Kay

Hi

I think the best thing you can do to read our experiences and how long it
took us to get through the paperwork is to read my website where I have it
all logged.

The schools are much on a par with the education as in England but they are
behind in years. High school is not at 11 as in the UK, but at 13. My eldest
son was kept in the same grade but my youngest son went down a grade. this
is mainly due to when they were born. In the UK they start school in the
SCHOOL year (Sept to August) that they are 5. In Canada they start school in
the ACTUAL year they are 5. they are later starting and leaving school
here, although they have just scrapped Grade 13, 2 years ago. So they have
to cram all their education into a year less. Teachers are not as strict as
in the UK, and I wish they were but on the whole it is a good experience.
My youngest son was 9 when he came to Canada and I think it did him good to
come earlier than his brother because he has picked up French at an earlier
age and is better. They both hate it but you have to do it, and get a school
credit. My eldest son has his credit and no longer ever wants to do French
again, but such is Canada, we are a bi-lingual country.

I found work easily but I am not the main earner, and my husband is Canadian
and that was different. You will have to expect to start over and not pick
up where you left off in the UK. Because of that it may depend where you
settle and also what you do with property - rent or buy. It is as cheap to
pay a mortgage as it is to pay rent for a house, it is getting a mortgage as
a newcomer that may or may not be a problem, depending on how much capital
you bring with you.

Climate wise, you have to dress for the winter and put up with the summer!!
After the first heatwave and cold winter I was OK and was prepared for the
next years! Now I love the summer and can endure the winter without any
problems. It is not as damp as the UK and I like it better for that.

Life here is different, it's Tim Horton's coffee shops and not the local pub
(we have pubs but not like the UK) but the people are very friendly. You
have to make an effort and make friends, join groups to get to know people,
it will not fall into your lap.

I have been here 4 years and have not regretted one moment of it. I think
that says it all. I can't wait to be a Canadian citizen!

Kay

Check out my Blog !
http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/

My Website
http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/




Thank you all for your replies.

Please could you help us out with a few questions we have.

We have a daughter aged 9 how do you feel the school system compares with
auk.

We also would like to know how you feel the standard of life differs, is
it better or worse?

How is the job market? Michele mentioned her husband has struggled to find
work. Has this been a common problem?

Climate.....How did you adjust?

House prices........They seem to differ massively from province to
province. Rent or Buy? any advise.

Length of time of processing application. How did you all get through it?
and how long did it take?


Any help is appreciated

Thanks

Denis


--
Check out my Blog !
http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/

My Website
http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/

AlmostBob

G'day Kay,
God how I miss pubs, the hallowed Tims is not the same
I agree with everything, I came from Australia 17 months ago and its COLD in
winter but real nice

--

"Kay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    | Hi
    |
    | I think the best thing you can do to read our experiences and how long it
    | took us to get through the paperwork is to read my website where I have it
    | all logged.
    |
    | The schools are much on a par with the education as in England but they are
    | behind in years. High school is not at 11 as in the UK, but at 13. My eldest
    | son was kept in the same grade but my youngest son went down a grade. this
    | is mainly due to when they were born. In the UK they start school in the
    | SCHOOL year (Sept to August) that they are 5. In Canada they start school in
    | the ACTUAL year they are 5. they are later starting and leaving school
    | here, although they have just scrapped Grade 13, 2 years ago. So they have
    | to cram all their education into a year less. Teachers are not as strict as
    | in the UK, and I wish they were but on the whole it is a good experience.
    | My youngest son was 9 when he came to Canada and I think it did him good to
    | come earlier than his brother because he has picked up French at an earlier
    | age and is better. They both hate it but you have to do it, and get a school
    | credit. My eldest son has his credit and no longer ever wants to do French
    | again, but such is Canada, we are a bi-lingual country.
    |
    | I found work easily but I am not the main earner, and my husband is Canadian
    | and that was different. You will have to expect to start over and not pick
    | up where you left off in the UK. Because of that it may depend where you
    | settle and also what you do with property - rent or buy. It is as cheap to
    | pay a mortgage as it is to pay rent for a house, it is getting a mortgage as
    | a newcomer that may or may not be a problem, depending on how much capital
    | you bring with you.
    |
    | Climate wise, you have to dress for the winter and put up with the summer!!
    | After the first heatwave and cold winter I was OK and was prepared for the
    | next years! Now I love the summer and can endure the winter without any
    | problems. It is not as damp as the UK and I like it better for that.
    |
    | Life here is different, it's Tim Horton's coffee shops and not the local pub
    | (we have pubs but not like the UK) but the people are very friendly. You
    | have to make an effort and make friends, join groups to get to know people,
    | it will not fall into your lap.
    |
    | I have been here 4 years and have not regretted one moment of it. I think
    | that says it all. I can't wait to be a Canadian citizen!
    |
    | Kay
    |
    | Check out my Blog !
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/
    |
    | My Website
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/
    |
    |
    |
    |
    | Thank you all for your replies.
    |
    | Please could you help us out with a few questions we have.
    |
    | We have a daughter aged 9 how do you feel the school system compares with
    | auk.
    |
    | We also would like to know how you feel the standard of life differs, is
    | it better or worse?
    |
    | How is the job market? Michele mentioned her husband has struggled to find
    | work. Has this been a common problem?
    |
    | Climate.....How did you adjust?
    |
    | House prices........They seem to differ massively from province to
    | province. Rent or Buy? any advise.
    |
    | Length of time of processing application. How did you all get through it?
    | and how long did it take?
    |
    |
    | Any help is appreciated
    |
    | Thanks
    |
    | Denis
    |
    |
    | --
    | Check out my Blog !
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/
    |
    | My Website
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/
    |
    |

