Home for 2 1/2 months.

I'm sorry that I didn't finish detailing my travels. In retrospect it's really interesting how much a mind can change over a period of time. When I left I was excited to let everyone know about all of the details that encompassed my travels, but the thing is, it wasn't all fun and games. Feeling trapped, unsafe, and homesick are not emotions that lend to making sure that I write home to Ma.

I made a major mistake when I left. I've come to realize that in order to make a trip like this one, you either have to start with zero money, or start with enough money to make it through the whole trip. The trip taught me a lot of things, many of which are very hard to explain, but the one major thing I learned could have benefited me a lot more if I'd come to certain conclusions earlier in the trip, but such is life.

I began my trip with $300, which was not enough to live on without massive supplement. I ran out of money after a couple of weeks and borrowed $500 from my boss, this was however mostly to buy a touring bike that I found on Kijiji in Montreal (which was promptly stolen). I bought the bike and ran out of money again in another couple of weeks. This time my parents sent me $200. I ran out of that money as well. At this point I knew I had no other way to get money, so I learned to find free food for all of my meals. Previously I was grabbing things here and there to supplement my budget, but I lived for a week in Toronto without spending any money on food at all.

The notion set in that I was capable of doing this and a calm came over me, I suddenly felt like I would be okay no matter what happened. I had the skills and knowhow to get by.

The reason I was prompted to write in this blog again after so long was because tonight was the first time since I've gotten home that I went dumpster diving. I didn't really need to, but a friend was going and I tagged along. It's weird, I never really considered the idea that the life I lived while I was travelling with nothing was a life that I can have in Halifax. There is food getting wasted here just as much as in every other city (per capita).

I'm inspired to be self sufficient.

I'm already planning to take another trip next summer, but this time I'm going to bike. I'll try to keep updating.