how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Mar 10th 2014 | 2:42 pm
#61
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 255
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Mar 11th 2014 | 8:31 am
#62
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 882
From: Off moaning somewhere...
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Happy to say, 8 years in and I haven't changed.
I regret coming here if I was honest. The first four years saw me struggle to find work that wasn't part-time retail (one interview out of over 100 applications), a tough time adapting to life in a new country which led to depression which led to the demise of my relationship, the loss of my home when my ex decided she didn't want to be with me any more and kicked me out, then she moved 1 1/2 hours down the road with my son, meaning I lost permanent access. After being pretty much a stay-at-home dad since he was tiny, that was a major blow. Add to that my subsequent being made redundant from the job I did get and some immense debt incurred and I hit a new low in a place that I didn't want to be and with no support network.
Truth be told, if it wasn't for my little boy, I'd have gone back in a flash.
I miss the culture (pubs, football, food), friends, history, decent TV, beer, mobile phone service and high-speed internet.
It's not all doom and gloom though.
My employers took me back on a couple of months after laying me off (albeit on a zero-hours basis) and I've been busy ever since doing a job I enjoy that takes me all over the country. This winter has been so busy, that my debts are now almost cleared.
I rent a basement apartment in a house on an acre of land on a rural sub-division and could never go back to living in a town again. My quality of life will improve once my debts are gone and I can start spending money on more things I enjoy.
Mar 11th 2014 | 8:36 am
#63
Realist
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 24,667
From: UK
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
I haven't been on here in a while. Those that are familiar with my past posts may remember me as a bit of a curmudgeon.
Happy to say, 8 years in and I haven't changed.
I regret coming here if I was honest. The first four years saw me struggle to find work that wasn't part-time retail (one interview out of over 100 applications), a tough time adapting to life in a new country which led to depression which led to the demise of my relationship, the loss of my home when my ex decided she didn't want to be with me any more and kicked me out, then she moved 1 1/2 hours down the road with my son, meaning I lost permanent access. After being pretty much a stay-at-home dad since he was tiny, that was a major blow. Add to that my subsequent being made redundant from the job I did get and some immense debt incurred and I hit a new low in a place that I didn't want to be and with no support network.
Truth be told, if it wasn't for my little boy, I'd have gone back in a flash.
I miss the culture (pubs, football, food), friends, history, decent TV, beer, mobile phone service and high-speed internet.
It's not all doom and gloom though.
My employers took me back on a couple of months after laying me off (albeit on a zero-hours basis) and I've been busy ever since doing a job I enjoy that takes me all over the country. This winter has been so busy, that my debts are now almost cleared.
I rent a basement apartment in a house on an acre of land on a rural sub-division and could never go back to living in a town again. My quality of life will improve once my debts are gone and I can start spending money on more things I enjoy.
Happy to say, 8 years in and I haven't changed.
I regret coming here if I was honest. The first four years saw me struggle to find work that wasn't part-time retail (one interview out of over 100 applications), a tough time adapting to life in a new country which led to depression which led to the demise of my relationship, the loss of my home when my ex decided she didn't want to be with me any more and kicked me out, then she moved 1 1/2 hours down the road with my son, meaning I lost permanent access. After being pretty much a stay-at-home dad since he was tiny, that was a major blow. Add to that my subsequent being made redundant from the job I did get and some immense debt incurred and I hit a new low in a place that I didn't want to be and with no support network.
Truth be told, if it wasn't for my little boy, I'd have gone back in a flash.
I miss the culture (pubs, football, food), friends, history, decent TV, beer, mobile phone service and high-speed internet.
It's not all doom and gloom though.
My employers took me back on a couple of months after laying me off (albeit on a zero-hours basis) and I've been busy ever since doing a job I enjoy that takes me all over the country. This winter has been so busy, that my debts are now almost cleared.
I rent a basement apartment in a house on an acre of land on a rural sub-division and could never go back to living in a town again. My quality of life will improve once my debts are gone and I can start spending money on more things I enjoy.
