A year in...
Mar 12th 2013 | 10:39 am
#1
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,746
A year in...
So it's been just over a year since we landed and what an "emotional rollercoaster" it has been 
We did our homework and it was pretty much what we expected. We find the pace of life much slower and more relaxed. When we first arrived Canadians in shops etc were so helpful we thought they were taking the mick but it's just their way a lot of the time.
The good things - my husband works a pretty strict 8-4 Mon-Fri. This was unheard of in the UK so he is home for dinner every night (or should I say supper - no I'll stick with dinner!) It was a huge gamble coming over here on a TWP and we both said if his employer said "Jump" he would have to say "how High?" but he's hit the jackpot there - he's already had a big rise and his bonuses are really good too so that's all good.
The Rockies continue to be beautiful and I still feel like I am on holiday every time we go to them. We have a view of them from our house which is amazing.
School - well... very bad start - now all ok. Our son is finally settled and just got a fabulous report but don't underestimate how hard it will be on a child going from a tiny village school to a big one in a city quadrant. He's complained a lot of being bored and repeating work. On the upside they learn a lot about different parts of Canada and he could sing the National Anthem within a week of starting. Some of the children in his school are wild and as a whole I find Canadian children far more "chatty" than British children and more upfront. Boys in my sons school are far more physical than he ever had to put up with in the UK. I have broken up 2 fights myself. I am not going to stand around and watch a kid who is crying be choked while everyone stands on and watches.
I won't winge on about cheese and the price of booze... (I have found some nice cheese and drink far less than I did in the UK) - not that I was a huge drinker there either!
There are things that drive me nuts about living here but I am glad we made the move. My parents have been over twice, MIL once and we have had 2 lots of friends visit already and 3 more friends booked in over the summer so that's keeping any homesickness at bay.
It is still a bit weird sometimes because you have your regular life going on but it still feels a bit surreal sometimes. At least now I can drive without thinking which side of the junction I need to be on not to have a crash. I miss UK drivers flashing each other with headlights to know you can go. Here you just put your foot down and cross your fingers!
So yes an emotional rollercoaster but made a lot easier by some lovely friends that have been made. I can't believe how I was welcomed with open arms into a group of Canadian ladies at school. They are great!
Think that's long enough for an update!
We did our homework and it was pretty much what we expected. We find the pace of life much slower and more relaxed. When we first arrived Canadians in shops etc were so helpful we thought they were taking the mick but it's just their way a lot of the time.
The good things - my husband works a pretty strict 8-4 Mon-Fri. This was unheard of in the UK so he is home for dinner every night (or should I say supper - no I'll stick with dinner!) It was a huge gamble coming over here on a TWP and we both said if his employer said "Jump" he would have to say "how High?" but he's hit the jackpot there - he's already had a big rise and his bonuses are really good too so that's all good.
The Rockies continue to be beautiful and I still feel like I am on holiday every time we go to them. We have a view of them from our house which is amazing.
School - well... very bad start - now all ok. Our son is finally settled and just got a fabulous report but don't underestimate how hard it will be on a child going from a tiny village school to a big one in a city quadrant. He's complained a lot of being bored and repeating work. On the upside they learn a lot about different parts of Canada and he could sing the National Anthem within a week of starting. Some of the children in his school are wild and as a whole I find Canadian children far more "chatty" than British children and more upfront. Boys in my sons school are far more physical than he ever had to put up with in the UK. I have broken up 2 fights myself. I am not going to stand around and watch a kid who is crying be choked while everyone stands on and watches.
I won't winge on about cheese and the price of booze... (I have found some nice cheese and drink far less than I did in the UK) - not that I was a huge drinker there either!
There are things that drive me nuts about living here but I am glad we made the move. My parents have been over twice, MIL once and we have had 2 lots of friends visit already and 3 more friends booked in over the summer so that's keeping any homesickness at bay.
It is still a bit weird sometimes because you have your regular life going on but it still feels a bit surreal sometimes. At least now I can drive without thinking which side of the junction I need to be on not to have a crash. I miss UK drivers flashing each other with headlights to know you can go. Here you just put your foot down and cross your fingers!
So yes an emotional rollercoaster but made a lot easier by some lovely friends that have been made. I can't believe how I was welcomed with open arms into a group of Canadian ladies at school. They are great!
Think that's long enough for an update!
Mar 13th 2013 | 2:27 am
#2
Pondering a career change
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,595
From: Sunshine Coast, BC
Re: A year in...
