Relearning about freedom

by Allison Ramírez (Mexico)

I didn't expect to find Canada

I travelled to Canada because I wanted to practice my english and know the country, "normal things", but I never expected I would learned about what "freedom" really means (to me)... I travelled alone and I was scared because there was no going to be anyone telling me what I should or not do. I felt a little insecure of being alone with my self because I did not have a good relationship with my mind... I did not trust me; I was scared of sleeping alone, I was in a relationship with a boyfriend I did not wanted to be with but still being there because I was not brave enough to say goodbye, I had depression and anxiety and where the first months trying medicaments, so I felt insecure. When I arrived to Canada everything just came from unreal to real. I was there. Alone. I had to trust my intuition so that is what I did. I met a lot of people because I understood that the real way to learn is living, so instead of going to my english classes I went to the streets. I went to Gatineau, to Montreal and to Ottawa all by myself and it was amazing. I started to know about the country and about me! I saw things that I really wanted to see, I tasted food I wanted to taste, I hung out with people I found interesting and I just felt very happy por having absolutely control of my decisions without anyone influencing my mind. I made my own tour of Canada and I felt in love with the country. When I came back to Mexico (my residence country) I broke up with my boyfriend and started to rethinking what I actually wanted for me. It just opened my mind and decided to travel more because thats for me the real knowledge. Freedom is a state of mind, it is not physical.