Three months in BC
Sep 22nd 2011, 3:40 am
#1
Adapting slowly...
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Grove, BC
Posts: 302
Three months in BC
I was rather shocked to realise we've been here three months. It seems to have flown by.
We've been really lucky. We stayed wnith friends for two months until we were able to move into a really nice small apartment in Langley, BC. Our stuff arrived from the UK and the only thing that was broken was a mixing bowl and a picture. Pretty good when you consider the miles over land and sea the boxes travelled.
Since landing we've got all our paperwork done - driving licences, PR cards, bank accounts, credit cards etc sorted. There were a lot of forms but we're now all sorted. We've each bought and insured a car.
Work wise, Mrs FF had five, yes five, interviews in our first week and she got five job offers. She's now teaching ESL at SFU and seems to be settling there nicely. I was already freelancing so kept the wolves from the door for the first few weeks. I did spot a job posting online for something that was right up my street. Not having any connections to the company, I thought the dreaded Canadian networking approach would ruin any chances I had. Anyway, I sent them my resume and, to cut a long story short, had two interviews and was offered the job. As I was freelancing I had the job offer on a Friday and started on the Monday! It's in my field of specialist marketing and so far, I love it.
Our little dog flew over 10 days after us and has made the transition beautifullly too.
So, all in all, we've been very fortunate. We've got good jobs, a nice apartment and some great friends. It sounds very smug, but it isn't meant to be. We don't know what lies around the corner for us, but it has been an amazing start to our new lives. However, it is only three months, and we haven't really got into a routine of what our lives will be like here. And when the novelty of seeing mountains and eagles wears off, who knows?
Canada is a great country, and so is the UK. I don't like making comparisons because they're completely different places. There are some things I miss and some things I am glad to have left behind.
For now, Canada is our home and we are happy. We're incredibly fortunate to say that, and I appreciate every day here.
Even the boring, ordinary days when it rains.
We've been really lucky. We stayed wnith friends for two months until we were able to move into a really nice small apartment in Langley, BC. Our stuff arrived from the UK and the only thing that was broken was a mixing bowl and a picture. Pretty good when you consider the miles over land and sea the boxes travelled.
Since landing we've got all our paperwork done - driving licences, PR cards, bank accounts, credit cards etc sorted. There were a lot of forms but we're now all sorted. We've each bought and insured a car.
Work wise, Mrs FF had five, yes five, interviews in our first week and she got five job offers. She's now teaching ESL at SFU and seems to be settling there nicely. I was already freelancing so kept the wolves from the door for the first few weeks. I did spot a job posting online for something that was right up my street. Not having any connections to the company, I thought the dreaded Canadian networking approach would ruin any chances I had. Anyway, I sent them my resume and, to cut a long story short, had two interviews and was offered the job. As I was freelancing I had the job offer on a Friday and started on the Monday! It's in my field of specialist marketing and so far, I love it.
Our little dog flew over 10 days after us and has made the transition beautifullly too.
So, all in all, we've been very fortunate. We've got good jobs, a nice apartment and some great friends. It sounds very smug, but it isn't meant to be. We don't know what lies around the corner for us, but it has been an amazing start to our new lives. However, it is only three months, and we haven't really got into a routine of what our lives will be like here. And when the novelty of seeing mountains and eagles wears off, who knows?
Canada is a great country, and so is the UK. I don't like making comparisons because they're completely different places. There are some things I miss and some things I am glad to have left behind.
For now, Canada is our home and we are happy. We're incredibly fortunate to say that, and I appreciate every day here.
Even the boring, ordinary days when it rains.
Sep 24th 2011, 11:25 pm
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Nova Scotia (from Scotland)
Posts: 1,032
Re: Three months in BC
Congratulations, sounds like you've been really fortunate and things have worked out really well for you. Here's hoping it continues 
Sep 25th 2011, 3:22 pm
#3
.
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Posts: 868
Re: Three months in BC
So glad to hear its all going so well for you. The first weeks can sometimes be tough but its great when it all comes together. Hope you continue to enjoy it all!
Sep 25th 2011, 4:05 pm
#4
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Sep 25th 2011, 10:24 pm
#5
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,159
Re: Three months in BC
Can't believe it's been three months! Sounds like you are enjoying Canada.
Sep 26th 2011, 2:11 pm
#6
Island life at last
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: BC
Posts: 2,715
Re: Three months in BC
Comin' at ya on Friday, FF
!!!
Glad to hear you are loving it and Mrs FF had better let me know how she landed a post teaching so easily - I need some advice from her on that one, clearly!
Waggle will also be with us on the 12th, so if you are up for that drink we mentioned, we can get it booked in
We have just ordered our turkey for Thanksgiving from one of the local farms and I have a fab Pumpkin pie recipe courtesy of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Our cats have settled really well, too, so when I arrive all the fuss will be over at last and I can let the adrenaline go down a bit.
!!!Glad to hear you are loving it and Mrs FF had better let me know how she landed a post teaching so easily - I need some advice from her on that one, clearly!
Waggle will also be with us on the 12th, so if you are up for that drink we mentioned, we can get it booked in
We have just ordered our turkey for Thanksgiving from one of the local farms and I have a fab Pumpkin pie recipe courtesy of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Our cats have settled really well, too, so when I arrive all the fuss will be over at last and I can let the adrenaline go down a bit.
Sep 26th 2011, 7:42 pm
#7
.........................
