It’s 2am and this is my last night in Hamilton. We just indulged in some classic 90s action entertainment with Michael Bay’s The Rock and I’m about to go to sleep on a floor that will by no means be my last over the course of the next six weeks. We’re waking up tomorrow and heading off to my friend Jordan’s cottage near Lindsay, Ontario, and I guess you can say that is when the travels begin: 3 May 2010.
It has been a largely stressful week, much due to the fact that my proficiency in being a chronic worrier has come to the forefront. First, there were the final exams. They weren’t too much of a worry, but I did leave my revision for my final exam to the morning of, and went to a keg party the night before, perhaps unwise but it seemed to all pan out quite well in the end. That was then followed by the completely arduous task of moving out, cleaning and deciding what I have room to take with me and what had to be thrown away. Obviously leaving everything to the absolute last minute before having to panic rush to downtown Toronto to see off my parents (who I had a pleasant weekend with wandering about the TO) on to the train west to Vancouver. Then I was pleased to discover that my housemates had rather graciously not bothered to do any cleaning before they left the flat, meaning that it was in an utter state, ready for a ludicrous cleaning charge to be slapped on it, giving McMaster University yet another reason to siphon some money from my dwindling account. So I sped back an hour before the building closed for the summer to do some last gasp cleaning of the mess that my housemates had made and left behind in order to not only save myself the fees but also saving them the fees. A thankless task that left me rather riled and bitter about my residence experience in Canada. Particularly given the incessant noise I had to endure for most of the year from my housemates and their annoying friends who seemed to be able to handle about a quarter of a beer. Once that job was complete I was pleased to discover that I had lost one of the reimbursement cheques from the dentist, leaving me $120 out of pocket and without a permanent address in Canada to have a replacement cheque sent to. Luckily, Rob has family in Vancouver that the cheque can be sent to, but I still haven’t called the insurance company to arrange that. Last, but far from least, was the hassle of sending my luggage home, or, as it turns out, to Philadelphia for me to pick up in June and then take home on the plane. Fed Ex didn’t bother to tell us that they refuse to send personal ‘effects’ via ground mail. Purolator were doing everything to not send our luggage and eventually we had UPS send the luggage, but not before I had to itemise literally everything in the luggage. From 36 pamphlets/books to one stuffed toy octopus. This whole process took around three hours to complete. Now the chronic worrier that I am is going through every worst case scenario regarding my luggage getting lost or slapped with huge custom fees due to me clearly lying about the worth of the contents. Oh, and then there was the endless indecision regarding booking the flights home that led to flight we intended to book going up $50, and then trying to organise various couchsurfs for the cities that we’re visiting very shortly, but I’ll get to that in a bit. Essentially, I’ve had a dense weight on my shoulders for the last week. And I’m relieved that, for the most part, I’m through the thick of it. End rant.
The week has been pretty fun at times though, despite all of the above. I’ve moved in to a posh off-campus student accommodation that some friends live in. Supposedly sleeping on the floor but four of the five nights I managed to swindle a bed. Usually by just being drunk and passing out in Connie’s bed before she had the opportunity to. The goodbyes have been sad and awkward, as goodbyes usually are. And there are certainly many people that I’m gutted I didn’t get to say bye to and will now probably never see again. But I suppose that is part and parcel with studying abroad and making these temporary friends. What has not been particularly exciting has been the diet of baked beans, noodles and stale bagels that I’ve been living on, but it’s all practice for the ludicrious scrape-the-barrel diet that circumstances are forcing me to adopt whilst travelling.
Preparing for our journey west and the south has been getting me super excited. As Rich noted, I’ve assumed some kind of impromptu role as trip secretary trying to organise where we’re staying in every city, but so far the signs are looking promising. Our first stop is Chicago, where we arrive at 5am on the morning of this coming Friday. There we are staying with four students in Little Italy who have all just finished their final exams and also happen to be throwing a house party for their friend’s 21st birthday the day that we arrive. Some might say ideal. After Chicago we hit Minneapolis where we should be staying with a currently unemployed musician who is playing a show one of the nights we’re there. So hopefully he’ll have a lot of time to show us the sights and sounds of the Twin Cities. Following that we hit the woefully exciting towns of Winnipeg and Regina, which will hopefully surprise us with some good times. Then Calgary where we are due to be staying in the house (mansion) of the CEO of Hockey Canada (the equivalent of the CEO of the FA, for the British), so God only knows what to expect there. I only have best case scenarios running through my mind. From there we aim to make a trip to Banff National Park, then to Vancouver. Then we’ll cross back over the border to Seattle, then to Portland, where I will, fingers crossed, get to see my auntie that I haven’t seen in nigh-on ten years, as she now resides there. I’m very excited to go to the Microcosm Publishing shop there. I’ll no doubt end up buying far more than I can carry. From Portland it all gets a bit hazy, we want to go out to the coast to a small town in either Oregon or California to chill out for a couple of days. Then it’s down through California to the likes of San Francisco, San Diego and LA. From LA, we head to Las Vegas just in time for the England vs. USA game on the 12th June where we shall no doubt get all rowdy and pissed, hopefully not having to swallow our pride if England fuck it up. From there, the group splits as Rich is gonna fly back to England and Patrick flies to Baltimore to see his wife. Rob and I, meanwhile, fly to Philly on the 14th June for a few days to, once again, hang out with that lot. That should be a rather awesome finale before catching a flight back to England on the 20th June, just in time to make it to the Hot Water Music show in Leeds on the 22nd. No rest for the wicked, eh?
All in all, I’m very excited and hope it all goes swimmingly. I’ll try to keep this as updated as much as I can with all the stories that no doubt develop as time passes and my blood Pabst levels increase.
Smell ya later, Hammertown.
No comments:
Post a Comment