What to do on the weekend?

No question, you should celebrate St. Patricks Day! But before you immerse yourself into this experience, let me give you a little bit of background knowledge.

Saint Patrick lived during the fifth century and is the patron saint of Ireland. His death is believed to have been on March 17, 461 which is the day of the celebrations. The probably best-known legend of St. Patrick his explanation of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) by using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.

Fun Fact: The first St. Patrick’s Day parade didn’t take place in Ireland but in America in 1601.

1772 homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York City to honour the Irish patron saint. From then on the enthusiasm for St. Patrick’s Day parades grew. Today, people of all backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, especially throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. Popular dishes include Irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage and champ. In some places you find green beer, green rivers and of course people dressed in green black and gold.

If you’re really interested in the history, meaning and background there’s more stuff on the internet like articles, videos etc. 🙂

INTERNeX is obviously going to an Irish Pub here in Vancouver to get the full experience. 😉 Are you coming? Or do you have other plans to celebrate?

A good idea is to buy tickets on pre-sale or come early since it’s going to be super busy and it might be more expensive to get tickets at the door. But nevertheless there’s lots of things going on around the pubs as well. I recommend checking out the place in front of the art gallery or just wander across Granville street to take a peak of what St. Patricks Day might be like, but be aware there might be some intoxicated people along the way.

You don’t like partying? I’ve got another idea for you this weekend that involves cultural program. I heard a lot of you like dancing, so how about checking out the Vancouver International Dance Festival? There are performances this weekend in different locations and the tickets range from $20-35. If you want to find out more check out their website: https://www.vidf.ca/

Another good thing to do if you like to be more active outside and are into winter sports is spending the day at a local mountain like Seymour or Grouse for example. Enjoy the last days of the season before spring arrives and the slopes won’t be as good to ski or snowboard anymore! Right now mountains are easy accessible through a shuttle or public transit. A lot of gear can be rented on the mountain as well, so really there’s no excuse for you not to go. If you are lucky you even get an amazing view over Vancouver when you’re up there!

As always, I can’t wait to hear about your weekend at our next Pub Night!

See you then!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

What to do on the weekend?

This weekend is going to be a good one, the sun is shining, the INTERNeX events thriving. On Saturday we will go on a little hike to Lynn Canyon. People often say “that’s what I imagined Canada to be like” when they go to the area. The hike we’re doing includes walks over an impressive suspension bridge, along the river with small waterfalls, through lush forests and a natural pool to swim in, so make sure to bring your swim suit. 😉 It’s a free safe-guided adventure and a great place to learn about the North Vancouver eco-system. The hike is good for all levels, so even if you usually rather spend your Saturday’s on the couch, you can join us for this one. 😉 Make sure to bring plenty of water and some lunch/snacks with you. In my opinion a MUST-DO while you’re in Vancouver, and nothing better than hiking with a group! Meeting is 11am at Waterfront station!

On Sunday we’re going to celebrate the Pride Society, LGBTQAI2S+ communities, queer serving organizations, we’re celebrating diversity, vibrancy and people in Vancouver at the Vancouver Pride Parade! It’s a big celebration where all come together and party! 😉 If you ask me it’s THE event in Vancouver. It’s going to be hot hot hot in many ways, so make sure to put on sunscreen and drink enough water! Safeway Canada and Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be the fundraising flag-bearers for this year’s Toonie Brigade. The Toonie Brigade carries a giant rainbow flag where folks can throw in their toonies, which go towards making Pride what it is today, so make sure to bring a couple Toonies with you. 😉 Dress Code: colourful and fun! We’ll meet at 11am at the Esso gas station on Davie Street!

If you are not into the INTERNeX events this weekend there’s other things to do as well. Have you checked out the Londsdale Quay in North Vancouver yet? It’s a really nice area right by the water with a great view of the Vancouver skyline. There’s lots of artisan shops to browse through and nice restaurants to check out. For all the Germans out there, or those who like German food, there’s a restaurant in North Vancouver called ‘Jägerhof’ which offers some typical German meals like Schnitzel, or Rouladen, plus a broad selection of German beers (can though), while playing traditional music, sometimes even live! It’s a fun experience. But don’t worry there’s lots of different options, you’ll find something you like. 🙂

There’s also the last chance to see the fireworks of The Honda Celebration of Lights this Saturday at 10pm. Spain will be the last out of the three contestants. I recommend watching from Sunset Beach, unless you want to spend your whole day at English Bay, since it gets really busy there and it’s almost too crowded to enjoy the fireworks from there. Sunset Beach is a great option. You can still find a spot where you have perfect sight of the fireworks and more space around you. Of course you can go early anyways and enjoy the day at the beach, watch the sunset and then the fireworks. Have you seen the other ones before? Which one did you like better so far?

I hope to see plenty of you at our events, but if I don’t see you, have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

What to do on the weekend – Canada Day Edition

This week is short, which means it’s already weekend, and it’s a special one! Tomorrow is Canada Day, the national holiday which celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation from July 1st, 1867 where the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into a single Dominion within the British Empire called Canada.

