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| Subject: Wannabe Canadian are you still around? |
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I hope so.
Hi, we have exchanged few comments here and there in the past. I remember you because I think you mentioned that you were living in Halifax and that is one of the areas I feel attracted to (for several reasons but none really based on personnal experience).
I just wanted to ask you: How are you doing these days? Were you and your hubby able to find a job in your area of expertise? Do you like Halifax? How are the schools? How easy is it to rent a place at the beginning?
I hope you don´t mind giving me a bit of info about Halifax... I just don´t know anyone or anything other that what you get from the internet and perhaps your personal experience might help me have a better idea about the place or at least add to the database! lol
Thank you in advance... and by the way, I hope you and your young family are doing well and that by now you feel adjusted to your new home...
Cheers!
[28-03-2010,11:47]
[***.229.235.43]
Lily from Long Ago (Abu Dhabi) |
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(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
If I recall, Wannabe and her family went to Halifax with a job in their pockets.
she has offered a fair bit of commentary about her experience here on the forum. It may take a little searching but it might be worth the effort. I don´t think she is overly impressed.
[28-03-2010,14:03]
[**.154.245.217]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
Actually I think Wannabe is in St. John, New Brunswick, not far from Halifax.
[28-03-2010,14:46]
[**.47.175.80]
Richard |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
Thanks guys... and yes Sharon, she was a bit unhappy the last time I read something from her... something about neighbours not being friendly enough or something like that... I just wanted to know if she was doing better now.
I will search for her posts.
Cheers!
[28-03-2010,16:20]
[***.66.59.48]
Lily from Long Ago (Abu Dhabi) |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
Hi Lily!
Yep, I´m still around and checking here on occasion. I am actually living in a small town outside of Saint John, New Brunswick, about 4 hours from Halifax. I´ve actually only been there twice since moving out here (and several times before) and still think it´s a fantastic small city. Unfortunately I don´t know anything about the economy there, or whether many jobs are available. I wish I could help you more.
Our general transition to Canada has not been an easy one, it´s true. We´ve been out here a year and a half and are very eager to return home to the States. We thought we knew quite a bit about Canada before we came, having traveled up here for some 14 years and reading the regional papers daily for several years before making the leap. It turns out everything we thought we knew was pretty much false and to say we haven´t been impressed is an understatement.
I am not contributing here much anymore because our experiences are clearly not welcome. It´s easier to keep our mouths shut and let everyone find out for themselves how it will work out for them. I wish more people had been open and honest with their experiences while we were debating making such a big move, but only DC was willing to put himself on the line. I always took his words to heart, probably because they were the exception to the other voices on this and other boards and I therefore valued them as more true.
A few of our disappointments have included encountering a shocking and blatant anti-Americanism; having an extremely difficult time working within the corporate culture, which is in our experience unorganized, narrow minded and un-innovative compared to back home where success is expected and not a surprise (or worse, something that is looked down upon); a lack of general ambition by the public; a lack of selection in the shops and extremely high prices; a dismal school system (our son attends one of the best schools in the province and we just pulled him out to be homeschooled); an enormous difficulty getting to know people in the community or make any connections; a long year and a half wait to get a doctor only to find out she´s previously been charged with drug trafficking and other unsavory practices...it goes on but you get the idea. A few of our personal grievances, aired. Some could happen anywhere but others are part of the general culture, and all leave us eager to get back to where things make sense to us.
I do wish every immigrant the very best success, and I do sincerely hope that every prospective immigrant has access to--and really listens to--the honest experiences of others who have gone through the process.
Lily, I wish you the very best and hope you find the right place in Canada for you and your family. Making that decision isn´t any easy one, and there are very cities that can probably live up to your expectations (that is, truly urban cities). For us, we didn´t find the two "major" cities appealing to live in (Vancouver or Toronto) which left few options that would offer us the lifestyle we want to live. We chose this area based on a job (I HIGHLY recommend securing a job before moving) knowing it wouldn´t be a permanent move but a way to secure that all important "Canadian experience" that this country is infamous for requiring, and then hoped to move somewhere else in Canada. In our case, we´ve come to realize that the US is home for us, a country we´ve come to value more now than when we left.