Mar 11th 2014 | 11:00 am
#64
Seasoned Maritimer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,309
From: Fredericton, New Brunswick CA
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
I haven't been on here in a while. Those that are familiar with my past posts may remember me as a bit of a curmudgeon.
Happy to say, 8 years in and I haven't changed.
I regret coming here if I was honest. The first four years saw me struggle to find work that wasn't part-time retail (one interview out of over 100 applications), a tough time adapting to life in a new country which led to depression which led to the demise of my relationship, the loss of my home when my ex decided she didn't want to be with me any more and kicked me out, then she moved 1 1/2 hours down the road with my son, meaning I lost permanent access. After being pretty much a stay-at-home dad since he was tiny, that was a major blow. Add to that my subsequent being made redundant from the job I did get and some immense debt incurred and I hit a new low in a place that I didn't want to be and with no support network.
Truth be told, if it wasn't for my little boy, I'd have gone back in a flash.
I miss the culture (pubs, football, food), friends, history, decent TV, beer, mobile phone service and high-speed internet.
It's not all doom and gloom though.
My employers took me back on a couple of months after laying me off (albeit on a zero-hours basis) and I've been busy ever since doing a job I enjoy that takes me all over the country. This winter has been so busy, that my debts are now almost cleared.
I rent a basement apartment in a house on an acre of land on a rural sub-division and could never go back to living in a town again. My quality of life will improve once my debts are gone and I can start spending money on more things I enjoy.
Happy to say, 8 years in and I haven't changed.
I regret coming here if I was honest. The first four years saw me struggle to find work that wasn't part-time retail (one interview out of over 100 applications), a tough time adapting to life in a new country which led to depression which led to the demise of my relationship, the loss of my home when my ex decided she didn't want to be with me any more and kicked me out, then she moved 1 1/2 hours down the road with my son, meaning I lost permanent access. After being pretty much a stay-at-home dad since he was tiny, that was a major blow. Add to that my subsequent being made redundant from the job I did get and some immense debt incurred and I hit a new low in a place that I didn't want to be and with no support network.
Truth be told, if it wasn't for my little boy, I'd have gone back in a flash.
I miss the culture (pubs, football, food), friends, history, decent TV, beer, mobile phone service and high-speed internet.
It's not all doom and gloom though.
My employers took me back on a couple of months after laying me off (albeit on a zero-hours basis) and I've been busy ever since doing a job I enjoy that takes me all over the country. This winter has been so busy, that my debts are now almost cleared.
I rent a basement apartment in a house on an acre of land on a rural sub-division and could never go back to living in a town again. My quality of life will improve once my debts are gone and I can start spending money on more things I enjoy.
Mar 11th 2014 | 1:26 pm
#65
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
The niceness thing- of course it's lovely most of the time, but sometimes I get the impression/feeling of Stepford, it just feels like a veneer sometimes. Still it is always my aim to be a nice person so I really shouldn't knock it!
Mar 11th 2014 | 1:30 pm
#66
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Any regrets about coming to Canada?
Maybe, two months in, everyone in my family loves it and I just feel homesick a lot of the time. I sometimes wish we hadn't come and I wouldn't have to face the coming dilemma.
Anything you missed strongly and couldn't live without?
Well nothing tangible. My friends
Any difficulties finding a job? - Thousands of job interviews and no success?
Work is going to be super difficult for me. Not looking forward to that process.
Has your standard of living improved? Was it all worth it?
Well early signs are encouraging for my husband for his job, however I think it depends on your values in life. I miss my smaller home filled to the rafters with all my friends. It was always busy..
Maybe, two months in, everyone in my family loves it and I just feel homesick a lot of the time. I sometimes wish we hadn't come and I wouldn't have to face the coming dilemma.
Anything you missed strongly and couldn't live without?
Well nothing tangible. My friends
Any difficulties finding a job? - Thousands of job interviews and no success?
Work is going to be super difficult for me. Not looking forward to that process.
Has your standard of living improved? Was it all worth it?
Well early signs are encouraging for my husband for his job, however I think it depends on your values in life. I miss my smaller home filled to the rafters with all my friends. It was always busy..
