Brief Update
I've now been in Toronto a month. It's hard to believe that it's been that long, but I am starting to feel more comfortable here - I have my own space and the bank account is starting to reinflate (slowly).
The first three weeks I was just travel fatigued. It came on when I stopped moving and realised that I was going to be in town for a while like a sledgehammer granting me a full-swing kiss: I was mentally drained and completely apathetic. The thought of writing gave me head spins. I just wanted quiet time locked away in my room (yeah, that sounds healthy). That (at least) has passed.
I'm now living in an area of Toronto called Kensington Market. China town is around the corner and I'm in easy walking distance of central downtown. It's a share-house type arrangement, with 5 of us on the groundfloor; studenty but comfortable. My housemates have so far been pretty awesome, although we all keep different schedules so our paths often don't meet too frequently.
I tried for a few weeks to try and get an office-bound position, but the market seems to be pretty hard to gain entry to, especially for a wayfarer who is only in town for 5 months. After a week I got frustrated and started to broaden my search, which included telesales and street-corner newspaper subscription hawking ($25/sign up). In the end (after 2.5 weeks) I started work at a restaurant as a host (without previous restaurant experience I was more than happy to accept). It's called the Hot House Cafe, located in an area called Old York; a tourist centre to the South East of the downtown core. Specialising in pasta and pizza, the restaurant covers the whole gamut of contemporary cuisine. It gets especially busy of a weekend. So far I'm enjoying working there. The people are great. I guess it also helps that the Australian accent is a bit of a novelty here.
Meanwhile,. I left off on my travel diary in New York - Broadway productions (Rent - miss it; Producers - see it) and sharing escapades in Montreal, seeing the sights in Boston and wandering Ottawa. After keeping up with it for so long I can't just let it slide now. Hopefully it will happen in the next week. I haven't forgotten.
The first three weeks I was just travel fatigued. It came on when I stopped moving and realised that I was going to be in town for a while like a sledgehammer granting me a full-swing kiss: I was mentally drained and completely apathetic. The thought of writing gave me head spins. I just wanted quiet time locked away in my room (yeah, that sounds healthy). That (at least) has passed.
I'm now living in an area of Toronto called Kensington Market. China town is around the corner and I'm in easy walking distance of central downtown. It's a share-house type arrangement, with 5 of us on the groundfloor; studenty but comfortable. My housemates have so far been pretty awesome, although we all keep different schedules so our paths often don't meet too frequently.
I tried for a few weeks to try and get an office-bound position, but the market seems to be pretty hard to gain entry to, especially for a wayfarer who is only in town for 5 months. After a week I got frustrated and started to broaden my search, which included telesales and street-corner newspaper subscription hawking ($25/sign up). In the end (after 2.5 weeks) I started work at a restaurant as a host (without previous restaurant experience I was more than happy to accept). It's called the Hot House Cafe, located in an area called Old York; a tourist centre to the South East of the downtown core. Specialising in pasta and pizza, the restaurant covers the whole gamut of contemporary cuisine. It gets especially busy of a weekend. So far I'm enjoying working there. The people are great. I guess it also helps that the Australian accent is a bit of a novelty here.
Meanwhile,. I left off on my travel diary in New York - Broadway productions (Rent - miss it; Producers - see it) and sharing escapades in Montreal, seeing the sights in Boston and wandering Ottawa. After keeping up with it for so long I can't just let it slide now. Hopefully it will happen in the next week. I haven't forgotten.
posted by the wastrel @ 11:22 PM
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