2nd Year in Canada.... HELP

leem_3

Excuse my dramatic title, my daughter has just informed me that she intends to to the second year of her degree in Canada (and has already been accepted) So have any other parents been in this situation, and how was it?
At the moment she is in only about two hours away, and we get to see her about every 6-8 weeks. Obviously she is looking forward to this and I am so proud of her but feel a little low about it at the moment (purely from a selfish point of view) Any tips, advice to help me get through this...:o

tanith

If she is looking forward to it then being proud and letting her go with a big smile is the best thing you can do.. don't make her feel guilty about it after all a year is not long in the scheme of things and I am sure she will keep you up to date via e-mail , phone etc.. if she made the arrangements without consulting you , maybe she expected you to be disappointed/upset, so make sure you put on a big brave face and send her off feeling excited and confident not feeling like she has deprived you of something.... YOU CAN DO IT!!! even if you shed a little tear in the bathroom....;)

leem_3

Thanks tanith, your totally right, I have told her how proud of her I am and that she should go for it, but at the moment it hurts!! and I have shed more that a little tear, lol, but have told her over the phone and via texts etc, that its all gonna be great, just hope she does not read this!!

Voyager2002

Tell her that you are proud of her, and give her every encouragement. And find out about internet telephony so that she can call you cheaply (although calls to Canada cost less than local calls within the UK).

tanith

Just look at this way its her just one step out into the big wide world and if she can go with your blessing then she will come back happy......

I felt like my arm had been cut off when my son went on his first of now frequent trips abroad to work but I kept it to myself and made sure I was upbeat and cheery when he phoned me with news... I don't suppose he even noticed but It was like I stopped breathing for a while I was so scared for him out there in the big bad world ... This was several years ago and now he doesn't even bother to tell me when he is off and I only knew he was yet again travelling the world when I saw a message on his facebook :rotfl: they have to start somewhere cutting those apron strings...

flutterbyuk25

Just think that you will get a chance to go out there and visit her and see how amazing Canada is yourself. Flights are really cheap at the moment too - £200-£300 return and lots fly from local airports, not just London. Try Zoom and Canadian Affair.

My best friend moved there 2 years ago to live with her Canadian boyfriend, she loves it. She is in Toronto which is a huge, cosmopolitan, friendly city. I've been to visit twice already and I'm off there again in 3 weeks :j .

You will miss her, but you can ring/text/email/skype/instant messenger her all the time. She will have the most AMAZING experience of living and learning in another country.

x

Stubert

I'm going into my final year next year at Manchester but am hoping to spend the first semester of that at the University of Illinois in the States.

I only tend to go home about once a term as Oxford is 3 hours away on the train and quite expensive!

Just need to pass all my 3rd year exams and dissertation to a decent standard and await the acceptance letter from UIUC which should come! I'm a little apprehensive having never spent a huge amount of time in a foreign country but America I should be able to handle!

cazziebo

My daughter has been studying in Canada this past year. She's back next month :j

Great experience, very cosmopolitan, outdoorsy lifestyle, (bl**dy cold winter!). Academically not very stretching but I think the whole experience balances that out.

Flights out are cheap - I went out to see her at March break for less than £300 return and got the hotels on priceline (4* Sheraton Toronto for £35 per night per room)

Also I went onto Talk Talk's International package so could call Canada whenever with no thought to the cost. And emails are great too.

I did miss her a lot at first, and she came home for Christmas but now the year is nearly over it does seem to have passed quickly.

she'll love it, you'll get used to it, and you'll both have so much to talk about on the phone and when she comes back.

pinkshoes

Just make sure you install Skype on your computer, and both have a web cam, then you can chat face to face for free whenever you're both online at the same time.

Your daughter will have the time of her life!

leem_3

Thanks everyone
These replies have really helped me, (already looking for flights) and very best of luck to stubert. I think of how fast her first year has gone and as soon as she starts there will be christmas and so on...

casi_2

I agree with Pink shoes use skype! im currently doing a year abroad at the University of Kansas in the USA and this is the best way to keep in touch with home.

If you both install it (on her computer and yours) it is completely free to speak to each other and there is no time limit. :T

Even if you dont install it she can still ring you using it tothe house phone for about 2p a min (thats how much it is to my home phone in Newcastle so im assuming its the same)

xxx