L'artdu vrai

I don't even know what that means. It is on the side of a building and it is surrounded by a picture of cornfields. Go figure.
I'm here in Montreal, QB! I was so excited when I first booked my tickets in October! And I was excited when I began my travels! But as of yesterday, I was over it and wanted to go home. This usually happens when I travel alone. I do it often, and everyone thinks I'm nuts or really brave. But don't misjudge me. I'm just a big baby.
I do enjoy this city. It is so many things all rolled into one. It is ugly. It has graffiti on every inch of wall space you can imagine. And not the good kind. The ones that say random things, like this wall next to me. It says Zock. Really? You can't even add a cool design?
But then there are lots of buildings with awesome graffiti. And you look down one direction of Rue de Mont-Royal and you see this huge stretch of city and buildings and homes. And then you look in the other direction, and you see another stretch of this, but at the end, you can see the snow covered mountains, as well. It is breathtakingly beautiful!
There is a lot going on here, as well. If it weren't for the language, you'd think this was an American city. Except for some of the shops windows that have put up American money and drawn mustache faces on the presidents that are on them. Very mature and kind, these French are.
There is trash LITTERING the streets. I mean, this kind of trash rivals the trash in NYC. It is EVERYWHERE. And not just normal trash, but broken bottles, broken light bulbs, baby carriages. It is pretty intense trash I'm talking about. And nobody seems to mind it!
Today was a lot better. I think I was emotional yesterday because I had expected Caitlyn to be with me my first day and second night here, but communication was mixed up and she got here the day I was leaving. So I only spent about 3 hours with her in the morning before she had to leave. And then I was alone.
And it probably wouldn't have even been that bad if I had a TV in my room! This apartment doesn't have a tv or a wireless connection, so I literally have to resort to reading or watching one of the 3 movies I brought with me. Meanwhile, I've already watched 2, so I'm going to have to buy another one tomorrow when I get back to the states.
This guy just walked by wearing an AWESOME jacket. Sidenote.
But I made it through last night. I wanted to leave early, change my flight, but it was going to cost $238, and that is just stupid, so I'm staying the whole length of my trip! Right on! I didn't cave in and just waste the money. I'm proud.
And I had considered taking a train or bus to NYC and visiting V today and come back tomorrow, but it would have been $150 and 16 hours of total travel time and only like 4 hours of actual awake time, so that was dumb, too.
Today a lot more people spoke English, so that was nice.
I am looking at Aldo across the street right now, and since I ruined my suede boots I bought from the Chicago store a long time ago, I may be taking a trip there after this. I'm also on the hunt for some cool things to bring back for the family. Mom, dad, Paul, Christina, Holly, Margrit, Brooke, you know. (I'd say you Lindsey, but I still haven't even mailed your birthday present, so there's no point)
I realize on every trip that I'm so content with what God has placed in my life that even a short trip away from those people I love is hard. And I really love that revelation. I seem to always be searching for something more, something better, something just different. And when I get the opportunity to pursue it, I hate it or I back out. And I used to think that made me a coward and a loser, but really, I am just so happy that I don't need anything else.
God has filled me with a heart of happiness and love and contentment for everything I have. I don't need more. If I get offered a job somewhere that is around people I know, I'd probably take it. But I'm going to do a heck of a lot more applying to schools in this area, or at least in Florida, because I need to slowly phase myself out of this area if that's what I want. But right now, it still isn't.
I love the city lifestyle, the easy access to transportation, all the cool shops, the hordes of people, the fast pace life. But I don't like the cold people, the lack of interaction, the darkness. So there are things I still need to consider. How much do I want it? Am I willing to give up what truly satisfies me here?

I'm going to explore some more. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.