We are off to visit with the in-laws. I find it odd to remind myself that we haven't actually met in person! Having become accustomed, even after arriving in Canada, to talking to them via video messaging, the idea of going to actually visit in their home is quite exciting.
The big deal about this trip, of course, is the distance. 9.5 hours on the bus, including layover time, to cover three stages. At the end of that, a dash across town to catch the train for the hour-long ride to the city where my in-laws make their home. In Jamaica, a trip that long would suffice to see me across the island. In Canada, I am covering a small part of what is not even the largest province.
The sheer size of country I'll be traveling through does not bother me. Nor does the idea of traveling for that amount of time. In general, I am a happy traveler. On the road, in the air, no matter how, as long as I am going I find the journey itself interesting, and take pleasure in watching changing scenery and people.
I make sure that by whatever means I am traveling I am comfortable, which for me means as little luggage as possible (only a backpack), a camera close to hand and snack items suitable to my comfort. In Jamaica I am plagued by car sickness and make it a habit to not eat during trips, except for granola bars or candy bars or some such once the part of the journey most likely to set me off is past. In Canada I do not expect to be as uncomfortable, given they are not prone to the Jamaican propensity for building roads with hairpin curves at every turn. However, I am still restricting food items to a bag of trail mix, a granola bar, a Snickers chocolate bar (loaded with peanuts, very good for suppressing hunger for hours) and a bottle of water. During the layovers I do not wish to be preoccupied with finding food or a bathroom, hence the one bottle of water over 10 hours of travel.
My camera is charged and ready, so is my iPod. My travel comfort depends on having music at hand, in the event I do not wish to engage in conversation. Since I will be traveling with G, conversation will be inevitable in this particular trip. However, my iPod is also my comfort for sleeping, I listen to audiobooks and it soothes me to sleep. Sleeping in strange beds gives me Strange Bed Syndrome as I label that curious discomfort that arises from a new bed, and having a comfort of home will help to ease that. I hope not to finish 10 hours of traveling only to find myself unable to sleep because my body refuses to relax into unfamiliar surroundings!
I am already suffering some separation anxiety, oddly enough. I have settled into E.L., I am happy here, I know my surroundings now. Only a couple days ago I took one of the dogs for a walk and was able to simply wander from street to street with him and orient myself back to home with barely a conscious thought and no debate about whether the way I was going was indeed correct. Going back to the "big city" of Toronto now throws it back into stark relief that Canada is still very much a stranger to me. I will be dependent on G's direction and knowledge, and my recently found independence will become irrelevant.
I am looking forward to traveling about in Canada, however. I will be seeing a bit more of it close up on the ground, I will be seeing more of the city that is the heartbeat of the country (no, Ottawa is the capital, but Toronto is where everything happens) and I will be seeing my in-laws. I will get an idea of how ground transportation works in Canada, and taking the train for the first time here. I rode the subway in NY and didn't like it much, but I hope to find a new pleasure in this experience.
To bed shortly, and early to rise to set out. Part 2 when I return!
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