porcelain homecoming

Maybe you saw it on facebook: welcome back to Canada, can I offer you some quality time in the temple of the porcelain god?

As my direct flight from Istanbul to Toronto prepared to land I was staring at the little barf bag in the pouch in front of me. Am I actually going to have to use this? Please Maria, please just hold on...
There's a hold up getting off the plane, the police are checking our passports before we're allowed to leave the airplane walkway thing (what's that called?)... oh god, hurry up!!
I'm through and scanning for the toilet- ah, there it is. please just let me through, I'm serious, I'm not trying to beat you to the immigration queue!

It's been a long time since I've been that sick in public. It really sucks. I felt a lot better after offering my airplane food as pooja to the porcelain gods of Pearson International Airport. I brushed my teeth, wiped away the tears, and made my way to immigration.

Unlike almost all other airports I've been to, in Toronto, there is no separate line up for foreigners and Canadians. It seems we're all the same here... nice, but I was kind of looking forward to some VIP treatment. No such luck. Although, I guess I didn't get hassled at all, which you might be if you're foreign?

I collected my bags and went through to meet Corinne who was patiently sitting having a tea. I wish I hadn't felt so off, perhaps I could have taken a picture of her, she looked really beautiful sitting there, clearly off in her thoughts. It took her a moment to see me waving.

I'm afraid I was terrible company, certainly not the way I had envisioned my return to Canada to look like. Oh well, we caught the bus then metro, and although I thought I might have to use the plastic bag in my hand, I managed to stave off the nausea until I was in Corinne's apartment. Once there I did the obvious ceremony, I then went to sleep. Ah, glorious recumbent sleep. I slept for about 5 hours, then got up, it was about 9pm. Corinne made me some rice and we had a chat before I went back to sleep around 1am (I'm not sure how I passed all that time actually) and slept for another 6 hours. I think I'll get over this jet lag quickly.

So I'm back in Canada, and I'm eager to experience Canada with new eyes. What will my impressions be? My first impression is how non-segregated and multicultural this city is. I saw such mixed groups on the subway, it was really cool. In Canada, or correction: in Toronto, you would never look at someone and assume they're not from here based on their appearance. Your appearance says nothing about whether or not you were born here... I've missed that. The concept of foreigner is almost not applicable here, at least, not the way it is in other countries. I guess that's what happens in a city where immigration is so prevalent. A symptom of a wealthy country, one which I appreciate.

I am sure I will come across differences which are less cool though. In fact, I can think of one already. There was some uncertainty last night as to whether or not it would be ok for me to sleep in Corinne's roommate's room while she's away. In Canada, it is so important to get permission and be considerate, it's part of our privacy, a concept which is almost completely lost in places like Sri Lanka. So even though I love my privacy, it also means we're a little less laid back and hospitable in some ways. I mean, in Sri Lanka, India, and Turkey there would be no issue. In fact, the roommate would probably be offended if you didn't sleep in their bed while they're away!

Anyway, I'm going to go look into getting showered and dressed. Maybe I'll go speak some rapid English to someone!!!