December 31st, 2018

Its been a few weeks now since we sent our application for Canadian residency, now we just have to wait. Meanwhile we are moving again. This time a little higher up in the mountains. It is getting a bit tiring moving all the time but circumstances are just that way. The place were moving to will make things a bit easier for us while we wait for an answer from the government, as well be able to save a bit of money and also be able to avoid a bit of the problems in the place were currently living, nothing too big just minor inconveniences.

Were looking forward to getting out of the city. We will be helping to look after a place that belongs to some brothers as they will be out of the country for a bit. it is just on the outskirts of another city, and part way up a mountain. I'm not sure of the exact elevation but its somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 meters. We've definitely adapted to the altitude by now in these 3 months here so the change should be barely noticeable. It will be a bit colder but the house has a wood burning stove for heat. We're looking forward to enjoying the more natural environment as its surrounded by pine forests.

We really are hoping to become more permanent somewhere as soon as our circumstances allow for it. One thing we've found challenging is that each place we go we are forced to leave for one reason or another, and we leave before we ever start to feel at home. The last place we really felt at home (as a couple) was Corn Island, we had a lot of friends there and felt like we could be ourselves as we were in our own culture so to speak. I even had other foreigners around so I didn't feel isolated.

I never really thought that living outside of my culture would be such a challenge. I'm always surprised by how many things are different that I didn't expect to be different. Its really hard to explain what I mean by that exactly... But if you've spent a good amount of time in a foreign country, and more importantly among people that don't speak your language you may understand what I mean. Our mother tongue affects the way we think, the way we process information and how we react to situations and behavior on a very deep level. People do things here that to me are so incredibly rude, or completely wrong, and I'm more than certain they think the same thing about us. When I started traveling I thought "I won't let that bother me, I'll just adapt and try to be as much like them as possible". Well that doesn't work. It takes years to really become comfortable with things that deep inside you feel are wrong.

My family no longer lives in Alberta, they've all moved over to the maritimes and are in Nova Scotia now, so when we go to Canada thats where we will be going as well. It will be a completely new environment for both of us. I've never been to the maritime provinces and until recently I couldn't even name them all or place them on the map. We will have to learn a new culture again, but this time our hope will be to stay for a long time in the town where my parents live until we really feel home there. At least there no one can make us leave. We won't need any more visas or to ask permission to stay longer every three months, not knowing what we would do if they say no. I'll be able to look for a job that lets me work in the day so I can finally get a good night's sleep.