Well I can't believe we've been here 5 months already! Where does the time go, I haven't been on the site for a while as life has been a bit hectic!

We bought and moved into our new home end of September, the kids started school at the beginning of Sept and are absolutely loving it! The Canadians are so friendly we have had a visit from the neighbourhood welcome wagon, invites from the neighbours, offers of help etc.

My OH decided to put up the Christmas lights yesterday at the advice of the neighbours incase the snow comes, he started on his own and within 20 mins a few of the neighbours were out helping and offering all their lights if we didn't have enough of our own! There is an old basketball net in our drive that we were going to replace at some point but the boys have been using it anyway! Last week went out for the day came back and it had been put to the proper height and had a new NBA net again courtesy of one of the neighbours!

My OH and I spent last night at a Euchre party with 29 other couples and although we hadn't a clue (it showed when we won the booby prize lol!) everyone was so welcoming and we had a great night! We have been learning to ice skate (I have the bruises to prove it)!

I'm not saying its all plain sailing we do have moments when we miss our family and friends from home but we are embracing what Canada and Canadians have to offer and so far so good!

Best of luck to anyone going through the process!

Michelle x

Michelle I cant believe you have been here 5 months already!!.

Good to hear you are settleing in. I feel very settled at long last.

Glad you are settling in really well and embracing your new lives.

New immigrants just have to 'go for it' - I think it's key to a successful move because it's the best way to meet lots of new people and potential good friends. Network, network, network and enjoy your new community

Well done Michelle what a great attitude, seems so long ago when you had the world on your shoulders eh xx
Sounds like a great community there really pleased for you,
Can we see the pics when its lighting up time

HI Michelle,

What an encouraging post!

How far is Waterloo to Toronto? Could you commute to downtown at all?

I really want to live in a community like you described, but have access to/work in downtown Toronto...is this wishful thinking?

Hope you had a fab Xmas

FS x

Realistically its a couple of hours each way, but there are niceish places nearer TO, its just a question of budget. To be honest I suspect much of Canada is like that anyway.

Hi Flying Scottie!

As Iain said you are probably talking about a 2 hour commute to Toronto each way!

I can honestly say we've met people from different locations and we have been welcomed by all of them. The folks that my hubby bought our car from have become great friends and we now socialize regularly with them!! Now that wouldn't have happened back home! It really is a case of networking as much as you can, I volunteer at my sons school one day a week, my kids play rep soccer so you get to meet the other parents and I've met a couple of folks at the gym!

It is really worthwhile having a look on the expats website at the locations of folks, I have made a great friend with another expat from the site and we hooked up before our moves. Our husbands work for the same company and we moved out within a week of each other! We now go to the gym together, go to each others places for dinner and we spent the New Year together which was great just to have someone from home! You want to have Canadian friends too but having someone close who has gone through the same as you is fantastic!

7 months in and the kids are still doing fantastic and enjoying the Canadian winter, we were skiing and boarding this morning, sat at a roaring fire this afternoon and then went to a neighbours for dinner. Off ice skating tomorrow (I am hopeless but at least the kids are doing well!)!

The key to settling is getting out there are meeting people and building a social network as I can honestly say that its only people that we miss - still no regrets!

All the best with your relocation


Michelle x

Hi thanks a lot! Pics attached, the before and after!! Need to take them all down!! lol!

Michelle x

That is great that you have all settled in nicely, I hope it continues

Your home is beautiful and the lights look lovely as well

Thanks!! Where are you located in Fife?? We moved over from Livingston although I am originally from Peebles in the borders.

Michelle

We are in a town called Cardenden (I have been here for nearly seven years). I am originally from a town called Heanor in Derbyshire.