So I haven’t posted since I felt pretty shit stuck in Vancouver on my own in an environment that I felt would swallow me up. Things changed, circumstances improved and I had the most amazing time of my life in the last few days I had left there. I’m home now – I’m absolutely distraught and I’m spending every damned minute trying to find ways to fund my way back there on the 12 months Work Visa I still have. But more on that later…

What happened on my last week?

I met the most amazing people. First of all I met Kenny. Kenny is from LA. Kenny works at Best Buy, loves Basketball, Wings, Beer, Music & Women. Kenny looked to me, to show him Vancouver – what to do and where to go. I think I filled my role pretty well, I took him to the Grouse Mountain, twice. I think he underestimated it, like most people, including myself. It’s tough. we did it in under an hour the first time around (second for me) and then two days later we went at it again with a couple more friends. He did it in under 55 minutes and I did it in 1 hour 6 minutes. I think my legs hadn’t fully recovered.

Kyoungae. She was fresh to Vancouver from South Korea. Self taught in English, she wasn’t fluent but colour me impressed. The nicest person I’ve met in a while. It seems people from Asia have a very reserved personality and it’s such a nice contrast in comparison to the outgoing, loud, annoying Australians that were running around – and the one guy from Vancouver Island with an ego bigger than he could handle. I think he embarrassed himself a little too much. He was very much quiet from the night he decided to break dance on a carpeted floor, pissed.

I also met Simon, who was from Quebec. He was an awesome guy, outgoing and up for anything. From hip-hop dance classes with Kenny, to the Grouse Grind two days in a row. He was awesome. I heard he had plans to hit Yukon and I envy that bastard for getting out there and doing it.

I befriended a French guy, too – who I actually never got his name. I got his msn address though, so I’ll be sure to find out! He did the Grouse Grind with us on the third time and got a real good time, too! Damn these backpackers and hobby hikers!

What happens now?

I’ve not fully decided. I’m undoubtedly in love with Vancouver. The diversity, the cultural morality, the pleasant atmosphere, the variety of things to do, the opportunities & amazing art scene – It has it all. I’m beyond distraught about having to come home. The worst thing about this place is the atmosphere created by the population. British People just have this horrid mentality and it comes across so distinctively. Nothing has an ounce of positivity. A comedian once pointed out the difference between asking someone from Chicago what they think of their city in contrast to someone from Birmingham. The Chicagoists spends the day announcing their love for the home in which they live whilst the Brummy simply announces ‘It’s a bit shit, isn’t it.’ – A comedic routine or not, it rings true on so many levels.

So do I want to stay in this country? No friggen’ way. I spent from the age of 17 trying to work out how to study in Canada – The only thing stopping me was the huge financial cost of performing such a task. Couple that with a less than impressive set of grades and no chance of a Scholarship, it’s safe to say I was pretty screwed. So I stuck to the UK. But now I’ve had a taste of what could be, I want out. I still can’t afford the $11,000 a year tuition fees so my only option is to wait till I graduate. Do I want to graduate? I guess. I have a million questions in my mind and I can’t begin to answer the first one. My future doesn’t seem so secure anymore.

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So I had a night in the SameSun Backpackers Hostel. One bed in a group of 4. I’ve no idea who they are or where they’re from, I only recognize them from the back of their heads and their feet. I hate it. I despise it! Even if I got a job, I couldn’t stand being in this place for 6 weeks – and with the complete and utter impossibility of finding a private place to stay for a reasonable price, I think I’ve done what’s best before it’s too late and I’m really broke.

I sat in a bar yesterday for 6 hours. I had 5 cokes, 1 lemonade and pineapple and 10 wings. I met 2 guys, the first one left drunk and tried to fight with someone and the second one discussed the Mexico vs. Costa Rica football match with me despite me being completely clueless about it. It was an alright night, I preferred it to being stuck in a room with sweaty, farting, snoring men.

There’s another fireworks show on tomorrow. I think I might watch it. I’m not sure. I’ll just see how it goes.

My flight is booked for the 28th July, I’m headed home in 4 days. I’m relieved, I am. It’s so difficult and, ugh. No more.

Anyway,

Peace.

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So Emilie has gone, I’m on my own. It’s horrible. I’m skint and I’m struggling to even survive. My ‘job’ is $8 an hour and at the moment 4 1/2 hours per week. So it’s absolutely impossible to support myself as is. So, with deep regret and absolute dismay, I’m going home. I’m going to call my airline very soon and change my flight to Thursday, if not sooner. I’ve learnt a lot and I’ve realised that there’s no real way to plan for how you’ll feel when you’re solo in a city as huge and as diverse as Vancouver. It’s just too much, too much for a local town boy to handle so quickly and severely.

I sat and watched the fireworks alone last night, an event that’s supposed to be enjoyed with friends and family around you, and I had to sit through it alone. I say I had to, I chose to. I didn’t want to spend my first night alone, alone – in that room. It’s just hauntingly lonely.

So what have I learnt so far? That I tried, and I did, I really tried. But without months and months of planning, and more money than I came with I’d really struggle. I learnt that the people around me mean more to me than anything else in the world – and that without them and the support of my peers, I really am just a lost child. I’ve come to the strong, bitter realisation that I’m still just a kid – and being a kid in a city of this size and contrast is scary. It’s really scary.

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So today is a mixed fever of emotions, it’s Emilie’s last day here, my last day with my safety blanket around, our last day together for a while. So we’ve tried to make the most of it as we can. I’m real worried at the moment because we’ve had a bad reaction to the bed bugs from our old room, full body rashes. It’s far worse on Emilie and she had to fork out $90 just to find this information out, then another $15 for medication. Regardless, we have peace of mind and she leaves in around 14 hours =[

Take it easy,

I’m gonna be saying bye to Emilie tomorrow then taking a few stills/videos of the major fireworks display tomorrow, then an early morning before I move to the new hostel and start my training!

Adios

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