Since my last post many events have taken place that maybe could warrant two more posts, but who am I kidding..I clearly don't have much enthusiasm for keeping up this blog now. I last mentioned that I was strongly thinking about moving home soon. Well after much consideration and the purchase of a plane ticket, I'm going home on March 20th...Yes, that's in 3 days.
Since the end of February I've been looking for someone to sublet my room. After finding someone a week ago and having the landlord scour over all of her information, I was under the impression everything was going to work out just fine. But when I travel..nothing ever does just work out fine.
So, four days before I'm supposed to leave, my landlord just decides that the girl who is supposed to move in is unacceptable. She had references but they weren't what he wanted, so when I gave him the reference he wanted, he refused to even call it because there was this invisible deadline that had already passed and he was unwillingly to change his mind. But in his words it was "we can't accept someone into our home who we've already rejected." Well...I think you can actually..it's called changing your mind. But nevertheless in his eyes "the relationship has been terminally challenged..'poisoned' might not be the right word, but you know what I mean." I didn't know what he meant and after many many emails back and forth I still have no idea how this man can be called a human being.
There's a clause in the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario that says that a landlord may refuse a sublet applicant, but if the tenant feels that the landlord is being unreasonable, they may file an application for a hearing. Basically a landlord is not allowed to refuse the tenant the ability to sublet, and if they do you can take it up with the Board. I even quoted the passage in my last email to my landlord saying I have no desire to deal with the Board, but there is no valid reason for not allowing this girl to sublet. Of course, that didn't faze him one bit..he didn't even acknowledge that passage in his reply, but actually just told me that all of this is my fault for wanting to break the lease. I've explained many times that I can't find work and don't have money, but he's convinced I'm moving to ruin his life.
So after all that, I've started to look for another person, this time a male since we think he likes to bully females, and my roommates will help if I can't find someone before I leave.
Oh, and I left out the greatest part about this which is that when the girl applicant called him to get an explanation (she was justifiably angry) he told her to talk to me, that he would call the police and just hung up. Then he called me and told me he was receiving "harassing phone calls" from this girl and to make her stop calling him. He was apparently afraid for his life after getting a call from a tiny asian girl.
Good Riddance Canada.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A Warm Winter
It's been more than a couple months since my last post, things got crazier and then Christmas happened. Then I flew back to the freeeeeezing north and here I am..beginning of February and a definite change of scenery on the horizon.
But just to rewind..I was able to go home for Christmas, spend two and a half awesome weeks in a semi-warm climate as opposed to the freezing north where I was and had to go back to. It was great to be back with family, under the redwoods and glimpsing the coastline. I still don't know how people grow up landlocked...though some consider the Great Lakes not to be landlocked, but I do. I had the most amazing clam chowder that my first ever babysitter makes at their family-owned Company in Bodega Bay. This picture is the menu..short and sweet, but the clam chowder is TO DIE FOR.
I went on some great hikes with my family, which, if you didn't know, is something of a tradition..nah, a necessity in my family.
Aside from that I spent some quality time with people I sorely missed, and for me, it usually takes being away for a while to truly appreciate and realize what home is.
As for going back to Toronto, I took back tons of souvenirs for friends and came back to even COLDER weather..didn't think it was possible. It has actually been zero degrees Fahrenheit here!! I've snowboarded many a time, but that is just ridiculous. Needless to say, it's been hibernation time and not much going out, mainly because the preparation and layers are not actually worth being outside..except for maybe food. Then, to make matters worse, I talk to friends and family who are saying it's 70 degrees at home. Why am I here again?
And that leads into the most recent development in life in Toronto. This past weekend, my only American friend here went with me to Buffalo, NY to visit some great friends from England. We rented a car since it was fairly cheap, and upon our trek back to Canada on Sunday, we encountered maybe the worst guard known to Canadian Immigration. He proceeded to hold us for more than an hour and ask the same questions over and over. This led to us then being told that we COULD NOT enter Canada at this time and had to go back to the U.S. I almost fainted. Thankfully my friends were in Buffalo, I can't imagine what we would have done without them. An extra night in the States and the next day after much stress and anxiety we made it through.
But of course, that makes one think about one's position and status in countries. And, considering that April will mark a year that I've been here, it was indeed perfect timing to ponder all these questions. Given that I haven't found employment, savings don't last forever especially when you're paying rent, and there are more employment opportunities in California and less immigration hassles....I decided. I decided that I will be moving back to California in late March if things work out..which, they don't always, but here's hoping.