Last edited by Tirytory; Mar 11th 2014 at 1:34 pm.
Mar 11th 2014 | 5:08 pm
#67
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 255
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Didn't/don't really watch any soaps, so I'm not sure where Corrie comes in to it. Unless of course like the one school you worked in, you're taking that and using it as a sweeping generalisation for the entire country.
The niceness thing- of course it's lovely most of the time, but sometimes I get the impression/feeling of Stepford, it just feels like a veneer sometimes. Still it is always my aim to be a nice person so I really shouldn't knock it!
The niceness thing- of course it's lovely most of the time, but sometimes I get the impression/feeling of Stepford, it just feels like a veneer sometimes. Still it is always my aim to be a nice person so I really shouldn't knock it!
I thought Corrie serves as a basis for millions of moral compasses, or is it all just really art imitating life? Not sure which way is more probable as they all feed into each other.
Canadians en masses have not learned (in general) how to be cynical, untrusting and selfish. They are also terribly 'green' when it comes to being worldly. I admit this sometimes comes off as a bit superficial and daft.
Mar 11th 2014 | 10:15 pm
#68
Realist
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 24,667
From: UK
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Mar 12th 2014 | 1:04 am
#69
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
[QUOTE=FirstRatofftheShipUK;11168956]I admit that sometimes it is easier to just make generalizations when the specifics of the matter are so similar.
I thought Corrie serves as a basis for millions of moral compasses, or is it all just really art imitating life? Not sure which way is more probable as they all feed into each other.
Canadians en masses have not learned (in general) how to be cynical, untrusting and selfish. They are also terribly 'green' when it comes to being worldly. I admit this sometimes comes off as a bit superficial and daft.[/QUOTE]
Given that the divorce rate in this area is 50% (not generalising you note) I would suggest that Canadians know how very well to do untrusting and selfish.
As for the Corrie thinking, I pray that you're not serious, or that you're not teaching my son. With that kind of closed mind mentality you are never going to help him open his mind.
I thought Corrie serves as a basis for millions of moral compasses, or is it all just really art imitating life? Not sure which way is more probable as they all feed into each other.
Canadians en masses have not learned (in general) how to be cynical, untrusting and selfish. They are also terribly 'green' when it comes to being worldly. I admit this sometimes comes off as a bit superficial and daft.[/QUOTE]
Given that the divorce rate in this area is 50% (not generalising you note) I would suggest that Canadians know how very well to do untrusting and selfish.
As for the Corrie thinking, I pray that you're not serious, or that you're not teaching my son. With that kind of closed mind mentality you are never going to help him open his mind.
Mar 12th 2014 | 2:38 am
#70
Realist
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 24,667
From: UK
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Mar 12th 2014 | 3:55 am
#71
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 255
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
It is the Interweb guys. It is a place of drivel...and bad grammar.
Mar 12th 2014 | 7:28 am
#73
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Genuinely I dislike bad grammar and definitely don't want to be guilty of it, but I can't spot it. I've run my text through two internet grammar check programmes (wonder how good they are) and they came up with no change to text... Please enlighten
Edited to add....it definitely could have been written better...
Edited to add....it definitely could have been written better...
Mar 12th 2014 | 7:34 am
#74
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,233
From: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Genuinely I dislike bad grammar and definitely don't want to be guilty of it, but I can't spot it. I've run my text through two internet grammar check programmes (wonder how good they are) and they came up with no change to text... Please enlighten
Edited to add....it definitely could have been written better...
Edited to add....it definitely could have been written better...
Mar 12th 2014 | 7:38 am
#75
Realist
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 24,667
From: UK
Re: how was your "settling in" experience in Canada?
Genuinely I dislike bad grammar and definitely don't want to be guilty of it, but I can't spot it. I've run my text through two internet grammar check programmes (wonder how good they are) and they came up with no change to text... Please enlighten
Edited to add....it definitely could have been written better...
Edited to add....it definitely could have been written better...
Apart from the general flow (or lack thereof) words like "en masses" get my goat. However, as he points out, it's only the Interweb (sic).
