j a n s e n. i. s. m.

I’m changing home address soon. The offer came to me a few days ago, to transfer to a high-rise apartment after one of its occupant decided to join a downtown girl in her nth house here. In exchange, a returning assignee is said to take over my spot in the blue and white house according to his agent. The bedroom which is good for two will now be good for one since my roommate is ending her assignment in a week time. So the fact that my room could offer the privacy the returning assignee might need and the rent is the cheapest among the houses I’ve set foot to here in Canada, make it as his best option. The only setback I can think is if returning assignee is a total neat freak. He might not survive the normal clutter in this house, the once-a-day dishwashing, the leftover food that stays left over for longer than a week sometimes, and the bathroom which is only clean an hour after a laborious general cleaning, all of which I have become used to in my almost two months of stay.

I had overnight to decide so the next morning, I popped the agent and told her that I’m willing to move to the apartment but I have to get the reactions of my housemates first — Mr. Chef and Mr. Pudgy. I thought about just emailing the two for a lengthy explanation or writing them a short  note the way I did when I requested Mr. Pudgy to wash the dishes recently (“Will wash the dishes later in case Mr. Pudgy won’t…“) and he did. Another option is breaking the news over beer. but some might forgot the topic after a bad HO. So instead, it happened so casually, I got over the nerves and told Mr. Chef when he returned home late that evening then the next morning, while doing the dishes, I said my piece to Mr. Pudgy. I told him that I’m not leaving the blue and white house unless assured that the returning assignee will guarantee his stay no matter what.

I revisited my option, as if the decision I told the agent was easily revocable. Part of me doesn’t want to leave the blue and white house– I’ll miss Mr. Chef’s homecook meals, Mr. Pudgy’s *ssholiness, the creaking sound my bed makes, the closet I inherited, the rice cooking and dishwashing with view of the backyard, the food and drinks shared in the dining table, the familiar walk from house to shuttle station. Part of me feels anxious about transferring– the normal adjustment, the new roommate/housemates, the documented house rules, the brown rice, the new bigger space and the slightly higher rent. What I find weird about this whole thing is that it shouldn’t feel like it’s a sacrifice on my end but it doesn’t quite feel like seeking convenience either. Then as the days leading to month end become fewer, I have to pinch myself more often and accept that my hours staying in the blue and white house are getting shorter. Unless of course, the returning assignee decides not to live here or Mr. Chef and Mr. Pudgy suffer depression in the next few days or the landlord begs me to stay which is least likely.

July 31, between 10:00-11:00pm

The three-days-worth-of-clothes duffle bag is ready. Also packed inside are toiletries, several gadget cables, and passport. A good-enough-for-travelling pillow is tucked on my arm, my netbook-which-im not-sure-is-smart-to-bring on the other hand. Also brought something to read—The Time Traveller’s Wife. I’m ready to embark on a seriously long road trip to Alberta: with my housemates Rico, Jell, Mike along with fellow assignees Grace and Anne then I just met Myrna, who also works at CHQ and Dan, her Canadian boyfriend. I’m wearing polo shirt and denim jeans while everyone else is on their t-shirts and shorts. About an hour earlier I was preparing the sandwiches and cooking hard-boiled eggs that we’ll bring on this trip, asking the true chefs in the house, how to know if the egg is already hard boiled. I hate rushing and I’m worried that I might have forgotten to pack something important. We’re about to leave now, and I’m leaving behind dirty dishes.

Minutes later

MJ music is pumping inside the car as we started traversing the highway. I noticed Anne was talking to someone on the phone. I realized it was Benj, she was talking to. I looked at my phone and there was a missed call.

August 1, a few hours later

Eating McDonald’s chicken nuggets. The Canadian version is thinner, lesser oily, easier to eat and didn’t come with a sauce unless you asked for it. I began with the first few pages of the book I brought and I got the inspiration on how to write my next blog entry.

A few more hours later

The road is dark. I don’t think I’ll ever get a driver license or learn to drive. Me to self: “Are we there yet?”.

Minutes after

Finally, we pulled over and took pictures in the welcome sign for Alberta. The first rays of sunlight kissing my skin. We continued driving and found ourselves staring at endless patterns of mountains, bodies of water, and pine trees. My system is craving for coffee the way the car engine needed gasoline, and soon we reached Jasper, Alberta. Had breakfast inside the car (this sandwich is good, who made this?) and a much needed break most especially for the designated drivers. We’re ready to explore the town and take more pictures before heading to Banff.

Around lunch time

Mike mocked that I’m the only one not wearing sunglasses in the group while walking in the streets of Jasper to find a place to have lunch at. As if I had to explain myself on court, I reasoned out that it was hard to put sunnies on when I’m already wearing eyeglasses and between protecting my eyes with a pair of shades from sunlight and protecting myself from being hit by a car because without eyeglasses everything is a blur, I chose the latter. Had Greek food for lunch — beef souvlaki.

Some time after the lunch

On our way to Banff, we stopped at several places and were amazed by the glaciers of the Alberta rockies. They seem surreal from afar, as if someone had just handpainted them on the background or you’re looking at a ginromous Windows desktop minus the icons.

Later in the afternoon

Finally, we’ll be resting on actual beds and be taking a shower. We checked in at Ptarmigan Inn which Rico made reservations for. The room was nice but much to my disappointment, I’ll be sharing the bed again with the one who snores like a fax machine.

