Let's Enjoy Japanese: Before you know it

Just wanted to quickly share a short phrase today and keep myself posting. As I get closer to leaving it's becoming more difficult to find time. But then I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to post when I get home and start looking for work...

One phrase that kind of osmosed for me recently is 「あっという間に」, which means something like "all too soon" or "before you know it." More literally, in the time it takes to say 「あっ」 (Ah!).

For example:

あっという間に三年間が過ぎました。
"Before I knew it three years had passed."