Back at Mac and Big Apples to boot

I arrived in Canada with a $200 fine above my head. For anyone planning to bring an apple into the country anytime soon, apparantly it's not a good idea. Fortunately my British charm and wit saw me through -
"You can't bring that into the country." "Haha, oh well - you could have it for your lunch if you like." "No, we have to incinerate it." "Oh".

A good start, I hastened through customs being let off the fine, to find Danielle waiting in the crowd at arrivals. It was great to see her again. In fact, it's been wonderful to see everyone again. These two weeks have pretty much been 'reunion fortnight' so expect lots of names in this blog.

For these two weeks, everything has converted back to how it was 2 years ago. The nickname, forgotten for good reason since leaving Canada, came back quicker than Peter Mandelson...'British Simon' and with it paragraphs of Shakespeare and jeers of 'say something British'. Oh god! Here we go again. Ah but it has all been such jolly good fun, doing all things Canada; and meeting everyone from Christian, Andrea, Kathy, Marlies and Susan to Amanda, Wayne, Edgar, Leah and of course Ashley the dog - names I'm sure some of you will recognise. It's just a shame I'm only in Canada for a short while and can't see everyone for long. Sorry.

I also endured an overnight coach trip to New York to visit Caroline for three days, extended to four due to her beautiful charm and good looks. After spending four years studying European Studies with German, it turns out she's ended up working for the BNP...Breakfast Network Productions for anyone slightly worried. Apparantly, her position according to her groovy business card, is as an Associate Marketing Specialist, whatever that means - although watching her at work in her cool office, it seems important!

Even though this is my third trip to the Big Apple, ITS (thanks hun) scale (vertically as well as horizontally) never ceases to amaze me - a place one can easily get lost in. So these days had little hope in store for me, after getting lost in the extensive bus station in the first hour of arrival (thank you geography degree). Guided thus, by Caroline's arm, we walked across Brooklyn Bridge, ate in chinatown and Times Square, whispered in whispering corner of Ground Central station, watched some live music and played on yet more arcades, this time on Coney Island. We also visited Ground Zero at The World Trade Centre, which had a much bigger effect on me than I thought it would. Something I have wanted to do ever since, well...my 18th birthday.

On a lighter note, I got experimented on.
Met up with Hanish who's in his 2nd year studying Optometry at SUNY University, just 4 blocks from where Caroline works. In good faith, I offered my eyes to him to practice on for a test he had, not expecting the bastard to dye them luminescent yellow, turning me into a junkie. Once again, it was good to see him however.

But it was over too soon and wiping away the tears, I was on the bus back to Canada, not to see Caroline again for another 4/5 months.

The rest of the week has passed smoothly, just chilling with friends and preparing for hallowe'en. Now let me tell you, in this country everyone goes absolutely crazy about hallowe'en - there is no age limit. Much to the relief of Caroline, I haven't dressed up in women's clothing this year, as usually appears to be the tradition, but instead dressed as a British guy to Susan's 20th b'day party - lazy, I know. I also helped out at a local nighttime event where 100s of kids follow a path in the park made out of countless pumpkins - all uniquely carved. It was the most surreal sign, and I did my bit to scare everyone by hiding in the hedges and shining a torch light on my face, speaking in a deeep voice. . . . trust me, it was scary! So scary in fact, that one kid called me a horse - none of us are quite sure where this remark came from. From here we went on to a hypnotising show where a friend [who will not be named] does not remember humping a chair or making orgasm noises into the microphone to a 200-strong crowd; really questionning an art I never gave much credit to...hypnotising, not humping a chair.

Finally, I'll be going for a walk to Red Hill Creek Valley with Wayne - to those that don't know (Jon, you can skip this bit), it was the last surviving tributary system running through Hamilton, until a bypass was controversely constructed through it two years ago. A real shame to what is otherwise a beautiful country.

And that's the end of USA and Canada. An arduous journey down to Belize lies ahead - where my lack of winter clothing, a mistake for Canada, will not be an issue. Thanks for all your comments, they mean a lot. Speak to you soon, Simon

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