Settling down

(My first steps on Canadian soil...in my beloved Birkenstocks!!)

My fourth night in Canada, and slowly I think I am getting used to it. The street signs and language people speak are French, but then the kind of run-down alleyways next to towering skyscrapers are so typically North American. It still seems odd that I am here now, whereas a few days ago I was still cycling on my bike towards the beach. Big difference here though, it is 30C every day. At least for now, because it is “false advertising” for the real weather, as a lecturer put it.

Yesterday I had a chat with the director of Institute I’m studying in, and he again said that they were delighted to have me, saying that someone with my kind of “caliber” comes “highly recommended”. I modestly thanked him (again) for giving me this wonderful opportunity and the position as a fellow with a generous scholarship. Of course, part of my duties as a fellow of the Institute would be to “give back to the community”, so I will be involved in some extra curricular work. The weather in winter will keep me indoors most of the time anyways, I was assured.

I was actually feeling pretty deflated the first few days… I mean, I know no one, I am a complete stranger in a foreign country, and going from place to place looking for an apartment. Everything I saw was old or really expensive, especially in the so-called McGill Ghetto next to campus. Luckily, the lady bank clerk I met a few days ago managed to track down an apartment for me, and I went to see it this morning.

I was already impressed as soon as I opened the door. There are actually two apartments, one on the second floor, and one in the basement. The former one looks a bit older, and some places were peeling, whereas the one in the basement was restored brand new, and had a better separation of space. Though it is in the basement, and though I have this impression that it would be damp and dark down there, it was nothing like that. Very bright and airy, and the flooring, kitchen, as well as bathtub are all brand new. I did not have to think twice, especially after all the really rubbish and expensive places I had seen in the past few days! And best of all, just around the corner is a metro station, and it takes only around 15minutes for me to get to university. Lots of grocery stores and restaurants nearby, making it very convenient. And another bonus of the apartment is: it is in an area called Monk. So I will hopefully be more spiritual and at ease living in my new home.

The landlord is such a great and trusting person—none of that guarantor hassle or need to pay the first and previous month’s rent as a guarantee as some people have asked me to do. He did not even ask for a deposit, but just said I could move my things in right away. To him, he would rather have a trustworthy and honest tenant (like me!) than leave the apartment empty or let it be taken by drug-addicts or people with very low incomes. And he really is a reasonable person, who seems to have the tenants’ interests in mind. I signed the lease, and after that, he even offered to drive me to Ikea to look at furniture.

When I go to the big furniture store, I realised I did not have much money on me because especially since I am still waiting for my scholarship to appear… so, my bed and table and chairs for my humble abode will have to wait for a while…

But at least, finally after all this time longing for freedom and independence, as of tomorrow, I have a lovely place I can call my own. And this will really be a first.