(no subject)

I totally need a Canada icon for all of my travelogue posts.

I made it safely to Toronto yesterday, me and my 30 metric tons of luggage. Note to future self: when taking the train and then having to negotiate transit from station to second floor residence, pack less. I don't care if you're going to be gone for 3 months, have 5 classes worth of books to bring, have no clue what kind of clothes you might eventually need, and your American dollar isn't worth crap, it doesn't matter. Just pack less.

The train ride was nice, as these things go. I had more leg-room than I've ever had on an airplane. I plan on putting together a post with pictures as soon as I have every picture I need. I did miss some perfect shots from the train because my camera was in its case and by the time I had it out the moment was gone, which was sad. I used to never worry about looking like a tourist, I need to get back to that mind-set.

I was exhausted by the time I got to my room. Completely physically exhausted. I hadn't slept the night before and, as I said, 30 metric tons of luggage. After showering and finding a place that would sell me an ice cream sandwich and a soda (random tangent: tap water in Toronto tastes a lot different from water in Michigan. Even though I was completely dehydrated and over-heated I didn't find it refreshing at all. Weird, huh?) I took some Advil PM and slept for around 14 hours straight.

Today I plan to get a feel for the area. I need to buy some groceries and figure out how the transit system works. And, yes, I'm totally taking my camera with me. Photo-documentation FTW. It's going to be a good day.

(no subject)

A few anecdotes:

* You really know you're in a foreign country when the train conductor does his spiel in English and then repeats it all in French. French spoken in a fairly broad Ontario accent was certainly something to hear. The whole foreign country point is only expanded when the person sitting next to you has two conversations on her cellphone, both in rapid-fire, not nearly as accented, French. O, Canada, indeed.

* Either I've gotten less modest since the last time I used a communal dorm bathroom, or heat+exhaustion just makes me stop caring, because I happily walked to and fro from the shower in only my robe, something I never would've done back at good ol' East Quad.

* I read Charles De Lint's The Blue Girl while I was on the train (well, when I wasn't sleeping) and it was really neat to be reading something by a Canadian while I was traveling in Canada. It really gave me a sense of place. It also gave me this terrific quote which is some of the best writing advice I've ever seen:

"The thing to remember when you're writing is, it's not whether or not what you put on paper is true. It's whether it wakes a truth in your reader."

That is exactly how I feel about all of the truly great stories I've read or seen, either in movie, tv show, book, or fic form.

* At one point the train passed by an "adult entertainment" store. Seeing the sign made me think of a case we read in constitutional law. Then I had the shocking realization that I'm in a country where I don't know the law, not like I do in the U.S. That may not seem off-putting to most of you, but, believe you me, I was rather discombobulated. And then I was amused by how much of a law nerd I've become.

* There is recycling all over the place here. Us Americans should take note. I don't think it would be that hard to put up waste receptacles that have slots for paper and plastic/aluminum beverage containers as well as trash. In this we should be emulating our Canadian brethren.

* I love wandering around a city, just getting a feel for a place. Even though it was hotter than sin today, I'm really glad that I went and scoped out a bit of the city. I got a feel for the transit system and meandered around the neighborhood. Maybe it's because I'm staying at a university, but there were quite a few moments today when I felt like I was in Ann Arbor, a much bigger Ann Arbor, but Ann Arbor nonetheless. I guess that's just a sign of how fond I am of Toronto.

Also, staying in the De Lint vein, Toronto really is Newford. Once I got a really good feel for the city it was pretty obvious. Cool.

* I really want to do as many tourist-y things as possible while I'm here. But not right now. Right now I'm more sore than I've been in a really long time, so I think I'll take the night off.

( Before I Go, A Few Pictures )

Be excellent to each other!