But just to rewind..I was able to go home for Christmas, spend two and a half awesome weeks in a semi-warm climate as opposed to the freezing north where I was and had to go back to. It was great to be back with family, under the redwoods and glimpsing the coastline. I still don't know how people grow up landlocked...though some consider the Great Lakes not to be landlocked, but I do. I had the most amazing clam chowder that my first ever babysitter makes at their family-owned Company in Bodega Bay. This picture is the menu..short and sweet, but the clam chowder is TO DIE FOR.
I went on some great hikes with my family, which, if you didn't know, is something of a tradition..nah, a necessity in my family.
Aside from that I spent some quality time with people I sorely missed, and for me, it usually takes being away for a while to truly appreciate and realize what home is.
As for going back to Toronto, I took back tons of souvenirs for friends and came back to even COLDER weather..didn't think it was possible. It has actually been zero degrees Fahrenheit here!! I've snowboarded many a time, but that is just ridiculous. Needless to say, it's been hibernation time and not much going out, mainly because the preparation and layers are not actually worth being outside..except for maybe food. Then, to make matters worse, I talk to friends and family who are saying it's 70 degrees at home. Why am I here again?
And that leads into the most recent development in life in Toronto. This past weekend, my only American friend here went with me to Buffalo, NY to visit some great friends from England. We rented a car since it was fairly cheap, and upon our trek back to Canada on Sunday, we encountered maybe the worst guard known to Canadian Immigration. He proceeded to hold us for more than an hour and ask the same questions over and over. This led to us then being told that we COULD NOT enter Canada at this time and had to go back to the U.S. I almost fainted. Thankfully my friends were in Buffalo, I can't imagine what we would have done without them. An extra night in the States and the next day after much stress and anxiety we made it through.
But of course, that makes one think about one's position and status in countries. And, considering that April will mark a year that I've been here, it was indeed perfect timing to ponder all these questions. Given that I haven't found employment, savings don't last forever especially when you're paying rent, and there are more employment opportunities in California and less immigration hassles....I decided. I decided that I will be moving back to California in late March if things work out..which, they don't always, but here's hoping.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Unexpected
It's about that time for my monthly entry to this blog that I'm pretty sure most people don't look at anymore. Since I'm not really on a traveling adventure anymore, it doesn't seem like there is much to write about. This time, that is definitely untrue.
Let me start from the beginning somewhat, so the picture is fully painted by the time I actually show the main part. Vanessa my roommate/best friend was away in Bosnia for 3 weeks and came back two Thursdays ago. On that Saturday, our great friends whom we met in England were coming up from Buffalo, NY to spend the weekend. We hadn't seen them in 2.5 years, so this was a big weekend for us. Plus, we haven't had anybody stay in our apartment yet, so that added to the excitement of our friends visiting. Andy (one of my best friends here) and I have bonded recently because neither of us have jobs, we're the only two Americans here, and we hang out most of the time. We wanted him to meet our friends and I was so excited to go out that night with him, Vanessa, and our friends.
Andy had a bike race that day, and we decided to take our friends on a walk around the neighborhood in the afternoon. Around 4pm, I get a call (and I have to preface this by saying I NEVER answer my phone because I never hear it) and I answer it, and it's a strange girl calling me asking if one of my friends was in a bike race today. I said yes, Andy was in a race. She then proceeded to tell me Andy had had an accident, was unconscious and was being taken to the hospital. We raced to the hospital with absolutely no idea what to think. Andy suffered serious head trauma and a broken collarbone, and was in ICU for about 4 days and was then moved to a close watch room. That night I had to call his close friends here and his parents to tell them what happened. His parents drove through the night to arrive the next day. Since then, I've gotten to know his parents very well, it's been wonderful getting to know his parents and close friends, although we all wish it was under different circumstances.
It's been a week and a half since the accident, and Andy's finally going to be transported home to a hospital in Detroit. It's been extremely hard for all of us, and although part of me wishes he would stay here, I'm immensely happy for him and his family that he can finally start his therapy and go home where there is a bigger circle of support for both him and his family. Most of this past week and a half has been surreal, and there's been a constant cloud in my head, not being able to think of much else. Just hoping that he gets better and goes back to being himself rather than a groggy, dazed version of himself.
