The Tears Shed for the Classic Car

Living abroad alone, without the family and the ones you loved is always very hard, but to prove to yourselves that you CAN, it’s something you needed to endure through on your own, translated…

Flying to Canada, Starting My New Life as a Student Abroad

A few days, I read on my friend’s FB page, that she’d bumped into so many walls, trying to find a job in Japan, felt that she’s on the verge of breaking. I’d wanted to give her a call at first, but, I’d not do so, I’d just left a “Keep working at it, you will be able to achieve your dreams” on her FB pages.

The experience of my friend took me back to years ago when I’d gone alone to Canada to study. I’d studied film in the university, but after graduating, I’d not found a job in related are, instead, I’d worked my part-time gigs, and searched for opportunities that are related to my major. Later on, I was told by someone, that there was a specialized occupational training course that I’d be interested in in a school in Vancouver, but, the cost of living, as well as the tuition are very high in Canada, and so, I’d become, hesitant, but after I’d discussed this with my family, they’d become, more than supportive of my decisions. And so, in a very short time, I’d flown to Canada, and started my career as a student.

As I first arrived, it was, all new to me, didn’t know anybody, and because I wanted the convenience of living closer to the school, I’d rented a suite in the city. The good thing about that was it was only a ten-minute work to school, and the downside was, the housing prices are way too high, it’s almost half my salary from Taiwan, and I’d also had to, live with a family of foreigners whom I’d not really known that well at all.

Every time I’d called my family, they’d always asked me if I had enough money, but I’d made up my mind, to NOT bring anymore stresses to my family, and hoped, that I could use my own abilities, to solve ALL the problems that I’d come to face. In order to save the money, I’d walked almost everywhere I needed to go, and later on, I’d bought a pre-owned bicycle, and ridden it everywhere. And every now and then, I’d become thirsty from the riding, I’d not feel willing to buy that bottle of water, I’d ridden faster home, to quench my thirst.

As I was living there, suppertime was the most troubling to me. Because I’d not had much money, and so, I’d cooked all my meals, but, the foreigners placed strong emphasis on family tie, and would start preparing the meals at four, five in the afternoons, then, slowly, they’d sat around the tables, and ate their suppers, until eight, or nine in the evening, then, the kitchen would be opened up. And because I’d not wanted to interrupt them in their meals, I’d often waited until I was about to pass out from the feeling of starvation, then, I’d pretended if nothing was up, walked into the kitchen, and made myself a bowl of instant noodles or something. When they’d asked me out of kindness if I was hungry, I’d told them, that I’m used to, eating this late, to ease their worries.

Actually the home I was staying in, provided the breakfasts based off of the written contracts, and so, if I’d gotten a fulfilling breakfast, it’s no big deal. But there was always not enough food in the fridge, and there were, two children that were in the elementary years, still growing in the landlord’s family, and every time, I’d waited until the children had taken all they needed from the fridge, then, I’d gone in, prepared my own breakfasts. And there was a period of time, when I’d only had a bowl of cereal for breakfast every single morning, and, before the noon hours, my stomach was, growling like crazy already.

The Few Moments of Relaxation, the Cost Was Too High It’d Caused Me to Cry

And this sort of an awkward situations, continued on for several months, and finally, I’d gotten my big break. During my holiday period at the end of the year, my older brother and older cousin came for a visit, and maybe, it was, how I’d gotten to see my distant family members, plus I’d gotten the chance, to head out with them when they’d gone out to dine, I’d had a period of wonderment. In order to show my family my gratitude, I’d borrowed the antique car that my landlord rarely drove, took my family to the airport, so they can spare the money for the cab.

On my return, I’d filled up the gas tanks, and, carefully, parked the car back, at its original spot. But, after my landlord came home, he’d found that his car had been towed away! When he’d notified me, it was not even an hour since I’d dropped my family members off at the airport, and this sort of development was unacceptable to me. Later on I’d learned, that it was, because I’d parked the car in the wrong directions, and because I’d not driven enough times, so I’d not paid attention to these details.

and no, not my photograph…

And not long thereafter, my landlord came back, with his car, and the fine was up to over a hundred Canadian dollars (a little over $2,000N.T.s), and I’d needed to pay for his cab fare, to ride down to the city pound. As I’d heard the number, I’d almost cried, but still told the man thanks, and told him, that I will wire the amount to him immediately.

After I’d gone to the bank to make my wire transfers, I’d rode along the riverbanks home, and my tears couldn’t stop falling. I’d worked hard, told myself to be strong, but all the sorrows of these past couple of months all, rushed back up to the surfaces, I’d almost wanted to buy a ticket for the flight back home, so I can be back with my family again.

In the end however, I’d not done it, but this incident had helped me make up my mind, that I must, change the way I’m living my life now. I’d quickly, moved to a very distant suburb from the school I was going to, and took over an hour each day to commute, but the rent was half of what I was paying. And although I’d needed to wake up early, but I’d felt like I’d gained my freedom again, and the money I’d saved, I got to use it to buy the foods I’d wanted to it, and I’d filled my stomach every single day, and no longer needed to CARE how others looked at me.

not my picture…

This made me realize, that I’d found the strength, to keep on going in this distant country again.

Many years later, when I’d bumped into difficulties at work, I’d recalled the tears I’d shed by the riverbanks that day. Back then, I may not have needed the consoles, nor those cheap encouragements, but instead, what I’d needed was, a belief, that I can make my own life better.

As for whether or not you can take that one more step outwards, other than yourself, nobody else can help you.

So, you’d become, self-reliant, after this experience of living abroad, with a family, and the experience of living alone abroad was, a very good opportunity, to put your acquired independence into action, and, you’d proven to yourself, as well as others, your families, strangers, your relatives and friends, that you CAN make it on your own.