moving overseas

Just after Grade 10 I found out my dad had taken a job overseas in London, England.  Most people look at me and say "that must have been amazing," and it was, but at that time in my life this news was devastating. After all, I was about to enter my second year of high school where I was very comfortable, and I was surrounded by a solid group of best friends, including my longest standing of the group, Dan.

To ease the move, Dan flew over with me at the beginning of the year.  Having him there made it seem like more of a vacation than a move. We toured around London, laughed lots, and tried to navigate the differences between English and Canadian culture together. As usual the inside jokes were constant. I remember only when it came time for him to leave, was when it really set in that this was a more permanent thing.  Those next few weeks were hard, but without that extra support I would have struggled so much more to adjust.  After that often when I came back for a visit it was a given I would stay at the Hickey's with Dan, a place where I may have felt at times too comfortable! 

-Alex