Driving around the block this morning, I noticed more and more 'For Sale' signs around my neighbourhood. Bad news, because in this kind of economy, it means that more and more people are having distress sales, losing their homes to banks or down grading to smaller homes.
Infact my next door neighbour is caught in a catch 22 situation.....they bought the house they are living in about eight years ago. Then, two years ago they paid the downpayment for a new house north of Brampton. This new home is ready in April, and if they don't pay the balance installment and take the house on time, they will be fined $1000/- canadian dollars. At the same time, their home has been on sale for awhile now, and so far not a single buyer has come to see their house!
They need the money from the sale of their present home, to get posession of the new home. Banks are wary of giving new loans and peoples credit ratings have dropped due to non payment of credit card bills etc. Their asking price for their three bedroom, two bathroom home is $317,000/-. This is considered to be a middle class house. They also spent 35,000/- on new flooring, a new roof and doing up the basement. All necessary to sell the home.
Hope things go well for them! Overall, pretty dismal economic situation here. Nothing is selling, malls are empty and people are taking any kind of job they can get. Not sure how bad the situation is in India right now.
The only good thing...is that after three months of snow and minus temperatures..today the sun is finally out and it is 4 degrees outside. My daughter was so excited that she could wear a short sleeve shirt to school today. You don't miss things like that unless you are forced to wear long sleeves for three months running!
Last Sunday we went to a place called, Varl Dosa. A Tamil couple run the small place on Kennedy road in Brampton. Nice homemade food. We had dosa's, chicken fried rice and parathas with chicken curry. I give it a seven on ten. The sambar and chutney at the Saravana Bhavan is far better. Prices at the Dosa place were very reasonable, where as Saravana is pretty expensive for a vegetarian place.
The common restaurants here are Swiss Chalet, Montana's, Harveys, Kelseys and of course the usual McDonalds, Pizza hut etc.
Will try the restaurants and let you know how they were! Just the kind of experimenting I like!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The King, more snow and Raccoons....
Well, not the King..but Obama. You would think it was some kind of royalty though, with all the hullabaloo going on here for the past ten days or so about Obama's impending visit. Families that reside near Parliament house, have been told to not come out onto their fire escape, roof or open windows while Obama is in town!
Security has never been this tight for anyone, and this mornings paper had some interesting articles mainly reminding Canadians that it is the American president that is coming to town and therefore his agenda will have what is best for America and not Canada. Most Canadians think he is coming here to better the Canadian economy, and many papers today put that into perspective. GM closing in America, means that it will close in Canada too. This means thousands of jobs on the line....so yes, to the average Canadian, what happens in America is very intertwined into the lives of what happens in Canada.
The Prime Minister here, Stephen Harper is also a young politician with two young children, and the general feeling here is that he should get along with Obama with so much in common. Obama is coming here with the main agenda of getting Canadian backing for more troops in Afghanistan, and to see how better these two countries can share in trade and information.
Another day of snow and rain.....so much for the clear roads!
We saw raccoon footprints outside our garage today. Being garbage day, it probably could smell the food in the trash and was scouting around. Raccoons can be vicious and really dangerous when trapped.
This is a North American Raccoon...very common here. They can stand on their hind legs and hold things with their front paws. Raccoon's are also very intelligent and can open standard trash cans! They are a little bigger than cats and are nocturnal.
Will write a post on the different kinds of animals found here and not elsewhere.
Until next time.........have a good week!
Security has never been this tight for anyone, and this mornings paper had some interesting articles mainly reminding Canadians that it is the American president that is coming to town and therefore his agenda will have what is best for America and not Canada. Most Canadians think he is coming here to better the Canadian economy, and many papers today put that into perspective. GM closing in America, means that it will close in Canada too. This means thousands of jobs on the line....so yes, to the average Canadian, what happens in America is very intertwined into the lives of what happens in Canada.
The Prime Minister here, Stephen Harper is also a young politician with two young children, and the general feeling here is that he should get along with Obama with so much in common. Obama is coming here with the main agenda of getting Canadian backing for more troops in Afghanistan, and to see how better these two countries can share in trade and information.
Another day of snow and rain.....so much for the clear roads!
We saw raccoon footprints outside our garage today. Being garbage day, it probably could smell the food in the trash and was scouting around. Raccoons can be vicious and really dangerous when trapped.
This is a North American Raccoon...very common here. They can stand on their hind legs and hold things with their front paws. Raccoon's are also very intelligent and can open standard trash cans! They are a little bigger than cats and are nocturnal.Will write a post on the different kinds of animals found here and not elsewhere.
Until next time.........have a good week!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Blue Mountain and the road that took us there.
Yesterday, around 1pm, we decided at the spur of the moment to take a drive and see the Blue Mountains. These mountains, are basically a ski resort and winter chalet vacation spot, about 130 miles from where we live.The drive took us about two hours..........straight roads most of the way...and an easy enough drive. You don't really reach any specific moment during the drive, where you say, 'Oh look, there are the mountains.' The climbs are so low key, that you get there without realising it.
The ski resort we went to (Club Intrawest vacation Homes), happens to be one of the resorts where you can book rooms only if you have a club membership like RCI. (In India you get automatic membership into RCI when you become a member of Club Mahindra). RCI - Resorts and Condominiums International
We found out that to stay there we would have to call the 1-800 number of RCI to make a booking. This is something we're planning to do in March when some of my cousins who live in Dubai are coming in for a week.
We also found out that they have hourly ski lessons at the slopes, over 300 ski instructors during the winter season, and also rentals for ski's and ski boots. They also have different rate packages for using the ski lift to go to the top of the slope.
On our way back, my husband told me to drive. Since I got my license here just a few months ago, I was still not driving on the highway. So, getting behind the wheel, I drove the 130 miles back home.......it was great! The roads were straight, but went up and down in some places like a roller coaster.
That is Hurontario street..the main highway to Collingwood from Brampton. What you see is just a few miles, but imagine miles and miles of the same road. It is a beautiful sight during the sunset! Will keep you posted on our trip there in March and more details as to which are the best places to stay and what kind of things you can do there.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Forbidden Phoenix - Musical Play
This morning we woke up to a glorious minus six degree morning.....with the sun shining and all the snow and ice finally melted from the roads. As family day was on Monday, this mornings newspaper was full of fun events for the entire family of things happening in and around Toronto for the long weekend.
