Kamloops, British Columbia

Is Home Where the Heart Is?

I was eighteen years old and barely graduated when I left home; the only thing was, at that young age, I didn’t know what home was. Highschool was over; summer jobs were a drag; friends were moving away; and the parents, as understanding and “hip” of parents they may be, were beginning to become a drag. There was an entire world to be discovered away from small town BC, and legal drinking age was just around the corner. So I did what any individual coming of age would reasonably do: I moved across the ocean.

It wasn’t truly as drastic as that; the ocean was really just the Juan De Fuca Strait, but I felt liberated. I was leaving home behind.

Kamloops, otherwise known as small town BC, is literally a whole in the ground. It is a city which established itself in a valley. Surrounded by mountains and divided by two rivers it was the epitome of a claustrophobic town; living there one is cut off from the world! At least that is what it felt like.
All my life I longed for the rush of a big city, the view of the coast, the sounds of an international airport, or at least more than one reputable mall. I initially blamed that pining on the fact that I had been born in Edmonton, AB and torn away at only two weeks of age.

Victoria, BC is a beautiful coastal city that is larger than Kamloops but not quite as big as Vancouver, BC. My plan was to move in degrees; take it one step at a time, so to speak. It had many of the perks I had been craving and one more even better advantage: if anyone from Kamloops ever tried to get to me, they would at least have to cross a ferry first! It wasn’t that I hated Kamloops, I just wanted to cut my ties and break out on my own.

It has now been two years since that first move, and I have visited Kamloops briefly for a few times and even gone back for an entire four month summer. My permanent residence is now Victoria, BC, but I’m not sure if it will ever be home, even if I live hear for the rest of my life.

It is interesting how a person’s perspective can change to quickly. Living away from Kamloops, I have forgotten many of my complaints, and the others now seem irrelevant. I won’t say that I miss Kamloops or that I want to move back, but I will always use the possessive when referring to that particular small town BC: “Back in my town...”

The old, tried and true cliche, “Home Is Where the Heart Is” may be the only way correctly define my living situation. Some people think that Home is where you hang your coat, where you sleep at night, or where you keep your clothes, food and other necessities. To me, Home is where my family is and where the memories are. Home is where I became the person I am today. Home is where I end up at Christmas. Home is where I call to get advice that doesn’t come out of a text-book or off the internet. Home is Kamloops, small town, BC.

I was eighteen years old when I left home, and I had no idea what I was leaving. Growing up I couldn’t wait to escape; where everybody knows your name (and your private business) is not always a happy melody. I realized, however, that even though I moved away, it will always be in my heart, and it will always be Home. Kamloops BC really is my town.

Monique N

Submitted: Wednesday 28th January 2004, 1:41 AM

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