Alexandra is a pretty young Russian student in Canada taking courses to improve her English.
I can’t recall what her English was like when she first arrived; however she now has considerable facility with the language.
She hails from the south of Russian near the border with Kazakhstan. She named off several “large” cities close to her home but I had never heard of any of them.
Alexandra prefers to be called “Sasha”. The same way most William’s prefer the name “Bill”.
Sasha really likes Toronto. She is most impressed with the multi-cultural make up of the city. You can find virtually any ethnicity here and they actually get along as opposed to merely co-existing.
She was disappointed by the number of “homeless” people in the inner city. It really is quite an embarrassment but there isn’t a viable excuse for anyone to be homeless in Toronto.
An actual “homeless” person need find, only a warm dry place to sit and wait for an interview at Social Social Services (located in Metro Hall) and get a “Startup Cheque” to cover initial room and board. That cheque is over $1300.
Nonetheless many people opt to spend the money on drugs and alcohol.
“Homeless” people are seen in the Entertainment District where tourists (not knowing the circumstances) are often predisposed to giving panhandlers money.
So don’t be fooled Sasha. If they are truely homeless, it is by their own choice.