My journey to Parry Sound, a much awaited break from school, started on April 30. The next four months would be a time when I would experience as any Canadian student, the art of summer job which is a mix of task-making and pleasure.
In India I have worked full time, but never a summer job, because parents in India never allow the kids to work while they are students. Besides, there are fake ideologies haunting families that prevent a parent from allowing a kid to work. More or else, a parent believes that his social status will get affected if his/her boy/girl works at a shopping mall, store, petrol bunk or restaurant. That is also why you might not see many asian kids belonging to immigrant families not working during semester breaks. Such traditions continue to be deep-rooted at least for one more of their generation.
My idea was to experience something that I have missed while growing up and I decided this sleepy village over a city because I love an honest rural community over a pretentious metropolitan one.
Since school have taken up most of my savings, I am sure to go through that exhilarating feeling of a kid who starts earning each hour. And then, the money is probably going to fund my next semester.
So, after a two-hour journey to Toronto from London, I dragged inside the waiting lounge my 100 kg worth baggage. There was a gap of 4 hours for the connection train to leave from Toronto, so I watched a movie and browsed the net on Ipad, and waited.
When the time came I marched to the ticket examiner, who turned out to be a beautiful blond. While she checked my credentials, I tried some small talk.
ME: Is Parry Sound railway station a large one??? It is my destination and I was wondering whether there are waiting rooms to spend the night?
SHE: I have heard that there is a lamp post.
Wow, lamp post, ye??? And my scheduled time of arrival is 2:45 am.
The next time the situation was discussed was 10 minutes before I alighted from the train. The railway coach attendant who helped me with my baggage said: ” I hope the guy who picks you up reach soon. It is quite lonely out here.”
Yeah, I could see that as soon as the station came into view.
I looked around and it was so dark and chilly. The station, which doubled as a gallery with historic accounts was locked. There was a lamp post with halogen lamp (as the blond said) lighting my space and I felt vulnerable. No one was coming to pick me up and there was no option but to wait till sunrise.
I decided to make the most out of it and found a bench. I placed my handbag on one end and covered it with a towel, to act as a pillow and the one I carried on my back as a buffer for my tired legs. The only valuable thing I considered priceless at the time, my passport, I tucked in my pant pocket. The huge travel bag filled with clothes, I left standing nearby my head, resigned to the fact that if anyone wants to take anything, they are welcome to take it. There is nothing in it that I can’t replace.
Before covering myself in a blanket, I peered into the darkness. As there muggers waiting to assault me?
Sleep was not an easy one to come, particularly if your are pushed to a silent village from a buzzing city. On the bench I lay listening to sound of waves and the pretty strong breeze from the harbor, that was quite nearby. Finally after 3:30 am I managed to sleep.
However it was disturbed every half an hour when a goods train passed by. The train passed so fast that the sudden sound would wake me up with heart beating with panic pain.
Finally I saw the first light of morning and it was beautiful. The proximity of a harbor made the sky so expansive and it drew golden strands with the promise of blue tint at the edges.
Well, Parry Sound station turned out cool looking with its old world charm. I realized that I slept in a safe zone, because just on the sides of the station were residential houses which I failed to see in the darkness. The main road was just 100 yards ahead.
My first night at Parry Sound was not epic, but it was neither dull. It turned out to be something memorable and reminded me of the many nights I spend at railway stations in rural India. Oh, yeah, the difference was there were no announcements and mosquitoes.
Thanking God for a safe night, I packed my bags and waltzed out of the station compound passing an early morning jogger.
Parry Sound, here I come.