Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Hello all,

Thought I would just add a little up date.

Been here nearly 6 months now and well I like it but I don't LOVE it if that makes sense?

The first few months were tricky due to house sale in uk falling through but all that is resolved now.
We live in a love apartment in north van, I have a well paid nurses job and have met a couple of amazing friends ( English).
Loved snowboarding in the winter and looking forward to some fab summer activities but something is just missing!

My other half hasn't found work yet which is frustrating and my job is so tame and dull compared to uk. Can't do half the skills I used to in uk here as nurses just aren't allowed apparently!

I'm fed up with being asked what part of oz I'm from and having to repeat myself 80% of the time! I don't even have a accent I'm from south east uk!

Don't get me wrong I love the outdoor fun things to do and people are friendly albeit superficially I find.

Think I am going nuts tee hee!

Not giving up just yet as I know 6 months is no time in the grand scheme of things but not sure Canada is a forever home!

Planning a trip back to uk in oct to see family and friends not sure if that's going to help or make things worse? We shall have to see!

Anyway sorry to rant just needed to vent!

Jodie xxx

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

So you believe those from SE England don't have accents.. You're totally living in LaLa land ::lol:

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Tee hee! I meant I don't have a strong accent that people may struggle with like Scottish or Manchester for example not singling those two out in particular before anyone is offende ;-) xx

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

And I know this moving malarky is a roller coaster and ask me Tom if I like it here and my answer will be totally different ;-) xx

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I feel slighted !
In all the years I have lived in Canada I have never been asked if I am from OZ !!
What am I doing wrong ?
Maybe I don't talk proper like what they do "down sarf".
Seldom do I have to repeat myself, never mind 80% of the time, except maybe to folks who have their ears painted on !
Slighted I say ! ;)

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Maybe 80% was an exaggeration tee hee! But I get asked at least twice a week by pts xxx

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I also get asked frequently if I am from Australia and have to repeat myself constantly! Stick with it. We have been here almost 2 years and I am just starting to feel more settled, however I hear exactly what you say.

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Me too.

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I too have moved to Vancouver (1 year a week ago) I am ALWAYS thought to be Australian! I have no idea! From Bournemouth so my accent isnt too hard to grasp !Odd !

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Glad it isn't just me! X

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Hi Aussies :D

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I am an RN living and working in Victoria, Vancouver Island. I have been here since 2004. I agree with what you say about work and nursing.

For us nurses, I don't think you should move here for any career goals. My job is great, I do love it....but I will always miss my role as it was in the UK. It is hard to describe in words, as I too get paid well here (better than in the UK). I think I went back by 5-7 years professionally though.

If you're ever over here and fancy meeting up, I would happily do so.

Keep going, the old fave that comes up on here time and time again 'Give it a year at least'. :)

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

We moved to Calgary Alberta in 2010 and I totally get what you are saying. I too am an experienced and well qualified UK RN and I am so disappointed by what Canada has to offer career wise. Nursing is about 15-20 yrs behind IMNSHO (eg IV paracetamol does not even exist, nurses are still handmaidens and second class citizens, Drs are looked upon as Gods here, no matter how junior, inexperienced and sometimes downright dangerous they are). This week budget cuts by AHS have cost 64 RNs their jobs, unions are weak to useless. Unfortunately for me.... My husband LOVES it here and our children are fairly settled here although they miss family and friends, rugby and the countryside/ sea.

Before I get a load of abuse from die hard Canadian supporters who say I have not tried to integrate or make things work.... I sat my Canadian nurse exams, have more Canadian than UK friends and have worked as an RN since we arrived. We run, hike, ski, snowboard, have gone canoeing, traveled a bit ....mostly to Montana, cycle, I have taken up photography and met some fantastic colleagues and patients. But and ....... for me it it is a huge but..... It simply is not home, I miss the sea, the culture, the food, the sense of competition that poor old overcrowded England creates, history, the simple speed of thought, I also hate having to repeat myself I am originally from Oxford so I speak the Queens English I am not Aussie but am constantly asked if I am.

So, in a nutshell you are not alone, your comments are valid. I agree with others comments give yourself some time (I was told 2 years minimum) but also remember to be true to yourself, you will have to make concessions and sacrifices to stay, only you can decide what's best for you in the end. Having been here 2 yrs 9 months I would go home tomorrow ....but that would be the end of my marriage and make my children unhappy as a result, so for now we are here but in the long term...... We shall see!

