Wheresjo

WheresJo

Davids Travels

Here's some letters from my nephew Davids big OE.

Canada Part I

Hey everyone!

I'm having the best time in Canada!

After a 12 hour flight I landed in San Fransico, I had eight hours to go before my connecting flight to Canada. I was reluctant to leave the airport (being a first time traveler) but mustered up the courage and before I knew it I was riding the sub into downtown.

I caught a cable car and got to see the golden gate bridge and Alcatraz island. Awesome!

I landed in Toronto at 6am after a four hour flight. My first call was an orientation meeting at 11am, which i had to battle through because i was jetlagged as hell. For my first 3 days I have just been trying to get a feel for the city and I will be starting job hunting today. Looking for bar or retail work. I have enroled in a bar course as well so that should be exciting.

I'm having a really good time here so far, and it is an amazing place. There are 5 million people in this city and its really overwelming. I can see why they call it the concrete jungle, its so easy to get lost, and there are alot of animals out there. There are a lot of friendly people too, especially the other travelers that have helped me out so much.

Ill write back to you all when I have further stories and a job to tell you about.

Dave. P.S. squirrels are so cute and I will try to bring one back with me

Canada Part II

Hey guys, just a quick email to let you all know how I'm doing.

I'm having the best time in Canada!

After handing my CV out to four different places I got a callback for an interview the next day. I got a job bussing at a bar/restaurant. Its a pretty classy place and I dont think I would even be alowed in if I wasn't working there.

If your wondering what my job entails, its a whole range of activities, serving food, stocking fridges, clearing tables, emptying ashtrays, unblocking toilets. The job title is bus boy, but it should probly be bum boy, because each shift is a feeding. I worked coat check the other night, it wasn't so bad, I made $80 in tips alone over five hours! Im working for minimum wage ($7.50) but I get tips most nites as well. Im doing the job more for a leg up in the hospitality industry and to meet people. I'm also half way through my bartending course which is cool, it's all about remembering cocktail recipes but its heaps of fun and there is only 3 guys in our class of 20.

I've applyed to do some work for a couple of furniture moving agencys as well. The work is very casual but pays good ($10 an hour cash). I did a job for them the other day, easy work- I worked hungova and at the end of the day the boss said I had good work ethic! I'm really keen on the furniture moving because it offers some good travel opportunities and the chance to put all my skills that I learnt being a movement opperator into practice!

As far as accomodation goes, I moved out of the hostel after contracting a mysterious rash- it got so bad that I went to the doctor, which cost $55 less the price of medication! He said I had- wait for it- SCABIES! Dirty backpackers giving me scabies, i felst like such a tramp. Any way, I found an apartmtment whuich is close to the middle of the city. Im sharing a room with another kiwi that I met at the hostel. I pay $325 a month, but im not a big fan of the place because there is not much natural light and its cramped.

See you all later, Dave

Canada Part III

Hey Dad, Yeah things are going realy good over here.

I havn't done much touristy things yet as I've been working pretty hard. I think working in a bar has been a bad choice as I work most nights and sleep most days. I'm gunna start looking for some better work soon.

I've got a four month lease at this appartment in Toronto, I might see it out before going travelling again. Living in Toronto is interesting because it's a huge city, but it is also Canadas Multicultural centre, thefore I feel I'm not realy getting a Canadian experience.