To everyone reading this, I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to do so. It really means a lot. 
Sometime late in the year 2006, I joined Aquaria Central. I was only 11 years old at the time, and I had such a drive and passion for keeping fish, and everything about fish. Fish were literally my life. I had aquariums everywhere in my house, and everyone at school called me "fishboy" or "aquaman". I even sold fish to a few teachers at school.
If you have visited Aquaria Central, or you are an active member, then you know that there is an active chat room there, often filled with many great people to talk to! My twelve year old self wandered in that chat room, and began chatting with many people, all while making friends at the same time. I began to frequently chat with another 12 year old boy by the username of Cory Lover. Cory Lover, and I quickly became best friends. Over the next few years, until late 2011, we ran several forums together. Some succeeded very well, with Hikari briefly sponsoring one, while others failed miserably. We were very young when we began running our own forums, but we were also very determined, often ignoring adults, and other people telling us we would not succeed...we succeeded, proving many people wrong. In late 2011 we closed our most successful forum, due to many reasons, including us no longer having the time to run it.
However, our friendship did not stop there. Though Cory Lover is, and lives in BC, Canada he has a calling plan to the United States, so he was able to frequently call me for free, and we would talk several times per week for hours on end. We understood each other very well, and had many good laughs.
In June 2012, we began to develop a plan for us to meet each other...we were both 17 at the time, and it seemed almost impossible for 17 year olds to meet each other when they lived 2,000 miles away from each other, and in separate countries at that! But remember the part where we were determined kids? That never changed. From July 2012-October 2012, I began applying at several jobs, though I did not actually start "trying" until late October 2012. On November 7, 2012, I was hired at the local Steak 'n Shake as a server. Though the job was stressful, and many times it interfered with school tremendously with me staying up into the very late hours of the night, just to finish my AP homework, I endured, and endured. In January 2013, I acquired a job at an exotic pet store, where I managed, and controlled the fish section. And to anyone who is wondering, I did stock that fish room with very nice monster fish
Sadly, in March 2013, I was no longer able to work there, due to a combination of too much stress, terrible family problems, and senior year really getting to me. Since Steak 'n Shake paid much more, I chose to leave the pet shop...it was the most economical choice.
On May 24, 2013, I graduated, and began working full time at Steak 'n Shake, often 10 hours per day, and into very early hours of the morning. After graduation, work was much, much better! In mid June, I went to the post office, and got my passport, and paid $200.00 for it (because I was too lazy to get it earlier, I had to get it expedited). June 24, 2013 was my last day working, and the following day I purchased a one way ticket to Calgary, Alberta, Canada (it's cheaper that way
) On July 9, 2013 I flew to Calgary, Alberta, Canada all by myself. While I was flying, Cory Lover (we'll start calling him by his name Matt) made the three hour drive from Golden, British Columbia, Canada, to Calgary, Alberta to pick me up from the airport, where we would be staying with a friend of his the first five days of my visit in Canada, and the last five days of my visit in Canada. Well, upon landing in Canada, I had to update my facebook status (which I could hardly do, because Matt was nonstop texting me if I had landed yet) and I said "I have finally landed in Canada, and I am about to meet my best friend for the first time." So, I walked out and met him. And we hugged for what seemed like an hour. We could not believe we had finally met each other! After six long years.
Canada, was amazing and it really changed my life. I experienced so many new things, and people. I discovered that the stereotype of Canadians being extremely nice, is true, and I discovered that Canada is where I feel like I belong...Calgary to be exact. And, being an 18 year old, I thought it was amazing that I was able to purchase my own alcohol. During the trip, I stay in Calgary from July 9-14, Banff Alberta, July 14-15 (which I found extremely beautiful, and odd that there were so many Australians there), Golden BC, from July 15-26, and Calgary again from July 26-31! I almost missed my flight leaving, and I cried all the way down the runway.
So much that I cannot go into detail about happened while I was in Canada. I learned so much about myself, and about life in general. What now, you may ask? Well, it's time for new journey. Now, my ultimate plan is to move to Canada, which will start by me attending college in Calgary (hopefully) in September 2014. I'll be visiting again, I hope to God in January or February 2014. I just have to find a job!
In the meantime, I would like to thank the Monster Aquaria Network, with special thanks to Neo who made this wonderful network, for allowing me to be apart of a wonderful community, and for tolerating me when I was so young, and naive about many things. I would not have made it to Canada, made a best friend, and my life would be EXTREMELY DIFFERENT right now.
Now, enjoy the pictures!
