Apparently sitting still is tough. I was in Toronto and am now in Ottawa for a couple weeks before I head to Edmonton and then back to Toronto. Depending on housing and employment I could spend June just about anywhere.
If you think Ottawa and Edmonton are a bit of a downgrade from say New Zealand and Fiji, how do you think I feel? Just kidding, both have their pros and cons - for example, I left Fiji with a lot of bug bites, whereas the frost warning for Ottawa tonight should kill any mosquitoes foolish enough to think it was a good time to come out and breed. Point - Ottawa
Since my return, I've noticed a severe lack of colourful houses as were present in Cape Town and an absence of hammocks, both things I hope to do my part to rectify. As well, I've decided the grocery stores here are much too big. I almost had a panic attack in a giant Loblaws today and have vowed to stick to the smaller ones, if I can find them. Our favourite Pak 'N Save was very large but it's warehouse feel was somehow less intimidating. Plus, they sold wine and that's an aisle that's fun to spend hours searching around in. Canada could use a few more hummus options. Pam's, a exclusively New Zealand brand, made an incredible hummus that without, I'm having trouble making a really really good sandwich.
Oh something else that's weird about being back - have you ever noticed that everyone drives on the wrong side of the road here? That's been a tougher adjustment than expected.
A few photos to follow...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I'm Back!
Well in case you weren't aware, I have returned safely to Canada and just realized that I am still continuously writing in the passive tense. It's a problem I have had.
Right, so let me just say that I LOVE Canadian customs. When I landed in LA it looked like I was going to have to get fingerprinted and I was trying to think of a way to ask if it was mandatory without winding up on a no fly list. I'm not sure if it was my Canadian passport or because I was in transit but I did not have to place all 8 fingers and 2 thumbs on the glowing green pad. I saw the customs guy give someone the thumbs up and thought 'oh, how friendly', only to realise he was telling the person to put their thumb on the pad. Oh how glad I was to avoid all of that.
Why do I love Canadian customs? Well, not only were there no finger print stations in site but on my re-entry to Canada form, I didn't even have to mention where I was actually coming from. As far as the Canadian government is concerned, I was just in LA. That's it! Bizarre. Oh and the best question was "Did you contract swine flu?" Um I certainly hope not was my reply and this seemed to be good enough. The good news is, I'm no trouble maker...
Right, so let me just say that I LOVE Canadian customs. When I landed in LA it looked like I was going to have to get fingerprinted and I was trying to think of a way to ask if it was mandatory without winding up on a no fly list. I'm not sure if it was my Canadian passport or because I was in transit but I did not have to place all 8 fingers and 2 thumbs on the glowing green pad. I saw the customs guy give someone the thumbs up and thought 'oh, how friendly', only to realise he was telling the person to put their thumb on the pad. Oh how glad I was to avoid all of that.
Why do I love Canadian customs? Well, not only were there no finger print stations in site but on my re-entry to Canada form, I didn't even have to mention where I was actually coming from. As far as the Canadian government is concerned, I was just in LA. That's it! Bizarre. Oh and the best question was "Did you contract swine flu?" Um I certainly hope not was my reply and this seemed to be good enough. The good news is, I'm no trouble maker...
Monday, May 4, 2009
LAX
Well here I am, back in the Northern Hemisphere. Luckily I checked out the stars 2 nights ago, um but on the 2nd of May, and saw the Southern Cross constellation while I still could. Can`t see that stuff up here. Thanks to my friend I am in the Air Canada lounge at the Los Angeles air port. Literally a life saver. It means I get free food and internet, free drinks of all kinds and a calm, comfortable place to relax and charge my mp3 player and PSP. I got about 1 hour of sleep last night, the first of 2 3rd of May nights. The 10 hour flight was quite rubbish. The food was awful and the gross vegetarian sandwich was accompanied by chicken flavoured casava chips. Hmmmm maybe the flavouring is artificial. NOPE! Listed on the ingredients - chicken fat.
Anyway, I felt sick for a lot of the flight and only ate a bun for breakfast, instead of diving into the mystery breakfast. This nice old lady from Vancouver kept offering me her food so I scored a yogourt as well. Not sure why the vegetarian option, with a yes to dairy doesn`t get the yogourt or the biscuits for dessert at dinner.
My video system was mostly busted and you didn`t have much movie choice. It was the type where the movie just starts and you join in wherever you can. My tv got stuck on one of the High school musicals and can I just say, I couldn`t take it for more than a minute. Zach Effron CANNOT play basketball - at all! Then only the kids and country music stations worked so I had to go stand at the back of the plane and stretch an sit on the ground and got to talk to a Fijian flight attendant who was very nice.
Speaking of Fiji, you should go there. All of you. It`s nice, relaxing and you see so many fish just going snorkeling. I`ll write more in another post just now. 5 more hours until my next flight...
Anyway, I felt sick for a lot of the flight and only ate a bun for breakfast, instead of diving into the mystery breakfast. This nice old lady from Vancouver kept offering me her food so I scored a yogourt as well. Not sure why the vegetarian option, with a yes to dairy doesn`t get the yogourt or the biscuits for dessert at dinner.
My video system was mostly busted and you didn`t have much movie choice. It was the type where the movie just starts and you join in wherever you can. My tv got stuck on one of the High school musicals and can I just say, I couldn`t take it for more than a minute. Zach Effron CANNOT play basketball - at all! Then only the kids and country music stations worked so I had to go stand at the back of the plane and stretch an sit on the ground and got to talk to a Fijian flight attendant who was very nice.
Speaking of Fiji, you should go there. All of you. It`s nice, relaxing and you see so many fish just going snorkeling. I`ll write more in another post just now. 5 more hours until my next flight...
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