Moment of Truth

Chapter 2: Exploration

I've been in Toronto for almost three weeks now and I haven't really left my house. I've gone to where my new college is and to the local shopping center but that's about it. It's the end of summer so school is about to start soon and I should get to know my town a lot better. Can't waste any more days inside my home. Even though I don't have a car yet, I'll just walk around.

I decide to leave the house in the morning and explore the surrounding area. I let my parents know that I'm leaving and walk outside. Thankfully we all got sim cards within the first two weeks of getting here so I have cell service so I'm not stranded without communication. I walk down the street going in the opposite way of traffic. After 30 minutes of walking, I've walked by a a shopping street and different places to eat. People that've passed by on the streets look so friendly.

I turn down a busy intersection to see this large building that reads 'Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club'. Huh. Skating and Curling. Those are definitely winter sports. Well, Canada should be good at those since they actually have winter here. I've never really followed any winter sports. Back in the Philippines, we are in a tropical season pretty much all year round. So we don't have any winter sports. We really don't have anyone representing our country when it comes to any of the Olympics. It had been 20 years before we had a representative at the Winter Olympics. It was the 2014 Winter Olympics where Michael Christian Martinez went to Sochi for figure skating. He was broadcasted all over the Philippines. Even though he didn't medal, he was still the pride of the Philippines.

I walk into the building into a lobby-type area. I look to my left to see an ice rink through a glass window. It looked large from the inside. I could already see people on the ice. I've never skated before, but it looks like fun. I wonder in a little before a voice stops me.

"Excuse me, are you here to skate?" I turn to see a woman in her early to mid-thirties standing behind a counter.

"Oh, no," I say quickly. I walk over to her. "I was just exploring and stumbled upon this place. I'm so sorry. I can leave now."

"It's okay. It's not very often that someone new comes in here so I thought you were here to skate. Say, you have quite the accent. Where are you from?"

"I'm from the Philippines. I just moved here a few weeks ago."

"Oh wow. The Philippines? That pretty far from Toronto."

"Yeah. My parents wanted a change so my siblings and I chose here."

"Well, welcome to Canada."

"Thank you. Oh! Where are my manners? I'm Marie Vincenté."

"I'm Claire Vonder. I run the reception desk here at the ole Cricket club."

"It's very lovely in here. Cold, but lovely."

"You get used to it after awhile. We get all four seasons here."

"That sounds nice. In the Philippines, we only really have one. And that's summer."

"Well I hope you enjoy the seasons here."

"Thank you."

"Did you want to skate? Right now it's an open skate. All the professionals are done for the day."

"Oh, I'm fine. I've never skated before. I don't think I'll be very good."

"Well you should try it one day. It's a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. Of course, some of the skaters around here make it look easy."

I look down at my watch and see that I've been for over half an hour. I should move on and check out other places.

"I hate to leave but I still want to explore the city some more. I haven't really gone around much so I want to get myself acquainted with the area," I explain to Claire.

"Well it was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy Toronto," Claire says waving good-bye.

I wave back as I walk away. I pass by a bulletin board on my way out and see a flyer calling for a translator. I read it over before turning back to Claire.

"Excuse me, Claire," I call out to her.

She turns over to me and says, "Oh, you haven't left yet. What's up, Marie?"

"Are you guys looking for a translator?"

"Oh, you saw that old flyer. Well, we are. We have a Japanese skater here. His English isn't all that great and sometimes it's hard for the coaches here to talk to him. The coaches here want a translator to help him out. Why? Do you know anyone?"

"Well, back in the Philippines, I was studying to become a translator. I learned English as well as Japanese. I am quite fluent in Japanese."

"Wow. That's great. You're exactly what we need. Here, give me your information and I'll pass it on to Coach Brian. He's the head figure skater coach here and the coach of our Japanese skater. This would help out a great deal. And you're young too. The past applicants were kind of on the older side and I don't think they wanted to be translating for a young figure skater."

I walk back over the counter. I write down all of my contact information on a piece of paper Claire handed me. I make sure everything is spelled correct and that my numbers are correct. Since moving here, I had to get a new number to fit the country. I only really use it communicate with my parents and siblings. Since I don't have any friends here.

"I'll let Coach Brian know as soon as possible and hopefully he'll contact you soon."

"This will be a great opportunity. Thank you, Claire."

"Thank you, Marie."

With that, I leave the Cricket Club and continue my exploration of the city of Toronto.