Arrived and yet not there

Almost a week ago, I landed in Toronto. During the flight, I watched three wonderful movies: 'Ghost in the Shell', 'Lost in Translation', and 'Infinitely Polar Bear'. I also watched the great documentary 'American Valhalla', which is about the unique collaboration between Iggy Pop and Josh Homme that resulted in the album 'Post Pop Depression'. During the descent, I looked out the window and saw the sun shining on Toronto while Iggy Pop sang:

'I am a passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight'

There was a Greek man sitting next to me on the plane. He has been living in Canada for five years and was returning from a four-week vacation in Greece. He needed help filling out his Declaration Card because his English was apparently worse than mine. As a thank you, he let me look at his vacation and family photos for half an hour. Overall, Canadians are really friendly. For example, at the Service Center at the airport, I met Bob. Bob speaks some German because he's from Kitchener. He directed me to a colleague where I could apply for my Social Insurance Number. Since they were all very helpful and didn't have much to do, three people tried to figure out the best way for me to get to my accommodation.

Toronto is a wondrous potpourri. The city is loud and smelly, and there is so much gray concrete to see. Toronto is ugly. I find it hard to feel comfortable here. In the middle of the Financial District, between the shiny skyscrapers and well-dressed people, homeless people sleep right on the sidewalk. There are many failed existences on the streets of Downtown. I can't look away. The streets constantly smell like perfume and weed. Despite being multicultural, racism is present and disgusting.

Toronto is a puzzling melting pot. Every neighborhood is different, surprising, interesting, and overwhelming. Toronto is beautiful. There is the crazy Chinatown, or Greektown, Little Italy, Koreatown, the hipsteresque Kensingten Market, and The Gay Village with rainbow-colored pedestrian crossings.

There are beautiful parks with urban gardening and an incredibly large number of squirrels. There is the wonderful Nathan Phillips Square in front of the City Hall and Sugar Beach on Lake Ontario.

Toronto is an American city. Nothing more and nothing less. The first snow has already fallen, and the cold record for Toronto in early November was broken. There are still many things to explore, some of which will surely be interesting and impressive. However, I am already looking forward to the Canadian nature, the mountains, and the lakes.

Because, as Iggy Pop also sang: