Friday, May 28, 2010

Fridays with Mr. Milk - It's Time...

Ten years. It's time to go.

I love this country. I came here in 2000, in search for a path unknown to me and Canada helped me find it. I studied, I worked, I partied, I enjoyed the nature and the outdoors, and took notice of the little things Canadians do that makes them the wonderful people they are.

You see, to me nothing epitomizes more what a "Canadian" is than seeing a hubcap positioned by a light post on the side of the street. This is a country were consideration is in the collective agenda, every day. Where "thank you" and "please" are not just nice words, but mandatory words. Where everyone is equal and there is a proper way to do things and a not-so-proper way to do things, and society is your judge. Where people stand in single file to get on the bus, and where tipping a waiter 18% is a society-imposed rule that compensates for the minimum wages servers make; and everyone does it.

Love it or hate it, Canada is a wonderful land. When I tell people that we are leaving, the immediate response is a big, stunning, "WHY?" (with an undertone of "why would anyone think of leaving Canada?"). People pray for the opportunity to move here. We are leaving.

Back in September, when Chocolate Lover and I began thinking of leaving to go back home, I must say the journey ahead of us scared the crap out of me. Not for the amount of work that it was going to be, but for the weight of the decision we had to make. What if we regret it? What if we make the wrong call? I asked friends, family, strangers, I made pros and cons lists, thought about it every morning in the shower and in my sleep. January came around and our final decision made sense.

Tomorrow we are leaving and I could not be more certain that this is the right thing to do. Family first. Nothing is more important than being close to the ones you love. That's exactly what we are doing, and I'm happy to be leaving on a super high note.

Work has been amazing to me, and if it wasn't for the lack of anonymity on public blogs I would go into more details, but let's just say that I feel very satisfied with what I have accomplished here and I am eager for Chocolate Lover and I to do the same back home.

Home was Cyprus when we were in Canada and Canada when we were in Cyprus. It's time to choose.

We are going back to Cyprus. We are going home.

From sunnier pastures and loving surroundings, but with memories of a wonderful decade in Canada, we'll be touching base soon. Until next Friday, this is Mr. Milk signing off.

14 fabulous blogger's comments:

Kim said...

Congrats on your big decision and return home. Family is the most important thing. Good luck with the move!

Heather said...

Great post, Mr. Milk! We’ve struggled with similar issues, recently having to make a big choice of whether to stay on the East Coast, where we’re for the most part on our own but have more opportunities, or move back to California, where pretty much all of our family and friends still live. It was a really hard decision, but in the end, we chose to stay in D.C. for at least a couple more years. We’re definitely not as far from our families as you’ve been, but it’s still tough at times.

Nicole-Lynn said...

Yes, congrats on a big decision to go back home :)

Jennifer Oberth said...

Good for you guys to be scared and do it anyway.

I used to be surrounded by family but nearly every one moved away. Of both sides of my huge family, there are only three individuals left here.

Family is so important - they make such a profound difference in our lives but the trick is to notice it when you're surrounded.

Good luck with the move - I'm sure it's the right choice.

Salt said...

Family is the most important. That's what brought me home too.

I hope you and Chocolate Lover have a safe trip! Tell her to keep us updated! :)

Katie said...

Good luck with the move! I think you will be so happy with your decision!

JazzWhispers said...

Canada will miss you both! It's funny how the things you stated about Canada and it's people are the things that make me so proud to be Canadian.

Good luck on your journey home. The journey home is always the best one! I could not imagine living far away from my family and if I were you I would have moved home long ago!

JEM - Aqua Bride said...

Good luck with your move, i'm sure it's the right choice.

Anonymous said...

Well stated Mr. Milk. As someone who knows you, might I say that I STILL don't like it, and you will be missed, terribly! :)
Don't cry easily, but your eloquent post made me cry tonight.....

Here's to more adventures with you both in CY and elsewhere!

Simply Colette said...

Bon voyage!!! Looking forward to the future posts and pics!

PMerr said...

Aww! Great post! Good luck with all the travel!

Unknown said...

thanks for the perspective. i have limited experience of canada, and limited impressions, so my opinions about it are not based on much but haven't been great. canada sounds like a place i would love to live based on this post, though what i wouldn't like is the weather. but it's so great to hear about your awesome experience!

Suzanne said...

Congrats on your big decision ... home really is where the heart is and glad that you are going home!

Giovanna said...

what a great post, mr. milk! congrats to you both on moving home.