I have just over 1 month left here at Company X…or was it A? And then I have a couple weeks before I, *gasp* return to Canada. I can’t remember what my codename was for work. Ah what the hell, everyone I’m familiar with that reads this knows what I am referring to. Anyway…one month. I just got my monthly stipend statement today from CT and *despair*, I will only be receiving one more of these.
Can I cope?
Well, yes, that is foolish to think otherwise. But I will miss this place (work, Paris, etc.) immensely no doubt.
View from above
Some things have changed at work: I basically moved upstairs. Yes, I am mostly out from underground and check it…a window. It opens. I get Vit D! It was purely for concentration, though the view is lovely. But it’s true from what a couple of the guys said; it can get a bit lonely here. But shmeh, if I get bored I just head downstairs. I do go down multiple times a day anyway, so there is no time to wallow in self-pity. 
JJ mentioned that Vancouver ranked #1 for cities with best standard of living. And then we thought, sure…but Vancouver misses a very, very important characteristic that is a part of my standard of living: Fun.
Now, “Fun” is such a broad term, but take this into consideration: While it is true that Vancouver often ranks top in terms of standard of living internationally, it has that ugly title of “Vancouver: The No Fun City”
Oh.
Why am I leaving again?
1. Because I set a return date before I even got here.
Sure, it is true that it was only until recently that I stopped giving myself the other option, having been accepted to couple schools in Western Europe, but the offers weren’t lucrative enough. Or they were, monetarily, but unfortunately it wasn’t that simple. There are some simple comforts of home that staying in the Schengen couldn’t offer me:
- family
- friends back home
- …
…
…
- my car??
I miss my car! Hahaha. There are times that I miss having a big house, nature all around me, and hugs and kisses from my inner circle. There’s that physical support network that I don’t quite have here, and that’s merely because I haven’t been here that long. I know that it is really time that builds such relationships so I’m not complaining about those that I’ve gained here. blah blah blah…
But I will be honest: All I need is that Eureka! moment, be it something, someone, and I would not hesitate for a second changing my mind. It sounds stupid/frivolous, but I love life best served up straight.
2. Err…
I’d like to say I’ll be back in just over a year. I figure, fingers crossed, that coming back to Company A|X for year 2 of my degree would provide me with experience that I just can’t get back home, and I already am somewhat familiar with the comings and goings so I can be more prepared for the second time around.
That being said, I am finally feeling the countdown happening. So, my mini excursions are more or less finalised:
a. This weekend: Amsterdam
b. August 1 – 3: London
c. August 3-6: Copenhagen
I was wanting to fit in a couple more places (Berlin, Budapest) and I technically could, but I realise it may be wise to stay put in Paris, for that is where my first love truly is.
Ugh. Sentimental.
Ok ok, back to work. Shit, it’s almost 10pm? Quat the f-ck.
xoxo Asher
3. Because your family and friends all miss you!!