Dear Victoria,
When I arrived, we were complete strangers. I carried in my bag a mixture of feelings—nervousness, anxiety, and satisfaction. I could feel that you, on the other hand, were quiet and patient.
At first, we didn’t like each other because we did not speak the same language and you had a different climate from what I was used to. The communication simply did not happen. It seemed that this friendship would not last.
However, time passed and we began to understand ourselves, and I got to know and to appreciate your flowery and welcoming personality. I have discovered that you love history and you carry it with memories of royalty, travellers, and discoverers. I realized that you are as international as I am. Who would have thought we had something in common? That’s when I realized that we had the potential to be great friends.
Then you started introducing me to other friends. They were Canadian, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian, and so many different nationalities. You seemed to take me on a world tour every day. These friends have become my family. Also, you have demonstrated wonderful networking skills and introduced me to your job market, where I met incredible colleagues whom I came to admire.
I cannot even count all the incredible moments we spent together. But there have also been difficult times. How many times have I looked at your sky wondering if I made the right choice to come to Canada? I do not know, but you always found a way to calm me, be it with your beautiful flowers, with your delicate people, or simply with your cozy personality.
It seems we came a long way. It doesn’t feel like it’s been two years. We are no longer complete strangers; we became best friends. You showed me that in every street or building you carry stories of people around the world, and that I could also be part of your story, just as now you are part of mine. Now that’s a beautiful friendship.
Thank you, Victoria, for every adventure we spent together. But don’t get me wrong; I’m not packing my bags yet. This is not goodbye; it is just the beginning.
And, as this is my last column, thanks to everyone who has read and followed Unpacking the Bags during my time at Nexus.