If this has taught me anything, it's that life is truly short and you never ever know what's going to happen. It's like there's your plan for life, and then another plan..and they don't always end up being the same. Andy made some of us drink a lot, and some of us cry a lot..but we've all come out stronger than we were before this. A lesson in knowing that friendships and family are what make a person, not money or materials...wow, I'm good at this sentimental stuff. Maybe I'll get a job writing greeting cards.
Be safe out there, and even if you assume those special people know..tell them you love them. EVERYDAY.
Let me start from the beginning somewhat, so the picture is fully painted by the time I actually show the main part. Vanessa my roommate/best friend was away in Bosnia for 3 weeks and came back two Thursdays ago. On that Saturday, our great friends whom we met in England were coming up from Buffalo, NY to spend the weekend. We hadn't seen them in 2.5 years, so this was a big weekend for us. Plus, we haven't had anybody stay in our apartment yet, so that added to the excitement of our friends visiting. Andy (one of my best friends here) and I have bonded recently because neither of us have jobs, we're the only two Americans here, and we hang out most of the time. We wanted him to meet our friends and I was so excited to go out that night with him, Vanessa, and our friends.
Andy had a bike race that day, and we decided to take our friends on a walk around the neighborhood in the afternoon. Around 4pm, I get a call (and I have to preface this by saying I NEVER answer my phone because I never hear it) and I answer it, and it's a strange girl calling me asking if one of my friends was in a bike race today. I said yes, Andy was in a race. She then proceeded to tell me Andy had had an accident, was unconscious and was being taken to the hospital. We raced to the hospital with absolutely no idea what to think. Andy suffered serious head trauma and a broken collarbone, and was in ICU for about 4 days and was then moved to a close watch room. That night I had to call his close friends here and his parents to tell them what happened. His parents drove through the night to arrive the next day. Since then, I've gotten to know his parents very well, it's been wonderful getting to know his parents and close friends, although we all wish it was under different circumstances.
It's been a week and a half since the accident, and Andy's finally going to be transported home to a hospital in Detroit. It's been extremely hard for all of us, and although part of me wishes he would stay here, I'm immensely happy for him and his family that he can finally start his therapy and go home where there is a bigger circle of support for both him and his family. Most of this past week and a half has been surreal, and there's been a constant cloud in my head, not being able to think of much else. Just hoping that he gets better and goes back to being himself rather than a groggy, dazed version of himself.
If this has taught me anything, it's that life is truly short and you never ever know what's going to happen. It's like there's your plan for life, and then another plan..and they don't always end up being the same. Andy made some of us drink a lot, and some of us cry a lot..but we've all come out stronger than we were before this. A lesson in knowing that friendships and family are what make a person, not money or materials...wow, I'm good at this sentimental stuff. Maybe I'll get a job writing greeting cards.
Be safe out there, and even if you assume those special people know..tell them you love them. EVERYDAY.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
It's Chili outside..get a bowl!
Now entering the season of frickin freezing! Well, it's not too cold yet, according to native Loonies, I will have to start planning more than usual about what I wear. The one bad thing about this weather (who am I kidding, there are many bad things) is that it makes me want to stay indoors and not do much..which is easy because I STILL don't have a job. I'm waiting on certain options, a video store is one, but I'll admit I have trouble keeping my buckets of PMA (positive mental attitude) full. The PMA comes from my dad's side of the family who, when us cousins were younger and learning how to waterski, would yell from the boat.."you gotta have buckets of PMA!"
So in this slightly dreary weather, I've been trying to remember my aunts and uncles yelling it at me and keep my chin up. I went to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving (it's for reals) in early October with my friends Vanessa and Andy at Vanessa's family home. It was great to be around family when you lack family nearby, and we had tons of great food.
The only other thing of note that has happened in a month's time was on Monday I was in my first bike accident, and came out with only a couple bruises on my legs. I'm pretty good at biking around in the city now, but there are streetcars, and with streetcars come streetcar tracks on the roads. The tracks are indented in the road, and as long as you go at the perpendicular, you're fine. I've feared getting my tire stuck in a track, partly because my tires are skinny but also your fears change with different modes of transportation. Well I was on Queen St West which makes me nervous anyways because there's a lot more to pay attention to as a biker than most other streets. Basically I had to swerve out into the tracks to avoid a car backing up into the lane, and when I tried to go back, my tire got stuck and I fell over. But I fell on my hands so it wasn't too bad. Needless to say I won't be traveling on Queen St for a while.
