This and that...

Watched Jodha-Akbar and No Entry this weekend. Jodha-Akbar was ok. Hrithik definitely makes a handsome Akbar and so does Aishwarya as Jodha. Got so used to seeing Jodha in a motherly role. If you have watched Mughal-e-azam atleast 5 times like me, you will know what I mean. Anyway all I did was stare at Aishwarya's costume and jewellery. No entry was a remake of that Telugu movie (Pellam Uru-elthe) I found it ok too. Somehow I manage cracking up at Salman's comedy. Oh yes! someone might think my taste in comedy is bad. But well all I have seen is Judwaa and Biwi No.1 and this one - and I didnt mind him /his comedy in all three. But I am a Hindi movie fanatic so maybe........

First time did my laundry in Canada. I dont know why I am writing it in my blog as if its of any significance. But its perhaps I had this fear of going into the basement alone and doing it - I had this weird feeling about it. (Our home in Boston had an ensuite and I didnt get a chance to go flatting like other Masters students you see!). Why is it always in the basement? Why cant they put it somewhere in between (my building has 4 floors they could have surely squeezed it in somewhere on level 2 or 3)? I always shunned that there would be no phone signal even, it looked stuffy and uncomfortable. But it wasnt too bad for a first timer - necessity I had no choice! :)

Did some reading on Managerial Accounting for my next exam. Somehow I was not too fond of it when I did Bachelors in India. And that block has not yet gone.

And oh yeah its already a month since I moved to Toronto and in this new job!

A small pause...

Cant believe it that I am actually living and working in Canada, another country all together.

Toronto is probably one of the most culturally diverse city I have ever seen. Every second person seems to be having a different accent.

Today I walked on Spadina and loved the street. Took a long walk and I was able to see CN Tower in the background at certain points. It so reminded me of Auckland/New Zealand.

Snacks

After I dont know how many years (around 8 yrs I think!)- Thanks to a good friend! I got to eat Bakharwadi. Shrikhand (especially Mango flavor), Bakharwadi and Shrewsbury biscuit (biscuits are close to short-bread we get here I suppose) these were mandatory items someone had to bring back for me if I knew they were going to Pune. ... Those were the days .... !!

Wow!

Tata bought Landrover and Jaguar! I was happy to read it in the daily newspaper 'Metro' sitting in a subway in Toronto first thing this morning, though I havent read it in detail....

The present!

Living in the 'present' causes less stress, definitely, its just difficult to reach that point, very stressful actually, for a person who is used to a lot of planning :)
You may slip back to your old self at times, but you can get there - maybe atleast in some things in life....

Twelfth Night!

"Anything that's mended is but patched"

~Shakespeare

This applies even to some relationships!

Long weekend!

I am going home to Boston for the long weekend, Good friday being a holiday in Canada. Remembering New Zealand days, when we had a longggg Easter break which included even Easter Monday (besides Good Friday), which made it 2 short work weeks and Easter sale is next only to Boxing day/Christmas sale, which added that extra spice and then hogging the Cadbury Easter eggs too. Of course the autumn-sunshine was lovely too (I almost envy my parents holidaying in Australia at the moment).

Dinner

Enjoyed hot Omelette on a wet day!

Chocolate craving

My craving for chocolate or some form of cocoa intake has increased again.

First and quick look - Toronto downtown..

Went to Union station and got a quick look at Front street in downtown Toronto. Saw the CBC, CNtower, Rogers centre from the outside. Rogers centre definitely looked very different with that art on the exterior. CN tower was close to Sky tower in Auckland, NZ or that one in Seattle. It was not that cold but bright and windy so took a walk for an hour and headed home. I guess after seeing so many downtowns in different cities and tall buildings too, there wont be as much thrill as I had the first time I saw say Sears Tower in Chicago or downtown New York. But well nevertheless every city has its uniqueness and so does Toronto. But yet to explore in detail when the temperatures rise!

