The fear...

2 weeks to go and the fear has well and truly set in.
In comparison to my last blog, there's wind in our sails, wheels in motion and we're cooking on gas. Most of our never ending list has been crossed off, our furniture has been sold and 6 bin liners of stuff taken to charity.

We've also handed in our notices at work, asked our landlady for references and booked our holiday travel and hostel in Vancouver for when we arrive. (Like many others we went for the Samesun, purely for its central location and lively bar!)

The stress however has been showing on both of us, and as is always the way in life, manifesting in completely conflicting ways.

This is me:

Whilst I have dealt with the pressure of the impending move by attempting to be super super organised, happy clappy and forever positive (in a freak mid life crisis kind of way), my other half has decided the best way is to "go with the flow...whatever" and stops just short of adding the "man"  on the end. People always say house moves cause fireworks and it seems were no different! We decided to take a leaf out of each others books and actually found that we have quite enjoyed it. So while I have enjoyed sitting back and letting the decisions be made around me, Mr L'amour has actually enjoyed making plans and as a result has become more excited and involved in what we are going to be doing. 3 cheers all round!

Something else that has been helping me keep my spirits up and the doubts at bay at this late stage are new friends. We are so lucky that in this day and age, although we haven't even moved yet, we have been able to speak with other Brits who are already in the area, some newly and some a bit more experienced, and ask for their advice and opinions. I can't tell you how good it feels to know there are others in the same boat as you, with the same worries and questions and the peace of mind that brings. On facebook there is a group for those heading out to Vancouver in the next few months and we have already been arranging white water rafting trips, ice hockey games and nights out each time a newby reaches the city. If any of you reading this are moving soon, I can't recommend highly enough the benefits of speaking to others in your position.

Through this blog I have also been in touch with the lovely Lizzie Gross, who also writes about being a Brit abroad. Her blog recommends a fab book that has finally turned my frown upside down!

You could really rename this book 'How to move abroad and retain both your sense of humour and your partner!'
Its packed full of fun quiz's, with questions such as "How many alcoholic drinks have you had since take off?" (The correct answer is - "I started on the champagne in the departure lounge...") as well as useful tips outside of the usual 'how to file all of your documents correctly". I particularly like the mantra of the book:

I AM AN ELEGANT ESCAPE ARTIST WHO WILL EMIGRATE EASILY

One can only hope...

Anyway, Lizzie has been so lovely and encouraging. We're really looking forward to meeting up with her and her Mr L'amour and thanking her in person over a bottle of wine....or two.

So go on, go and have a look at lovely Lizzie's blog Marmite to Maple which you can find here.

Where was I? Oh yes, the fear. My fear comes in 2 forms and looks something like this:

1. I don't have a job lined up for when I get to Vancouver

That's ok, I tell myself. You have saved plenty of money to get by, and something will come along. (The counter argument to this of course is, "What if the right job doesn't come along and you end up in a fab city doing a crap job?" this however, could go on forever...)

2. I don't have anywhere to live when I get to Vancouver

Yep, I have the same sick feeling in my stomach as this poor girl. Again, I'm sure there is something out there with my name on, but I have learnt from past experience that it is very easy to end up living with a complete weirdo or in an expensive hovel.

So, before you all go to bed tonight, if you could all just say a prayer to the God of moving to the other side of the world, (I'm not really sure what he/she's called...) and just check that he/she/it has got my box checked for that fab, well paid career job and modern apartment in the heart of Downtown, I'd be forever grateful <3

I AM AN ELEGANT ESCAPE ARTIST WHO WILL EMIGRATE EASILY

Here's hoping...

Aimée L’amour x

www.twitter.com/aimeelamour