I was driving today at Eglinton Ave West and just passed by the intersection with Caledonia Road. If you don’t know the area, just at the corner, there’s a pharmacy – the New Caledonia Pharmacy. Five years ago, March 2003, the following happened to us:
It was our first week in Toronto. I’ve never been in Toronto before but I knew something about the city just because of the online maps available at the TTC website and the conversations with my friends living here already.
I also knew that I need to find a place for my wife to study English. A friend of mine mentioned the COSTI Caledonia, located at Caledonia Road. And from the place we’re living (Rogers and Nairn) I could walk from our house to COSTI. The reference that I’ve had was the map. Then, I thought… Ok, we’re at Rogers… (point A) If I go west I will get to Caledonia… Then, if I go north, I will find the COSTI (point B). And here we go.
We’re from Fortaleza (Brazil) and the temperature there is around 32 degrees Celsius during the year. We feel “cold” when we get temperatures below 20 Celsius 
At that time in Toronto, the temperature was around -10 degrees Celsius. That was cold! Anyway, I thought to myself: I decided to live in Canada and if I stay at home and wait for a better temperature, I have to wait for at least two more months. (just to myself. Did not say to my wife, because if I do this, she was ready to take a flight back to Brazil
Go out, now!!! And that’s what I did. Today, I know how unprepared I was. Do you want reasons?
- I did not have a TV, just went outside and felt the temperature: Ohhh, It was not very cold that day, so I decided that the temperature will remain the same – of course this did not happen;
- I did not have winter boots nor did I have the appropriate socks: I am strong, my running tennis with my Brazilian socks are more than enough;
- I did not have Blistex: My lips are OK. I can talk, I can walk and if I feel my lips freezing, just use my tongue and that’s it
On my way to COSTI, of course I had to stop at the pharmacy and talk (at least try to say something because it was cold, my feet were hurting me and my lips… well, I did not even say a word. Thanks to the pharmacist that knew my problem and helped me with Blistex! Do you want to know how to apply Blistex? (opens a new window with the video)
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