Kristen Smirnov

The Great Unknown

Even though I thought the program itself was a great match, it was still a very hard decision to choose Edmonton. I know exactly why that is: I had seen everywhere else with my own eyes. A comedy of errors involving a winter storm and a cascade of flight delays meant that I never did manage to make it up there during the decision process. I was turning down places that I knew, that I could picture myself in very easily, in favor of a strange place in a different country. And as appealing as it looks in photographs, they just don’t do the job of walking the streets and seeing who’s walking them with you.

Good thing, then, that I’m headed up there next week for a visit! I have a house all lined up, paperwork in order for travel and loans, and all those other points that could cause massive stress if I had let them sit until the last minute.

Actually, considering my normal behavior, I’m amazed I didn’t. Perhaps I’m maturing!

Or perhaps I have a lot of free time to kill this summer and, for once, put it to good use.

Either way: go me.