Packing up to move to Paris for a year is a bittersweet experience. It’s hard to reconcile the overwhelming excitement of moving to a new place with the incredible sadness of leaving everything behind. I just have a constant feeling of unease which I can’t label as fear or excitement, so I have a feeling that means it is a little of both.
It’s really weird to think that I am going to be leaving Vancouver for a year. Vancouver is really the only city that I can say I know intimately well, but that also means it is the only city that I can say I really love. I used to spend my summers in LA, and I liked the city well enough, but it was nothing compared to what I feel for Vancouver. Vancouver is my home and I wouldn’t have it any other way. That said, it doesn’t mean I can’t wait to experience something new. Which brings us to Paris.
In the couple days before I go, I’ve really been thinking about what I am going to miss most about home. Of course there is the obvious things, like my cats, but there are a lot of less obvious things that I have a feeling I will really notice when they aren’t there. If I had to classify top 5 all around awesome things about Vancouver it would be something like this
5. The cheap and delicious sushi you can find just about anywhere
4. How it’s acceptable (almost cool?) to always wear sweatpants/lululemons/leggings..which I guess has to do with the general west coast attitude
3. The weather ( many people might not agree with me on this one, but there is really nothing better then being forced to have a lazy day because its pouring rain outside, Especially if you have a skylight/good book/ worthy scrabble opponent)
2. UBC campus (which is kind of cheating, because this comprises rec beach, the view from my living room last year, amazing study spots, going out and knowing the entire bar, ponderosa cake …)
1. Everyone who lives here. This one is actually pretty darn obvious, and may appear to have nothing to do with Vancouver. But I think its something about Vancouver that attracts and keeps some of the coolest people I have ever met.
But somehow things change. As much as I would love for everything to always be as perfect as so many of my Vancouver memories, life would be very boring without a little upheaval now and then. So despite my love for Vancouver and everyone who lives here, I still chose to go away for a full year. Which is a huge deal for me, because I didn’t take the leap two years ago and chose an out of province or better yet out of country school. So this is it, my big nest fleeing, and the first time I will ever live more then 45 minutes away from my parents (or more then 5 minutes away from my dads office…). I am off to Paris on Sunday! So please, don’t lose touch. Write me emails, letters, comments, whatever – and I will reply. Because while I am away will intensely miss everyone who made my life so amazing here.
And finally, right before I go, I would have to say the excitement for Paris is winning over the sadness of leaving Vancouver behind. Because as much as I love Vancouver, its not going anywhere. But I am.
