Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 8561179)

Sounds like a glorified Mystery Shopper to me.

Edit: Which is certainly not a bad thing, it's just that it doesn't sound too surprising that it's not the most viable of occupations.

Originally Posted by canadian_critic (Post 8561210)

Actually mystery shoppers are small part of a strategy I might employ. I'm not one myself but may use them if the need is there.

Although there's nothing at all glorified about what I do. I think it's a very interesting and stimulating field which requires you to be passionate about people and business. It's very badly paid in relative terms but I don't do it primarily for the money.

Originally Posted by pinkkristen (Post 8561095)

No, i wouldn't do it again, way too stressful with 3 little kiddies, though it has given me a new appreciation for the lovely part of the UK we came from.

After all this whether we can ever afford to buy another house back in our village is another worry!!

We have met some decent neighbours (all from Newfoundland originally) and they have been our saviours in helping us to get settled and i hope will remain friends for life.

Everyone is different, but we realise this place is not what makes us happy and are hoping we can get back to our lives in a year or so., (my husband would leave tommorow if he could!)

Everyone contemplating a move, think long and hard about what you like about British life (not just the naff weather,traffic etc). This has been the biggest eye opener for us, all the things that were everday life and totally took for granted made us realise what is more important to us.

Ie - culture, humour and banter, people with just a little more vava voom (i know what i mean by that!), beautiful countryside (and accessible), history,
going into a pub and seeing people having fun and laughter etc.

maybe its Oakville, there are more rich people (and worse rich kids) than i have seen before, it doesn't seem a real place half the time. The pretty part of Oakville is somewhere i don't ever have a need (or money to go to, so find myself being around houses and plaza's which are the same for miles and miles.

Probably doesn't help that i am a stay at home mum and childmind 2 more (5 in total) and feel very lonley and isolated. Nobody walks round here, so you never bump into people (or the same person twice to strike up a conversation with).

We have realised that we are social people and need to have like minded people around us.

As i said if it hadn't been for our fab neighbours i think we would be long gone, i have to give it to them they have been so welcoming.

Wow, i have really gone on! think thats the stay at home mum thing again!!

All in all, i know lots of expats that are really happy and some that are not, so you will never know till you have tried it

No regrets, i will never have to utter the words 'but what if' again!

Is it a better lifestyle for the kids - in some ways yes, in some ways no (again depends on the area you came from). As selfish as it may sound though, i cannot stay here just for them as i think it will cause bigger more difficult problems as they get older, plus where we came from was not a bad place at all!
The kids have citizenship (being half canadian), so they can make there own descions when they are able to.

Ok, sorry to have rambled on :o

Originally Posted by Lorry1 (Post 8561307)

Hi,

just wondering which village you came from in England?

Originally Posted by pinkkristen (Post 8561095)

No, i wouldn't do it again, way too stressful with 3 little kiddies, though it has given me a new appreciation for the lovely part of the UK we came from.

After all this whether we can ever afford to buy another house back in our village is another worry!!

We have met some decent neighbours (all from Newfoundland originally) and they have been our saviours in helping us to get settled and i hope will remain friends for life.

Everyone is different, but we realise this place is not what makes us happy and are hoping we can get back to our lives in a year or so., (my husband would leave tommorow if he could!)

Everyone contemplating a move, think long and hard about what you like about British life (not just the naff weather,traffic etc). This has been the biggest eye opener for us, all the things that were everday life and totally took for granted made us realise what is more important to us.

Ie - culture, humour and banter, people with just a little more vava voom (i know what i mean by that!), beautiful countryside (and accessible), history,
going into a pub and seeing people having fun and laughter etc.

maybe its Oakville, there are more rich people (and worse rich kids) than i have seen before, it doesn't seem a real place half the time. The pretty part of Oakville is somewhere i don't ever have a need (or money to go to, so find myself being around houses and plaza's which are the same for miles and miles.

Probably doesn't help that i am a stay at home mum and childmind 2 more (5 in total) and feel very lonley and isolated. Nobody walks round here, so you never bump into people (or the same person twice to strike up a conversation with).

We have realised that we are social people and need to have like minded people around us.

As i said if it hadn't been for our fab neighbours i think we would be long gone, i have to give it to them they have been so welcoming.

Wow, i have really gone on! think thats the stay at home mum thing again!!

All in all, i know lots of expats that are really happy and some that are not, so you will never know till you have tried it

No regrets, i will never have to utter the words 'but what if' again!

Is it a better lifestyle for the kids - in some ways yes, in some ways no (again depends on the area you came from). As selfish as it may sound though, i cannot stay here just for them as i think it will cause bigger more difficult problems as they get older, plus where we came from was not a bad place at all!
The kids have citizenship (being half canadian), so they can make there own descions when they are able to.

Ok, sorry to have rambled on :o

Originally Posted by canadian_critic (Post 8561126)

I save companies millions by helping them utilize channels like the web effectively, and better understand and engage with their customer base. I know it sounds woolly but my approach to each project is highly bespoke, and there's no single answer to the question. I usually work with one or more business champions and a creative team (e.g. web team). Sometimes more on strategy and sometimes more hands on.

