Behind The Scenes

A few years ago, 6 to be exact, I was 19 years old and eager to start what I hoped was a career in Tourism.  I had just finished a Tourism & Hospitality Management course and accepted a job in Portland, Maine as a Travel Counsellor at a Nova Scotia information kiosk for US travellers to Nova Scotia via the MS Scotia Prince Cruise Ship.  In case you missed all of this backstory, you can catch it *here*.

Upon accepting the position in Maine, I had to pack up and go to Halifax for different periods of time in order to do some training before my work departure.  I absolutely loved Halifax, I had been there countless times before but never to stay more than a night or two.  I met many funny, great and interesting individuals during this time, which I think only added to the whole experience that is Halifax.  I spent business hours in a building learning my job, and at night I would be exploring downtown with my newfound friends.  We would try out different restaurants mostly, and do some downtown shopping. 

At the end of the night, I would sit in my room which I shared with a girl I’d be working with in Portland, and sit at my desk in front of my big window and watch the lights and colors of the city.  I was on the 13th floor, and the view filled me with wanderlust for the mysterious (to me) city of Halifax.  It made me want to get out there and experience every single bit of it, and not stop there. It made me want to get out into the vast world we live in, and experience all the major cities.  It made me feel alive to witness this beautiful city so vibrant with sights and sounds and smells.  It stirred so many emotions in me that filled me with a feeling I couldn’t quite describe. 

I felt at home in a world so different than my own.

When I moved to the city of Portland, I was content and happy and felt very alive.  I loved it every bit as I loved Halifax, and only grew to love it even more.  I think Halifax lit my life’s candle and Portland kept the flame burning, and it still burns today, even if it’s in a completely different way.  Halifax no longer makes me consciously feel like travelling, because Halifax has changed immensely in the past 6 years, it is more of a beacon for me at this point. 

If you’re from Halifax, visit Portland, Maine and you’ll feel at home but it will awaken so many of your senses that Halifax will never quite seem the same to you.  Halifax used to make me ‘feel’ unknown things for my future, and I will never forget that.  I had great times there, and hope to find that feeling again sometimes.  Right now, living in SW Nova Scotia, my heart still belongs to Portland.