3 Months in the Center of the Universe and Counting!
Well... since I last wrote I was still wallowing in the loss of poor Frank. He and I parted ways and I now own a bigger, better bottle of tantalizing deliciousness. In my fridge in Toronto that is!
Just a brief update because I have to go to work...
On October 23, 2009, Lindsay and I piled into Bo-Deese the Big Bad Blue (my VW Golf) at 4:30am and DROVE to Toronto! We stayed in Calgary, Prince Albert, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie along the way, and arrived safe and sound (and could probably handle another 6 days of driving if we really wanted to) in Toronto on October 28, 2009! Check out the video if you want:
And I'm still here! I love it so far. It's been just over 3 months, and I'm living in a great area of Toronto, just about on the border of Etobicoke. I'm a couple blocks north of the Lake, just west of High Park, in the Bloor West Village area. I really could not live in a better area. It's close to everything, it's not too city-ish. It's a LOT like West 4th/Kitsilano in Vancouver. I live in an apartment with my BF but our area is a great mix of parks, schools, old gorgeous houses, new mansions, apartment buildings... lots to explore! Walking distance to the Subway and Streetcar (although I'm too lazy I still drive to work every day)... I visited "cottage country" within two weeks of arriving here... Tom took me to St. Williams (near Simcoe) where his family's cottage is... gorgeous! I spent Christmas in London (Ontario) with his family, which was great, and then New Year's in Oakville with Tom's friends (who are also great! I'm lucky to have met so many great people already!).
Speaking of work, it took way longer than I expected to get a job here! I already had the privilege of working for Body Buster as their advertiser, which I enjoy and have continued to do more and more work for them, but I needed something to supplement that. I applied at tons of restaurants, trying to avoid taking the easy route of going back to the Spaghetti Factory (had already worked there for 3 years in BC). BUT after almost a month of not working, I gave in and got a job at the Spagh downtown, and it was a great idea I'm glad I did. I get to work with great people and I still enjoy the work, most times. The location is right near the CN Tower in the St. Lawrence Market area (Yonge St. & The Esplanade), which is gorgeous and old, KIND of like Gastown. I work a lot and am enjoying the experience of working in a different city, the same restaurant as I did back home but with a LOT of differences in the size of the place, the way it's run, and the clientele (way better tippers! AND way busier...). I'm bartending as well which is interesting... I'm not sure if I love it but whatever.
So that's how I've survived so far. Everyone keeps asking how the "job hunting" is going, because that was supposedly the main reason for me coming out here - looking for all that big-city 'opportunity'. I'm still applying for that "dream job" all the time and considering going back to school to get closer to that dream... it's a tough job looking for jobs! I want to work in Planning (Urban/Natural Resources) so I've applied for lots of internships, as well as administrative positions in that industry or similar so that I can at least get a steady cashflow going to be able to afford school if I should end up going back!
I've also started Bootcamp! Obviously Body Buster Fitness Bootcamp (http://www.BodyBusterFitness.com)! And I knew it would go either way - horribly or awesome. Only because I haven't worked out in a couple of years, in my worst shape ever, I thought I wouldn't be able to get through a class without passing out, and I usually have a hard time sticking to a routine. But OMG. I love it! And I'm not just saying that because I do their advertising... I really do love it and I just finished my first program yesterday (4 weeks, 8 classes). I already have lost some inches and toned up and my energy level (dwindling due to the weather, the dark basement apartment, the lazy days) has gone way back up, I look forward to the workout, and I can't wait to go back for the next program in February! It's a great way to meet people and stay in shape, and one of those "just for me" kind of things that I look forward to twice a week. I feel great!
Anyways this was supposed to be short, and I have to leave for work in 10 mins and I'm still in my PJ's! GTG but now you have your update! It's really not that interesting, my life is the same just 4,000kms away. I am starting to miss people a LOT and on my days off when Tom's at work and Dani is busy, I start to go a little stir crazy because I have nobody else to call! But that's what my My5 and Blackberry Messenger is for haha! And glad I have my car because I like to go for random drives to parts of the city I haven't seen before. I'm also thinking of trying to volunteer or something... I was so impressed with my friend Sonya's selfless ambition when I saw this website the other day (http://bccic.ca/Sonya_Sangster) as well as her sister Bridget... I feel like I tell myself it's too hard to get involved because I am intimidated... but maybe I really should just do it. I might join Oxfam out here or something like that. I haven't been able to do much in regards to our Uganda stuff from here, I'm feeling a little detached. I gotta get doing something!! But in general, I'm just enjoying the experience of having moved away from my comfort zone for the first time ever. It's been an adjustment but nothing negative whatsoever so far! I'm loving it and I know the job situation will solve itself soon, and I'm not worried about it. Another update soon.
