I’ve been living in Canada for most of the years that I can remember. For most of my life, Prince Edward Island has been home. I don’t have close friends from the time before I moved here. But I’ve always been the American in the room. PEI, in my experience, has been a really closed place. There’s a huge culture of shunning the people who had “come from away”. It’s still grown on me, and I even will admit that I like being here on occasion. The fact is that I like Canada. It’s an easy place to live.

After starting the process nearly a decade ago, I become a citizen of Canada today. I’ve had to write a test, have medical exams, many interviews, a ton of paperwork…and it all came down to this day. Take an oath and you’re done.

The hilarity that I’m leaving almost the second they declare that I’m a citizen is not lost on me, I promise. A misfortune of timing. I can come back whenever I want now though, because this is my country. Soon, I’ll even have a shiny new passport that shows that, hopefully with a photo that makes me look less like a serial killer.

I will never enjoy watching hockey. I will never find poutine anything but disgusting. I will never say that the last letter of the alphabet is ‘zed’. I will never spread the rumors that everyone lives in igloos and rides polar bears to work, even though that would be neat.

I will bring the friendliness and the peace of mind that this country gives you with me, no matter where I go.

Because I am Canadian. Or at least trying to be.