We went through the list and saw that there was a fun musical and acrobatic play in Toronto, and tickets were still available for today! So we quickly got ready and drove the forty minutes to downtown Toronto, found parking and made our way to the 'Lorraine Kimsa theatre for Young People'.
The Forbidden Phoenix, the name of the play, had opened on Thursday and was being presented by LKTYP in partnership with Edmonton's Citadel Theatre.
We bought out tickets...$15 for kids and $20 for adults was the listed price, but once there they said they will accept any 'donation' for the tickets. You didn't have to pay the listed price and could pay what you felt like. We picked up our four tickets and headed into the theatre.
It was a small theatre...which seated about two hundred people at the most..and we got seats right in the front row!!
The play started bang on time...after the mandatory announcement to turn off cell phones and no cameras. (So, sorry....I have no pictures to upload here!) There was plenty of singing, acrobatics and interesting characters..one of the main actresses had her leg in a cast and was carried about the stage or used crutches for her scenes....which was something unusual to see. I guess they did not have a stand in.
There was a fifteen minutes interval and the play ended before four pm. Overall it was enjoyable and the kids loved the acrobatics and the sound affects with all the smoke machines and strobe lights.
We had a late lunch and drove back home.......and now I am writing about it here in my post!
If you do come here to Toronto, just do a google search on 'theatres in Ontario' and you will get several lists of plays going on at that time with all the ticket details and timings.
Until my next post.....see you!
We went through the list and saw that there was a fun musical and acrobatic play in Toronto, and tickets were still available for today! So we quickly got ready and drove the forty minutes to downtown Toronto, found parking and made our way to the 'Lorraine Kimsa theatre for Young People'.
The Forbidden Phoenix, the name of the play, had opened on Thursday and was being presented by LKTYP in partnership with Edmonton's Citadel Theatre.
We bought out tickets...$15 for kids and $20 for adults was the listed price, but once there they said they will accept any 'donation' for the tickets. You didn't have to pay the listed price and could pay what you felt like. We picked up our four tickets and headed into the theatre.
It was a small theatre...which seated about two hundred people at the most..and we got seats right in the front row!!
The play started bang on time...after the mandatory announcement to turn off cell phones and no cameras. (So, sorry....I have no pictures to upload here!) There was plenty of singing, acrobatics and interesting characters..one of the main actresses had her leg in a cast and was carried about the stage or used crutches for her scenes....which was something unusual to see. I guess they did not have a stand in.
There was a fifteen minutes interval and the play ended before four pm. Overall it was enjoyable and the kids loved the acrobatics and the sound affects with all the smoke machines and strobe lights.
We had a late lunch and drove back home.......and now I am writing about it here in my post!
If you do come here to Toronto, just do a google search on 'theatres in Ontario' and you will get several lists of plays going on at that time with all the ticket details and timings.
Until my next post.....see you!
FAMILY DAY - FEB 16TH MONDAY
One holiday that you may have never heard of.....I didn't until we came here...is FAMILY DAY.
This falls on the third Monday of February, and was started just last year, 2008.
The goverment of 2007, in October that year declared the holiday and the write up that was printed in the local paper the next day said:
"Premier Dalton McGuinty got back to work today on behalf of hard-working Ontario families by confirming that he would create a new statutory holiday this February called Family Day.
"There is nothing more valuable to families than time together. And yet it seems tougher than ever to find, with so many of us living such busy lives," McGuinty said.
"That's why, on the third Monday of this coming February — and every February from now on — Ontarians deserve a new statutory holiday — Family Day."
So, this means: Yea...we have a long weekend!
Schools, banks, offices and any place where parents could be working are closed. Well, except gas stations, stores and eating places. Also, the Zoo, museums, theaters and other family friendly places are not only open, but have reduced their tickets for Monday and/or allowing kids free!!
Infact, when I went to school to pick up my daughter on Friday.....the question on everyones mind was what they were going to do for Family Day. Some said, we're taking the time to visit the temple and then go to Niagara falls. Others are going for a movie..or some place new to eat. But the key word is 'family' and spending time with your parents/kids/siblings/ whomever....
For those who don't have families or don't like the ones they have:) ....you can always drive out to the U.S just across the border and take advantage of the Presidents Day sales going on there...for the U.S holiday that is also on Monday!
So, HAPPY FAMILY DAY...........
Oh..We are going for our first ice hockey game on Monday.....Mississauga St. Michael’s MajorsVS Brampton Battalion at the Hershey Center in Mississauga.
Will let you know the details on that on Tuesday........if we get tickets that is!!
Have a good weekend wherever you are!
This falls on the third Monday of February, and was started just last year, 2008.
The goverment of 2007, in October that year declared the holiday and the write up that was printed in the local paper the next day said:
"Premier Dalton McGuinty got back to work today on behalf of hard-working Ontario families by confirming that he would create a new statutory holiday this February called Family Day.
"There is nothing more valuable to families than time together. And yet it seems tougher than ever to find, with so many of us living such busy lives," McGuinty said.
"That's why, on the third Monday of this coming February — and every February from now on — Ontarians deserve a new statutory holiday — Family Day."
So, this means: Yea...we have a long weekend!
Schools, banks, offices and any place where parents could be working are closed. Well, except gas stations, stores and eating places. Also, the Zoo, museums, theaters and other family friendly places are not only open, but have reduced their tickets for Monday and/or allowing kids free!!
Infact, when I went to school to pick up my daughter on Friday.....the question on everyones mind was what they were going to do for Family Day. Some said, we're taking the time to visit the temple and then go to Niagara falls. Others are going for a movie..or some place new to eat. But the key word is 'family' and spending time with your parents/kids/siblings/ whomever....
For those who don't have families or don't like the ones they have:) ....you can always drive out to the U.S just across the border and take advantage of the Presidents Day sales going on there...for the U.S holiday that is also on Monday!
So, HAPPY FAMILY DAY...........
Oh..We are going for our first ice hockey game on Monday.....Mississauga St. Michael’s MajorsVS Brampton Battalion at the Hershey Center in Mississauga.
Will let you know the details on that on Tuesday........if we get tickets that is!!
Have a good weekend wherever you are!
Update on our samsung dvd player
There is none! We emailed the person at the Samsung service center...and until today no reply. Remember they were supposed to email back to us the address and how to POST them our dvd by mail as they were not allowed to collect the same over the counter?
Still waiting.................... but will call them Tuesday.
Keep you posted......
Still waiting.................... but will call them Tuesday.
