and after two years, it still rains on

yes, it is true that some stereotypes are there for a reason...like the one about british weather, canadian tendencies towards peacekeeping, and blondes having more fun. truth be told, we did experience a few rays of sunshine last week, which were much welcomed and celebrated through the act of merely sitting out of doors.

today marks my two year anniversary of landing on british soil. not quite as momentous as the vikings discovering the new world or man landing on the moon, but it's pretty important in my little world. some days it feels like it's only been six months, but lately it has felt more like forever. it is only fairly recently, in the whole scope of things, that i've decided i need to move home; that the other side of the ocean is where i feel happiest. but that is certainly not to say that i haven't relished every minute that i've been here. i am extremely fortunate and i count my blessings every single day even if i'm not aware of it.

i've met some incredible people and seen amazing things like turquoise water in scotland and the top of a mountain that certainly did feel like walking on the moon. there is still purpose to being here like being in love and enjoying my work. i have started preparing everyone for when i plan to move home and they are all probably sick to death of hearing my detailed two-year plan of working one more year at the gallery (yes my manager already knows, so it's okay to blog about it) then hopefully getting into a masters programme at warwick university near coventry and, not to mention, davoud. these things are important to me and in the bigger picture, two years isn't really that long. i certainly don't want to regret not having 3 solid years gallery experience and a masters under my belt before i try to run the canada council for the arts whose annual budget has now increased to $130 million.

oh canada, how i long to meet people and not have to explain why my accent is different and why i moved to this god forsaken country (their words, not mine). how i miss sitting and having a drink with those who know me best and changed my diapers once upon a time. how i can still taste food from some of my favourite restaurants in montreal and can hear friends laughter in my ears.

the grass is always greener on the other side i know. it's most definitely greener here than in canada, but i hear they have some pretty good astroturf.

i've been spending today by myself catching up on much needed sleep, uploading my albums to my external hard drive so that i can then put them onto my ipod, and watching the rain outside my window. but to celebrate, i am wearing the roots canada t-shirt janine and carole brought me in october, a cbc button/badge, and my toronto maple leaf socks. it's going to be their year next season...i can feel it in my toes. literally.