Note: Before I begin, I am aware that it has been awhile since I wrote on here. However, upon reflection and many hours of writing, I have decided that I want to continue with this blog. It is a little harder to write this the second time around as some things that I am about to share are some of my deepest most personal thoughts.
In the past couple of months many people have told me that I am so brave for leaving Canada, leaving my friends, my family, my job and everything else behind to change continent for little money, move in with a family that I barely even know, all to be able to have a chance to travel around Europe.
Yes looking back, I now realize that it was a little crazy. I also realize that it made me grow up...alot. To explain how I feel, I will let the wise Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World explain it to you:
In the past couple of months many people have told me that I am so brave for leaving Canada, leaving my friends, my family, my job and everything else behind to change continent for little money, move in with a family that I barely even know, all to be able to have a chance to travel around Europe.
Yes looking back, I now realize that it was a little crazy. I also realize that it made me grow up...alot. To explain how I feel, I will let the wise Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World explain it to you:
While I don't have a Mr. Feeny in my life, I do have an inner voice. Living abroad has finally given me the chance to listen to my inner voice, and this is what I learned:
I cannot stay in one place and do the same thing without some type of growth. I think that a part of the reason as to why I signed up to come to Italy in my last year of university was because I felt like I needed to grow. I was, perhaps, looking for a challenge. I had plenty of opportunities to grow professionally and academically. I just felt that I needed more then the opportunities that were available to me. I felt like I needed to be on my own. I needed to have an adventure, I needed to travel, see the world through my own eyes, and not through the eyes of my parents. While I had an incredible life back home, I needed to build my own life, and not continue with the one which was already built for me.
Moving to Italy was probably the best decision that I could have made for myself. It made me realize what I am able to accomplish on my own. It made me realize that there is still so much for me to do in this world, and I still have so much left to offer it. This journey has made me see what so many others have always seen in me. My best friend wrote on a postcard before I left how "The city just lost one our best women on the planet". and "Montreal just lost a star". I didn't understand it at the time, probably because I didn't feel like a shining star.
After 10 months of living abroad, I have (so far) got to visit 6 countries, 13 cities, and 9 towns. I have met people from all over the planet, and I got to experience things that I would never have thought possible 1 year ago.
I cannot stay in one place and do the same thing without some type of growth. I think that a part of the reason as to why I signed up to come to Italy in my last year of university was because I felt like I needed to grow. I was, perhaps, looking for a challenge. I had plenty of opportunities to grow professionally and academically. I just felt that I needed more then the opportunities that were available to me. I felt like I needed to be on my own. I needed to have an adventure, I needed to travel, see the world through my own eyes, and not through the eyes of my parents. While I had an incredible life back home, I needed to build my own life, and not continue with the one which was already built for me.
Moving to Italy was probably the best decision that I could have made for myself. It made me realize what I am able to accomplish on my own. It made me realize that there is still so much for me to do in this world, and I still have so much left to offer it. This journey has made me see what so many others have always seen in me. My best friend wrote on a postcard before I left how "The city just lost one our best women on the planet". and "Montreal just lost a star". I didn't understand it at the time, probably because I didn't feel like a shining star.
After 10 months of living abroad, I have (so far) got to visit 6 countries, 13 cities, and 9 towns. I have met people from all over the planet, and I got to experience things that I would never have thought possible 1 year ago.
I hope that I can inspire others who are reading this, and who have asked me about wanting to do a similar experience but are just to scared to take that first step. To those who are worried about not having enough money, all you need is a little bit of money to start off, and as you start to come out of your shell, you will find other means of making money. I, for example, picked up extra tutoring and babysitting jobs to help fund some of my travels, and i I got to meet
Looking back I am so proud at what I have been able to do here. I come from a French province with some people who will run in the opposite direction as soon I say one word in English. So it still surpises me that I have funded my travels by people who want to practice English. Most people here in Torino seem to get excited when I arrange an English lesson with them. This has also led me to realize working with people, and helping them, has always been my calling. I have been fortunate enough to put that into action, in the most unexpected way.
So for anyone who is reading this and is wondering about doing the same thing, to them I say, go for it! If you're worried abput not having enough money, losing your job, your friends , your family, and so many other things, just make a plan and do it. This experience may not mske you rich, but it will enrich your life. You can always make money later. The house that you wanted to buy will just be a building with bricks if all you do all day is work to pay for it. If your friends are true friends, they wil still be around when you get back. If money is an excuse, and if you have nobody to provide for, just get up, go, grow. You'll find a way to make it! You'll meet so many people from all over the world, have so many conversations, experience so many new things, and visit so many places!
So as the new name for my website says: Get up, go, grow!
Looking back I am so proud at what I have been able to do here. I come from a French province with some people who will run in the opposite direction as soon I say one word in English. So it still surpises me that I have funded my travels by people who want to practice English. Most people here in Torino seem to get excited when I arrange an English lesson with them. This has also led me to realize working with people, and helping them, has always been my calling. I have been fortunate enough to put that into action, in the most unexpected way.
So for anyone who is reading this and is wondering about doing the same thing, to them I say, go for it! If you're worried abput not having enough money, losing your job, your friends , your family, and so many other things, just make a plan and do it. This experience may not mske you rich, but it will enrich your life. You can always make money later. The house that you wanted to buy will just be a building with bricks if all you do all day is work to pay for it. If your friends are true friends, they wil still be around when you get back. If money is an excuse, and if you have nobody to provide for, just get up, go, grow. You'll find a way to make it! You'll meet so many people from all over the world, have so many conversations, experience so many new things, and visit so many places!
So as the new name for my website says: Get up, go, grow!