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Re: Three months in BC
great to hear it has gone so well - long may it continue
Sep 27th 2011, 1:19 am
#8
Adapting slowly...
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Grove, BC
Posts: 302
Re: Three months in BC
Thanks everyone. It's been a whirlwind. But a very happy one!
Oct 9th 2011, 7:25 pm
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Re: Three months in BC
I was rather shocked to realise we've been here three months. It seems to have flown by.
We've been really lucky. We stayed wnith friends for two months until we were able to move into a really nice small apartment in Langley, BC. Our stuff arrived from the UK and the only thing that was broken was a mixing bowl and a picture. Pretty good when you consider the miles over land and sea the boxes travelled.
Since landing we've got all our paperwork done - driving licences, PR cards, bank accounts, credit cards etc sorted. There were a lot of forms but we're now all sorted. We've each bought and insured a car.
Work wise, Mrs FF had five, yes five, interviews in our first week and she got five job offers. She's now teaching ESL at SFU and seems to be settling there nicely. I was already freelancing so kept the wolves from the door for the first few weeks. I did spot a job posting online for something that was right up my street. Not having any connections to the company, I thought the dreaded Canadian networking approach would ruin any chances I had. Anyway, I sent them my resume and, to cut a long story short, had two interviews and was offered the job. As I was freelancing I had the job offer on a Friday and started on the Monday! It's in my field of specialist marketing and so far, I love it.
Our little dog flew over 10 days after us and has made the transition beautifullly too.
So, all in all, we've been very fortunate. We've got good jobs, a nice apartment and some great friends. It sounds very smug, but it isn't meant to be. We don't know what lies around the corner for us, but it has been an amazing start to our new lives. However, it is only three months, and we haven't really got into a routine of what our lives will be like here. And when the novelty of seeing mountains and eagles wears off, who knows?
Canada is a great country, and so is the UK. I don't like making comparisons because they're completely different places. There are some things I miss and some things I am glad to have left behind.
For now, Canada is our home and we are happy. We're incredibly fortunate to say that, and I appreciate every day here.
Even the boring, ordinary days when it rains.
We've been really lucky. We stayed wnith friends for two months until we were able to move into a really nice small apartment in Langley, BC. Our stuff arrived from the UK and the only thing that was broken was a mixing bowl and a picture. Pretty good when you consider the miles over land and sea the boxes travelled.
Since landing we've got all our paperwork done - driving licences, PR cards, bank accounts, credit cards etc sorted. There were a lot of forms but we're now all sorted. We've each bought and insured a car.
Work wise, Mrs FF had five, yes five, interviews in our first week and she got five job offers. She's now teaching ESL at SFU and seems to be settling there nicely. I was already freelancing so kept the wolves from the door for the first few weeks. I did spot a job posting online for something that was right up my street. Not having any connections to the company, I thought the dreaded Canadian networking approach would ruin any chances I had. Anyway, I sent them my resume and, to cut a long story short, had two interviews and was offered the job. As I was freelancing I had the job offer on a Friday and started on the Monday! It's in my field of specialist marketing and so far, I love it.
Our little dog flew over 10 days after us and has made the transition beautifullly too.
So, all in all, we've been very fortunate. We've got good jobs, a nice apartment and some great friends. It sounds very smug, but it isn't meant to be. We don't know what lies around the corner for us, but it has been an amazing start to our new lives. However, it is only three months, and we haven't really got into a routine of what our lives will be like here. And when the novelty of seeing mountains and eagles wears off, who knows?
Canada is a great country, and so is the UK. I don't like making comparisons because they're completely different places. There are some things I miss and some things I am glad to have left behind.
For now, Canada is our home and we are happy. We're incredibly fortunate to say that, and I appreciate every day here.
Even the boring, ordinary days when it rains.
I have just been approved for a one year work permit and am currently trying to arrange work for when I go out to canada. Are you out on work permit?
Look forward to reply
Oct 10th 2011, 6:28 am
#11
finally together...
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Prince George, BC
Posts: 811
Re: Three months in BC
The op mentions a PR, that's a permanent residence card, so not there on a temporary work permit (or twp)
The threads in this section are mostly just for people to post accounts of living in Canada, for questions you are better posting in the main Canada forum (or immigration if it's a visa query) you will get a lot more replies.
Ps we are heading out to BC on a twp thru provincial nominee program, so if I can help you are welcome to pm me.
The threads in this section are mostly just for people to post accounts of living in Canada, for questions you are better posting in the main Canada forum (or immigration if it's a visa query) you will get a lot more replies.
Ps we are heading out to BC on a twp thru provincial nominee program, so if I can help you are welcome to pm me.
Oct 11th 2011, 1:47 am
#12
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 10,612
Re: Three months in BC
FF, congratulations for what sounds like an amazing start
Oct 12th 2011, 2:18 am
#13
Just Joined
Joined: May 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 28
Re: Three months in BC
Congrats guys it is lovely to hear that things can be easy and looks like it is meant to be for you.
Hope we can do the same next year
Wish you all the best of luck on your new chapter.
Hope we can do the same next year
Wish you all the best of luck on your new chapter.
Oct 12th 2011, 3:33 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Hespeler, Cambridge, Ontario since June 2010
Posts: 114
Re: Three months in BC
Wow what a great start for you guys!!! Many congrats to you both..
Many congrats to you both..
Oct 12th 2011, 4:35 pm
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2001
Location: Now in West London, but one day soon in Vancouver.....!
Posts: 448
