August 2022

Right I know I’m a tad late, but now I can tell you all about my first month in Toronto. I want to be honest with everyone on here. For the first week in Toronto, I was fine as I had my dad stay with me for the first week so I could get settled. On my first day, I went to the bank to open a bank account. I used RBC as I heard that was the best one to use. Also it was the first one I saw on the street. I couldn’t believe how straightforward it was to open; it took about 30 minutes to get it sorted. All I needed to do was show my passport and my work permit. So simple! On the same day, I went to get my SIN number (basically a national insurance number). Guys, DO NOT LINE UP! The queues are so long! I was in the queue for almost two hours! Even worst they closed the doors on me, and told me to come back at tomorrow morning at 6am! Darling I am not a morning person that will NEVER happen! So instead I did it online. Readers it’s so simple to do! More simple than lining up! All you do is take a photo of your Work Permit, proof of address and passport. And the best part about all of this is that it’s free!

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html

https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/learn/best-banks-canada

Most of the first week was getting used to the lifestyle, such as shopping and getting the street car. You must have a PESTO card to travel on the streetcar as that’s the only thing they’ll accept. You have to get one on the subway. All you do is go to the machine, request a PRESTO card, top it up and then you’ve got one! I found a supermarket called Farm Boy in Harbourfront. It sells lovely, fresh vegetables and they look and taste very good. The price in Farm Boy isn’t too bad either; it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a corner shop.

For the tourist attractions, I didn’t get to do it as I was more concerned about settling down, but I did manage to fit a few things in, such as visiting Toronto Island and Niagara Falls; both of those were fantastic! For Niagara Falls, there are so many opportunities to do there. Me and dad did ‘Journey Behind the Falls’, where you go in the waterfall and see everything. It was spectacular, and it almost felt like I was in heaven.

Everything was all good until dad left, and I was on my own that was when reality started to kick in. I never lived out of uni, as I stayed in London. The longest I’ve ever stayed away from home, and that was a month in Prague when I attended Prague Film School. I was jobless; I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t even know the country. I was so lost. Every day I went door to door with my CV in my hand and got absolutely nothing. One day I rang my parents and burst into tears. I wanted to come home. I didn’t realise until that point that London was my comfort. I had a family; I had friends; I knew the ins and outs at home (well, most of the time). Was this the right decision?

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears

Nelson Mandela

Now I’m sitting here typing to my fellow readers, feeling much happier. I’ve got a job. I got a job in the second week, and I was shocked at how quickly I got the job! (I’ll talk about my job in my next post!) I’ve made friends there, and they have made me feel so welcome. I even went out with some of them to the CNE, which was a brilliant experience, and I won Kiki the Koala bear, my ‘advisor’.

There are still times when I do feel homesick, but not like I was. I’m glad that I moved to a different country. I think it’s changed me in a good way. I feel more open and less scared. If anyone plans on moving to a foreign country, go for it. I will be honest; it will be challenging, but it will get better❤️. Now it’s September; let’s see how it goes