how long were you in Canada before you started work??


I ask this because i wanted to know what a reasonable amount of time, if you have arranged employment was to settle before you have to start work, i was thinking 2 - 3 weeks to get house sorted, kids schools banks etc, but hubbys firm want him to start a few days after weve flown out, leaving me and kids alone in new country to sort everything.
Am i being unreasonable??

I'm planing for 2 weeks - I haven't discussed it with my employer, but after he's advertised the job for 8 months & then gone through the lmo/wp process for 6 months I don't think a couple of weeks will hurt!

Scott

that was my thoughts exactly- he had a date to start 3 weeks after we get out there but when they found out we was there for 3 weeks before they were like cant u start this date instead??

The next day.

Same day that I arrived.

Not had a full day off since

Ideally a couple of weeks would have been nice to sort everything out.

5 days after we arrived and got everything we needed immediately set up in that time.

There is so much to do that I don't think you will get in done in 2/3 weeks. I believe that many people (unknowingly) let things take as long as they have to do them.

My only slight regret is that we came stright from a very intensive Masters degree straight here and started work, with the only break inbetween to cycle across England to say good-bye to the country and 5 days travelling from Leeds to London staying with friends and visiting relatives on the way.

I would have had a holiday as soon as got here, and then spent the 5 days sorting things out and starting work.

But hindsight is great - at the time we just wanted to get everything organised.

5 days for me, 6 weeks for the Mrs. Although she did spend most of her time finding us a place to live and then getting herself a job. So that's fair enough.

Over two years.

Still loafing

Seriously though, holidays aside (great idea by the way) and if you can possibly fit it in, and afford it - give yourselves at least 2 weeks, maybe even about 4, to get even vaguely straight. I guess it depends on just how much you need to sort out, ie, a home, banks, cars, schools, etc, and how much you have been able to pre-arrange prior to arriving.

I plan 3-4 weeks, it'll take that long to organise a home, schools, banks, cars, fnding the local shops, doctors, dentists, registering for SIN no etc, so much to do
Terese

We landed late on Thur. Car sorted friday, bank account on saturday, sunday bits and bobs for our rental, monday SIN cards, tuesday school for daughter, wednesday husband started work.
Another couple that came here after us had nearly 2 weeks off and did not get everything sorted before he started work. So it depends on what type of person you are! They took there time and chilled while sorting things out and didnt get very far. We wanted to get everything organised and back to normal as soon as possible. I did not start work straight away so that i could do all the sorting out but that didnt bother me but it sounds like you are not happy to do that so go with what makes you feel comfortable.

When Phil came out in Feb this year - he landed on the Sunday and took the first week to sort out a vehicle then started the second monday he was in th country.

Phil stayed with friends and we knew the area really well from tonnes of visits so he didnt have that pressure.

Think you can look at this thing two ways - have a break before you start work and get sorted then when OH goes to work feel lost and panicky OR send him to work and you sort it all out get your bearings.

Although I have come to a town that I know extremely well I have to say that it hasn't been as easy as I thought it would be. I have just had to get on with things whilst Phil worked and the kids have gone to school and I think that it makes you a stronger person doing it this way.

I now know where to go for what and things that Phil wasnt aware of - amazing seeing that he was here for a full 6 months before I came for good.

Think what I am really trying to say is that the longer you delay someone starting work the longer your first pay check will take and it is also delaying your own independence. Things in Canada are at a much slower pace than they are in the UK and you also have to get used to that too.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Gaynor