I went to visit my new home (for two months anyways) and the area is amazing! The apartment building I'm in is kind of Dundee-esque. It is literally in the middle of a little park plaza area where there are lots of different flowers and trees and bench areas, even some pretty little water statues etc. About 3 blocks from this is a dog park and kids' playground which are both really nicely maintained and designed. I'll definitely be visiting the dog park when I get homesick. (see previous blog for evidence of absurd abundance of dogs everywhere). And my fave part: the beach is a mere 6 blocks away- it took me about 10 minutes to walk there. The 'city' part of Vancouver- shopping, buildings, business- is also about 10 minutes away the other direction, which is good news for grocery shopping.

If you are bored and care to google maps (I know the only people who will do this are my grandparents and Meredith if she's really bored @ work) I live here:
1185 Haro StreetVancouver, BCV6E 1E3

I spent about 4 hours walking around the little park/beach/seafront area and I'll try to post some pictures soon. It seems pretty safe, so I may start jogging there in the mornings- there were about a million runners there all day long.

On another note I'm quickly realizing the perils of being alone (aka currently friendless) in a new city:
1. You spend more money because you don't have human company to distract you (ie movies, coffee)
2. People think you are weird because you overhear their conversations and inadvertently laugh out loud
3. People think you are weird because you make funny faces at their babies to get them to laugh when you're bored but then the parents see you and think you're going to kidnap their kid or something
4. People think you are weird because you are blogging alone in a coffee shop on a Saturday night
5. You are willing to talk to old falafel shop owners even when they are really weird because they're amusing
5. You actually watch the NBA playoff games all the way through, get really involved and secretly resent the 12 year old next to you rooting for the Lakers, especially when Carmelo Anthony fouls out with 37.1 seconds left in a 3-point game. (h8u Kobe)
6. You watch Behind Enemy Lines and miss Action Movie Thursday at Pomona
7. You have a lot of fun doing whatever you please and not caring about what anyone else wants to do