Keep you posted......
Monday, February 9, 2009
Things you will find strange here.....
Was thinking today about India and how we take certain things for granted there.....sounds absurd...but true, about things that are done differently here in Canada.
For example:
1) When I was in Chennai....as far as I know, I could use my visa card anywhere, and if not that (never came across a store that didn't) they would def take a mastercard.
Here, there are huge stores like Oceans, No Frills and similar stores..that don't take visa, or even a credit card!! You have to pay cash or by debit. I am talking about a supermarket six times the size of a Foodworld. Most stores do not take American Express.
Many stores here have their own cards and tie ups with banks for this service. You get points and discounts when you use these cards to buy things from these stores. The downside to this is that you end up with dozens of cards in your wallet/purse which you have to carry with you everywhere!
2) At the store No Frills and a couple of others..you have to tell them approximately how many bags you will be needing to carry your groceries home. For each bag, you pay 5cents. There are many people who bring their own bags, own cardboard box or some who don't bother and just put all the groceries loosely in the cart and then put it the same way into the trunk of the car. Then imagine at home, carrying everything into the house. (common sight here!)
This is done to prevent the damage done to the environment with all plastic bags once they are thrown away, which is a good thing I guess. Many stores gave away free cloth bags last year, hoping customers would reuse the same bags which also had advertising on them. But this didn't work.
3) You have to pump your own gas here and pay for it at the pump (card) or inside the store in every gas station where you can pay cash too. All the gas stations come with clear instructions as to how to pay for the gas, what kind of gas and the prices. Remember, don't move your car before you pay....this is considered a criminal offence.
These were just some things I thought of today! I'll post more as I come across more instances like these.
Have a nice week!
Nalini
For example:
1) When I was in Chennai....as far as I know, I could use my visa card anywhere, and if not that (never came across a store that didn't) they would def take a mastercard.
Here, there are huge stores like Oceans, No Frills and similar stores..that don't take visa, or even a credit card!! You have to pay cash or by debit. I am talking about a supermarket six times the size of a Foodworld. Most stores do not take American Express.
Many stores here have their own cards and tie ups with banks for this service. You get points and discounts when you use these cards to buy things from these stores. The downside to this is that you end up with dozens of cards in your wallet/purse which you have to carry with you everywhere!
2) At the store No Frills and a couple of others..you have to tell them approximately how many bags you will be needing to carry your groceries home. For each bag, you pay 5cents. There are many people who bring their own bags, own cardboard box or some who don't bother and just put all the groceries loosely in the cart and then put it the same way into the trunk of the car. Then imagine at home, carrying everything into the house. (common sight here!)
This is done to prevent the damage done to the environment with all plastic bags once they are thrown away, which is a good thing I guess. Many stores gave away free cloth bags last year, hoping customers would reuse the same bags which also had advertising on them. But this didn't work.
3) You have to pump your own gas here and pay for it at the pump (card) or inside the store in every gas station where you can pay cash too. All the gas stations come with clear instructions as to how to pay for the gas, what kind of gas and the prices. Remember, don't move your car before you pay....this is considered a criminal offence.
These were just some things I thought of today! I'll post more as I come across more instances like these.
Have a nice week!
Nalini
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Samsung dvd and our adventure trying to repair it...Canadian style!
When we moved into our new home last August, even before buying chairs to sit on...the first thing we bought was a t.v....and because we got a good deal...we picked up the home theatre system as well. Samsung...good brand, Best Buy..good store in Canada to buy any electronics.
Well, six months later..and our dvd player decided to start making funny noises and play a movie for the first two minutes before freezing. (Thus prompting us to eject the dvd, play it again, fast forward, skip ....anything to try to get it to work....but nothing!)
So, we find the invoice and drive all the way (okay, it took just fifteen minutes) to the store to get the player repaired.
They look at the invoice and say that the after purchase service that we paid a little extra for only covers the t. v and not the home theatre. Okay..what now?
Then they tell us that because it is a samsung, that the samsung people want to repair the player directly so that they will know what went wrong and try to make sure it doesn't happen in the future to other players. They give us an address for the Samsung service center and because it is just another twenty minute drive away..we decide to go there.
We reach this huge building, recheck the address..yes, we are at the right place...but we don't see any cars, or any signs saying Samsung..anything! So we call the number that they gave us..and after five minutes of pressing phone button options..we get an actual human on the line and he informs us that....get this.........they are not authorized to take the player directly from the customer, so the customer has to POST the dvd player to them by mail!!
This sounded so absurd to us at first, but then we realized that this is how things are done here more or less. Different companines..doing things their way...which may not mean customer friendly at all! Once we 'post' our player to them, it will take two to three weeks for them to fix it and get it back to us..or replace it with a new one.
We came back home laughing to ourselves.....yes, this is one more thing that would have been easier to do in India.
Will keep you posted (sorry for the pun) and let you know what happens to our player......
First we have to scan our invoice and fax or email it to a person at the Samsung service center. Then he will email us back how to post it..yes, Samsung does pay for the postage..and how to go about sending the player in.
Until next time....
Nalini
Well, six months later..and our dvd player decided to start making funny noises and play a movie for the first two minutes before freezing. (Thus prompting us to eject the dvd, play it again, fast forward, skip ....anything to try to get it to work....but nothing!)
So, we find the invoice and drive all the way (okay, it took just fifteen minutes) to the store to get the player repaired.
They look at the invoice and say that the after purchase service that we paid a little extra for only covers the t. v and not the home theatre. Okay..what now?
Then they tell us that because it is a samsung, that the samsung people want to repair the player directly so that they will know what went wrong and try to make sure it doesn't happen in the future to other players. They give us an address for the Samsung service center and because it is just another twenty minute drive away..we decide to go there.
We reach this huge building, recheck the address..yes, we are at the right place...but we don't see any cars, or any signs saying Samsung..anything! So we call the number that they gave us..and after five minutes of pressing phone button options..we get an actual human on the line and he informs us that....get this.........they are not authorized to take the player directly from the customer, so the customer has to POST the dvd player to them by mail!!
This sounded so absurd to us at first, but then we realized that this is how things are done here more or less. Different companines..doing things their way...which may not mean customer friendly at all! Once we 'post' our player to them, it will take two to three weeks for them to fix it and get it back to us..or replace it with a new one.
We came back home laughing to ourselves.....yes, this is one more thing that would have been easier to do in India.
