By telling us your country of residence we are able to provide you with the most relevant travel insurance information.
Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. Contact us for full details.
Shares
Discovering Home: I see the birds out my window. I envy them. No money, no schedule, no boss. They travel anywhere they choose. I’ve always felt like that. A bird with a chain, strapping me to my house, my city, my country. How can I ever break free to see everything I dream? The summer I turned eighteen, I packed up a duffel, a backpack and my guitar and said goodbye to my mom at Union Station in Toronto. I walked onto the VIARail train and politely accepted the glass of champagne that I was too young to drink and settled into my room. A private room, all to myself. The rooms they give the musicians. I was excited but scared to be alone for the first time. After a rough night getting used to the sway of the train, I prepared my set in the first car. Forty-five minutes of singing and playing covers and originals to strangers. Nervous because I didn’t have my family with me and everyone spoke different languages. I speak English and French but there were people from all around the world. A family of five from Dubai, an older couple from Ireland, a young woman and her boyfriend from Quebec. Six days on the train, three sets a day. From Toronto to Vancouver. I saw everything from the bright lights of Ontario, to the fields of Saskatchewan. The main hub of Winnipeg and the Rockies in Alberta. Places I never would have thought to put on my bucket list. I woke up every day in a new time zone and met new people everywhere I went. Children, grandparents, solo travellers like me and entire families. I didn’t expect to find a connection with every person on the train. Even though we didn’t speak the same language or sing the same songs, music and travel brought us all together. I was able to see so many incredible sights right here at home. I didn’t even need a passport to see this beautiful country I call home. Sometimes the most exciting adventures are the ones closest to us, just within reach. So I guess I am like the bird, except the chain is only in my mind and only when you realize this, will you truly be free. -CJ Cooper