Most people write and ask me about finding work in Canada after migrating here – and they also want to know how difficult it is to look for the kind of jobs they are trained for back home. There are lots of jobs to be found around Canada – it’s the matter of finding the right one for you – assuming you speak fairly well in English as well as write in English too. Restaurant Manager Jobs may not be as easy to land – but the hospitality industry has plenty one can opt for. Like I tell everyone – as long as you are willing to work hard – and speak fairly well in English and is computer literate – you should have no problems landing a job in Canada. Places like Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver are more likely to have Asian bosses but even the Canadian bosses have no problems hiring an Asian worker here. But of course – you need to have a Permanent Resident status and not a tourist/visitor status.
First Week As Grade 2
Well, we survived the first week at school as a Grade 2 student and she seems to be quite happy with school – although she complained that they are doing the same thing all over again. Hopefully, it gets a little bit more difficult for her soon – so that she will be a little bit more challenged. I think this year I’m also more comfy because she is with the same teacher – and I’m trying not to go into class with her so much and disturb her home room teacher as much as I did last year. I’m surprised her home room teacher took all my nonsense last year and I appreciate it very much – that she didn’t kick me outta class last year – hahahha!! So wish us good luck eh! the fun is only beginning.
Celebrating Grandparents’ Day
This weekend is Grandparents’ Day – although some may argue that it’s a way commercial business make you buy more gifts and spend money – I think it is important to acknowledge Grandparents who played a very important part in your child’s life. After all, Grandparents are the next closest relative besides the parents right? and even though grandparents don’t look for gratitude – I think it’s important to show Grandparents how much we appreciate their help, love and gifts they pour onto your kids. While I had gotten my mom gifts at Shari’s Berries – for grandparents’ day – we are going to order some cheese and flowers. So for those who are not aware that Grandparents’ day is this weekend – you still have time to order your gifts now – it doesn’t need to be a whole bunch of gifts – just chocolates, cheese or flowers are very nice gestures to show you appreciate them.
New School Year
The new school year starts tomorrow – and Chloe will be in Grade 2 this year – with the same teacher. I’m pretty happy with the arrangement for she did really well with this teacher. She is also looking forward to school tomorrow – and today is the long weekend of Labor day – so she is out playing with her friends on the trampoline. She should have been in Grade 3 had it not been the crazy french teacher she had for the first year. But oh well – she is doing well now – and that’s all that matter. This year she will have a new principal in her school and also a new Music teacher – she loves gym a lot – so she loves her gym teacher and talks about her all the time. In fact, she wants to be a gym teacher – sometime last year – hahah!! I can’t wait for school to start and see what she learns this year.
Summer Ends
Chloe will be going back into school in a few days – and that means the summer holiday is ending for her soon. Unfortunately, PB hasn’t planned anything at all the entire summer *sigh*. Why am I not surprised? I realised today there are 2 things I cannot depend on during summer – #1 – is for PB to plan for us a holiday or a good time and #2 – my plans for Chloe to bond with her grandparents during the summer – these 2 things never seems to work at all. Am I upset ? A little. Am I disappointed? Very! The cold weather will be setting in really soon – and to go anywhere – would just means you have to keep that sweater on – and sometimes be in the rain. So even if we do go to the city in September or October – I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as during the summer. And again this summer – no Clement’s park or the zoo *sigh*. Oh well! what can I do right? wait till i burst and go crazy I guess. Tis’ my life!
Bedside Table/Drawers
So I finally settled for a Wicker’s emporium Maize 3 drawers storage for a bedside table and plus it was 50% off – so I bought it for my bedroom. I had wanted it in a different color – but they only had this color or the multi-colored ones – so I settled for this color since our bedroom’s furniture are almost all brownish in color. Looking kinda gloomy I know you are gonna say – but not to worry because I ordered a painting from Etsy – and am looking forward to getting it – that way I can add a splash of color to our bedroom. I feel that it is time to dress up our bedroom since we haven’t for this long. We’ve been in this house for almost 7 years now and as surely as I am trying to dress it up – everything seems desperately slow – because I just can’t find anything I really liked. And I won’t settle for less or just an item – that I mediocrely liked. Like for my tv room/living room I would really like to get some calligraphy work for the living room – but of course to do so – I would have to go home for it – because you need to be quite selective – as to who write the calligraphy for you. Oh well – we’ll just have to wait then.
