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New things
Oct. 2nd, 2008 10:32 pmI've had some good experiences in Canada during my first few days.
The bus drivers all seem to be lovely. On the first day I was let on the bus when I only had change for about half the fare. The buses which go north of the city are wonderfully informal, minibus-sized affairs and usually have music playing in them. The same driver who let me off about a dollar in fare was a new driver to the route, covering for a driver off sick, and after missing a turning and having to turn in a driveway, he was navigated by one of the regular passengers, which I thought was great.
I have found a good supermarket, which sells chocolate chips and lentils and seed mix and all sorts of good things dispensed from canisters. I've been a bit unadventurous in finding dinner each night, and have now been to the same restaurant three times, and they now welcome me by name and show me to "my" table, and sit down to talk to me about finding a flat to rent.
The institute is a really friendly place, and is in an absolutely gorgeous location, on the top of a wooded hill. It is a 20-minute hike up from the bus stop, and I couldn't imagine a much nicer walk to work. And climbing 0.13 of a mountain every morning should be good for me, as well.
On the second morning, I saw a grey squirrel bouncing across the road 50 metres ahead of me, so when I heard rustling in the tree to my right a little further on, I assumed it was just another squirrel. The reddish-grey creature regarding me with mild annoyance from the tree just above head height was quite a lot smaller than a squirrel, though, and had a straight, short-haired tail with a black tinge to the end. I can confirm after some online research that it was a chipmunk (Tim's suggestion). I mentioned it in the lunch room today, and apparently, it's quite rare to see a chipmunk around here, so I was priviledged. Unfortunately, it means I'm less likely to have such adorable company during my morning walk on a regular basis.
I understand why the maple is the symbol of Canada. Bussing into work at 7am yesterday, I saw a maple tree with dark green, dark purple, yellow ochre and bright red parts, all set against a pearly pastel dawn sky.
The bus drivers all seem to be lovely. On the first day I was let on the bus when I only had change for about half the fare. The buses which go north of the city are wonderfully informal, minibus-sized affairs and usually have music playing in them. The same driver who let me off about a dollar in fare was a new driver to the route, covering for a driver off sick, and after missing a turning and having to turn in a driveway, he was navigated by one of the regular passengers, which I thought was great.
I have found a good supermarket, which sells chocolate chips and lentils and seed mix and all sorts of good things dispensed from canisters. I've been a bit unadventurous in finding dinner each night, and have now been to the same restaurant three times, and they now welcome me by name and show me to "my" table, and sit down to talk to me about finding a flat to rent.
The institute is a really friendly place, and is in an absolutely gorgeous location, on the top of a wooded hill. It is a 20-minute hike up from the bus stop, and I couldn't imagine a much nicer walk to work. And climbing 0.13 of a mountain every morning should be good for me, as well.
On the second morning, I saw a grey squirrel bouncing across the road 50 metres ahead of me, so when I heard rustling in the tree to my right a little further on, I assumed it was just another squirrel. The reddish-grey creature regarding me with mild annoyance from the tree just above head height was quite a lot smaller than a squirrel, though, and had a straight, short-haired tail with a black tinge to the end. I can confirm after some online research that it was a chipmunk (Tim's suggestion). I mentioned it in the lunch room today, and apparently, it's quite rare to see a chipmunk around here, so I was priviledged. Unfortunately, it means I'm less likely to have such adorable company during my morning walk on a regular basis.
I understand why the maple is the symbol of Canada. Bussing into work at 7am yesterday, I saw a maple tree with dark green, dark purple, yellow ochre and bright red parts, all set against a pearly pastel dawn sky.
