Christian Island’s Yellow Heart

Canada, 2007

Ask, and you shall receive.
— author unknown

When traveling to Canada in June 2007 customs gave me a hard time entering the country, stating they doubted I intended to leave again after my two and a half months of travel. Not having a job and not even having a home to go back to wasn’t quite helpful to convince them of my good intentions. Only after customs had made a phone call to my cousin Mary Ann, who was waiting for me at the airport, they accepted that I was in fact a nomad and world traveler. At that time, I honestly had no idea that I would instantly feel at home in Canada. I quickly made new friends and ended up spending a good eight months in the country visiting from Ontario in the East to the islands of Vancouver in the West.

Sitting on one of the many amazing rocks on a pebble beach at Christian Island, my hands are playing with some colourful rocks while I observe my thoughts. What an amazing couple of months I have had already in Canada! While I generally prefer nature over cities, I have totally fallen in love with Toronto and its laid-back multicultural atmosphere. I have walked many miles exploring the different neighbourhoods, from the dumplings and stores in Chinatown, to the lovely gardens in Little Italy, the Victorian homes of Cabbage Town and the abundance of flowers on the Toronto Islands. I love it all!