Good luck with whatever you decide, I have lots of very settled happy UK friends over here. Although I would love to be one of them, I am not. Either way just the fact that you have moved here and tried to build a new life means you are brave and resourceful so enjoy it as much as you can for as long as you can, life is too short to be unhappy or have regrets about things we did not do, and its an adventure you will always have had.

Good luck and very best wishes to you both!

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Rugby mum thank you so much for your reply, you have summed it all up for me really!
It's really hard admitting you are not loving it so thank you!
Lots of people think I'm bonkers for not falling in love with it!
I agree with the nursing part I feel my hands are completely tied and get very odd looks at work when I make doctors clean up after them selves or disagree with the orders (and they are orders) they give drives me nuts sometimes!
Am going to stick with it for now and for the next year and see how we go!
I am going to enjoy the summer and another winter of boarding before we make any decisions.
I have no regrets about the move and even if we decide not to settle forever its been amazing adventure and experience so far! And if anything may make me appreciate certain things like family and friends a lot more!

Thank you for all the replies and support

Here's to enjoying the summer

Xxxxx

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I am from Poole, small world!!

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Sparksman, you are so very welcome. Everyone tells me I am mad not to love it here, maybe we both are but I suspect we just prefer to make our own minds up and not lat others dictate to us.

Please please keep up the good work disciplining the Drs here - I told one he was a ****ing idiot the other day and my nursing colleagues were soooo shocked but he really was being an idiot. I would never have had to resort to such unprofessional language in the UK because we have teamwork and mutual respect. Still I enjoyed the shock value and its always good to see an arrogant boy look a fool! He he he.

Best of luck honey and hang on in there it's still going to be an adventure whatever you decide xx

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

haha it sure is missing the dolphin centre!?

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Just a question, but do you think you would feel more settled if you were challenged in your job like you were back in the UK? What proportion of your overall unhappiness with living in Canada is job related vs. country/culture related?

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

That's a good question! I think it's 50/50 job and day to day life if that makes sense? I'm not really unhappy just not loving it, can't really explain it. Time will tell I guess x

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I have really enjoyed this thread. I understand entirely how you feel. I am starting to feel more settled after nine months, but it still sometimes feels like trying to cook a meal in someone else's kitchen.

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I've got Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland.

I'm from N. Ireland. Fewer people say "irish" because the northern accent is a fair amount different from the stereotypical southern accent. For example I can accurately pronounce "third".

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

I'm 4 months in and can only agree with everything being said. Canadians are all very nice, but there is something about them, an American style Gloss over everything. They don't seem to accept the rest of the world exists. My daughter was told by her tutor that she didn't need to learn about anything outside of Canada as it doesn't affect them!!! Where is the news? It's like living in a bubble, and a reluctance to acknowledge that there are problems here.
My sister in law is a NHS Sister, and came out a few years ago to look at Hospitals here. In her opinion they are YEARS behind the UK.
I'm from Brighton, I can't say anyone has said I'm from OZ, but I do have to repeat myself frequently.
Ive agreed to make a year here and then we'll see. It's very nice, but its just not home!!:unsure:

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

My sister in law is a NHS Sister, and came out a few years ago to look at Hospitals here. In her opinion they are YEARS behind the UK.

An interesting comment. I recently watched a programme on BBC regarding the NHS where a UK surgeon commented that he had recently spent two months in a major Toronto teaching hospital which had procedures and equipment he could only dream about.

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Hey Rosie lee I'm from Brighton to!!!! Small world!

I think nursing practice and scope and some attitudes to the roll of a nurse are 20 years behind not necessarily the equipment and procedures if that makes sense!

Jodie xx

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Hey, Brighton Gal:thumbsup: it helps knowing that others are going through the same process and emotions. Especially when you come from the best place in the UK!!

Re: Nearly 6 months in Vancouver
 

Oh how I miss Brighton!

It is great knowing that I'm not bonkers and the only one!!!
I've booked flights for a visit in oct can't bloody wait!!! Be interesting to see how I feel going and coming back!

Keep in touch Rosie lee and let me know how things pan out!!! Xxx