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| Subject: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada |
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Well, let me say this to you my dear friend:
Moving to Canada was the best decision, I have ever made. I come from Afghanistan and moved to India as a child. While in India, we got accepted to Australia and Canada as refugees. We as a family thought hard and did our research: We decided it was Canada. I came to this country in 1990 as 16 years old, high school kid. We lived in poor area of town, but I worked hard, did my school, went to University and finally got the dream job.
16 years later, I live in a $600,000.00 house, with a good paying job, wife and kids.
I can never imagine my life this way 16 years ago. No one ever told me that "Hey, you can not have this job or you can not go to this school because you are different".
I love it and I am grateful to this country.
If you got what it takes, then Canada is where all dreams come true!
[25-07-2006,16:52]
[***.92.115.10]
Anonymous |
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(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
man....that´s an inspiring story man, i bet you that Sharon is gonna love reading that one. She has been under a bit of pressure lately and she will appreciate your story. On behalf of Sharon and the rest of us who have a dream of getting a better life in canada, we thank you for your story.
[25-07-2006,17:24]
[**.57.236.129]
Shane |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
thank you. please pass me a tissue.
[25-07-2006,17:40]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
Lol Sharon hahahahahha, thanks for making me smile...
[25-07-2006,18:25]
[**.96.235.94]
Reality bites |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
what part made you smile... that I needed a tissue???!
I have been hanging around this forum for 2 years. There are days I am Ms. Immigration, there are days I am a snake. There are even days I am someone´s wildest fantasy (spare me). People assume I have all the answers - when I don´t and people assume I have a heart of stone - don´t have that either.
I am not sure what touched me more... the good story or that someone knew I needed some encouragement and made the effort. Maybe a little bit of both.
thank you for the kindness.
[25-07-2006,23:57]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
well right Sharon but please do not smile that much, because that guy came here at the age of 16, which means Canada has educated him he cannot be called as afgan or an immigrant compared with those who come here in their 30´ies or 40ies, ... I wish to learn whether his parents suffered in Canada or not, ... or what they are doing, etc...
I still think that some places in the world like Afganistan or Beirut at the moment or Iraq suck so much that no suffering in Canada canbe worse then living in those places at the moment ...
Last night I was searching for some guys (from my country) experience in Canada and I found a site, and there is a guy from my country who is living in montreal, and after reading his site I said oh my god, what the fuck are you doing there then ? That guy finished computer programming BA in my country and got some education in English and more training in Canada (pc related) and he says he had never had a good job, guess what ? he is working at a salami production place carrying sacks... And he says he would be please to help other people from his country if they are looking for a hard job and expect to earn 9-13 CAD an hour.
After reading his home page I said well what the fuck are you doing there ? Why dont you come back to your own country and find a great job with your French -English and pc skills ? My answer would be either he has some political problems back home or despite his problems in Canada he loves Canada...
I told you in my earlier post that I am a uni- teacher and I earn 60 CAD an hour in my private lessons. My regular salary is 3.500 CAD with my private lessons I make about 5-6000 CAD a month and this income is similar to the wages of a person in Canada who makes at least 7000 CAD- tax free, because the rent is about 1/4 of the rents in vancouver, food especially -veggies and fruits, transportation is much cheaper over here compared with Canada.
Despite my finacial situation, and the fact that I live in a beautiful land, I still feel this country lacks democracy and has a lot of economic problems, and very few people can get what I get. There are also millions of people who survive with 500CAD a month, for those guys, if they had the opportutiny to come over to Canada I guess noone would stay here.... There are many countries like my country in the world and for those people who have a terrible life in their own country Canada is still a paradise.. Like you I really would like to hear their success stories...
Anyway I still belive there must be some guys who have great success stories, ... As an educator I also feel that there is a need for a research in Canada. I mean Canadian Universities or CIC should run a project about the life of immigrants after they land in Canada I guess such a research would give us a better, or accurate results,and understanding of immigrants life in canada... and no matter what the result of research will show, for sure that would be beneficial for CIC and prospective immigrants...
Honestly, since I will have a lot of free time in Canada, I am seriously thinking of doing a similar research (related to immigrants- and their children´s education in Canada) when I land in Canada.
I am brainstorming on my own at the moment whether I can do such a thing or not...
[26-07-2006,15:58]
[**.99.89.150]
Reality bites |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
there are Canadian born IT people running around working as waiters too. If your friends english skills are not good... he would have a harder time yet.
I want to know how many IT workers and engineers are arriving every day compared to the job vacancies. Remember, Canada is like everywhere else in terms of outsourcing. Unless you are specialized, you will need to rethink your career.
Thats is Canada´s biggest problem. We are not matching our immigration intake to skill shortages and I think this is very wrong. If we look at the backlog coming out of India and says to all the IT applicants- that they are dreaming if they think all of them will land IT jobs in Canada... what do you think would happen? would they say they want to come anyway, or would they rethink their plans.
