But this feels surreal.

I’m not the type of person to say stuff like “pinch me”. But I’m guessing this would be the time for stuff like that. I can’t wait until the rest of you make your way out here because even though I got in to Vancouver four days ago, it’s taken four days for me to realize one simple fact: Wow – this is the west coast and this is actually happening.

Now, let me make it clear that this is not the almighty UBC Vancouver moment that people talk about when you open your eyes, really open your eyes after blinking twice and it hits you that you are here. Unfortunately not, but when that happens I will be sure to let you all know. I predict that will happen much later in the year when we are all well and settled.

As for right now, this is the feeling of awe and amazement that I have chosen the right place that I want to spend four significant years of my life. This is the place to be. This IS freaking UBC! (Of course I had to make that last sentence rhyme.) And after a five hour flight this Thunderbird has arrived.

Because we’re all thinking the same fears as move-in day comes. Is it going to be everything I’ve been hoping for? Has everyone lied to me and it’s not as great as they say? Have I lied to everyone and it’s not as amazing as I’ve boasted? Has my memory failed me and those mountains are merely hills and the ocean is only a pond?

Well my friends, I am here to let you know. The view book did not lie.

The last time I came to VanCity was winter of 2007 and I’ll admit even in two and a half years I had forgotten quite a bit of British Columbia’s splendour. Because no tourism brochure can do this place justice as far as I’m concerned. Yup, I’m bias, but if you’re any prospective/new/current student/ alumni/Vancouverite reading this you’d be pretty bias too.

You know what’s my favourite thing to do right now? Youtube British Columbia tourism videos. If that doesn’t get you pumped up right now, then I have no idea what will.

The only problem with this whole place being so beautiful looking, mountain dew smelling, fresh air tasting, bird chirp sounding amazing. Is that it all feels a little too dreamlike. And I’m nervous that I really did have a round-trip ticket and my mother wasted time frowning, believing she had purchased a one-way for nothing. Ha-ha! Fooled ya Mom! I’m really going to U of T! But this vacation was nice…

I mean to say that those angel/devil Nicole figurines on my shoulder still linger with the feeling that in a few days I could just be going back home to Toronto and that I’m just “visiting”. Because that’s the big difference between living somewhere and visiting somewhere. I’m still visiting. Having been to Vancouver multiple times before I’m past the “tourist status” of going to Capilano Bridge and seeing the Aquarium. (Two fantastic spots which everyone should go see, if you haven’t already!) I’ve spent my first few days here hanging out with my family, eating lots of delicious food all day and playing cards in the evening. Basically, enjoying the rest of the summer. But I’m not an official habitant here quite yet. I’m in this odd limbo stage of pre-move-in.

To make matters more confusing, I’ve come down to Seattle to visit some more relatives. I feel so lucky that I have this support system here. Though the magic of Facebook I’ve become…acquainted (Is that the politically correct term?) with so many international students coming to UBC and although I’m making a move proportional to what some might call brave, I can’t really comprehend moving out here without any kind of connections. But then again, this is what we’re all here for. I’m here to meet new people and so are you. (Again, I’m just guessing…)

But back to the whole, this place is incredible theme. Before I left Ontario I booked a tour of UBC for Tuesday. Now, this tour was unlike every other university tour I’ve been on. Because before I had to imagine myself in the future if I would like it there. My Dad would always say “Can you picture yourself here, Nicks?” Well let me tell you my friends, I was no longer having difficulty imagining myself here. (Go figure that the largest student orientation day is called ‘Imagine UBC’). The whole time I was walking on campus all I could think of is “This is where I’m going to walk!” “That’s where I might sit and eat a bagel!” “There’s where I have my class on Wednesdays!” But most importantly I just kept hearing myself over and over in my head like a schizophrenic saying “This is it!”.

Okay I’m not a schizo, that’s just my conscious. But still. My days of packing my what-my-Mom-calls-bottomless closet is over and I have arrived! (More Ikea and BB&B trips still come though.)

I even got to walk up to the Flag Pole Point just like in all the promotional UBC videos! Thumbs up for cheap thrills? Now I just am extremely excited and pumped and I hope you all are too. You gotta be here.

Btw, I watched The Trotsky on the plane. Good movie I’d recommend to anyone who has taken a history course pertaining to the Russian Revolution, or just like films made in Canada that doesn’t try and pretend to be something it’s not. Plus mentioning Canadian cities is also a movie turn on for me too. Great music though and I plan on looking up the soundtrack immediately once I finish this post.

Which is right about… now.