I'd like to discuss people whom spouses have landed how they have adjusted ??

[lonelycanadianwifey]

Hi

I am just curious if there are others still posting that there spouse has landed ? And if so stories about situation they have faced being new PR's and or stories about things that have happened since they arrived ??

 

[hoping75]

Hi

My Husband arrived here from Morocco about 2 years ago.
We live in Quebec, and he loves it here. He felt at home from the beginning. He loves the Canadian lifestyle, people, food, and yes even the snow.
We chose to take a little time to be able to enjoy each other, and travel a bit before he started working. I wanted to have time to be a couple first before the daily routine of worked started. Once it was time he found a job that he enjoys right away when he started applying.
Of course there is the part of getting used to living together as with all couples, but it is doing it without ever having dated as you know when you don't live on the same continent.
We are very happy together, and I could not have asked for more. It was worth every minute of the difficult wait.

I wish all the best to all of the couples waiting

 

[lonelycanadianwifey]

thats really nice to hear, amongst all the IMM fraud that goes on in canada its beutiful tosee storys 2 years later of couples still together and happy..

My husband arrived back on canadian soil back in FEB/2010


Its intresting how he adapted all over again ..I mean he came here for years at a time But from day 1 he left it was 3 years in friggen jamaica he spent...So i have found for him this time he felt like he was starting all over again ...Although he always loved the cold ...HAHAHA think of cool runnings and we all laugh ..He was fine landing in FEB during the coldest part of the YEAR ....and had nooo problem landing a full time job with befeifts and a pension plan ...It his damn accent thatgets him everytime...I mean i undstand the patwa from Jamaica because my father and my family are all Jamaican and have been going to island since i was very young...But hard core canadian are like WYF did he just say ...I find myslef the translator because my hubby refuses to talk any other way ...hahah

 

[AllisonVSC]

I'm the recent immigrant in my household though my partner immigrated here 30 years ago. I've been in Canada since June 2009. I landed in November and "officially" moved in January 2010 on a 2 day road trip in a uhaul truck in a snowstorm. Two weeks later I lost my older brother (13 months older than me) unexpectedly and had to return home for his funeral. My partner and I went to France to visit his family in February and I ended up staying about a month at his mom's invitation to rest and recharge. She lives in a cottage on a beautiful beach in Brittany. It was almost perfect except that I don't speak French. My partner finished a three year study to become a certified management accountant (this was in addition to a 60 hour/week job) this summer. We've each sold our homes (his in Montreal and mine in the states) and have settled into a rental home here in Toronto. Thankfully we are now only paying rent instead of rent plus 2 mortgages all on one income!

I've made a few acquaintances but not really any friends. I joined some groups on meetup.com (2 book clubs, an ex-pat American group and a tennis group) which are fun and get me out socializing. My biggest transition issue right now is trying to find a job. I was a teacher in the states (20 years teaching math) but I do not qualify to teach in the school systems here. My struggle is not only what to do next, but how to market my skills in such a way that my resume doesn't scream MATH TEACHER. As a new immigrant I don't have the networks and knowledge of where to look for unadvertised positions in this so called "hidden job market." I've been to employment agencies and immigrant services centers, but they seem to be geared for people who have larger transition issues like language barriers, lack of business skills or unrecognizable credentials. I'm way overqualified for some of the jobs I'm applying for and fortunately I haven't had to find work right away, so I can keep plugging along trying to find a position that makes some sense. But it is getting frustrating for me and my partner. Sometimes I suspect he thinks I sit around all day eating bonbons and watching Oprah. If I could find a decent job for decent pay I would be delighted and my transition would probably be complete. I am, on most days, so happy to be finally living with my guy after many years doing the long distance thing and we certainly are enjoying ourselves despite the struggles I mentioned.

Allison

 

[lonelycanadianwifey]

yea its definatly HARD when you are switching OVER from a different country so called standards. Ie.. Drivers licences, job expireince, and education...I mean that sounds very frustrating at the least .I do hope you can find something soon allison!

I know that when it comes to driving in Canada there is alot to know ...But overall is quite simple..But the country my husband comes from (JAMAICA) it's hard core aggresive driving ...And its very hard because of most of the road conditions, mountains, and above all AGRESSIVE drivers...lol..I mean the rules of the road there are often ignored out of city boundries and people SPEED drive and do watever the hell they want to ... ;D

My husband still is nervous driving ....Its like he has a stick up his BUM!!! Its honestly hard because being a new PR and all the rules change then, and things arent the same and you are constantly worring if you are going the screw up get in trouble for old habits that you had back home ...The list goes on and on ..

I mean even like how other countries deal with there kids and so on ...In jamaica its waaaaaaaaaaay different, and things happen there and it cant happen here kinda a thing and my hubby still has a hard time accepting it ..We keep our home ever day all day Jamaican culture(minus a few thing here and there) because that how we both were raised the problem is when we go outside things can change a little !! :-X :-X

Its hard to be a new PR in a whole new world ..the list can be never ending at times.. :-\

 

[AllisonVSC]

I know that when it comes to driving in Canada there is alot to know ...But overall is quite simple..But the country my husband comes from (JAMAICA) it's hard core aggresive driving ...And its very hard because of most of the road conditions, mountains, and above all AGRESSIVE drivers...lol..I mean the rules of the road there are often ignored out of city boundries and people SPEED drive and do watever the hell they want to ... ;D

Thanks for the positive vibes re the job search.

Tell your husband I think he should go practice driving in Montreal...he will feel right at home! I find the drivers there very aggressive, unpredictable, and not always in abeyance with traffic rules. It is so stressful. I have never driven in Jamaica, but I have been several times. The first time I went I was frightened to death by our driver careening at full throttle around corners on mountain roads blaring the horn. After a few days I got used to it, but I would never want to drive there.

