You come home with a new baby(or emigrate) and then the reality then sets in and suddenly the costs are mounting as unexpected expenses arise. Finding a job and a roof are equal to the enormity of being responsible for a new life. There are no friends or family nearby. You feel isolated, scared, worried that you are not up to the responsibility, anxious to do the right thing - sound familiar? And you can't complain! After all, you HAVE what you wanted, what you have been waiting and hoping for all these months! No one will understand if you complain. In fact they will probably be insulted. And anyway, you're not really complaining. I mean, you love the new baby, new country. It just takes time to adjust.

But I can tell you that it gets better. The depression recedes.
So if you are newly arrived and feeling guilty about feeling depressed. Please don't. You are perfectly normal and will have a great life here.

Just give yourself a little time and space to adapt.

Canada - the best move a person can make.
Carolyn

I have not regretted coming here for a single minute let alone a single day, even at Christmas when I was away from my family for the first time.

There were times when I felt anxious - I'd sent out a few dozen job applications and heard nothing. Then it occured to me that I'd only been here for three weeks. A few days after that I was called for an interview - I am now happily employed as a computer technologist with a school board on a salary that goes a long way due to the low cost of living.

The lifestyle is relaxed and the people friendly. If you enjoy the outdoors then Canada will be heaven for you. The weather here in Alberta, although cold sometimes, is nearly always sunny during the winter which is an amazing boost to the morale.

Ok, enough wittering... My point is that ok, Canada is not for everyone - I know of one family who didn't like it and went home ,but it seems that most people who come here never regret it - and you never know unless you try.

A word of warning though - Don't believe everything you hear about how many jobs are here (even computer/engineering ones) no one will hand you a job on a silver platter - you'll have to work hard to find one just as you would anywhere else. Don't wait for jobs to be advertised. Contact every company you're interested in(either by phone or personally) and give them a copy of your resume.

Andy
Canadian permanent resident, and very happy with it.

P.S If there are any questions about settling in Alberta please feel free to email me - apezzack@yahoo.co.uk

Regards,
Zalok