Korean Job Discussion Forums

[deetah]

After my stint in Korea, I am in search of a new city in which to settle.
Has anybody lived in Victoria? How does it compare to Vancouver? How is it for jobs, rent, fun, climate? Do you recommend?

Any input would help!

[RACETRAITOR]

I've spent more time in Nanaimo than Victoria, but it was out of the way there. Definitely not the sort of place you want to raise kids.

[schwa]

[mindmetoo]

It struck me that the cost of basic goods was slightly higher on Vancouver Island and it was a haven for the older set.

[Paji eh Wong]

Yup. "Newly wed or nearly dead" is what the locals call it.

I was there from '97 to '02 for school. When I left, the vacancy rates were miniscule. It was difficult to find a place to rent. Work is difficult to find too, with a lot of people being retirees and not a lot of bussiness going on.

It is a really nice place to live, though.

[numazawa]

[coolsage]

Victoria is my adopted hometown as well. Also known as 'God's waiting-room-by-the-sea'. It's certainly a beautiful place to be, and the climate is benign, but it's not cheap, and employment opportunities are generally limited to (provincial) government work, the hospitality industry, and some IT situations. But there's no better place in which to kick your shoes off, put your feet up, pop the top off a microbrew, roll up a spliff, and simply be. Unfortunately, that sort of work doesn't pay well.

[LateBloomer]

I currently live in Victoria, although I hope to be in Korea within a month.

Victoria has a great climate... if you don't like extremes in temperature. It's not really hot in the summer and the temperature usually stays above freezing in winter.

It has a much slower pace than Vancouver- less traffic and not as much night life. It's a much smaller city. A number of good pubs, though....

Victoria is also within easy distance of the Gulf Islands and many other scenic places on Vancouver Island--a great place to be if you love the outdoors, kayaking, hiking, fishing etc.

As previously mentioned, jobs have traditionally been limited to government positions and the hospitality industry. But this year there have been more jobs advertised than at any time in the 13 years I've lived here. Vacancy rates are low but I've never found it difficult to get a place.

As well. that "newly wed" or "nearly dead" descrition was more appropriate when I first moved here.

I can confirm that it isn't cheap to live here, but if you can afford it, Victoria is a beautiful city. Do an internet seach--Victoria British Columbia--to get to a number of sites that will give you info and pictures.

PM me if there's anything specific that you want to know.

[VanIslander]

There are other - nicer - places on Vancouver Island than Victoria and Nanaimo.

Except for you big city minded folk.

[coolsage]

[Sooke]

Sooke rules!!!

[poker player]

The main thing to understand about anywhere on Vancouver Island is that it really is an island. It's a fairly good sized island but if you want to go to the mainland you either have to fly or take a ferry. BC Ferries are now very expensive, crowded, and very vulnerable to shutting down because of bad weather and even worse, strikes. Remember, everything must come by ferry to the island and when they go on strike which is about once every 3 years, it is not a place you want to be. At least 2 or 3 x a year, the lineups are huge if you have a car with 4 or 5 sailing waits. I lived in Victoria 2 years and while it was a beautiful city, I'd never do it again because getting on and off is a PITA. .

[LateBloomer]

I'm just back in Victoria after living past Sooke--closer to French Beach actually. (The air out there is amazing!)

Sooke is very nice and it's a great place to raise a family but night life is non existant and even restaurant choice is very limited.

There's only one highway between Sooke and Victoria. It was closed twice in the year and a half I lived there (due to a traffic accident and a tree across the road.... no one could get in and out for hours.) The other problem with Sooke is the traffic --mornings and during the afternoon rush hour. The commutter traffic is bumper to bumper for quite a distance as you're trying to get out of Victoria.

Have also lived up island in Campbell River and had a job that took me to every part of Van Island and most locations on the mainland as well.
There are many beautiful places on Vancouver Island and you don't have to go far to find spectacular scenery. It really does depend on what your interests are.

I liked the Campbell River/Courtenay area, especially Courtenay. Climate similar to Victoria. Close to Mount Washington for skiiing. Lots of easy access to outdoor activities. No crowds--even in tourist season.

[kathycanuck]

Hey: Victoria is a beautiful city, but the cost of living is very high, and housing is horrific. Houses in the city are so desirable that there are bidding wars among potential buyers. Low vacancy rates lead to high rental prices as well. It's a great place to live.....if you can afford it.

[casey's moon]

I lived in Victoria for a year and found the weather to suck a bit. It was never warm enough to make you want to jump into the lake (was there even a lake to jump into?) and while I enjoyed the odd dry, clean day in the winter, there was a lot of rain and gloom through the winter months. It was only slightly sunnier than Vancouver was, at least that year.... Spring was lovely though, and I can't recall much about fall. Also, as one of the few Canadians who doesn't enjoy pot, I didn't enjoy the party atmosphere much. Stoned people don't make great companions.

The parks were lovely though, and I really enjoyed living near enough to the ocean to be able to ride my bike there almost daily.