Hurricane Irene
So Hurricane Irene is coming our way – everyone in the East Coast was warned and told to be prepared. We don’t know what is going to come this way – it’s a hit and miss around here but everyone is busy putting away their patio furniture and swing set – and anything that is left out in the yard. We are very lucky because we have a wooden swing set that is nailed deep down into the ground – and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. So each time we have high wind or bad weather – the only thing that doesn’t need moving around is the wooden swing set. We bring in the trampoline, the patio set, the cloth hangers and even the mosquito net comes right down. I hope we won’t get a lot of wind and rain – because it can get nasty – so are you prepared for Hurricane Irene?
Studying In Canada
So someone wrote to me the other day – about sending her kids to Canada to finish their studies – and wants my opinion about it. In which my reply was – that if they do send their kids here – they will fair a lot better than most Canadian kids because foreign kids are much more competitive than our Canadian students. The teachers in Canada loved exchange students and they in turn learned about other cultures and also the different weather – if they come from Malaysia, Singapore of even Indonesia. Here in this town, we see lots of foreign students but sad to say – they are not as exposed as they should be.
So before sending your kids here – make sure you get them to the right school – the right area – a lot of kids do not like to be in small town – and they have no choice – after coming here – because they have nothing to do once school is over. If you are seriously thinking of sending your kids here to finish their high school – check out both Halifax area – as well as Vancouver – I know you have to pay a little more – but I think your kids will be more accustomed to that area instead of places like a small town. If you can – try to make sure that you go and visit the place before sending your kids here with just a brochure – brochures are meant to lie.
Getting Married In Canada
So you found a Canadian boyfriend and he gave you the ring – and proposed – so you want to get married in Canada? or should you get married in your home country and then do it all over again in Canada? Or is it legal to get married in your home country and not bother when you come back to Canada – since you are thinking of moving to Canada with him some time right? Well, of course, if he decided to move to your home country – now that would be a different story and of course you wouldn’t be reading this right?
Well, whatever you decide – you will have to think of what you are going to do first – for immigration purpose. Getting married in your hometown – doesn’t automatically make you a Canadian resident or a Canadian citizen as far as I know – in fact – getting married away from Canada – may post a little more complicated than you think when trying to migrate to Canada. From my experience – I strongly suggest – you come to Canada first as a tourist – apply for a marriage license here – get married here and then do your immigration from here – while you have a tourist status. Usually, Canadian immigration will grant you a 6 months visitor pass – and that is enough to get your application going. But my experience is only my own – my 2 cents – so don’t hold it against me – if yours work out differently. Good luck!
Boating Safety Tips for Kids
As adults boaters, we learn a great deal about safety on the way to earning our boat license. What we often don’t learn, however, is how to share these skills with our children. This can be tricky business because kids tend not to learn well when they’re disinterested and when we overload them. The key then is to seize their attention and to expose them to the information in bite-sized chunks.
Image Source: http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/news/last-call-for-kids-safety-program-72624.aspx
Here are a series of tips that should help:
Tip #1: Teach the kids to swim, and make sure they have ocean experience. Swimming in the ocean is a very different experience, and those with pool-only practice may freeze up in an emergency.
Tip #2: Once the children know how to swim, introduce them to personal flotation devices (PFDs), and explain to them why a PFD is so important. Stress the importance of wearing a PFD at all times, and give them experience wearing the PFD in and out of the water before their first boat trip.
Tip #3: Don’t wait until the first time on the water. Acclimate kids to your boat while you have it on the trailer parked at your house. Make a game out of understanding the terminology, safety locations, danger zones and so forth.
Tip #4: Ensure that they understand the risk of horseplay while on the water, and a great way to avoid this type of behaviour is to give children seated responsibilities while you are driving. If they are having fun and feel as if they are doing something important, they will continue to focus on that activity.
Tip #5: Stress the importance of sitting at all times while the boat is in motion. Standing is only OK when the boat is stopped, and stress that it is never all right to sit or stand on the sides of the boat.
Tip #6: Expose children to all of the equipment on board, and let them learn how to operate it. Begin teaching children how to operate and drive the boat at a very young age. This can prove invaluable in an emergency, and the safest boaters are self-reliant boaters.
Tip #7: However, stress that it is never OK to use that equipment without adult supervision unless there is an emergency. It also important to be strict about your rules, so if the child breaks them, they should lose boating privileges.
Tip #8: While on the boat, always set a good example. Don’t let kids be around adults who don’t take the experience seriously. Keep your eyes on them at all times, and consider using a safety harness for particularly young children who may stray on larger boats.