Twitcher1958

So, 5 years today, we (myself, son and daughter) arrived to join my husband who had started a new job in Canada six months previously. After a few days in his rented house, we moved into our own house in Brookin, Whitby.

A lot has happened in that time - my daughter, having completed GCSEs in the UK just before we arrived, did Grade 11 and 12 here, then moved on to the University of Guelph to study Chemistry as a co op student and will be graduating at the end of next year. My son has just completed Grade 11 and is now looking ahead to his university options - let's hope anticipated teachers' strikes don't impact too much.

Meanwhile my husband's job disappeared in a reorganization so he took the opportunity for a gap year (or so) but now is back in gainful employment, albeit in another country I now work part time in that great Canadian empire that is Tim Hortons.

So lots of positives, along with the fact that we acquired Permanent Residency which has recently been converted into citizenship which gives us greater peace of mind.

Would we have done things differently? Probably not a lot - we decided to buy up front and it's worked out for us, although I think it's probably more sensible to rent first. I would also have had sleepless nights if I had realized earlier the impact of OH losing his job before PR came through but fortunately I was blissfully naive about that at the time and things happened in the right order anyway.

So for us it's generally been a good experience so far - the negatives being far away from family and long standing friends, but we have been lucky in having some visitors and being able to take some trips back for particular events. Also lucky in having good neighbours and making some good new friends here - and in that category, I would include some of you who I've met at meet ups in Scotland Yard in Toronto.

Onwards and upwards!

HGerchikov

Congratulations on your 'anniversary', its good to hear some positive stories on here. Our youngest also just finished Grade 11, we too are hoping for the best regarding the teacher's strike. So far not much impact on this side of Toronto (no comments on report cards seems to be it) so fingers crossed it doesn't get any worse.

lindamchugh

Hey Bev and you are my first expat friend here I will treasure forever no matter what the future holds for us both xx

Twitcher1958

Is that a threat or a promise?

Howefamily

congratulations!! I wish you many good years ahead!