One year
Dec 10th 2009, 6:00 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,139
One year
One year ago today I shipped myself off from N.Ireland to Toronto. I think it has all gone rather well.
Places to live - I found a shared house on the internet and booked a room for the first month. This was a gamble, the location was far from ideal but I was broke and it was cheap. This would have worked ok had the rest of the tenants not been lunatics. An apartment downtown followed. Couldn't ask for more. Reasonable rent, great people, awesome location.
Jobs - I got a job after 4 weeks of searching. Some time later, another job opportunity randomly presented itself so I took it. That was an ill-fated decision, so after a short period of time I job searched some more and landed the position I have now. I enjoy my job and hope to be there for the foreseeable future. I take two things from that experience. 1. It is possible to turn up, as an immigrant, and find work at short notice. 2. It is perfectly possible to live, in downtown Toronto, on $10 an hour. I did it, I'm glad it's done now, but it is do-able.
Fun & friends- I have had so much fun and made some great friends. Actual friends, not just the acquaintences I expected. I forced myself to be more outgoing here and it has paid off, I have found people generally friendly and I have got away with plenty due to my accent. I love this city. Plenty to do outside of it too, with random trips to the country a definate pleasure.
I expect any pangs of missing home and the people there will be relieved by a trip back over Christmas. All in all, this has been a great move. I am relieved to have got PR and am looking forward to whatever is next.
Places to live - I found a shared house on the internet and booked a room for the first month. This was a gamble, the location was far from ideal but I was broke and it was cheap. This would have worked ok had the rest of the tenants not been lunatics. An apartment downtown followed. Couldn't ask for more. Reasonable rent, great people, awesome location.
Jobs - I got a job after 4 weeks of searching. Some time later, another job opportunity randomly presented itself so I took it. That was an ill-fated decision, so after a short period of time I job searched some more and landed the position I have now. I enjoy my job and hope to be there for the foreseeable future. I take two things from that experience. 1. It is possible to turn up, as an immigrant, and find work at short notice. 2. It is perfectly possible to live, in downtown Toronto, on $10 an hour. I did it, I'm glad it's done now, but it is do-able.
Fun & friends- I have had so much fun and made some great friends. Actual friends, not just the acquaintences I expected. I forced myself to be more outgoing here and it has paid off, I have found people generally friendly and I have got away with plenty due to my accent. I love this city. Plenty to do outside of it too, with random trips to the country a definate pleasure.
I expect any pangs of missing home and the people there will be relieved by a trip back over Christmas. All in all, this has been a great move. I am relieved to have got PR and am looking forward to whatever is next.
Dec 10th 2009, 6:36 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 671
Re: One year
Well done. It sounds like you have achieved quite a lot in your year.
Alovely positive post
Tina
Alovely positive post
Tina
Dec 10th 2009, 7:03 pm
#3
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: One year
i2c, I think moving like that was a ballsy thing to do and I'm bloody glad you done it.
Dec 10th 2009, 7:18 pm
#7
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Dec 10th 2009, 7:30 pm
#9
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: One year
Triffic! It doesn't have to be the Yard, of course. I'm just being lazy.
I'm as happy to go to one his favourite places on Church.
Come to think of it, though, given his apparent fondness for shackles, maybe I'm not.
I'm as happy to go to one his favourite places on Church.
Come to think of it, though, given his apparent fondness for shackles, maybe I'm not.
Dec 10th 2009, 7:36 pm
#10
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,139
Re: One year
I wouldn't knock the shackles, they do extend further than Church.
Dec 10th 2009, 7:42 pm
#11
.........................
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Re: One year
Congrats & great post to share!
Dec 11th 2009, 5:47 am
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: BC
Posts: 1,361
Re: One year
Best wishes on your 1st Canniversary and thanks for sharing
your experience.
Yoong
your experience.
Yoong
Dec 11th 2009, 10:08 am
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Lincs, UK
Posts: 366
Re: One year
Congrats on your first year!
Dec 11th 2009, 7:59 pm
#14
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Cyprus
Posts: 15
Re: One year
Of course it is possible, you made it possible! Well done. Wishing you many more successful years in Canada!
- formerly known as oceanblue.
- formerly known as oceanblue.
Dec 12th 2009, 6:23 pm
#15
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Posts: 7,861
Re: One year
Many congrats to you - sounds like you've done well for yourself. Here's a few more then, eh? 
