A weekend in the nature – Weekend get-away

For some of us it was this weekend – get away from the urban jungle, loud noise and our beloved Vancouver… let’s go to Whistler, explore the incredible nature Canada has to offer.
We met really early in the morning at Waterfront station to start our journey. With two cars, that we rented in advance, it was easy to get to Whistler and honestly, even the car ride was, because of the incredible nature, a highlight.
Our first stop was the sea to sky gondola and Shannon Falls. Some of our professional hikers conquered the Sea-to-sky summit hike, while the other half of the group took the gondola up the mountain and hiked over there. We all had an amazing experience and a lot of fun. After taking about a thousand pictures on the summit under clear blue sky it slowly started to snow. Time for a hot chocolate and to enjoy the view from inside the restaurant. We stayed there for a while before continuing our way to Whistler.

It was already 5pm so headed straight to the HI-Hostel where we spent the night. The evening was filled with a walk through Whistler Village, dinner at one of the cheapest restaurants – by the way a small tip on a side: The El Furniture Warehouse offers food for only $7!, which is really really cheap especially since nothing in Whistler is cheap.- and a few rounds of pool.
We were all very exhausted, but happy, from the day and no one made it too late and went to bed early.
After a wholesome breakfast at the hostel the next morning, it was time for some of us to prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure – bungee jumping. After we booked the tickets they had only 2 hours left to prepare mentally for the big jump!!
Of course, even though only a few took the jump the whole group was there to give emotional support and take pictures. The bungee jump was amazing – in Kato’s words: “It left me flabbergasted. The most incredible feeling ever and definitely totally worth the step into the deep (literally and figuratively) ;)”.

But that wasn’t enough adrenaline for the day. We headed directly to the next adventure – snow tubing in a real winterwonderland at the tubing park whistler Blackcomb.
Completely frozen, happy and grateful for this great weekend, we set off our way back to Vancouver.

Thanks everybody for the amazing time! 🙂

Cheers,

Tatjana

INTERNeX International Exchange
2005-689 Abbott St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 0J2
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

Canada facts: 9 typically Canadian things

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Canada?
Certainly, there are some stereotypes and characteristics attributed to Canadians and the country. But are they true? – some more, some less so 😉

1. Canadian maple syrup
Since the shape of a maple leaf can be found on the Canadian flag, the Canadian maple and also the maple syrup is really symbolic for the country. It’s known and popular as a very tasty topping for pancakes or even on bacon 😉

2. Canadians really like to stand in line
Canadians are always very polite and friendly people, that’s a fact. This brings us to the point that perhaps amazes us as Europeans in a positive way at first. In Canada it’s the most normal thing to stand in line before you get on the bus. It’s common to talk to the driver, which means saying hello and bye when leaving the bus. Additional fact; don’t be surprised Canadians always say “sorry” no matter what.

3. It’s all about hockey
What’s the first sport comes to your mind when thinking of Canada? It is definitely ice hockey (or as Canadians say, just “Hockey”). So yes this fact may be true; Hockey is really popular and many many Canadians love to watch a game. As Canadians have a really high level of national pride the national anthem before every match is another important situation for them. It’s amazing to see how much these people love their country.

4. In Canada it’s always cold and snow is everywhere
That’s certainly just a cliché. But it depends… Canada is a country with high as well as very low temperatures. It depends on where you are but from my own experience I can say that the temperature in Vancouver is nearly the same as in Germany. Believe it or not there are even beaches to take a dip in the sea and there are really beautiful and definitely worth a visit.

5. A dream destination for hiking and beautiful nature
That is definitely not a stereotype, but a fact. The Canadian nature is breathtaking and unique in the world. So if you visit the country hiking is a must-do. There are thousands of hiking trails for every level that invite you to enjoy amazing viewing points, explore the country or spend a night in a tent on a camping trip. Side fact: Canada by itself has more lakes than adding all the lakes of the rest of the world.

6. It’s possible to have a bear in your backyard
Yes that’s a fact. Of course it depends on where you live but there are many places where this is certainly possible. If you are an animal lover Canada, especially the Rocky Mountains, is the place to be. You have a good chance to see animals such as bears or a moose on your journey in the wild. But be aware that these animals do not want to be disturbed and may also be dangerous.

7. Multiculturalism
Definitely! Canada and especially Vancouver is a real “multi-culti” city.
It’s kind of confusing but sometimes being in Vancouver feels like you’re in Asia. Canada is a country of immigration but isn’t it interesting to see how many different cultures can live together and learn from each other?

8. Tim Hortons everywhere
That’s a fact.
You want to try a fast coffee or one of the famous timbits, the delicious small balls made with donut dough and filled with cream? Let’s go to Tim Hortons.
I can assure you that especially in the big cities you will find one of their restaurants at every second corner. That’s the reason why every Canadian will tell you that you haven’t been to Canada if you haven’t been to Tim Hortons.

