Montreal, QC

“Do you want me to leave this light on for a nightlight?” my mother asks. I’m 23 years old and this isn’t a flashback. I’m in a hotel room in Montreal the size of a closet, and I have all of what I will call my belongings for the next 12 months packed into 6 small, black canvas bags. I’m in a city where everyone except me speaks French, and therefore I have no idea what’s really going on around me. My day was spent either outside a truck being pelted by torrential rainfall, or inside a truck with my knees tucked into my chest so I would fit inside. I didnt sleep last night because I was busy choosing what to put in the aforementioned 6 small, black canvas bags. I just had a beer at the hotel bar downstairs which I think was from a keg which has been tapped for exactly three years longer than suggested. I am officially homeless and jobless. My nerves have been such a wreck all day I felt like I was going to vomit- something I don’t do unless I’ve got the flu.

Despite all of this, I’m in one of the better moods I’ve been in for quite sometime. Not that I’m an unhappy guy- quite the opposite. But I’m somewhere new and exciting, and I’m meeting new and friendly people like Myriam the cute bartender/waitress at the bar down the street, and the customs officer whose name I never got when entering Canuck-ville. (Or technically Hab-town if you’re a hockey fan…). In 36 hours I will begin what seems to me to be the most significant and challenging undertaking of my entire life, but if you want to be glass-half-full about it, it’s more of a year-long vacation where I do whatever I want every day. I can’t really complain.

Anyways, things are finally underway far enough that it’s too late to worry about whether I’ve forgotten something, because it doesn’t matter. They’re calling for snow tonight, but I cant really control the weather so I’m not going to worry about that either. No worries.

A lot of people have asked why I wanted to start in Montreal. There are actually quite a few reasons. First, I’ve never been here and have always wanted to check it out. Now that I’m here I’m certainly not disappointed. Everyone is friendly, and I havent seen a single fat person yet! (no offense to the fatties out there reading this) Second, starting in Canada lets me add to the list of countries that I plan on seeing during this trip. I’ll agree that its a bit of a silly reason, but whatever. Lastly, in my past world travels, I’ve found that its sometimes easier if people think you’re from Canada rather than the US. I’ve never lied about where I’m from, but I’ll admit guilt when I knew someone thought I was Canadian and I never told them otherwise. If someone asks where I started and I say Montreal, they may just assume I’m from there. If it works out to my advantage, I’ll roll with it. It’s nice to have the option.