The past 6 months in edmonton (with photos)
Trip Start
Nov 04, 2007
1
9
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Trip End
Apr 19, 2008
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Sunday, July 15, 2007
I returned home In the end of January hoping i had avoided winter, Forgetting winter in Edmonton is 10 months out of the year (for you edmontonians winter is anything below minus 10 for 90% of the worlds standards and mine, I know most of you consider winter -20 and below...)
Shane and i both returned to Canada within a few days of each other he had carried on to a Caribbean cruise, and i had as most people know carried on to Malaysia and Singapore.
We came home to a Freezing February that stayed below 30 for most of the month, needless to say i spent most of that month hiding in my house, And fixing my car which broke down 4 times in a month, Actually for it to break down would imply it was fixed correctly the first 4 times... To which i realized the money wasted on fixing my car i could have continued on to India...
In march i returned to the job i once vowed To never return too, Out of sheer necessity knowing that Sacrificing a year of my life to hard work and slightly hazardous health conditions would bring the ability to Return to south America with out having to be overly concerned with financial problems ( a year working in Canada would finance several years of budget living in south America)
I had Returned to Canada With a new out look on life, And perspective, And with One goal that i would obsess over for the coming months LEAVING, With a game plan, I've been able to Coap with all the stress that used to push me to the edge, knowing that i was always just one step away From Happiness, And unwilling to give people the satisfaction of being as unhappy as they were.
Continuing on before i get off topic, I've more or less put my social life on stand by. Going out Far less frequently Then Previously, Knowing that Everything i save here will Go far further in south America.
The cold weather continued to push on through march and into April.
Shane Signed another contract To teach in Korea, Despite Overwhelming disapproval from friends and family. Which I'm sure made the decision much harder then It needed to be, But I'm sure it was the right one for him at this time in his life.
So just as fast as we had a welcome home party for him Now we were having a good bye party.
Thats about all i can think of worth mentioning for April, Except for I had booked my return to South america For November 4th, I'm pretty sure had i not booked my return in April i would be returning far sooner... But now I'm committed which is for the best, It will help me save a bit more, Which i will be happy i did once I'm back in south america.
In may I Randomly ended up in Vegas Thanks to A Awesome uncle and a spur of the moment early birthday gift.
The trip was just in the nick of the time to celebrate my 3rd of the way done my time, And a welcomed Escape from the monotony of everyday life that was starting to feel like my life was stuck on repeat.
June which had no Holidays was pretty much passed by me being up at 5:30 am every morning for work and then exhausted and in bed by 9pm, Which i guess is bitter sweet, My personal life at an all time low, And the days began to blur together, I was beginning to realize despite being in Canada for a total of 9 months, in the end it would really just be 2 days, the day i came back and the day i leave.
I had decided That my car was an unnessicary expense and cause of stress which i no longer needed so I decided i would not renew my insurance Which was expiring June 30th.
I guess i should mention on a side note of sorts that One of my objectives of returning home to Canada rather then directly going to south america Was to finally get all of my affairs in order to prepare for An extended absence that was to come.
I'm pleased to say that I've more or less Dealt with 99% of the things i hoped to have dealt with prior to my departure, Due in a Great part to The help and understanding of my parents, Who have helped me out So much in the past year, and have been really understanding and supportive knowing that This is just something i need to do right now, And it's helping me become a better person for the future.
Moving on toward July (present month) The weather in Edmonton Has finally took a turn for the better With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.
However It is bittersweet because with the warmer temperatures Have brought with them Poor air quality health warnings, Which prior to our recent "Booming economy" Was more of a problem you associated with cities like Toronto, I guess we've Sold our clean air and blue sky's for economic success and progress, As the Black gold Fattens our wallets and slowly taints each breathe we take. For myself Our "prosperity" Has Blessed me with a cough and irritated throat that just won't leave, And the worst allergies and discomfort I've ever experienced in my life, With an inability to get a good nights sleep between a dry irritated cough, and being so stuffed up i haven't been able to breathe through my nose in a month, Which lead me to visit the doctor on Friday to get some allergy medicine, Which if you know me shows how much discomfort I've been in because I'm dead against using "meds" Because i believe most of the time they do more harm then good.
With the thawing of the cold weather of past months July has also brought a return to my social life, Despite the protest of my wallet.
I went to waburman lake for the day Had a great time playing some soccer with some friends and stayed for a few beers, and then that evening we went and check out the rivercree casino nightclub Which has fast become the new hotspot for its resemblance of a Vegas style set up as well as being just outside city limits and having the ability to make its own rules (such as allowing smoking in the bar.)
As my departure date fast approaches and i reflect back I remember thinking one cold march morning At work "theres no way i will last until November" But now with slightly over 3 months to go, Its beginning to look realistic that i will make it.
Recently My union along with 5 other unions Have held strike votes, In labor disputes mostly due to the rapidly cost of living that economic progress has brought our city.
With Inflation Soaring around 6% And the cost of housing and rent recently doubling in only a couple years, Many middle class workers are finding that despite there high wages on paper, its just not cutting it, And thus There was a strike vote.
Personally since I am leaving in 3 months Most of the 4 year contract doesn't really effect me and thus I'm not losing much sleep over it, like most of my co-workers who have a wife and kids along with a large mortgage to support.
I think the greatest irony for me would be That I've returned From traveling to work, And then We strike For the first time in 25 years.
Well as this update Winds down, What does august bring? Well I'm happy to say a return to the city Where i was first bite by the travel bug. I will return to Vancouver For a fast visit to an amazing city to visit some old friends and hopefully a cousin i haven't seen in 2 years. Needless to say i am really looking forward to this trip I always considered it to be my marker for the home stretch, As in once i return from Vancouver, It should be smooth sailing to south america, I've lasted this long, It will all be within Arms grasp by this point, I must say though I am really surprised At how fast Time has flown by it seems like only yesterday i was sitting on a motto Dodging traffic in Saigon oh sorry Ho Chi Min city, I find myself Now more eager then ever to get back To traveling and living my life, And get out of this Time loop i seem to be stuck in where only the seasons change.
So that's my little update of my life in Edmonton for the past months, I'm sure some stuff has slipped my mind and never ended up being mentioned but if i mentioned every little detail this blog would risk being even longer then it seems to have gone.
I will now add some photos from the past several months.
Cheers
