Rants and names...

I knew being a penniless student would be hard, but its a different matter when I actually am the penniless student. I'm not so poor that I have to starve, but my funds are slowly turning into a slow sluggish trickle, soon to be dripping to nothing. And I'm freaking out BIG TIME.

It's also time to start thinking about internships and post-graduate jobs. And getting a job right now, even if its standing in a mall handing samples. Anything. Unfortunately, I can't get a job until November - that's when I can apply for an off-campus work permit. And on-campus jobs have 'summer hours' which also happen to be while I'm in class.

Also, gotta tighten the belt and become anti-social - or show up for events that don't cost a thing and stick to water. It's a good thing water is free over here. It's even encouraged. Unlike Dubai where most bars and pubs charge a premium for water - its cheaper buying booze or even juice than good ol H2O.

So yes, I might be hyperventilating a bit.

SB says I should just take things one day at a time and to not think too much about stuff or I may just go insane. Which I may become anyway because it always frikkin rains here. And my bladder has the muscle-tone of a newborn. I keep needing to pee every five minutes. So I don't drink as much so that I can sit through a class.

That ranting aside, I'm now doing TV after going through the print and radio portion of the term. And TV feels like an old friend that I reunited with after three years. I've forgotten how much fun TV can be.

As for SB, things are still going awesome. I'm surprised how awesome it is. I sometimes dwell on my past and I get scared about it all ending. But it does feel different and it feels real. I don't think I've shared so much and opened up so much as I have with SB. Not even P. I still can't think or talk about P. Not even in an old, detached way. I'm certainly over him, but I want nothing to do with him. I would prefer thinking he never existed at all. Like all my other exs. Like a bad dream that I vaguely remember. Or something to keep as a warning and not repeat ever again. I do talk about my exs with SB to illustrate a point, or as part of my history for a particular thing. Plus he reads this blog and I have nothing to hide from him. I figure if he had to run because of my past, its better now than later. But he's still around and I trust him.

I love snuggling next to him. He calls me his heat thief. I tend to get cold very quickly and adapt to the temperature in the room. Whereas he's always so nice and warm. My soft, warm, snoring heater. And I keep finding spots on him that I stick my cold hands on and warm up - hence the name 'heat thief'.

He also calls me a toe-crushing harpy. Because if there's something with wheels on it, I will somehow find a way to run it over a feet, even though I don't mean too.

Me: (running over his toes with a wheelie-chair) I love you!
SB: (cringes) I love you too, you toe-crushing harpy. (kisses me)

Summer time...

Today is Canada Day.

Needless to say, I'm excited. Although I'll probably be spending it at home, doing a rewrite for an essay that didn't go so well.

...Well, its now a day later. I'm at SB's house, enjoying a relaxing evening prepping my D&D character(s) while SB gives his mom a tutorial on how to play Dungeons & Dragons. Sam is also over, helping me level up, while joining in the tutorial adventure with SB and mom.

...And now its about a week later. The past week has been incredibly taxing and busy. The good thing was doing a live newscasts for CHRW and J-School. This is in addition to all my previous pre-recorded work for the daily 5pm CHRW newscasts. Yep, I'm now on air and a radio reporter/journalist for the campus radio station that can be heard on FM within the city. Its incredibly exciting to finally do the one thing I truly love - radio.

Getting on air in Dubai was incredibly frustrating. It seemed like they were more concerned about a particular accent for whatever station and it was an incredibly tight-knit community. I was too white to be brown (speaking passable Hindi-Urdu) and too brown to be white (not having a strong Western accent...or basically not being white). I could be wrong and I certainly hope I was but I was quite fed up with the whole thing.

But volunteering for a community/campus station has really helped boost my technique and confidence a whole lot. Too bad I can't work there.

I've also moved to a better apartment within the same building that is dog and bitch-free. I've gotten a bigger room and better many things. I have one more room-mate for the summer and probably two more once September rolls around. But at least I'm in a much more mature, clean and quieter place. In fact, one of my J-School buddies is also my neighbour.

I also noticed that my posts have gotten more and more....boring. Has being happy and busy dulled and drained my emotions? Am I only interesting when I'm all angsty? Is all my creativity going into J-School? Does depression fuel my creativity?

*sigh*

I've found out that it is hard living on my own, but I'm glad I'm doing it. I had to start some day. I miss my mom, the familiar foods and certain comforts and luxuries of Dubai. Not mention some good shawarmas and falafel. The falafel in London is so dry, not to mention expensive.

