Category: Around The World

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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.

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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.

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The Birthday Boy! My Ex-Boss

My ex-boss was from Greece but migrated to Spain because he fell in love with a lovely woman from Spain – and I do keep in touch with him – because he treated me really well – during the 3 yrs I worked with him. He was always fair to me – and never treated me like an employee and I had the same benefits as the engineers in our company. From traveling to expenditures – I was able to claim just about anything the engineers claimed. His birthday is round the corner and I know he like cigars for he always gets a box when he flies from one place to another for work – I’ve never seen someone who knows so much about cigars like him. My ex-boss – dear Mr Hernandez is turning 70 this year and I am going to get him some middleton black and mild cigars this year for his birthday, I hope he likes it and why try to stop the man at this age from enjoying something he liked so much right? And I do like the smell of cigar as compared to regular cigarettes. Happy birthday! Mr Hernandez.

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How To Get A 6 Months Visa Into Canada?

I’ve been asked many a times – how do one get thru’ custom and get your 6 months chop on your passport without any trouble. So when i received an email this morning from a fellow Singaporean – i decided to write it out here instead. First of all, don’t go to the embassy and tell them you are staying for 6 months – as soon as you do that – they might send in the information to Canadian custom to look out for you ( i think they are required by law to do so). Canadian custom frown upon people who are planning to stay this long. But having said that Canadian custom are not evil – they are just doing their job and don’t want over stayers and people who intend to stay in Canada illegally or work here illegally.

So here is what you do – if you want to enter into Canada without any problems and be granted a 6 months visit legally. You have to have enough cash with you – you have to tell them you have family and friends and a job waiting for you back home. You have to have a return ticket – showing when you are going home – but note – that you should not have your air ticket printing it 6 months from your date of arrival. Always buy a ticket that allows you to change your date of flight – that way – you can book for 2 months from date of arrival and then change it when you arrive and have gotten your 6 months visa.

If possible – bring a business card with you if you are working – if you are still in school – make sure you have school papers showing when you are supposed to be back for school. The whole idea is to show them that you have no intention of staying longer than you should – and that you are just here for a visit and sightseeing around Canada. And by the way – if you are coming to Canada in February – it is the coldest month here – make sure you are dressed warmly. Do not spend a lot of money buying winter clothes in Singapore – safe your money and buy one when you arrive – in the meantime – just buy something as warm as you can in Singapore. I hope the above helps – and like I said before – i never had any trouble with immigration Canada – and you shouldn’t too – because Immigration Canada is not out to get you – they are only out to get those who have ill intentions.

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Road Accidents

We have been hearing a lot about road accidents of late – and how Texas truck accident lawyer helped some of victims get compensated for their damages. Any accidents is hard on victims – who incidentally may lose their ability to work again – or lose their property or car – so yes – a good accident lawyer is important. I, too think that money cannot compensate everything – but one most definitely need to make the responsible party accountable. It would be sad to see someone get away for hurting another – even if it was not by choice. So yes! if you have a road accident – make sure you get the right lawyers to help and nope not all lawyers are equal.

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2010 Is Finally Here !

So the year 2009 has come to an end.. and 2010 is here finally. Should i say finally? well, kinda! although we did pretty good overall for the store, especially the last few months, after we put everything into perspective – I have to say personally – we were a bit stretched. But in 2010, we looked into email archiving services for my food blog because I have way too many fans/friends there.

Well, in 2009 – chloe started with a new preschool – right up to the summer holiday. She then went to summer camp both at the Y and the Youth Center but both didn’t work out well, because she wanted to bring her sitter a long – which defeats the purpose of helping her to be more independent. We did go for a short break last year to the city but it was way too short. Then Chloe started school in her new school – and we had to let her sitter go (we didn’t have enough hours for her). Follow by the kid bothering my Chloe and then she came down with a bladder infection – and the many meetings with the school to try and settle chloe in nicely.

During Chloe’s winter break we managed fabulously and even went for different events with family and friends. We also managed to get all our Christmas shopping done for Chloe’s friends and for our customers. Plus we are darn proud that we made a huge contribution to Chloe’s school. For this year, I’m hoping to take more care of our health and spend more time with Chloe. My new year’s resolution ? Bo Chup!

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Best Vacation Deals

The weather still isn’t that bad for us here .. right now.. but come January and February.. where we are hit worst during the winter months that’s when everyone in Canada wants to get outta the cold .. for some warmth and sun. Like any smart women, we try to get the best vacation deal for the entire family. And what better deals than the All inclusive family vacations.

Lovely beaches and gourmet food and all kinds of water sports – stress free time for yourself and your entire family. Choose to have candle-light dinners for 2 .. or go with the entire family for bbqs and grills. They have so much to offer.. sometimes, i wished we had more time on the island. Check it out yourself.

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Helen

I received this message on my expat blog profile, but helen, i’m unable to reply because you have not email address. You can write to me.. on my contact on this blog, else you can leave a comment here. Migrating is a huge thing, I’ve been thru’ it. .and I want to help as much as possible. I’m no expert.. but can only share my experiences with others. For those who are thinking of migrating.. feel free to ask me any questions. So Helen .. contact me.. because you need to.. ! I usually do not post your questions here.. but since you are 3 months pregnant.. it’s important.. that we speak quickly.

Hi, I am a Singaporean, applying for Canada immigration now. Just got the medical exam done. I am currently 3 months pregnant. Can you advise me on whether go Canada and deliver, or deliver in Singapore then go Canada? What are the charges if I deliver in Canada? Thanks.
by Helen on 01/07/2009 at 21:10:42

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Thankful For More Sambal

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I received this package last week … but because of the storm and more bad weather.. we didn’t get to the post office till this week. All the way from Malaysia.. from a blogging friend.. that I’ve known since I started blogging. Thank you so much Wang Tai Tai aka Bookworm.. yer the best..!! Thank you for making my Christmas wish come true. Now i can have some more Scallops with sambal. I sent PB to get me some more scallops tonite.. mmmmmmm… !!