A Week of firsts

Going from the height of a New Zealand summer to the depths of a Canadian winter has been nothing short of surreal. Snow on the beach at English Bay? The kids were buzzing. Navigating Vancouver’s suburbs on the right side of the road in search of second-hand car dealers? Nerve-wracking. Living in a log cabin in the Cariboo, learning to ski on our driveway, and watching the temperature hit -26°C? Wild. This week of firsts marks the beginning of our 2025 adventure—and it’s been nothing short of magical.

Our First Family Ice Skate

After ticking off our necessary (and somewhat boring) tasks—buying a truck, sorting rego and insurance, hunting down second-hand ski gear—we carved out a day to explore Vancouver. From the West End, we walked downtown, hopped a ferry to the Shipyards, and stumbled on a free outdoor skating rink. The sun was shining, the to-do list was done, and the vibe was perfect for our first family skate. The kids learned with rental skates and balance blocks, and we loved it so much we immediately bought second-hand skates, hoping to find frozen lakes on our travels.

Our First Dinner From a Sushi Train

Sure, sushi trains aren’t new, but for our kids, dinner delivered by a zippy automated train was pure magic. Order on an iPad, watch the train fly around the track, and boom—dinner was served. Delightful and, frankly, quite entertaining for us too.

First Taste of Poutine & Craft Beer

The famous Canadian dish of Poutine is every bit decadent, hearty comfort food dish: golden fries, rich gravy, and melting cheese curds. Paired with a few local craft beers at Viking-themed  ‘Cleaver & Craft’ in nearby 100 Mile House, it was exactly the post-driveway-ski feast we needed. We’ll be ordering that again.

First Live Hockey Game

In Canada, kids skate before they can walk, and ice hockey is a community ritual. Oh, and it’s just hockey—no ‘ice’ needed (thanks Liv!) When we saw signs for a Wranglers home game in 100 Mile House, we had to go. Fast, gritty, and ridiculously physical (yes, there were a few punch-ups), it was Friday night entertainment at its best.

Our First Week of Homeschooling

We’re keen to keep the kids on track as they’ll be returning for Term 4 back home, so mornings are dedicated to reading, writing, maths, and topic work. This week’s theme? North American forest animals. Last week we did the Canadian Lynx (because we saw one in the mountains!) and this week it’s the Grizzly Bear (requested from Arlo). It’s early days, but something tells me the kids will thrive with the 1:1 time. Revisiting primary school maths? Slightly less thrilling—I made Joel take over place value lessons for Arlo after I got stumped.

First Time on a Ski Slope

I saved the best for last. Since arriving at Canim Lake, the kids have been perfecting their backyard ski jumps, so we figured it was time for the real deal. Enter Mount Timothy, a hidden gem of a community ski field. No crowds, an amazing beginners' area, and the loveliest Japanese ski coach for the kids. By the end of the day, we’d all made it down a green run—Finny mastering his "pizza" turns—and the whole family was hooked. How did I get to 34 without discovering skiing?!

The week ahead promises more of the same: homeschool mornings, and afternoons spent working remotely (me) or skiing, skating, or adventuring (Joel and the kids). Exactly what we were envisaging when we were dreaming up this trip.