(MY) Life - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 22:16 - 2 Comments

The Update

Hello again.

The time has come for me to update all those who so dearly miss hearing about my extraordinary Ontario adventures. It has been 4 months and 8 days since my last post and about 4 months since I came home via via rail. I vied for the locomotive as my vessel of choice to vault me towards my humble home as it holds a far better view than any aircraft volleyed high into the vestiges of space could ever vivify. To hear some voracious vestiges of the V lexicon watch this:

Okay, now is the time for me to explain why I did not have the opportunity to experience what would have undoubtedly been the time of my life in Cuba. I will give some back story to bring you all up to speed. I was in Meaford, Ontario for three months from September to November where I lived with a host family and my counterpart from Cuba. We were apart of a larger group from all over Canada and Cuba, 19 participants in total. One week before we were to leave for Cuba my Cuban counterpart (Jorge) defected. The night Jorge (Cuban) and Raidel (Cuban) disapeared, Jeremy (French man / home fries), my host family (awesome) and I (Canadian / gravy and cheese) were sitting down for dinner. We ate lasagna (or was it pasta, buffalo, chicken or fish?) with potatoes, salad and red dessert wine. Chomping away we talked about going to Cuba, Jeremy's lady life and poutine… Everything appeared to be normal. After dinner Jorge and I helped clear the table and clean the kitchen as we did every night. Once finished Jeremy and I proceeded to the basement as John Wayne was waiting in the telivisor to entertain us. Thoroughly enjoying the film we piped the volume up to a decibel just below a rolling stones concert (slight exaggeration). As we were watching John Wayne shoot unshaven men on horseback; the garage door opened and our former counterparts slipped out. They were off to start a new life in an unknown country. Upon discovery of their disappearance I had no other moral choice than to wish them all the best. In talking to my mother it became obvious that if my grandparents had not fled from Russia to Canada I could possibly be in the same figurative shoes as them. Just like so many who live in this vast country.

The following week was one of the most emotionally difficult and empowering weeks I have experienced to date. I phoned my parents the night of their disappearance to inform them what just happened. They were utterly shocked and sent me copious amounts of emotional support. The following day when I returned to my host families house from work, my host mother notified me that my own parents would be flying in the following day to assess the situation. To say the least I was mortified. The idea of my fellow chums and project supervisor meeting my parents was horrendous. However I quickly recovered when they showed up at our house the following night to take me out for dinner. We went to a fantastic restaurant at the "Blue Mountains". It is an intrawest development making it almost identical to an Whistler. We discussed the events of the past week over delicious lamb and flavorful red wine. As great parents they respectfully expressed their concerns and assured me that they were only looking out for my well being. I don't feel like diving into the intricacies of their argument for me coming home, but it was one that I respected and came to agree with. This revelation in my own mind was something incredible. I had been expecting, anticipating and yearning to go to Cuba long before I arrived in Ontario. However, sometimes in life you need to put your dreams on a shelf. Since coming home I have learnt that with constant reviewing of the metaphorical shelf, and upkeep the dreams stay alive to live another day. I know I will live my dreams, even if they change from day to day, week to week, month to month or year to year, because I have vowed to never let my shelf crumble. Lastly, I give thanks love and admiration to all those who were apart of my life from September to November. You know who you are and you mean the world to me.

Stay tuned for more to come.

Regards,
Zachary