Back to Civilization

View from my balcony

You might be wondering why I've been M.I.A. for two months... well I finally got internet set up yesterday! It's been about five weeks (going on my sixth) since I've moved up here to Vancouver. Before the move, there was so much to wrap up from my previous position on top of the packing I had to do, which was a nightmare. The night before my flight, I was up to almost 4am packing. I didn't think I had a lot to pack, but I sorely misjudged the effort.

The first few weeks were grueling and really pushed me to the edge. I was close to reaching my breaking point by the third week, but since then it has been getting better. A lot of the struggle had to deal with learning a lot in a short amount of time, taking on more responsibility and new projects with tight time lines on top of trying to find a place to live and adjusting to a new environment. I knew it would be tough, but I didn't imagine that it would be this hard. The thing that keeps me going is knowing the personal growth I'll gain from this experience. Already I've learned a lot and there's still so much more to learn.

It's beginning to feel more like home since the delivery of my things yesterday. I've done quite a bit of unpacking the past two days. Fortunately I don't have much left. Not having a tv or internet has made me feel so isolated from the rest of the world. I have no idea what's been happening around me. The good thing about it is that I've done a lot more reading and have been calling people more. I'm not sure how long I can hold out on a tv. Eventually I'd like to get one, but I'm afraid it'll be a huge distraction.

Living in Vancouver, I'm beginning to appreciate a lot of what I took for granted in Chicago. Life is so convenient there compared to here. For one, service seems to be faster in Chicago, although it may not be as friendly as in Vancouver; I'm finding that there aren't some of the things I usually buy here, although there are a lot of other things I've never seen before; parking spots are narrower and in many places where it is a public parking lot you must pay a dollar; a lot of places require a 25 cent deposit in order to use a shopping cart; and certain things seem to be much more expensive than in the States.

But there are a lot of great things about Vancouver that I appreciate, like the number of great places to eat and being able to find a good meal for a good value; the many friendly people I encounter; the warmer climate although it rains a lot during the winter; the recreational activities that are available; the fact that it doesn't take long to get anywhere; and the spectacular view of the mountains.

I can't wait until summer arrives when I can really have a chance to explore the city.