Around Christmas time 2012, I had assumed that EL was around her home (Vancouver area.) Some reasons being:
0. Dec 10: "So it’s my final 48 hours in Ontario before returning to home."
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/37604546455/the-end-is-near-more-so-its-my-final-48
She plans on going "home."
1. Dec 21: "I figured out where I caught the *advertiser censored* flu from. THE BLOODY AIRPLANE
RIDE HOME. Stuck inside a tiny little room with recycled air means I damn well will pick something up." (bold added by me)
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/38458710384/insomniasss-more-i-figured-out-where-i
Thus implying that she had flown home.
2. Dec 18: She celebrates her grandmother's 87th birthday perhaps at home ("the dinner table")
"Tonight was my grandma’s 87th birthday and it was nice because I was able to sit down at the dinner table and it was not a big deal for me. Yeah….a family dinner where I willingly sat down, made conversation and it was all very good. This is if anything, a miracle, and an indication I am doing much better. "
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/38216201949/finally-finished-writing-my-postcards-and-theyll
This assumes, of course, that grandma and "family" are back around the Vancouver area/home.
3. Jan 5: "I just found a copy of A Farewell to Arms that my mom probably bought in the 80s for $1 or something."
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/...st-found-a-copy-of-a-farewell-to-arms-that-my
I'm making a guess that just finding a book EL's mom bought means EL was at her parents' place.
4. Dec 23: This isn't as strong, but on Dec 23 she talks about finishing 9 hours of retail hell (I think she worked in a women's shoe store)
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/38603317176/i-just-got-off-a-horrible-9-hour-shift-of-retail
This job apparently started on Dec 20th (this posting on Dec 19th mentions she's starting work "tomorrow"
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/38288453259/of-course-its-not-a-competition-to-see-who-ends)
She works until at least Dec 28th: She mentions being tired from work on the 28th of December (
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/39049710741/more-im-a-bit-down-these-days-might-just-be).
5. She goes with some friends (including a very good close friend) to a dance club
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/38629989538/a-night-at-da-club-more-the-group-of-people
This sounds less touristy and more like things one may do (work, hang out with a very close friend) in one's hometown.
I see the posting about her travel plans that start off in Vancouver:
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/40401259146/planning-planning-planning-for-the-west-coast
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/39940752951/i-just-got-my-flightbookd-vancouver-jan-18
Seems to me she was at her parent's home. Perhaps her home and Vancouver aren't that close? If Vancouver is her home, then perhaps some time after Jan 5th, she left the area? Anyway, perhaps if people knew what city her parents lived in, everything would make more sense.