9. Poutine, poutine, poutine
Some of you may think what’s that; others say it’s the best food they ever tried.
Definitely, Poutine is a must-have when visiting Canada. This really popular dish is based on fried potatoes to which are added cheese curds and gravy. There are many other variations for every taste. Just try it 🙂

Happy Friday:)

– Tatjana

INTERNeX International Exchange
2005-689 Abbott St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 0J2
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

What to Do in Vancouver?

New week new “What to Do in Vancouver” inspirations 🙂

What is Canada without hiking? Do not miss the chance to explore the beautiful hiking trails in the Vancouver area. In this blogpost I will give you some insight into the huge variety of hiking trails with amazing views and the most beautiful nature you have ever seen.

Grouse Grind, Grouse Mountain:

If you fancy a hiking trip right on your doorstep take the Seabus to North Vancouver or a bus ride over the famous Lions Gate bridge to start your adventure on Grouse Grind. It’s a 3-kilometre trail to the top of Grouse Mountain.

From my own experience I can say that this is very exhausting but definitely worthwhile. The view over the city on top of the mountain is unbelievable.
Additionally, have a look at how fast some people have climbed this mountain – there’s a list on top it’s kind of crazy.

Lynn Canyon Park & Suspension Bridge:

This Park features several hiking trails in addition to the main attraction, Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge. It’s smaller than the famous Suspension bridge but it’s free and a beautiful place which is definitely worth a visit. There are trails suitable for every hiking level so just find your perfect trail and enjoy. It’s also a nice opportunity to spend your day in the refreshing 30-foot pool; a nice spot for swimming, having a picnic and of course taking a lot of pictures. There’s a lot more to discover, but you’d better explore it yourself. 😉

Quarry Rock Hike in Deep Cove:

This trail starting in Deep Cove at the Baden Powell trailhead is a really popular hike in North Vancouver and definitely a place where you’ll meet a lot of tourists from all over the world. It’s around 4 kilometers long so it is possible for most hikers. Even if it’s a slightly shorter hike the view leaves nothing to be desired. On this all-season hike you’ll have an amazing view of Indian Arm (that’s why it’s sometimes called Indian Arm Lookout Trail).

St Mark’s Summit:

As a part of the Howe Sound Crest Trail this 11km round trip hiking trail gives you the opportunity to take a longer walk (around 5 hours) and experience Canada’s amazing nature while enjoying spectacular views of e.g. Howe Sound. So, if you’re ready for a more challenging hiking trail; this is certainly a good option.

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park:

Maybe you’re thinking about which trail you have seen on the countless pictures with the crystal-clear blue lakes on Instagram? That’s definitely Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.

For this hike you should plan more time, like a whole day, since it is a bit further away from Vancouver and you need a car. It’s one of British Columbia’s most beautiful hikes where you can pass and discover all three beautiful lakes in one trail.

Hope you will enjoy your hiking trips when you get to Canada. 🙂

– Tatjana

INTERNeX International Exchange
2005-689 Abbott St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 0J2
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

Candidate Exposé – Helena Lauterbach

Wouldn’t it be great to share stories of previous INTERNeXers and see what they have experienced so far? I definitely think it is. So i want to introduce you to a good friend of mine who had the unique opportunity to get to know beautiful Canada (with me) a couple of years back. This is Helena, 22 years old from a small town close to Bochum in Germany. She’s currently studying environmental engineering which she started after her stay in Canada. She definitely decided to come to Canada for multiple reasons. On the one hand she wasn’t sure what exactly to study , so she decided to go abroad for a gap year. Yes, she stayed in Canada for a whole years which i think is absolutely amazing. She also had the aim to improve her language skills and since people in Canada speak English and French it was a great way to learn both languages. Moreover, she also wanted to meet new people from many different cultures. Additionally, she had heard a lot about really friendly people and the gorgeous landscapes in Canada which made the decision for Vancouver much easier. Who would say no to live in a country that has so much to offer?

During her stay in Canada it was kind of a “half and half”. Initially she participated in the practicum program where she did an unpaid internship for 6 months. She stayed at a staffing company based in the middle of downtown Vancouver. Maybe you can spot the big “W” when being there. That’s the building she worked in. Her tasks were to support this company with employing people and organizing promotion events.
Since she wants to work in an international company and speak English more fluently, this practicum was really useful for her career goals. She also became more independent in handle new and sometimes even challenging situations with different kinds of people.
After her practicum, she participated in the work and travel program. During the winter months she worked as an lift operator in Mount Seymour which came with the free ski pass for the whole season and for other locations such as Cypress Mountain as well. This was a really great experience and is highly recommended by her.
She told me that she made countless beautiful memories in Canada, but the Rocky Mountains trip was definitely one of her highlights. In addition, the view from Mount Seymour over the whole city Vancouver while lateshift was pretty amazing.

