Wil Andruschak

Why did you decide to walk around the world?

It was after a sort of mid-life crisis, to change something in my life, make something different. Then suddenly I said I am going. So I told my wife three-and-a-half weeks before I went. She said, sadly, “Will you come sometime at home?” and I said “No.” So finally she said “We’ll try, we don’t know what may happen, we’ll just try.” Afterwards she said we will do this for peace, so we came under the United Nations proclamation for peace and children. It’s not raising funds. It’s much more intellectual, to try to touch people’s souls.

So you went by yourself?

Yeah. I started with $4,000. Then people were very supportive in America first. They said, “We can support you. You need food, anything.” I went to South America. There were two mines there in Chile, they gave me $1,000, it was great. The flight from Brazil to South Africa was donated by people. My wife, she saved about $4,000 per year. And then the rest has come from the people. I stayed with maybe 1,500 families. Last year, in New Zealand, I paid only one night in a hotel while I was there. People, they made an amazing chain of hospitality.

How many pairs of shoes did you go through?

Fifty. Now I am on my 51st . All sorts of shoes because most of them were donated by people or companies.

What do you hope comes from your walk?

I would like to spread the message to have unity together. We have all sorts of culture. We are lucky in Canada to have many sorts of people. We can’t understand that we are all the same people, but we have different cultures.

What was your favourite moment on the walk?

Wow, wow, this is not easy. Many. From America to Mexico it was another world for me. I was very nervous because I didn’t speak Spanish, I’m slowly learning. And then when I came in Africa it was a great moment. After each continent that I went to, it was like “OK, now it’s done.” You see because it’s sort of big challenge, and Canada is coming. It’s quite exciting to pass through another step. As well, I am dividing Canada into four steps: The mountain that I passed through in the winter. Then the Prairies, second step. Then Ontario to Toronto, this is the third. Then Toronto to Montreal, the fourth step. I joke a little. I say, “Canada is nothing.” On the concept of the world walk it is nothing. But really for common people Canada is a big country. I don’t want to be pretentious, but really it’s nothing. But the people are so nice. From Vancouver to here in Calgary. How I love the Canadians. They make me feel at home; they are so warm.

What’s the first thing you’ll do when you reach home in Montreal?

I’ll put my feet up. I think my wife will present me with long list of things to fix at home. “Honey, do this. Honey, do that.” No, I’m joking. First, I’ll be with my family. I became a grandfather of two beautiful girls so I’ll give them some time. And then my two children. I’ll begin a conference, then finish writing the book. And then I’ll be involved in peace.

What did you miss most about Canada?

The winter. This is what I miss very much. It’s funny, huh? You cannot imagine. I had some little snow — maybe two, three times on my way — just an inch and then it melt. But when I came to the Fraser Canyon there was a storm. All the way — the slush, the snow pushing, all these things. So finally I said, “Oh! I am so happy, this is what I’m made for!” Sipping a good coffee with my wife is what I miss in the morning.

What scary moments did you have?

There were some bandit groups in Mexico. I didn’t pass through there. People, they said it’s too dangerous, too high-risk. You feel the pressure of the people; it’s not a joke. Then there was some animals — lions in Africa. The people were not so nervous, maybe they’re used to it, like the bears here. I had my pepper spray in my hands just in case. I had two little assaults — one in South Africa. Two guys came to take my things, they were drunk. The police was patrolling me that day because it was a high-risk zone. Struggling, I told them the police are around me and they might appear. One gave up, then the other gave up.