Later in the evening

I enjoy walking on downtown, watching people pass by, looking at shops and waiting for turn to cross streets. It’s the thrill in walking and not knowing exactly where you are heading and the unplanned pauses in between. How about Korean food for dinner? I was hesitant at first but after trying ‘bulgogi”, my tongue betrayed me, “a-ju ma-si-sseo-sseo-yo”

Almost midnight

The wi-fi connection inside room 113 was intermittent and the person I was expecting to be online is there but been idle for more than a day. Anyway, it doesn’t matter because I declared pride.  I had a chat with Andrei, a former officemate from Manila but is now based here in Alberta. We were talking about weather and Canadian geography until the connection gave up. I borrowed Mike’s call card after realizing mine’s already empty. I called mom to inform about my whereabouts which has become a weekend habit. Afterwhich, I was ready to sleep… z z Z Z

August 2, the next morning

It felt better not to be wakened up by the sound of an alarm clock. Instead, I heard Rico’s voice announcing it’s my turn on the shower. The dream which starred the “idle person” has been cut off but knowing I survived the snoring of my sleeping mate, it wasn’t’ that bad sleep after all. I grabbed a cereal bar as pre-breakfast and took a bath, then got dressed in what can be called as “the Mexican goes to a BBQ party”.

Approximately 10:30 AM

After a half-hour trekking in Johnston Canyon Trail (we saw squirrels upclose and the lower falls), we’re driving off to Lake Louise in Banff. I lost track of the number of lakes we’ve seen on this trip. I was seating on the backseat with Anne. Incubus playlist on the background, Anne gave an interesting trivia of what the word “incubus” means. I felt like I’m not being a good seatmate because I was continuing reading “The Time Traveler’s Wife” while i was munching potato chips from a big bag. I felt like I’m betraying my other travelmates, because at the moment my thought belongs elsewhere, on a different place and timezone.

1:30pm

Lake Louise was probably the best lake with the best view I’ve seen of the glaciers. After several photo ops, we went canoeing, splitting the group into two: Rico, Jell, Anne versus Grace, Mike and I. All the paddling, taking instructions from captain Grace which direction to paddle and checking if Mike is paddling as hard I am, exhausted me. The first five minutes of the boating was fun, the next 55 minutes was torture– I deserved a good lunch.

2:30pm

Waiting for the calamari and spring rolls for lunch at The Lake Louise Village Grill & Bar.

3:40pm

Heading to Calgary… but that meal got me full and I’m now lethargic.

4:40pm

We’re still on the road… Rico is still driving.

6:00pm

We reached Calgary Zoo but it’s already closed for the day.

 

6:45pm

After several minutes of exploring downtown Calgary while in the car, and not getting much out of Calgary, we’re heading back to Banff. And everyone agreed.

8:00pm

Back in Banff and heading to Gondola. This isn’t the Gondola I know (think Venice).

9:40pm

Enjoyed the Banff Gondola, the view was excellent and the sunset was beautiful. We had a short stop at a hot spring but it was a disappointment.

Past 10:00pm

We met up with Myrna and Dan for dinner after them missing our activities during the day. We’re at an Italian restaurant and since it was late, there isn’t much to choose from the menu than what is actually listed. Basically it’s pasta or pizza but Grace got lucky with her Caesar salad. While waiting, I took advantage of the wifi and researched about the word “gondola” and proved a point. I managed to make the Canadian laugh.

Past midnight

We went on a pub to drink. As strictly required by law here, one needs to show an ID to prove that they are not minor. I didn’t have one with me and I left my passport in the hotel room. I’m not drinking coke tonight or worse settling for milk so Grace went with me back to the hotel.

About ten minutes after

We’re back in the pub and shot glasses were distributed among each. I later learned that the cocktail is called “snake bite” (tequila with pepper in it). The gents behaved while the ladies were in the loose, posing while lying on the street. When good girls gone bad.

August 3, Monday morning

Sleep was shorter and like yesterday I realized the need to wake up after seeing Rico getting ready. After a quick shower, moustache shave and hair style, I gathered my things back to my duffle bag careful not to miss a thing before we checked out of the hotel. Rico instructed me to go ahead and meet Myrna and Dan in the lobby and tell them the plan. We’re skipping Drumheller or the Icefield Parkway tour or the caving in Banff, and will instead go to Kelowna since it seems the shortest and the route is on the way home.

Before lunchtime

Souvenir shopping before leaving Banff: keychains, magnets, S shirt, M shirt, Canadian moose dropping. We haven’t had an actual breakfast or an actual lunch, and we headed off to Kelowna.

The afternoon

Had read 150 pages of the book already, lunch was drive thru at A&W. Had a bit of regret from the Mama burger and fries I had because it didn’t satisfy my hunger fully. I ate potato chips again and Jell shared her fries.

Around 4:00pm

Short stop at a barn. Got an ice cream treat from Anne. I missed the goat feeding because I was in the wash room removing the stain I got from the ice cream.

Minutes before 6:00pm

We reached a winery at Kelowna and ready for wine tasting. Ice wine is my fave.

An hour later

Went to another winery not because we haven’t had enough wine for the day but because some wanted to see an actual tour.

Around 8:00pm

I’ve been craving for the real spring roll and to my appetite delight, we had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. Cravings solved.

Past midnight

… We’re still on the road. I don’t know exactly where in BC we are now but we are expecting to arrive in Burnaby in about an hour. I’m feeling restless inside the car. I dunno if it’s the awkward silence or it’s the darkness outside and the seemingly endless road ahead… but somehow I found comfort in knowing that every journey has its end… and every moment in this travel we had already has a spot in my archive.

August 4. around 1:30 am

We arrived safely home. Unpacking my duffle bag, i realized i’m missing something: iPod charger.

Minutes later

Dishwashing. Shower. Bed. z z Z Z.