Candidate Exposé – Marie Olbrich

My name is Marie and I am 19 years old. Back in Germany I finished school last year and I am planning to go to university this year, although I haven’t made a decision about what to study yet. I always wanted to come to Canada but in the end it was very spontaneous to come here.

Internex is great for me. The people I met through Internex are great and I can say that I made friends for life here. Internex is the partner agency of my German organization so that’s how I got in contact with them.

Currently I am doing an internship at a non-profit organization and I am working in the office but also take a few shifts as a volunteer during the shows. Every year they put on two great shows, which I am currently working at as well. I couldn’t wish for a better workplace. My colleagues are great and they became a second family to me. Here you need to be creative, have to work in a team and be able to multitask. You need to work independent as well.

I am living in a homestay and it is part of the program I choose, so Internex found it for me. My first impression here was as I imagined a northern American city. It also reminded me a bit of home as I come from Berlin, which is even a bit bigger than Vancouver.

I try to take part in as many activities as possible Internex organises, and always enjoy to talk to the other students. The pub nights are a great opportunity to meet new people and keep in touch with everyone.

The Rockies were definitely one of the best experiences so far. I went to Seattle with a few friends and did a roadtrip through California and Nevada with people I met through Internex. Greater Vancouver has so much to offer as well and you don’t even need to travel too far.

Canada’s landscape and nature is just beautiful. Also the people here are quite friendly (most of the time). Difficulties I find is that the transit system is not the best and life in Vancouver is quite expensive.

Internex helped me to connect to other people here and to share experiences with them. I would recommend Internex to my friends and I already did ☺ I always loved to travel and I try to visit as many countries as possible. When I get home from this experience I will have a huge BBQ with my family.

– Marie

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

Road Trip to Portland

Last weekend INTENReX went on a Road trip to Portland. Early Friday morning we drove two minivans out of Canada and reached the pacific coast highway in The United States. We drove along, made some pit stops on the way until we finally reached Portland in Oregon. The city is known for their parks, bridges and as well for its eco-friendliness and its microbreweries and coffeehouses. Someone would call it the hipster city of USA. We made it to Portland around 6 pm and our first destination was the Rose garden, the oldest public rose test garden in the United States which features more than 7000 rose plants of 550 varieties, were we enjoyed the sunset. After a long day we were all hungry and it was time for dinner at Pacific Pie where we got some delicious handmade Australian Pies. Thank you all at Pacific Pie for your pleasant service at your awesome restaurant 🙂 After the dinner we checked in to our Hotel, Aladdin Inn and Suites. During the evening people had a good time at their hotel rooms, either chilling in their pajamas with a beer in their hand or having a room party 🙂

If you ever go to Oregon, you should know that there is no sales tax, so Saturday morning it was time to go shopping. Just 20 minutes out of the city you find the Woodburn Premium Outlet where you find more than 100 stores with exclusive brands at savings of 25-65%. After we almost emptied our credit cards we had a big surprise for the group and invited everyone for dinner at the elegant restaurant Clyde’s Prime Rib. The food was delicious and the place was fantastic. Later on we had time to explore the city, and check out the nightlife in Portland. Sunday morning we left our hotel early and headed down town. First of all we went to the famous Voodoo donut shop, known for their good unusual donuts, and believe me they were good 😉  Than we took a walk around Portland Saturday Marked were we could see and buy all kinds of different handcraft from local people. Afternoon before we drove back to Vancouver, we had a guided walking tour around the city “Secrets of Portlandia” a stand up comedy tour about Portland’s history and culture were we learned about Portland’s fascinating evolution into the culture capital that it is today.

We found Portland an interesting city, and I’m sure someone would found it weird, so it’s nothing that we wouldn’t have missed. Thank you all guys for joining us on the trip, and we hope you found Portland as interesting as we did 🙂

Roadtrip to Portland is coming up soon…

As you probably you know by now, INTERNeX is going to Portland on a roadtrip.
Our accommodation in Portland for the trip is the 3 star, newly renovated motel Aladdin Inn and Suites, located 10 minutes from down town. We will stay 4 persons in one big room with two queen size beds. Among other things the hotel offer free continental breakfast (which is included), free wireless internet, free local calls, guest laundry and free coffee all day 🙂 It’s 100% non-smoking hotel and there are many restaurants within walking distance.
You can check out their website her on the link below:
http://www.aladdininnandsuites.com/reservations.html
Down below you can read an extended overview of the program of the trip.

Friday

We’ll meet at Avis Rentel Car on Hornby street down town

INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN
The IDEAL place for Instagram enthusiasts!
As we land in Portland the first activity we’ll do is the very beautiful rose garden (just take a look at the picture, woaw right?!) Portland’s international Rose Test Garden is the oldest public rose test garden in the United States and features more than 7000 rose plants of 550 varieties. The rose garden came to be nearly a century ago when a citizen convinced the local government to set up a rose garden to preserve the species of European roses that would be killed off during the World War one bombings. It opened in 1917 and from the beginning hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world have come and enjoyed the sights and scents of the beautiful garden. No wonder why Portland got the nickname, “City of Roses”
DINNER TIME AT PACIFIC PIE
The most delicious pies you can get!
After visiting the rose garden it will be time for some food and what could be better than a Classic Chicken Pie or an Apple Pie Sundae for dessert? The Pacific Pie restaurants started back in 2009 when the owner from Australia was missing delicious meat pies from his home country. Since then the restaurant has kept on serving amazing handmade pies to the citizens of Portland. If you can’t wait to see the yummy pies, click on this link http://www.pacificpie.com/
PS. If you are not really into pies the restaurant also makes other delicious meals like soups and salads

EXPERIENCE PORTLAND – Friday night after dinner we will have some free time in Portland. The city has a wealth of vibrant places and neighbourhood to experience and explore all of them unique. In Portland, people hang out in coffee shops, ride bikes, visit the art galleries or enjoy the variety of brewpubs with generous happy hour menus.