Congrats , sounds like everything is going well even if there some rough edges so to speak. Can not wait to be out there like you and writing a canniversary post
, sounds like everything is going well even if there some rough edges so to speak. Can not wait to be out there like you and writing a canniversary post
Mar 13th 2013 | 5:49 am
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
From: Toronto, Ontario
Re: A year in...
Nice to hear a positive story! My husband and I just moved to Toronto from Newcastle, UK (I'm originally from upstate NY, but I consider myself an honorary Geordie after living there for 9 years!) I'm hoping my husband will have better work life balance in Canada too.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Mar 13th 2013 | 6:27 am
#4
Every day's a school day
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,667
From: Was Calgary back in Edmonton again !!
Re: A year in...
Some of the children in his school are wild and as a whole I find Canadian children far more "chatty" than British children and more upfront. Boys in my sons school are far more physical than he ever had to put up with in the UK. I have broken up 2 fights myself. I am not going to stand around and watch a kid who is crying be choked while everyone stands on and watches.
Mar 14th 2013 | 12:50 am
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 591
Re: A year in...
Congratulations on getting through your emotional rollercoaster , it sounds like a year of beginnings, endings and all in between. So glad that your son has settled, that must be one worry less for sure 
.
It sounds really nice having a view of the Rockies, there will be no chance of that for us in Winnipeg, will have to have a mural done on the garden fence or something. Glad its all going well for you 
, it sounds like a year of beginnings, endings and all in between. So glad that your son has settled, that must be one worry less for sure . It sounds really nice having a view of the Rockies, there will be no chance of that for us in Winnipeg, will have to have a mural done on the garden fence or something
. Glad its all going well for you
Mar 14th 2013 | 4:39 am
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 625
From: Okanagan region
Re: A year in...
So it's been just over a year since we landed and what an "emotional rollercoaster" it has been
We did our homework and it was pretty much what we expected. We find the pace of life much slower and more relaxed. When we first arrived Canadians in shops etc were so helpful we thought they were taking the mick but it's just their way a lot of the time.
The good things - my husband works a pretty strict 8-4 Mon-Fri. This was unheard of in the UK so he is home for dinner every night (or should I say supper - no I'll stick with dinner!) It was a huge gamble coming over here on a TWP and we both said if his employer said "Jump" he would have to say "how High?" but he's hit the jackpot there - he's already had a big rise and his bonuses are really good too so that's all good.
The Rockies continue to be beautiful and I still feel like I am on holiday every time we go to them. We have a view of them from our house which is amazing.
School - well... very bad start - now all ok. Our son is finally settled and just got a fabulous report but don't underestimate how hard it will be on a child going from a tiny village school to a big one in a city quadrant. He's complained a lot of being bored and repeating work. On the upside they learn a lot about different parts of Canada and he could sing the National Anthem within a week of starting. Some of the children in his school are wild and as a whole I find Canadian children far more "chatty" than British children and more upfront. Boys in my sons school are far more physical than he ever had to put up with in the UK. I have broken up 2 fights myself. I am not going to stand around and watch a kid who is crying be choked while everyone stands on and watches.
I won't winge on about cheese and the price of booze... (I have found some nice cheese and drink far less than I did in the UK) - not that I was a huge drinker there either!
There are things that drive me nuts about living here but I am glad we made the move. My parents have been over twice, MIL once and we have had 2 lots of friends visit already and 3 more friends booked in over the summer so that's keeping any homesickness at bay.
It is still a bit weird sometimes because you have your regular life going on but it still feels a bit surreal sometimes. At least now I can drive without thinking which side of the junction I need to be on not to have a crash. I miss UK drivers flashing each other with headlights to know you can go. Here you just put your foot down and cross your fingers!
So yes an emotional rollercoaster but made a lot easier by some lovely friends that have been made. I can't believe how I was welcomed with open arms into a group of Canadian ladies at school. They are great!
Think that's long enough for an update!
We did our homework and it was pretty much what we expected. We find the pace of life much slower and more relaxed. When we first arrived Canadians in shops etc were so helpful we thought they were taking the mick but it's just their way a lot of the time.
The good things - my husband works a pretty strict 8-4 Mon-Fri. This was unheard of in the UK so he is home for dinner every night (or should I say supper - no I'll stick with dinner!) It was a huge gamble coming over here on a TWP and we both said if his employer said "Jump" he would have to say "how High?" but he's hit the jackpot there - he's already had a big rise and his bonuses are really good too so that's all good.
