thesidds

Wow, I can hardly beleive it's been one whole year since those horrendous goodbyes!!! I have to say that since the moment we stepped off the plane, we have not looked back once
It's been crazy, we've lived in 3 differant rental houses and will hopefully be buying our own place very soon (even if the exchange rate makes me weep). OH loves his job and is working for a fantastic family, who have basically adopted us Our eldest son started kindergaten last September and loves it, We're all soo impressed with his school and teacher. I have found a little part time office job at a local organic granary, so our youngest son goes to pre-school twice a week and has made loads of new friends!
We have met so many lovely people and are starting to form some really good friendships. Living in the North Okanagan, there aren't so many expats so a majority of our friends are Canadian, which I think helps as we spend less time reminissing! I can honestly say that since we've been here we have not had a weekend to ourselves, just so many invites and local events. Last summer was amazing, we spent so much time on the beaches, lakes and floating down the river Camping, quading, boating, rodeos . . . . .
I don't feel like we've experienced a true Canadian winter yet, as its been so mild, but when we did have snow it was fantastic. We've all learnt to ice skate and spent several days at the local ski hill.
My latest adventure is joining the local roller derby team . . . .what a blast
I could rave all day about how wonderful life is, but basically we all love it - the lifestyle, the people, the weather, the landscape, OH reckons we're Canadians born in the wrong country
Are there any downers????? Of course we miss family and friends. I often struggle with the guilt of taking our boys away from loved ones. But overall absolutely NO REGRETS!

Simon Legree

Congratulations and best wishes for many more happy years.

purple80

Congratulations

duncanspilaweller

Im glad to read your post as i am due to leave blighty in a couple of weeks and have been having a hard time regarding leaving the olds and brother/sister etc.

Congrats on a successful year and here's to many more of them!

Dunc

thesidds

Dunc, IMO you're about to go through the hardest part!!! So many "Lasts", so many goodbyes! Keep your chin up and always remember the reasons why you decided to make the move in the 1st place. Skype and Facebook make keeping in touch soooo easy!
Keep moving forward and embrace all that is new and exciting, it's the most amazing adventure
Good Luck

NoreenC

Congratulations on such a happy first year. It's good to read an encouraging post. I leave in about three weeks and have just started the goodbyes, so it's good to read a very positive post:-)

benjamin78

congrats on your first year in Canada and hear to many more :-)

powerwrap

That's a great post Ssids ! Out of curiousity, what part of North Okanagan?

thesidds

Thanks . . .we're in Armstrong, just north of Vernon

powerwrap

Did you visit the Okanagan before you decided to settle there ?

thesidds

yes, we visited during our honeymoon in 1999, then again on a recce trip in 2008.

powerwrap

What was it that attracted you to Armstrong over and above other towns/cities in that area ?

thesidds

After our recce, we decided that anywhere between Salmon Arm and Vernon would suit us best. Kelowna was too big and seemed more of a holiday resort than a home town, any further south was just too damn hot in the summer!!! We have dreams of eventually buying a small acreage, and these are far more available in the North Okanagan. OH got a job offer in Enderby (which is another GREAT small town). Here in Armstrong we're half way between Enderby and Vernon, it has a real rustic, rural charm and is so convenient for everything! We're soooo pleased with our choice!

powerwrap

Sounds lovely. Is it a safe place for kiddies ? What are the schools like ?

thesidds

We have 2 boys (6 and 4). Our biggest worry is that we're bringing them up in a kind of eutopia that doesn't exsist in many places in the world. I can honestly say that I have never felt as safe as I feel here! It's only a small town but there are soooo many facilities for the kids - several parks, ice rink, brand new ourdoor pool, skate park. There are 2 elementary schools, a middle school and a high school - all with great reputations! My eldest is in kindergarten and we are very impressed so far. The teachers have been fantastic and the curriculum is so varied compared to my brief experience in the UK. The teenagers seem to be so much more involved in the community, so there is not the lack of communication and divide that so often happens between agegroups.
Are you considering a move to the area????