I get the back story of two authors who have influenced me greatly these past couple of years. Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote the bestsellers Eat, Pray, Love and Committed, is interviewed by Gian Ghomeshi. Her voiced thoughts reaffirms some of my recent life decisions. Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools are inspiring reads, but a ‘60 Minutes’ exposé paints a man who exaggerated his claims. I find this sad. Why did he feel a need to embellish, if that is what he did? If only one school is built, his work would still be a great accomplishment. The books are still worthwhile: one does not need the drama of a man nursed back to life in the Himilayas to realize the value of education of girls in remote Pakistan and Afghanistan.
D and I lunch on Ethiopian spiced dishes with injera. Our conversations weave through multiple topics. I like our talks--at the end, I always learn something new and gain some insight. The incense served up with Ethiopian coffee is an experience of its own. The finishing touch to lunch is a visit to Xococava for chocolates and ice cream. I savour the passion fruit saffron ice cream.
I join Florence with her friends for 4 hours of French immersion. I am excited: I finally tap into the French subculture here. These conversations are not as deep but certainly enjoyable. We talk about films, cultures, food. I learn some argot (French slang). Curious observation: Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods--the Portuguese, Greek, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Ethiopian, to name a few--yet there is no French neighbourhood in Toronto.
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