The Rockies continue to be beautiful and I still feel like I am on holiday every time we go to them. We have a view of them from our house which is amazing.
School - well... very bad start - now all ok. Our son is finally settled and just got a fabulous report but don't underestimate how hard it will be on a child going from a tiny village school to a big one in a city quadrant. He's complained a lot of being bored and repeating work. On the upside they learn a lot about different parts of Canada and he could sing the National Anthem within a week of starting. Some of the children in his school are wild and as a whole I find Canadian children far more "chatty" than British children and more upfront. Boys in my sons school are far more physical than he ever had to put up with in the UK. I have broken up 2 fights myself. I am not going to stand around and watch a kid who is crying be choked while everyone stands on and watches.
I won't winge on about cheese and the price of booze... (I have found some nice cheese and drink far less than I did in the UK) - not that I was a huge drinker there either!
There are things that drive me nuts about living here but I am glad we made the move. My parents have been over twice, MIL once and we have had 2 lots of friends visit already and 3 more friends booked in over the summer so that's keeping any homesickness at bay.
It is still a bit weird sometimes because you have your regular life going on but it still feels a bit surreal sometimes. At least now I can drive without thinking which side of the junction I need to be on not to have a crash. I miss UK drivers flashing each other with headlights to know you can go. Here you just put your foot down and cross your fingers!
So yes an emotional rollercoaster but made a lot easier by some lovely friends that have been made. I can't believe how I was welcomed with open arms into a group of Canadian ladies at school. They are great!
Think that's long enough for an update!
Mar 14th 2013 | 6:02 am
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 243
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: A year in...
Great update, so pleased your little boy has settled now. Our Lewis took almost 5 months to settle at school but he's enjoying it now. Can totally see where you're coming from on the school thing, tiny village school of 90 kids to a city school of 400 was a shock to all of us, can't speak highly enough of our school though they are excellent.
I still find it all a bit surreal, sometimes i'll stop what i'm doing and suddenly think "bloody hell.......i'm in Canada!!" and every time I see the mountains I just can't believe i'm here, i've wanted to visit the Rockies since I was a teenager and now I live near them!!!
Hope your next near is even better, take care
I still find it all a bit surreal, sometimes i'll stop what i'm doing and suddenly think "bloody hell.......i'm in Canada!!" and every time I see the mountains I just can't believe i'm here, i've wanted to visit the Rockies since I was a teenager and now I live near them!!!
Hope your next near is even better, take care
Mar 14th 2013 | 8:42 am
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 625
From: Okanagan region
Re: A year in...
I still find it all a bit surreal, sometimes i'll stop what i'm doing and suddenly think "bloody hell.......i'm in Canada!!" and every time I see the mountains I just can't believe i'm here, i've wanted to visit the Rockies since I was a teenager and now I live near them!!!
It's a great feeling!
Mar 14th 2013 | 10:22 am
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: A year in...
Good for you Geordie Lass. Hope the next one is equally positive!
Mar 14th 2013 | 10:41 am
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 842
From: Stauffer, AB
Re: A year in...
Geordie Lass
I can't believe it is a year already. great post and so positive.
Nearly time for the annual BBQ then, here on the 'ranch' as my brother has so fondly named our place.
Take care and here's to many more positive and enjoyable years
I can't believe it is a year already. great post and so positive.
Nearly time for the annual BBQ then, here on the 'ranch' as my brother has so fondly named our place.
Take care and here's to many more positive and enjoyable years
Mar 14th 2013 | 4:25 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 229
From: Was Glasgow Scotland, now Ancaster, Ontario
Re: A year in...
Great post Geordie lass! Always nice to see someone genuinely enjoying life! Long may it continue!
Mar 15th 2013 | 3:45 am
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 243
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: A year in...
We are six years in and I still get that feeling! On a Sunday when we are Skiing and up on the peak of the mountain, I look around at the surrounding mountains as far as the eye can see and I still can't get over the fact that we live here and are able to experience this stuff only 30 mins away It's a great feeling!
It's a great feeling!
Mar 16th 2013 | 6:39 am
#13
Still here!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 101
From: Calgary AB
Re: A year in...
Mar 25th 2013 | 9:40 am
#14
Cochrane AB
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 30
Re: A year in...
Lovely post....your comment about cheese made me giggle!
