Landed.
I gotta tell ya-- it's cold here in Toronto! I know I shouldn't complain, as yesterday was the first day I'd seen any real snow since we got here. That in itself is a miracle. But I had become so unaccustomed to temperatures below zero that the day after we arrived I had to go out and immediately buy two very cute hats, followed a few days later by a third one. With EAR FLAPS thank you very much.
So I've prepared myself for the reverse culture shock phenomenon but so far things are going smoothly. They tell you that everyone expects you to be the same as when you left, and that nobody wants to hear you constantly saying things like: "When I lived in Paris, or once there was this time in London, or in Germany we..." etc etc. So I'm taking it all in stride and making sure I have a hot cup of tea in hand at all freaking times. Oh and the hand lotion, because man, the air here is dry and when did I suddenly have the hands of an 80 year old woman?
The most shocking thing I have been forced to adjust to so far is the crazy serious recycling and garbage program this city has. I swear it's turned me into an environmentalist in a matter of only a few days.
They pick up your compost!
You can recycle pretty much everything!
And they will only pick your garbage up once every 2 weeks but yeah, it really doesn't matter because after all that recycling you hardly have anything to throw away anymore anyway. It's magic I tell you.
And my whole turning green thing is encouraged by the fact that I happen to live in a part of town known as Riverdale which is a very vegetarian, and health-conscious friendly area. Spelt pizza crust? Brown rice sushi? I swear people, I'll be wearing Birkenstocks and drinking wheatgrass for breakfast in no time.
I've already started taking yoga and had to do my first headstand yesterday evening. Imagine my surprise when I thought I was in a beginner's class and was told we'd be doing headstands. Ahem. By some miracle I actually managed to pull it off without making a total ass of myself but I must admit I was ready to roll up my mat and hightail it out of there as soon as I realized my mistake.
But I'm a sucker for punishment and you KNOW I'm going back there for more.
So that's the short and sweet of it. We're back home and so far everything is good.
I'll get back to regular posting once my fingers thaw out a bit. But as I now say, if you can't stand the cold, just buy some really cute hats.
So I've prepared myself for the reverse culture shock phenomenon but so far things are going smoothly. They tell you that everyone expects you to be the same as when you left, and that nobody wants to hear you constantly saying things like: "When I lived in Paris, or once there was this time in London, or in Germany we..." etc etc. So I'm taking it all in stride and making sure I have a hot cup of tea in hand at all freaking times. Oh and the hand lotion, because man, the air here is dry and when did I suddenly have the hands of an 80 year old woman?
The most shocking thing I have been forced to adjust to so far is the crazy serious recycling and garbage program this city has. I swear it's turned me into an environmentalist in a matter of only a few days.
They pick up your compost!
You can recycle pretty much everything!
And they will only pick your garbage up once every 2 weeks but yeah, it really doesn't matter because after all that recycling you hardly have anything to throw away anymore anyway. It's magic I tell you.
And my whole turning green thing is encouraged by the fact that I happen to live in a part of town known as Riverdale which is a very vegetarian, and health-conscious friendly area. Spelt pizza crust? Brown rice sushi? I swear people, I'll be wearing Birkenstocks and drinking wheatgrass for breakfast in no time.
I've already started taking yoga and had to do my first headstand yesterday evening. Imagine my surprise when I thought I was in a beginner's class and was told we'd be doing headstands. Ahem. By some miracle I actually managed to pull it off without making a total ass of myself but I must admit I was ready to roll up my mat and hightail it out of there as soon as I realized my mistake.
But I'm a sucker for punishment and you KNOW I'm going back there for more.
So that's the short and sweet of it. We're back home and so far everything is good.
I'll get back to regular posting once my fingers thaw out a bit. But as I now say, if you can't stand the cold, just buy some really cute hats.
Labels: toronto
posted by Michèle at 11:00 AM
21 Comments:
Good to hear from you again! And it will become spring and summer eventually. Just be patient and enjoy your hats. (and a pair of Uggs keep your feet nice and warm)
Aww, welcome back! I'm in need of a few cute hats myself (and an ice scraper for the car windscreen--my library card did valiant duty this morning but wasn't really up to the job). Happy settling in!
I'm so happy you got back smoothly. Let the adventures begin :)
I can, do and will support most things....but woman....step away from the Birkenstocks. They are worse than leather couches....almost.
glad to hear that you're settling/settled in so nicely.
i totally agree with you about the weather - i finally caved in and bought a winter coat. no more gore tex jacket! (well, until the spring that is.)