Kaapi

I am finally able to consume coffee and I feel all grown up! I was a very milk person to begin with, back home and even now I can drink milk anytime of the day (without sugar please!). Then in college I swtiched to tea - but still I had milk before going to bed. Alas! I still couldnt consume coffee, somehow after 2-3 sips I didnt feel very well in my stomach (even though I loved the smell!), finally now I am able to drink small portions of it and I feel grown up!

Growing up I remember my Ajji making coffee on sunday afternoons (we visited Grandparents every weekend) the smell was just wonderful, I would just watch her and my mom drink coffee (everyone else was Hyderabadi and very tea-loving at home, I guess Ajji being brought up in Tamilnadu had an influence on her consumption) and wonder what its like to drink such piping hot (tasty!!) coffee. I am finally able to appreciate that - though am sure the filter coffee is simply beyond all the Starbucks and Tim Hortons in this world. This time I visit India, drinking filter-coffee with my Ajji is on my wishlist.

Trip to Little India

I visited Gerrard Street East in Toronto or 'Little India' as they call it. Got all my basic cooking supplies. The street was full of South Asian stores mainly Indian and Pakistani. It easily looked like any other street in India. Or like probably how it is in NJ and San Jose in USA. I need to go check out the Indian clothes and jewellery stores once again. I also hopped on to the streetcar (tram) today. By now my sense of traveling on subway and bus in Toronto has improved - I sometimes take the bus to work, sometimes the subway. I also got hooked on to Tim Hortons coffee, (though on my way to work Starbucks greets me - the stores are not as many as Tim Hortons).

Settling down

Alone in a new country if I thought the first week dragged, the second week just flew by. One of the mysteries I will never understand - the pace with which time passes by; rather the way we feel the pace changing based on our circumstances!

My apartment in Eglington is certainly good. Eglington is a nice place, mid-town and I simply love the hustle-bustle of of crowded streets, restuarants, public commute and stores. Looking forward for my first trip to Toronto downtown this weekend. This weekend also I will be inaugrating my kitchen, I havent cooked in 2 weeks, i.e. since I have landed here. Finally making that much postponed trip to Indian grocery stores soon!

Work has been slowly picking up. Enjoying it, work culture is slightly different but am not sure its because its Canada or just the industry or the position the company is in right now (undergoing changes and evolving business processes) or a mix of both. People are certainly brutally frank, which is nice. I am based at an office attached to the plant (not in a fancy corporate office as my previous job) so this is a whole different experience all togther. I have to cross the shop floor in a white lab coat and a shower/hair cap thingie ;) and big plastic glasses to get to the cafeteria. And on the way I smell some wonderful shampoos, conditioners, body wash, tooth paste, etc being made. I also got to sample a few of the products :)

Canada Dry - Champagne of Ginger Ales

I might be getting addicted to this, since the day I have landed I have been consuming a can everyday.

Terminologies

I find it ridiculous that people in the western countries whose first language is English (or so they claim) do not understand phrases which are not used locally by them, but mean the same, and I am not talking of slangs or some very complicated words. Something as simple as hire and rent or even petrol and gas. I dont think it takes too much effort to understand such words. Is this arrogance/narrow minded-ness or blissful ignorance?

Pole to Pole

Found an accommodation, as long as it lasts!

Sometimes I feel like such a nomad, I have taken a leap from the country near the south pole to a country near the north pole, India- NZ-US-Canada, makes me wonder. But with plans to move back to country of origin I guess am not totally one.

Reaffirmation!

The reason I like to experience new places - especially different countries, well of one of the reasons, is because some experiences/incidents and especially people I meet make me re-confirm my priorities and re-establish faith in some values in life,...... at times :)

Curiosity killed the cat!

Why do some people ask too many 'personal' questions. They think thats being sociable? Sometimes the more personal questions one asks the more vague and secretive, I want to be...

Sonu Nigam

Fine lines!

Among the many fine lines, there is one between confidence and over-confidence too.