Dear Halifax

By Angela Lindsey

Dear Halifax,

It’s me, the “new girl.” I know, I’ve been here three years, but it still feels like I’m new in these parts. Not a day goes by that I don’t learn something new about you. Sure, I’ve gotten the general idea of things, but I’ve still got a long way to go before I catch up to the people who have known you for most of their lives.

What I want to know is how you manage to stay so alive all of the time. There’s always something to do, always something going on. I can’t ever say that I’m bored, because that just means that I’m missing something exciting and that I need to step up MY game. I haven’t even come even remotely close to seeing everything you have to offer, but I’m definitely trying.

I do have one complaint, however. Why is it that every time someone comes to visit me, you offer then nothing but grey skies and rain? They can get enough of that in Michigan! There’s a reason I’ve bragged about you and how beautiful you are! Share the sunshine so I can enjoy myself and show you off to my guests, please. It’d be much appreciated.

I have a list of things I want to see sometime, but I have yet to cross them off. Instead, I keep discovering new, exciting places to go and meeting amazing people. In all the time that I’ve been here, I have yet to meet a person I didn’t get along with, which is amazing. Your people are so friendly! It’s a huge change from other places I’ve been, and it’s refreshing. I certainly made the right decision when I decided to move out here instead of staying back where I was.

Something I’m not entirely used to is driving here. I don’t know the roads well enough to get around most places, and the one-way-street maze that is downtown is intimidating. I’ve tried it on two different occasions, neither ending in tragedy, but it continues to make me nervous. Thankfully, I’ve found your public transportation system isn’t too difficult to figure out – most of the time. It’ll probably get easier with time, since I’m still learning which street connects to which other street, but piece by piece I’m putting the puzzle together.

Photo credit: angelamaphone from Flickr

Photo credit: angelamaphone from Flickr

Finding somewhere to go is never very hard, though, because there are so many options available. It’s not like most cities, where you have three restaurants and a bar, and just hope for the best. Here you have limitless choices of cuisine when you go for food, and most are independently owned, with actual passion going into the cooking. It’s a huge difference from places with nothing but chain restaurants and fast food everywhere! It’s more inviting, and I find the food even tastes better most of the time. And for night life, the possibilities are endless. So many places to go for a night out! Whatever you want to do, whether it be having a drink while listening to a live band or dancing the night away with hundreds of other people, you can find a place.

I’ve learned so much since I’ve lived here, and experienced so many new things. I’ve met people from all over the world, and helped them settle in the way I’ve settled in. I’ve made friends and had fabulous gatherings, and really felt for the first time that I was welcomed into a group whole-heartedly. I’ve faced immigration, and came out on top, ready to prove my worth to an entire new country. I’ve found a new home. Thank you, Halifax.

Angela Lindsey is an American in Canada, enjoying life by the ocean instead of the Great Lakes. Making a living in technical support and customer service, she loves people and finds Halifax to be the best place to find them! You can find her over at Words Unspoken.

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