Mobile phones are also incredibly expensive here. I never thought I'd say this, but Etisalat looks absolutely awesome compared to the crazy data and mobile packages they have here. They charge you even for sneezing. I have to pay $7/month just to get caller ID - on a MOBILE phone. I get charged for receiving and making calls so I better know who it is before I pick up.

Speaking of which, I've been getting numerous calls from debt collectors asking for Robert. I have no idea who Robert is. But they ask me if I know him and don't believe me when I say "I have no fucking clue who he is".

Despite all the craziness, I prefer staying in Canada. I can be free here. Free to do many things that I couldn't do in Dubai. And get your mind out of the gutter. I mean being treated like a human being and not getting look down upon. And getting some respect. Customer service is incredible here. My bank treats me like royalty even though I'm a penniless student. People are genuinely nicer and realize that the customer/client should be treated well if they want to retain them. They don't act like they're doing me a favour by paying attention to me - well with the exception of certain government departments. I guess surly and unhelpful bureaucracy is universal.

Its getting late and I need to get some sleep.

PS: Its funny how going above 30C has caused Canada to go into a meltdown. Meh - that's like spring to me. Although I'm sure Canada will have the last laugh once winter rolls around. But still - sissies.

Damn dog...

This week started off quite badly.

I had a showdown with my roomie regarding her puppy. I told her that I'm tired of the house reeking of dog peep, stepping on his poop and that if she cannot train him or be there for him, she should find another home for him. I wish I could have played the religion card but I'd feel guilty (not to mention hypocritical) for doing so.

Her response was she wasn't getting rid of him. Nor did she reassure me that she would clean up after him or train him better.

So I went to the management. Unfortunately, they cannot force her to give the dog away under Ontario law. They can transfer me - but for a hefty fee of $250. What bullshit.

I don't get charged to move to another room in the same apartment, but I have to pay $250 to move to another room? That too for someone who has no sense of responsibility? I was really angry at the current state of affairs.

Then my bed broke.

Well, it didn't really break, but there was a loose screw and I didn't know how to fix it back in place.

That was the last straw.

I broke down and couldn't stop crying for hours. SB (the sweetie that he is) came down to London from work and stayed with me to make me feel better. And I did feel better.

Anyhow, it seems like at this point that al I can do is move out ASAP.

I'm angry. I'm angry because someone who's irresponsible (imho) makes me look like I'm the one being unreasonable. My other room-mates say one thing to me and then another to her. And now thanks to her frikkin dog, I'm going to be homeless. And pay $250 to get another room.

What bullshit.

Worked like a dog...

Things have been good. Real good.

Canada suits me well. I do have a few gripes about stuff but I'll talk about that later.

I feel like I'm back in high school, or back in SMCHS. I mean that in a totally cool way. I used to be very sociable then, but things in Dubai and situations got me really down until I became a nocturnal hermit. I feel alive and calm nowadays. Some may even say happy.

I love being at Western. It has history, and I'm now a part of it. It is a community, and I fit right in. I love waking up everyday and walking down to campus. Even when things get hectic, I never wake up feeling dread.

I get along quite well with most of my classmates. I've become closer friends with some, but we seem to click well as a group. We have our j-school lingo, insider jokes and we're a pretty awesome group.

This past weekend flew by so fast. It was Aunt D's (SB's maternal aunt) 60th birthday. SB and his folks wanted me to come along for the birthday celebrations, as well as getting to meet the 'extended family' and showing SB's girlfriend off a little. The girlfriend being me of course.

I was quite nervous and just a little petrified. It's a new experience for me - having a boyfriend that not only acknowledges me to the world, but wants to take me everywhere and meet the important people in his life. But I needn't have worried. His aunt, uncle, cousins and family friends were all very sweet and welcoming towards me.

Funy enough, the big family get-togethers aren't that far from desi family get-togethers. Although it seems like there's less gossiping and back-biting than my own family, but I could be wrong. Plus, I am new and still getting to know SB's family.

I also met one of his best friends in Oshawa. I knew him from previous online gaming nights I had with SB. One word of caution - never play Magic: The Gathering online with him. He's just that good.

Being in this relationship has made me feel calmer than I've ever felt in years. I don't feel alone. I do wish I were closer to him and be able to see him everyday versus every weekend, but I feel secure. I haven't felt secure in a very, very, very long time.

