SURVIVING LIFE AS A GRADUATE
STUDENT: EXPLORING VANCOUVER AND BEYOND Laura Dale, MSc Student Alden Blair, PhD Candidate

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW 1. UBC life
2. Getting Around Vancouver 3. Neighborhoods and places to go 4. Getting Away from Vancouver 5. Events 6. Questions

 Beaty Biodiversity Center 
Museum of Anthropology  UBC Rec.  Botanical Gardens  UBC Farm  Gyms  Pools  Student Theater and Music UBC: YOUR HOME FOR THE NEXT 2-8 YEARS

GETTING AROUND VANCOUVER Bus: Pick
up your UBC bus-pass every month at the book store (you’ve already paid for it) SkyTrain: Works with U-pass Driving: Car share programs abound: Car2Go, ZipCar, Modo Shuttles: to Whistler, Victoria, Seattle, etc Ferries: Bus or bike and walk-on for cheaper service Seaplanes: more expensive but have student discounts Biking: You can bike everywhere in Vancouver

• Biking is the great
way to get around • Bikes are treated like cars: do not bike on sidewalks • Helmets are required:  you can be fined $100 for not wearing your helmet! • Bike maps are available online:  https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/map-cycling-vancouver.pdf • Lock your bike with a good lock. • Register your bike: http://www.bikerevolution.ca/ • Used Bikes range between $150-$600 dollars  Buy them during the winter off season! GETTING AROUND: BICYCLING

AROUND VANCOUVER:
NEIGHBORHOODS

• Kitsilano and Point Grey:
Beaches, single family houses, “old hippies and young yuppies” and grad students in basements • Spanish Banks: volleyball, picnics, swimming • Jericho Beach Sailing Club: UBC sailing club, food, tennis • Kits beach and pool (130 meters!) : swimming, everyone in the summer • Lots of yoga studios AROUND VANCOUVER: NEIGHBORHOODS

• Granville Island: food market,
Emily Carr Art School, Art exhibits, whale watching tourists AROUND VANCOUVER: NEIGHBORHOODS

The West End Stanley Park
AROUND VANCOUVER: NEIGHBORHOODS Granville Street

Gastown, Chinatown: • Water Front
Station • Hip restaurants and bars • Cruise ships • Transitional neighborhood AROUND VANCOUVER: NEIGHBORHOODS

• Commercial Drive: affordable eats
and drinks, small crafty shops, markets, coffee shops, hipsters, gelato AROUND VANCOUVER: NEIGHBORHOODS

Grouse Mountain: Skiing, hiking, snowshoeing,
the Grouse Grind, Bears Cypress Mountain: Skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, trail running Deep Cove: Kayaking, hiking, restaurants Lynn Canyon Park: Waterfalls, trail running, hiking, Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge *The Capilano Suspension Bridge is not worth the cost! Lynn Valley is free! Bowen Island: Cute island community, crafts, hiking, bicycling GETTING AWAY: AFTERNOONS OR DAY TRIPS

Victoria, Vancouver Island Tofino, Vancouver
Island: Amazing surfing, hot springs, hiking Saltspring Island: Small ‘crunchy’ island community Whistler and Blackcomb: skiing, mountain biking, trail running, resorts, camping Squamish: skiing, mountain biking, trail running, camping Okanagan: camping and wine tasting Seattle, USA: Art, music, coffee, markets [if you plan on going to the US a lot consider getting a NEXUS pass] GETTING AWAY: FURTHER AWAY

VANCOUVER IS… EXPENSIVE! FOOD AND
DRINKS Food and groceries in Vancouver: • Wholefoods/Capers and Choices: $$$$ • Safeway: $$$ • Local grocery stores: $$ • Save-on-foods: $ • No-Frills: $ • Costco (bulk): $ • Farmers Markets: $ - $$$$ On the plus side they cater to all your dietary needs • Gluten free, vegan, no-nightshades, vegetarian, soy-free, lots of bacon • Ethnic food stores abound: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2010/09/18/best-ethnic-grocery- stores-in-vancouver-chefs-choices/

VANCOUVER IS… ACTIVE! Races: •
http://runcouver.com/races/ • http://www.events.runningroom.com/ • http://cyclingbc.net/ Running groups: Join at any Running Room or Forerunners Yoga: more studios than you can count. Check online for deals, styles, and discounts

VANCOUVER IS… FULL OF STUFF
TO DO! Science World: dorky but fun Vancouver Film Fest Sports Teams: Lions, Whitecaps, Canucks Vancouver Art Gallery Vancouver Aquarium Christmas Markets Car-free Days VanDusen Botanical Gardens Vancouver Public Library Late night study sessions… Kits Pool: 130 yards & outdoors!

CHECK LIST: 1.Umbrella 2.Waterproof laptop
case 3.Change of socks 4.Bright desk lamp 5.U-Pass 6.A happy plant VANCOUVER IS… WET SURVIVAL GEAR

GRADUATE SCHOOL IS HARD… BUT
LIVING IN VANCOUVER MAKES UP FOR IT.