Happy Halloween and keep on truckin!
So in this slightly dreary weather, I've been trying to remember my aunts and uncles yelling it at me and keep my chin up. I went to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving (it's for reals) in early October with my friends Vanessa and Andy at Vanessa's family home. It was great to be around family when you lack family nearby, and we had tons of great food.
The only other thing of note that has happened in a month's time was on Monday I was in my first bike accident, and came out with only a couple bruises on my legs. I'm pretty good at biking around in the city now, but there are streetcars, and with streetcars come streetcar tracks on the roads. The tracks are indented in the road, and as long as you go at the perpendicular, you're fine. I've feared getting my tire stuck in a track, partly because my tires are skinny but also your fears change with different modes of transportation. Well I was on Queen St West which makes me nervous anyways because there's a lot more to pay attention to as a biker than most other streets. Basically I had to swerve out into the tracks to avoid a car backing up into the lane, and when I tried to go back, my tire got stuck and I fell over. But I fell on my hands so it wasn't too bad. Needless to say I won't be traveling on Queen St for a while.
Happy Halloween and keep on truckin!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
New Directions
Yes I know this title is used in the TV Show Glee, but it's fitting so I'm using it. I took my trip home to California, and it was amazing. I hadn't seen my mom in 6 months!! The trip was a bit intense but also great in terms of finding out more about where I'd like to end up and where I consider "home" to be. When I touched down in San Francisco (I actually missed that feeling of almost flying into the bay when you fly into SFO) I got this rush of emotions like why did I leave? What am I doing in Toronto? So that was on my mind for a bit, letting those questions swirl around in my head.
The first part of my trip consisted of going home and spending time with my family..much needed time, and the second half consisted of hanging out with my brother in San Francisco. We went to a Beer Festival on an old WWII battleship in the harbor of San Francisco, this was our third year going and to be honest, I scheduled my trip around this festival and I feel no shame in it. It's always a great time with great beer and great people. Also, for the third time, we got to listen to our favorite U2 Tribute band, Zoo Station. We somehow have been blessed enough to have them play on the same day we've gone for 3 years. It was a crazy day that ended up with us getting separated from everyone else and going home with sunburns and watching the Back to the Future marathon on TV. I miss American TV.
During the last stretch with Trev, I downloaded a band called Mumford and Sons, and proceeded to have my mind constantly blown. Their music is the perfect driving/pondering music, and it definitely inspired me to go back to Toronto with a new outlook: to make this adventure be a learning, be rewarding, and most of all..to be open to outcome, not attached to it. If you're looking for new music, I definitely suggest their debut album, Sigh No More..they've become a bit mainstream with their single Little Lion Man being played on VH1, but I won't hold it against them. One of my favs is After the Storm, which actually was the song that inspired me to come back to Toronto with a new set of eyes.
With those new eyes I came back on Tuesday night, late. On Thursday morning I was greeted with my latest setback in Canada..being laid off from my job before my contract was up, due to lack of funds because it's a small, non-profit film festival. Now, I will not bad mouth former bosses/jobs on this blog, but I will say that I found out through a sympathetic email from a co-worker that morning, because APPARENTLY my boss had told everyone she talked to me about being laid off already.
So I finished out the week, and with a promise of festival passes and vouchers, I said goodbye to my co-workers, the Distillery District, and my new 12 mile bike ride to/from work that I was becoming fond of. I did realize though that I was surprisingly calm during this event, mainly due to my relaxed state from my trip and the new attitude I came back with, which included kicking Canada's butt. Well, Canada kicked my butt first, almost to the border, but I'm picking myself up and am updating my resume as we speak (well, I'm giving myself the weekend, then I'll update) and will get back on the familiar road of job searching. I'm one of those odd people who think things happen for a reason, and I know that you don't learn when life is easy, so I'm keeping my spirits up for whatever is gonna happen next on this journey in the land of loonies. Bring it on CANADA.
Take care of yourselves out there, and do something out of your comfort zone..it's the only way to learn.
