Mar/Apr 2024

36
South Woodford Village Gazette
WELCOME18
Having moved from Toronto to South Woodford last year, law student
Nashwah Turshin has found her new London home to be surprising and
welcoming in equal measure
Throughout my life, I have always lived
within cityscapes. My concept of a
tranquil neighbourhood included
the sounds of chaotic traffic and mumbled
conversations right outside my window.
If there was an absence of glass buildings
in the background, I would consider it
strange. The hustle and bustle of Toronto
had always been my safe haven. For me, the
notion of living outside an urban landscape
was unimaginable.
When my home city is compared to my
new one, I often hear: “London is the better
Toronto,” followed by the similarities between
the two. So, it was no surprise that I was
under the assumption that all of London was
essentially a giant Canary Wharf. You can
imagine my surprise when I discovered it’s not.
I’m not going to lie; it’s been a tough
adjustment. I was no longer falling asleep
to the white noises of traffic sounds and
murmured conversations outside my window.
I was no longer waking up to the sunrise
glittering over glass buildings. I no longer had
a strip of coffee shops within five minutes
from my home that were open until the early
hours of the morning (as a university student,
you can imagine the need for those). However,
growth will never come without change,
and one’s environment is often the most
significant change. For any Gilmore Girls fans,
I found comfort in knowing I was finally living
out my Stars Hollow fantasy.
In the past five months since my move, I’ve
forged a routine that I religiously stick to.
Rather than opting for the bus to the station,
I relish the 15-minute stroll, taking in the lush
greenery and the fresh, dewy morning air
that was new to me. The mornings in South
Woodford are so serene and are a great way
to clear my morning grogginess and jumpstart
my day. George Lane holds a special
place in my heart and I take frequent walks
there. On the weekends, my roommate and
I will walk around, making a mandatory stop
at Bobo & Wild – the friendliest staff and the
most welcoming ambience – for giggles and
catch-up over coffee.
Wherever I go, there is nothing but friendly
faces and polite greetings. Watching the
day-to-day lives of the abundance of families
makes me think how this will be me one day,
whether in South Woodford or elsewhere. I
never thought I’d fit so well into the quiet,
suburban life as I do now.
Living in South Woodford has led me to
conclude that life has a curious way of leading
us to unexpected places, and we come
to learn, grow and find unknown parts of
ourselves in these foreign environments. My
move has been so transformative, allowing me
to embrace change. While I do occasionally
mourn my old life, I find so much comfort
knowing gentle South Woodford welcomed
me with open arms.
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