On the inside looking out...

I find it ironic really... small town kid. Born from farmers and taught to enjoy rural America... Grows to find himself in very unlikely situations. At what point did Wesley, farmer kayaker boy, become Wesley, international 3D Artist. Perhaps I wonder more when this whole "international" bit started playing into my life. Perhaps it started my Senior year of high school, with a German friend who I affectionately refer to as Hanz. I thought it was crazy when I actually went to Germany to visit him in 2005... sort of funny now considering I've now traveled as far as South Africa. I find it ironic (I find irony and many things lately apparently) that in my Senior "Government and Economics" class (in high school), we had this project that we had to find a possible job that we might hold in the future. We then had to calculate how much we might earn and spend, on everything from rent to food. At the time I thought I'd go above and beyond and find myself a job in Montreal... It's funny thinking that five years later and I'm there. Almost a sort of a self prescribed destiny...


I find myself working in a studio with mostly french speaking people (Persian or Quebequa), living in a foreign country, and living with two guys from France. There are times I have to wonder how the hell do I get myself into this... situations. I'm not really complaining mind you, apparently I'm all for new cultural experiences. Yet this is all very exhausting at times. Communication seems to be my hardest point lately, and while I'm finding ways of discussing with my roommates... sometimes it feels strained.


I spent my first weekend with my two new roomies, who I do refer to as my "Frenchies" behind their back. They are definitely very nice, and it was interesting meeting some of their friends that they have in Montreal. It's an odd feeling being the "American"... An odder feeling not being bi-lingual like everyone else. I try my best to stay engaged, and even harder to listen to french constantly. Yet there are certainly times where I feel as though I'm on the outside looking in. Perhaps that's not quite right though... in all reality I'm on the inside looking out. Inside my head, the last corner of comfort at times, peering out into a world that can be very foreign to me. I continue to try to understand, both the culture and the language. If you know me at all, you'll know that I'll survive just fine. Sometimes being inside your head is the best place to be.