Well I have been living in Boundary area of BC, Canada now for over a year with my Canadian wife.

And it seems I have hit abit of wall.....

Here in the interioir is very very beautiful place however it so very very quite.

As an insurance broker in the UK I have found it impossible to find a sensible paying job here unless I want to work in a mill or factory.

I find I am stuck in a small town where I cant escape my in-laws(Who whilst not bad people dont see eye to eye with me)

The weather in the summer is excellent and I must say tubing down the kettle river in the summer is one of the best canadian pastimes I have found yet....but as for winter, well anything past -10 starts to get to me and makes life very unpleasant to a non skier like me.

Most of the large Canadian companies dont know the meaning of customer service and are accountable to no one, this I found out to great expense whilst dealing with several of them.

So I find myself in a quandry, should I stay or should I go....

Any thoughts please???

Hey there... Sorry to hear life over there isn't living up to expectations but surely your options list isn't limited to 'should I stay or go'. Is your OH employed? If so, would they be averse to perhaps living somewhere else in Canada? Even a move to a larger town or city in BC might mean you can find a job in your field that will pay the bills, and life is a lot more fulfilling when you don't hate your job.

Living in a more urban setting should mean that when it hits -10, there's actually something else to do other than ski which I assume isn't the case where you are

Totally agree with you Windward. Make changes step by step, and I guess the first one needs to be on the employment front. Apply further afield. Ease of settlement is helped so much if you have a decently paid job and one that is right for you. Is it essential you live so close to the in-laws. ??

I would tottally agree, try another part of Canada somewhere more built up where you have more chance of employment in your field. and away from the In Laws, its a bloody hard struggle when you first come and takes a couple of years to feel settled, ive been here three years now and still have my moments. it does get better with time though. But i definatly think the isolation is a big factor. if you have no freinds to share your woes with its harder and you rely more on ppl back home which makes you want to go home even more.

Ultimatly its your choice but i think you should stick it out, move around, Canada is such a beariful country and so vast, id hate to see you give it all up for one small town in BC. as for -10 your lucky here in Ontario it dips to the mid -20's LOL

The Boundary area is so hicksville.... I don't care for it either. Try somewhere else in Canada, even in BC.

If you want mild winter weather, try Vancouver Is, the lower mainland or the southern Okanagan Valley.

I haven't much to add .... except (and sorry if it seems obvious) have you really talked through how you are feeling with your wife? Does she understand and sympathise?

I would agree that the first move would be to see if another part of BC or Canada would be the way to go. See where you might find an opening for your line of employment somewhere with a larger range of possibilities, and perhaps put a little distance between yourselves and the outlaws!

Are you not at all interested in any of the snow games? I took beginners lessons at the COP when we got here last year. It's kinda fun but I'm still terrified and my kids think I am stupid! How about cross-country? You certainly stay warm that way, and it's not (quite) so scary!!

Thanks Guys,

I am starting to look at Vancouver and see what possibilites their are there.

I have spoken to my wife about it and she will support whatever decision I make in the end, although its hard for her as she has lived here most of her life.

Although I feel like it sometimes I wont give up just yet, overall I do like Canada, alot.

Any thoughts on what Kelowna is like?

Kelowna seems lovely from what I have seen (though I have only spent a couple of nights there while passing through). Rich_007 is probably the man to ask; from his postings I'd say he loves the place

Where is the "Boundary area of BC"? Do you mean north, south or east (Yukon, US or Alberta)?

Ian.

My heart goes out to you both. Although I have enjoyed camping in Grand Forks and Rock Creek areas, I can see how you might feel isolated, especially in the winter months.

Kelowna is my hometown (hubby is from the UK)... so if you'd like any further information on the Okanagan Valley, you're more than welcome to drop me a line. We have a website dedicated to the valley that might interest you as well.

Cheers

Oggy

The "Boundary area" of BC refers to the Midway - Greenwood - Grand Forks area near the US border - more or less.

Try skiing or snowmobliing or hockey - then the winters will fly by!! I think all i am trying to say is embrace what is on offer and then you might find that live changes

Cheers for the positive thoughts, Marcingy!


Oggy

Well, I would suggest you go all out and try to find a job in the Boundary area and then try somewhere else in BC or Canada and again really make an effort to secure employment. That way if you do decide to return to the UK you can at least say you tried. You may also need to think about changing career paths, being flexible, etc.

Get unstuck!

To me you don't sound homesick but you do sound very, very bored. I understand what you're saying about tubing down the river. It's a fantastic way to spend a summer's day but there are many other rivers to tube.

Hi Oggy,

Would be very interested to check out your website...whats the url? and where in the UK is your hubby from?

I guess to be honest boredom is a big part of why I feel the way I do.....this is a really great area to come and relax or even to retire in, but I am just not at that point in my life yet.

I am planing to give this winter a good go and see how it goes and then re-assess the situation in the spring. I am certainly not ready to go back to rat race of the UK just yet.

As for me taking up hockey, skiing etc....well you never know stranger things have happened.

Any other non sporting tips to make winter more interesting?