This week marked the culmination of a part of our journey and a start to life as Canadian citizens. People have often asked "Why Canada?", and the answer is simple and yet difficult to explain. I visited Canada for the first time in 1992 on a trip around North America. I landed at Pearson in Toronto and felt like I had come home; it is truly unexplainable. I immediately felt like I belonged here and decided that one day I would. For the next 15 years I visited often, almost annually, and constantly spoke about one day moving to Canada. In the late 90's I applied for Permanent Residence and it was granted but I was involved with someone that did not want to leave South Africa and something else was holding me back; my family, my friends, my fear. I remember saying that I was tired of always saying goodbye to friends that were emigrating, and I wanted my turn! After a bad breakup in 2002 I almost got a job in Vancouver but that fell through and so I carried on talking about it. In fact, friends that had never considered it, chose Canada and emigrated during that time and I was still speaking about it!
When I met Keith I told him that if he wanted to be with me, then it would have to be in Canada. His response appropriately mirrored the person that he is when he said "I don't care where we live, as long as I'm with you". It would be 3 years before we finally made the move.
I look back on the past few years that have flown by and I am amazed at how incredible our experience has been. From the moment we set foot on unfamiliar ground we felt at home. Despite my almost spiritual pull towards the country, there were moments when I felt lost or a little lonely but in all this time, Keith has never once wavered from his immediate love for this magnificent place. I have not regretted one thing. I believe that the way in which we embraced everything that is Canada is the reason why we settled so quickly, why we love it here so much and why we have always been happy. We moved into the right neighbourhood, immediately making friends and finding a community where we are on a first name basis with the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker (OK, the wine store clerk). And as the years have gone by, the circle of friends has increased. This week, after a particularly interesting conversation over breakfast, I turned to Keith and said "You know that we have been here long enough when 6 degrees of separation applies".
We have lived a lifetime in a short period; bought and sold homes, lost Dexter and Jessie and brought home Tyson, we've written our learner driver exam and took the road tests despite a combined driving experience of 50 years, we've learned the layout of the city, and found new restaurants to love and hate, we've called 911, wrote a Citizenship exam and passed! We have braved the snow.......and we love it. We have integrated.
I will never forget my roots and this post is not about being South African. This post is my thanks to a great country and it's people. I am honoured and proud to call myself a Canadian.