Kay

Hi Bob

You'll be feeling the cold more than I will, coming from Oz!

And NO pubs in the country either here, hard to believe isn't it? )

Country drives are not the same!!! LOL

Kay

"AlmostBob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
G'day Kay,
God how I miss pubs, the hallowed Tims is not the same
I agree with everything, I came from Australia 17 months ago and its COLD in
winter but real nice

--

"Kay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    | Hi
    |
    | I think the best thing you can do to read our experiences and how long it
    | took us to get through the paperwork is to read my website where I have it
    | all logged.
    |
    | The schools are much on a par with the education as in England but they
are
    | behind in years. High school is not at 11 as in the UK, but at 13. My
eldest
    | son was kept in the same grade but my youngest son went down a grade. this
    | is mainly due to when they were born. In the UK they start school in the
    | SCHOOL year (Sept to August) that they are 5. In Canada they start school
in
    | the ACTUAL year they are 5. they are later starting and leaving school
    | here, although they have just scrapped Grade 13, 2 years ago. So they have
    | to cram all their education into a year less. Teachers are not as strict
as
    | in the UK, and I wish they were but on the whole it is a good experience.
    | My youngest son was 9 when he came to Canada and I think it did him good
to
    | come earlier than his brother because he has picked up French at an
earlier
    | age and is better. They both hate it but you have to do it, and get a
school
    | credit. My eldest son has his credit and no longer ever wants to do French
    | again, but such is Canada, we are a bi-lingual country.
    |
    | I found work easily but I am not the main earner, and my husband is
Canadian
    | and that was different. You will have to expect to start over and not
pick
    | up where you left off in the UK. Because of that it may depend where you
    | settle and also what you do with property - rent or buy. It is as cheap to
    | pay a mortgage as it is to pay rent for a house, it is getting a mortgage
as
    | a newcomer that may or may not be a problem, depending on how much capital
    | you bring with you.
    |
    | Climate wise, you have to dress for the winter and put up with the
summer!!
    | After the first heatwave and cold winter I was OK and was prepared for the
    | next years! Now I love the summer and can endure the winter without any
    | problems. It is not as damp as the UK and I like it better for that.
    |
    | Life here is different, it's Tim Horton's coffee shops and not the local
pub
    | (we have pubs but not like the UK) but the people are very friendly. You
    | have to make an effort and make friends, join groups to get to know
people,
    | it will not fall into your lap.
    |
    | I have been here 4 years and have not regretted one moment of it. I think
    | that says it all. I can't wait to be a Canadian citizen!
    |
    | Kay
    |
    | Check out my Blog !
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/
    |
    | My Website
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/
    |
    |
    |
    |
    | Thank you all for your replies.
    |
    | Please could you help us out with a few questions we have.
    |
    | We have a daughter aged 9 how do you feel the school system compares
with
    | auk.
    |
    | We also would like to know how you feel the standard of life differs, is
    | it better or worse?
    |
    | How is the job market? Michele mentioned her husband has struggled to
find
    | work. Has this been a common problem?
    |
    | Climate.....How did you adjust?
    |
    | House prices........They seem to differ massively from province to
    | province. Rent or Buy? any advise.
    |
    | Length of time of processing application. How did you all get through
it?
    | and how long did it take?
    |
    |
    | Any help is appreciated
    |
    | Thanks
    |
    | Denis
    |
    |
    | --
    | Check out my Blog !
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/
    |
    | My Website
    | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/
    |
    |

