When 'a couple of years' Becomes a Quarter Century
Hard to believe it was 25 years ago - October 18th, 1995 - that I arrived in Canada from England, Landed Immigrant papers in hand, ready to head through border control to begin a new life chapter - one that I honestly thought would be 'just a couple of years' - living in Canada.
The whole application process took more than a year - during which tears were shed as one hurdle after another seemed to stand in the way and I began to doubt I'd ever be accepted into Canada. Indeed, it wasn't until the week I packed up whatever belongings I hadn't already sold and prepared to take up a new job in the Maldive Islands, that the envelope from the Canadian Consulate finally dropped through the letterbox. Holding my breath as I opened it, wondering if it'd just be another roadblock to my application, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the words …. 'Landed Immigrant papers enclosed’. It was official! - I had finally been accepted and had 12 months from the date of the letter to make my move……or risk losing the opportunity for good (and that was definitely NOT an option I had in mind).
Wow, what a week that was. Frantically packing to start a job in the amazing location of the Maldives (since my Plan A of living in France had been thwarted by an economic downturn at the time) with a whole other possibility waiting in the wings – a move to Canada – Vancouver to be precise. It was all a bit mind-bending at the time and I struggled to believe it was even real, especially given my own personal "annus horribilis" (as the Queen once said) that had preceded and even fuelled these life-changing decisions. My plan was to live in Vancouver for 'a couple of years' (given the added benefit of my sister having moved here 2 years earlier), wait it out till things improved in Europe, then I'd move to France (Bordeaux) as originally planned.
Well, to cut a long story short.....and skip the part about meeting a Canadian float plane pilot working in the Maldives who then talked me into moving to Calgary with him instead of Vancouver....which turned out to be a bad decision on many levels...and one that I thankfully reversed just a few months later....
And here we are, 25 years since the day I officially left England for Canada – October 18, 1995 – when I distinctly remember being surprised that even my Dad got up early and came to the airport to see me off. (He was never the emotional type.)
My small KLM plane was leaving from Humberside Airport - just a 20-minute drive from my parents’ home. I got checked in and, after a quick hug, I went through Security and headed towards the rear of the plane to take my seat. A short time later, I was on my way to start a new adventure in Canada....
As I watched England shrink, fade, and eventually disappear beneath the clouds, never once did I imagine that I’d be writing this 25 years later – still living here in Canada. Nor could I have guessed that that morning would also be the last time I’d ever see my dad.
When 'a couple of years' Becomes a Quarter Century
Hard to believe it was 25 years ago - October 18th, 1995 - that I arrived in Canada from England, Landed Immigrant papers in hand, ready to head through border control to begin a new life chapter - one that I honestly thought would be 'just a couple of years' - living in Canada.
The whole application process took more than a year - during which tears were shed as one hurdle after another seemed to stand in the way and I began to doubt I'd ever be accepted into Canada. Indeed, it wasn't until the week I packed up whatever belongings I hadn't already sold and prepared to take up a new job in the Maldive Islands, that the envelope from the Canadian Consulate finally dropped through the letterbox. Holding my breath as I opened it, wondering if it'd just be another roadblock to my application, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the words …. 'Landed Immigrant papers enclosed’. It was official! - I had finally been accepted and had 12 months from the date of the letter to make my move……or risk losing the opportunity for good (and that was definitely NOT an option I had in mind).
Wow, what a week that was. Frantically packing to start a job in the amazing location of the Maldives (since my Plan A of living in France had been thwarted by an economic downturn at the time) with a whole other possibility waiting in the wings – a move to Canada – Vancouver to be precise. It was all a bit mind-bending at the time and I struggled to believe it was even real, especially given my own personal "annus horribilis" (as the Queen once said) that had preceded and even fuelled these life-changing decisions. My plan was to live in Vancouver for 'a couple of years' (given the added benefit of my sister having moved here 2 years earlier), wait it out till things improved in Europe, then I'd move to France (Bordeaux) as originally planned.
Well, to cut a long story short.....and skip the part about meeting a Canadian float plane pilot working in the Maldives who then talked me into moving to Calgary with him instead of Vancouver....which turned out to be a bad decision on many levels...and one that I thankfully reversed just a few months later....
And here we are, 25 years since the day I officially left England for Canada – October 18, 1995 – when I distinctly remember being surprised that even my Dad got up early and came to the airport to see me off. (He was never the emotional type.)
My small KLM plane was leaving from Humberside Airport - just a 20-minute drive from my parents’ home. I got checked in and, after a quick hug, I went through Security and headed towards the rear of the plane to take my seat. A short time later, I was on my way to start a new adventure in Canada....
As I watched England shrink, fade, and eventually disappear beneath the clouds, never once did I imagine that I’d be writing this 25 years later – still living here in Canada. Nor could I have guessed that that morning would also be the last time I’d ever see my dad.