It finally came. The day I left on the biggest adventure of my life so far. After days of packing, I realized just how hard it is to pack your entire life in a couple of suitcases (especially with weight limits).While it might have seemed obnoxious to wear heavy leather shoeties, it was the only way to bring these shoes to San Diego with Air Canada’s baggage policy. Once I got through security, (surprisingly quickly even with a student visa) I had to get one last Tim Hortons. Even on my gastritis diet, I had to get a few bites of Canadianess.

If you are flying on Air Canada Rouge, be sure to sit in row 18. It is an emergency exit row, however you do not need to pay an additional fee. The seats do not have extra leg room, however it only seats 2 per side and the row in front does not recline. It makes the 4.5 hour flight to San Diego slightly more enjoyable. I’m just glad that Air Canada has direct flights, seeing as San Diego airport only has a single runway.

Since I will become a frequent flyer travelling to and from home, I thought it was finally time to pick up a cute passport holder. I adore flamingoes, so I was extremely happy with this one I found from Kate Spade. If you want a great view be sure to sit on the left side of the plane. You get a great view of the the downtown skyline as you fly right over Balboa Park. The airport is conveniently located in downtown San Diego, making it a short trek to my future home.

Once I finally got the keys to my new place, I realized just how much work there is ahead of me before I can call it my temporary home.

San Diego has a completely different feel than Toronto. It is listed as the 8th biggest city in the US, however it feels small. Toronto’s downtown core is much larger and denser, making San Diego feel very spread out. I am still amazed by the number of freeways going in and out of the city, making the distances in this city feel very short. The downtown core has a lot interesting restaurants and craft beers. I can’t wait to be off my gastritis diet so that I eat all that San Diego has to offer.