I guess the big news is that I've changed jobs...again! Having been working on casual contracts for the past few months, I've now secured a longer contract doing a year-long maternity cover. The job takes me out of teaching and I will most probably be globe-trotting once more as my new role is as Marketing & Administration Manager for York University English Language Institute (YUELI). For those of you Brits who might be slightly confused, there is a York University in Toronto which has nothing to do with the University of York, where I've also worked. York University is the third largest university in Canada with over 50,000 students and is located in the north of Toronto on its own campus. As I live right in the downtown core, it takes me about an hour to get there with three transport changes but so far I've coped in my bleary-eyed state.As well as being excited by the prospect of taking on a management role and travelling to far off places now and again, I can't wait for mid-August to come round. The reason for this is that as a staff member, I get discounted tickets for the ATP Roger's Cup men's tennis tournament, which is hosted on the campus. So, finally, I might get to see Mr Federer, Mr Nadal, Mr Roddick and Mr Murray play in the flesh.
Sport has been on my mind quite a bit this month as I've been trying to take advantage of the better weather. I bought myself a rather splendid bicycle, which I'm very proud of. It's a Dutch-made, second-hand bike and I got a great deal. I've since been seen navigating the potholes but have to say I think I'll be sticking to the flat-lands of the lakeshore area as the traffic in the city centre gave me the jelly-wobbles! No accidents yet though and my multi-coloured helmet has already drawn compliments from other cyclists...I like to think I'm leading the pack in accessorizing if nothing else.
In addition to taking to my two wheels, I've also taken to the water. I've joined a sailing club and so hope to get out on the wet stuff quite a bit over the summer months. I was a bit intimidated by the idea of being member of the National Yacht Club at first, especially when I read all the club rules. These include the regulation that hats are not permitted in the restaurant and that members must also wear clothing! I've already received an invite from the commodore for his annual salute to the fleet. However, having actually been down to the club, I think I can safely predict that behind the supposed formailities, it's probably going to be one big drunken fest after a very pleasant afternoon messing around in boats.
My sailing adventures will be on Lake Ontario and most weeknights they hold races around the islands. I'm not sure how competitive I am but it sounds like fun and, so as long as they don't mind having a ditzy blonde on board, I'm happy to crew if it gets me out on the water. Sometimes there are longer races across the lake as far as the Niagara region and although I haven't sailed that far yet, I did visit Niagara-on-the-Lake this month.
I should point out that Niagara (of the falls) and Niagara-on-the-Lake are not one and the same. Although close by, they are completely different in character. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a very pretty, quaint town with a real European feel to the place. Niagara, in contrast, is loud, brash and full of neon as well as a heck of a lot of water and tourists! I was invited to join a bus trip organised by some students who were in training to be tour guides. They arranged a great day out at very reasonable cost ($20) and provided excellent commentary en route. Of course, I particularly liked the 'refreshment' stops which were at two of the Ontario-region wineries. I'm not a huge fan of Canadian wine, particularly the very sweet ice wine, but can always be persuaded to sample if nudged (ever so slightly).
As well as doing a bit of sightseeing this month, I've been doing a bit more volunteering in my spare time. Sadly, my new job now prevents me from helping out at the Food Bank but I have put in a few hours there and also as an usher for the HotDocs Festival. HotDocs is an international festival of documentaries held every year here in Toronto. Whilst popular with industry-types, it's also a hit with the locals and sees huge audiences attending over the ten days. I really enjoyed it and as well as being part of the event, managed to see quite a few interesting documentaries. These included documentaries about waitresses around the world and the comedienne Joan Rivers. However, it was perhaps the documentary When I Rise that touched me most.
This film was about the American opera diva, Barbara Smith Conrad. Conrad was one of the first black students to be admitted to the University of Texas in the 1950s. Her singing talent was spotted and she was cast in the female romantic role role of Dido opposite a white male. This caused controversy and fuelled a racist backlash from the state legislature who placed pressure on the university to cancel the performance. Conrad was forced to go into hiding for a while due to death threats but her cause was taken up by the African-American singer, actor and activist, Harry Belafonte. He personally called her and invited her to meet him up in New York where he offered to finance her career as a singer. Initially, she declined his offer as she wanted to graduate but, after returning to the University of Texas and eventually graduating, she took him up on his offer and was trained intensively in languages and singing in New York before going on to become a global operatic sensation. It's an amazing story and the film charted her career but also more recent events when formal apologies and recognition of her achievements were issued by both the University of Texas and the state legislature. It was a real honour for me to meet this special lady in person. She was so gracious and elegant. I was also impressed she took the time to personally thank us volunteers at the end of the screening. Funnily enough, Barbara and I share a connection, her father and my grandfather shared the same name: Conrad Smith.Finally, this month has also seen me welcome my first visitor. Chris, an old school friend, who actually recommended I come to Toronto in the first place as he had spent a year here previously, arrived to stay with me before going on to house-sit for a month for a friend. It's been lovely to see a familiar face from Leeds in my new home, especially one bearing Walker's Cheese 'n' Onion crisps!