Just a brief update because I have to go to work...
On October 23, 2009, Lindsay and I piled into Bo-Deese the Big Bad Blue (my VW Golf) at 4:30am and DROVE to Toronto! We stayed in Calgary, Prince Albert, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie along the way, and arrived safe and sound (and could probably handle another 6 days of driving if we really wanted to) in Toronto on October 28, 2009! Check out the video if you want:
And I'm still here! I love it so far. It's been just over 3 months, and I'm living in a great area of Toronto, just about on the border of Etobicoke. I'm a couple blocks north of the Lake, just west of High Park, in the Bloor West Village area. I really could not live in a better area. It's close to everything, it's not too city-ish. It's a LOT like West 4th/Kitsilano in Vancouver. I live in an apartment with my BF but our area is a great mix of parks, schools, old gorgeous houses, new mansions, apartment buildings... lots to explore! Walking distance to the Subway and Streetcar (although I'm too lazy I still drive to work every day)... I visited "cottage country" within two weeks of arriving here... Tom took me to St. Williams (near Simcoe) where his family's cottage is... gorgeous! I spent Christmas in London (Ontario) with his family, which was great, and then New Year's in Oakville with Tom's friends (who are also great! I'm lucky to have met so many great people already!).
Speaking of work, it took way longer than I expected to get a job here! I already had the privilege of working for Body Buster as their advertiser, which I enjoy and have continued to do more and more work for them, but I needed something to supplement that. I applied at tons of restaurants, trying to avoid taking the easy route of going back to the Spaghetti Factory (had already worked there for 3 years in BC). BUT after almost a month of not working, I gave in and got a job at the Spagh downtown, and it was a great idea I'm glad I did. I get to work with great people and I still enjoy the work, most times. The location is right near the CN Tower in the St. Lawrence Market area (Yonge St. & The Esplanade), which is gorgeous and old, KIND of like Gastown. I work a lot and am enjoying the experience of working in a different city, the same restaurant as I did back home but with a LOT of differences in the size of the place, the way it's run, and the clientele (way better tippers! AND way busier...). I'm bartending as well which is interesting... I'm not sure if I love it but whatever.
So that's how I've survived so far. Everyone keeps asking how the "job hunting" is going, because that was supposedly the main reason for me coming out here - looking for all that big-city 'opportunity'. I'm still applying for that "dream job" all the time and considering going back to school to get closer to that dream... it's a tough job looking for jobs! I want to work in Planning (Urban/Natural Resources) so I've applied for lots of internships, as well as administrative positions in that industry or similar so that I can at least get a steady cashflow going to be able to afford school if I should end up going back!
I've also started Bootcamp! Obviously Body Buster Fitness Bootcamp (http://www.BodyBusterFitness.com)! And I knew it would go either way - horribly or awesome. Only because I haven't worked out in a couple of years, in my worst shape ever, I thought I wouldn't be able to get through a class without passing out, and I usually have a hard time sticking to a routine. But OMG. I love it! And I'm not just saying that because I do their advertising... I really do love it and I just finished my first program yesterday (4 weeks, 8 classes). I already have lost some inches and toned up and my energy level (dwindling due to the weather, the dark basement apartment, the lazy days) has gone way back up, I look forward to the workout, and I can't wait to go back for the next program in February! It's a great way to meet people and stay in shape, and one of those "just for me" kind of things that I look forward to twice a week. I feel great!
Anyways this was supposed to be short, and I have to leave for work in 10 mins and I'm still in my PJ's! GTG but now you have your update! It's really not that interesting, my life is the same just 4,000kms away. I am starting to miss people a LOT and on my days off when Tom's at work and Dani is busy, I start to go a little stir crazy because I have nobody else to call! But that's what my My5 and Blackberry Messenger is for haha! And glad I have my car because I like to go for random drives to parts of the city I haven't seen before. I'm also thinking of trying to volunteer or something... I was so impressed with my friend Sonya's selfless ambition when I saw this website the other day (http://bccic.ca/Sonya_Sangster) as well as her sister Bridget... I feel like I tell myself it's too hard to get involved because I am intimidated... but maybe I really should just do it. I might join Oxfam out here or something like that. I haven't been able to do much in regards to our Uganda stuff from here, I'm feeling a little detached. I gotta get doing something!! But in general, I'm just enjoying the experience of having moved away from my comfort zone for the first time ever. It's been an adjustment but nothing negative whatsoever so far! I'm loving it and I know the job situation will solve itself soon, and I'm not worried about it. Another update soon.
Comments
Post a Comment