... and what can I say?

I wasn't sure about writing a retrospective on our Canadian adventures - but I hope that it gives people waiting some hope.

We landed in June 05, and I think the last time I posted was perhaps September that year. It's not because I forgot about the forum and all the help that was offered to me and paying it forward - but our feet haven't yet touched the ground.

We landed in Toronto in June 05, and lived with Rellies in Ajax. The cats were boarding in a cattery in TO, and the dog was with us. I already had a couple of interviews lined up in Oakville and Mississauga, so we quickly became Masters of the TTC, GO train and local Ajax transit.

Job wise, I applied for anything and everything. I joined agencies (no good in my opinion - even with nagging them), I networked my socks off, I bought newspaper after newspaper and bookmarked every job site I came across.

I wasn't going to try and find the job I had back in the UK, new to the country and all, so I kept my options open. I have no idea how many jobs I applied for, and I think I only had 6 or so interviews... I applied for Team Leads down to 1st line support. Where ever I got a job, we'd move to and then Scott would find work. I moved the search out of Toronto and just *9* weeks after landing I started with RIM (Research In Motion) (August 22nd). They gave me 2 weeks notice that I'd to start, and in 2 weeks we bought a car (as we didn't want to "waste" money on one before having employment) and found a place to rent within walking distance of work (one of my main criteria - NO MORE COMMUTE!). We couldn't move in immediately, so stayed in a motel and at a recreational trailer park (lol - yup! We was white trash!) until we could move in. We got our cats back, and 5 weeks after arriving in Waterloo, Scott found employment. 14 weeks for both of us to find work. Again, Scott (an ECE) didn't limit his job search, he also applied for driving positions, forklift positions etc. He's now a Pre-School teacher teaching 4-5 year olds.

... and it's been mini adventure after mini adventure since.

We've both improved our job situation (I was promoted, Scott moved on to a better job with a different company), we've made some fab new friends (not as scary as I thought it would be!), we've been camping, we were tubing and sledding in the Winter, we've been to DC, and to Watkins Glen twice, had visitors over, been to Provincial parks, Ottawa... it's been non-stop. This weekend we have a buck and doe in Hamilton, Spamalot in TO, and GHLS in Hamilton on Sunday.

K-W is not bad. I prefer the W side to the K side (it's not as nice, W's A lot nicer..), it's a University town and has a city in the country feel to it. The combined population in the tri-cities are is half a million I believe, but head North from Waterloo for 15 minutes and you're right in the middle of Mennonite country. Nothing like seeing a horse and buggy in the plaza across the road... After being here one year, we're still learning where places are, finding cool new shops and delis and pubs. I like the fact that TO is only an hour away (and the Greyhound bus drivers are speed demons!), and the border is 90-ish mins away.

For people who are frequent travellers over the Border, we're looking into getting Nexus - I'm *SO* fed-up of the exit-visa-waiver-visa crap we have to go through..

We don't miss much, some daftie things like M&S at Christmas, the department stores here don't seem to "do" Christmas in the same way... but there's nothing really we pine for. In actual fact, whenever we go to the States we can't WAIT to get back over the Border, some Americans strike me as much ruder than Canadians.

We still have moments where we pinch ourselves because we "forget" we're here, and then we realise and it's butterflies in the tummy time again "WE'RE IN CANADA DUDE!!!" ..

Next on the list, house buying... looks like it's going to be another learning curve - but all learning is good.

No plans to return to the UK anytime soon... not even for a visit.

... and we still keep in touch with Nic (Afro Caledonian) and John (Donoghue) and Annie.

Wendy

Hi

Nice story, looking forward to getting over there with my family, best of luck for the future.

Philip

Cheers Philip!

It's so worth it... it really is. The time spent waiting for paperwork is nothing once you're here and loving it. I can see why some don't, but we were ready to be bring ourselves into the melting pot that is Ontario... somethings we're still getting used to... the TV is crap, but then we counter that by never being in.. Some of the lingo we didn't get and we still have to ask - but a lot of our friends find our accents cool and they want to learn our slang too... :-P

If you're South West Ontario bound - lemme know..
Awra best!

Nice to know it does eventually happen and that all of this is worthwhile
Thanks for the post it cheered me up
Stuarty

Congratulations. Sounds like you have all the qualities fror successful immigration e.e.


1) The "Pioneer Spirit".
2) Flexibility in getting on the employment ladder and living arrangements
3) Accepting change and of differences such as Christmas festivities etc.

Keep up the good work

It's worth it mate... SO worth it.

Dumfries eh? Nice one... We're from outside Edinburgh originally.

Hope the good stuff happens soon!

Wendy

Hey Flashman! I remember you! hahahahaha... Familiar "faces" ...

If that's the one thing I can get across to people - BE OPEN!!!! BE FLEXIBLE!!!


It's so true. Out of the 3 of us (Nic, John and I) I think we were all settled with employment "quickly" once we decided to look for work, and we all moved to suit our employment. I don't want to speak for them both - but I don't think either of us has ANY regrets.

Whenever I catch El Husbandino even HINTING about a complaint - I just remind him "You wanna go back to the UK?!" ... hahahahahaha... but I know he doesn't mean to complain really, sometimes you just shake your head at the way something is done here, but smile and get on with it.

These crazy Canadians!
Gotta love 'em!

Wendy

Thank you for this. We're still a long way from getting to Canada at the moment, but we really can't wait for that butterflies in the tummy feeling!! Our lives at the moment seem trivial with the prospect of Canada on the horizon. We keep wishing we were leaving tomorrow! We are both having difficulty finding motivation for our jobs, home lives, almost everything - except Canada! It's really encouraging to hear from people who've made the move successfully and are enjoying every moment!

Congratulations on the move and jobs - we really really pleased for you both and wish you the best for the future! May you have more mini-adventures - and please share them with us!!

Best wishes
Jase & Heth

Thanks J&H (and adorable puppy - Mylo eh? good name choice! :-P) for the well wishes...
It was tough having to go into work everyday - but NOTHING beat that feeling of walking into work and handing in my notice. My (already slacking) work ethic went RIGHT OUT the window from then on.

Hope your time comes soon! Soon, the UK will be a grey and distant memory that's only discussed when people ask "So why move to Canada?" :P

Wendy

Congrats sounds like you are having as much fun as we are and the winter hasn't even begun....... bit of a ski bunny ......

What a great post!

Waterloo is where I was born, raised and educated. Waterloo's economy is booming yet housing prices there are still quite moderate. I also like the Mennonite culture north of the city and the milieu at the farmers' markets in St. Jacobs.

... *lol* Well, you're certainly in the area for skiiing! We have a slope in K-W where we went tubing, but I haven't found my ski legs yet - Hopefully this Winter!

Thanks! And I totally agree re: Waterloo... AND!!!! ... there's serious talk of the the GO train FINALLY coming to K-W, so we're hoping to buy a house before that happens!!!

Great post, i really like hearing others experiences, as i figure the more i know good and bad before i go, the better, Good luck for the future and happy house hunting

So scarily close to what we are going through at the moment it's..well....scary!

Landed almost 4 weeks ago and moved over to Guelph (just up the road from Wellington really). Stayed in hotel for 2 weeks and are now in rented accomodation on a 6 months lease (the fight we had to go through to get that - everyone wants a year).

Got the car sorted and all the other paperwork. Now just starting to apply for jobs - even applied for a few at RIM (small world). My wife has worked in so many admin posts that she doesn't want to jump into the first thing that comes along. I'll just settle for earning some money and look for a lecturing/training post as and when.

Good luck with the next few years Purple and may your luck continue. Maybe we'll bump into you when we are over in Wellington.

J