Saturday 18 May 2013

A Vacation

The idea of traveling has always appealed to me. I like visiting new places, seeing cities that are actually alive and not dead compared to mine. But the cost of traveling anywhere is anything but appealing. I guess I've been fortunate that my parents have always been willing to pay for virtually everything whenever we've traveled.

Still, I've always wanted to travel on my own, I just could never afford it. Nowhere that far anyways. But maybe it's a good idea not to travel that far, get some practice running around on your own first somewhere closer to home.

Better to say this in your own country rather than in a foreign one.

So when my friend Erin invited me to stay at her apartment for a week or two it was quite tempting. She lives a province over, so a roundtrip ticket would be less than $400. I don't have to spend additional money on room and board, we both know the her city decently well, and she's a good friend. So it's not like I'm going to go there and wake up in a dumpster with both kidney's missing.

And before anyone tells me to make a move on her, I'm fairly certain that she's not into men. If you know what I mean. It's a shame though, I think she's kind of cute.

Even if she does dress like a hipster.

The idea is to head out sometime near the end of June, celebrate her birthday with her, and then head back home. I've actually already ordered and received her birthday present. I'm still looking into plane tickets and she's looking into booking time off.

And I think the time away from home would be good for a bit. The last time I was on my own for an extended period of time from my family was back on an old school trip years, and years ago. It's not like I have a full-time that's preventing me from going anyways.

And the one that I wanted to hear back from has still been silent.

If anyone has any traveling advice they want to share it be appreciated. Same with living with someone else for the first time. Because asides from family, I've never experienced anything remotely similar to a roommate. And I'm not even a roommate in this situation, more of a guest I guess. 

33 comments:

  1. Hmn... I thought I smelled romance ;)

    And wow! that's one great opportunity for an economical travel so grab it :) And my advise? If you are snoring - do something about it ha ha

    Btw, I miss visiting here it's been a while. Hope I could do some back readings :)

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  2. Money's the best travel adice in the world. It like a key to a hotel room. Doesn't your friend have a cute sister?

    P.S. What do you mean you don't know John Candy? Watch Uncle Buck.

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  3. I love travelling alone. I make sure to take at least one trip a year to a city I've never been to before, stay in a five star hotel, and spend three or four days getting lost. It's great fun!

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  4. I don't really have much in the way of advice because I've never really been in that situation either. I will say good on you for doing it though and I hope you have some fun. Exploring your own country is a good idea and this is a great opportunity.

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  5. I would love to travel but after watching Hostel I've lost my interest!

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  6. Awww what a lovely friend! I hope you have a great time! It's a break and a holiday so do enjoy!!

    As for sharing - the last time I did that was when I was at university (waaaaaaaaaay back in 1989!!!!!!) and I realised then I wanted my own space and to be left alone but it was a good experience to have for this reason. I shared a house with two girls and never wanted to see them when my year ended! LOL!! Take care
    x

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  7. Damien I would still keep up with Erin just in case there is a chance because it sounds like you guys have a good thing going on. I've never stayed the night in a foreign place away from my parents so I can't give any advice dude that isn't go for it, give it a good and see what you think, I'd say what's the worse that could happen but it's possible I could be jinxing it so I'll keep quiet on that front.

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  8. being the guest means you get to eat all the food and nobody gets mad

    *some exclusions may apply. No rain-checks.

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  9. Hi just want to THANK you for your visits on my site and would like to say goodbye also from my corner. But I hope to see you on my other sites :)

    THANKS!

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  10. Sounds like fun indeed, and as far with living with others, HATE IT! Roommates are a pain in the arse, so not the best to give advice haha

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  11. it can be both weird and interesting living with someone for 24 hours a day, and also very pressuring on the friendship, so prepare a lot of activities and topics for talk.

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  12. Awesome that you get to go on a vacation of sorts! And I was so hoping that romance was in the air when you mentioned your friend... sure you can't change that? LOL! In any case, have a fantastic time, you deserve it!

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  13. traveling is good but must manage the funds and save the funds

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  14. I did that a while ago. Just be open minded as far as sharing living area. You should be fine if you don't get shocked by different ways. And well, I don't think learning how to travel in the area should be too difficult for you. That was my main mistake.

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  15. I would take the opportunity to see a new place and to see how compatable you can be.

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  16. Enjoy! My advice is...enjoy yourself.

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  17. I know what you mean about the cost of traveling. It's cheaper for me to fly to Europe than it is for me to travel to Halifax from Calgary. Now that's sad!

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  18. I love traveling by myself too. But I don't get a chance to, since, you know, it costs a fortune. My only advice would be to book stuff in advance if there are any particular places you really want to go. It could save you a few bucks in the long run.

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  19. I would totally go. You neeever know...

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  20. Roomy vs guest is completely different. If you stay a week, things will go pretty smoothly. It gets trickier the longer you stay. Because even though you all get along we need space. The longer you stay make sure to plan things solo to give her her space and be sure to treat her to dinner a few times too.

    Oh, and be sure to put the toilet seat down. teehee

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  21. Hello! Have a wonderful days!

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  22. Hope you have a nice and fun time DWei, you need a change:))

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  23. GO FOR IT, it will be a blast. Advice: respect her routine and be a polite and helpful guest. Always offer to help cooking or do dishes. And sometimes for a week you may need alone time and that is fine.

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  24. It's definitely good to get away sometimes.

    For travel, the only advice I can think of is to travel light, and have a bottle of water (if you're allowed and they don't take it away thinking you're going to blow the place up with liquid explosives...). And as for staying at someone's house for an extended period of time, they'll always appreciate if you help out cleaning, but never never put things away unless you are absolutely certain where they go. ;)

    Have fun!!!

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  25. I can't imagine going away on my own...........I have wondererd what it would be like but don't think it is for me. That said I hope you have a good time away we all need a change from time to time

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  26. I just did the same sort of thing - had a place to stay so it just cost me food and travel expenses. It's helpful, I think, to give each other some space so you aren't together every minute.

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  27. I just got back from Europe...and its no fun being a tourist. Like you said, rather be a traveler.I prefer being the lone one.
    Come to India, you would never want to travel again. :P

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  28. i want to go around places but my body isn't used to it.. :(

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  29. My advice is not to be a shit guest :) As in, try not to be too demanding and don't monopolize 100% of her time (just because she has a guest doesn't mean she doesn't have other things to do). Offer to go for a walk or to a coffee shop by yourself for a few hours.

    AHHH! And clean up after yourself! And don't be a complainer! And for God's sake, don't show up with a minute-by-minute daily itinerary of touristing! Maybe show up with a few things you'd like to do so she doesn't have to feel like she has to suggest everything, but otherwise just go with the flow.

    Have fun!!!!

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  30. Sharing with someone can be a nightmare, but only if compromise is ignored. Main things i found are 'disrespectful use of others peoples food', 'toilet door open'and, this one is the big one, not doing anything that messes with peoples sleeping patterns. So many people i have shared with do not understand that most people sleep at night. Good luck though, i wish i had travelled more during my education, half the time we don't even see our own cities, we miss out on so much. We get on the cycle, work, home, bed, work home, bed.

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