I want to seize this opportunity to thank all the forum members for your supports and encouragement. That you have not communicated directly with me does not mean you have not helped or encourage me one way or the other. All posts here have been very helpful. For all that are still waiting, God will speed up the process for you. We shall all enter our promised land. Congrats to all that have received their MRs and PPRs.
I landed safely in Calgary on 2nd October. Below is a summary of the landing experience......
01.10.2011
Started the month with the Lord at ECWA fate Tanke, Ilorin (6am to 7am prayer meeting). Came back from church at 7 30am, showered and left for KASMAG motors to pick up the hired bus for the Lagos trip. Got back home at 8 30am with the bus and by 9 20am we were set to go. We left home at 9 32am and stopped at KASMAG office to pick up the passengers manifest before continuing our journey to Lagos. We also stopped to fuel the bus at MRS filling station, Asa dam road, Ilorin. The smooth journey to Lagos continued from there and we arrived at the MMIA at 3 42pm. It took this long because of the program they had at MFM along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
At the Airport, there was a road block by the military people doing stop and search... fear of Boko Haram, begining of wisdom for Nigerian military. We passed through without hassles. Got to the departure area and offloaded our luggage. Paid for a trolley with help and the guy moved our luggage to Lufthansa stand in the airport. By 4 23pm we were set to check in. Our check-in was smooth as God used bro O, a friend working in the airport to assist us. Our bags were not opened at all. My wife was asked to produce a fitness certificate before she would be issued a boarding pass due to her condition. With the assistance of Bro O, we were able to locate the port clinic and got the necessary fitness check done before being issued the certificate. Other things at the check-in counter was very smooth. By 5 47pm, we were fully checked in and waiting to go to the boarding room.
'Ohun eiye je ni eiye ngbe fo'.... na so ma people dey talk. We decided to follow this advise so we went downstairs to the arrival side for some food - rice for the ladies, yam for the man. Was not good enough for the price but it did the job anyway. From there we went back to our loved ones who have come to wish us good luck in our future environment. Here, its 'o dabi ki a ma lo'....... was very hard saying goodbye.
By eight o'clock pm we proceeded to the immigration control. At this point, my little girl changed her mind and wanted to go back to grand ma. Mummy encouraged her and assured her that grandma will come to meet us soon. There was a very long queue there but God used bro O again. He took us through the first class and biz class category. In less than twenty minutes we were on our way to the gate. At the gate, they did the normal verification, physical body and luggage check. In less than five minutes, we were seated in the inner room (first to board) because of the kids. We waited till 9 30pm and boarded the lufthansa flight to Frankfrut. The timing was respected, the plane took off as scheduled.
02.10.2011
We arrived at Frankfrut after 6 hours. It was a smooth journey, the food wasn't bad and the crew were nice. The kids enjoyed their cartoon. Onboard the aircraft, we met another Nigerian family also going to Canada to complete their landing but in Manitoba. Mr Olu, the family man was a very nice guy. We talked about different things and exchanged contacts. we parted ways in the Frankfrut airport as they were to connect to Air Canada while we connect to another Lufthansa. After 4hrs 50 mins, we boarded the next flight, a 9 hrs flight to Calgary. After about 7hrs, one of my daughters asked "daddy are you sure this plane is still moving?" I no blame the girls o, she never sit for that long in the aircraft before.
The plane touched ground at 11 14am in Calgary International Airport (YYC). We disembarked and was walking to the passport control side when approached by a lady in an electric car (don't know the name of the car/carriage). She said, 'its a long walk that you don't want to take with these kids. Ride with me' and she gave us a ride. Truly it would have been a very long walk. When she dropped us off, she said welcome to Canada. Thank God for her.
From the passport control, the officer asked if we are expecting more goods later, we told him no. He wrote some things on our declaration card and we were directed to the immigration post. We spent some time on the long queue before it reached our turn. The office who attended to us was very nice to us. His first question was "are you sure you want to do this". My wife told him yes with some explanations to which he said 'very true'. He encouraged us, talked with the kids and gave them some 'gifts'. He processed our papers (checked our landing papers and asked for the address we want our PRC sent), told us to sign at some places. He asked if we've got any questions, we asked and he answered. At the end he summarised our rights as PR to us and said welcome to Canada. He said they have over 3000 Nigerians in Calgary alone and greater percentage of them are doing very fine. He said "you will love it here, you have made a wise choice, welcome to Calgary and advised us to proceed to the customs. We spent about twenty five minutes with him.
At the customs we were asked to go get our luggage and bring them inside their office. Once inside their office, an officer asked us about the content of our bags. We told him then he asked if we've got any meat in it. We told him no but there's dry fish. He said dry fish is allowed. Asked if we've got vegetables, we told him yes but dried and he said fine. Next question was if we have money in excess of 10k on us. We answered in the affirmative. He told us to give him a minute or two, went to his computer and came back with a form for us to fill. After completing this he said welcome to Canada, I wish you success in Canada and directed us to the airport exit. He did not touch our bags talk-less of opening it neither did he ask to see the money. No more questions was asked. nothing about form B4 was mentioned although we had it prepared.
On our way to the main airport exit, we met the God sent who has come to welcome us and take us home. He came with his a wife. They are wonderful people. We got home at 13 36 hrs. At home we met with the entire family, very nice people. God bless them. We talked and ate. Jet lag affected the rest of the day.
03.10.2011
Slept and relaxed for the greater part of the day. Later in the evening we went out to change some money. Rate was good, we got more CAD with our USD. We bought phones and returned back home.
04.10.2011
If God wills, will go get the SIN, health card and open a bank account. Job hunt? God is in control............
, lomokorede, Tinu, Ig