Will keep you posted (sorry for the pun) and let you know what happens to our player......
First we have to scan our invoice and fax or email it to a person at the Samsung service center. Then he will email us back how to post it..yes, Samsung does pay for the postage..and how to go about sending the player in.
Until next time....
Nalini
Friday, January 30, 2009
Immunization shot
We got a letter from the Ontario health dept saying that our eleven year old son had to have one more immunization shot to be allowed to stay in school. In India kids get one MMR shot, but here they get two.
So one Saturday morning, I took him to the nearby Walk -in- Clinic. These are clinics that you literally walk in to, and after showing the receptionist your Health Card..she asks you to wait to see a Doctor depending on what your problem is.
These clinics are free if you have a health card.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We waited for half an hour before we were called. The waiting room was FULL of kids waiting to get flu and immunization shots.
They asked us to wait in room 5, (they had about seven or eight rooms). A nurse came in and double checked that we were there for the MMR shot. She filled the syringe and then we waited for the Doctor. He turned out to be a young Indian Doctor, who asked us routine questions like, if my son was feeling fine, if he had any allergies etc.
Then before we knew it, he had given the shot....and we left. A family with three children had come in without health cards and they were told that they would have to pay $50/- per child. This was the Doctors fees as the immunization shot was free. I guess they were new to Canada and had not received their cards yet. This takes about two to three months after you get here to come to you in the mail.
Kids from the Middle East end up taking about three immunization shots here. So depending on which country you are coming from, you will get a notice from the health dept as to what shots your kids have to take.
The Doctor filled in a form, we faxed the same to the health dept and they inform the school.
That was our first experience with the Walk in, and now we're waiting for the letter to come for our eight year old daughter. She has to take the same MMR shot too!
So one Saturday morning, I took him to the nearby Walk -in- Clinic. These are clinics that you literally walk in to, and after showing the receptionist your Health Card..she asks you to wait to see a Doctor depending on what your problem is.
These clinics are free if you have a health card.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery.
Most of your Ontario health benefits are covered across Canada.The province or territory you are visiting will usually bill the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care directly for hospital and physician services.Eligibility
Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage (OHIP). To be eligible for Ontario health coverage you must :
- be a Canadian citizen or have immigration status as set out in Ontario's Health Insurance Act, and
- make your permanent and principal home in Ontario, and
- be physically present in Ontario 153 days in any 12-month period.
OHIP coverage normally becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario. The ministry strongly encourages new and returning residents to purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the OHIP waiting period.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We waited for half an hour before we were called. The waiting room was FULL of kids waiting to get flu and immunization shots.
They asked us to wait in room 5, (they had about seven or eight rooms). A nurse came in and double checked that we were there for the MMR shot. She filled the syringe and then we waited for the Doctor. He turned out to be a young Indian Doctor, who asked us routine questions like, if my son was feeling fine, if he had any allergies etc.
Then before we knew it, he had given the shot....and we left. A family with three children had come in without health cards and they were told that they would have to pay $50/- per child. This was the Doctors fees as the immunization shot was free. I guess they were new to Canada and had not received their cards yet. This takes about two to three months after you get here to come to you in the mail.
Kids from the Middle East end up taking about three immunization shots here. So depending on which country you are coming from, you will get a notice from the health dept as to what shots your kids have to take.
The Doctor filled in a form, we faxed the same to the health dept and they inform the school.
That was our first experience with the Walk in, and now we're waiting for the letter to come for our eight year old daughter. She has to take the same MMR shot too!
The Indian Embassy in Toronto
About three weeks ago, we had to go to the Indian Embassy in Toronto, as we had to send some signed documents to our bank in India..which had to be stamped in the embassy here.
We drove to the address in Toronto (given at the end of this post) and spent twenty minutes looking for parking. They have public parking places on every other street in downtown Toronto. Just look for the huge green signs that say 'P' on it and follow the arrows. You just have to drive in, get a ticket and park. On your way out, you give your ticket to the person at the exit, and he will tell you how much you have to pay. Just look for the huge green signs that say 'P' on it and follow the arrows
I was imagining a big building, with the Indian flag flying proudly on top and us finishing our work and leaving in max half an hour. No such luck....
First, the embassy is one of many offices, shops and apartments in a huge block building. It is on the 7th floor and when you get there...no signs or flags! So initially you don't realize that you have come to the right place.
There is a door for you to Enter..and you walk through the security frame that beeps for everyone, and no one in particular is paying attention. There is another door for the Exit, and at sharply eleven am they close the door where you enter. (The embassy timings for accepting forms is from 9 to 11AM). If you do reach say at 11 sharp and the door is closed, just wait near the exit door, and when someone opens it to leave, you enter that way. We saw at least fifty people do this...we Indians always find a way!!!
We stood in line for information, and we got a token number instead and told to get two more copies of our passports, PR card and to make a money order.
There is one huge hall with chairs all facing one direction, you sit there are wait for the number from your token to show up. Then you go to the counter and give in your papers.
In case they tell you to make copies of your passport, pr card etc and to pay some amount for processing fees (like we were asked to do), there is a post office on the ground floor where you go to get the copies made and to make the money order. They charge 25 cents per copy.
After making the photocopies and making the money order, we came back to the big hall (through the Exit door) and as we were number 67, we waited and waited for our turn. Finally forty five minutes later, we gave in our papers and they asked us to come back after three pm to pick it up.
We left, paid 15 dollars for parking!!, went home...the kids would come back from school at three. My husband went back to the Embassy at four to pick up the documents.
The staff there are polite, courteous and try to answer questions patiently..but there are so many people coming in and out not really knowing what to do. They also had many non-Indians there trying to get visas for India, who came in late and were turned away and asked to come back the next day. So this was one more good thing..no favorites here!!
CONSULATE-GENERAL OF INDIA, TORONTO
Suite 700, 365 Bloor Street East,
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3L4
Tel: 416-960-0751
Fax: 416-960-9812
Email: cgindia@cgitoronto.ca
Website: http://www.cgitoronto.ca/
We drove to the address in Toronto (given at the end of this post) and spent twenty minutes looking for parking. They have public parking places on every other street in downtown Toronto. Just look for the huge green signs that say 'P' on it and follow the arrows. You just have to drive in, get a ticket and park. On your way out, you give your ticket to the person at the exit, and he will tell you how much you have to pay. Just look for the huge green signs that say 'P' on it and follow the arrows
I was imagining a big building, with the Indian flag flying proudly on top and us finishing our work and leaving in max half an hour. No such luck....
