The moment I land on Canadian soil, I'm going to...

• order a double-double at the airport Timmy's just for the hell of it (I don't love them, I'll probably drink 1/3 and throw the rest out but not before taking an obligatory photo for Facebook). 
• eat a pound of bacon drizzled with maple syrup 
• go for dim sum every single day 
• stuff my face with good, cheap sushi and the best salmon sashimi to the west of British Columbia (yeah, can't compete with Vancouver) 
• go to a country bar and do rounds of Fireball and scream my lungs out to every single song
• smile at strangers 
• kick my heels up at a real coffee shop playing John Mayer and drink something with a long, complicated name (or a candy cane hot chocolate) 
• fry me an Albertan steak the size of my face 
• KRAFT DINNER (sharp cheddar is where it's at) 
• drink some Moosehead brewskies 
• put pineapple on absolutely everything and eat it without being judged 
• hang out with some people that actually look like me (above) 
• go tobogganing 
• go skating
• go to Banff and eat at restaurants like Maple Leaf Grill and The Bison (these are their real names, believe it or not, soooo Canadian!)
• go dancing at the Dancing Sasquatch (I wish I was kidding...we name our nightclubs after snow-themed urban legends)
• buy Canadian paraphernalia at Roots like a tourist

I wrote that in five minutes, the first things that came to mind. Anything I missed? Or anything you find yourself longing for as an expat in Italy? 

 If you want to truly perceive the fleetingness of life, move abroad. Today is November 2nd, 2015. I've been in Italy officially 11 months to the day. It's hard to believe it, even written down, even if I flip through my iCalendar and see the hard evidence, the little blue box permanently fixed into the December 2, 2014 square that reads 'move to Italy'. How can a year go by so fast? I've spent all four seasons now in Italy and Patti Stanger (the millionaire matchmaker, love her) always says make sure you know someone for all seasons before making any kind of forever commitment. Italy and I have had our ups and downs, our relationship as a "couple" reflects my relationship with Massi- in my heart of hearts, I know we're soulmates, the universe somehow conspiring to bring and keep us together. We may have our lovers spats from time to time, but the underlying passion tends to mend all wrongs, aided by a bit of wine and carbohydrate high (still referring to Italy here). Let it be said that you shouldn't commit to Italy if you've never spent a winter here. Summers are glorious and I wouldn't trade them for anything, but the autumn season can be gloomy and rainy at times, the winters (where I am specifically), lacking in sparkling white snow and glittering Christmas lights and annoyingly festive music. You'd be surprised how much you miss Mariah Carey when you don't hear what she wants for Christmas every five minutes... Massi has even said that given the choice between a Christmas in Canada and one in Italy, he'd pick Canada. And that's why I'm beyond happy to be headed "home" for the Christmas season, my flight is booked for December 2nd- exactly one month from now. It's a curse and a blessing to call two places home because I know as soon as I set foot on Canadian soil, I'll be missing the enchanting cadence of Italian surrounding me, my favorite cheeses that don't exist in Canada and expat friends. I'll be thinking of all those things surrounded by my oldest friends and family, while sipping on a steaming steeped tea from Timmys. The fact that I can even say such things makes me aware of how lucky I am and I really couldn't ask for more for Christmas. x