Torontonian

According to random fliers across the city, Torontonian is the correct name for the inhabitants of Toronto. I arrived on Wednesday and have honestly not had time to write since then. I thought I could get a bank account, cell phone, and an Ontario driver's license all on Thursday. The joke was on me. The Ontario driver's license was first on the list, and although the website had said it's reciprocal with my California one, I didn't realize that I'd have to give up mine up. Now, maybe I was being a bit of a baby, but I was a little irked that I couldn't keep both, as I consider my driver's license to be my piece of identity. Yes, I have a passport, but that just says I'm American, a blanket which covers more than 300,000,000 people according to the U.S. Census Bureau. BUT, my California ID puts me under a bit smaller blanket, about 30,000,000 people. And I consider that to be an extra special blanket which has amazing redwood forests in the north, and a large portion of stuck up, fake people in the south. With the exception of people I've met from San Diego (Jaz, this includes you and your family, don't worry..haha). A blanket that has enough business and grows enough agriculture to potentially sustain themselves as a separate country...I'm just saying. A blanket that may legalize marijuana and help clean up the insane deficit that our actor/governor has racked up, as well as the intense violence in Mexico from drug cartels.

Anyways, so when the lady told me they'd take my ID away and I couldn't get it back (I asked), I was kind of floored. She told me when I go back and "visit" (you mean when I go HOME, crazy lady) I'd just use my Ontario license. And she was even nice enough to give me an example! She said it's like when they (Canadians) go down to Florida, they just use their driver's license to get around. Her first obvious mistake was telling me that I'd go to "visit," like it'd just be a nice vacation in a warm place. Kind of a slap in the face that it's not my home, but now a place to just visit. Second mistake was comparing CALIFORNIA to Florida!! I'm sorry if anyone reading this has a soft spot for Florida...but come ON. Really? I must admit I've never been to Florida, so this is biased. But, I just don't see how alligator infested pools and crazy humidity could beat out California. This is a one-sided argument so I'll stop. BUT SERIOUSLY. You may be wondering, why then did I leave California if I love it so much? They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I'm an adventurer at heart. So I dabble in another country for a while, and when I go back to "visit," it'll be that much sweeter.

I ended up getting a bank account, could've been a bit more prepared with some cash, but I know that now. In Canada, most banks charge a monthly fee if you can't keep a minimum of about $2,000 in your account, and they also give you a monthly transaction limit. I was asked how many transactions I do in a month, and had no idea. Maybe I just got lucky with Wells Fargo, but I never had to pay attention to any of that. I did end up finding a bank that waives the fee for recent graduates, Bank of Montreal! Today, I go tackle the insane world of cell phones. There are too many companies and too many options..I'm sorry capitalism, this is a little much. I'm not saying I would like to pay more, but I think only two companies could still compete and have cheap plans. Plus the fine print on these phone company brochures is ridiculous. Small numbers tacked on the end of every sentence, hints at all different exceptions and time limits that you don't see until the back page, where a huge paragraph of small, light typing explains you are basically getting screwed and there is no such thing as a deal. At least every company has that though. Heaven forbid you find one that empathizes with the crap economy and a person's desire to keep in touch with loved ones. I was going to write "a person's need to keep in touch" but with the cost of a phone call nowadays, it can't really be a necessity, as feeding yourself still takes precedence.

I hope this post doesn't sound like one big whiny complaint, merely a witty take on grown-up responsibilities. OH, good news...I am now an intern at Planet in Focus. An unpaid intern, because in the Film world they know students are hard up for experience and will do free labor with a strained smile.

That's all for now, folks..stay tuned!!