Five Months & Counting

I've now been 'on the road' for five months. In many ways it feels like a lot longer than that. Vancouver alone feels like 5 months, with S.E. Asia drifting into a far off memory, like all the other places I've been.

There has definitely been some progress with my lifestyle here, I'd like to report. I now look left automatically without reference to the green ←LOOK sign painted on the roads. The antics of resident squirrels only brings a smile rather than an excited intake of breath (Homer giggling churlishly while chasing a squirrel around Springfield University with a stick vaguely comes to mind, particularly while I'm still working out at University of British Columbia). And appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the ongoing safety of all apparel from the super ridiculously industrial strength washing machines here.

But there are still a few things that constantly remind me that Vancouver is not home. My Meetup group plan (or group therapy as I think of it) has been rather infertile grounds for meeting new friends. The only exception was meeting up with one girl, Sarah, who had just arrived from the UK, and once I ruled out any chance of strangeness in excess of my own - we immediately hit it off. It wasn't my typical meet new people thing, I'll admit there were even echoes of 'blind date' when we both agreed that we'd had a great time, and should do it again soon. But it's been nice to have someone to hang out with for no particular reason and reminisce about the golden shores many miles away.

When I first arrived I had my sleeping bag and that was about it. Luckily one of the roomies had sheets that he'd never used as he decided he didn't like the baby blue (why ever not...?) so I didn't need to get all the essentials immediately. I'd planned on doing that once I was off the AUS$ and comfortably living on the CAD$. 3 months in and the sleeping bag still on bed - I've just not wanted to accumulate here, which has its advantages and disadvantages. I love that I am finally getting some wear out of my sleeping bag, but it says alot to me about how I feel about living with the guys, and how I want to keep things simple for a quick get-away as soon as my time here is done.

But September is approaching. The days are starting to get shorter, there's a definite nip in the air, even though all the snow has long since melted from the mountain tops surrounding the city. Winter is on its way. I look forward to the change in seasons with mostly excitement, but a little bit of trepidation, this isn't going to be a nice cosy London winter - its going to be -20/30deg if all goes according to plan. I have no idea how my body will react to these exctremes, but I have a vague idea it won't be pleasant. September also brings a nice little suite of adventures, culminating in the Roadtrip to possibly end all roadtrips through the States in October.

While I don't think I'll ever look at Vancouver as the warmest of travel experiences I have had, or will yet, but things are on the verge of getting a whole lot better for this little Aussie cliche.