Moving Across the Border
The last couple of months have been a whirlwind and as the months wind down I will be sad to leave this place I've called home for the past three and a half years. I'll be transferring to a new position within the company in Vancouver, Canada. I know - it's insane! It's sooooo far away... I'm not even sure how I'm going to move up there yet.
I'm really excited about this opportunity, but sad at the same time that I'll be leaving a lot of family and friends in Chicago. After all Chicago has been my second home while I was growing up spending my summer vacations here as a kid. And the fact that it's only a few hours drive away from my hometown of Green Bay makes it harder to leave knowing that I won't be able to see my family as often.
But in many ways I believe it is time for a change and that this was meant to be. It seems scary at first to move far from the familiar and everyone you know, but I'm looking forward to the new experiences - the people I'll meet, the friends I'll make, the experience of living and working in a foreign country... Canada may not be that foreign, but it is different. I've already begun to realize how many things I'm going to have to get used to like the accent, the currency, the metric system (this is when I wish the U.S. didn't have to be different from everyone else!), temperatures in celcius rather than fahrenheit, French and probably a million other things I don't even know.
It's funny now that I think about it. I've actually dreamt about this opportunity - living as an expat and picking up and starting all over again some place new. But making this decision wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. When I thought of turning down the offer and how much I might regret it - the choice was simple.
My start date has not been confirmed yet so I can't say for sure when I'll be leaving Chicago, but it may be around the end of January or early February. If anyone has friends in Vancouver who'd be willing to offer some tips or advice about the city, please let me know! And of course, you'll all have to come and visit me!
We'll miss you
It'll be sad to see you go, but I'll definitely try to visit you after you move there.
Wow. Congratulations and good luck. Vancouver is a lot like Seattle, which I know you like. I have a lot of family in Vancouver, so that's where I often went for vacation. I think you'll like it a lot.
Awesome! I hear working as an ex-Pat is great. I was hoping you would move to SD :) I've seen some HSBC job openings here. Will definitely go visit to go skiing.
michmosh
this announcement is such a surprise!! i think you'll like it alot...congratulations!!! i can't wait to hear all about it at xmas!
Wow.. I just heard the news. Congrats!!! I heard Vancouver is a wonderful place to live. Let me know if you need any help moving.
I was shocked to hear that you'll be moving away, neighbor! But I guess when opportunity comes knocking, you just have to go for it. Best of luck!!!
Life is full of surprises, Im still shock about the move, at the same time I am excited for you. I think this is so cool working in a different country and experience a different culture.I think you gonna love it plus the chinese food is 10 times better than Chicago. Flying to Asia is cheaper than flying from Chicago. More chinese guys to pick, closer to Vegas if you wanna gamble all your money away...j/k Congrat!
Thanks everyone for all of your support and warm wishes! I don't think it'll hit me until I move over to Vancouver and realize that I'll be living there actually. But I am getting more excited everyday when I think about it. Not only will it be very different living there, but it'll be a whole different side of the business I'll be working in. There'll be lots to learn for sure!