Can-do in Canada

Friendship is complex and multi-layered and complicated and messy and intricate.

No, that's a lie. Friendship simply is. It doesn't take a lot to be someone's mate, to converse with them socially, hang out at events, pop over to borrow some milk or send a good luck text for a test. For social extroverts, friendship is not something that is difficult to seek out, pursue or commit to. That's what I feel a lot of the relationships I've made at college have been - sweetly simplistic, - and that's not a bad thing, or a sad thing. It's great. But upon reflection of my time in the US, it's those deeper levels of companionship that I've been taking for granted from the get-go of my semester abroad. The people know who they are, the ones that I feel so comfortable and normal around, it's hard not to think that we've been friends for years. I think I've taken for granted the sense of true  friendship, the relationships that are actually worth something, the people I've met that I would actively seek-out as mates at home, and not just in college because we're all thrown together in a live-eat-study-sleep-socialise-routine. It's bittersweet if I dwell on it too much, because in another world, our tight-knit group would be a recreation of Friends, and share sweetly the memories and experiences of Rachael, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandlier and Joey, over a decent 10 year life span. And that makes me sad - with only the affirmation that I promise to see them all again (some in the near future) pushes me to get out of be in the morning. *cue dramatic music*

Classy Toronto

That's Nicolai in there

Plodding through the hipster district

Actually, speaking of Friends, yes, this happened to me;
Shampoo Explosion
...and yes I'm aware that's not the first link that I have openly compared myself to Ross.

We headed to the hipster district to have an Asian dinner...on Thanksgiving..which I don't know if it was sad or tragic or even alternative. NEU International department organised a Thanksgiving lunch before we left for all the poor exchange student sods who had nowhere else to go. I could just sense the tension and annoyance at the staff members who had to attend to make us 'feel like a family' when it was obvious all they wanted to do was go home to their own real families. The food was ok, and we even got a dorky lecture about the history of Thanksgiving, failing obviously to mention the downside to the holiday. But I ate so much turkey and apple cider and pumpkin pie I was happy as Larry, in the company of all the other 'lost souls' who found themselves alone on Thanksgiving, which is celebrated as bigger than Christmas here.

Where we danced the night away

Pierre wouldn't normally be seen dead in a Northeastern sweater and cap. That's why this is rare material

Canadian homey winter

Pierre's brilliant boots.

Setting sun on a crisp day

The equivalent of Toronto's Times Square

Gang.

Having a rest.

We went to the beer shop and I bought beer like a boss. It was only after I lost Nicolai for a solid 20 minutes that I started to look sketchy, hanging out at the register with my (presumably fake) ID, whilst the assistant looked at me oddly. Although every single Canuck that passed me at the counter gave a friendly holla/started up a brief conversation. I love these people. When i went to find him, low and behold he's spent half his life chatting to a lovely Canadian about Danish beer, and after I spent the remainder of my life talking to him as well, I saw why. LOVELY. Simply LOVELY people who are genuinely wholesome and interesting. We hated on Americans for a bit, and chatted about all sorts and then the shop closed and the manager (nicely, obviously, it's Canada) asked us if it wouldn't be too much trouble if we were to leave because they were indeed closing. Bless them. I love these people.

So many coffee and cake breaks I felt I was in Europe again

Me and Torbz soak up the sun to defrost

Our male companions took longer to get ready, longer in the shower, and longer choosing what to wear that the females. That is all.

This is the section we call 'Hipster shots', mostly thanks to Torben, who seemed to have a recent-found obsession for them. And black and white. Just imagine I've hashtagged them all #hipster and/or #classictorben.

And now come the cafe series;

And then comes the night.
 

Ahaha, my favourite of Pierre

No, we don't know that person.