The Day I Left The Emerald Isle

3 months…. 104 days…. 15 weeks (well almost)…. That’s how long it’s been since I left Ireland. Since I took the leap and left my job, my friends and my family back on the Emerald Isle. Ok, before you guys get annoyed at me, technically I didn’t leave you, we’re just a little further apart right?! Let’s not start shedding any tears yet.

 Where do I begin?!

On August 2^nd 2016 I set off on a journey of a new adventure. I was leaving everything behind. Was I scared? F**k, I was terrified but the excitement was even greater. The car ride to the airport that morning still feels like yesterday and saying goodbye to my parents at the gate to go through security broke my heart. They both whispered something in my ear and it has stayed with me (if either of you are reading this then I know you’re both wondering what the other said, remember I know what you’re both like).

The last phone call before boarding my plane from Dublin was from my parents. The official last goodbyes from the same country, for then at least. On I went. My first time on a plane alone and I managed to survive. On to St. Johns Airport, Newfoundland (the Canadians say this weird, New Find-land, I’ve been corrected many times), and my next time zone. Here I was greeted by a warm, friendly customs officer, we even joked about not being able to work in the sex industry and then a rush trying not to get lost in a small airport. Next destination: Toronto Airport, and yet another time zone. I arrived here in a fluster. My phone was acting up, I had no wifi, I had no idea what time it was and thought I missed my flight. Thankfully, I just had to sit around and wait as the time had gone backwards and I sat agitated not being able to contact anyone. Another walk on to a plane and my next and final stop…… Vancouver.! Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Nowhere has felt so right in such a long time and that’s including Ireland. From the second I landed and looked out the window I knew I had made the right choice. So after 4 different places, 3 planes, 4 different time zones, 4 airports, many messages from my parents welcoming me to each place I landed in (thanks to technology and them tracking my flight) and what I think was about 28 hours of being awake I had finally arrived. As I waited for my bags to come around I had a call from home. After a couple of minutes it dawned on me that it was 3am back home and they had watched me land safe. In my disheveled state this was a very welcomed call. I had arrived to the wonderful familiar faces of friends, Beth & Eoin, who kindly welcomed me, as disorientated as I was. What better way to finish the night then with pizza, beers, laughs and friends.

 The next few days were spent organizing myself. Adjusting to the time zone, wondering why people weren’t awake when I text them at certain hours (it took a while to adjust to the time difference!!!), a new SIM card, a new bank account, my SIN and of course enjoying the wonderful weather that I most certainly was not used to. Its sort of like Ireland people told me. I’m sorry but we hardly EVER get heat like that in Ireland…. While staying with the guys in Downtown Vancouver I got to explore the area a bit. We ate out, we drank, we enjoyed happy hour (god I love happy hour) and I got to explore some of Downtown.

 A couple of days here and I then moved on to West Vancouver. Wow! Think of the wonderfully magnificent houses of Malahide/Howth but on a bigger scale and close to the sea and mountains and you’ve got West Vancouver!!! The views, the surroundings, they were all wonderful. I stayed in an Airbnb I had booked for 2 weeks, which turned in to a month and I am so grateful to Sam and Pete for extending my stay. I stayed in their loft. A cosy space with a double bed, kitchen, and bathroom, everything that I needed. The only downside? The trek to Downtown or anywhere. Daytime, not an issue. Nighttime…… totally different story. With not a lot of public transport heading exactly where I needed and a trek in the dark, being a city girl I was terrified of the many things I heard about… raccoons, bears, skunks, coyotes …. The list goes on. Staying in West Vancouver was amazing. I was lucky to find such a nice and welcoming family that made my transition here a pleasant one.

 So by the start of September I had found my own place to share with a housemate. Off I trotted to South Vancouver. I had landed myself a job, I had met some great people already, and now I was ready to start settling in entirely.

 I have done some exploring, getting to know the city but none of the major attractions as of yet. I have been going to meet ups, making friends, trying out food (Man do I miss a Chinese take away back home on a Saturday night, it’s just not the same here! Salt and chilli chicken, chicken balls, curry sauce, I swear when I come home to visit its all I’m going to eat), and adjusting slowly to life on the other side. Away from everything that I knew and was familiar with. Away from safety nets and safe havens. Away from a place that sometimes I thought I’d never leave. Yet here I sit, cross-legged on my bed in Vancouver writing this, both crying and laughing, and feeling so very happy that I took the leap. I’ve met some fantastic people, people I know who are now going to be lifelong friends, people who have put a smile on my face on days that I’ve felt sad, people who have welcomed me in to their home. To all of you I am very grateful that you welcomed this Irish gal in to your lives, hearts and homes.

 I’ve fallen in love over and over since I’ve got here, and before any one jumps to any conclusions, I mean with the city and everything that it has to offer.

 Do I miss Ireland? Honestly? No! Do I miss my friends and family? Of course. Do I miss my parents? Every. Single. Day. But at this stage they know I needed to do this. To learn. To experience. To find…… to find what exactly I’m not sure, myself perhaps. I don’t know where this journey is going to take me. If I’ll ever return home for good (don’t worry mammy and daddy I’ll come home for a visit eventually). I don’t know what I’m going to discover along the way but what I do know is that I made the right choice. I’ve let go of a lot since I got here. I’ve got over some heartache. I’ve let go of some people who weren’t good for me. I’ve removed myself out of situations that, well, lets just say weren’t doing me any good.

 Right now I’m happy. Am I the happiest I’ve ever been? Perhaps. Certainly in a long time at least. Do I know if I’ll be ever home for good? Who knows!! Things change, but I can honestly say that right now, in this moment, this feels like home. I want to make a life here. Obviously my home with my parents will always be “my home” but this, this is where I want to be. Who knows what the future holds and that’s the problem sometimes, we focus so much on the future that we ruin or don’t enjoy what’s happening in the present, I know I’m certainly guilty of that on a day to day basis but it’s something I’m trying to work on.

 Somehow my exploring seemed to be put on hold, while I was still settling perhaps, but after a day of exploring Grandville Island with some wonderful company, I’ve realized that the new, the adventure, the exploring is the reason I left everything. The thing I want to do. The thing that puts a smile on my face and a fire in my belly. So now after writing this I’m off to get out my travel guides again, start my list and get ready for more exploring.

 I don’t know how to sign this off, so for now I’ll say this:

To my friends and family back home, I miss and love you all.

To my parents, thank you for everything. I miss you every day.

To the new friends I have made, especially those of you who I know will be in my life for a long time, I am so very grateful that I met you, that you welcomed me and I look forward to making new memories with you.

 A.

xox