The first part of my trip consisted of going home and spending time with my family..much needed time, and the second half consisted of hanging out with my brother in San Francisco. We went to a Beer Festival on an old WWII battleship in the harbor of San Francisco, this was our third year going and to be honest, I scheduled my trip around this festival and I feel no shame in it. It's always a great time with great beer and great people. Also, for the third time, we got to listen to our favorite U2 Tribute band, Zoo Station. We somehow have been blessed enough to have them play on the same day we've gone for 3 years. It was a crazy day that ended up with us getting separated from everyone else and going home with sunburns and watching the Back to the Future marathon on TV. I miss American TV.
During the last stretch with Trev, I downloaded a band called Mumford and Sons, and proceeded to have my mind constantly blown. Their music is the perfect driving/pondering music, and it definitely inspired me to go back to Toronto with a new outlook: to make this adventure be a learning, be rewarding, and most of all..to be open to outcome, not attached to it. If you're looking for new music, I definitely suggest their debut album, Sigh No More..they've become a bit mainstream with their single Little Lion Man being played on VH1, but I won't hold it against them. One of my favs is After the Storm, which actually was the song that inspired me to come back to Toronto with a new set of eyes.
With those new eyes I came back on Tuesday night, late. On Thursday morning I was greeted with my latest setback in Canada..being laid off from my job before my contract was up, due to lack of funds because it's a small, non-profit film festival. Now, I will not bad mouth former bosses/jobs on this blog, but I will say that I found out through a sympathetic email from a co-worker that morning, because APPARENTLY my boss had told everyone she talked to me about being laid off already.
So I finished out the week, and with a promise of festival passes and vouchers, I said goodbye to my co-workers, the Distillery District, and my new 12 mile bike ride to/from work that I was becoming fond of. I did realize though that I was surprisingly calm during this event, mainly due to my relaxed state from my trip and the new attitude I came back with, which included kicking Canada's butt. Well, Canada kicked my butt first, almost to the border, but I'm picking myself up and am updating my resume as we speak (well, I'm giving myself the weekend, then I'll update) and will get back on the familiar road of job searching. I'm one of those odd people who think things happen for a reason, and I know that you don't learn when life is easy, so I'm keeping my spirits up for whatever is gonna happen next on this journey in the land of loonies. Bring it on CANADA.
Take care of yourselves out there, and do something out of your comfort zone..it's the only way to learn.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Summer, is that you??
It's official folks! In the paper here the other day it stated that 2010 is officially the hottest summer in Toronto's history!!! I saw that and immediately thought..why am I here again?? So, needless to say it's been ridiculous basically everyday. There hasn't been a day since May when I actually NEEDED a sweater. There have been a couple times I wore one, just to remember how it felt, and I now can't sleep without my fan on my face. Interestingly enough, back at home I guess San Francisco hasn't really had a summer! It's been like the coldest summer in SF since like the 70s! Global Warming anyone? This stuff is super crazy, and scares me a tad bit that everything is so drastic, weather wise.
Exciting news though, is that I just got my own bike! I have one at home, but I clearly can't get it here. All my roomies have bikes and bike to work and everywhere else. I finally got to borrow my roomie's extra bike, and am now officially hooked. We have a great hill (that's only great on the way down) that leads downtown, and we went to the bars one night and all rode down and then rode back after. It was great because the wind kept you from getting too hot on the way back home. Yes, at 2am I was still sweating. So our handy roommate Andy..handy Andy..fixed up the extra bike and it's all mine!!! Thanks bunches Andy!
Also, even BIGGER news...I'm coming home for a week in September!!! I'm very very excited. I get to see the rest of my family after 6 months of being away! It'll be great to be in my comfort zone again. Being in a different place by myself for 5 months now has been very exciting and also isolating. I didn't have great friends or family to lean on, but it forced me to make friends that I know I will have for a while. As you may or may not know, I studied abroad for a year, about 2 years ago in England. That was an amazing experience and one that made me grow in many ways. Before I made this move to Toronto, I kept comparing that experience and saying, if I can do England I can do Canada. But the major difference was that in England I quickly gained a group of fellow exchange students that were going through the same thing, and so even though there were moments of feeling alone and missing family, I was with many people who were going through the same thing and they became my surrogate family. This trip was made totally solo, and my nearest great friend was about 5 hrs away by bus. I've learned a lot already, and can assume that I'll learn a lot more as the months pass. BUT, to get back on track, I miss my home..California, and cannot wait to be back!
Until that time (less than a month away) I am kickin butt and takin sponsorships at work! It's been a whirlwind, and I've learned a lot. I get to work during the film festival, and I know it's gonna be an amazing experience, one that I can't wait for! Come October I probably won't be able to write much, as festival preparations will take over most of my time, seeing as there are very few employees we will all be doing a lot to get it going.
