Hello all

My husband and I are looking to emigrate to Calgary within the next year. My husband is a coded pipe welder and qualified welding inspector. He has an interview on Monday. The plan is hopefully that the interview will go well and he gets the the job. We have some family there so will have a support network. But as we are starting to make plans I'm having niggles :-/

We have 3 children aged 12,8 & 4 so this will obviously be a big thing for them. They are currently in welsh medium schools so I do worry that they will be behind especially the younger ones as they haven't learnt much if anything in English so would this be dentrimental to them?

Our house is probably in negative equity so I'm thinking renting until the market picks up is this a good idea?

I know that Canada has so many things to offer and I am really wanting to make the move but I also worry that my husbands trade won't be 'sought after' forever and his job wouldn't be safe. I don't really want to return to the uk once we have made the move.

Money wise he would be on a lot more than he is here in the uk but would the extra pay be taken up by the higher cost of living?

We are very fortunate that my husbands relative lives there and has been offering us invaluable advice but I wouldn't mind hearing other people's views as well.

I would be really grateful for any reassurance or advice re my 'niggles'. Is it perfectly normal to question everything?

Hi
I think it's perfectly reasonable to have niggles, after all it is a significant change to everything you have known.
We are in a very similar situation, having moved here with kids aged 12,8 and 3(a month before her 4th birthday). We questioned whether it was the right thing...admittedly me more than my husband. We had come here six years previously on a work permit but I couldn't work as my qualifications were not adequate. We had to return home as I missed my career and living on one wage was just going to be too tough.
My husband never gave up hope of the return...take 2... Ping pongers! I got the qualifications upgraded in the UK and we made the plans to return. We arrived 6 months ago this month..we are on Vancouver Island. My husband came three months before we did which was tough but necessary as my medical clearance was slow to come.
The children are enjoying life here. It is much slower and they do miss things about home. However, saying that, there are things they like about here. I wouldn't worry about the schooling. Our kids were in Scotland and they have stepped back about 18 months academically here. My son sees it as boredom repeating all that he has done whereas my 13 year old daughter loves the relaxed attitude to school! Her classmates are surprised she knows so much about subjects they are just starting now...she feels like the class swot!
We have also rented our house out, more as a fail safe for me in case I don't feel this is working out in a couple of years it's going ok as an agency is dealing with it but we have had minor niggles which are having to be addressed. The house is tied to a rental agreement for 18 months from Jan past which means we are not able to buy if we wanted. I do think that we will sell at that point as we are likely to stay! (my husband is using his best persuasion skills!)
We, like you, came with one wage which is much better than what my husband earned on the NHS at home. I didn't get a job immediately as I wanted to settle the children. This was boredom personified for me for those four months...that and the endless rain of autumn! Thankfully I have now got a job in my profession..casual at present but this suits me and it gets me in the door! It's lovely to be working again as I have always been working. This makes life much better and hopefully I will settle down to life here a bit better than I did in those first few months
So having been there and now in the first wee while here, we can understand your concerns. Anyone who has done it would have had some doubts.
You can PM me once you have posted three posts. I can try and answer any questions!
Elaine

Hi Elaine

Many thanks for your reply. I'm feeling more reassured already :-) Hopefully after Monday we will have an idea of what happens next. I think the renting route is probably for the best 'just in case'. My husband and I are in our early thirties now and I think if we don't do it now we never will.
Thank you again
Bethan

My missus had about 5 months of niggles so far lol,it is understandable as it is not as if you are moving along the road,or to the next town or village.

I have 3 girls myself one turned 8 in Jan,one turns 7 in June,and the youngest will 5 in less than 2 weeks,luckily that means they will all be able to attend the same school.

My missus keeps going on about moving over together,while I would love this,I think it would be reckless and would prefer to go over at least a couple of months ahead to arrange everything.
Don't get me wrong when I booked my flight I started to get the old teary eyes as it sunk it that I will be away from them for more than 1 night for the first time.
I even have 2 of my cousins looking into moving to Alberta which would be very nice,and helpful.
Good luck on your adventure,the kids will love it.

Any major change in life as you know it is sure to give you the 'niggles'. That's normal...dont worry about it.
As for the kids...they have way more adaptive capabilities than we adults do, so dont be surprised if they are right at home from the 'get go'.