First Impressions of Kingston

I've lived in Kingston for a full 24 hours, and I will shamelessly admit that I've lived like a hermit. I've met no one, seen no one, talked to no one. Until today, when one of my housemates finally moved in. Honestly, my street has been a ghost town the last twenty-four hours. I haven't seen anyone remotely resembling a graduate student, save for the drunk, merry group of frat boys down the street, enjoying the last few days of teacher's college Orientation.

However, despite the non-existence of living, breathing human beings on my street, I've utilized the wonders of technology by using Skype to keep in touch with the outside world. Technology certainly has its uses!

First impressions of Kingston?

1. It's cold. I should have brought my winter jacket. All I can think about is how insanely, incredibly cold it is here. I don't know if temperatures are equally freezing in Toronto, but I've already had to bust out my fall jacket this morning.

2. I wondered where I could purchase Asian-like food and ingredients in a predominately Caucasian (ergo, white) city. Much to my delight, walking down Princess Street this morning, I discovered an Asian grocery store. Aptly named Asian Grocery Store. Awesome.

3. The Metro here is a rip-off, moreso than regular Toronto Metros. $6.99 for a small bottle of shampoo? Please. Clearly, the system to rip off starving students doesn't end in Toronto.

4. Think of the prettiest city you've ever been in. Ever. Then come visit Kingston, because Kingston (and it's waterfront) is a hundred times prettier!

5. Kingston's "downtown" consists of a strip containing a Dollarama, a Tim Horton's and a Pizza Pizza. Obviously, the staples of life.

6. There are a total of six small bookshops (a la Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail) on Princess Street. They're so quaint and small-town-esque, I love them.

I'm sure I'll have more to add to this list when I start the School of Graduate Studies' Orientation Week tomorrow.

Side Note: In preparation for registration this week, I've been working away at my course schedule, trying to decide which courses would be most beneficial to take. Global governance? Development studies in the area of global finance? The development of capitalism? Political parties? There are a number of possibilities. And as usual, I'm indecisive. Let's hope that I make up my mind soon.

Next stop, Teaching Development Day, Orientation Week, meeting the rest of my mysterious housemates. Exciting? I think so.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
- Aristotle