T.

I'm having trouble understanding why everyone rags on Toronto since I'm having a really good time here. I can't say it's better than Vancouver since each has their own strengths and weaknesses. All I can say is the two cities are different. I'm currently staying in this dorm like housing right by UofT and I must admit this place is a dive. I've stayed in my fair share of dodgy hostels and this place ranks up there with the rest of them. I was almost tempted to leave until I saw all the good looking european women stayin in the place. That convinced me to "tough" it out for a month. I've gotten used to the place now so it's not longer that bad although I'm still annoyed people take your food and beer from the fridge.

Some highlights of my stay so far:

• As soon as I got to my residence, I dropped off my bags in my room and joined a porch party that was going on. Seconds later I was talking to 5 English girls.
• I found out the hard way my room didn't come with a pillow or linens. I was forced to sleep on my clothes on my first night.
• Went to a bar called the Madison with my flatmates. It's 3 old Victorian homes joined together to form an incredible bar. I was amazed. Apparently, it's an institution in downtown and it instantly become one of my favorite bars... in the world.
• Nursed a hangover the next day by going to Toronto island with my flatmates. It's quite pretty there with lots of greenspace and beaches. In the spirit of the world cup, we spent an afternoon playing beach soccer. I scored 2 goals.
• Started my new job... I like it.
• Walked around UofT. I didn't realize how pretty the campus is.
  
• Went to my first Toronto night club called "Picadilly Circus". Felt like a grown up UBC Pit Pub Night. It was packed and at one point in the night the hot bartenders got up on the bar and did a coyote ugly routine for us. It was hot.
  
• World cup final! I live with a few French people so we went to a french bar to cheer on France. I loved the atmosphere. It's too bad france lost since it would have been a really fun night that evening.
• Coming home from work and drinking beer on the porch with the flamates.
  

The fun have been having really comes from having good flatmates. Many of them are travelers who are working/studying in Toronto for the summer. They come from all over the world: Europe, Australia, Africa, etc. I think I'm only one of a few Canadians living there and I love meeting and learning all these different cultures. They have definitely eased my transition into a new city and I'm almost tempted to stay another month... however, I can only stay in shared accomodations for so long and I've already signed a new lease starting in Aug. I move out on the 1st and then I would love to entertain guests since that place is 100x nicer.