FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CANADA - TOLD BY JAYME

Okay, so the giggle sisters put me on the longest flight ever, with all this neat stuff on board and expect me to sleep?! I had news for them. Yeah, like anyone could sleep in our row anyway, with all that snoring! Embarrassing!! Oh don't worry, I filled my diaper with some of that last minute Beijing congee and made like it was one of them. That sure got them up and at 'er. No more lying around after that episode. It was play time!

After my gruelling flight, this great country of theirs welcomes me with open arms and what else? Uh yeah, more line-ups, more paperwork. Great! Can't yah see I'm a little tired here, Jack?! Oh but we did get a prize for being new to Canada...yup, they gave my Mom a tote bag and a new shiny pen! Wow! The fun doesn't stop there...she got to pick which colour. Of course she picked the red one. I was thinking the orange was more my style. This better not be an indication of what's to come....

So they finally get the luggage thing sorted out and we head out. There's a crowd waiting...okay, not like crowds in China, but still a crowd. Yes, this is what I'm talking about...lots of people to say how cute I am. Wait a second, it's not for me? Then this big guy called Daddy spots my Mommy. Can you say crushed?! Hello here people, you're gonna squish the mongolian blue spots right offa me! He's all smiles too! He's not "the man" or "the mur-man" or "Uncle Drew" but I think he has possibilities!

We finally get out to their car. Yeah, the Daddy-guy got us lost for a bit. He puts our stuff in the back of the car and then....what the $#!%....he wanted me to sit in a bucket with straps! I say, "Listen Bub, maybe you don't know this little tidbit, but my Mom has been holding me on her lap for the past 2 weeks whenever we went somewhere. I've been able to stand on her too so I could see our friends on the bus and make faces at them....geesh". He just smiled at me.

Oh and speaking of transportation....the bus must be broken or something, because we haven't boarded one in over a week or had a decent tour since I've been to this new place.

And don't the old people care about us babies in this new country? I'm shocked! Not one Lao Lao has come over to my Mom to lift my hat, check if my hands or feet are warm and covered, hussle Mom into a store if it's too windy for me.

Not one person has said I look like a beautiful Chinese boy. What's wrong with these people?

Did I mention the fur thingies in my house? The one wants to lick my face every time it enters the room and the other one has razor blades attached to its feet. All I did was grab a fistful of hair and haul it right over on its side. Real child-friendly, people!

There's also another little person living here. Seems a little too interested in washing my fine strands of hair. Back away...let Mom do the rinsing please. One dunking is enough for me.

All in all it's not that bad of a place to live. Lots to eat and drink...and on demand. It could be a few dozen degrees warmer, but I hear that will change. Not a palm tree in sight either. And I do miss my Auntie Bev. Everyone here loves me though and that's a good thing!!

I might not have to rethink this immigration thing afterall....