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-   -   What a 72 hours! (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/what-72-hours-634144/)

Paul5455 Oct 5th 2009 11:21 am

What a 72 hours!
 
Firstly, a bit about me:

im 24, and originally from Berkshire UK. i applied to move to Calgary in April 2008, and was accepted under the PNP for the Calgary Police.

i was due to leave Saturday October 3rd 2009. Flights booked premium from Gatwick to Calgary.

Thursday, said goodbye to the mrs of 5 years as she wasnt gonna come. very very hard.
had myself all set up now, and spent Friday looking forward to moving.
Friday night came.....stayed up until 5am on Saturday contemplating the move (flight was at 1230, so had to leave by about 8am.

4 am came and i marched in to my parents room (with whom i was staying) and told them that i wasnt moving to Canada. i decided that the uk was the better option. i was going to beg for my job back, pull the plug on thehouse move, and get back with the mrs.

WRONG!

i phoned the mrs at 8am and told her i was staying in the uk. now many of you would expect that she would be happy that her bf of 5 years was staying. WRONG AGAIN

she went mad at me on the phone for telling her for 18 months that i was leaving, and the turning round at the last minute ans saying i would stay. fair point though!

so i was again in limbo. much more soul searching, and then at 12 i booked a flight from Manchester to Calgary.

take 2 i hear you all saying

i had to dose myself up with sleeping tablets saturday night, so that i would actually go to sleep and not spend all night milling things over in my head.

woke up still raring to go, so off weset for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Manchester airport.
got myselfchecked in. although i was originally showing as being in economy class, so she wouldnt accept my 27kg of luggage. minor disagreement with me pointing out that i had paid £257 to go premium, and eventually she said it was fine. for info, i also took a ski boot bag, containing no ski boots, which had an extra 9 kg of luggage in! its free to take it too.

said goodbyes to my parents, and then in to departures. i swear everyone who works there is from Corrie. the accent is staggering!
boarded the flight and was off to Canada!

Premium is definately worth it for those with the means to do it. more leg room, seat back TV's (with a very cool added feature of cameras on the planes nose and underbody, so you could get some great views)
9 hours later, touched down in Calgary.

straight through passport control where i was welcomed to canada by a very cute immigration lady. i was then directed to the immigration room, where a young lad moaned that there were too many british coppers moving to Canada!

he stamped my forms and i was told to get my bags and then go to customs.

bags were offpretty much straight away, another perk of premium priority bagging! then off to customs where the bloke nearly fell off his seat after seeing how little i had to bring in! (my suitcase, and just 3 boxes at home containing photos, books and clothes!)

he didnt even search my case and then i was allowed off in to the big bad world!

been here a ful lday now, and i got my SIN today from downtown. pretty harmless, but there was a 2 1/2 wait to get it. tried to do my drivers licence swap and health card registration today too but couldnt find the place (any pointers welcome!). now it becomes a job for tomorrow


so there you are, my experience. all i would say is for those of you having doubts, take the plunge. its natural to have seconds thoughts, but if you dont do it, then you will regret it for the rest of your life!

nikki dreaming Oct 5th 2009 11:37 am

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
what a roller coaster:eek::eek:

Good luck and congrats on the strength to see through your doubts, hope everything works out for you:thumbsup:

Oink Oct 5th 2009 11:48 am

Re: What a 72 hours!
 

Originally Posted by Paul5455 (Post 7992077)
Firstly, a bit about me:

im 24, and originally from Berkshire UK. i applied to move to Calgary in April 2008, and was accepted under the PNP for the Calgary Police.

i was due to leave Saturday October 3rd 2009. Flights booked premium from Gatwick to Calgary.

Thursday, said goodbye to the mrs of 5 years as she wasnt gonna come. very very hard.
had myself all set up now, and spent Friday looking forward to moving.
Friday night came.....stayed up until 5am on Saturday contemplating the move (flight was at 1230, so had to leave by about 8am.

