Month: December 2007

Off-Campus Headache

So, as Lillienne stated, the housing lottery is currently up on the UBC Housing site. As soon as I found this out I got a small hurt in the pit of my stomach, I find this whole process a bit terrifying. I have never been all that good with lotteries. Sure, to get a spot on-campus would be wicked sweet, but with the possibility of getting denied daunting before me, I decided to explore my options. Namely, off-campus housing for next year. I think this a smart choice for anyone in this situation, because even though a good number of returning students WILL get a spot, there is always that little chance that you won’t.

So, with that worry in my mind I set out online to search for any apartment complexes that suit my fancy, or even houses and rooms for rent. Honestly I wasn’t being picky. I visited several sites, many recommended by UBC Housing, and found one thing: the online resources for housing in Vancouver are horrible.

I know for a fact that there are a lot of places for rent out there right now. This is obvious due to the countless FOR RENT signs I see just riding the 99 B-Line to Granville. Vancouver is a big, blossoming, city, it’s growing at an extremely rapid rate, and will continue to do so from here on out, what with the Olympics coming. If so many places are being built, then why are there so few resources just for finding one to rent?

In the States you can find countless online mega search engines for finding a place to live. There are nation-wide ones as well as city sites. They are helpful, easy to navigate, and will get you at least some kind of answer. The Vancouver sites I visited we out-of-date (boasting NEW COMPLEXES COMING IN 2005!), some would just tell me “no” when I entered my fairly easy request, and many just lead me to the same 3 listings. By the end off my search I had scratched every site of my list, more confused and worried than ever.

Don’t get me wrong, there were listings, though the largest number I received was about 10. Maybe I was just being too picky about my pricing or areas. I just find it rather hard to believe that this is all there is.

I am not giving up on my off-campus housing search, no, I plan to pick up a newspaper tomorrow, and even visit different complexes in person if I have to. I just wish there was a site that made the Vancouver listings more accessible, and I am highly surprised that there is not one already.

Personal

heeee

I currently feel as though I am in my own, personal snow globe.

…I don’t want it to stop snowing!

Personal ResidenceLife

A Day in the Life…

I doubt you’ve failed to noticed that it SNOWED today.

Oh, and it didn’t just wimp out, with those itty-bitty little flakes, it brought the pain…snow style, that is.

I really wish there was more to say.

Okay, since my muses are off frolicking in the winter wonderland I think I will just go through my day. Basically, one day in the life of a Totemite. Simple enough. Now, where do we start?

Ah! Waking! So I woke up today around 9am because it was rather cold in my room. Upon opening my shiny copper blinds I found that it was snowing, which was about the most amazing thing ever. I cannot remember the last time I saw snow, honestly, so I was overjoyed. So I called my two best buddies in Totem a million times (they had gone clubbing last night, so they were busy sleeping that off) and once they answered I screamed “LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW!” and they did and we were excited. Max and I just kind of laid about, looking at the snow for awhile. We then decided that we should do some laundry as tonight was the Totem Formal, and we needed nice things to wear, so we hauled our clothes down to the laundry room, threw them in, then made plans for lunch.

See, twice a week Max and I go to Suga Sushi (the place above McDonalds in the village). It’s kind of like our own little dates. We take turns paying for one another and we always get dessert at the Pearl Fever place (though I think we’ll be trying out Booster Juice next time). We decided that today would be one of those dates. So we bundled up in our most wintery of clothes and made the trek across campus. We were bundled, but obviously not enough, as the wind cut RIGHT THROUGH every layer. We had to take little stops at the Bookstore then Shoppers just to thaw.

Once we got to the restaurant we ordered. (I always get the Chicken Teriyaki, and Max always gets one of like, 5 dishes) Then sat about eating our favourite food. Seriously, Suga has become my comfort meal. We then walked about the village, eventually finding our way to the shuttle.

Once we got back to Totem Park we had awhile before the formal so we played Super Smash Bros. and took a nap. We woke up with half an hour to get ready. So picture me, a girl, running about frantically looking for something formal enough to wear while layering on make up, brushing my hair, and basically freaking out. Max wanders up to his room, changes, then comes back down to relax on my bed while I try and iron a million wrinkles out of my skirt.

Once I succeed I find out that a friend of mine wants me to hem her dress. I am quite good with a needle and thread, but we are already 20 minutes late to the formal. Well a friend in need is far more important than being on time, so I set to sewing just as fast as I can. Five minutes flat, we are on our way.

We walk AROUND the Totem Commonsblock, since we can only enter from on side, the far one, so we are basically trying not to fall down in the snow while feeling our legs starting to go numb. We make it inside, get in line for our food, and sit down.

They tricked out the caf like a winter wonderland, all our friends line a long table and we sit at the far end. There are pictures and laughter, then the lights come on as our cue to take the party back to our houses.

And that’s where I am now, though the Dene/Nootka dance is just about to start, and Max and I will be heading down there in a few.

I realize that this isn’t the most important entry ever, I just thought a little insight to a real, first year college life might be a little bit of a change before midterms.

Now, off to boogie! :D