P.S. I did see an Asian Arowana, in a pet store up there. ;D
Sometime late in the year 2006, I joined Aquaria Central. I was only 11 years old at the time, and I had such a drive and passion for keeping fish, and everything about fish. Fish were literally my life. I had aquariums everywhere in my house, and everyone at school called me "fishboy" or "aquaman". I even sold fish to a few teachers at school.
If you have visited Aquaria Central, or you are an active member, then you know that there is an active chat room there, often filled with many great people to talk to! My twelve year old self wandered in that chat room, and began chatting with many people, all while making friends at the same time. I began to frequently chat with another 12 year old boy by the username of Cory Lover. Cory Lover, and I quickly became best friends. Over the next few years, until late 2011, we ran several forums together. Some succeeded very well, with Hikari briefly sponsoring one, while others failed miserably. We were very young when we began running our own forums, but we were also very determined, often ignoring adults, and other people telling us we would not succeed...we succeeded, proving many people wrong. In late 2011 we closed our most successful forum, due to many reasons, including us no longer having the time to run it.
However, our friendship did not stop there. Though Cory Lover is, and lives in BC, Canada he has a calling plan to the United States, so he was able to frequently call me for free, and we would talk several times per week for hours on end. We understood each other very well, and had many good laughs.
In June 2012, we began to develop a plan for us to meet each other...we were both 17 at the time, and it seemed almost impossible for 17 year olds to meet each other when they lived 2,000 miles away from each other, and in separate countries at that! But remember the part where we were determined kids? That never changed. From July 2012-October 2012, I began applying at several jobs, though I did not actually start "trying" until late October 2012. On November 7, 2012, I was hired at the local Steak 'n Shake as a server. Though the job was stressful, and many times it interfered with school tremendously with me staying up into the very late hours of the night, just to finish my AP homework, I endured, and endured. In January 2013, I acquired a job at an exotic pet store, where I managed, and controlled the fish section. And to anyone who is wondering, I did stock that fish room with very nice monster fish
Sadly, in March 2013, I was no longer able to work there, due to a combination of too much stress, terrible family problems, and senior year really getting to me. Since Steak 'n Shake paid much more, I chose to leave the pet shop...it was the most economical choice. On May 24, 2013, I graduated, and began working full time at Steak 'n Shake, often 10 hours per day, and into very early hours of the morning. After graduation, work was much, much better! In mid June, I went to the post office, and got my passport, and paid $200.00 for it (because I was too lazy to get it earlier, I had to get it expedited). June 24, 2013 was my last day working, and the following day I purchased a one way ticket to Calgary, Alberta, Canada (it's cheaper that way
) On July 9, 2013 I flew to Calgary, Alberta, Canada all by myself. While I was flying, Cory Lover (we'll start calling him by his name Matt) made the three hour drive from Golden, British Columbia, Canada, to Calgary, Alberta to pick me up from the airport, where we would be staying with a friend of his the first five days of my visit in Canada, and the last five days of my visit in Canada. Well, upon landing in Canada, I had to update my facebook status (which I could hardly do, because Matt was nonstop texting me if I had landed yet) and I said "I have finally landed in Canada, and I am about to meet my best friend for the first time." So, I walked out and met him. And we hugged for what seemed like an hour. We could not believe we had finally met each other! After six long years. Canada, was amazing and it really changed my life. I experienced so many new things, and people. I discovered that the stereotype of Canadians being extremely nice, is true, and I discovered that Canada is where I feel like I belong...Calgary to be exact. And, being an 18 year old, I thought it was amazing that I was able to purchase my own alcohol. During the trip, I stay in Calgary from July 9-14, Banff Alberta, July 14-15 (which I found extremely beautiful, and odd that there were so many Australians there), Golden BC, from July 15-26, and Calgary again from July 26-31! I almost missed my flight leaving, and I cried all the way down the runway.
So much that I cannot go into detail about happened while I was in Canada. I learned so much about myself, and about life in general. What now, you may ask? Well, it's time for new journey. Now, my ultimate plan is to move to Canada, which will start by me attending college in Calgary (hopefully) in September 2014. I'll be visiting again, I hope to God in January or February 2014. I just have to find a job!
In the meantime, I would like to thank the Monster Aquaria Network, with special thanks to Neo who made this wonderful network, for allowing me to be apart of a wonderful community, and for tolerating me when I was so young, and naive about many things. I would not have made it to Canada, made a best friend, and my life would be EXTREMELY DIFFERENT right now.
Now, enjoy the pictures!
P.S. I did see an Asian Arowana, in a pet store up there. ;D
PS GREAT STORY