J, my Canadian Friend

Date: 08 August 2005 08:24:07

I've received a few postcards of late: one from the town of Wolfenbüttel in Germany; one from Italy; and one from Hawaii. Today I received the one above (a group of monasteries that are built on columns of rocks) from my Canadian friend J and his wife, who are holidaying in Greece. Both of them are of Greek parentage.

I met J in 1998 when I did a 21-day Contiki tour of Western Europe. It was my first time in Europe, my first time overseas, and I was all of 22. It had long been my dream to see Europe, and practically all of the money I earnt in my practicum year (97) went to this trip. I went during the uni winter break (July).

Contiki has a reputation, not undeservedly, but I didn't particularly notice this and didn't feel any need to participate in the more rowdy and rampant activities Contiki is ~~famous~~infamous for. I was there to get a sample of Western Europe, and I did. It was rushed at times, but it was so much more than I expected: actually being on the Eiffel Tower; sailing down the Rhein; taking a horse-drawn carriage ride around Vienna; walking the canalled streets of Amsterdam... Things I'd always wanted to do. And, thanks be to God, I got the chance to do. Germany and Austria appealed to me particularly, and I've returned to both a few times since. I also spent a week in London seeing the sights and took a day trip to Bath, Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge.

But more than the memories of the sights, I made some great friends: J being one of them. I also made friends with three other Canadians, T, W and S; my Malaysian roommate who was studying in Coventry (who I've now lost contact with), and several Australians (they made up ~ 70% of the tour!), who I've also lost contact with. They made the trip all the more enjoyable. It was great to get to know them and to share the experience with them. A particularly funny moment I remember is when we were bicycling in Amsterdam and one of the Aussie girls rode up behind me and said in an evil voice, "I'll get you my pretty...and your little dog too!"

I visited all of my Canadian friends in 2001 and went to S's wedding in Toronto in 2002. I need to try and catch up, if only be e-mail, with them again. In 2001 I went on a three-day canoeing trip with J in Algonquin Park. It wasn't one of my best moments as a human: I complained quite a bit and didn't enjoy it: mainly as there being only us and the guide, it was a bit too much for me. I am somone who needs his space, and a three-person group didn't do it. And, add to this the fact I was the most, in fact the only, unfit one of the group, and I had trouble doing my fair-share of canoeing, making me feel bad. But, I am glad I did it. Swimming after a day's canoeing in the lakes was wonderful and Canadian scenery, wherever you go, is breathtaking.

J has also been prayerfully supporting me as I explore Orthodoxy, him being Greek Orthodox. And he has been a good friend, despite the distance between us. Each Easter and Christmas we speak, and it is a true pleasure to call him my friend. God grant him and his wife many, many years!