I've had another chat with my wife and she is still a bit unsure.

To be frank, I don't blame her as it was a bit of a bombshell to drop but on a subject like moving out of the country, I don't think there is any point on pussy footing around (then again I may just be one of those blokes who are just *too* logical ).

We have turned up some advice on the nursing front that suggests whilst her nursing qualification isn't recognised, is it doesn't count for nothing. We have to do more research on what it does count for and then we'll know how much extra study she would have to do.

The other problem is the friends and family issue. I imagine everyone goes through this one. I think she is a lot closer to her family than I am to mine, or more likely, I can do without contact with my family more than she can. The other point she raised is "would it be fair to take their granddaughter to another continent". Admittedly I'd never thought of that one and I guess it's one to discuss with those family members if we ever make a positive decision.

I totally understand these doubts, and I have no problem at all with them. It would be no good moving over there if she really didn't want to go. However, she has agreed to take a short trip (probably about 7 days) out there to take a look around. I was thinking about meeting up with the Canilink people for a day or so to be shown around housing to give us an idea, and taking a car for 4 or 5 day to explore.

Now the soonest we can do this is April as that is when my wife's new leave year starts. I have just checked out Wikipedia and it says that April is slap bang in the middle of the heavy snowfall season (the Calgary area that is). With this in mind, would people advise I put it off until late May or into June?

Cheers

Chris

Chris,

IMHO it matters not when you go to Calgary as the weather is reasonably unpredictable. (as demonstrated by 14 C temps on Christmas Day).

I would (as shocking as it seems) say yes meet with Ian and Jayne. BUT ask that they show you neighbourhoods in the NorthWest as well (alternatively meet with someone who lives up there if they are willing).

I would recommend taking a car for the WHOLE duration of your stay.

Stay close to downtown (if you want my opinion)

Make sure you visit the out lying areas (if you dont mind travelling to work)

Bear in mind that the Alberta Childrens Hospital (where Lydia will hopefully be working) is in the northwest quadrant.

You have my number feel free to give me a call with any questions.

HTH

Butch

Cheers Butch,

If they are willing, I was thinking of asking Canilink to show us housing in places like Cochrane and Bragg Creek.

Then I was going to probably do a day trip to the mountains and take in a town or two there. A day trip to Edmonton (I guess that would be a long day), and possibly just explore for the rest.

What exactly did you not like about Bragg Creek? Too isolated (or perhaps didn't want to get eaten by wild animals )?

Cheers

Chris

Chris,

I'm not sure but I dont think Ian and Jayne would be comfortable showing you Bragg Creek and Cochrane (they are on different real estate boards).

A day trip to Edmonton would be VERY long.

Bragg Creek definitely was too isolated for us.

If you doing the mountains you have to see Canmore!!
Sunshine and Lake Louise are really just ski resorts not much 'town' there.

If you want to look at Cochrane and Bragg Creek I would also recommend Chesteremere, Airdrie and Okotoks. (personally I dont like Okotoks or Airdrie but its personal taste).

Butch

This seems to come up a lot and, while I understand the pressures relatives can put on you, I guess I would say that you have to do what is best for the three of you in the end. It doesn't mean discount what parents and siblings have to say, but ultimately what seems fair to them may not be best for you and you have to act in your own best interests.

Something to keep in mind about April is that even if there isn't snow (and I'm not familiar with Calgary so don't know if there would be), there probably won't be any green grass or leaves out. Miles of brown scrabbly landscape devoid of plant life can leave a bit of a depressing impression. May or June might be a bit more cheerful.

It is a good idea to visit different areas and have a good look around. You both have to be sure this is what you want to do as you will probably spend a lot more time together than you are used to and will have to rely on each other a lot more at first - it is definately a relationship tester!!

I am a nurse in Toronto (from Leeds orginally) so may be able to answer some of the nursing questions you have. I don't know what the requirements are in Alberta but in Ontario you now have to have a degree to register with the college of nurses. Nursing over here is very different and if you are used to some degree of autonomy it will be a shock.

Moving children away from grandparents is a difficult one. Our children have a much better lifestyle and more opportunities over here, but they still miss their grandparents. They speak every week but it is not the same as the close relationships they had in England.

Visiting Canada will help you both to decide, it certainly isn't the Utopia lots of people who haven't come yet seem to think it will be. Every country has its problems, everyday living takes over and don't forget that you have less holidays to travel back to the UK or to see more of Canada. If you have lots of money or equity to bring over you will probably enjoy a good standard of living, but if you haven't got the cash it won't be any better than you have now in the UK.

Keep us posted on how things are going.

I would say come May/June time ... April is a bit mid-season. Saying that, it CAN snow at any time of the year, but normally does not stick too long in the "spring-dumps". My kids first impression last Easter was "everything's brown!!", but then we had a spot of snow, and when that melted things started to turn green.

In May the trips into the mountains start to open up, eg Athabasca Glacier, but some of the waterfalls may still be frozen, though accessible, and are very pretty like that.

Whenever you head over here, let us know and we will show you around. Have lived in all four quadrants, over the years and have been to all the places you mentioned. Take care.

Chris,

I am also willing to show you around the various areas. If you want to look in some houses then I cover the whole of south Alberta, and can get you into any house that is for sale. It is often best to look at areas and get a feel for them rather than the houses there. Cochrane/Airdrie and Okotoks are all great but very different towns, and each have a different 'feel and atmosphere'

Here's a question

How many times a week or a month do you see family members just because they are family?


I have a couple of Canadian friends that have 2 and 6 siblings

the 2 has 1 brother in Victoria BC the other in town but rarley sees them
But she once moved 5 miles from home hated it and then moved back 500 yards from home. Kids all go to same schools same community club do the same events, so it wasn't family persay it was neighbourhood...

The 6 they all live within 3 miles of mum and dad and see each other for family social events once a week and again each other at different sports \ dance \ sharing a ride etc several times a week if not every day.
They couldn't move from Winnipeg, and it baffles the hell out of them how others do.

So if you wife is seeing her family that often it could be difficult.

I saw my sisters 1-2 times a year in the uk and they lived less than half a mile away. so it was dead easy for me to carry that on not seeing them.

my father passed away just over a year ago and this made me more determind to get to canada ,life is to short just go for it .i dont want to be one of those people who say "i was going to do that but never did"when someone tells you they want to emigrate.
we have been to calgary twice and met up with ian & jane and were very helpful.may be your second trip could be in the winter .
dave
ps your wife is a nurse but what do you do

We don't see them that much. We were both living away from home at Bradford uni and ended up staying there.

Funny enough, Lydia's parents just visited and she said we were *thinking* of moving to Canada. They were actually very positive about it, saying you are only young once. That surprised me

Chris

I'm a software engineer working for a legal publishing firm. It would be a shame to quit the job as it's going really well and a big promotion is coming soon.

It's a shame you can't take your job with you when you emigrate

C

That's what thought but the following ay after I ahnded in my resignation the manager gave me a work schedule to get 26 weeks off 24 weeks on with the only stipulation I had to tak all my holiday off and had to work Christmas and year end. And as I t would be nights I'd get paid a 60% shift premium.

Wife said no