Although it seems like only 5 weeks, we have now been in Ireland for over 5 months. It feels now as if the novelty of a new city has worn off completely, and I am hit more frequently with longing for Vancouver. It’s probably high summer there right now, where the living is easy. I could be riding my bike to work in 25 minutes, strolling casually through Yaletown at lunch and playing hockey on the weekends. I’d also be bored out of my mind,  and have to settle for a week-long holiday in the Okanagan or the Island instead of 3 weeks in the south of France. ( Did I mention that I get 38 days of paid leave in this country? I was pretty much ordered by my boss to take a 3-week holiday in August). I would also have to endure the constant chatter about real estate prices.

The newness of the place has worn off, but I have yet to meet enough new people and form enough close relationships to replace the ones I had in Vancouver. I know I can’t expect it to happen all within 6 months, but it does make life a little more difficult.

However, the more I hear about the office in Vancouver, the happier I am with my decision to move. At 150 people and counting, the sales department there is just too big. I could not keep track of all the new people, the new permutations of the sales role and the constant reshuffling of the chairs.

I am now used to the traffic and the poor customer service, although the poor customer service in the retail sector allows you to stroll unfettered in a shop without ever being asked “can I help you?” You can feel free to wander around forever, safe in the knowledge that no one is going to ask you to buy anything.