Fridays are often quiet in the lab. Most people leave early. In Toronto, people in academia aren't calibrated around a 9-5 rhythm. As long as your research project is up and running, what time you come in and what time you leave is of secondary importance. For me, it means I can usually sleep in a little longer, but also work later in the evening or sometimes even on the weekends – if the experiment demands it. It is quite a departure from what I’m used to in The Netherlands. As my viral sample seeps through a purification column, I take a moment to glance at the window. Afar, the CN Tower scratches a passing cloud. The University of Toronto is situated right downtown. It makes for a cinematic morning commute. With each week, I am feeling more at home in this foreign city.