New Home!

Today I checked out of my hotel and into my new apartment :) Wuhoo! Moving into an apartment in one day - that's a record for me. My previous record was 27 days lol

This morning I woke up at 6:24am. Now, many may think that's normal, seeing as I am still getting over jetlag. However, I don't recall in my week and a half off school, EVER waking up at 9:24am. I don't believe I woke up before 11am on my week off, except when woken up by loving father, to see the good ol' dentist. So, I don't know why I woke up so early (even for Toronto time) but I did. After I woke up, I didn't ever really get back to sleep, despite being awfully tired, so I decided to get up at 8:30am and go claim my free breakfast from the hotel restaurant. 

By the time I got back from breakfast it started raining. It was raining alright. It was raining pretty hard too. SO I finished my Jodie Sweetin book. Had a little cry (the end is very touching) and realized it wasn't gonna stop raining, so I might as well grab my umbrella and get out there! And... that is what I did :)

I wandered all around and made it as far as the VPL (Vancouver Public Library). 

L = Library

H = Hotel

On my way to the library, I went to the grocery story to claim my free lotto ticket that I had won last night. I stopped at a Starbucks to have a hot chocolate and scratch my new bingo ticket. No luck with the lotto ticket. 

This is in Yaletown, on my way to the library.

Here's the outside of the library :)

Inside the library atrium (library is off to the left)

Walked across Cambie Bridge.

And then it was time to grab my luggage from the hotel and head to my new apartment. Today brought back all the memories of the first day I moved into a townhouse in Cambridge in first year of university, with 4 girls I had only ever met once. None of us knew each other, and yet we were moving in together. It's a strange feeling. I hadn't ever had that feeling again until today. Up until now, at school and in Amsterdam, I've always lived with friends, people I knew. Today, was different. I will say though, Zenija, my roomie for the summer, is very very nice. I feel comfortable at our apartment. 

There's my new crib for the summer :)

I think I had forgotten all that was involved in traveling. The organizing. The packing. The planning. The airports. Figuring out where you're going. Managing luggage. Exploring the city. Moving in. Settling down. All of this is coming back to me from my trip to Amsterdam. Though I will say staying on the same continent, and even in the same country makes things a lot easier (not necessarily better, but easier). This time round, I don't have to deal with visas, residence permits, tax numbers, Dutch bank accounts etc. Staying in Canada, I'm obviously familiar with Canadian culture, customs, the LANGUAGE - it's definitely easier staying in Canada. Still, I think all the adjusting was part of what made Amsterdam the amazing experience it was. They are different experiences. I need to remember this. I chose to work in each city for different reasons. Last fall I wanted to move to a new country in a new culture, explore Europe and completely emerge myself in a completely foreign situation to learn what that had to offer. This summer, I want to experience the West Coast of Canada. And I'm so excited - I've heard so much about Vancouver. It'll be a different experience, and though it's not Amsterdam, it's not supposed to be and I need to remember that. I miss Amsterdam. So much. But Vancouver is my new adventure. And it'll be amazing.

One funny note from yesterday. At Pearson airport, there are signs all over the airport saying "Free Wifi Everywhere" and in the bathroom the first stall had an orange sign saying "Free Wifi Everywhere" and three stalls down there was another orange sign saying "Even Here." Thought that was cute. Made me laugh :)

Work tomorrow. Nervous and excited. Will blog soon. For now, goodnight :)