Adios! Addio! Adieu!
There’s some people out there that say “I don’t like goodbyes”… they’re right of course, goodbyes suck. (well, I’ve never met anyone that told me “I totally love goodbyes, man!” anyway) And today is my goodbye. Goodbye to Winnipeg, goodbye to Canada, goodbye to the Oblates, goodbye to my friends, goodbye to the stuff that makes this place worth it for me, you know?
Whichever way you turn it, however, goodbye is still a terrible word. There’s a better word for it in some languages. In Spanish people say adios, in Italian addio and in French adieu! It literally means “till God”. It kinda says “I don’t know when I will see you again, but we will see each other once more in God”. And this meeting in God is at the end of time, but also here and now, whenever we are in thought and prayer with our friends.
I remember landing here two months ago. My heart was pounding. There was the Winnipeg I loved so much . This time, not covered in snow (thank God for the change of seasons 
). To drive again through the streets on the way out to Camperville that day, was like seeing old friends again. And oh hey, there’s Polo Park shopping centre! And there’s Moxie’s, where we used to go for dinner. And there’s a “snow route” sign, which I found out about the hard way when my car was towed while parking there one day. Heh.
Last night was my “last supper” here with the Oblates. I said my goodbyes to the staunch guys from the Gertrude house, each and everyone characterful and wonderful priests and brothers in the true sense of the word. And this morning after Mass, the superior here, Fr François, led the other Oblates in a special blessing for me and the year ahead of me. It was, of course, a very moving moment. These people here have taught me so much about what it means to be a priest, something no one in Holland had yet been able to show me.
And now I got my things together. My bags are just like, one pound overweight each 
And being able to take 50 pounds in each bag, you can imagine how much junk I am going to carry back home. Clothes, DVDs, books, presents. Crap, way too much stuff. I should have left some room for some Canadian whiskey! Oh well…
Back home this website will undergo a few changes the coming month. I will try to definitely separate the Life at the Seminary part of the website from the personal blog, and I will also start with my course on the Chronicles of Narnia, for whoever wants to sign up. So, don’t forget to come back often and leave me some comments or e-mails Adieu! Addio! Adios!
One Response to “Adios! Addio! Adieu!”
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I agree, nobody loves goodbyes, but I’m sure you will keep the memories of Winnipeg in your heart – “Afscheid nemen bestaat niet” (M.Borsato).
Groetjes Geneviève
I really like your blog and the informations about life at the seminary.
Keep on blogging