There's a lot to do in preparation for
moving to another country. Visas to be applied for. Flights to be
booked. A new language to learn. Old possessions to be disposed of or
put into storage and new things to be purchased. One thousand and one
little (and not so little) tasks that need to be completed prior to
departure and only so much time in which to complete them. By far the
hardest task, however, is saying goodbye.
For the past few weeks, I've been doing
exactly that and every time I see a friend, colleague or family
member knowing that it will be the last time I do so before I fly, it
hurts. Some of these people I have known for years and years and
years, others for only a matter of months, but everyone, without
exception, has been incredibly supportive of me and of my ambition.
It's really humbling.
Everyone sees this as a great big
adventure for me (which it is) and I don't want to let anybody down
or disappoint so I'm doing my best to be outwardly positive and
enthusiastic, burying the nerves and the fears and that (small) part
of me that doesn't want to go. Plus, I'm both male and British so a
certain stiff-upper-lippedness is expected. But then there's a
softly-spoken 'I'm going to miss you', that almost tips me over the
edge...
And I know that in the age of the
internet, with e-mail and skype and assorted social media, there's no
reason why I won't be able to keep in touch with everyone, but it's
not the same as seeing them in person. Not even close. That's just
something I'm going to have to learn to live with.
So I'd like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone for helping me get this far, to tell everyone that I
am really going to miss them and to ask you all to please, please,
please keep in touch. I am incredibly lucky to have the friends I
have and life wouldn't be the same without you.
Anyway, I've got to go. I've got
something in my eye...
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