International Tutors' Magazine October 2018 | Page 16

INTERNATIONAL TUTORS’ MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2018
her to travel so long a distance. She told
me “Nothing. I just wanted to explore.”
That old granny has the right way of
looking at things. We don’t need “reasons”
to explore; we should
be
encouraging
ourselves to go just
for
exploration.
She was travelling
by herself, and has
been cycling for such a long time. Not
for any specific reason, not for a job or
“responsible” purpose, but just to explore.
I had been so scared of going on unplanned
adventures. I hadn’t prepared for this trip
to Canada like I usually do. I had always
thought everything should be well planned
before the trip, but now I think it’s probably
okay not to have everything figured out.
Probably we don’t need a plan everytime
when we go for traveling. It’s great to
leave a trip unplanned,
in order to enjoy
the
mysterious
experience and learn
to explore properly.
We don't have to be
figuring out the rest of
our lives right now.
whole day. Seagulls hovered beneath the
heavy clouds, and for a moment, I thought
it felt like Liverpool. Constantly drizzling,
the rain drops mixed with the cold and
the wind to keep you sad
and a bit annoyed.
German with her and she responded in
kind. Both of us were surprised to find a
German speaker in Canada. She explained
where I was and where to go for sightseeing
and asked me how come I
understood German. I
opened up and told her
about my exchange in
Germany last year. After
this, she offered me free
breakfast, since it was
nice to see another German
speaker in Ottawa. I had no idea speaking a
foreign language could earn me free food.
My resolution to try something new, to go
on an unknown adventure, finally paid off.
I had no idea
speaking a foreign
language could earn
me free food.
It took me some time
to find the hostel.
The rain just wouldn't
stop, but since I didn't
want to pay for the bus,
I walked. For half an hour, I struggled
through the rain, carrying two big bags
and only the tiny umbrella I borrowed
from my host family in Toronto for
protection. I must have looked pathetic.
The lady at check in had a strong Southern
European accent. Judging from the name
of the place - the Swiss Hostel - I guessed
that she could speak German. I tried my
Maybe we should all explore a little more,
take risks a little more, be scared and
go on unplanned adventures. We don’t
have to be figuring out the rest of our
lives right now. Sometimes life is just
meant to be explored and enjoyed. v
Right: Sparks Street, Ottawa, a famous
viewing point in the Canadian capital. Bottom:
The struggling of traveling alone is finding
someone to take pictures of you.
Opposite page: Alexandra Bridge between
Ontario and Quebec.
I also met a granny in that hostel, around
70 to 80 years old. She was British but
living in Quebec. She had biked all the way
from Quebec to Ottawa. I was so shocked,
and I wondered what had motivated
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photos by Mon Zhang Zi Meng
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