Becoming an Adult Far from Everything

One year ago, I took the plane to cross the ocean. Six hours later, I was in an other dimension: North America.

Quite a big deal for a 18-year-old boy who's never lived far from his family. I was completely unconscious. I did not even know what I was doing... But I did it.

I left my family, my friends, my childhood and all my memories at the airport for this new life.

Chapter 1: The Dawn

Everything was beautiful, as I have always dreamt of living here. Although my first night here was quite bad, I had a childlike feeling.

Let me describe my first room outside the nest. Close your eyes, and imagine a jail cell. White walls, cold light. A damaged wooden desk and a wonderful blue mattress. No sheets (because I did not know I had to bring mine...), and the darkest August night you have ever seen. I slept a little bit, and spent my night thinking.

Did you ever wonder why you were here, in that special place, at that special time? It was exactly this kind of moment I was living, for the first time of my life.

When I woke up of this short, but thoughtful night, I went to the grocery store alone for the first time. In the following days I did everything I needed for my new life here. Bank accounts, phone number, insurance and all that stuff that you are not used to setting up as a teenager.

Unfettered.

That is how I felt.

And there are many things you can’t change growing up: birthmarks, scars... Those things you do not want to be seen sometimes by the way.

Landing in Canada was like a second birth, and this feeling is my birthmark.

My first three weeks were filled with the football camp. Meetings, practices... It was taking all my time. But I wasn’t even aware of it, as I was leaving my best life. It hit me so hard that I discovered a new feeling of happiness, and I was telling myself every day:

“Lucky me... This is definitely the life I’ve ever dreamt of.”

This quotation I wrote under one of my Instagram photos at this moment describes this feeling I had quite faithfully:

“There isn’t time—so brief is life—for bickerings, apologies, heartburnings, callings to account. There is only time for loving—and but an instant, so to speak, for that.” — Mark Twain.

And this got me thinking again... Let’s take just two minutes to make the most of what surrounds you. How wonderful the life you’re living is, think how lucky you are to have those people who make you smile every day, the people you love and you could give everything to in your life.

You know, there are important things in life, but the people you spend your time with is the most important, it is the factor that will give you sustainability in life, and it is definitely thanks to them that you are going to have a great life, fulfilled with laugh and love.

I know this is definitely not the kind of speech you were expecting. It was the sort of thoughts I had though.

Those first weeks taught me a lot. First, to take care of my things on my own, without anyone to help me for everyday life.

Secondly, that it will be difficult, and I will have to work a lot during the next months.

This marks the end of the first chapter, my first feelings. Next one in a few days, I will describe how the following months went.

Please contact me for any advice, suggestions or requests :

E-mail : [email protected]

Instagram : jean_bidaux