6 months in Canadaland
 

Hey all,
Well I've managed to live here for 6 months! This will be my first birthday and Christmas away from family. It's sad, but it's one of the many sacrifices I've had to make in pursuing my dream to live here.

Now however, I'm settling into the Canadian lifestyle. Probably one of big cultural differences that struck me recently was the whole, pay-a-lot-at-once-but-it-lasts-longer issue, clearly visible at places like CostCo, or when you buy a monthly transit pass. It's funny that something as small as that does actually effect you mentally, I was finding myself thinking "in the future" a bit too much if that makes any sense, and recently I've been making an effort to get my mindset back on the present, so I can enjoy what I have.

When I arrived here, my friend had hired me. We were going to work together on web development, but sadly we made each other laugh way too much to actually do anything productive over the summer! I've now ended up "working" at another company, but contractually it's my friends company that is hired by my "boss", since he doesn't pay enough to get me another TWP. Legal? Yes, but I do feel it's hardly the spirit of the TWP, especially as my friend put that he would be paying me double what I'm getting paid now. At least the work I do is the same as on the permit. Hopefully this won't cause problems down the road, but the sooner I'm off the TWP and a Permanent Resident the better (to get enough points I have to work for another 6months). Has anyone ever used a friend's company as a TWP "proxy" before?

I feel very privileged to have been able to come to Canada and start my life here. It's a great country with a progressive culture and nice people. Yes it's not the warmest place on the planet, but that's a small price to pay. My standard of living is very good and my apartment is a brand new building. Not to sound smug or anything, but I feel like I've done a lot better than my fellow university graduates who opted to stay in the recession-struck UK.

Now to find some devonshire cream and bake mince pies. Huzzah!

Re: 6 months in Canadaland
 

Hi

Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas - which ever comes first.

Can't help you on the TWP front (applied for PR), but glad you are working & settling in.

Bali
:)

Re: 6 months in Canadaland
 

nice one jimmy, where are you in BC?

Re: 6 months in Canadaland
 

I'm living in Central Surrey at the moment. A bit rough but the rent is cheaper and I'm a 5 minute walk from the skytrain. The police are actually making a real effort to deal with the problems too. I do hope to move to south-east Van eventually, there's something special about that whole main street area. Coquitlam seems pretty nice as well.

Re: 6 months in Canadaland
 

really glad you're settled - just be careful as on your tax returns etc it will say who's employing you and how much you have earned. I'm not sure who / what / when people can find out - but if it goes against the terms of your LMO - TWP then you may want to be careful. :thumbup:

Re: 6 months in Canadaland
 

I'm one of those coppers;) In Burnaby at the mo, but will be working out of headquarters in Surrey come the new year. Welcome to BC!

Re: 6 months in Canadaland
 

Hopefully your friend does not need to apply for future LMOs if he has not complied with the terms of the one you came on. Proof of compliance is required for future applications.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplace...ewextlmo.shtml

The 'once I'm in, what they don't know won't hurt' approach can come back and bite, even years down the road.