Dropping my parents off at the airport doesn’t get any easier. It hurts my heart – how much I miss my family and friends in Canada. It puts me in a bit of a funk for a few days – my mind working through all sorts of scenerios and ways to make a move back to Vancouver work. But sure enough, along comes the everyday again and loving being a Canadian in Copenhagen.

I sort of take it a year at a time, but I think it’ll be a while yet. It’s a matter of extremes here – with things that I absolutely love (every day) and others that I sometimes can’t stand (some days) – which I suppose isn’t so unusual when where we come from will always be our benchmark. And a visit from home (just ask my expat friends – German, French or Russian) – sets off this whole series of questions about where to call home – every time. But smiling breath out – I’m happy here, and that is (for now) reason enough to stay. I think Jan’s always relieved when I reach that conclusion – that he won’t be dragged off to Canada just yet anyways.

I’m always super curious when someone uproots again and moves back, especially when the person has been living elsewhere for several years  – I wonder what it finally was that was strong enough to pull them away from all the things that drew them to a new city or country in the first place. My guess is that it’s family. Definitely family.