It is hard to believe that five years ago (yesterday) we landed at Fredericton airport with only our hand luggage (the rest of the luggage had gone somewhere else), and checked into a motel style cabin and thought "right, lets find work/car/house/set up the girls in school/college and build a new life".  I guess the proof is in the pudding (as they say).

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Work

We had visited Fredericton in 2003 and I made several potential work contacts then. I had studied for certificate they valued managed to pass and then re-connect with potential employers once the visa arrived. I secured a couple of telephone interviews and they requested I contacted them on arrival. I had two face to face interviews 4 days after landing, received a job offer within 48 hours, and started a new job on the 21st November!

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The job was well below my previous salary, and I demonstrated my worth within 3 months. I was promoted a couple of times and became the Practice Lead for the core competency of Project Management. A new opportunity was pointed out to me July 2009 and I applied for it (after being reminded). I wasn't really looking for a new job (probably why I was so relaxed and secured the offer). The project(s) was a real challenge but we were successful. I am now the Director of Project Management in a new shared services agency.  

This is probably the best job (most enjoyable) I have ever had.

In the UK Jules was Secretary / executive assistant (great organizer and completer finisher). Unfortunately in bi-lingual New Brunswick that level requires someone to be bi-lingual so she wasnt able to even apply for those jobs. She applied for Admin assistants but was turned down as over qualified. So she focused on several things. Looking after us, the house and garden.

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She then she turned to her passion for sewing and started creating purses (handbags to the Brits), scarves and evening gown type wraps. She has some success selling them at the Fredericotn Christmas Craft Fair (infact she is there today). That has developed to her real passion of dress making (again evening gown / prom dress style) and she has been perfecting her skills (which are pretty impressive). This coming year I think she will establish herself as a bespoke dressmaker.

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Car

This was easy, first we exchanged our UK driving licences for New Brunswick licences, then we visited the local garage's and settled on Ford. I leased a 4WD V6 Ford Escape (3 years) and we purchased a snazzy fully loaded Ford Focus for Jules (put big deposit and a small residual loan to be paid over 12 months). This helped build our credit rating.

Both Kathryn and Gemma passed their NB driving test and they now drive a Chrysler Neon (Kat) and a Hyundia Accent (Gemma). We are now a four car family. To be honest you need to drive here, nothing is really within walking distance. Unless you are downtown, stores that are next door to each other have huge open car parks between them. Canadians (which we are now ) park as close to the door of the store as they can. This is understandable in winter or blazing hot summer day.

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House

Once I had a job it was easy to get a mortgage offer and find a house. The real estate agent in Canada is on your side. They discuss and identify what you are looking for within your price range and then pull together a range of properties for you to view. They provide you with information and guidance while viewing, with all sorts of useful tips. After I received the job offer, I secured a mortgage offer from the bank and then we found our house and made an offer by the 15th Nov! The house was on the market for $239,000 (which was about £116,456 then), it was priced to sell fast, so on the guidance of our real estate agent we offered $235,000 and eventually settled at $237,500 (with more assets included). Once the offer is accepted no one can back out without penaltys. Everything is completed quickly... we moved in on December 17th (less than one month from start to end).

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Schools & College

It was relatively easy to get Gemma started at Fredericton High School, she was 15 when we landed. Kathryn was 18 and had left secondary school in the UK, sat and passed Double BTec Medical Technology course, plus a couple of AS level maths courses. She was set to go to university in the UK. I think she has had the hardest time of all to settle down. Long story but I think her recent statement is telling "I'm 23 pay a mortgage on my own mini home, own a car and half shares in a horse, where could I have done that in the UK?"... She has a point. Both daughters have said they are not going to return to the UK (never say never). They now have dual citizenship so they can work anywhere in Europe or Canada with easy access to USA... great opportunities await them.

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So in summary it has been a tough first 5 years and we are settled. There have been challenges along the way, some big some small; some emotional, some plain old tough decisions.  Many of them we would have faced regardless of where we lived. Those that came about because we emigrated have definitely added to our stress in the first 3-4 years, this year we seem more settled and the award of Citizenship seemed to close the opening chapter(s). The question is "was it worth it, and if you had the time again, would you do it again?". You would get varying levels of enthusiasm from different family members, but I think on the whole it would be "yes", and "yes" by all of us.

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From a selfish perspective I know my life is less stressful, and far better than it was in the UK. I believe the opportunities the Girls have are also enhanced being in Canada than the UK. Especially looking at the economic state the UK is in at the moment.

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