My Fellow Canadian

Arlen, a friend of a friend I know from Toronto, works for Bicycle Victoria. If anyone should know where I can get a decent, inexpensive ride, he should. When I ask, he tells me I can borrow a spare one he has. Which is about as inexpensive as you get.

I head over and meet his roommates, Ryan (another Canadian) and Rob, an Australian who’s concerned that he’s clearly outnumbered. Arlen and Rob are playing video games, so Ryan shows me the bike.
Just as I’m ready to leave, it starts to pour. The boys tell me to wait it out. Ryan shares some dinner with me and we bond over job search frustrations. We fill each other in on leads and exchange phone numbers. Turns out, Ryan is also part of Alba’s Surf Club.
As we chatter away at each other, Arlen says he’s glad Ryan has a new best friend.

***

You never know when or why you'll hit it off with someone, but there are often clues. Like the following text message I received from Ryan the other day:

Overheard on a tram, one bogan woman to another:
You should always keep 50 dollars to your name.
Always.

He also signs off messages containing work info with, "We are great!"
And seriously, how great is that?!