Just a few days ago, I was wondering whether I had made the wrong decision in extending my stay in Canada, and in the place that I was working at specifically. A few days on, and I’m sad to be leaving.

We didn’t always see eye to eye – my personality clashed a bit too much with the personalities of some of the people here, and where I was more introverted and happy to have plans in place for a day, they were more extroverted and far more spontaneous. It got to the point where I didn’t feel welcome anymore or, at least, didn’t feel welcome anymore in my mind. Certainly, I felt like I was being given the cold shoulder by one person in particular, and it was the worst because I felt his opinion mattered most – he was the host and I was staying in his home.

So I put myself out. I went along on things and excursions that my initial reaction to hearing about was, ‘no’; and ‘that’s not for me’; and ‘that is too far out of my comfort zone’.

At first, I saw no change, and all I received was a tight-lipped smile when I offered a ‘good morning’, when I saw him. He still made comments that I read to be passive aggressive; ‘oh, you’re coming on this one, E?’, and ‘if that’s what you want to do’, but eventually, he seemed to appreciate that I was trying hard to be more laid back – more spontaneous myself, and to go with the flow.

In just a few days – after that rough patch of sea, though I really did feel awful – things settled back down and he began including me in things again, and talking to me willingly. I felt like I learnt a lot from that, to be honest, and appreciate that, if nothing else, it has given me some experience and skills in being more free-spirited in life, and not so rigid when it comes to plans and trying out new things.

I leave this place tomorrow morning; I’ve been here a month, and it’s gone so quick. I’m excited to go back home and see everyone, but I’ll miss this part of Nova Scotia and the awfully kind people that live here.

Funny, what a few days can do…