What?
The closest and largest full moon of 2013 comes on June 23rd.

This full moon is not only the closest and largest full moon of the year. It also presents the moon’s closest encounter with Earth for all of 2013. The moon will not be so close again until August, 2014. In other words, it’s not just a supermoon. It’s the closest supermoon of 2013.

When?
Sunday, June 23, 2013, 8 am to 6 pm
At United States’ time zones, the moon will turn full on June 23 at 7:32 a.m. EDT, 6:32 a.m. CDT, 5:32 a.m. MDT and 4:32 a.m. PDT.

Where?
Look up!

Cost: FREE .. just go outside.

For more information about the Supermoon: http://earthsky.org/tonight/is-biggest-and-closest-full-moon-on-june-23-2013-a-supermoon

What?
Beginning on Friday afternoon with the colourful Eye-dotting Ceremony, the festival continued with two more days of non-stop entertainment on the World Beat Stage, fabulous food and shopping, and of course, dragon boat racing of the highest caliber.
Plan to come down to the waters of False Creek and celebrate with us!

When?
Friday, June 21, 2013, noon to 2pm
Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8 am to 6 pm
Sunday, June 23, 2013, 8 am to 6 pm
Races start at 8 am and all other activities start at 10 am

Where?
At Creekside Community Centre, Concord Pacific Place, Creekside Park and the waters of False Creek.

Cost: Admission is free to the general public.

http://dragonboatbc.ca/

With my graduation ahead, I had been thinking about my future and what I should do after graduation. One day, I had a thought that I wanted to practice my English, and I came to Canada with no definite plans in view. I had been spending my first month doing nothing special. One day, I got to be Student Ambassador in EC Vancouver by accident. What I had to do is welcome new students on Mondays, and introduce myself as the Student Ambassador, helping the students when they need someone to ask something about Vancouver, school or classes. My other task was making all students speak only English in school. Also, I organized several free activities for students to enjoy Vancouver life better. With these activities I could easily get along with people from many different countries all around the world. Most of all, I got many opportunities to make speeches in public, which made me not to be nervous any more, when I speak English.

Doing Student Ambassador, I believe I got close to some EC staffs. When my lessons that I registered were almost over, a staff in front desk, Craig, asked me if I am interested in doing internship in school due to the fact that they need a Korean student intern. I was glad, because I had no idea about what I should do after finishing school just in time and wanted to do something special which I can do only in Canada. It is great for improving my English to talk to my friends from other countries, especially to friends who speak better than me. However, we both are not native English speakers, which means we sometimes create our own English, use incorrect expressions, but we know what that means each other, because we are close friends. For these reasons, I thought it would be nice to meet many Canadians, so I can talk to them in correct English, learn their cultures. However, unfortunately, it is not easy to be engaged in serious conversation with Canadian, even though I am living here in Vancouver. First of all, to do it, I need to get close to them, but it is difficult to find the places to meet Canadian naturally (casually?). Second of all even if I found that sort of places, it would be hard to communicate well each other, so both would be frustrated, since I don’t speak English perfectly.

In this way, my internship was amazing. Most of people in EC Vancouver were very friendly warm-hearted to me, and they were patient with listening to me speaking slowly. I guess that is because they usually deal with foreigners in their work place. They seemed to be used to it. Actually, I had confidence to speak English at the beginning of my internship, because I had talked a lot to my friends from school and hadn’t felt frustrated in the conversation. However, talking to colleague was totally different. Most of them were native English speakers or people from other countries who have lived in Canada such a long time. They spoke too fast for me to get it. I remember I watched News and TV shows to practice listening in every evening after work.

What I had to do as an intern was counsel students on the front desk, answer the phone call, put information on the computer, administrate placement and exit exam things like that. It was not too difficult and I sometimes got free time, so I could talk about personal things with staffs in EC. Since some of them used to be an English teacher in the past, they understood all my awkward English, and even correct my mistakes. It was the best environment ever for who wants to learn English. Also, they invited me to party in their place, and one day, there was a barbeque party in Stanley Park. At that time I shared many personal things with co-workers while talking and doing some activities each other. It made me more comfortable to work together. Excepting English, there were other good things to work here. I could learn how Canadians work. It was totally different from Korean office such as relationships among workers, a pecking order. It seems more casual than Korean’s.

Honestly, I didn’t make elaborated plans about what to do here. So, my life in Canada might have been boring and meaningless. However, I am satisfied with what I have done here. It is because I chose EC Vancouver. I really appreciated EC Vancouver to offer this great experience for me. I think I was lucky and I will miss here so much.

Have a wonderful trip home Minha! Thank you for all of your help – we will miss you!

What is your position at EC Vancouver?
I am the University Programs Admissions Counselor.

In a nutshell what do you do in your position?
I help students who want to go to university in Canada. I help them at each step of the process when applying to one of our selected partner institutions. I provide students with a checklist of every document they need to submit, direct them to all of the forms they need to complete and help them in obtaining conditional admissions to our college or university partners either before they join EC or during their studies at EC. I help students throughout their application and ensure it runs as smoothly as possible.

When should a student come to see you?
Any student wanting help or advice to go to university in Canada. I provide direct or conditional admissions to a college or university in Canada is welcome to come and talk to me. I help students to find the most suitable college or university for students by going through an individual needs analysis with students based on their higher educational aspirations in Canada.

My name is Veronique and today, I work at ACACIA Hair Boutique in downtown. I was trained as a Hairstylist and a Makeover Specialist. I love co-creating fresh looks for my clients.

I wish you the very best experience in Vancouver and in learning a new culture and its language!

What is your position at EC Vancouver?
I am the Accommodation Coordinator

In a nutshell what do you do in your position?
I coordinate homestay, residence (accommodation) and transportation for EC Vancouver students.

When should a student come to see you?
If you have any questions or concerns about your homestay or accommodation, or if you would like to make any changes to your accommodation, etc.

For more information about accommodation: http://www.ecenglish.com/accommodation

When did you go?
Friday, May 24th 2013. On a sunny day!

What did you do there?
An extended panorama flight with Seaplane Tours: 45 minutes with 35 in flight

What was your favourite thing about that day?
The flight over Vancouver City, parks and beaches as well as over different islands and back over the mountains.

The view – a great experience! it was my first to to go by a float plane. I had always wanted to do this! The departure and landing were very soft because the sea was calm.

Who did you go with?
Alone – I did it on my own.

Are you going to go again? / Would you recommend this activity to other students?
A “MUST DO” in Vancouver – Absolutely AMAZING!!! They also offer shorter and cheaper options. My expectations had been more than satisfied!

Do you want to say anything about the photos?
See & Enjoy!

A big THANK YOU to Andrea for sharing her experience with us!