ukjo

hi kay

i dont know if you remember me but i was asking you loads of questions on icq months ago (chick) well we've finally made it!!! still got a few loose ends with the ex and the kids but we're here and thats the main thing.

hope youre ok

jo

George

Hi Bob,

I am still in Oz, got my passport stamped in March. How do you find Canada
compared with Oz? Any plus'es and minus'es that quickly come to mind? Where
you settled are ozzies? Any answers would be much appreciated. Good Luck!
"AlmostBob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > G'day Kay,
    > God how I miss pubs, the hallowed Tims is not the same
    > I agree with everything, I came from Australia 17 months ago and its COLD
in
    > winter but real nice
    > --
    > "Kay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > | Hi
    > |
    > | I think the best thing you can do to read our experiences and how long
it
    > | took us to get through the paperwork is to read my website where I have
it
    > | all logged.
    > |
    > | The schools are much on a par with the education as in England but they
are
    > | behind in years. High school is not at 11 as in the UK, but at 13. My
eldest
    > | son was kept in the same grade but my youngest son went down a grade.
this
    > | is mainly due to when they were born. In the UK they start school in the
    > | SCHOOL year (Sept to August) that they are 5. In Canada they start
school in
    > | the ACTUAL year they are 5. they are later starting and leaving school
    > | here, although they have just scrapped Grade 13, 2 years ago. So they
have
    > | to cram all their education into a year less. Teachers are not as
strict as
    > | in the UK, and I wish they were but on the whole it is a good
experience.
    > | My youngest son was 9 when he came to Canada and I think it did him good
to
    > | come earlier than his brother because he has picked up French at an
earlier
    > | age and is better. They both hate it but you have to do it, and get a
school
    > | credit. My eldest son has his credit and no longer ever wants to do
French
    > | again, but such is Canada, we are a bi-lingual country.
    > |
    > | I found work easily but I am not the main earner, and my husband is
Canadian
    > | and that was different. You will have to expect to start over and not
pick
    > | up where you left off in the UK. Because of that it may depend where you
    > | settle and also what you do with property - rent or buy. It is as cheap
to
    > | pay a mortgage as it is to pay rent for a house, it is getting a
mortgage as
    > | a newcomer that may or may not be a problem, depending on how much
capital
    > | you bring with you.
    > |
    > | Climate wise, you have to dress for the winter and put up with the
summer!!
    > | After the first heatwave and cold winter I was OK and was prepared for
the
    > | next years! Now I love the summer and can endure the winter without any
    > | problems. It is not as damp as the UK and I like it better for that.
    > |
    > | Life here is different, it's Tim Horton's coffee shops and not the local
pub
    > | (we have pubs but not like the UK) but the people are very friendly. You
    > | have to make an effort and make friends, join groups to get to know
people,
    > | it will not fall into your lap.
    > |
    > | I have been here 4 years and have not regretted one moment of it. I
think
    > | that says it all. I can't wait to be a Canadian citizen!
    > |
    > | Kay
    > |
    > | Check out my Blog !
    > | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/
    > |
    > | My Website
    > | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/
    > |
    > |
    > |
    > |
    > | Thank you all for your replies.
    > |
    > | Please could you help us out with a few questions we have.
    > |
    > | We have a daughter aged 9 how do you feel the school system compares
with
    > | auk.
    > |
    > | We also would like to know how you feel the standard of life differs,
is
    > | it better or worse?
    > |
    > | How is the job market? Michele mentioned her husband has struggled to
find
    > | work. Has this been a common problem?
    > |
    > | Climate.....How did you adjust?
    > |
    > | House prices........They seem to differ massively from province to
    > | province. Rent or Buy? any advise.
    > |
    > | Length of time of processing application. How did you all get through
it?
    > | and how long did it take?
    > |
    > |
    > | Any help is appreciated
    > |
    > | Thanks
    > |
    > | Denis
    > |
    > |
    > | --
    > | Check out my Blog !
    > | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kaysblog/
    > |
    > | My Website
    > | http://kaycarbe4.tripod.com/kayswebsite/
    > |
    > |

