Like any other place, once you have lived there for a while, you start realizing some of the things you need to have a comfortable life. For example, if you live in New York City, you must be patient. Or Rio de Janeiro, you need to have a couple of eyes on the back of your head!
Just kidding, when we say “things you need,” we mean material stuff. Like a good pair of shoes or comfortable clothing and, in the case of Vancouver, 7 things you need to have to live better!
For the Rain
Umbrella: You probably heard this a million times already, but, for some reason, people don’t conceptualize how real this is until they have lived in this city, so… here we go again. In Vancouver, it rains A LOT! So having a good umbrella is a must in this place! And please, we understand that being an international student usually implies living on a budget, but we do recommend you buy a good quality umbrella! It will save you a ton of money over the long run, as cheap umbrellas, the ones you can buy for under $15, usually break down fairly quickly. Just wait for one strong wind to hit those umbrellas and PUM! It’s done!!
Raincoat: A common alternative to an umbrella used more by locals is a good raincoat! Vancouver’s rain tends to be reasonably light throughout the year, so although it rains a lot, the rain that hits this city it’s usually not that bad, and a good raincoat will help you go by without any issues 😉 plus, you avoid needing to carry an umbrella everywhere, all the time, which we know can be annoying at times.
Waterproof Backpack: What's the point of having a great raincoat if your things are still going to get wet, right? A waterproof backpack is undoubtedly a good investment in this city! Our recommendation? Herschel Supply Co.!! They have pretty good and stylish waterproof bags. 💅🏻 Check them out
For the Summer
On the other side of the spectrum, we have Summer!! Beautiful blue skies, with no clouds in sight and the sun shining almost every day. With temperatures ranging on average, at least from the last couple of years, between 24 and 30 degrees, we are not kidding!
Sunglasses: Yes, the sun shining over you and filling you with lots of energy and vitamins is excellent!! But you still need to be careful, not to mention that you can also use this as part of your seasonal attire. Having a good pair of sunglasses is essential in this city! Not only because of the great weather and the lack of clouds but also because the city’s landscape is full of skyscrapers made primarily of glass, so they have a pretty strong reflection of the sun. Plus, the city is surrounded by water, so there’s a lot of reflection from there too… As you can imagine, no matter where you look, having some protection for your eyes sounds like a good idea.
Sunscreen: Another must-have! Plus, according to many skincare professionals, regardless of the weather conditions, we should be using sunscreen daily! Why? Ultraviolet rays increase your risk for skin cancer and skin aging, and you are exposed to them every day. So, not using sunscreen in Vancouver’s summers is a no-no!
A/C: Super necessary!! Trust us. In the last few summers, the temperature has been increasing, and each year is hotter than the next. Just last year, 2021, BC had a heat wave so bad that over 500 people died from extreme weather conditions! It is such a concern that recently, Vancouver’s city council approved a law that makes A/C units a requirement for any building taller than 3 floors! However, it’s going to take a while for new developments to implement this law so, in the meantime, we encourage you to get your own A/C system. It will make your life so much better!
One more thing! (Just in case):
A good pair of boots: You cannot live without a good pair of boots here in Canada. They’ll help you survive during the cold winters, overcoming all the snow you might find on your way. They’ll keep your feet dry during the rainy seasons, and if you are smart about the type of boots you get, they’ll even be helpful to you when you want to go for a hike. (Trust us, it is guaranteed that you will go hiking at some point! Even if you don’t like it).
*Tip: If you come from a country where these types of boots are not necessary, we recommend you wait until you are here to get a pair. You will save a ton of money because buying these boots in tropical countries, for example, can be expensive, and you will save space in your baggage 😉
Got any other recommendations of things you need to live in Vancouver? Let the community know! Reach out to us and we’ll make sure to share your ideas.
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