There's a thread in the main forum asking reasons why people wanted to move to Canada. I started to reply and ended up writing this blurb that is probably more suited to the Canniversary forum. So here it is.

I've been trying to remember why we wanted to move here. I think I have it now.

We wanted to live in a better area and in the countryside. In the UK we couldn't really afford that unless we moved to a different area. Jobs would be a problem for me as I am profoundly deaf and had to restrict my practice as a radiographer because of this. This meant a reduced wage and the likelihood of not getting a job at all. Once we started to think about moving areas we then thought about moving to Canada. I knew the area quite well as over the past 15 years I had been coming over to Canada for holidays, staying with friends.

Flederman and I met 10 years ago and when we came on one holiday he liked it very much saying he would like to live here. Anyway we did our research and according to all the stuff on the internet and asking employment places in Ontario we determined that Flederman would earn enough so that I wouldn't have to work but could take up painting and maybe sell a few. People will pay good money for "art" around here. Flederman was even told by a few employers that there would be jobs for him when we came over.

In the end we decided it would be sensible if I retrained and so we came here on a student permit while we waited for PR to come through. I studied Health Information Management but also got a part time job as an x-ray tech. The set up at the place where I work meant that my hearing loss wasn't so much of a problem, plus, and this is a big plus, management were prepared to make changes in work practices and support me so that I could work. I also find that Canadians are more willing to help me when I can't hear what they say. There are some idiots though, you get them everywhere and I had to struggle to get the support I needed when I was studying. You can't lipread and make notes at the same time. Studying and hearing loss are a difficult combination. I worked hard at college and gained a GPA of 3.95 with Dean's letters for every semester.

Flederman got a job as a security man - minimum wage - to start with. The promised jobs never materialised. He then worked in maintenance at a hotel. After 3 years here and many many applications he was lucky to get a job in his field. He's enjoying it, but it's only guaranteed until March next year, plus the pay is very low. It's an opening though, an "in" which is hard to find. The high paying jobs are in union based and government jobs that are pretty much impossible to get into. He's been ill too with stress related conditions.

We bought a house in Peterborough soon after we arrived. That was a mistake and in retrospect we should have rented. I hated living in that house and dislike Peterborough. We didn't move here to live in the city anyway so it was doubly difficult. Once I had finished college and it was looking like my xray tech job was going to give enough hours then we decided to move house nearer to work. That was a good thing to do. We now have a 2 bed house in a village, slightly bigger than we had in the UK but with a huge garden, water access and a boat. We have a few friends made through contacts with the good friend we already had here. How many friends would we have had without her? Probably none.

Once I finished college I didn't need to go into HIM as I earn good money working on average 3 days a week in x-ray. It's still hard at times. Sometimes I work 4 or 5 evenings in a row and so don't see my man for that time. It's lonely especially as I can't hear well enough to use the phone, or to make friends easily by joining groups etc. Working evenings also means that I rarely see the other techs and find it hard to join in when I do

My hearing worsened rapidly after we moved here but I was able to get referred to Sunnybrook for a cochlear implant. I had that done 4 months ago and am now learning to hear again. This is going to change our lives for the better.

So after 40 months we are beginning to see the light. Flederman has always liked living here but is only just liking work. I like my job here but am now only able to say that I like living here. I still can't say whether or not it was the right thing to do, you never can really.

A metric anniversary...not sure dbd would approve

40 months? Why, that's nearly three bushels, give or take half a hundredweight and a furlong or two. Metric - wassat?

Wow......you seem to have packed a lot in the 40 months

Hope things just get better and better.....

Linda

A great big congratulations my dear.

I truly hope that it only gets better from here on.

Wow - you have been through a lot but it sounds like things are improving for you now. Your story is really inspiring.

My 15 year old son was recently involved in a bad accident and has suffered substantial hearing loss. So, I was worried about his future - being able to study, get a job etc. But it sounds like it really is possible. Thanks for cheering me up. And I hope your implant is a success and your hering returns to normal soon.

Great post Fledermaus, you have managed to overcome so much. Hope your implant is a success and things get even better for you from now on.