I can see the CN Tower from my bedroom window.
And so I've arrived. Here I am living in Toronto. Since my train rolled into Union Station on Sunday afternoon, I've been having a lot of "WTF, I actually live in Toronto now?!" moments, but today it's sunk in a bit more and life feels more or less normal. Yeah, more or less. Minus a lot of things I miss from Montreal, but suffice it to say that I've learned that building a life in a new city takes a while! Everything will not be perfect right away! And so, I'm just enjoying this time exploring my new city and being on my own.
My first two days being here have been filled with a lot of errands and unpacking and settling down. I also had a job interview yesterday, which I think went really well - I left with the same feeling you have after you know you just aced a test, so I think that's a good sign! The weather has been undeniably gorgeous and sunny and it's been making me so happy. Yesterday I drank my morning coffee outside on a bench in the sunshine and the sun actually felt
warm against my body. Spring, spring, I can't wait to greet you! Spring is a time of change and new beginnings. It's funny how I always seem to make life changing decisions around springtime.
I'm loving that my apartment is situated right in Little Italy. There are so many adorable shops and restaurants lining College St. And the fact that the street car stops right outside my apartment is pretty fan-freaking-tastic too. I can also walk to the subway in about 10 minutes and that will take me anywhere! The whole roommate situation is taking a bit of getting used to. I'm so used to living on my own, or living with a boyfriend. I've never lived with a girl roommate before, and I'm feeling a strange combination of releasing control over my living space and acting on my best behaviour.
Oh! And I can't end my blog post without talking about my amazing sendoff in Montreal! At work on Friday, there was a "surprise" screening goodbye party in the afternoon, and we ate cake and I got a card, and it was very lovely. I felt appreciated and happy and shed a tear or two upon saying goodbye. After work, a bunch of us went out for what turned into an epic night - first it was 2 games of laser tag, during which I re-confirmed that I suck so bad but it's
so much fun! We then headed off to the pub to drink a couple beers (and tequila shots - oops) and watch the Canada Olympic hockey game. From there, I was feeling pretty jazzed and enthusiastically suggested we should go to a strip club! Took a little convincing but I lead the way, and off to the strip club we went! Then the night took a turn into titties, buckets of beers, and... lapdances? Yes, I had my first lapdance, and it was quite the uh, experience. Haha! Suffice it to say, that night, and the people I spent it with, was amazing.
And as a last tribute to Montreal, I love love love this
"Montreal in 2 Minutes" video. My old neighbourhood, the Plateau, is shown between 1:37 and 1:58. I think it perfectly captures how I feel about that amazing city. Watch and love it with me.
Labels: friends, montreal, moving, nightlife, toronto
Moooooving
This is my apartment right now. And this is me looking way more happy than I am to be packing up all this shit. Ugh. But I'm feeling pretty organized and on top of everything. All my furniture is sold and is being picked up on Saturday, and I just have to cram the rest of my things into one more suitcase... that will be the challenge!
I'm having a goodbye party tomorrow night and we're going to play Laser Tag! How COOL is that?! I am way, way beyond excited. There's gonna be about 15 of us, so it'll be wicked. Dun dun dun I haven't played laser tag since I was like 13.
Last day of work tomorrow. It feels really strange. Saturday will be a busy day full of wrapping up loose ends, packing, cleaning, having people pick up furniture, visiting friends and saying goodbye, and then leaving my apartment. I'm staying overnight at Amber's house, and then on Sunday morning it's catching the early train to Tdot! Yowsa. It's all crept up so fast.
Labels: moving, photos
Well, my Montreal days are ticking to a close - 5 days left. It seems bizarre that in a week, I won't be waking up in this apartment, won't be hopping on my bus to go to work every day. I've become very settled here, settled into routine - although never fully settled because I knew living in Montreal was only ever temporary.
I've been training my replacement at work, and it's exhausting. The first day I felt like I just talked non-stop for 9 hours, and now I feel like she knows everything and me being at work is rendered useless. For the last half of today, the minutes ticked by oh so slowly. I've done the pass-off and now I just want to get out of there!
I hate goodbyes so much. I'm so terrible at them. It's just tough. I've met some great people here - the people I work with, my friends. And so I'm kind of dreading all of the goodbyes I'll have to face in the next few days...
But, such is life. They'll only be temporary goodbyes. And you've got to say goodbye to say hello, right?
Labels: montreal, moving, work
This right here is a perfect Sunday morning. The sun is streaming through my windows, melting the dusting of snow outside, and landing in a perfect square on my duvet. I woke to no alarm, except for the morning light. Now I'm sipping a breakfast protein shake (hmm, that doesn't sound quite so romantic) and lazily cruising the world wide web.
