We are going home today. We got up and had breakfast and then packed up all our remaining stuff so that we were ready to go when our train arrived early of all things! Then we got off the train and said goodbye to our fantastic and really funny train staff and headed to the baggage carousel. Our luggage took awhile to sort out but eventually we were all on the bus to the ferry. Then it was just a 1.5 hour ferry ride home (which after a 5 day train ride felt really short). And we were back! My mom and dad and Molly picked me up at the terminal and I said all my goodbyes to everyone and home we went. When I got home there was a beautiful ‘Welcome Home’ banner on the wall full of pictures of my time in Quebec and signed by various family members. This summer was fantastic so Thanks Quebec, it’s been fun.

I was right, we did pretty much all the nothing we planned to do. We did stop in Jasper for 45 minutes and went to a coffee shop and stretched our legs. But again, today was uneventful, the farthest we moved was 3 cars down to the observation car in the evening to have a look at BC as we were coming into it. We did the usual movies and sleeping and reading activities but also a little bit of packing because we’re going to be home tomorrow! We also had to say goodbye to James-Elizabeth this evening which was kinda sad but we were all too tired to really get to emotional. I’m excited to be home and see everyone again and also to be not on a train (yay showers!)

Today was like yesterday, but we got up earlier for breakfast. We also stopped in Winnipeg for a few hours and went to the forks where I got some souvenirs including a ring that has a spiny bit. Aside from that, we spent the day on the train reading and sleeping and watching movies and generally lazing about. Nothing planned tomorrow and that’s probably what we’ll do.

I didn’t sleep a lot last night because people were being loud, but whatever. Got up at about 8:30AM and got dressed and went to breakfast which was pancakes and bacon and orange juice. I literally did nothing all day. I read my book, I did some colouring, I had a nap. Lunch was cesar salad and garlic bread and dinner was roast beef with mashed potatoes and green beans. Actually at dinner we ate with this girl named Gulia who’s from Calgary and we talked for awhile and she’s pretty cool. We taught her the basics of swing dancing and we played some games. After that we watched the little mermaid and then went to bed. Not a super eventful day, but not bad either.

Got up this morning at about 8:30. Did the last of my packing and then had crepes with fruit for breakfast. After breakfast we gave Sylvain and Gilberte their presents (slide show, chocolate, card) and then had a shower and braided my hair. After that, we weighed our bags and did a final sweep of the house. Then we said goodbye to Gertrude (the guinea pig) and the house before Gilberte and Sylvain drove us to the train station. When we got there, we got our baggage tags and then said a tearful goodbye to our Quebec family. Once we were in the terminal area, I got a sandwich (cuz no lunch) and then we hung around for about an hour before getting on the train that took us to Toronto. The trip was about 5 hours and we had pasta chicken salad, a juice box, bread and a piece of chocolate cake for dinner. James-Elizabeth also gave us the candy she bought with extra budget money. I passed the time between Montreal and Toronto listening to music and playing cards with Tae. Once we got to Toronto, we got off our little train and waited for the next, significantly bigger train. Then we boarded and got ourselves set up. I brushed my teeth and put PJs on and then me and Tae watched Lilo and stitch. After that it was very much bed time. I miss my Quebecois family already, but I’m glad to be working my way home.

Usual morning routine, except I also made my lunch because I forgot to do that yesterday. It rained pretty much all day today which meant I got absolutely soaked in my bike ride to work. Despite it being my last day, it was pretty normal. There was a little girl that told me I was her favorite camp leader and another girl who made me a bracelet. After getting wet again on the bike ride home, I showered and then me and Nat went and got pop corn for our end exchange corn roast. Just before we went, we took some family pictures, our family gave us some things to remeber them by and we said goodbye to Vincent and Audrey because they won’t be here tomorrow. Then we went to the corn roast at Tae’s house. There was corn on the cob, corn soup, corn salsa, corn bread, pop corn and various other corn related things. James-Elizabeth had made us calenders with pictures of us in them, and we gave her her card and present. There was a campfire and some singing and it was generally a vary nice evening. Plus there was pavlova so ya. After our corn roast, we went home and packed or things and went to bed. The 6 weeks flew by, and I’m going to miss Quebec and the people in it, but I’m sure I’ll come back one day and I’m ready to go home.

Usual morning routine. At work today it was superhero day so I wore my wonder woman t shirt and my pineapple mask. It was kind of a weird day a work because my superpower was flight, but only if I ate a whole pineapple, I was the queen of England’s daughter and I was “hypnotised”. Anyways after work, I showered and met Tae at the bakery down the street. On the way there I bought lemonade from two little girls running a lemonade stand. Me and Tae got turkey sandwiches and dark chocolate tarts for dinner and then ate them on the train to Montreal. 

Once in Montreal, we went to vieux port and did some souvenir shopping and just wandered through the city one more time before we go. When I got home I pretty much went to bed right away. Only two more sleeps until we start the journey home. 

Usual morning routine. Today at work we made masks because it’s super hero week and we’re gonna wear them tomorrow. After work, me and Nat and Tae went and got snacks for the train and then me and Nat had a lovely family dinner with our host family, our host brother’s girlfriend Audrey and some good friends of Gilberte’s (and their doggy!!!). We had home made sausages, ribs, cauliflower, salad, fresh bread, rice and pineapple upsidedown cake and nut/rice crispy/fruit/chocolate bars that Audrey made. It was very nice to get to know some more of the community and we laughed and talked and just generally had a very good time. Then I finished my superhero mask, made my lunch, had a shower and went to bed. I really enjoyed our family evening. I very pleasant last Wednesday.

Usual morning routine. At work I got to leave at 2 because we needed a bit more time to get ready for our activity which started a bit earlier than usual. So when I got home, I did just that. But not only that, I got to open up my wonderful box that my wonderful family had mailed to me. Inside there was a blanket and pillow for the train, lots of candies, a gift card for chocolate favoris, pineapple earrings, a card game, a little stuffed owl and a card. My family is the best. 

Then Tae came over and Gilberte drove us to vieux port for our boat ride. It took us awhile to find it, and then me and Gilberte got wraps because we hadn’t had dinner yet. Then we got on the boat. It was just YMCA people on the boat, but there were about 100 of us, and we had a dance, but on a boat. We were on the boat for about 4 hours and then we drove people home and went home ourselves. Once home, we made our lunches, had a quick snack and went to bed. I got paid, I got a box from home and I had a really good time on the boat. A very good last Tuesday here if you ask me.

Usual morning routine. At work this week I’m with the Lego group, except I don’t actually get to do Lego because there’s a person who comes in in the afternoon so we just play games in the moring and then I’m with a different group in the afternoon, which kinda makes me sad cuz Lego. Also there was a fire drill right in the middle of lunch which was annoying. After work I showered and then Sylvan’s brother and his wife and their three kids came over for dinner. We had home made pasta (like I got to watch then put it through the machine) with home made meatballs and sauce as well as bread and corn and salad. We sat around and talked about what the exchange was like and just generally chatted until the bugs came out in full force and we didn’t want to die so we went in. Vero faced timed with the family and then they went home shortly after. Then me and Nat went to chocolate favoris and I got a milk chocolate dipped cone. Seriously, if anyone hasn’t been, go because there’s one in Victoria and it makes me really happy. It’s like eating ice cream wrapped in a chocolate bar, the chocolate is so thick and so tasty. After that, we hung around with our family and Vincent played us some songs on his guitar and sang some stuff and then me and Nat made our lunches. After that, me and Gilberte stayed up and talked for awhile longer before I went to bed. Last Monday here, and it was a good one.