Reaching for my dreams

For 3 years I have wanted to move away and live in a bigger, more vibrant city. I have started the process a few times, and stopped for various reasons, mostly because the timing wasn't quite right (and life, really, is all about timing) and because it's scary - I have grown up here and lived here my whole life, I have all my good friends and family here and it's terrifying to leave that nest.

But, I know that this is something that I need to experience, and I need to do it by myself, to fling myself into the unknown. I know that living elsewhere will help me grow, bring me a confidence and independence that I can't obtain here in my bubbled life. Just like deciding to get an apartment by myself has helped me to grow. That was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.

And so, at the end of this month, I am going to be packing up all my things and hopping on a plane to go live in Montreal for the summer. I'll be subletting a cute bachelor apartment, one block away from Mount Royal park, I'll be taking some photography and possibly web design classes at Concordia University, and hopefully getting a job, even though my French is a little (read: lot) rusty. My time in Montreal will also be like an extended vacation - I plan to see all the sights and travel around to other cities, including NYC. And I hope to have lots of visitors! I will have a fabulous air mattress, so if anyone wants to come see Montreal in the summer, you can crash with me! :)

Why Montreal, you ask? Good question. Montreal seemed to have all my requirements: big city, far away, culturally diverse, trendy, with charm, and it's very inexpensive to live there!! That was the clincher. I couldn't get over the apartment prices! Currently I pay $825 +hydro +internet/TV for my 1 bedroom apartment. In Montreal I could easily have this place for $700 all inclusive. For my furnished bachelor, I will be paying $550, all inclusive - so I'll actually be saving money by living there. Crazy.

I'm feeling mixed emotions about leaving. I am excited and looking forward to new change and challenges, but it's bittersweet because I leave behind my amazing friends and family as well as someone who I love so much. Even though it's hard, I know I need to do this for myself. After all, 4 months isn't that long, but long enough to make a change, to make a fresh start, to see life clearly. Come what may, I'm making this decision for me, I'm living my dream, and the rest will fall into place as it should.

Labels: montreal, moving, travel

posted by Maresa @ 12:33 PM