First off, sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written. The time sort of disappears when you’re at home and the life you’re going to write about becomes much more dull. I’m writing now as a brief update on what I’ve been up to, future plans, and more than anything the strangeness of coming home.
I left off just as I was leaving Vietnam. Since then I’ve done quite a few things. A wonderful week in New York City capped off by attending one of my best friend’s wedding. A visit to the Toronto Zoo.A great few days in Muskoka with my Aunt and Cousins, A rock festival in small town Quebec. A jays Game. An amazing little concert in picton. Tons of catching up with friends and family, Lots of Tennis and Soccer. A rather intense diet. A bunch of writing and editing. And plenty more little adventures, all combined with the excitement of planning the next leg of my journey. NYC deserves a brief reminiscence, though otherwise I think I’ll avoid too much detail, save for a few pictures.
I got into New York tired but lucky, I’d somehow secured emergency exit row seating in all three flights. I discovered pretty quickly that I was a fan of the big apple, and while there definitely was some culture shock, I found NYC so wonderfully culturally diverse that it numbed that sensation of coming home. I stayed in a delightful little new hostel in Spanish harlem for a bargain (NYC prices) 30 dollars per night. I spent the week doing mostly touristy things. I think I spent two full days wandering and writing in Central park which is a fascinating world inside that massive city. Of course I checked out times square, took the free ferry to see the statue of liberty, wandered through Wall Street, saw the 9/11 memorial site and last but not least took in a Broadway show. I chose of Mice and Men and both James Franco and Chris O’Dowd did incredible jobs of bringing Lenny and George to life, reminding me, how beautiful, funny, and ultimately tragic there story is.
The week was peppered with visits with the groom and bride to be, and they introduced me to and recommended some excellent food in NYC. Brick Lane Indian, Shake Shack, Coronet’s Pizza and countless others. A man could easily grow fat (fatter) in NYC. The weekend came and more high school friends flooded the city as we attended my friends wedding which was lovely and very enjoyable. I will say from my point of view it was a little scary to see, knowing just how far away from that part of life I am. (Granted by choice, and I’m not regretting that one bit) It worked out to be what a wedding should be, a good party with new and old friends, and a celebration of two people who love each other. Once the wedding weekend was over I hopped on a plane and spent a few days back in Toronto, seeing a friend in a wonderful play at tarragon theatre, and catching up with some other friends before finally heading Home.
Home. It’s a strange word for me now. Kingston certainly still has an element of Home to it, but I’ve found my definition of that word has broadened a lot over the past year. It felt wonderful to see my father and my brother again after quite a while apart. It was nice to see the house I grew up in again, and catch up with those few friends still around Kingston. IT was also very nice to have a big and comfortable bed and a room to spread out my things in. (Believe me I did.) And for someone who cares little for fashion or clothes, it was surprisingly thrilling to have a few new things to wear. Home is still Home, that said it’s no longer my only home, and I take great joy in that. It’s a powerfully tantalizing idea to know there are countless homes out there I’ve yet to discover. In hostels, on floor of schools, in homes of kind local people, on beaches, in forests, or caves, or anywhere I find myself smiling. Travelling to me remains a drug and not only have I not had enough yet, I have a hard time visualizing a time when I will willingly say goodbye to the incredible rush of exploring the unknown. That said who knows what the future holds.
As time passed in Kingston I found it remarkable how quickly we fall back into established routines, (Not to mention just how much time I spend on my couch). I have certainly enjoyed the past two months, and after a few weeks of pure glorious slothful relaxation, I even managed to start being productive again. Dieting, playing tennis, and editing a lot. Of course I’ve been recording music too, one downside of travelling is it’s hard to find the personal space to do that without disturbing someone else. Still, old habits. I’m watching more T.V. again, eating at many of the same old restaurants, and just generally doing the same things over and over again. There’s glory and comfort in the routine, but now with just less than a month left till I set off again, I’m getting eager to shatter it and form new, ever changing travel routines.
A lot of people talk about coming home and realizing how much they’ve changed, and how little other people have. I haven’t exactly found that to be true. That’s not to say I haven’t changed, I have, though I can’t seem to put my finger on exactly how. But so have my friends and family, if less obviously. Everyone changes and I think my understanding of the world, and scope for ideas has definitely been broadened by travel, but I don’t think that makes my changes inherently greater or valuable then friends who’ve gone back to school, or started dating someone new. My changes may be different, but they’re not better.
Coming home only gives me another example of just how lucky I am. I’m lucky to be able to travel, just like I’m lucky to have a home I love coming back to. I live a life driven only by my own ideas (for right now at least) and the freedom of that is both wonderful and worrying. The main worry being of course will I ever be content to stop travelling, to set down some roots and establish a career and maybe even a family. For now at least I’m not worried about that. I’m happy, I’m inspired, and I’m constantly amazed by the world and the people in it while traveling. That’s enough.
A few little updates on formalities and some of the reasons I came home. I was relieved to find my blood levels were at a good place when I arrived home. I also had the joy of getting my Travel backpack replaced free of charge. For that I’ll give Osprey some credit. They stood behind their product, which broke quickly (I think in that sense I’m the exception, not the rule) I’ve since bought another Osprey Daypack and am fully outfitted for the next leg of my travels now. I renewed my passport and driver’s licence easily enough and am excited to put some marks on those blank pages in the coming years. I felt proud to be applying for a new one while the old one still had 18 months of so of validity left. I suspect I may be doing the same again before long. I also managed to get some new shoes which hopefully will carry me through at least 9 months or so. They are Nike and custom designed by myself and I feel I must now include a few pictures of Canada adventures and of my shoes.
As for what’s coming, t I’ll be seeing J. Cole this coming weekend in Montreal, and The Offspring a few days later with my brother in Toronto. But what I’m really excited for is the big departure in search of countless undiscovered homes.
August 29th I fly to Cartagena, Colombia and begin my South American Adventure. I anticipate spending 18-24 months working my way through south america, then into central america, into Mexico and maybe even up the west coast of the states back to Canada. I’ve started practicing my spanish and I cannot wait to get going again. This leg should be cool as my brother will be joining me in our continental neighbour to the south for a few months this fall and winter, and it looks like my father may even make a trip down to meet up with us. Just writing about the beginning of another adventure is leaving me with an irrepressible smile.
So many new places to explore, people to meet, foods to sample, waterfalls to get some at, and so many new homes to be discovered.
South America, Here I Come!