Until next time,
Hugs not Drugs!
Exciting news though, is that I just got my own bike! I have one at home, but I clearly can't get it here. All my roomies have bikes and bike to work and everywhere else. I finally got to borrow my roomie's extra bike, and am now officially hooked. We have a great hill (that's only great on the way down) that leads downtown, and we went to the bars one night and all rode down and then rode back after. It was great because the wind kept you from getting too hot on the way back home. Yes, at 2am I was still sweating. So our handy roommate Andy..handy Andy..fixed up the extra bike and it's all mine!!! Thanks bunches Andy!
Also, even BIGGER news...I'm coming home for a week in September!!! I'm very very excited. I get to see the rest of my family after 6 months of being away! It'll be great to be in my comfort zone again. Being in a different place by myself for 5 months now has been very exciting and also isolating. I didn't have great friends or family to lean on, but it forced me to make friends that I know I will have for a while. As you may or may not know, I studied abroad for a year, about 2 years ago in England. That was an amazing experience and one that made me grow in many ways. Before I made this move to Toronto, I kept comparing that experience and saying, if I can do England I can do Canada. But the major difference was that in England I quickly gained a group of fellow exchange students that were going through the same thing, and so even though there were moments of feeling alone and missing family, I was with many people who were going through the same thing and they became my surrogate family. This trip was made totally solo, and my nearest great friend was about 5 hrs away by bus. I've learned a lot already, and can assume that I'll learn a lot more as the months pass. BUT, to get back on track, I miss my home..California, and cannot wait to be back!
Until that time (less than a month away) I am kickin butt and takin sponsorships at work! It's been a whirlwind, and I've learned a lot. I get to work during the film festival, and I know it's gonna be an amazing experience, one that I can't wait for! Come October I probably won't be able to write much, as festival preparations will take over most of my time, seeing as there are very few employees we will all be doing a lot to get it going.
Until next time,
Hugs not Drugs!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
I forgot I had a blog...
It's been almost a month since my last post, and normally I'd call that super lazy. BUT, since I have a full-time job now, and have been gone the past 4 weekends, I'm gonna call it busy. Definitely a different kind of busy than just school or school and work.
My brother and dad visited 2 weeks ago, which was awesome and I've pretty much seen all of Toronto now. It was great to finally be around family, from constantly Skype-ing. If this move has taught me anything, it's definitely something along the lines of "absence makes the heart grow fonder," minus the romantic undertones of that saying. This photo is Trev and I on Toronto Island in front of the TO skyline.
I do miss California a lot, and a bit more every time someone finds out it's where I'm from, because they always ask, why did you move here?? I guess California is a somewhat exotic, foreign place to these landlocked, half-English, half-midwesterners. Just based on the crazy humidity (I'm told this is the warmest summer they have in recent years) and silly words they sometimes use, I would agree that California has a foreign feel. My brother did catch me saying "eh?" a couple times, but it doesn't feel natural so I think it was forced.
The weekend after SOME of my family visited (I'm talking to you, Mom) I went with some great new friends to a music festival in the Canadian countryside called the Hillside Music Festival. I had only heard of a couple of bands, but figured it was a great way to get out of the city and appreciate some Canadian music. Well, I was right. It was absolutely amazing, aside from the crazy ant bites Alia and I got from pitching our tent on an ant hill..we're guessing we did, because neither of the other tent inhabitants got our amount of bites. There were some big Canadian acts that were really interesting to watch because I swear I was THE only one who didn't know the words to any of the songs. The festival had a folksy, bluegrassy feel to it, and I discovered some great new artists to add to my music collection. Just being back in nature was great, seeing as it's been mainly city and pavement for a good 4 months. I've met many people who either like the country OR the city. They are meant to be in one, and don't care too much for the other. I think that's something from my childhood that I really treasure, since I grew up in the mountains, I consider that home, but the city still holds an intriguing mystery about it. This is a photo of the evening sky out in the countryside at the festival:
The next weekend I went to the Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Quebec with my friends Helena and Peps. We were supposed to have a 4th person but that fell through, so it was the 3 of us, and we had a blast! We saw some great acts including the Gaslight Anthem and The Black Keys, who are my new favorite band. The only thing I will say about Osheaga is the amount of smoking that went on was RIDICULOUS. I swear, anyone who smoked smoked at least 3 cigarettes during the course of the day at the festival. I have many friends who smoke, but there are unspoken rules about smoking. Like being courteous since obviously many people don't smoke and don't want to smell like it. Not to mention that second hand smoke has been proven to be harmful in its own right. When you're in a tight group of people and the only place to let out smoke is directly on the back of someone's head, or right in their face, it's courteous to wait and smoke in a more open area. Anyway, that's my rant for this post.
