我坐在我最愛的cafe的戶外座位，點了一杯抹茶拿鐵和藍莓司康。11月了多倫多居然還有10-15度的溫度可以坐在戶外，全球暖化的結果可見一斑，雖然在這裡他們貌似受惠的一方。旁邊坐著一對法國情侶，從那女生一開口就知道，這種陽光灑落的天氣歐洲人怎麼可能放過。
聽起來是recruiter打給她，想給她介紹新工作，但她說謝謝不用了，她就要離開加拿大回法國了。
這應該是我近期倒數的悠閒早晨時光。新工作要盡量配合歐洲時區，預計每天早上7點開工、倫敦中午12點。我個人認為歐洲的時區其實是遠距工作最好的時區，人在歐洲亞洲都很容易兼顧，唯獨在北美時要辛苦點早起。我已經開始每週提早30分鐘起床，為新的作息做準備，我這夜貓子居然也有得每天早上6點起床（甚至更早）的一天。這麼久沒上班、老實說心裡既緊張又期待，期待重新跟世界接軌的那天，透過工作了解世界的運作。I think after all, I love working, to an extent that I believe more than most people do. The idea of working makes me feel alive. 開始上早班之後我可能會懷念現在的悠閒，但凡事過猶不及，太多時間也會令人感到焦慮，研究顯示每天有2-5小時可支配的空閒時間剛剛好，會讓人感到幸福感最高，過多過少都不好。
.
多倫多最煩人的是要趕黃蜂。這裡不像台灣、沒什麼蚊子蒼蠅，但有黃蜂，而且還不是相對溫馴的蜜蜂，而是黃蜂。牠們老是在你的食物或身旁繞啊繞地，你又不敢打牠，在這裡黃蜂簡直跟蒼蠅一樣惹人厭，一不小心還會溺斃在你的拿鐵裡，整杯飲料直接GG。還有一次我甚至只是在路邊買了一盒藍莓，回家後發現不小心帶了一隻黃蜂回家，千辛萬苦心驚膽顫想方設法把牠趕出去或殺死。
法國情侶離開後，來了兩個加拿大女生。歐洲人都不喜法國人（看看他們Eurovision都集體唱衰哪國就知道），但老實說比起法國人，我更受不了北美人。They are just so loud. 加拿大人跟美國人一樣，And they never stop. 濃濃的美式口音不斷轟炸，我默默地戴起耳機。
我最近在嘗試減少戴耳機聽東西的頻率，尤其是在戶外走路、在戶外坐著發呆的時候。聽風聲，聽秋葉掉落的聲音，聽汽車駛過的聲音，聽腳踩在落葉上的聲音。It makes you feel even more aware, 腳下的每一步都讓人感覺更有實感。是活著的感覺。
一片落葉不偏不倚地掉進了我的拿鐵，加拿大女生看到一起笑了出來。到頭來拿鐵還是逃不了，只是罪魁禍首是落葉、不是黃蜂。
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash
------- 對我而言，英文語境別有一番韻味。以下為我將文章以英文呈現：
I'm sitting at my favorite cafe's outdoor seating, sipping a matcha latte and nibbling on a blueberry scone. It's November, yet Toronto still boasts a balmy 10-15 degrees Celsius, perfect for outdoor lounging. A clear sign of global warming, though it seems they're benefiting from it here. Next to me sits a French couple – the girl's accent gives them away instantly. You know how Europeans will never let a chance sitting under the sun like this slip.
I overheard the phone call she was having that sounded like a recruiter wanting to introduce her to a new job. She said thanks but she is moving back to France soon with no intention of taking on another job in Canada.
This is likely one of my last leisurely mornings for a while. My new job will require me to align with European time zones, starting work at 7 AM – noon in London. Personally, I think European time zones are ideal for remote work, easily accommodating both Europe and Asia. Only North America requires the extra effort of early rising. I've already begun waking up 30 minutes earlier each week to prepare for the new schedule. Can't believe there would be a day for a night owl like me having to get up at 6am (if not earlier). To be honest, I'm incredibly excited after being out of work for so long. I'm eager to reconnect with the world, to understand how another part of it operates through my work. I think after all, I love working, to an extent that I believe more than most people do. The idea of working makes me feel alive. Once I start these early shifts, I might miss my current leisurely pace. But too much of anything is never good. Studies show that 2-5 hours of free time daily is the sweet spot for happiness – any more or less isn't ideal.
One of the most annoying things in Toronto is the wasps. Unlike Taiwan, there aren’t as many mosquitoes or flies here, but there are wasps - not even the relatively docile honeybees, but frigging wasps. They constantly buzz around your food or hover near you, and you don't dare swat at them. Here, wasps are as irritating as flies, and they might even drown in your latte, ruining the entire drink. There was even an instance of me accidentally bringing a wasp home from buying a box of blueberries on the street, and had to find all ways possible to either kill or expel it.
After the French couple left, two Canadian girls came and took their seats. Europeans generally have a thing against French people, which you can easily tell from Eurovision, but honestly, I find North Americans more grating. Canadians are just like Americans - they are just so loud, and they never stop. Their thick American accent bombarded my ears, and I quietly put on my headphones.
I’ve been trying to be device-free when walking outdoors or sitting outside, losing myself in thoughts: Listening to the wind gushing through my ears; the sound of autumn leaves falling onto the ground; the sound of cars whisking by, and the crunch of leaves underfoot. It makes you feel even more aware. Each step feels more real, more grounded. It's the feeling of being alive.
A leaf fell, landing squarely in my latte that I tried so hard to guard off from the wasps, and the Canadian girls burst into laughter at the sight. In the end, my latte couldn't escape its fate after all, only the culprit was a leaf, not a wasp.
