Ryerson

Good Ol' Ryerson University has changed drastically since I graduated back in 2002. The Student's Resource Centre was finally built, a building which my classmates and I paid for through a portion of our fees four years, yet never benefited from. There were parking lots that were replaced by fancy buildings housing the design, architecture and engineering departments. Older buildings had been re-designed and rejuvenated.

When I went to Ryerson you wouldn't even have known you were at a university. The buildings blended into the downtown area of Yonge and Dundas. Now there are massive RU signs and banners and you can't possibly say you were late to class because you couldn't find it - a common occurrence back in my day- especially in some of the buildings that seemed to have hidden hallways, hallways that led no where and buildings that made you lose your bearings trying to get around especially in the first year.

In my effort to procure this special letter that Ms. Spedicato from the Italian Consulate wanted me to get, I spent 3 hours at Ryerson one morning. I was bounced from department to department all over the campus, no one seemed to know who could give me this special letter. Finally, I went back to the first department and another person helped me out that seemed to finally be interested in helping me out. She said the admissions officer would write the letter and give me a call when its ready.

A day later Mr. Ron Ferguson called me. He asked what I wanted and I explained what I wanted. As I proceeded to explain why I wanted it I was abruptly cut off. I'm not sure if he was having a bad day but he was quite short and couldn't care less why I needed the letter. But he did agree to do the letter and have it ready for me to pick up the following week. I was a bit taken aback by his mild rudeness, but at the same time he basically said write me the letter in an e-mail and I'll get it done. So I did. However, before the end of the conversation he did gruffly ask:

"Have you paid for this yet?"

"No", I said.

"Well then we'll have to get some money out of you, probably around $15, you can pay when you pick it up".

I was fine with that.

The following week I picked up the letter. It was signed and sealed with the Ryerson seal.

I took this letter and other documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa the following week end. My good friend Erica said she would accompany me on the 5 hour drive.

Road trip!