On the other hand, my roomie's dog is driving me crazy. I can't really blame him as the poor puppy (and dogs in general) don't make great apartment pets. They need to be walked, taken for a toilet run outside and need far more attention than I think my room-mate has time to give. The dog barks at all hours, poops and pees wherever he pleases and everything I own is covered in dog hair. I'm not happy. But I did choose a pet-friendly place only so that I could have a cat. And now I'm stuck with crazy puppy whose owner doesn't have time for him. And I'm the only grad student, while my roomies are all on their vacation. Not fun. My roomie sometimes leaves her dog out (now most of the time) and I'm scared to cook because the dog will jump all over me and bark incessantly. I also barely have any space in the kitchen or fridge for my stuff so I tend to eat outside or buy boxed Kraft Dinners.

Yes, I'm bitching and moaning and I'm really not happy about certain aspects of my accommodation. I'm just a little cranky as I haven't had much sleep and the last week has been quite intense in regards to school work. Add stress, kinda crappy diet, an annoying dog and partying roomies and I just try to bide my time until the weekend arrives and I get to go see SB or he comes down to see me.

The dreary, wet, cold, rainy weather hasn't helped either. I love rain - but now I'm sick of it. I would like some more sun please.

Oh, and there's a really cool mom and pop's Italian place that has the most amazing calzone/panzerotti I have ever eaten - Papa's Pizza. And no, they haven't paid me to advertise that :p

London and J-School

This blog has been collecting quite a few cobwebs. Blame it on J-school. Or for non J-schoolers, the journalism program I'm currently in.

So I arrive to Canada and enjoy a lovely three-week holiday with Sam, and stayed for three weeks with SB and his folks. Went to Niagara Falls for the first time on my birthday, not to mention the first I ever went away with my current squeeze and that too on my birthday. It was perfect except for the fact that SB had a flu during that weekend, which escalated on my birthday and turned him into a cranky, whiny, grumpy old man. No surprises when I caught it a few days after and I'm still recovering from it, although I only have an occasional nose-blockage and hacking cough.

I moved into my apartment a week before classes began. London was very cold and very wet. Not helpful for my cough and cold. SB and his dad were sweet enough to carry my three suitcases and furniture from Waterloo to London. Speaking of his folks, they've been amazing with me. Very sweet, very caring and all warm and cuddly. They've made my transition a lot easier than it could have been, and most of you know that I don't like change or moving to a new place. Even moving from Waterloo to London made me cranky.

My heart and mind are stuck in KW (Kitchener-Waterloo). I'm slowly warming up to London, but I miss being in a house where I'm not confined to my room, I can cook in a well-stocked pantry and where my clothes and stuff aren't covered in dog hair.

Yep - I don't live alone. I have three other flatmates and one of them has an eight-month old puppy. He's sweet, but I'm not a fan of dogs. I don't mind them, but an over-energetic puppy that barks and jumps all over me every time I cook and having to close every door I pass through so that he won't get in and chew stuff frustrates me a little. And I'm not sure I'd want to get a cat with the puppy in the apartment.

I suppose its part of the adjustment process. It's only been a month and I'm getting to know London, my classmates and my flatmates. I'm sure it will grow on me soon - and it is.

We're just 31 in class and I've started making friends. We study hard and party hard. There's now a j-school tradition where we all get together at one guy's place for a pre-party before we head out to a venue in London. Oh, I also have two guys from my class in the same building as me - good for studying together.

As for SB, today is our six month anniversary. Even though things are getting busy with school and I don't spend as much time with him as I like, I think we've just been growing stronger. I fall in love with him even more every day.

Considering my past, which is patchy at best, I was worried about remaining faithful and what would happen if I got attracted to someone at university or in program. Even though our batch is filled with hotties (myself included), I'm not worried about cheating on him. Although the guys are totally awesome and good eye-candy (yes, I'm sure they may object to my objectifying them), I only have eyes for SB. To me, he is the most handsome and hottest person in the world. I love him inside and out.

Also, do not play Monopoly with people who are very anti-capitalists and are smart-asses to boot. Which is what happened when I tried playing a family classic and a childhood game with SB and his folks. I have to admit that SB warned me that it would be unpleasant. I just read that as "we-will-kick-your-ass" unpleasant, which I took as a challenge. What he really meant though was "infuriatingly-painful-and-slow" unpleasant. No one wants to trade - at least not with me. We ended up changing to 'Life' mid-game. Never again.

