Written as a fictional diary, Vancouver Memories is a love story, a coming of age tale, and a celebration of Vancouver, Canada, as it follows the life of a group of international classmates living in the city for a year. Incorporating over 500 photographs, the novel also aims to serve as a travel guide for incoming international students and as a souvenir for those who want to enhance their memories of the city.
Vancouver Memories:
My Year Abroad
An Imaged Novel
By Wendy Bullen Stephenson
The primary love story centres on two mid-twenty year olds who feel an immediate mutual attraction even before becoming aware of their similar interests. Erika is a recent university graduate from Japan who is spending a gap year improving her already-proficient English before returning home to pursue an architectural degree. Sandford (Sandy), a Canadian musician, is taking time off from his architectural studies to be in a band full time. Could Erika and Sandy have a shared future despite potential problems and cultural differences? Erika’s possessive compatriot classmate certainly hopes not, as he wants Erika to be his girlfriend when they return home to Japan. He is, therefore, not concerned that his attention to Erika continually undermines Erika and Sandy’s developing bond.
Life for Erika’s fellow students is also intensely lived. Away from family expectations and cultural traditions, they feel a heightened sense of freedom. Some in this group of friends become infatuated with each other, all become strongly bonded, and most resolve conflicts within themselves so they form a clearer life plan.
To read the story, click on Table of Contents on the navigation bar above and then follow the links on the Contents page.
Website vancouvermemories.ca: Copyright © Wendy Bullen Stephenson, April 2010. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-0-9866257-1-8
2nd Revised Edition, November 7, 2013
