The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

...Me!

Today I received my PR visa in the mail and I could not be happier or more relieved that it is all over. I posted a thread in the immigration forum for the timeline-esque details, but I just wanted to share my news with everybody here & say a huge thank you to all who have helped me.

As everyone knows, shifting your life to another country is not exactly easy. Since applying I have seen the immigration legislation be overhauled, the rules have changed and for a long time I thought I would be rejected should they decide to apply the new rules retrospectively. I have watched the exchange rates fluctuate to the point of obsession & I now no longer check.

I threw caution to the wind at the end of last year and moved to Toronto alone on a 1 year Bunac visa. I rented out my home and gave up a great job that I loved, so it's safe to say I took a gamble. I got here with 2 suitcases, no job, friends or place to stay and little over $2000. I'm approaching 6 months here now and I love it. I could go on and on and bore you all with why I love it, but I won't.

It hasn't been easy, I felt properly lonely for the first time in my life sitting in a crappy room on New Years feeling like a right looser. I miss my Dad so much and somehow Skype is no replacement for a few beers together. The reality of flight prices means that a trip home is out of the question for now. Being a landlord from overseas isn't ideal but I'm lucky to have a great property manager on board. Job hunting is physically and emotionally exhausting, but I was lucky to get work after 4 weeks.

Arriving somewhere new by yourself certainly kicks you out of your comfort zone and it's refreshing. You have to make an effort to get out there and meet people however you can; accept peoples' offers as they may not come along again; get involved in things you wouldn't have tried at home. Whether it's true or not, I feel that there are more opportunities for me here - for work and leisure. I am able to relax more here, many of the social issues I have grown up with are now far away and it's great.

Anyway, I don't want to bore you all. Suffice to say I'm over the moon to become a PR of Canada and I'm grateful for all the help and laughs I've got from this place over the years.

Now, bring on the weekend so I can celebrate properly.......:beer: :drinkwine:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Well done luv.

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Congrats :thumbup:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

What they said:thumbsup:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Congrats and well done.

Party time! :beer:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Well done and all the best to you
Tina

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Well done and congratulations! *eyes that PR jealously* :D

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Congratulations on reaching the end, have a great weekend:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Congratulation glad to hear how happy you are:thumbsup:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

well done and congrats x x x x

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Fabulous post, well done on getting PR.

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Well done, with risk comes reward glad to see it is working out for you:thumbup:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

congratulations:thumbsup: enjoy the celebrating:drinkwine:

Re: The prize for the happiest BE member goes to..
 

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Thanks for the congrats everyone. Now could someone pass the alka seltzer? :blink: