Yesterday I sailed away from the United States and entered Canada. This is my first trip to Canada that was more than a day-long jaunt or a layover. I love the variety accents. There were French-speaking teens surrounding me on my ferry ride. The restaurants give me “evidence” rather than a credit card receipt. It is not cold here, but it did rain yesterday.
Perhaps the best part of my travels is meeting several online friends in real life–I especially appreciate the ‘taxi’ service from @leisurelyviking and @jcmeloni. Traveling tends to reaffirm the faith I have in the connectedness of our world, as well as the deep-down beauty of stranger-friends.
I am here for an intensive summer workshop. I’d kind of forgotten what it feels like to be a student and take lecture notes. But it’s all coming back very quickly…And I love that my instructor’s recent research focuses on literary journeys through the Lake District of northern England. I am now scheming a jaunt to that region either before or after my conference in London next month. Such scenery. Such history. Such adventure! :)
PS: This journey marks my first out-of-the-country trip on my own. Also, my first by-myself ferry ride.