Brussels was a brisk 21°C when I got off the plane. I miss free Wi-Fi: there was none at the airport. The security check here was standard although I did have to remove my belt to pass through the scanner. So I bungled about again, removing my accessories and digital items to be put on a tray.
Over here I had a layover of 2 hours and since my baggage was checked through, I had a little spare time to roam around and stretch my legs. Nothing much for this leg of the journey: 1 more in-flight movie and I mostly slept on the plane. Upon reaching Toronto though, it was a different matter altogether.
Once I touched down at Pearson International Airport, Toronto, I had to proceed to Immigration to collect my Work Permit. After waiting in line for 75 minutes, I showed the officer my Letter of Introduction (gained through the IEC Application) and the officer asked me a few standard questions before issuing me an open work permit, allowing me to work for any employer within the 6 months I'm in Canada. Did I mention that I have a multiple entry visa as well?
I was greeted by two AIESECers in the area: Emily (from AIESEC York) and Kristina (from AIESEC McGill). They were an extremely jolly bunch and I felt welcomed in this strange land. My contact, Aissa (from AIESEC McMaster), was sick so she had enlisted the two girls' help to receive me at the airport.
The trip to Hamilton only took 45 minutes and upon reaching, my contact there greeted me although both the girls and I had to keep our distance from her. I got a Canadian towel as my welcoming present :)
Aissa gave me a little tour of Hamilton before settling me in at the Mohawk Student Residence. We also went to CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) to open a Chequing Account at a strip mall with a Shopper's Drugmart, Subway, Tim Horton's and Wal-mart nearby.
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