First, the embassy is one of many offices, shops and apartments in a huge block building. It is on the 7th floor and when you get there...no signs or flags! So initially you don't realize that you have come to the right place.
There is a door for you to Enter..and you walk through the security frame that beeps for everyone, and no one in particular is paying attention. There is another door for the Exit, and at sharply eleven am they close the door where you enter. (The embassy timings for accepting forms is from 9 to 11AM). If you do reach say at 11 sharp and the door is closed, just wait near the exit door, and when someone opens it to leave, you enter that way. We saw at least fifty people do this...we Indians always find a way!!!
We stood in line for information, and we got a token number instead and told to get two more copies of our passports, PR card and to make a money order.
There is one huge hall with chairs all facing one direction, you sit there are wait for the number from your token to show up. Then you go to the counter and give in your papers.
In case they tell you to make copies of your passport, pr card etc and to pay some amount for processing fees (like we were asked to do), there is a post office on the ground floor where you go to get the copies made and to make the money order. They charge 25 cents per copy.
After making the photocopies and making the money order, we came back to the big hall (through the Exit door) and as we were number 67, we waited and waited for our turn. Finally forty five minutes later, we gave in our papers and they asked us to come back after three pm to pick it up.
We left, paid 15 dollars for parking!!, went home...the kids would come back from school at three. My husband went back to the Embassy at four to pick up the documents.
The staff there are polite, courteous and try to answer questions patiently..but there are so many people coming in and out not really knowing what to do. They also had many non-Indians there trying to get visas for India, who came in late and were turned away and asked to come back the next day. So this was one more good thing..no favorites here!!
CONSULATE-GENERAL OF INDIA, TORONTO
Suite 700, 365 Bloor Street East,
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3L4
Tel: 416-960-0751
Fax: 416-960-9812
Email: cgindia@cgitoronto.ca
Website: http://www.cgitoronto.ca/
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
U.S trip part 2 :Christmas in Ohio and New Years in Nashville
Thanks to all who wrote to me after I changed the blog format! Glad you like the change...
Pictures of our road trip are after this post:)
Since we reached Ohio late after that twelve hour plus long drive.....we woke up late the next day...giving us only half of the 24th to get ready for Christmas. Lucikly my friend is someone who was super organised and had cooked all the meals for our stay a head of time, had decorated the house for Christmas, put up the beautiful tree, wrapped the presents and had planned a party with friends, karaoke and great food!
We went for the midnight Church service on the 24th/25th, and returned home for some yummy hot chocolate. The next morning, we did some shopping in the morning while my friends husband cooked the main dish for that nights party...Lobster lasagna..which included other types of seafood as well. YUMM!
The kids opened their gifts and settled down to play some game or read one of their new books.
About three in the afternoon, the first guests arrived and they brought the entire Karoke system with them. Mixer, mikes, speakers..the works. At first it took some time for everyone to feel comfortable enough to sing...in public....but soon we were all crooing hits from the '80's and 90's. It's a good thing no one paid tickets to come and hear us...but we really had fun!
After an evening of singing, dancing, playing 'Dance revolution', eating....eating and even more eating....we called it a night.
The next day we out for lunch and in the evening took the kids to play Laser Tag. All the adults played too...it brought out the kid in all of us..as we ran around the small space, trying not to get shot and trying to shoot as many people from the other team as possible. We played about three rounds of this, ordered some pizza and went home for another late night of my friend and I staying up till three in the morning..talking. We did a lot of that...we had four years to catch up on..and even more years of, 'Remember whens'.
The morning of the 27th, we drove out to Nashville. The drive...simply wonderful. Sun shining, no rain, no snow and no black ice.........
We reached Nashville at about eight in the night....had a wonderful home cooked dinner and caught up with my Sister-in-law and her family on the latest.
We then spent the next few days eating out, celebrating birthdays (my husband and my daughter), visiting the Jack Daniels distillery, the Science Center, boat ride through the Opryland hotel, celebrating the New Year, meeting new friends, dinner invites, meeting friends who drove down from Atlanta to see us, a couple of meals at Cracker Barrel (one of my favourite places to eat), shopping and eating. Did I mention eating? We did a lot of that....and probably put on some weight...but who cares....it's the season to be jolly, right?
It was the most relaxing holiday we've had in a long time....spending it with friends and family. But all good things must come to an end....(me and my sayings) and on Jan 2nd we said our goodbyes and headed out to Ohio, to spend one night with my friend again before the long stretch to Toronto.
The kids took the drive well. They were used to going on long drives, as we used to do this in India too. We have driven from Chennai to Nagercoil and back several times, sometimes via Ooty or Kodaikanal. One holiday we drove from Chennai to Chicmangalur to Coorg, to Ooty, to Salem and back. We were so happy at the end of that holiday to get out of the car!
We reached home at about eight pm on the 3rd, after another nice drive. The weather was perfect and we made good time. After picking up some dinner we went home and breathed a huge sigh of relief and said a quiet prayer...we drove over 2000 miles and made it home safe.
Some facts:
When driving here, the highways are more or less straight..you can drive for hours without having to turn your steering wheel......and therefore you can get bored easily and fall asleep if you're not careful.
Also, because your driving on straight roads, it is very easy to be driving much faster than you think you are. Keep an eye on your speed. Speed limits are posted everywhere.
You see plenty of dead deer, raccoons and some other animals I couldn't recognise all over the roads. Especially at night.
All the exits are clear and the signs tell you way ahead of time when an exit is coming and how far away it is.
There are signs towards the exit, telling you what restaurants, hotels and gas stations are there, so that you can take the exit ....eat, fill up on gas and then come back to the highway.
Listen to the traffic or weather channel once in a while to hear about closed roads, detours or storms heading your way.
Experience the Country driving...it is the best way to get a real feel of a place.
Until next time.................HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!
Pictures of our road trip are after this post:)
Since we reached Ohio late after that twelve hour plus long drive.....we woke up late the next day...giving us only half of the 24th to get ready for Christmas. Lucikly my friend is someone who was super organised and had cooked all the meals for our stay a head of time, had decorated the house for Christmas, put up the beautiful tree, wrapped the presents and had planned a party with friends, karaoke and great food!