AlmostBob

First up you just arent gonna believe how much water there is, lakes, rivers
Tim Hortons has Donuts
Theres a river in New Brunswick that is 2 miles across and its fresh water and
running at about 9 knots. I settled in Nova Scotia, no ozzies around, so
everyone thinks Im exotic. They love Oz though, all the products are Koala
this, Down under that,
Tim Hortons has donuts
There are NO pubs, Truro has25000 peeps and there are three pubs, all in the
centre of town. cant just go for a drive and stop for a drink. (very sad).
Food is expensive, Pineapple $6 each, Heating is around $500 /month, instead
of the last year in Oz $19 gas bill.
Tim Hortons has Donuts,
Remember the following phrases,
Double-double (flat white & 2)
Kraft Dinner (Prepackage Macaroni n cheese, Canada's National dish)
Very Important, Tim Hortons has Donuts
(I like the donuts)
<G>
--

"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    | Hi Bob,
    |
    | I am still in Oz, got my passport stamped in March. How do you find Canada
    | compared with Oz? Any plus'es and minus'es that quickly come to mind? Where
    | you settled are ozzies? Any answers would be much appreciated. Good Luck!

Http://Www.Iamnotamerican.Com

in a recent article, George ([email protected]) said:

    > Hi Bob,
    >
    > I am still in Oz, got my passport stamped in March. How do you find Canada
    > compared with Oz? Any plus'es and minus'es that quickly come to mind? Where
    > you settled are ozzies? Any answers would be much appreciated. Good Luck!

And bring yer own Vegemite. While it's available here, it's expensive -
$4 for a small bottle. Tim Tams (regular, double choc & Caramel filled) are
now available in supermarkets and the Milo sold in regular supermarkets is
made in Jamaica and tastes like Ovaltine. Yuck. Milo sold in the Asian
supermarkets is made in Singapore and is malt flavoured. Better than the
other stuff, but not quite as good as the 'real' thing, which unfortunately
cannot be purchased here.

Oh..."Roots" is a store, not a state of mind. :-)

--
Say "I am not American" in TWELVE languages.
The original "I am not American" T-shirts - as seen on CNN
http://www.iamnotamerican.com
Remove underscores (_) from Email address to reply.

AlmostBob

Mum sent me Vegemite, Victoria Bitter, Chocolate Royals (for when Tim Tams
wont do it), Care packages, even squashed Chocolate Royals are good. I'd Kill
for half a dozen Dim Sims from South Melbourne Market.
When you get here DONT try Fosters, its made locally in Newfoundland and is
even worse than CUB Fosters, Alexander Keiths is the Go. Despite the "I am
Canadian" Molson ads

--

"http://www.iamnotamerican.com" <newsgroup@iam_not_american.com> wrote in
message news:BCB27A6F.2D27E%newsgroup@iam_not_american.com...
    | in a recent article, George ([email protected]) said:
    |
    | > Hi Bob,
    | >
    | > I am still in Oz, got my passport stamped in March. How do you find Canada
    | > compared with Oz? Any plus'es and minus'es that quickly come to mind?
Where
    | > you settled are ozzies? Any answers would be much appreciated. Good Luck!
    |
    | And bring yer own Vegemite. While it's available here, it's expensive -
    | $4 for a small bottle. Tim Tams (regular, double choc & Caramel filled) are
    | now available in supermarkets and the Milo sold in regular supermarkets is
    | made in Jamaica and tastes like Ovaltine. Yuck. Milo sold in the Asian
    | supermarkets is made in Singapore and is malt flavoured. Better than the
    | other stuff, but not quite as good as the 'real' thing, which unfortunately
    | cannot be purchased here.
    |
    | Oh..."Roots" is a store, not a state of mind. :-)
    |
    | --
    | Say "I am not American" in TWELVE languages.
    | The original "I am not American" T-shirts - as seen on CNN
    | http://www.iamnotamerican.com
    | Remove underscores (_) from Email address to reply.
    |