Countdown

“Are you excited that you’re leaving for Canada soon?”, a friend asked.

Why is it that when you are planning for a major event way ahead you feel like you have plenty of time to complete all items in the checklist, yet when it’s already a few days (or closer to D-day) you find yourself running out of time or feeling too hurried for comfort?

I’m a Project Manager by profession, so trust me when I say that I know very well the essence of timing things right, whether traveling, moving houses or coordinating things in general so I don’t miss anything critical.

Yet it’s T-minus 7 days until our flight and it feels like I still have a lot left to do and starting to panic (not overly, but close) that I may not be able to get all of them done in time.

Ever had that experience? Not fun, believe me. If I forget something important, it’ll either cost me (literally) or cause me much inconvenience later.

Even more with this move, when I have to think about how it’ll look like for the tangible things I’m leaving behind in my home country in the next couple of years that I’m away, at the same time what I need to anticipate for the first couple of months after landing in Canada.

Essentials to bring, people to see and connect with one last time or say proper farewells to, and arrangements of what’s left while I’m gone.

With all the things to wrap up and take care of, am I excited about leaving? As excited as one can be, sprinkled with a bit of apprehension and other mixed emotions thrown in.

The cold reality of missing out on some things back home, whether it is the comfort of supportive friends and family, the food and places I frequent, and other things familiar has gradually seeped in.

Nevertheless, I’ve decided to look at all this as an adventure and just focus on taking it one step at a time. I’m a lifelong learner so going back to formal studies again for career progression along with learning the in and outs of a new country and its people would be a blast, for sure.

“All is well” or so the famous line goes in the 2009 Indian comedy-drama film ‘Three Idiots’. You mean you haven’t seen it yet? Please do. It’s a must-watch.