4 am came and i marched in to my parents room (with whom i was staying) and told them that i wasnt moving to Canada. i decided that the uk was the better option. i was going to beg for my job back, pull the plug on thehouse move, and get back with the mrs.

WRONG!

i phoned the mrs at 8am and told her i was staying in the uk. now many of you would expect that she would be happy that her bf of 5 years was staying. WRONG AGAIN

she went mad at me on the phone for telling her for 18 months that i was leaving, and the turning round at the last minute ans saying i would stay.
fair point though!

so i was again in limbo. much more soul searching, and then at 12 i booked a flight from Manchester to Calgary.

take 2 i hear you all saying

i had to dose myself up with sleeping tablets saturday night, so that i would actually go to sleep and not spend all night milling things over in my head.

woke up still raring to go, so off weset for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Manchester airport.
got myselfchecked in. although i was originally showing as being in economy class, so she wouldnt accept my 27kg of luggage. minor disagreement with me pointing out that i had paid £257 to go premium, and eventually she said it was fine. for info, i also took a ski boot bag, containing no ski boots, which had an extra 9 kg of luggage in! its free to take it too.

said goodbyes to my parents, and then in to departures. i swear everyone who works there is from Corrie. the accent is staggering!
boarded the flight and was off to Canada!

Premium is definately worth it for those with the means to do it. more leg room, seat back TV's (with a very cool added feature of cameras on the planes nose and underbody, so you could get some great views)
9 hours later, touched down in Calgary.

straight through passport control where i was welcomed to canada by a very cute immigration lady. i was then directed to the immigration room, where a young lad moaned that there were too many british coppers moving to Canada!

he stamped my forms and i was told to get my bags and then go to customs.

bags were offpretty much straight away, another perk of premium priority bagging! then off to customs where the bloke nearly fell off his seat after seeing how little i had to bring in! (my suitcase, and just 3 boxes at home containing photos, books and clothes!)

he didnt even search my case and then i was allowed off in to the big bad world!

been here a ful lday now, and i got my SIN today from downtown. pretty harmless, but there was a 2 1/2 wait to get it. tried to do my drivers licence swap and health card registration today too but couldnt find the place (any pointers welcome!). now it becomes a job for tomorrow


so there you are, my experience. all i would say is for those of you having doubts, take the plunge. its natural to have seconds thoughts, but if you dont do it, then you will regret it for the rest of your life!

At least a bloke didn't answer. :)


I think you need a beer mate.

Paul5455 Oct 5th 2009 11:49 am

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
more than 1!
anyone near Macleod willing?!

redarmy990 Oct 5th 2009 12:12 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
hi paul youve made the right move i found on a website this number 310-0000 it says phone toll free to find out locations around calgary hope this helps:thumbup:

ann m Oct 5th 2009 12:26 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 

Originally Posted by Paul5455 (Post 7992077)
all i would say is for those of you having doubts, take the plunge. its natural to have seconds thoughts, but if you dont do it, then you will regret it for the rest of your life!

Having the wobbles is absolutely normal - nothing like leaving it till the last minute. :eek: :p

Good luck with the next chapter .... oh, and welcome! :thumbup:

Paul5455 Oct 5th 2009 12:27 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
:)

my wobble was spectacular though! and cost me an extra £250 quid!

keith-uk Oct 5th 2009 12:41 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
paul.. im sure u will be very happy.. best of luck..


keep up updated how things are going with you and your experiances or any problems u endevor

dboy Oct 5th 2009 1:29 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
gosh! Never mind you, I think I need a beer after that!

Just illustrates that there is a lot of personal investment in leaving your life behind. Hope all goes well from here on in. No doubt there will be some ups and downs along the way - high and lows and all that.

Welcome to Canada

Oink Oct 5th 2009 1:33 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 

Originally Posted by dboy (Post 7992310)
gosh! Never mind you, I think I need a beer after that!

Just illustrates that there is a lot of personal investment in leaving your life behind. Hope all goes well from here on in. No doubt there will be some ups and downs along the way - high and lows and all that.

Welcome to Canada

:rofl:

Me too.

