Comox, British Columbia, Canada
We go to an island
When Gine knew that she will write her CSMLS exam, we decided it is also time to check out where we want to live. We already knew that Kelowna is not our favourite... and so we checked what do we want: Mountains - Paul wants the ocean - we want to within one hour drive of a bigger city - we don't want Vancouver - we don't want it too rainy (right!!!) - so we decided Vancouver Island sounds perfect. With Victoria on the pricier site, Gine applied in all other towns with a hospital: Duncan - Nanaimo - Comox ...
Comox were the first once to call and so we set up the interview the day after the exam.
That means after completing the exam, we went towards the island
On a Ferry
If you are not born at the ocean - the ocean is super cool and even better and more exciting is it to go on the ferry. We are so excited.... and it was so cool to see the mountains... I can't believe it we go to an island.
Where is the ocean??
not to far from the ferry we decided to spend the night at the Rathrevor PP. In the evening we had a walk towards the ocean - and we thought it is so beautiful. That means tomorrow morning we will have coffee in the sunshine at the ocean.
Early up the next morning and with the coffee we go to the ocean and big surprise for Gine: there is no water... Where is the ocean gone. Guess being landlocked didn't prepare us for the tides...
The Interview
we drive to the Hospital - it is at the ocean. And then Gine had the interview with was super nice with Gerry. But even more amazing was how big the lab actually is for such a small hospital (but then here in Canada they do Outpatient bloodwork - which is not done in a hospital lab in Germany). But my first impression is: wow are we going back in time by 20 years - or is it only the super old building....
We want to move here
afterwards we drove to the harbour and the Marina park. And standing there with blue sky and the sun shining, walking out on the dock - overlooking the bay and seeing the snowcovered mountains and the glacier: Gine said it would be a dream come true to live here!!!
and not much later we got the phone call from Gerry: you got the job!! Starting right after the July long weekend. That means we have 2 more weeks in Kelowna and then we will move to the island.
The First Nationas Campground: Puntledge campground
we had a super nice sunny campground right in Courtenay at the Puntledge River. From here we started to make the first plans: we looked for a realtor, we looked for a storage for the 5th wheel (why would be pay again all the money for the ferry, and we are also faster driving without it), booking a campground for July: with longterm stay on a monthly basis... and making plans.
when it rains it pours
and then it is time to leave: that morning we woke up and it was not raining it was pouring... at that moment we still haven't realized that we are moving to the west coast rainforest... the 5th wheel packed up, brought to the storage place and we are heading back.
on top of the Coquihalla connector it even snowed.... wow...
a last 1st july weekend in Kelowna and Happy Canada day, packing up everything in the house, putting the house on the market and we leave the Okananagan.
Welcome Vancouver Island - we are excited to make you our home and discover you!!
2025-05-22