We went for the midnight Church service on the 24th/25th, and returned home for some yummy hot chocolate. The next morning, we did some shopping in the morning while my friends husband cooked the main dish for that nights party...Lobster lasagna..which included other types of seafood as well. YUMM!
The kids opened their gifts and settled down to play some game or read one of their new books.
About three in the afternoon, the first guests arrived and they brought the entire Karoke system with them. Mixer, mikes, speakers..the works. At first it took some time for everyone to feel comfortable enough to sing...in public....but soon we were all crooing hits from the '80's and 90's. It's a good thing no one paid tickets to come and hear us...but we really had fun!
After an evening of singing, dancing, playing 'Dance revolution', eating....eating and even more eating....we called it a night.
The next day we out for lunch and in the evening took the kids to play Laser Tag. All the adults played too...it brought out the kid in all of us..as we ran around the small space, trying not to get shot and trying to shoot as many people from the other team as possible. We played about three rounds of this, ordered some pizza and went home for another late night of my friend and I staying up till three in the morning..talking. We did a lot of that...we had four years to catch up on..and even more years of, 'Remember whens'.
The morning of the 27th, we drove out to Nashville. The drive...simply wonderful. Sun shining, no rain, no snow and no black ice.........
We reached Nashville at about eight in the night....had a wonderful home cooked dinner and caught up with my Sister-in-law and her family on the latest.
We then spent the next few days eating out, celebrating birthdays (my husband and my daughter), visiting the Jack Daniels distillery, the Science Center, boat ride through the Opryland hotel, celebrating the New Year, meeting new friends, dinner invites, meeting friends who drove down from Atlanta to see us, a couple of meals at Cracker Barrel (one of my favourite places to eat), shopping and eating. Did I mention eating? We did a lot of that....and probably put on some weight...but who cares....it's the season to be jolly, right?
It was the most relaxing holiday we've had in a long time....spending it with friends and family. But all good things must come to an end....(me and my sayings) and on Jan 2nd we said our goodbyes and headed out to Ohio, to spend one night with my friend again before the long stretch to Toronto.
The kids took the drive well. They were used to going on long drives, as we used to do this in India too. We have driven from Chennai to Nagercoil and back several times, sometimes via Ooty or Kodaikanal. One holiday we drove from Chennai to Chicmangalur to Coorg, to Ooty, to Salem and back. We were so happy at the end of that holiday to get out of the car!
We reached home at about eight pm on the 3rd, after another nice drive. The weather was perfect and we made good time. After picking up some dinner we went home and breathed a huge sigh of relief and said a quiet prayer...we drove over 2000 miles and made it home safe.
Some facts:
When driving here, the highways are more or less straight..you can drive for hours without having to turn your steering wheel......and therefore you can get bored easily and fall asleep if you're not careful.
Also, because your driving on straight roads, it is very easy to be driving much faster than you think you are. Keep an eye on your speed. Speed limits are posted everywhere.
You see plenty of dead deer, raccoons and some other animals I couldn't recognise all over the roads. Especially at night.
All the exits are clear and the signs tell you way ahead of time when an exit is coming and how far away it is.
There are signs towards the exit, telling you what restaurants, hotels and gas stations are there, so that you can take the exit ....eat, fill up on gas and then come back to the highway.
Listen to the traffic or weather channel once in a while to hear about closed roads, detours or storms heading your way.
Experience the Country driving...it is the best way to get a real feel of a place.
Until next time.................HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!
Onward to the U.S -part1
We were so excited that our Christmas vacation had finally started! Being so busy the past few months, we felt like we really needed the break.
Our plan: Dec 23rd, drive from Toronto to Ohio, where we would spend Christmas with a friend. Then on Dec 27th, drive to Nashville, Tennessee where we would spend the New Year with my Sister-in-law. Jan 3rd, drive back to Toronto.
Preperation for trip:
PASSPORTS, VISA FOR THE U.S AND OUR PR CARDS.
When you are driving across a border it is easy to forget that you need passports and visas. Don't forget...on your return back to Canada, you have to show them your PR Card. Once you have these, then you:>
Check car, check tires, fill tank, get antifreeze for the wipers (a liquid added to the water in a cooling system to lower its freezing point or to the water for wiper blades), load the car with water, food, coke (I have two kids you know!), charge both cell phones, charge cameras, take extra warm clothes in case of emergency and we have to leave the car, take down phone numbers, addresses, plug in the GPS, lower the heating in the house (to save on power), check all outlets, check the stove and make sure everything is off, take out all garbage,tell the neighbor you're leaving, lock the front door, close the garage, re-check the front door....and leave!
Finally after all of the above we headed towards the U.S border via Michigan. The Ambassador Bridge was where we would be crossing the border and go through customs and immigration.
First we checked the weather report...clear until the afternoon and then some light snow. Sounded fine...so we left around ten thirty in the morning, after some last minute phone calls and kids finding their ipods and video game cartridges for the long car ride.
The 'light snow', soon turned into a snow storm that we drove straight into after about three hours on the road. Too late to turn around and too early to stop anywhere. The roads soon became slippery and it looked like someone had whitened out our windshield. We drove at the speed of 20 miles per hour for about three hours and ended up taking a detour which added another two hours to our already delayed drive.
We reached the U.S border, after a lunch halt at Tim Hortons...their chili is just awesome!
At the border, we didn't have something called the I-94 form. So they asked us to get down from the vehicle and go into the Customs office and get the form signed and stamped. This was the interesting part....like something out of the movies....four or five big hulky men, with black uniforms (border cops) asked us to turn the cars engine off and except for our purses and documents, to leave everything else in the car and get out leaving the car unlocked. We had to leave our cell phones in the car too. They stare you down while you do this and totally intimidate you into feeling guilty. You have no clue what for............
Then we got out of the car, the border patrol (more like the men in black) making sure we didn't take anything out....and then as we made our way to the customs office, we noticed that they quickly searched our luggage and the insides of our car. The only thing missing here was Bruce Willis.
Once in the customs office, th y intimidate you even more. I guess they just want to make sure you are a legitimate tourist and not a terrorist! After asking us questions like, how were my husband and I related, if the kids were ours etc, they cleared us and told us to have a nice day, and Merry Christmas! They collected six dollars for each of us and then we were on our way.
From KM in Canada, everything becomes MILES in the U.S. So if and when you drive across the border, remember that the speed limit of 60 now means miles and not km.
1 miles = 1.609344 kilometers
1 kilometer = 0.621371192 miles
We had our handy GPS with us, so knowing which direction to take was not a problem. We knew exactly how many miles, what time we would reach our destination and if there were any road blocks on the way.