Canada needs to be upfront, and applicants need to be realistic.
My guy is a software engineer. He is at the last challenge on his PhD. Fortunately, he is specialized but he wants to live on the westcoast and he is not fluent in english. (he really should go to Montreal). From the very first day we discussed him moving to Canada the discussion has been - what would you consider doing instead of engineering. If we cannot find an IT job... what would interest him.
He reminds me, that in his home country he has not always had work in his field. When he has the work, he has not always been paid. Reality bites :) on both sides of the ocean.
Fortunately, he has a Canadian career counsellor (me) and we can brainstorm about options. I have told him up front, that he is going to have to get his english together and be flexible about career choices. He is a natural teacher, and is prepared to go back to school if necessary...and he will have a place to live while he does all of the adapting - so he is lucky (and he knows it)
As you have said - Darwin prevails. If you weren´t making it at home, why do you think you can make it in Canada?
A university degree does not guarantee success - not here, not in the US not most places.
[26-07-2006,16:51]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
I just thought some more...
if you are coming from a life of relative priviledge, Canada will be a struggle. I have heard many times where immigrants have the funds to come as well as the education. In their home country they have always lived in the upper stratas of their society.
In Canada these people are just like everyone else. You don´t get treated with extra respect, and nobody feels obligated to do you any favours because of your social status. It is quite a shock. (without sounding racist, South Asian men have the biggest struggle)
Immigrant woman rarely complain because Canada generally offers more opportunities than less.
I am not sure how to explain this reality to a prospective immigrant. Entitlement at home means nothing to a Canadian. A university education is viewed with the same respect as a skilled tradesman. So, how much of the disappointment is self inflicted and how do we (as Canada)present an accurate picture of Canadian life?
[26-07-2006,17:01]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
I guess if your bf is from the middle east or africa where French is freguently used in some countries there then I guess he should try Montreal, otherwise he would have language challenge in addition to all other problems that immigrants might face in Canada..
He must be a lucky guy to have you there in Canada, and I am definetly sure each day spent with you in chat, or mail is another day full of learning about Canada...
I also have a friend who is now moving from Van to Calgary becasue of her job, and I can say that I have learnt a lot from her especially about Vancouver.
Personally, I feel that I am also a good learner, and try to search a lot, listen a lot and find my own way ...
Just the other day I recieved an email from the head of Vancouver School District and he adviced me some schools or gave some tips about my daughter´s education, and I was so happy to have recieved his e mail because I had already wrote or appllied to all the sites, schools that he recommended me ....
Personal learning is a sign of your way to overcome your problems wherever you are. That is why I sometimes get mad, honestly mad, about DUMP questions here, such as the amount of funds, processing times, or even some simple questions about immigration... The offical site of CIC is a wonderful site, I simply cannot understand why people do not read that site well, ..We also have the world´s best invension which is the internet,it is full of information about Canada. Though I have some experience of Canada, Vancouver is a new destination for me and I go to some Discussion sites such as Discover Vancouver, each day hoping to learn something new about vancouver, now after all this learning, I know which dentist, which restaurant or even which hairdresser-barber to go if I need to...
At times, I question myself if somebody cannot find the answer about the funds to bring (from the CIC site) on his arrival, how that person is going to find a job ? I really get mad that some people -even they have not landed themselves- think of bringing their family members into Canada.... I would say come on cool down, ..do not give hopes to anybody without making sure that you will settle down well and will be able to survive in Canada...
Do you know what Sharon? even the way you deal with your problems in your immigration is a good sign how you are going to deal with the realities , challenges in canada...and after reading some posts here I say well well well... NO COMMENT...
hope everyone lands smoothly and have a job to survive..
Cheers
[26-07-2006,17:16]
[**.99.89.150]
Reality bites |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
Let´s say Canada is where Evolution is really at work!
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!
Darn! I LOVE CANADA. Whereelse could you be offered such a competition?!
[26-07-2006,17:19]
[***.239.199.126]
Jolli |
(in reply to: To Sharon reg Canada oh Canada)
seems to me that is how this thread started!~ I was annoyed.
The only reason my guy is choosing the westcoast is me. I figure he is picking the hardest route and I owe him every ounce of support and encouragement possible so he can genuinely achieve his potential. He is a determined guy. I sent him some ESL workbooks and he shocked me by tutoring english to highschool students. He had to learn first and get it right before he could teach someone else so it was good motivation. We talk every day and I am at the point where I do not edit my vocabulary very much (he gets angry when I do). As a programmer, I figure he is a natural lingust. Still, life would be far easier in french for him. He might even consider teaching french immersion.
If language continues to get in his way, I would consider moving to Quebec.
[26-07-2006,18:11]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
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