Moving In

Hey Everyone,

So last week I was too busy moving into our apartment to blog, sorry about that. Now that things have calmed down a bit I am back on track again. Its the start of a new week and for a lot of people at home its a big week with their children starting big school, preschool and so on. If I was back home I would be back to work today and I am thinking of you all and wishing you the best of luck with all the new experiences ahead. For me and my new experience, sure its only getting started. As I told you last week we moved into our own apartment. For the 5 weeks prior to being able to move in to our own place, we were sleeping on an airbed in a friends apartment. Although we are extremely grateful to them for letting us stay, our backs were getting sore and I couldn't wait to get my hands on our own place and make our first home together.

We got the key on a Friday, two days earlier than expected and we were so excited. We met our landlord for the first time, he is from Montreal and he is so lovely, We are actually one of the lucky few to get a apartment in the location we are in without  jobs. Our realtor was very worried we wouldn't be so lucky but as chance would have it, the landlord liked us and the rest is history.

On Sunday, we went to IKEA. I was very excited as I had never been and neither had Parker. It was not fun and I was very disappointed with the whole experience. It took two subways to get there, which was fine, We went nice and early so we would have plenty of time and eight hours later we could of done with 8 more. We were told we  picked the worse weekend to go as lots of student were shopping as there were back to school sales. From the beginning things didn't seem to go our way. We got a trolley, only to discover it was from an entirely different shop, we asked a staff member where we could get a different one and she pointed us in the wrong direction. We ended up in the market hall (which for anyone who doesn't know it, its where you get everything you need from spoons to rugs etc). Excited, we started filling the trolley, only to discover we need to go to the showroom before going to the market hall. We trekked back to the showroom, with a nearly full trolley and we struggled to view items and take down codes as both our trolleys were getting in peoples way.

I didn't win this argument!

 Stressed and hungry, we got lunch (again with our full trolleys in peoples way). We tried the "famous" meatballs which I must say were average. After lunch and a fit of giggles later (I get very giddy when I'm tired) we headed back to the market hall and the warehouse to collect all the items we had viewed.

From here you would think things would be straight forward...you would be wrong. We thought we didn't need a special trolley for our mattress, bed frame, table, chairs, chest of drawers, lockers etc, we were wrong and we had to load all our stuff on a regular trolley. we couldn't see over it. To add to the mess, lots of the items we had picked in the showroom were out of stock :-( Physically and mentally drained and very disappointed with how unhelpful the staff were. We paid (a lot), sorted out our home delivery and headed back to our empty apartment.

The next day our delivery came (earlier than expected) which isn't ideal when you have a service elevator booked for a particular time in a very busy condo. But here we are, a week later in our new home away from home and I am very happy with how it is looking. We have put our own spin on it and I am trying to be creative by making coasters, picture frames and painting units. IKEA drama aside, the whole experience has been exciting and I am proud of how well we worked together and grateful for the help we received. I am glad we can laugh about the IKEA experience and how stressed out we were over something that should be enjoyable. At the weekend we had a house warming with friends and it was a great night. 6 weeks here and I am starting to settle. Next step, start looking for a job to keep this lovely apartment.

I also might do a video tour of my apartment in the coming weeks if anyone would enjoy seeing it.

Have a great week everyone!

Talk soon xx

Zita J

My week in pictures

Someone said to me once (can't remember who it was right now) that if I ever feel homesick or feel down when I am away, do something nice for yourself. Well I must have been feeling very down last week, I took treating yourself to a whole new level. I got my hair and nails done. Ate too much ice- cream, drank way too much beer, watched fish and sharks swim around and got my name printed on a can of coke, which for me, someone who can't get her name on anything, was very excited about. This week we plan on doing more tourist stuff before we have to get our act together and find jobs but for now and as I said to the hairdresser (who thought everything I said was hilarious).. ."I'm jobless but fabulous", ya I just said that! haha! So here is my week in pictures...Enjoy!

Talk soon xx

Zita J 

What I have learned so far

So they say you learn something new everyday, that means in these 3 short weeks I should of learned a good bit, well... I have. Some things I have learned are small, others things I have learned could change me and then there are things that I have learned that I could do with changing. However changing your ways or way of thinking can take time so this title, "What I have learned so far", might be a feature I do every once in awhile to keep you up to date on what I am learning while on my adventure.

The small things I have learned...

Before arriving to Canada, I had the preconception that EVERYTHING was going to be so expensive, that I wouldn't be able to buy any new clothes every again and that I would be living on beans and rice for the duration of my stay, however so far this is not the case. Now I am aware that once we start paying rent and bills etc that things will be a little tighter but there are lots of places where you can buy cheaper clothes, buy healthy fresh food at a good price and places to go that are not going to break the bank. Come back to me in a few months and it could be a different story but for now I am feeling positive about the cost of living.

Another small thing I have learned and for anyone thinking of travelling here and moving over. My hair straightener and hair curler do not work!! Now, my hair straightener is a GHD but about 7 years old so that's why it doesn't work but my hair curler is not that old at all. I will now have to live here with large wavy hair or buy some new appliances. I'll let ye know.

