Changes
Trip Start
Mar 27, 2007
1
19
Trip End
Mar 24, 2008
Banff,
Alberta,
Canada
Friday, March 7, 2008
So I am leaving Banff. This time for real. If I hadn't written about that before, I was all set to leave Banff in December and be home for the holidays, but long story short, I ended up staying. Finally though, I feel like now is the right time to move on. I was pretty jaded about the whole Banff experience at the end of last year, but then I really wanted to stay at the same time. There are always new people, new friendships that make you want to stay that little bit longer, and I guess that was what it was. I had people here, and was settled in to things nicely and really no plan for what I was going to do back home after the holidays in freezing cold miserable Winnipeg in January. I seem to know when the time is right to make a move, or a big decision, and it wasn't the right time. I doubted myself from the beginning back in November. But now the time is right. I have a plan, things have sort of come full circle, and I've been in Banff almost one whole YEAR! Sure there are still new people and such, but Banff never was a permanent thing. Nothing in my life ever seems to be. I've had both my jobs at the liquor store and the hotel, almost 11 months, and 10 months respectively, and I enjoy them both for the most part. I am content with things here right now, but I think that is just my peace of mind at the moment. I am ready to move on. I finish my university Economics course in mid-april so I have that to look forward to. (forward as in the future, not by any means am I excited for this exam!). I'm excited to see family again, to have a bit of stability back in my life, my own room, the comforts of home, and all that stuff that you take for granted or don't realize you have in your every day lives. Going back to Swan is something I'm really excited for as well. It's been almost 3 1/2 years and I can't help but try and remember how things were when I used to live there, and whether or not I will remember it all the same as I used to. It'll also be nice to be back in the city, with all the luxuries that life has to offer. Not sure if I'm a small town girl or a wannabe city person??
Finally which I don't think a lot of people knew was that I am running away from home yet again very soon as well, which was a big contributing factor to leaving Banff and spending some time at home. After about a month back home (and Easter too!!), I am flying back to Scotland on the 23rd of April!!!!!!!!!!! AH!!!! This was me jumping around town a few weeks ago after booking my ticket over. Just like I refuse to force any major decisions in my life because I need them to just materialize and progress into something, this was a long time in making. I really wanted to head to Australia and see all my friends from Scotland, the hostel, etc., but I've missed Europe and Scotland so so much this past year. I really wanted to go to both places, see family again, and then there was school and the feelings of what am I ever going to do with my life. It's pretty much all been in the mixing pot since I got back from Europe 13 months ago, so as you see I take things as they come, and trust me they take their sweet time!
Thus, the "plan" (how I hate the finality of the word), is Europe from the 23rd of April and flying back on the 18th of June (about 8 weeks in tota), take some university courses back home in Winnipeg, hang out with the family, enjoy the summer, get in some golfing, and probably work (but only PART-TIME, I don't think I can handle the amount of hours I've pulled in Banff ever again), and then Australia at the end of summer/beg. of fall. It's exciting and I am really looking forward to the next few months.
And that's that. Nine more days in Banff and then I am gone. I am kind of sad about it. I've let go of all the crap and negative feelings that the job at the hotel has given me, I've accepted Banff for what it is, and I can honestly say I've enjoyed it all. The good and the bad go hand in hand, and you can't appreciate the former until you've gone through the latter. At the end of the day, it's the good times you remember and the bad ones you reconcile and learn from. I wouldn't change a thing from the past year.
Another week of work, couple more nights out with friends, and then it's the long journey home. Honestly the only thing I am DREADING is leaving this weather!!! It's been above zero or around there for almost a month now. Things are melting, I crossed the frozen(?) river yesterday for the last time, and I could have worn flip flops outside today. Alas, I hear things aren't so rosy at home right now. -30C hey? Damnit!! Hate to admit it but I think Banff is about a month and a half ahead of Winnipeg, so it's going to be back to winter and I can't do anything about it!! Not cool, not cool AT ALL! But who knows, maybe one day I will make it back out here to Banff, because I quite enjoy their winters if you can call them that.
Anyways, more updates to come so keep checking back.
Goodnight from Banff!