Best to all!
[28-03-2010,17:39]
[**.252.115.196]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
Wannabe, for what its worth... I doubt that I could have adapted to your chosen home either for all the same reasons you articulate.
all the best to you.
Lily, it is important to know yourself, your lifestyle desires, and what you hope to accomplish when you arrive. Canada is a huge place with a huge range in political views, economic realities, social tolerances and public ammenities such as schools and medical services. The bigger the city, the more opportunities there are. I think that is probably true for anywhere in the world.
How to match your needs and wants with a city - Statistics Canada might be an interesting place to start poking around.
[28-03-2010,18:59]
[**.154.245.217]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
I´ll say diddo to Sharon´s comment but I went one further. This is for Lilly.
Me and my family were living in Europe and we decided to move back to Canada and picked Halifax. We wanted to open a Retail Business and I thought I knew about Halifax.
Well Halifax is pretty when your looking down into the harbour from the cliffs above. Pretty does not pay the bills.
In 2000 when we were there we toured the small malls and found in each over a third of the space was available to rent.
Then we started looking at the citizens and every one was old 60+
Then we went walking around to find nightlife and there was nightlife but dead.
See Halifax is a University town so come September all the students arrive and they have little money other to pay for finding love. In the summer the real residents are older and have everything and would not be buying anything either.
Well need less to say we argued a lot then changed our plans and moved. I started doing what I love and then became happy because I love what I do. So know the family is real close and business is pretty good too.
I can not say Lilly don´t do what I do because your experience may be totally different. I really liked the cost of houses down east and since wannabe is in a village type setting outside of Saint John look to the area on MLS and see what the houses cost.
It all depends what you want in life Lilly.
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[29-03-2010,07:58]
[**.229.28.7]
Roy |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
Dear Wannabe thank you so very much for your heart-felt and honest reply, it really means a lot to me.
I wish life was a bit easier to figure out at times. We know we are facing one of the biggest decisions of our lives. I just pray that we are able to make it in Canada... I do so for my 3 kids who deserve a good future.
I know it is not easy to understand the fact that someone will still be willing to try something even after hearing someone else´s bad experience... but I guess some of us are willing to take changes hoping that it will be different in our case... I can´t really tell you all of the reasons why I am willing to move to Canada... but there are many strong reasons for this desire... reasons that go beyond liking the place, or its beauty, or the culture, or the people, etc... I just feel Canada might offer a better future for my kids.
Thank you all... Sharon, Roy, Wannabe, for your advice, guidance and good wishes.
I wish you all well!
[29-03-2010,14:55]
[***.229.236.213]
Lily from Long Ago (Abu Dhabi) |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
Lily,
I do understand the need to try thing out for yourself and I would hate to be the influence to turn someone away from their dreams. I know for my family we took to heart the good things we had heard and seen as well as the bad and decided to go for it despite it all. You know what? I am SO glad we did. If we hadn´t jumped at the one opportunity we had, we never would have tried it. Almost immediately after we moved, the market crashed and there is no way we would have given up our security for the unknown at a time like that. I know that we if we had faltered, if we had not come to Canada when we did, we never would have and it would been one of my life´s great regrets.
I don´t know your background but I can assume it is somewhat (and possibly very) different than my own; I do however understand the primal mama need to keep her kids safe and give them everything you can. I hope so much that Canada is a wonderful place for you and your family and that you are successful in finding *home* here. From our brief shared dialogues you strike me as such a strong woman,and I have no doubt you will create a wonderful new life here and that your children will thrive. How can they not when they have such a supportive family who wants only the best for them?
I hope to continue hearing about your pending move and how the transition goes.
all the best...
[29-03-2010,16:42]
[**.252.115.196]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: Wannabe Canadian are you still around?)
Thank you for your lovely words Wannabecanadian... We have things in common... I know that if I don´t try Canada I might regret it in the future... today was an important day in the pursuit of my Canadian dream... I´ve given my resignation letter to my boss and in doing so, I take my first step towards my new life... I hope and pray that everything turns out okay.
I will for sure keep you posted.
thanks again... X
[30-03-2010,14:42]
[***.229.242.55]
Lily from Long Ago (Abu Dhabi) |
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