The things I have learned that could change me...

So I am learning a lot about Canadian culture, their way of living and thinking. Its only been three weeks but already I can't get over how polite people are. While some people can find a stranger randomly talking to them in a lift odd, or a shop assistant asking how they are today, annoying. To me, I think its more of what we need in the world. Although at times the smiling shop assistant may just be saying it to get commission or the waitress may be extremely  friendly to get more tips, if your having a bad day, someone just asking how you are can change how you feel for the rest of the day. The enthusiasm and energy that Canadians have excites me and I hope it rubs off on me to become a more positive person.

Something else I have learned from this city is that everyone walks extremely slow here. People could be on the way home from work, trying to catch the street car or subway yet they walk at such a slow pace. If people are in their way they wait and if you bump into them trying to pass them out, they apologise to you! I thought I was a patient person, especially as I work with children, you have to be but this is a whole new level of patience. I hope I become as easy going as they are.

The things I have learned that I could do with changing...

What I have learned that I could do with changing is a bit personal and to be honest I didn't just learn this. I have been this way for quite some time but since I have arrived here and I am out of my comfort zone it has become more prevalent and that is anxiety and fear. Although I can be quite a positive  person at times and try to give people good advice, try preach the philosophy of everything "happens for a reason" and "if its meant to be it will happen". Although all these ideologies are great in theory, in practice they don't always work for me, especially when fear or anxiety takes over. Talking about anxiety is a very personal  thing and lots of people don't understand it and to be honest each persons anxiety is different to the next persons, although they might suffer similar traits, no one can be in someone else's mind, however we can empathise, talk to each other and help each other out.  

For me since I have got here I have had anxiety towards getting the subway, for some reason the crowds all cramped into an under ground space, the heat and the rush makes me panicked. The bad news that is on the T.V of people getting shot, the scenes of car crashes and reports of hurricanes all makes me anxious. I have lots of fears like most people but the difference is, is that I sometimes let mine take over. Having got a few panic attacks before (which for anyone lucky enough not to experience, it is the most unpleasant feeling you will every encounter) I have vowed never to let my mind take it this far again. I have learned a skill that I am aware when one is coming and and  I just breath and don't talk for awhile (Which is hard for me). Anyone who suffers from panic attacks have their own ways of dealing with it, for me its breathing. Also going to the gym has been my savior but because I have been so busy lately and not settled yet I haven't gone. I know when I get into a routine and go more often that my mind will work better too. Anxiety comes in different forms, is different for each person and is more common now than ever. Talking about it helps, I am lucky to have a fantastic boyfriend to support me, a great family and a wonderful group of friends. You may judge me for sharing this or you may not, either way I am happy to share with you a part of me you might not be aware of. I am still a smiling, happy, friendly and caring person just dealing with this fast paced life. I am not going to change who I am, but I hope to change the way I think about things. Life is about living so I plan on making the most of this opportunity and learning more everyday!

Talk soon xx

Zita J

Two weeks in...

Happy Monday,

Hope you all had a lovely bank holiday weekend, it is a bank holiday here too but seeing as I don't have a job yet, everyday is a holiday :-) So I am here two weeks today. To be honest I feel like I am here about a month. We have done a lot in the past two weeks, so I guess I'll fill you in. Last week we went to the Islands. Its a ten minutes ferry ride over and only cost $7. It is really pretty over there with beautiful beaches and lots to do.

Parker and myself rented a two seater quadricycle to see the island while some of our friends rented regular bikes. We had lots of fun cycling around and ringing the bell at people. When I go again I might rent a regular bike as we weren't allowed on the promenade or over bridges on the quadricycle. All in all it was a great day out and  already I can't wait to go again!

Between all the sight seeing and fun stuff, we have been looking for an apartment of our own. At the moment we are lucky enough to stay with friends, I am repaying them in cheesecakes! Luckily we found a place we really love and all going well we are moving in on the 24th of August and as luck would have it all we have to do is go down ten flights of stairs to our new home! The area we are in is great, two amazing restaurants at the foot of the building, a short walk to the waterfront and very close to the heart of downtown Toronto. The building itself has great facilities, a gym, pool, spa, games room, home cinema, BBQ area and so on! 

I can't begin to describe the food here, everywhere I have eaten so far has been amazing. From the well know Five Guys and Chipotle to places like The Bier Markt and Warehouse. The restaurant Warehouse always has a queue out the door because everyday everything on the Menu is $4.95...Everything! I better start using the gym and pool facilities here at the rate I am eating!

To finish a great week, on Saturday night we went to see James Bay and George Ezra in concert. Parker bought me tickets as a surprise before we left and I was really looking forward to it. I wasn't disappointed. Prior to going I was more excited about seeing George Ezra  and he was excellent however in my opinion it was all about James Bay. His voice is sensational and I may be in love with him...sorry Parker! I will leave you with a mash up of the man himself! <3

Talk soon xx

Zita J