Why Canada? Part 2

Maybe it was a “fresh graduate” syndrome: finishing school, not quite being ready for working life, whatever you call it. But I couldn’t stop thinking of all my efforts in learning English being wasted, I couldn’t get images of OTHER places in the world that I had been to and images of life that people had THERE, out of my head. They were so different and yet felt so close to me. I shared my thoughts and doubts with my parents over the phone one day.
I have to give credit to my dear mother here, she was the one who immediately reacted on my doubts and got things moving. She came to Moscow and helped me find a firm that would help us choose a good school for me to go to and continue my education abroad.

Now, I’m going to be a bit blunt in describing the process of picking a country, so please forgive me, readers from certain places, if I refer to your homelands in a bit of general/straightforward manner. I mean no disrespect.
I was looking at prospects of going to study in Ireland (too small), Malta (way too small), New Zealand (too far) and Australia (too far and too hot). Canada came up a few times but I wasn’t sure I’d be granted a student visa, considering my previous failed attempts to go to a language school in USA. I had no mental distinction between the two in terms of acceptance of international students: Canada and US. To me, it was all AMERICA.
But I applied for a student visa to Canada. After all, it fit the “size” requirement and was very similar to Russia climate-wise (not as much as I thought, but later on that).

By the time I applied, I was sure I wouldn’t be going. I was happy where I was with V by my side and if nothing had fallen through – not a big deal; I made my piece with that.
Only, I got the student visa. I had a fully open new chapter in my life with an opportunity to be a student of one of Canada’s best colleges ahead of me.
The thing is though, it had opened so quickly and suddenly, that I hadn’t had the time to think through the most important part – separation from V. And we are not talking weeks or months here but few years indefinite. At the time, we were already living together and were fully committed to each other in our hearts and minds. My going to study overseas - what would that do to our relationship? Would we stand the distance and time being apart?
Neither of us had the means to travel back and forth for visits. That we knew for sure.

Poor V, he didn’t want to let me go, but at the same time, he waned me to see a totally different world, live a student life in a new country. He wanted me to take the opportunity. Saying goodbye to each other was the hardest thing we ever had to do but we were determined to continue our relationship over the phone, emails and chats. However, we both had no idea how hard it would be to maintain a long-distance relationship. Especially since I found out that there is a program that allows international students to stay in Canada permanently (when the certain criteria is met, of course). Since I was already enrolled in a three-year program it made a perfect sense for me to try. At that point, V and I realized that I might not be returning to Russia after my graduation, that I might be staying in Canada instead.

So after two years apart, V made a decision to come to Canada to go to the same college and be with me. I must say it was a very brave decision on his part. Unlike me, he hadn’t finished his degree and left a job he really liked. His English was at the beginner level and there was a long road of transition and integration for him to overcome. But I guess you should never underestimate the power of a will. It can get you places you had only imagined, if you’re willing to work hard of course.

We got married at the City Hall same year he arrived and haven’t let go of each other ever since:

Back to Part 1