Return to Canada
by Jenn McGregor
As one might expect by now, COVID-19 has made my posting back to Canada a bit different than any of us could have previously envisioned. I experienced various different emotions about it, anger, frustration, and at some point total defeat as I felt like I had lost all control over being able to plan due to the simple fact my posting was in temporarily in limbo, and frankly nobody knew as we are literally building the car while we are driving it. In the end I got approval that my posting message is still valid and that I can proceeded to plan a move.
At this time we still had not received formal direction on relocation benefits and this came with some more frustration and to a certain degree a lot of concern about being able to find a place to live. It was around this time that I was amazed at how many friends back in Canada came forward to help a sister out! So many friends reached out to offer support should I need anything, and through a very close friends I was able to find and purchase a place to call home in the bustling metropolis of Petawawa.
Although my homecoming will look different and I won’t be greeted with hugs and a cold beverage with old friends or a handshake and a beer at the officer’s mess with new colleagues, I am finally optimistic and excited to move knowing that friends will deliver me the essentials, notably poutine and all dressed potato chips, during those initial 14 days back on home soil.
As one might expect by now, COVID-19 has made my posting back to Canada a bit different than any of us could have previously envisioned. I experienced various different emotions about it, anger, frustration, and at some point total defeat as I felt like I had lost all control over being able to plan due to the simple fact my posting was in temporarily in limbo, and frankly nobody knew as we are literally building the car while we are driving it. In the end I got approval that my posting message is still valid and that I can proceeded to plan a move.
At this time we still had not received formal direction on relocation benefits and this came with some more frustration and to a certain degree a lot of concern about being able to find a place to live. It was around this time that I was amazed at how many friends back in Canada came forward to help a sister out! So many friends reached out to offer support should I need anything, and through a very close friends I was able to find and purchase a place to call home in the bustling metropolis of Petawawa.
Although my homecoming will look different and I won’t be greeted with hugs and a cold beverage with old friends or a handshake and a beer at the officer’s mess with new colleagues, I am finally optimistic and excited to move knowing that friends will deliver me the essentials, notably poutine and all dressed potato chips, during those initial 14 days back on home soil.
