Moving to Vancouver

[Maria]

I am considering moving to Vancouver, so if anybody lives there can u let me know how its like...are people nice, how is the weather, is it too expensive, Is everything located conveniently (stores, schools, gyms, mall, etc.). Thanks!!

[purelife]

What do you plan to do here?  

School as in University/College? or Highschool?

Are you moving here alone?

What type of area do you prefer? ie. fun?  define fun if that is the case

  More info about where you're coming from would help.  Your question is very vague and way too general.  There are so many neighborhoods in this Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) that I wouldn't know where to start.  

[Sportsdude]

she's probly my age. If you want to go there like tomorrow you could, just get some skills deemed acceptable by the government and you could apply for PR.

Purelife is right, where do you want to live in Vancouver.

[Maria]

Yeah, i plan to go to a good college and transfer to a good university (suggestions) and i am gonna live in an apartment (how expensive is rent) and i dont want to live in a really bad area where i'll get mugged or my car will get broken into...and by fun i mean good clubs, malls, parks, restaurants...  

[Maria]

Oh, and i am coming from the bay area...nice place but some parts are a little too dangerous...

[purelife]

Good college/uni recommendation can come from me if you tell me what you plan to study.

  Have you done any investigations?  Read any online newspapers?  Read anything about Vancouver?

  There's so much to say.  

[Sportsdude]

UBC and SFU are the big ones. Crime is pretty low (by american standards) but property crime is pretty high (due to downtown eastside). Rent is just like any other west coast city $$$ so since you're coming from Cali I doubt it won't shock you as much as it will me. (midwestern boy in me talking).    

[purelife]

If you can ever come and visit, do so before you decide to make a drastic move like this.

[Sportsdude]

Ah that takes the fun away.  Just kidding, yeah before you move check out the place first.

[Maria]

Well, i have done online searching and visiting wont tell me what goes on there on a daily basis...thats why i want to get opinions of people who live there..

  i plan on studying law...and i probably will come back to the US after college (not sure yet), its just that i want to be away from the distractions in the US and focus on school but have fun at the same time...

  The thing is i dont know that many areas in vancouver so i cant say exactly where i want to go...i heard west vancouver was nice but too many snobs...

  btw sportsdude, how old are u? if u dont mind me asking..=)

[purelife]

Kwantlen College University is a very popular college along with Douglas College.  

[purelife]

Go to the individual city's website.

  In google, type:  City of Vancouver/Burnaby/Delta/New Westminster/North Vancouver/Richmond, etc and you can see the City's website to get more of a feel.

  You would probably prefer the kitsilano area or downtown area but living expenses are really high.  A bachelor suite starts at around $800/month and one bedroom is at around $1200.  Then you have to buy furniture, pay deposit, pay for gas, medical, phone bill, food, travel....the list of expenses is endless.

[Maria]

Oh, i see what you mean...is it easy to find a job in those places u named? Do you know about the average hourly salary?

  Oh and thanks for the website information, i'll be sure to look at those sites..

[Sportsdude]

soon to be 20.

Well if you want know what the city looks like (let's say tomorrow) without going to it a couple tv shows use the city. On WGN at 12pt weekdays Da Vinci's Inquest is on its about Vancouver. But it won't be a pretty picture of the town. The other is Smallville.

Check out the local newspapers/media if you want to see whats going on

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[Maria]

   I'm looking at the website and its great...its really helping.

  I have a kind of a personal question to ask and if u dont want to answer, i totally understand...

  Where do u live and in general, are u happy with where ur living? Do u have a good job that pays all ur expenses and do u have fun because i think only the residents of vancouver know how its like to live in vancouver..so if i can get an idea...but if its too personal, thats ok because the website is helping out a lot.[/DIV][/DIV]