There are a few options to celebrate Canada Day:

You could come celebrate with INTERNeX at Wreck Beach. The weather will be sunny and there’s a big party going on. Everyone is welcome to join. Just make sure you bring enough food and drinks with you since the beach is not too easy to access with it’s 490 steps. The walk is worth it though, from here you can see the most beautiful sunset in Vancouver. The vibes are immaculate. It’s definitely something you have to see for yourself, but be aware: at this beach clothing is optional, so it’s nothing for sensitive eyes. 😉

Another option would be Canada place. Each year there’s a bunch of food trucks, live music, and entertainment. Performers include Johnny Reid, The Boom Booms, Omega Mighty, and many more.The event at Canada Place is the second largest Canada Day celebration, next only to those in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. To be honest though, it seemed very small to me when I went. If you look for a parade, jazz concerts, street performers, and craft activities, Granville Island is the place for you. It’s a little more family oriented than other locations, but still a fun place to visit, even on regular days.

I think in general you just need to go outside and you’ll find a celebration somewhere! Your dress code should be red and/or white, the same colours as the Canadian flag, for the full experience. 😉

There’s also another side to Canada Day that I want to talk about. It attracted a negative stigma among some Indigenous peoples in Canada and their allies, who feel that it is a celebration of the colonization of Indigenous land. That’s because prior to European colonization, present-day Canada was inhabited by Indigenous peoples, with distinct trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and styles of social organization. You’ve probably noticed signs in and around Vancouver that refer to the Indigenous peoples and their language. This topic is very complex and takes some time to explain, but I think it’s important to spread awareness and talk about different sides of this country. If you are interested there’s lots of things to learn!

Here are, for example, some links for you to check out about Indigenous languages in BC:
https://maps.fpcc.ca/languages
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WugI6-XUzA

I think it’s good to acknowledge the different feelings Canada Day sparks amongst the population. For many, it isn’t about history though, it’s a day to celebrate people, diversity, and inclusion in a beautiful country, and that’s what I like to celebrate!

Whatever you decide on, I’m sure you’ll have a great weekend, and an even better Canada Day! 🙂

As for a few others of us, we’ll go to Las Vegas on Sunday for even more celebrations! But that’s a different story. I’ll tell you about it once we’re back. 🙂

Can’t wait to hear about your weekend!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

20th Anniversary!

It was a really special Wednesday for all of us Internex people. Because you won’t believe it but Internex has already celebrated its 20th anniversary. Many people from all over the world came to experience this special moment with us.

But let’s start at the beginning. To celebrate the 20th anniversary a surprise party for Tim has been planned for years. Former participants and employees came to Vancouver especially for this day and had to hide for years that they will come to Vancouver. It took a lot of strategy from Simon to keep Tim from finding out.

After years of planning it finally happened yesterday. The party of the year could finally take place. Now the biggest challenge was to get Tim out of the office. Ann, who is in charge of the Ranchstay, called Tim and asked for a spontaneous meeting as she was in town. Of course, everything was planned in advance !😉

After Tim agreed after some hesitation, the surprise party, which took place in the pint, could begin. Tim didn’t suspect anything and was more than surprised when he saw all the familiar faces from all over the world. After he realized what was going on, it was finally time to celebrate. We had a very enjoyable evening in the pint with both current and former Internex People. The party was moved to Yale in the course of the evening and continued there diligently.

 

It was definitely a successful evening and a fantastic surprise party!

-Lilly

INTERNeX International Exchange
International Village,
Suite 2077, 2079 – 88 West Pender Street
Vancouver, Canada -V6B 6N9-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

What to do on the weekend?

The weekend is upon us, and if you still don’t know what to do the next few days, here are some suggestions. Foodies pay special attention, because this weekend you will have a few opportunities to get some amazing food.

Saturday is the NOSH Foodie Fest in the parking lot of the Capilano Mall from 11 am to 6 pm. There you will be able to find seven food trucks to satisfy your taste buds. And even better, the admission is free.

Another event to consider on Saturday might be the 60th anniversary celebration of the Vancouver Maritime Museum. The celebration will be from 10 am to 9 pm and will include live entertainment and attractions. The admission is free.

On Saturday and Sunday are the Philippine Days 2019, which are being held at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver. This outdoor festival offers loads of Filipino culture such as authentic cuisine, live performances as well as parade demonstrations. There will be over 75 food and merchandise booths at the park sharing their culture with you. The event will be on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The admission is free, but it is advised to bring cash, to pay at the booths.

You can also join us on Sunday in Queen Elizabeth Park for some Disc Golf, where we will be able to explore the Park and enjoy a nice game with friends. We will meet at Vancouver City Center Sky Train station at 12.20 pm or you can also meet us directly at the Little Mountain Disc Golf course at 1 pm. Wear comfortable clothes and bring some water. Hope to see you guys there!

On Sunday is the Italian Day 2019, where everything Italian will be celebrated. The event will be held on Commercial Drive, which will be car-free zone for that day. You will be able to find over 120 merchants, food vendors and entertainment at the event. Just to give you an idea of the size of the event: 300,000 attendees are expected. The event is from 12 to 8 pm and the admission is free.

 

I hope you have wonderful weekend!

-Megan

INTERNeX International Exchange
International Village,
Suite 2077, 2079 – 88 West Pender Street
Vancouver, Canada -V6B 6N9-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Email: pr@internexcanada.com