A view from under the A. Murray McKay Bridge
Nobody likes being called names. But anyone who’s moved to the East Coast is probably familiar with the term “come from away.” No matter how long ago that move was, the phrase sticks. To me it implies that I’ll never quite fit in or belong. A friend turned me on to a new phrase that I instantly became a fan of: East Coast By Choice. Thus my blog was born.
Here, I’ll write about life as I know it. That means from the perspective of a thirtysomething, Euro-Asian (not to be mistaken for Eurasian) Canadian who grew up in Toronto and moved of her own free will to Halifax in August of 1999. My interests are mostly in books, food, culture, and travel but I’ll be blogging about pretty much whatever catches my fancy at any particular moment.
First, here’s a recap of why I decided to be East Coast By Choice.
What sold me on Halifax?
The fall, Peggy’s Cove, ducks in the Public Gardens, the smell of salt air on the skin.
What do I miss about Toronto?
Diversity (not just of people but opinions and experiences). The bright lights, big city. Anonymity (you seriously can’t go anywhere in Halifax without bumping into at least one person that you know).
Why I continue to stay?
Friends, family, pace of life.
The Best of Halifax
Restaurants: Seven Wine Bar, Mosaic Social Dining, Opa Greek Taverna, Chabaa Thai Restaurant, The Old Triangle, and the list goes on.
Trails: Shubie and Point Pleasant Parks (especially for dog walks)
Day trips: Annapolis Valley, South Shore
Fresh produce: Farmer’s Market, Pete’s Frootique, any number of Select Nova Scotia producers/vendors
Worst of Halifax
Public transit: sometimes buses just don’t show up, or are late, or are early but move on anyway, and don’t even get me started on things like routing and schedules.
Youth crime: like most urban centres it’s a problem but either it’s on the rise in Halifax or it’s being reported about more frequently; in either case, something needs to be done to set these kids back on the right course in society.
City council: citizens are so disgruntled that the last electoral voter turnout was a mere 37 per cent.
Now it’s your turn.
What’s your best and worst list of the city?
Kimberly Walsh is a social media and online community manager. You can follow her on Twitter @AliasGrace.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
my dad is from cape breton, but moved to toronto and met my mom there … she was born and raised in the city … then they moved back to nova scotia. truro, to be exact, which has it’s own set of challenges. my mom went through a huge culture shock … she had never been in a situation where the degrees of separation were so small … and truro is so clique-y to boot. she always says that she should have written a book, “how to keep your mouth shut when moving to a small town”!
i really like the idea of this new blog … congratulations! and happy new year! please feel free to add me to your list of east coast bloggers.
Michelle: Thanks for stopping by. My husband is from Newfoundland and we met in Toronto then moved to Halifax shortly after we got married. It was a huge culture shock to say the very least but it’s been great to see the city grow and to meet so many great friends. I’ve added you to the blogroll and look forward to hearing from more people about their experiences.
Way to go on creating your new blog! That seems to be going around, LOL.
I think it’s wonderful you’re here by choice and loving it. I miss diversity and good public transit too.
It’s important to be where you want to be. I’m so glad you are!
Sacred Suzie: Finding a place to call “home” isn’t as easy as it should be. Trying to find a balance between place, people, life, etc. is what makes it but every person has a different idea about what makes a certain location liveable.
Congrats on the new blog and you better believe I’ll be holding you to the new year resolution
Kimberly – I for one am glad that you are East Coast by Choice… I was born in Toronto – but my parents (both from Manitoulin Island – Ontario) choose to relocate when I was a wee lass… they were come from aways for a long time – Dad moreso through his work environment than mom was in her social circles and later when she returned to work…
I love Halifax – I have travelled through at least 40 countries and numerous cities and feel as though I appreciate the city so much more since I see what the alternatives are… look forward to reading your blog and contributing (if my 2 cents are worth sharing)
Happy New Year!
A dear, dear friend of mine was born in Ottawa but moved to PEI when she was six months old. Twenty-four years later, we *still* refer to her as “from away”.
Hali Bests?
Best Coffee: Wired Monk. I am a fan. Followed closely by Java Blend.
Worst Coffee: Smiling Goat. Honestly, eight bucks for a cup because you grind the beans in front of me? Even I’m not that bourgie.
Best Part Of Local Music Scene: So! Much! Music! And venues scattered around the city make it easy to check out new sounds.
Wost Part Of Local Music Scene: Ummm, clique much?
Best Cheap Eats: Ardmore tea Room. I love everything about this place, especially the all-day breakfast. The cash-only policy forces me to stick to a budget.
Worst Cheap Eats: I’m sorry, but the stuff at the European Food Shop at Pizza Corner is rank. I realise that I’m debating Pizza Corner, which is weird enough as is, but if I’m going to have a heart attack on dough, I at least want it to be tasty!
Congratulations on the new blog; I had occasionally checked in on your old one. I appreciate your great way with words.
I’ve never lived in Halifax. I have lived in Truro, and agree with Michelle. It was one of the toughest places, in terms of feeling welcomed, that I’ve ever lived. It is, however, given strong competition with my time on Prince Edward Island. I have also lived in the Annapolis Valley (twice) which had a warm community feel to it. I was born in Cape Breton and have also lived in ON, MB, NL and CT (US). I had never heard the “come from away” until I moved to PEI. It is used so commonly here that it is shortened to CFA and, in parallel to your blog name, Islander By Choice is the alternate framing. While I am here by choice, that choice is partly determined by family economics and the need/desire to feed, house, and educate my children. It will not be a long-term stay for us.
I love Pete’s Frootique. I kind of enjoy Diego’s for fast takeout. The places I used to go in the 70′s are no longer around.
I look forward to your 2009 blogging! All the best!
Áine: I’ve yet to check out the Wired Monk and the Ardmore Tea Room so thanks for the recommendations. As for the Pizza Corner, that whole idea took some getting used to. In Toronto, after bar hours, the streets are lined with hot dog vendors. I don’t think we need to get into the health value of either choice though! I’m just saying…
Wendy: Thanks for the kind words about the blog. Annapolis Valley is by far my favourite spot in the province but there are limited job opportunities for me and my husband. Maybe one day we’ll open a vineyard there though. LOL. Every couple of years we bring up the question of whether or not we’re going to move as we don’t see this as a long-term stay. But nine years later and we’re still here. I credit really wonderful friends and a comfortable life. Oh, and thanks for the Diego’s recommendation. I’m always looking for yummy spots to check out.
Ben: I don’t doubt it for a second. In fact, I’m banking on it.
Kristen: Happy new year to you as well! And thanks for your two cents (which are always welcome). Travelling to so many countries must give a lot of perspective. Sometimes we think the grass is greener on the other side but it isn’t always so.