It's all about location

Prior to this past weekend, I knew almost nothing about Vancouver. When looking for housing, I checked out a map and decided that it would make sense to live halfway between campus and downtown. Coming from Seattle, I had no interest in actually living on the campus. I need a city environment.

Here's the deal. The University of British Columbia is located on the far west end of Vancouver. It is neighbored by Point Grey and Kitsilano. I had heard rumblings about those neighborhoods versus somewhere like East Van, but nothing concrete enough to make me turn down a cheap room I found that seemed promising.

My girlfriend and I showed up at the aforementioned house in Kits last week, sweaty and exhausted from immigration and traffic woes. The street is on a hill that slopes down with elegant houses overlooking English Bay. It is very posh, it is very white, and it is very straight. Downtown looked like a beautiful picture hung in the background.

We walked into the house and met J, an undergraduate Geology major. E asked him how long it took to bike downtown. J informed us that it only took him about 30 minutes because he tended to just crush it once he got on his bike, but it would probably take us 45 minutes- an hour. After bicycle touring from Port Angeles to San Francisco, I am unfortunately used to men assuming a lack of strength/ability due to my size and gender. However, in terms of qualities I look for in a housemate, sexism is not high up on the list.

For many reasons, hanging around the house was an unappealing option. We ventured out into the Kits nightlife in search of a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. We were very noticeably the only queer couple at the place. People watched us. Especially when we were affectionate.

The next day we left Kits behind and set out for East Van. I felt so much more relaxed just seeing more queer people around. It's very isolating to be somewhere where the surrounding community does not at all reflect your identity. I find it exhausting.

Originally when I was thinking about housing, I thought it was most important to be close to the university. I am here to learn, after all. One night in Kits reminded me that feeling validated in yourself and your identity is a top priority, always. I would rather bicycle ten miles to get to school everyday then feel like an Other, a constant target for the dominant Gaze.

I'm moving tomorrow into a house in East Van with other queer people. When I told my current housemates the location of the house, they said "Oh yeah, that seems better for you". I couldn't agree more.