There's so much more to write but I got to go now. Take care!

On the other side

Yes, I have been neglecting this blog for quite a while now - blame it on SB. No, not really. He's a darling. Life has been quite exciting the past few weeks and I've spent most of it running around like a headless chicken. There's still more stuff to do, but I can now take a breather and relax a little.

I'm finally in Canada now. The flight was long, full of whiny children and just a little too turbulent for comfort. But I did land in one piece and after going through immigration to get my study permit sorted out and going through customs, I arrived two hours later to SB's arms. It was an emotional, but happy reunion. I got to spend time with my two fave boys - my best friend Sam and my man SB.

Since then, I've been on a well-needed break and vacation before school madness begins. I did get my bank sorted out, as well as heading to London to get some pre-semester stuff taken care of.

I also got to spend time with SB's mom. She's been such a sweetheart and so welcoming. She took two days off from work to spend time with me, where we went shopping and had some girl-bonding time. She mentioned that because she had no daughters or a close niece (SB is the only child), she now had someone to go on such girly-trips with. And I'm glad because I have someone like my mom to hang out with. Of course I miss my mom tonnes, but its nice that there's someone to make the separation a little easier.

Besides the usual window shopping, we did go to some cool places together. We found dice for her (she plays DnD in our group too) and I gave her an extra figurine that I had - it was perfect for her character. She also took me to this halal/ethnic food store where I found a little piece of Dubai right in Kitchener/Waterloo. All the spices, all the lentils - so many things I was scared I wouldn't find and miss terribly that I was close to tears at the thoughtfulness of his mom.

It's also really nice watching a functional family bond, as well as just seeing a dad bond with his child. It feels nice being a part of it.

I have to say that I'm luckier than most people starting new in a different country. I have my best friends, my darling who has been caring and thoughtful and his family who have welcomed me with open arms.

The next few weeks before school will get really busy as there seems to be many social invites and dinners in my honor or a sort of 'meet MJ' thing. I'm so glad I moved here.

Farewell...

I had the best farewell party last night. It was small, intimate and fun. Just the way I like it.

The trend of all my parties tend to be that exactly half or less than all the people I invite show up. The half that don't consist of last minute cancels, not answering the phone or conveniently disappearing. It used to bother me, but now I'm in a 'meh' mode. Because what matters is the people who did come.

So in the end we were a party of six, which was really cosy and we all got along perfectly, even with our weird quirks and them coming from different groups in my life. It is incredibly satisfying to have a rag-tag of people who would normally not hang out with each other come just for me.

I decided to try this place called Ping Pong Dim Sum in Dubai Mall and I'm glad I went. It was just awesome - its just like a dumpling bar, san booze (being inside a mall and all). But to be honest, I enjoyed not having alcohol or shisha in my last outing with friends. We just kept ordering and dumplings kept coming. And they were yummy. I also went across to Magnolia Bakery in Bloomingdales and got a small Red Velvet Cheesecake (which I suspect was just red-tinted cheesecake) and a Devil's Food Cupcake. And the hype was true - their stuff is amazing! A bit pricey, but amazing.

So after hogging on the awesome food at Ping Pong, we caught the last two Dubai Fountain shows and the last show was aptly set to Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman's "Time to Say Goodbye":

It was quite a surreal moment.

We then went to Mamzar for our usual (or rather Hamy and mine) saffron tea and this tiny little cafeteria called Filli. It generally has a rather chav crowd that stare at anything that moves but we don't care - we want our saffron tea. And we chatted and sipped our tea and cancelled a rather spontaneous plan to go for shisha somewhere nearby due to curfews.

All in all, a rather awesome night. I'm really going to miss Dubai.

Time to say goodbye...

It's been a very long and busy few weeks, as well as emotional. I don't respond well to change, at least not initially. Those who know me well know that I kick up quite a hissy-fit before I calm down, listen to reason, strategize and move on.

As you know, I'm uprooting myself from my home town and heading to London (Canada, not UK) for a Master's program. I suppose its great timing considering how Dubai and the UAE in general is turning into a farce. I'm not going to even get into whether I agree with the laws or not simply because if it's a law, it's a law. If the law says all eggs should only be colored with blue-and-white polka dots, then polka dots it is.

