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.