Just as an example, I was commissioned by a telecoms company in BC to conduct some consumer research for a new product. I delivered a plan for their out-of-box experience based on this, so that a new customer would be able to self-install a device in their home. My research identified how bad their instructions were, gave guidance on the way of explaining things to their customers, but also gave positive confirmation to their options pricing model.

I'm really not sure what this is called. I'm technically referred to as a user experience specialist. It's not just about eliminating frustration in a product or service, but focuses also on the psychological and emotional side. For example, discovering what makes one design instil confidence compared with another.

Just wishing I'd become a plumber though as it would make the explanation a bit easier to understand, and people wouldn't feel the need to hold a PhD to understand what I'm saying.

Originally Posted by maggie-may (Post 8561406)

Hi,
We are planning to settle in Oakville as my husband has a job lined up in mississauga and we are landing in 2 weeks time, so hopefully will be looking at schools and houses! My son is 15years! We have been told Oakville is a nice place to live and the schools are good so am a bit dismayed at your negativety!
I am open minded but have concerns of settling in the right place - I just hope with another visit to check things out will help to banish my fears!

Originally Posted by pinkkristen (Post 8561456)

For us, we live in North Oakville which for us is just houses,houses and the same plaza's, restaurants etc.

...

I'm not all neg about Oakville, tbh it could be Burlington/Mississugua etc, to me they are all the same.

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8561544)

They are all the same and, to me, not very attractive. That is, they're all the same north of the QEW, if you look south of that divide then there are some pretty properties as well as pubs and restaurants independent of the big chains.

Originally Posted by maggie-may (Post 8561406)

Hi,
We are planning to settle in Oakville as my husband has a job lined up in mississauga and we are landing in 2 weeks time, so hopefully will be looking at schools and houses! My son is 15years! We have been told Oakville is a nice place to live and the schools are good so am a bit dismayed at your negativety!
I am open minded but have concerns of settling in the right place - I just hope with another visit to check things out will help to banish my fears!

Originally Posted by canadian_critic (Post 8561126)

I save companies millions by helping them utilize channels like the web effectively, and better understand and engage with their customer base. I know it sounds woolly but my approach to each project is highly bespoke, and there's no single answer to the question. I usually work with one or more business champions and a creative team (e.g. web team). Sometimes more on strategy and sometimes more hands on.

Just as an example, I was commissioned by a telecoms company in BC to conduct some consumer research for a new product. I delivered a plan for their out-of-box experience based on this, so that a new customer would be able to self-install a device in their home. My research identified how bad their instructions were, gave guidance on the way of explaining things to their customers, but also gave positive confirmation to their options pricing model.

I'm really not sure what this is called. I'm technically referred to as a user experience specialist. It's not just about eliminating frustration in a product or service, but focuses also on the psychological and emotional side. For example, discovering what makes one design instil confidence compared with another.

Just wishing I'd become a plumber though as it would make the explanation a bit easier to understand, and people wouldn't feel the need to hold a PhD to understand what I'm saying.

Originally Posted by dboy (Post 8561812)

so ultimately you are bitter coz you can't get work in your field and blame Canada and all Canadians for your troubles?

Happen if you look for a real job you might have more luck, sure sounds like a niche market to me.

Seriously, being out of work is tough and will have a profound influence on one's experiences of a place. Word to the wise, Vancity is bloody expensive, think hard about giving in a good job to come here without a solid, well above average paying job.

Originally Posted by airbornesapper (Post 8561937)

Pinkkristen, I understand your perspective completely and like many I'm sure can relate to the aspects you mention above. For me, things can be summed up like this - Canada is not the British Isles (and all that entails) and Canadians are not Brits. Emigrating anywhere is a massive decision, some land on their feet other have a really tough go.

Even after 23 years here and having first arrived at the relatively young of 25, I still miss the uniquely British way of life and always will. For that matter my Canadian OH misses aspects of the UK.

Canada has been good to us as a family and has much to offer (our kids have thrived also). I/we have been able to get our fill of the UK during periodic visits (perhaps not as frequent as I would like when the whole 23 years is considered) but for many reasons, trips home will be be picking up again soon. My father had a heart attack today, I know that I have trips to make for good and sad reasons in the years ahead. With hindsight, I am unequivocal that right decision was made.

Canada is not for everyone and immigrants make the choice to stay or go. Many come who come here are not as lucky as folks from the UK who can return (if they have the means) to a country such as the UK which despite its woes is still a unique and lovely place.

Whatever you and your family do, I wish you the very best of luck.

Originally Posted by canadian_critic (Post 8561885)

I have a real job. Just because it's not a classic job doesn't mean it's bullshit or worthless. Yes it's more specialist, but where would the world be without specialists.

Now I didn't blame Canada and Canadians. I do blame the nasty pieces of work that I've had the misfortune to meet here who happen to be mostly Canadians. And finding work here is downright unpleasant. No acknowledgements, no phone calls, shit wages. That's no accident my friend. It's a characteristic of the canadian employment system and it sucks shit.