The day starts early as my flight leaves at 8am to Deer Lake (NL, Canada). But due to the fact that I’m so excited I wake up before the alarm even goes off. Silently move out the Airbnb and took an Uber to the airport.
At Pearson Airport, I again move my way through customs and security without any challenges and have breakfast. I notice that I have a constant smile on my face as I’m seriously looking forward to see Fleur again after 7 months.
Fleur is my 16 year old daughter who decided that she wanted to experience a Highschool year in the US. Due to the fact that there were no more host families available in the US she applied to Canada and got excepted. 12 hours before she left, we got word that she would stay in Stephenville Newfounland. Newfoundland (along with Labrador) is the easternmost province in Canada, and affectionately known by many of its residents as “the rock” since it is an island situated well out in the North Atlantic. But this is no small island – in fact, at 108,860 km² it is one of the largest in the world. Over the last 7 months she stayed at a host family and went to Stephenville High School.
I’m extremely proud that she was able to pack up her stuff, get on a plain and leave everything she is familair with at home to go on this great adventure. Despite she sometimes struggles she did become very independent, learned a new culture (and language skills) and integrated in a different family that she had never met before. You can imagine that I was super excited to hold her in my arms again to tell her that I LOVE her and how proud I am to be here dad!
The flight from Toronto brought me to Deer Lake airport. The cutest Airport I’ve ever been. As soon as you land you take two doors (5 meters) and you’ll find yourself in the main entrance of the airport. The hall has car rental desks, the luggage belts and check-in desks all within 100 meters (or less). I went to pick up my ride (Ford Edge SUV) and started my last part of the journey which was a 120km ride from the airport to Stephenville.
Both me and Fleur were happy that nobody took a video of our reuniting moment as we both had the same level of emotion! But what a great feeling to hold her in my arms again! We chatted, cuddled and it immidiatley felt like it has always been!