We stopped for some much needed coffee at at Wendys, while the kids had some milk shakes. Then, that is when the weather really turned bad! It started to pour, and it was already dark (about 7pm). We were supposed to reach Ohio by this time by our initial calculations..but because of the earlier snow storm and detour...we were not anywhere near Ohio!
Here we were, driving on the highway, pouring rain, dark roads, almost zero visibility..and suddenly we see bright blinking red lights. Drastically slowing down, my husband who was driving...says, 'Oh oh, the car is not stopping!'. Luckily, we had a huge gap from the car in front, and we managed to slow down in time. Then we noticed total chaos. There were at least twelve cars off of the road, all of them had slid off the sidesw and were now in ditches and some had slid all the way to on coming traffic on the other lane! It was again...a sight straight out of the movies.
Novices that we were..we had no clue what was happening. Then we realized...we were all sliding on black ice! This is when the roads get coated with ice, you can't see it because it is the same color as the road.............and when you step on your brakes...the car just slides. It does not stop! This is something we don't experience in India..and when you see it here it is just unbelievable. Cars literally slipping and sliding all over the place, not able to steer or stop with any control.
What do you do in this situation? Turn on your hazard lights and drive at the speed of ten miles per hour.....or slower! As we drove, we saw more and more cars that had gone off the highway and were now stuck in the ditches and grass. Police cars, fire engines and ambulances were all over the place with their sirens and lights, rescueing stuck drivers. If you start to slide, start pumping your brakes and blow your horn. If you hit something, or go off of the road, call 911 and the rescue team will be there before you know it to help.
About two hours of this...and the car in front of us suddenly spun around ( I don't know what he was trying to do) and went into a big ditch on the right side of the road. My husband immediately told me to call 911 and report the incident. So I picked up our cellphone and dialled 911. A lady operator said, 'This is 911, please state your emergency.' I told her what happened, and gave her the nearest exit number to where the car had slid off. She asked if anyone was hurt..and I told her that I didn't know. Then she put me on hold while she spoke to the highway patrol...I could hear the guy in the background saying that all his cars were already out and he would contact the next county to see if they had patrols available. So, our first and hopefully last 911 call!
The rain finally stopped and by the time we drove through Michigan, through Ohio and reached our friend who lives in Morrow..it was past midnight! It was such a relief to reach her house, and her kids were still up so we spent another hour chatting and eating a light bit before going to bed for a much needed rest before the next day.
The price of gas really varied betweent the countries and it was much cheaper in the U.S. You have to keep converting gallons to litres, so don't get confused!
One liter is equal to 0.2641721 gallons
One gallon is equal to 3.785412 liters
Will write about Christmas in my next post and some of the fun things we tried for the first time.
Our plan: Dec 23rd, drive from Toronto to Ohio, where we would spend Christmas with a friend. Then on Dec 27th, drive to Nashville, Tennessee where we would spend the New Year with my Sister-in-law. Jan 3rd, drive back to Toronto.
Preperation for trip:
PASSPORTS, VISA FOR THE U.S AND OUR PR CARDS.
When you are driving across a border it is easy to forget that you need passports and visas. Don't forget...on your return back to Canada, you have to show them your PR Card. Once you have these, then you:>
Check car, check tires, fill tank, get antifreeze for the wipers (a liquid added to the water in a cooling system to lower its freezing point or to the water for wiper blades), load the car with water, food, coke (I have two kids you know!), charge both cell phones, charge cameras, take extra warm clothes in case of emergency and we have to leave the car, take down phone numbers, addresses, plug in the GPS, lower the heating in the house (to save on power), check all outlets, check the stove and make sure everything is off, take out all garbage,tell the neighbor you're leaving, lock the front door, close the garage, re-check the front door....and leave!
Finally after all of the above we headed towards the U.S border via Michigan. The Ambassador Bridge was where we would be crossing the border and go through customs and immigration.
First we checked the weather report...clear until the afternoon and then some light snow. Sounded fine...so we left around ten thirty in the morning, after some last minute phone calls and kids finding their ipods and video game cartridges for the long car ride.
The 'light snow', soon turned into a snow storm that we drove straight into after about three hours on the road. Too late to turn around and too early to stop anywhere. The roads soon became slippery and it looked like someone had whitened out our windshield. We drove at the speed of 20 miles per hour for about three hours and ended up taking a detour which added another two hours to our already delayed drive.
We reached the U.S border, after a lunch halt at Tim Hortons...their chili is just awesome!
At the border, we didn't have something called the I-94 form. So they asked us to get down from the vehicle and go into the Customs office and get the form signed and stamped. This was the interesting part....like something out of the movies....four or five big hulky men, with black uniforms (border cops) asked us to turn the cars engine off and except for our purses and documents, to leave everything else in the car and get out leaving the car unlocked. We had to leave our cell phones in the car too. They stare you down while you do this and totally intimidate you into feeling guilty. You have no clue what for............
Then we got out of the car, the border patrol (more like the men in black) making sure we didn't take anything out....and then as we made our way to the customs office, we noticed that they quickly searched our luggage and the insides of our car. The only thing missing here was Bruce Willis.
Once in the customs office, th y intimidate you even more. I guess they just want to make sure you are a legitimate tourist and not a terrorist! After asking us questions like, how were my husband and I related, if the kids were ours etc, they cleared us and told us to have a nice day, and Merry Christmas! They collected six dollars for each of us and then we were on our way.
From KM in Canada, everything becomes MILES in the U.S. So if and when you drive across the border, remember that the speed limit of 60 now means miles and not km.
1 miles = 1.609344 kilometers
1 kilometer = 0.621371192 miles
We had our handy GPS with us, so knowing which direction to take was not a problem. We knew exactly how many miles, what time we would reach our destination and if there were any road blocks on the way.
We stopped for some much needed coffee at at Wendys, while the kids had some milk shakes. Then, that is when the weather really turned bad! It started to pour, and it was already dark (about 7pm). We were supposed to reach Ohio by this time by our initial calculations..but because of the earlier snow storm and detour...we were not anywhere near Ohio!
