we have noticed so far between London and Vancouver...

• Lettuce is called salad
• Dessert is called pudding
• Ranch dressing does not exist here
• Tax is included in every price
• Traffic lights go green, yellow, red, yellow, green…
• Eggs are not refrigerated in the grocery store
• You need to wash your eggs before you use them (I found a bloody feather on one of mine)
• Agents are middle men between you finding a home and a job, and are everywhere
• Subway has corn as one of their toppings
• Spandex and nylons are in fact acceptable, appropriate, and popular pants
• You don’t have to tip bartenders
• A red circle means do not enter, even if there isn’t a line through the circle
• The word stove does not exist. An oven is the baking part and a HOB is the top part, and they can be separate.
• The word 'hot plate' does not exist here
• You can take your drink outside of a pub if you want to have a smoke

Around the flat

Justin came into the cafe I work at and used the wi-fi today and was able to upload the video I mentioned in the last post. Woot!
Gen