So it looks like I’ve officially been in Vancouver for a year now and man what a year it has been. Now this isn’t the first time I’ve moved away from home, but this past year marked the first time I’ve been more than a two-hour drive away from my family. I feel like being so far away made me feel like more of an adult for some weird reason. I guess perhaps because I couldn’t just take my laundry to my parents or call asking them to come help me fix something I have been forced into unchartered waters of ~adulthood~. I have learned a lot this past year and I thought I would share some of my wisdom with you all so bear with me.
First of all I learned that when something says “Hand Wash” HAND WASH IT. Viscose will shrink and you will cry when your favourite little outfit is ruined. Actually I’ve learned a lot about laundry that you’d have thought I would have just learned in university. Not being a student shockingly changes how much you care about the quality of your clothes. SHOCKINGLY your boss might not find you rolling into work in sweats at 8:30am as cute as your prof/classmates might have. Learn to love washing in cold and laying out to dry. Your clothes will love you and your hydro bill will shrink (your clothes won’t though).
Secondly, Vancouver you are clique-y. I was warned about this before I got here and thought nothing of it. I’m fun, kind, and loud who wouldn’t wanna be my best friend?! A lot you actually. I learned that you can’t go into relationships at 100kms an hour: relationships take time and you can’t force all your weird on people right away because it can be a lot to handle. Learning this made me a better person. It made me understand that people have boundaries and it made me take a deep long look inward at my own boundaries. The nice thing about Vancouver being clique-y is that once you’re in, you’re in for life.
Thirdly, forget about owning anything ever. Vancouver’s market bubble is too high and renting is cool. Possessions tie you down anyway, and you’re a free spirit. Who needs credit, or equity, or anything.
Fourth, when in doubt complain about the weather! Vancouver has the weirdest weather and everyone here is always unhappy with it.
“It’s raining!”
“It’s hot and everything is on fire”
“There are cherry blossoms everywhere URG”
Trust me, it’s an easy topic of conversation if you ever get stuck and don’t know what to say.
Finally, I’ve learned that once you get a taste for seeing the mountains you can’t get away. They are captivating in every way. The west coast is stunning and there is so much to explore. Also everything I considered steep before I moved feels like a mole hill now in comparison.
It’s been a pretty crazy year out here, but I can honestly say I feel like I made the right choice. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
with love,
Lea