This weekend I was east again, this time to Ottawa to again see Helena and Peps, but also VANESSA. Who, if you didn't know, has been in Bosnia all summer long. So this is a great reunion for the 3 of us who haven't all been together since they visited me in San Fran almost 2 years ago!! That being said, I've logged in some major bus rides recently which has given me a lot of time to think about things…mainly personal things that I hadn't been able to get over until now. It's a liberating feeling when you finally realize you're over something and can let it go and stop agonizing over it anymore. This is how I feel now. On a side note, these bus rides made me pay more attention to song lyrics, and I've realized how certain songs come on that you can relate to. It's weird, but also reassuring in a way.
My brother and dad visited 2 weeks ago, which was awesome and I've pretty much seen all of Toronto now. It was great to finally be around family, from constantly Skype-ing. If this move has taught me anything, it's definitely something along the lines of "absence makes the heart grow fonder," minus the romantic undertones of that saying. This photo is Trev and I on Toronto Island in front of the TO skyline.
I do miss California a lot, and a bit more every time someone finds out it's where I'm from, because they always ask, why did you move here?? I guess California is a somewhat exotic, foreign place to these landlocked, half-English, half-midwesterners. Just based on the crazy humidity (I'm told this is the warmest summer they have in recent years) and silly words they sometimes use, I would agree that California has a foreign feel. My brother did catch me saying "eh?" a couple times, but it doesn't feel natural so I think it was forced.
The weekend after SOME of my family visited (I'm talking to you, Mom) I went with some great new friends to a music festival in the Canadian countryside called the Hillside Music Festival. I had only heard of a couple of bands, but figured it was a great way to get out of the city and appreciate some Canadian music. Well, I was right. It was absolutely amazing, aside from the crazy ant bites Alia and I got from pitching our tent on an ant hill..we're guessing we did, because neither of the other tent inhabitants got our amount of bites. There were some big Canadian acts that were really interesting to watch because I swear I was THE only one who didn't know the words to any of the songs. The festival had a folksy, bluegrassy feel to it, and I discovered some great new artists to add to my music collection. Just being back in nature was great, seeing as it's been mainly city and pavement for a good 4 months. I've met many people who either like the country OR the city. They are meant to be in one, and don't care too much for the other. I think that's something from my childhood that I really treasure, since I grew up in the mountains, I consider that home, but the city still holds an intriguing mystery about it. This is a photo of the evening sky out in the countryside at the festival:
The next weekend I went to the Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Quebec with my friends Helena and Peps. We were supposed to have a 4th person but that fell through, so it was the 3 of us, and we had a blast! We saw some great acts including the Gaslight Anthem and The Black Keys, who are my new favorite band. The only thing I will say about Osheaga is the amount of smoking that went on was RIDICULOUS. I swear, anyone who smoked smoked at least 3 cigarettes during the course of the day at the festival. I have many friends who smoke, but there are unspoken rules about smoking. Like being courteous since obviously many people don't smoke and don't want to smell like it. Not to mention that second hand smoke has been proven to be harmful in its own right. When you're in a tight group of people and the only place to let out smoke is directly on the back of someone's head, or right in their face, it's courteous to wait and smoke in a more open area. Anyway, that's my rant for this post.
This weekend I was east again, this time to Ottawa to again see Helena and Peps, but also VANESSA. Who, if you didn't know, has been in Bosnia all summer long. So this is a great reunion for the 3 of us who haven't all been together since they visited me in San Fran almost 2 years ago!! That being said, I've logged in some major bus rides recently which has given me a lot of time to think about things…mainly personal things that I hadn't been able to get over until now. It's a liberating feeling when you finally realize you're over something and can let it go and stop agonizing over it anymore. This is how I feel now. On a side note, these bus rides made me pay more attention to song lyrics, and I've realized how certain songs come on that you can relate to. It's weird, but also reassuring in a way.
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