Of course, she also joined a few of the INTERNeX organized events. At the beginning of her stay she participated in the most because through these she got the nice chance to get to know people more easily and to establish contacts with people from around the world. She would have liked to take part in more pubnights, but as an 18 years old it wasn’t always that easy.
Side fact: In Vancouver you’re an adult from the age of 19.

But she could enjoy a few and also many other activities such as the open air cinema, a biketour in Stanley Park – yes as you can see in the picture we had a lot of fun – and beautiful hiking trips. Of these she liked the Garibaldi lake, Squamish Chief and the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park the most. She also went skiing very often (because of her job 😉 ), had BBQ’s at lakes and visited Vancouvers beaches. On the weekends she exploited the opportunity to go to Vancouver island, including Victoria and Tofino to explore the beautiful area out there. This definitely sounds like a great time and an incredible stay in Canada. After these experiences Helena told me that she’s highly motivated to travel more. She also wants to say thank you to the INTERNeX team for the help in preparing her time abroad especially with the work permit but also for the great opportunity to meet amazing people and see new wonderful places.

Hope you enjoyed our first Candidate Exposé after such a long time.

Cheers 🙂

– Tatjana

INTERNeX International Exchange
2005-689 Abbott St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 0J2
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

The INTERNeX 2010 Blog review – 3. Quarter

Today I proudly want to present the INTERNeX blog post highlights of the months July, August and September. A lot of awesome stuff happened in these lovely summer months. Everybody will find something interesting for himself. I bet!! :).

This week is Pride Week – Pride festival in Vancouver
In the end of July in this year, the Pride Parade again took place in Vancouver and attracted more than 600.000 people. It is a gay and lesbian parade which originally started in New York in the year of 1969. During the Pride week many other events also took place.
Are you curious and want to know more about this colorful festival? Check out our previous blog post from July. Click here.

Howdy Partner!! The INTERNeX Ranch Stay Experience
Do you love the wide open spaces, having beautiful sunsets each day, no city noise, and do you love the nature and fresh air?
If that is the case you should check out our previous blog about one of our candidates who spend her time on a ranch somewhere in the quite, beautiful nature of Canada.
A lot of representative pictures of the everyday farm life are shown in the previous blog post also. I would love to work on such a farm in the future if I find some time. 🙂
Follow this link for further information.

INTERNeX has a variety of great, different working programs in Canada as well as in New Zealand which provides you with the opportunity of a great international working experience. Furthermore these opportunities will widen your horizons and additionally will be very helpful for your future life and career.

 
The INTERNeX Ranch Stay Program
INTERNeX can provide YOU with a lot of opportunities to participate in our exceptional Ranch Stay Program. To read more about it and get more information click here.

The INTERNeX Hospitality Program
INTERNeX is also able to find you a job in the hospitably industry. You will mainly work in Hotels and Resorts in Whistler and in the Rocky Mountains. Wouldn’t it be awesome to work in one of the world’s greatest winter sports regions and enjoy the great ski runs after work? Go and live your dreams! Check out the program here.

 
The INTERNeX Volunteer Program
Ever wanted to help, rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and injured animals? Through our Volunteer Program you can take part and help provide a second chance to orphaned wildlife in Canada. Interested in immersing yourself into an amazing and historical culture? Then maybe you would like to help out a local first nation’s community!
If that’s the case click here.

 
The INTERNeX Internship Program
Are you interested in gaining some priceless experience in your industry of choice? Our Internship program can provide you with everything that you might want or need. You can gain real practical experience that will provide you with invaluable skills that can later be applied to your future career. INTERNeX will provide you with a path towards specialized, professional tailor made opportunities.
Check out this link for more details.

Go Camping at an AMAZING location!
Do you love the wild life and the nature outside the busy city life? Do you want to escape the loud and noisy city life for a weekend?
Go and check out the large camping report from our previous interns. They provided us with several pictures of their trip to a destination not too far from Vancouver and additionally stated various tips of how to get to their final destination, how to travel with a small budget, what kind of things you should take with you and much more!! When it will get a bit warmer here in Vancouver I am going to pack my backpack and maybe take the same route they choose in the summer.
The extensive report can be found here.

Have Fun with INTERNeX in Canada!
Our INTERNeX team always offers a ranch of different activities to do for our candidates. In this summer our Interns were particularly diligent like some little bees always organizing social events to make our big INTERNeX family happy. If you are interested read further on our previous blog post from September.

These were the INTERNeX 2010 blog post highlights for the months July, August and September. I hope you enjoyed them. Tomorrow we will continue our INTERNeX 2010 Blog review with the final 4th quarter of the year 2010.
In case you have any suggestions or questions do not hesitate to send an e-mail to pr@internexcanada.com.

Your PR intern George (for the people who do not know yet, YES my last name is Hendrix..) 🙂

INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200-211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149