However, the bone I have to pick (as with most people) is how anyone with a vindictive bone can screw someone else's happiness without much thought about their actions or consequences. The enforcement of such also seems to be incredibly random. You can read all about it on this post on Life in Dubai (a blog I read quite often).

Anyhow, even though the changes happening in my life are for better, it is quite a roller coaster ride because it the first time in over 20 years that I'm moving to another country. I won't have familiar things surrounding me. Dubai is my home and it always will be, even if I never come back as a resident. It is my birthplace and where I've grown up. It is home.

I've quit my job - hallelujah. It felt good not having to deal with incompetent colleagues and no support from upper management. I've been busy packing with my mom and having to cut back drastically on what to take due to some bad news. I got my study permit and visa, but the Canadian Embassy decided that my mom and sister, who would be accompanying me to help me settle in, would not come back and hence denied their visit visas. It felt quite random and they did not give a satisfactory explanation as to why they felt that way. It didn't make sense logically as my mom is footing my tuition bill (and we showed the required documentation: salary certificates, bank statements, etc) and if she quit her job to go with me to Canada, who would pay my tuition? Hence, I'll have to stuff everything I own into two suitcases, instead of six. Well, three with mom pulling a few internal strings. I feel unnerved.

I also needed to sell my car and have a buyer ready. That should be settled by Sunday. Also have a farewell party with a few friends at Dubai Mall tomorrow.

So that's about it for now. I'm not sure if I'll post more for the remaining week I'm in town but there'll definitely be more posts once I'm in Canada. I'll leave you all with this song:

Happy Mother's Day...

This month is a month dedicated to all women. Even Mother's day falls in this month.

Being a mother is a double-edged sword. It is a thankless job, yet a blessing. So much is expected out of her. Some from herself, some from her partner, some from the baby and some from society. Far too much pressure and expectations. Being a mother is also scary. You're in charge of something so beautiful, so small. You love that precious little bundle of joy and you'd do anything for them. Anything.

On the other hand, men can be cruel. Not all, but many. Men know how to hurt women, and know how to hit below the belt. They know a mother's biggest weakness is her children. They know they can use their children to hurt, control and manipulate them. Far too many women have stayed in horrible marriages, abusive relationships and far, far worse because of their children. What they fail to understand is that their children are always in a far worse place than if they just left.

I know this because I see it around me. And I grew up in something similar. I know my mom loves me, but I do know she resents me too. Partially. If it weren't for me or my sister, she'd have left my dad a long time ago instead of wasting over 20 years of her life. My dad used us to control my mother. I will never forgive him for that, nor will I ever forgive being used like that. Most days I wish I were never born because all my existence has brought is two people being stuck together, being miserable and resenting the fact that they had to wait for me to grow up for them to do something about their nightmare of a marriage. And me growing up to see all of this.

I remember all the things my dad would do to make sure my mom 'behaved'. He never hit any of us, nor did he ever hit my mother. But he threatened her and forbade her from doing many things, like not seeing her family - dangling us as bait. Oh, we got to see them when my dad was in a good mood, but I grew up knowing that my dad never saw my mom's side of the family. Both sets of my grandparents lived in Dhaka, and we'd split our summer holidays staying at both houses.

Let me give you an example of how my dad used to twist my mom's 'arm'. It was my mom's youngest sister's wedding - she was getting married in summer of '95. We got the invitation and news sometime in early December of '94. Of course, my dad wouldn't be attending, but my mom made plans for the three of us to go. She booked our tickets, told my grandmother to stitch some clothes for us and we were all set to go.

Then, my dad threw a fit and said my sister and I couldn't go. My mom begged and pleaded and did what she could to convince him, but he wouldn't budge. He said my mom could go, but we couldn't. So my mom cancelled our tickets and decided to go on her own.

Then, about a week or two before she planned on leaving, my dad threw another hissy fit and said she couldn't go either. She put her foot down and said he couldn't forbid her from attending her own sister's wedding. He then told my mom that if she went, he'd take the kids and leave.

And that's when my mom decided not to go. Because of us. Because of the threat of losing us. And in an even crueler twist of fate, he made sure we went to Dhaka only AFTER all the wedding ceremonies had ended and everyone in my mom's family had left. He knew if we went to his mother's (our paternal grandmother) house before then, she'd make sure we go.

That was just one incident. There were many more times where we had to lie to my dad to go visit my mom's family, or smuggle them in to our house when my dad wasn't at home. Over and over again, he'd threaten to leave with us anytime my mom went against his wishes. When I look back at it now and see it being mirrored in someone else's life, I see how men stoop so low to use their own children to manipulate their wives.