Here we were, driving on the highway, pouring rain, dark roads, almost zero visibility..and suddenly we see bright blinking red lights. Drastically slowing down, my husband who was driving...says, 'Oh oh, the car is not stopping!'. Luckily, we had a huge gap from the car in front, and we managed to slow down in time. Then we noticed total chaos. There were at least twelve cars off of the road, all of them had slid off the sidesw and were now in ditches and some had slid all the way to on coming traffic on the other lane! It was again...a sight straight out of the movies.
Novices that we were..we had no clue what was happening. Then we realized...we were all sliding on black ice! This is when the roads get coated with ice, you can't see it because it is the same color as the road.............and when you step on your brakes...the car just slides. It does not stop! This is something we don't experience in India..and when you see it here it is just unbelievable. Cars literally slipping and sliding all over the place, not able to steer or stop with any control.
What do you do in this situation? Turn on your hazard lights and drive at the speed of ten miles per hour.....or slower! As we drove, we saw more and more cars that had gone off the highway and were now stuck in the ditches and grass. Police cars, fire engines and ambulances were all over the place with their sirens and lights, rescueing stuck drivers. If you start to slide, start pumping your brakes and blow your horn. If you hit something, or go off of the road, call 911 and the rescue team will be there before you know it to help.
About two hours of this...and the car in front of us suddenly spun around ( I don't know what he was trying to do) and went into a big ditch on the right side of the road. My husband immediately told me to call 911 and report the incident. So I picked up our cellphone and dialled 911. A lady operator said, 'This is 911, please state your emergency.' I told her what happened, and gave her the nearest exit number to where the car had slid off. She asked if anyone was hurt..and I told her that I didn't know. Then she put me on hold while she spoke to the highway patrol...I could hear the guy in the background saying that all his cars were already out and he would contact the next county to see if they had patrols available. So, our first and hopefully last 911 call!
The rain finally stopped and by the time we drove through Michigan, through Ohio and reached our friend who lives in Morrow..it was past midnight! It was such a relief to reach her house, and her kids were still up so we spent another hour chatting and eating a light bit before going to bed for a much needed rest before the next day.
The price of gas really varied betweent the countries and it was much cheaper in the U.S. You have to keep converting gallons to litres, so don't get confused!
One liter is equal to 0.2641721 gallons
One gallon is equal to 3.785412 liters
Will write about Christmas in my next post and some of the fun things we tried for the first time.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The week before Christmas
I don't know why the time I take now between writing my posts seems to be getting longer and longer. Maybe because I have just been busier with other things...or there does not seem to be enough to write about.
Some things that have been going through my mind recently:
I just met a lady the other day, who was a Doctor in India, but because of the weird Canadian system of not taking another country's educational degree as a valid one, is not a Doctor in Canada. Did you know that it is not legal for her to use the title 'Dr' in front of her name here until she is certified and licensed with the Canadian degree? I thought, poor lady..going through all those years of studying and being called a Doctor in India and being treated with so much respect there, but is a 'nothing' here. She catches three buses and two subways to reach her twice a week course in Toronto, and comes home to her five year old (who stays with a neighbour) at 11.30 pm. Her husband works the three to three shift at a factory, and comes home only at 3.30 am. She was a Doctor in India??!!
We just started Christmas shopping! I love the stores here, the decorations in front of the houses, and the music that seems to be playing from every nook and corner of every mall...enticing shoppers to buy things no one could possible ever need.
Suddenly noticed the number of groups, agencies, homes etc advertising on t.v and newspapers for donations. Christmas is the time to give and there are plenty out here who seem to need. From homeless, to underpriveledged to the sick. It is nice to see so many people give their time, as well as money and actually go out in the cold to stand in lines to help those more deserving. Many familes take their kids too, to teach them the art of giving the time to help others.
We were so excited about snow initially. From 'Hey come and look at this, it's SNOWING!', now it is...'Oh, it's snowing again!'. Shovelling the snow is a real pain. You have to shovel it during the snow fall, before it gets too high and hard. We learnt this the hard way. The snow piles around the driveway where it meets the street were so hard by the time we decided to clear it, that we couldn't! Now there is just enough space for us to reverse the car out! Luckily the rest of the driveway is clear.
Melting snow refreezes. This ice makes it dangerous to walk on sidewalks without being careful. Roads become so slippery and you see cars sliding all over the side streets which are not cleared like the main roads are.
In a week, we are off to the United States. We decided to drive to Ohio where we will spend Christmas with a friend and then to Nashville to visit my sister-in-law.
Will write all about our trip when we're back..in the meantime,
HAPPY NEW YEAR to everybody!!
Some things that have been going through my mind recently:
I just met a lady the other day, who was a Doctor in India, but because of the weird Canadian system of not taking another country's educational degree as a valid one, is not a Doctor in Canada. Did you know that it is not legal for her to use the title 'Dr' in front of her name here until she is certified and licensed with the Canadian degree? I thought, poor lady..going through all those years of studying and being called a Doctor in India and being treated with so much respect there, but is a 'nothing' here. She catches three buses and two subways to reach her twice a week course in Toronto, and comes home to her five year old (who stays with a neighbour) at 11.30 pm. Her husband works the three to three shift at a factory, and comes home only at 3.30 am. She was a Doctor in India??!!
We just started Christmas shopping! I love the stores here, the decorations in front of the houses, and the music that seems to be playing from every nook and corner of every mall...enticing shoppers to buy things no one could possible ever need.
Suddenly noticed the number of groups, agencies, homes etc advertising on t.v and newspapers for donations. Christmas is the time to give and there are plenty out here who seem to need. From homeless, to underpriveledged to the sick. It is nice to see so many people give their time, as well as money and actually go out in the cold to stand in lines to help those more deserving. Many familes take their kids too, to teach them the art of giving the time to help others.
We were so excited about snow initially. From 'Hey come and look at this, it's SNOWING!', now it is...'Oh, it's snowing again!'. Shovelling the snow is a real pain. You have to shovel it during the snow fall, before it gets too high and hard. We learnt this the hard way. The snow piles around the driveway where it meets the street were so hard by the time we decided to clear it, that we couldn't! Now there is just enough space for us to reverse the car out! Luckily the rest of the driveway is clear.
Melting snow refreezes. This ice makes it dangerous to walk on sidewalks without being careful. Roads become so slippery and you see cars sliding all over the side streets which are not cleared like the main roads are.
In a week, we are off to the United States. We decided to drive to Ohio where we will spend Christmas with a friend and then to Nashville to visit my sister-in-law.
Will write all about our trip when we're back..in the meantime,
HAPPY NEW YEAR to everybody!!
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