I spent my first day in Toronto just exploring the city and getting used to daily life here. I purposely took a week before my first day of school for that, and I think it was a good idea because it allowed me to settle in and not be too affected by jet lag. First of all, I tried to spend time with my roommates, who are Colombian and settled in Toronto five years ago. I went to Dundas Station and explored the area around the Toronto Eaton Centre.
You can find whatever you want in Toronto Eaton Center, but usually clothes brand such as Uniqlo, H&M, Aritzia. In every mall like this one you will find one Marshalls or Winners as well, where you will see outlet’s clothes and anything else like home furnishing. And obviously food court with a lot of choice but usually is fast food from around the world : from Chick-fil-A to Jimmy the Greek !
Still in the world of shopping, I took the time to research local thrift stores and was quite surprised to find a second-hand shop chain called Value Village Boutique, where you can find a wide range of clothing and accessories at affordable prices. I visited the one on Bloor Street West (Spadina Station), but I also saw locations near College Station and another close to Kensington Market…
One thing that surprised me: the number of squirrels here!
Cabbagetown Festival
I attended to one festival and at this time I understand exacly why they said the city is multicultural. This festival took place every year in September from Parliament Street to Carlon Street, and you can see a divesity of musics shows, cultural parades, kids games, etc. I love this kind of atmosphere when people just want to share their culture.
Reflexions
I felt so comfortable in this city, and there were so many things to do that I couldn’t do them all, so I had to choose which ones I wanted to see. During this first week, I was amazed by the height of the buildings and the length of the streets. I felt so small and often got lost—even with Google Maps! But I have a feeling I will never forget my experience here. Let’s see!
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