Mississauga where we live now is a non-stressful place to drive (except for the 401!!). Wide, well maintained roads laid out in a grid pattern so it's pretty easy to navigate, and the other drivers are fairly predictable and accommodating. I even drove in the snow last winter...ok it was slush and not slippery, but where I'm from a few sprinkles of snow will shut down the entire state, closing schools, govt offices and most businesses. If I am heading to downtown Toronto though, I take the metro or ask my partner to drive. I don't like driving (or parking) down there.

I don't have any children and my partner's only child is an adult so I haven't had to deal with any transition issues regarding that. I bet it is hard on the kids at first but they adapt quicker once they are here, especially regarding the differences between the culture in the home and the outside.
Allison

 

[CeeGee]

Hi Allison--

It was "interesting" to read about your transition workwise. Or should I say lack of transition? Mike and I are in the same situation to some degree. He has a good job that is keeping a very nice roof over our head. He has lived in Ontario all his life, and I sold my home back in the states. But I was a high school English teacher for ten years and a riding instructor for fourteen years.

I really didn't want to do either of those. I wanted a more low-key job like a secretary with weekends off, so I could spend time with my husband. I was a widow and was previously extremely happily married for 29 years. Then I was widowed for 4, and I was miserable. That is the biggest thing I would tell young couples out there--really enjoy your happy marriage, because 30 years goes flying by like a dream. I'll go a little "crazy" if I can't work. How about you starting a math tutoring business?

 

[AllisonVSC]

Thanks for the reply CeeGee and the suggestion. Are you working, looking, still in process?

Our thinking is aligned on the "been there, done that" teaching stuff. I too want my nights and weekends free to spend with my guy. I would be happy with a secretary/admin job if the people and work were interesting and the pay was decent. I'm having trouble resigning myself to $10-$12 per hour though especially, with the heavy tax burden here. I've thought about tutoring, but there is a lot of competition from certified tutors and tutoring services here and the hours don't suit me anymore (afternoons, evenings and weekends yuck).

I've found a few non-profit positions that look promising (one is part time in my area teaching math and computer basic skills to adults for $25 an hour during the day), but you never can tell when you find a position posted on the internet. My partner is pushing me to not let my brains and talents go to waste, which I appreciate and he is willing to carry us if I want to go back to school (not so much) or take courses for a professional certification like PMP -project management or FP - financial planning, etc (a definite possibility). I'm starting to seriously consider French language courses (he would LOVE that as it is his first language) because I see from reading ads that being fluent in both leads to higher paid positions.

Will see...As I said in a previous post. I'm fortunate I don't have to get one of those survival jobs and can take some time to explore my options. But eventually I got to get out there and be a productive member of society, or like you...I think I will go crazy.

Kindest Regards, Allison

 

[angelbrat]

I initially arrived in Canada in 2007 as a visitor with my then 15 year old son. I wanted to make sure that my Canadian partner and his children and me and my son could live together as a family before I started the PR process.

At the time, the only way I could stay, work and my son go to school here was to get a work visa. So despite the fact I have a Phd in psychology, the easiest and quickest route to that 'golden LMO' and work visa was to take a job in retail.

Fast forward 3 years, I am now a PR and still working for the same retail company, only now I am a senior Manager there and I love it. I so enjoy going to work every day, and now being in a senior position do not work weekends or evenings either. My son has graduated from school with an Athlete of the Year scholarship and is now taking a year off before starting college in September 2011. My relationship is better and better each day with my partner. I have made a ton of friends and am so happy that I live here.

So as for the job expectations, well look beyond what you think you want. If someone had told me 3 years ago I would be happier in retail I would have scoffed at the idea and yet, despite the wage being lower, the actual work is challenging, interesting and suits my current life style perfectly.

To go back to my original line of work would require extra qualifications, at my age I just do not want to go back to school. Plus, it was a very stressful job and one that you find difficult not to take home. My current job allows me to leave the work place and concentrate on my partner and family now, something that has certainly helped my son adjust here and of course made my relationship stronger.

I adore the life style of Canada, the mountains, the beach, the water. There is nothing I miss about the UK, except my family and they fly over regularly to visit, they all adore it here in Vancouver.

 

[CeeGee]

Hi Angelbrat--Thanks for your thoughts and advice. I would definitely consider a job in retail. What retail chain are you with that you like so much. I would be interested to know. Also, what is the 'golden LMO' that you referred to in your response? I don't know much, yet, about working in Canada because I am trying to take things one step at a time, and I haven't begun looking yet for a job. How did you find your position? Did you put in applications? Go through an agency? Did you have any problems convincing a retail firm to hire a PhD.?


Hi AllisonVSC--I applied on June 2, 2010. My husband was approved to sponsor on July 5, 2010. And, we have been 'in process' since August 20, 2010. I didn't know that there were so many 'rules' about starting a tutoring business. I, too, have been considering financial planning depending on the qualifications necessary and/or teaching English as a second language to immigrants--again, depending on the requirements. I would love to hear more about your job search and what has been working or not working for you. I don't know what Guelph will be like. I can tell that it does sound like a town where it helps to "know someone". Is all of Canada like that? What do they mean by the hidden job market?

So much to learn. It is tiring at times, but, again, I feel younger than I have felt in years. So, I will just pretend I am 22 and looking for my first big break again!

 

[sbwv09]

Hi CeeGee, I was also an English teacher in the states. I looked into what is required to be a certified ESL teacher here.. and it's a lot! Almost 2 more years of school.. and I already have a Masters! So I may just work my way into a secretarial position somewhere.. if I'm lucky. As soon as I land I'm going to have to get some kind of job. I told my husband I would do anything but food service! You'll probably see me working at your local bookstore (if I'm lucky) or WalMart (if I'm not!).