And the women are in a fix - if they stay, their husbands have ammo to control them. Every time they go out of line, men will keep dangling their children to keep them in check and control them. If they do leave - they're branded as being a bad mother and abandoning their child. What do they do and where do they go?

In my opinion, I think letting go is sometimes the biggest sacrifice a mother can make for her child's welfare. Having the courage to stand up and not let a man control you like that ultimately is the best thing you can do for your child and yourself. It is also the hardest thing to do.

If the mother is unable to support the child at that point of time, then leave to fight for custody another day. Make something of yourself - study, get better qualifications - anything that makes you financially stable enough to battle for your child in court. Don't be selfish. Don't stay because you'd rather take the abuse and let your child see it because you don't want to be a 'bad mother' or because you don't want your child to call another person 'mama'. You are not a bad mother - rather, in my opinion, you are the better mother and person for letting your child grow in a place where the parents aren't fighting, even if it means calling someone else 'mama'.

What if they grow up brainwashed by their father and hates you for leaving? Again, they'd hate you for staying and growing up living like I have. I know I'm not a mother so I may not know what it feels like, but I am a child. And I wish my mom would have called my dad's bluff and said "go ahead, take my children." I wish she would have had the courage to not let my dad use us that way to get to her. If they can't see what you as a mother have done so that they stay sane, then they're an ungrateful lot.

So I say this to all the mothers stuck in a bad marriage and with children - get out. Get out now before you start resenting your children. And your children resent you.

The rather lengthy update...

I know I'm going to be fucked by staying up so late (or early) and writing this. But as those who suffer from writer's block and a rather busy life know, you have to give in when inspiration strikes.

First up, a few updates on my life.

I got in to my dream program and I'll be heading to great, big, frozen north shortly before my birthday - that would be mid-April. A little over a month. Finally, going to the one country I've been dreaming about for months, doing the Master's I've been wanting to do and being with the man I love. I must have done something right the past few months (or even in a past life if that floats your boat).

Speaking of my man, SB reads my blog. Yup, my first ever main squeeze that reads this space. It just felt right telling him about it. Although this is quite a public forum to be maintaining a slightly private diary, there has been some privacy in anonymity. Plus, despite all the raunchy posts, there have been many things I don't write about here.

Being with SB has made me feel far safer than anyone. Even P never read this. I may have mentioned that I wrote a blog, but he never asked, and I never volunteered giving the URL. There was a part of me that still didn't feel safe - and sure enough I was right. I doubt he'd be too pleased reading about everything I'd written about, especially in the last few months.

But I digress. I suppose having a long-distance relationship, even for a while, really helps in getting to know a person. You spend time talking and learning new things about the person. Plus with him, things seemed to just click. Despite our incredibly contrasting lives and experiences - him having a rather happy, secure life versus my rather colorful and checkered past - we complement each other so well. He wanted to know more about me, and I told him whatever I could. But my memory does get pretty lousy and after telling him quite a few doozies that aren't documented in my blog, he still stuck around. So, my gut didn't object much when I thought about handing him the key to a diary containing over four years of my life - the good, the bad and the very ugly.

And he's still around. Which is a good sign isn't it?

He understands why I blog. Rather than being judgmental about the content, he listened. If anything, reading it made us closer (I hope). He wants me to continue writing.

On the work-front, I gave my 30-day notice earlier in the month and my last day will be on the 31st. I can't wait to quit - I'd been looking for an opportunity and getting in to the program worked quite nicely. We launched on the new platform and our website looks really good. But in terms of the working environment, it's been getting more and more toxic. Whether it is my patience dwindling or the fact that I'm surrounded by incompetence and blatant favoritism and racism, I'm glad I'm leaving now. I am grateful to my boss and the company that gave me great opportunities as a fresh grad, but the company no longer exists and the person who hired me is no longer around. It is time for me to move on. More bitching later.

I got my house sorted out in London (again Ontario, not UK). Yes, in this part of the world, I have to keep saying London ONTARIO and asked dumb questions like:
"How can London be in Canada?"
"But I thought you said Canada?"
"Do you pay in dollars or in pounds?" (yes, someone actually asked me that)

All that's left is complete my last few days at work, get my visa sorted out, pack my stuff and sell my car. Anyone interested in a 2003 Echo?