The4BellsLondon Oct 5th 2009 2:38 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
swell you made it!! well done :)

Robin (The Gadget family) Oct 5th 2009 5:49 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
Well done for following through even if with a blip in the middle......you would always have wondered about what would have happened to your life if you did the move and now you will experience it so well done! :thumbsup:

Yoong Oct 5th 2009 6:53 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
Good to see you take the plunge and give yourself a new start.
Welcome to Canada :thumbsup:
Yoong

Biiba Oct 5th 2009 8:14 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 

Originally Posted by Paul5455 (Post 7992077)
Firstly, a bit about me:

im 24, and originally from Berkshire UK. i applied to move to Calgary in April 2008, and was accepted under the PNP for the Calgary Police.

i was due to leave Saturday October 3rd 2009. Flights booked premium from Gatwick to Calgary.

Thursday, said goodbye to the mrs of 5 years as she wasnt gonna come. very very hard.
had myself all set up now, and spent Friday looking forward to moving.
Friday night came.....stayed up until 5am on Saturday contemplating the move (flight was at 1230, so had to leave by about 8am.

4 am came and i marched in to my parents room (with whom i was staying) and told them that i wasnt moving to Canada. i decided that the uk was the better option. i was going to beg for my job back, pull the plug on thehouse move, and get back with the mrs.

WRONG!

i phoned the mrs at 8am and told her i was staying in the uk. now many of you would expect that she would be happy that her bf of 5 years was staying. WRONG AGAIN

she went mad at me on the phone for telling her for 18 months that i was leaving, and the turning round at the last minute ans saying i would stay. fair point though!

so i was again in limbo. much more soul searching, and then at 12 i booked a flight from Manchester to Calgary.

take 2 i hear you all saying

i had to dose myself up with sleeping tablets saturday night, so that i would actually go to sleep and not spend all night milling things over in my head.

woke up still raring to go, so off weset for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Manchester airport.
got myselfchecked in. although i was originally showing as being in economy class, so she wouldnt accept my 27kg of luggage. minor disagreement with me pointing out that i had paid £257 to go premium, and eventually she said it was fine. for info, i also took a ski boot bag, containing no ski boots, which had an extra 9 kg of luggage in! its free to take it too.

said goodbyes to my parents, and then in to departures. i swear everyone who works there is from Corrie. the accent is staggering!
boarded the flight and was off to Canada!

Premium is definately worth it for those with the means to do it. more leg room, seat back TV's (with a very cool added feature of cameras on the planes nose and underbody, so you could get some great views)
9 hours later, touched down in Calgary.

straight through passport control where i was welcomed to canada by a very cute immigration lady. i was then directed to the immigration room, where a young lad moaned that there were too many british coppers moving to Canada!

he stamped my forms and i was told to get my bags and then go to customs.

bags were offpretty much straight away, another perk of premium priority bagging! then off to customs where the bloke nearly fell off his seat after seeing how little i had to bring in! (my suitcase, and just 3 boxes at home containing photos, books and clothes!)

he didnt even search my case and then i was allowed off in to the big bad world!

been here a ful lday now, and i got my SIN today from downtown. pretty harmless, but there was a 2 1/2 wait to get it. tried to do my drivers licence swap and health card registration today too but couldnt find the place (any pointers welcome!). now it becomes a job for tomorrow


so there you are, my experience. all i would say is for those of you having doubts, take the plunge. its natural to have seconds thoughts, but if you dont do it, then you will regret it for the rest of your life!

Wow, what a journey! Congratuations on finally making it :eek: and all the best for your future Paul :) You definitely need a drink or 2 after that :beer::beer:

Falcore Oct 5th 2009 8:56 pm

Re: What a 72 hours!
 
Congratulations on finally getting there :thumbsup:


Originally Posted by Paul5455 (Post 7992077)
i swear everyone who works there is from Corrie. the accent is staggering!
!

That would be because you are a Southerner in a Northern Airport, the clue is in the name of the airport and may I congratulate you on finding some locals that actually work there.

Anyway that aside best of luck in Canada :D


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