YAY!! Welcome back. Try not to freeze your baguettes off. ;)
Maaike, I have to admit I'm hoping spring comes sooner rather than later. But yes, the hats definitely do help!
Tea, what an excellent use of a library card-- I bet that was a sight to behold on a frosty morning!
Kat, thanks!
Alisa, geez, do you know me at all? ;)
Chris, you know I think my coats aren't adequate for this weather either, but I'm not ready to trade them in just yet. Maybe I'll be motivated once we get our first snowstorm, although I'm crossing my fingers that that will NOT happen.
Olivia, oh that got a good chuckle out of me. I will certainly do my best!
Welcome home! I must say, I do believe ear flaps would be rather becoming on you. S, of the oddly-large noggin, recently attempted to cram such a on his head as he went out to shovel the driveway. Oh, what the neighbours must think!
Yay on settling in to your new 'hood so well. If I hear anything about you thinking of joining a commune, I'll know it is time for a trip up to Yorkville.
You can't wear Birkenstocks...you're a married woman now!
Next thing ya know, you'll be watching Ellen, having pot-lucks, and going to those kind of stores that Alisa goes to.
Yeah, of course I know you! If there were a chance that i even thought you would wear those shoes, I would never be so open about my hatred of them! love the banner change.
I'm so glad to see that you made it and you're settling into your new life there...and buying lots of hats. Cuz, honey, you definitely need them there! I'ts freezing here too, so I can sympathize (Maybe I'll go buy myself a hat! except, dammit, I'm about to move to Hawaii so I'm not "allowed" to do such thing). I like the new banner, and lady, I'm so glad that you're back!
I need hats. And yoga, too. If you do the headstand with your hat on, maybe it wont be as hard?
Just thinking out loud. Better stop now ;) Glad it's good to be back!
Tara, I have to admit my noggin is pretty oversized too and I usually don't find hats that are big enough. By some miracle this shop right near me had not only super cute hats, but in sizes meant for big brained girls ;)
David, well I didn't say I was going to join the other team! But hey, what's wrong with a good old fashioned potluck? Haven't I seen you at a few?
Alisa, yay, glad you like the banner! That was a damn fine brownie too..
Michelle, what? moving to Hawaii? Wow, that is awesome! So definitely forget the hats with ear flaps, but imagine all the cute sun hats you can wear!
Zarah Maria, ha! Now that is a good idea. I should definitely wear the ear flap one to yoga--that would really make a statement, huh!
Best of luck with the reverser culture shock!
I found your blog when googling Marriage & Frere teas in Canada - a nice find! (your blog, not the lack of M&F tea in Canada)
Welcome home - and isn't winter a shock? Brrrr!
Michele-
I've been thinking about you and hoping your move went well. It took me a while to get used to a normal life back home without the excitement of living and traveling in a foreign country. There is a lot to be said for being closer to family though!
Brooke
WELCOME BACK!! Did the shocking -24 degrees celcius rape your body last week when you stepped out of your house? It does to me even though I've lived here all my life. Living by the lake is even worse. With the windchill, it feels like the wind is peeling the skin off of your face. Anyway, think warm thoughts and drink loads of tea. By the way, you're right about all the "Green" in the T-dot. I guarantee you that you'll be drinking 5 cups of green tea a day in no time.
Good for you on the headstand! I've been doing yoga (off and on) for years now and still can't do that! I do kinda have a bad neck though. Glad to hear you're settling in back up in Canada!
Lapoflux, I hear you on the MF tea woes--I am going to go into serious withdrawal when my stash runs out!
Brooke, hello you! I've been wondering that too but I guess we'll just have to make a concerted effort to plan trips regularly just so we have that to look forward to.
Michelle, thank you! And yes, the weather does take some adjusting--Im having to double my dose of moisturizer just to keep my skin from feeling like sandpaper. And I think I am almost up to 5 cups of green tea a day!
Aliceq, let me tell you I surprised even myself! But it was a lot easier than I expected--I just wasn't sure what the heck to do once I got up there. ;)
Your post captures so vividly the emotions that one experiences upon homecoming, after an extended sojourn abroad.
I only wish my hometown had the kind of recycling program you described.
Good luck with settling back in your homeland and with those yoga headstands!
Welcome back! And I'd bore others with my stories of being abroad, if I were you. Having cool stories of culture and adventure shouldn't scare off the friends worth having. :)
MofMemory, I've had friends who have moved out of Toronto who say how hard it was to go from such a good recycling program to one that's less inclusive. It is definitely a great thing the city is doing. And thanks--I will definitely keep practicing my headstands!
Kevin, thanks for the welcome! And you make a seriously good point!
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