My last goodbye
Door: J. Elzinga
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Janneke
11 September 2015 | Canada, Toronto
Already two weeks have I passed since I took the plane home and left Toronto – for good…? This will be my final report on my great adventure abroad and to thank the people I met, it’s going to be in English.
The city Toronto was an amazing place for me to live. So impressively large compared to the cities in my home country, but yet so warm and welcoming. I felt at ease since the day I set foot on Canadian grounds – oh well – since the moment I passed the customs without any problems.
During the five months I spent here, I met the most inspiring people from all over the world. We shared our love for science, food, biking, nature, skating or beers, but most of all we shared our love for the city.
Because Toronto…
… taught me about different cultures and how to respect each of them. But in the end it doesn’t really matter where you come from, unless your country knows how to make better pancakes than the old-Dutch ones.
… showed me how to combine peanut butter in different pastries and even meals. Peanut butter is actually – just like chocolate, strawberry or caramel – a flavour! I’m going to miss the peanut butter gourmet cookies, chocolate peanut butter (spread), peanut butter ice cream and Reese’s.
… taught me how to say sorry. Not only the honest excuses, but also the ‘I-feel-obligated-to-say-sorry-but-honestly-I-just-want-you-to-get-out-of-my-f*cking-way’ sorry.
… taught me how to ride a bike through downtown traffic.
… has many ways leading to Kingston. By train, by car or by bike.
… introduced me to poutine (incredibly greasy), maple syrup (incredibly sweet) and glazed donuts topped with pieces of bacon (an incredibly good combination!).
and finally, Toronto (or) Canadians forced me not to hurry. For example, it is actually normal to wait in line for a restaurant. Or Japanese cheesecake.
To complete the story, here some top-five’s:
My top 5 restaurants for lunch/brunch/dinner
1. Ka Chi, on Bloor or Dundas St.. Particularly fan of the black bean udon noodles.
2. Fresh, 90 Eglinton Ave. for a delicious protein shake and a healthy salad. All vegan!
3. Harvest Kitchen, 124 Harbord St. for a good and filling Saturday brunch
4. Ravisoups, 1128 Queen St.. Was it the sight of the wooden rotating plate it was served on or was it the surprising ingredients in the soup and wrap?
5. Jimmy the Greek, Eaton Centre Food Court. Lots of Greek food for little money. A perfect take-out lunch to eat on Dundas Square.
My 5 favourite ice-creams/cold sweets
1. Marble Slab! A scoop of ice mixed together with a spatula on a slab with your favourite toppings (chocolates, fruits, candy, Reese’s peanut butter cups)
2. Frozen Yoghurt at Menchie’s or Yoghurties. Self-service, lots of flavours and thousands of toppings (Reese’s peanut butter cups for example).
3. Cookie cream sandwich. Gourmet cookie – ice cream – Gourmet cookie. According the line and the diversity in flavours, Bang Bang (93 Ossington Ave.) is definitely the place to be, but no one can beat the Cookie Monstah food truck in Boston.
4. Baskin and Robbins
5. Kawartha ice-cream
The top 5 places to be
1. The Toronto Islands
2. On top of the Baldwin Steps near the Casa Loma
3. Dundas Square
4. Queen Street
5. Christie Pits Park
And not to forget…
The top 5 places to bike
1. King City
2. Somewhere between Toronto and Kingston
3. Finch Corridor
4. Along Lake Ontario, despite skaters, runners and fellow bikers
5. Downtown, because somehow it is indeed possible
Right after my arrival home, I started my master in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Our class is a combination of 7 different nationalities, statistics which could also have applied to a group I went with on a regular night out in Toronto. After five months in the lab, I'm really excited to follow courses again. Who knows to which places my studies will bring me in the future?
The city Toronto was an amazing place for me to live. So impressively large compared to the cities in my home country, but yet so warm and welcoming. I felt at ease since the day I set foot on Canadian grounds – oh well – since the moment I passed the customs without any problems.
During the five months I spent here, I met the most inspiring people from all over the world. We shared our love for science, food, biking, nature, skating or beers, but most of all we shared our love for the city.
Because Toronto…
… taught me about different cultures and how to respect each of them. But in the end it doesn’t really matter where you come from, unless your country knows how to make better pancakes than the old-Dutch ones.
… showed me how to combine peanut butter in different pastries and even meals. Peanut butter is actually – just like chocolate, strawberry or caramel – a flavour! I’m going to miss the peanut butter gourmet cookies, chocolate peanut butter (spread), peanut butter ice cream and Reese’s.
… taught me how to say sorry. Not only the honest excuses, but also the ‘I-feel-obligated-to-say-sorry-but-honestly-I-just-want-you-to-get-out-of-my-f*cking-way’ sorry.
… taught me how to ride a bike through downtown traffic.
… has many ways leading to Kingston. By train, by car or by bike.
… introduced me to poutine (incredibly greasy), maple syrup (incredibly sweet) and glazed donuts topped with pieces of bacon (an incredibly good combination!).
and finally, Toronto (or) Canadians forced me not to hurry. For example, it is actually normal to wait in line for a restaurant. Or Japanese cheesecake.
To complete the story, here some top-five’s:
My top 5 restaurants for lunch/brunch/dinner
1. Ka Chi, on Bloor or Dundas St.. Particularly fan of the black bean udon noodles.
2. Fresh, 90 Eglinton Ave. for a delicious protein shake and a healthy salad. All vegan!
3. Harvest Kitchen, 124 Harbord St. for a good and filling Saturday brunch
4. Ravisoups, 1128 Queen St.. Was it the sight of the wooden rotating plate it was served on or was it the surprising ingredients in the soup and wrap?
5. Jimmy the Greek, Eaton Centre Food Court. Lots of Greek food for little money. A perfect take-out lunch to eat on Dundas Square.
My 5 favourite ice-creams/cold sweets
1. Marble Slab! A scoop of ice mixed together with a spatula on a slab with your favourite toppings (chocolates, fruits, candy, Reese’s peanut butter cups)
2. Frozen Yoghurt at Menchie’s or Yoghurties. Self-service, lots of flavours and thousands of toppings (Reese’s peanut butter cups for example).
3. Cookie cream sandwich. Gourmet cookie – ice cream – Gourmet cookie. According the line and the diversity in flavours, Bang Bang (93 Ossington Ave.) is definitely the place to be, but no one can beat the Cookie Monstah food truck in Boston.
4. Baskin and Robbins
5. Kawartha ice-cream
The top 5 places to be
1. The Toronto Islands
2. On top of the Baldwin Steps near the Casa Loma
3. Dundas Square
4. Queen Street
5. Christie Pits Park
And not to forget…
The top 5 places to bike
1. King City
2. Somewhere between Toronto and Kingston
3. Finch Corridor
4. Along Lake Ontario, despite skaters, runners and fellow bikers
5. Downtown, because somehow it is indeed possible
Right after my arrival home, I started my master in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Our class is a combination of 7 different nationalities, statistics which could also have applied to a group I went with on a regular night out in Toronto. After five months in the lab, I'm really excited to follow courses again. Who knows to which places my studies will bring me in the future?
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
