One Year in Canada

A year ago, a long-time dream came true – I moved to Canada.

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I’ve wanted to move to Canada since 2016 or maybe even earlier, and I finally got here thanks to a random job offer from a previous boss, just when I had given up on that dream. So there’s a moral lesson here – give up on your dreams? LOL.

So I packed up my stuff, said goodbye to my Hong Kong friends, and hopped on a plane with my cat in the cabin to Toronto.

Here’s all the new experiences I had since then:

1. Moved into a condo
2. Ate a caramel apple and other stuff at the CNE (Canadian National Expedition)
3. Spotted Hollywood celebrities during the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) – Andrew Garfield, Henry Golding, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton
4. Visited New York for work and pleasure, and got toured around by my boss Sandra
5. Had a magical Tangled moment when I saw lit lanterns floating on the water at the Water Lantern Festival
6. Picked apples from trees at Downey’s Apple Farm
7. Enjoyed a Pumpkin Festival
8. Fell in love with the fall colors in places like Downsview Park, Woodbine Beach Park, and High Park
9. Fell in love with a boy and got into a serious relationship after so many years
10. Chased the Niagara Falls on a day trip and then again overnight with a stunning view from Sheraton Fallsview Hotel
11. Watched a hockey game
12. Witnessed my first snowfall
13. Experienced a white Christmas (and I mean with snow, not with white people like my boyfriend’s brother joked)
14. Visited California to see my brother and toured Sacramento, San Francisco, Napa Valley, and also experienced a scary snowstorm while driving in Lake Tahoe
15. Shared a New Year’s Eve kiss – there were 2 kinds of fireworks that midnight 😉
16. Had a romantic Valentine’s date – a staycation with a view of the lake, in Westin Harbour Castle
17. Made my first snow angel and snowman
18. Visited Montreal
19. Visited Niagara-on-the-lake
20. Saw bountiful cherry blossoms at the Toronto Centre Island
21. Checked out Hanlan’s Point beach, a clothing-optional beach (but kept my clothes on!)
22. Visited my friends Gay and Dred in Nova Scotia, and we toured Halifax, Carter’s Beach, Lunenberg, and Eastern Passage

Oh wow, I can’t believe I did so many things in just a year! I hope there’s more new experiences in the next years to come!

Other anniversary posts from previous countries I’ve lived in:

• First Year in Singapore
• One Year in Hong Kong