Home, sweet home. Though 'home' is sort of a tricky word for me. Perhaps it should be
place-where-most-of-my-stuff-is, sweet
place-where-most-of-my-stuff is. Especially my bed.
13 beds in 30 days...it wasn't a quiet
, lay around and do nothing type of vacation. Getting around to new and familiar places, and seeing people I haven't seen in ages as well as my my family was fantastic, invigorating. It also made fresh in my mind the things I miss about Canada.
In addition to the important people, who would obviously rank Number One on any such list, here are some of the other little details about Canada which I found myself appreciating over the holidays.
1.
Bathtubs. Yes, even in summer, a proper bath is a beautiful thing!
2.
Indian food, Thai food, Chinese food, er...Canadian food? Flavour...variety...perogy pizza...yuuuummmm...
3.
Long summer days. But
not their wintertime companions, ie. short, cold, dark, miserable days.
4.
The forest. The smell of it, mostly...
5.
Fully stocked grocery stores. Whatever you might want is consistently available. What luxury!
6.
Clothes that fit. This was a theory, more than a practical experience on this trip though. I would have bought some clothes if everything in the shops weren't ugly at the moment. I found things that fit, but they were
hideous. No clothes for me.
7.
Respectful live-and-let-live attitudes. People mind their own business, for the most part. It's peaceful, and unobtrusive, and ever-so-helpful.
Of course, being in Canada made me miss things about Manizales as well...
1.
Speaking and listening to Spanish. 2.
J-walking. The little green man has no authority here. Rules in general are more flexible. I like that.
3
. The mountains Yes, I know that Canada also has mountains, and they are beautiful, but these mountains have a different feel.
4.
The climate. Never oppressively hot (Mississauga in 30+ weather!!), nor miserably cold. It's all Baby Bear's porridge around here - just right.
5.
I can actually afford to live here. This is key!
These lists may actually come in handy over the next several months when I have to make The Decision. To stay, or to go? And if the answer is 'to go', then to where?