What I did wake up to this morning was the sound of people having sex through the walls of my apartment. I'm always unsure how I'm supposed to feel when I hear people having sex. Amusement? Irritation? Turned on? I feel a mix of these three. And it makes me wonder about all the people who have heard me having sex. Weird.
I'm savoring this moment in bed because today is going to be a jumble of packing, cleaning, packing, and laundrying. I'm leaving Montreal in exactly a week today. So much to be done. I feel a bit melancholy, I wish I never had to leave anything behind. I love this city, this apartment, these people. But guaranteed, I will be back to visit definitely this summer and probably before. There is no period at the end of this sentence, it's more of an ellipses... (Yes I totally stole that line from
Garden State!)
Labels: montreal, moving
Oh
I'm a wandering soul
I'm still walking the line that leads me home
Alone
All I know
I still got mountains to climb
On my own
On my own
Switchfoot - "Enough to let me go"Labels: moving
I am eating chicken fajitas in my new apartment! Not that you really care what I'm eating for dinner, but a notable point is that I actually have an oven in this apartment! This makes me beyond happy. Even if I haven't used it yet, it makes me happy just to know that it's there. I cannot wait to bake! Muffins, scones, pies! And cook real dinners! Baked fish, lasagna, baked sweet potatoes! I think I talk way too much about food and about ovens!
I would like everyone to know that I just ate peanut butter right out of the jar. Does this make me a freak?
So I'm in my new apartment, and it's pretty fabulous. I spent 3 hours this morning painting a used kitchen table and chairs black and I must say it looks rather nice with my dark-wood kitchen and cappuccino curtains! There is definitely an interior decorator in me. This place feels so clean and modern and
me. It's got a good vibe. I will post some photos soon!
I've decided that I want to go sky diving. I bet you never thought I'd say that in a million years, what with me hating flying and all. I think sky diving will probably cure me of that forever! Plus, Louis just did it today for his 30th birthday and it sounds soooo amazing. Not to say I wouldn't be freaked out of my mind and pissing my pants, but I need a little more excitement and a little more adrenaline rush in my life! Ideally it would be sweet to do it in November for my birthday, but I'm pretty sure the companies don't operate then because it's too cold! Or maybe I should save it and do it for my 25th birthday next year??? Giant quarter-century celebration next year!!
I ordered some business cards from
Moo for my photography business and they arrived today! Moo is a great company because for 50 business cards, I could upload up to 50 different images, and it was very affordable! I had them sent to Nick's address since I knew I'd be in between addresses, and he says they're pretty amazing! I can't wait to see them!
Holy randomness! I think my posts get more random every time. How about a random photo from Jamaica to finish?
Labels: apartment, food, moving
Reaching for my dreams
For 3 years I have wanted to move away and live in a bigger, more vibrant city. I have started the process a few times, and stopped for various reasons, mostly because the timing wasn't quite right (and life, really, is all about timing) and because it's scary - I have grown up here and lived here my whole life, I have all my good friends and family here and it's terrifying to leave that nest.
But, I know that this is something that I need to experience, and I need to do it by myself, to fling myself into the unknown. I know that living elsewhere will help me grow, bring me a confidence and independence that I can't obtain here in my bubbled life. Just like deciding to get an apartment by myself has helped me to grow. That was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.
And so, at the end of this month, I am going to be packing up all my things and hopping on a plane to go live in Montreal for the summer. I'll be subletting a cute bachelor apartment, one block away from Mount Royal park, I'll be taking some photography and possibly web design classes at Concordia University, and hopefully getting a job, even though my French is a little (read: lot) rusty. My time in Montreal will also be like an extended vacation - I plan to see all the sights and travel around to other cities, including NYC. And I hope to have lots of visitors! I will have a fabulous air mattress, so if anyone wants to come see Montreal in the summer, you can crash with me! :)
Why Montreal, you ask? Good question. Montreal seemed to have all my requirements: big city, far away, culturally diverse, trendy, with charm, and it's very inexpensive to live there!! That was the clincher. I couldn't get over the apartment prices! Currently I pay $825 +hydro +internet/TV for my 1 bedroom apartment. In Montreal I could easily have this place for $700 all inclusive. For my furnished bachelor, I will be paying $550, all inclusive - so I'll actually be
saving money by living there. Crazy.
I'm feeling mixed emotions about leaving. I am excited and looking forward to new change and challenges, but it's bittersweet because I leave behind my amazing friends and family as well as someone who I love so much. Even though it's hard, I know I need to do this for myself. After all, 4 months isn't
that long, but long enough to make a change, to make a fresh start, to see life clearly. Come what may, I'm making this decision for me, I'm living my dream, and the rest will fall into place as it should.
Labels: montreal, moving, travel