You can check out this coffee shops: World cup coffee, Coffee time, Ken’s Artisan Bakery, Vivace or Anna Banana’s (for the Vegans)

If you are 21 or over, we recommend these brewpubs: The Blue Moon, Lucky lab beer hall, Bridge Port or The Rogue Brewery & Ale.

Saturday

FUN SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AT WOODBURN PREMIUM OUTLET MALL
On Saturday it’s shopping time! We are going to visit one of the largest tax free outlet centers in the west of the US. With more than 100 stores include Nike, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Fossil, the North Face, Guess and much more… And the best thing? You can find exclusive brands at savings of 25% to 65%! So don’t miss the chance to catch your perfect deal and save money!

DINNER TIME IN PORTLAND
On the Saturday night we will go out for a dinner at the restaurant Clyde’s Prime Rib in Portland. The place is one of Portlands oldest and most distinguished restaurant were casual elegance and classic style come together. Their number one goal is to delight their guests, with a wonderful dining experience in there elegant dining room, with a roaring fireplace and dazzling chandeliers, and enjoy their live jazz, R&B and blues. It’s a guaranteed an evening that we’ll not forget anytime soon. The menu offers slow Rosted Prime Rib of Beef, tender steaks, fresh seafood, succulent chicken and pork, pasta, salads, sandwiches and other fine dishes and deserts. See more about the restaurant on the link below 🙂
http://www.clydesprimerib.com/#about

THE HOLLYWOOD THEATRE 
Have you always dreamed about stepping into an old Hollywood theater where people dressed up for seeing a movie and had an amazing night. Saturday evening we will go few years back in time and visit the Hollywood Theater in Portland. It’s a true Hollywood theater back from 1926, where we will go and see an old vintage movie preserving a historic Portland landmark. Check out their website on the link below 🙂http://hollywoodtheatre.org/

NIGHT OUT IN PORTLAND 
Saturday night we will go out to a very special nightclub in Portland. The club is named THE ESCAPE were there will be a special “7 faces of the apocalypes” theme for the night. Don’t worry if you are younger than 21 because it’s open for all ages.

 

 

 

Sunday

WALKING TOUR – SECRETS OF PORTLANDIA
Sunday morning we will go on a walking tour around Portland. Think of the tour as stand-up comedy about Portland’s history and culture were we will laugh our butt off and learn about Portland’s fascinating evolution into the culture capital that it is today. The tour is about 2 hours long so remember comfortable shoes.

LETS GET A SUGAR SHOCK AT VOODOO DOUGHNUT SHOP – of course you know doughnuts but these ones are crazy! On Sunday after the walking tour we are going to Voodoo Doughnut shop. This shop is known for their unusual doughnuts as well as for their electric décor and their iconic pink boxes. They make for example vegan doughnuts and bacon doughnut that are just so yummy!
In total the Voodoo Doughnut Shop offers over 100 different varieties so there’s plenty to try.
 

 

 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 

• To be able to drink alcohol in Portland you need to be 21 or older
• No sales tax = cheaper prices
• Based on information provided to us, you might not need the ESTA visa however you should check it out before leaving
• Remember good walking shoes and toiletries
• Remember Passport and your work permit if you got one

The PR team is excited and we hope you are too!

Picture of the week

Today is Wednesday, so everyone was already waiting for the picture of the week of course! Well, here it is! This week we have a picture from Franziska, one of the lovely PR-team members! She got a week off from work, because her boyfriend was visiting her here in Vancouver. Together with him she went to the Rockies!

“Last week I went on a roadtrip to the Rocky Mountains for 4 days. One of my wishes was to see bears of course! The drive via Salmon Arm to Lake Louise and back to Vancouver via Kelowna was awesome! The weather was great, the mountains gigantic, the woods lushly green and the caribous, mountain goats and American Eagles just stunning! Canada is soooo beautiful! On my way back from Lake Louise to Kelowna the time had come…. On a frozen riverbed, not far from the road I was driving, I saw two bears who just finished breakfast ;-). I assume it was an adult with her cub. The scene reminded me so much of the movie “The Bear” from 1988 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ-kOix5FAI). I was so excited that I jumped out of the car, headed towards the riverfront and took some beautiful shots of the two. Phenomenal experience!! :-D”

If you think your picture is worth being the picture of the week, just send an email to pr@internexcanada.com.

Cheers,
Claudia

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

Picture of the week!

This week’s picture of the week was taking in the Fraser Canyon around 3 hours northeast of Vancouver. In the picture you can see Lucas, Matteus, Patrick and me, George one of the great PR interns working at INTERNeX.

The four of us rented a car and went on a weekend roadtrip through the diverse inland of BC. We cruised through narrow canyons, wide countryside, snowy mountains, dry plateaus and stopped at the most incredible scenic spots on our way. We went ice-fishing on lake Wood north of Kelowna and met a lot of amazing and very friendly Canadians.
Canada is incredible – in all kind of ways!!!

In case you experienced such a great trip or want to share a story with a great picture of yourself, your friends or you just took a picture of the beautiful countryside Canada has to offer: send an email to PR@internexcanada.com! You picture might be the next picture of the week!

 

Cheers,

George