Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
I was so jevenile at the start of all of this.

When things happen in your life and you realize they aren't what you want, it's not fulfilling your wildest imaginations, you need to make decisions; this was mine...

Booking and surviving my first week abroad!
It was a good start although fairly quiet. I started my journey on my own in Vancouver on a cool Octobers day, and I feel so proud. Proud that I made the decision to buy a rental property a month before I left and used the rest of my penny's to leave it all behind. (The comfort of my home at my parents, end my sales position I could have worked up to be the best in, waiting for my boyfriend to come home every 3 weeks from work. Hanging with the same crowd)... What a boring life!

I spent 6 days in Vancouver taking in the streets of downtown. I didn't venture too far but i had a feeling about a certain place: 'Hastings Street', It was on my mind, but why, I do not know. Until I was there confusingly watching a frail 50 odd yr old guy muttering to himself, scooping up leaves into his jumper with an old diary cover at the traffic lights. Was he working? Why wouldn't they give him a broom or a bucket, maybe he's a volunteer?
Strange... But i kept wandering on to get my answer... Homeless people around the next corner, begging for coins to support there weed habits and to feed there raggedy sad dogs. Drug dealers soaking up the warmth of West Canada, harassing anyone walking by for something... That's what he was doing.. Trying to keep warm with the leaves, it made sense... but why am I here again?
To avoid the uncomfortable eye contact & the confusing thoughts about why they didn't have homes, I stumbled up a couple of stairs into a store to catch my breath. It just happened to be a calm shop - exactly what I needed. It was a cute arty, picture and frame store that had some amazing cards; I wanted to buy all of them. Cute quotes, nice wedding cards, poems for friends. One in particular really summed up what was going to happen over the next few weeks though. It read "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" A quote by Neale Donald Walsch.
This is why I'm here, this is what is meant to happen!! It makes sense again.
I remembered some advise I was told by a friend before I left, "Hastings was different and you should keep a distance". I'm glad I didn't remember this advise too early though, because I wouldn't have found myself in that store and replaying that quote through my head everyday through my trip.

I met a few interesting people in Van. I made conversation with anyone within a few feet of me just so I could have some Friends. So I wasn't alone in the other side of the world. I thought everyone would be doing the same thing, working and travelling and not knowing anyone... Seemed people were actually living in Canada, living real lives, living in the hostel or studying and didn't actually want to chat. What's wrong with this crowd?
Scared and nervous I signed up for a guided football match. First ever match to see. Admitably I wasn't a fan of the game itself, but the atmosphere was pretty intense. Doesn't compare to hockey though.
I made friends with a Canadian that night at the Football who was also staying at the hostel for the night. He taught me the rules of hockey, made me feel at ease on the bus ride through East Hastings Street at night & we just had a good friendship from the get go.
But the NHL (National Hockey League) rules confused me, it was the intensity that got me.. Sure take your gloves off, intimidate them, why not...I can definitely see why the Canadians are mad fans but not a game my body would take lightly to if I played. Applause to those boys.

After the goodbye's to this amazing Canadian friend & the 6 days in the West I had to make my way to Sun Peaks. A little more inland, I had a job set up before I left Aus for my own and my parents peace of mind.
Definitely not the dream job, but it was something to plan towards... A 'reason' to go.
I didn't last long on the small ski hill though. It was the 'Shoulder month' Where everyone was just waiting for the snow to fall. Nothing was actually happening & no shop was really open. Two and a half weeks in total I think it was & I was set on seeing Canada for it's whole potential already. My time was important and there were far more things to see then scrubbing loos, locals night on Tuesdays, laughing with my new Aussie friend on the couch and eating ourselves stupid.

I'm a big believer in 'Everything happens for a reason'. We never know why until later though. I do know now though that this reason I was happy but bored on this small hill was because I needed to meet this Aussie friend. We shared a room, house, work and similarities that just connected us. The bond was unforgettable and to this day we're so very connected and appreciate one another.
I had already grown up from the first week in Vancouver- I'd learnt and seen so much, but most importantly I'd proven to myself already that I can wonder on my own, without knowing what's going to happen or even understanding why. I was confident though and I was happy that I tried it and happy I did it well. My anxieties had just been brushed away with this passion to see more.

I set myself off after the third week in Canada, more inland to Kelowna on my own to see more if this beautiful country, meet more incredible people and make memories in which ill never forget. In two weeks my boyfriend and my friend would be joining my travels and see where the road was going to take us.
Our unseen path continued.. and it was one big ride for sure...